Become a Sugar Angel - Bake a Difference

Icing Smiles is a non profit organization that provides custom celebration cakes and other treats to families impacted by critical illness of a child.  They understand that the simple things, like a birthday cake, are luxuries to a family battling illness.  Their goal is to create a custom cake for the ill child or their sibling that will provide a temporary escape from worry and create a positive memory during a difficult time. They operate with a volunteer base of administration staff and a group of wonderful Bakers that they call Sugar Angels.

Why are we telling you this?

First of all, they need bakers! All across this country of ours because they never know where the next family will be located. Signing up does not mean you are committed to every cake request they get in your area; it just means that they can contact you to see if you are available. Windsor and Essex County has a rich filling of talented local bakers and cake artists. We all know at least one. I know about a dozen. From cupcakes, to cake pops, to the endless creativity of the local cake sculptors, talented bakers is one thing that our area has a wealth of.

Cake Made by Sugar Angel Nicole Power

The second part of their need at this point is funding.  They are a registered charity that can give tax receipts for your donation.  They require funds for insurance and operating costs. All their staff are volunteers and all money goes towards making a smile happen across Canada. (Maybe a local baker might want to donate part of their sales at some upcoming events to lend a hand? Auction off an amazing cake and onate the funds? Maybe a local crocheter might be willing to crochet a bunch of small, plush cupcakes and donate the funds from selling them? You don't have to be able to bake to be of help.)

Thank you for reading, and please share this post with the cake crafters in your life, both near and far. There is both a Canada based and US based Icing Smiles organization. You can get more information and apply to become a sugar angel here - http://www.icingsmiles.ca/en/create-smile

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Contributed by Melissa Piva

Keep It Local - Spring Show

This Saturday, March 22nd from 10am-5pm is the Keep It Local Artisans & Crafters Community Spring Market. Held at the Fogolar Furlan Club at 1800 North Service Road in Windsor.

This is a one day event that includes over 100 vendors, facepainting, door prizes, Spring photo sessions, TONS of great Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day gifts!

There is no admission fee at the door, but donations are accepted for the charities the event supports - Kittenaide, Ride for Dad, and Street Help.

For more information, visit:

www.keepitlocalevents.wix/events

or http://sweetsugarpea.com

Be sure to like their page on Facebook to be kept in the loop about other upcoming events www.facebook.com/keepitlocalevents

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 Contributed by Melissa Piva, 2014

March at the Mudpuppy

Been meaning to explore the local galleries? There are two exhibits on the go at the Mudpuppy Gallery in Amherstburg this month. The "Colour and Light" exhibit showcasing works by feature artist Catherine Bast, and the March Madness Recycle Retro exhibit which features Recycled, Repurposed, and Upcycled pieces from a number of area artists. The opening reception for the two exhibits will be Sunday, March 9th from 2-4pm. Both exhibits run until March 30th. Mudpuppy Gallery is located at 264 Dalhousie Street, Amherstburg and is a co-op style community gallery.




Catherine Bast - 'Colour and Light'

Catherine Bast - 'Colour and Light'



'Recycle Retro' - Dennis Smith

Some pieces currently on display




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Contributed by Melissa Piva



New Places & New Faces

***As this post is both near and dear to me, it will not be written in the (albeit more professional sounding) third person. (It feels detached, plus I always feel a bit pompous when I have to write that way about myself.)***

Two years ago in a roughly 400 sq ft space in the west end of Windsor I opened Trinkets & Treasures Handmade Crafters Gallery. It opened with 8 local crafters involved, displaying and selling their works. The shop was designed to self-sustain, with each artist/crafter paying a small monthly fee that went towards basic operating costs, and getting 100% of their sales. Not even two weeks after opening, we were blessed with some amazing media coverage by (the very recently retired) Dave Hall of The Windsor Star, and business grew. Within two months of opening we found ourselves moving to a larger space two doors over, with three times the participants.

After a year in Windsor we packed up shop and moved to the shoreline of Amherstburg, where the shop continued to grow. The relocation of the shop was covered again by the Windsor Star (this time by Ted Whipp,) and the shop continued to grow at a rapid pace. Windsor and Essex County based crafters continued to join the list of contributors, and Trinkets & Treasures expanded to include the works of over 55 local artists, crafters and authors.

This April, at the point of two and a half years in business, Trinkets & Treasures will be changing hands. After much deliberation (and countless sleepless nights) I decided to seek out new owners for this shop that has grown to be a huge part of my life, to allow myself to dedicate more time and energy to my own work. 

On April 25^th Trinkets & Treasures will close its doors at 69 Murray Street, and on May 5^th it will re-open in a new location, under a new name, and in the hands of the new owners - Chelsey Carr and Debbie Chedore. These ladies are no starngers to the local crafting and art scene. They run C.C.'s Events which organizes seasonal shows at the WFCU center, and they are crafters themselves, running Scentsoytional Candles and LolaPawLooZee Handmade Dog Treats. The new location is secured and already being renovated at 8444 Wyandotte Street East in Riverside Plaza. The new name will be From Our Hands to Yours.

A number of the participating crafters that we have worked with for the past while have already signed contracts to continue with them, including Nicole Drouillard of Mercantile 519 (formerly Knit! Nicole, Knit!), Sarah Whittall with That’s Sew Sarah, Sandra Foster with Sew My Gosh, Jennifer Dewar-Toohey with Babydoo Dolls, Sherry Gardner with Sherry Gardner Originals and Custom Creations, and Mike Hanlan of Encasing Art by Mike Hanlan. I will also continue displaying my work there and showing them my support.

With the new space comes more space and room for new opportunities. They are currently taking on new artists and crafters to add to the list of participants. If you or someone you know might be interested in joining at the new location, you can reach Chelsey and Deb at fromourhandstoyours@hotmail.com and ask to be sent the information package. Even with the changes, the shop will still bring you what we have advertised since Day 1 – All Local, All Handmade, All Year Long.

Thank you to all who have supported and encouraged me in this venture, and to all those that will now show that same support to Chelsey and Debbie. It is appreciated beyond words.                         

-------------------------- Written & Contributed by Melissa Piva