Well Made - Hola! Festival Opening and Fine Craft Auction

Crafted Vancouver organized a magnificent celebration and fundraiser Gala evening to kick off 25 days of Craft Events: exhibitions, guided tours and studio tours, Artist talks and presentations, workshops, demonstrations, podcasts and many other signature events. You can see more on Instagram: Crafted Vancouver. Be sure to pick up a copy of the Programme Guidebook, designed by Miya McGrew, for a fabulous visual overview of Crafted all around us.

The Gala is well worth attending, next year, as it gives a clear picture of what will be happening, an opportunity to meet the Leaders and Makers, a chance to help with fundraising by bidding on your favourite, one of a kind crafts, tickets to museums and galleries, heritage house tours, and much more. I think the Smash Serving Spoon, by Stefanie Dueck, is the perfect symbol of this Gala and Festival as servers of all that is delectable in the world of fine Craft! 

So many Community and Business Partnerships and loved the spotlight on Mexico and the visiting Artists from Oaxaca! I met them at these events: Meet the Makers, and Meet the Makers Presents: Pin and Post Pop-Up Shop, both at Heritage Hall, on Main Street, Vancouver.

More partners to be congratulated are: Arturo's for Catering, Granville Island Tea Company, The Wild Bunch Floral Studio, Medina-Pearson Classical Guitar Duet and, for the gorgeous setting and efficient sound system: VanDusen Botanical Garden. The photos tell the story! See you at next year's 3rd edition of Crafted Vancouver. 

Photo by Noriko Tidball

Jewelry by Carolyn Bruce 

A delicate green enameled necklace with silver

toned leaves highlighted with tear drop shaped glass

crystals and matching green crystal earrings 

Meagan Black, Director of Canadian Crafts Federation

Carrie Ross, Founder and Executive Director of Crafted Vancouver 

Bernice Diaz Ceballos, Consul General of Mexico in Vancouver

Bernice Diaz Ceballos, Consul General of Mexico in Vancouver introducing

Spotlight on Mexico Event Partners: Angelica Vasquez Cruz, Carlomagno Pedro 

Martinez, Crispina Mavarro Gomez, Flourencia Fuentes Melchor, 

Jacoba Mendoza Rulz, Jose Jorge Garcia

Smash Serving Spoon by Stefanie Dueck

Median-Pearson Classical Guitar Duet

Bridal Fashion Week Canada,2019 By Parvesh and Jai at Fairmont Waterfront Vancouver

Written by Colleen Tsoukalas

Parvesh and Jai, originally from Delhi, had already achieved international success by the time they arrived at Vancouver Fashion Week in 2014. Now, they are in their 4th year of designing for and directing Bridal Fashion Week Canada. In addition to their Couture Wedding line, they also design beautiful clothing for Women, Men and Children. You can find their Raasleela Stores in Surrey and Vancouver. I was unable to attend their recent evening at the Fairmont Waterfront, but was impressed by the elegance, color and range of gorgeous fabrics in the photos! Congratulations and may there always be Weddings, Travel and fabulous outfits for both! For more information, please see: www.bridalfashionweekcanada.com

Carolyn Bruce created unique centerpieces for all of the tables. Since the theme was Destination Weddings and Resort Wear, Fashion was everywhere. For some of the VIP centerpieces, she dressed Mannequins and others featured glittery Guitars and Fascinators. For the next tables,  I love her idea of framing each piece, as a work of Art and in each frame was a fancy high heel. Other tables were decorated with roses and purses.   In addition to her design work, she shared some photos of this fantastic production. josemanuelphoto.com, Photographer, who not only photographed Bridal Fashion Week Canada, also was busy working at the lovely Celebration Dinner, held at Silk Lounge, a new and fabulous Indian Restaurant at 132 Powell Street. Here are Jose's photos. Enjoy!

Professional photos by Jose Manuel Armijo

Runway photos by Carolyn Bruce