“Ravenswing is a labour of love.” said co-Director Lauren Potosky, who became involved in the event over five years ago. “We are 100% volunteer-based, self-funded and totally [operate on] cost recovery. People help because they love what the fair stands for and believe in creating an accessible market place for everyone in our community. ”

Sean Zio and Faye Estrella originally started Ravenswing when they were looking for a place to sell their handmade zines to the local community. What first started out as a monthly fair organized at the Jack Purcell Centre in 2005-2006 has since grown to a yearly fair showcasing over 100 local artists, free workshops and musical acts. They now have a team of more than eight coordinators and 35 volunteers who help organize the fair every year.

“We share a common love of community and grass roots activism,” added Potosky, who also runs Les Ateliers, which promotes DIY, arts and hand-made movements by offering workshops in Ottawa.

Wandering around the park, I met a number of different folks offering up their own DIY crafts. There were many quality up-cycled items in the form of jewellery and fascinators, stationary products, children’s toys made from recycled fabrics, silk-screen printed clothing items, candles, soaps and other lovely items. The complete list of vendors can be found here, and the good thing is many of them have their own websites so you don’t have to have attended this year’s festival to see or possibly acquire what was on offer.

It was print-maker Kimberly Edgar’s first Ravenswing. She recently graduated from the Ottawa School of Art and had a table of hand-printed posters, t-shirts, tanks, with her designs, which feature insects.

“The reason I work with insect imagery is that I have a fear of bugs which I am trying my darnedest to get over,” said Edgar. “When you draw or otherwise artistically render something, you objectify it, turn it into an aesthetic object. This helps separate my irrational fear from the insect, and helps me cross that fine line between revulsion and fascination.”

Ottawa illustrator Colin White’s work captures street life and architecture in Ottawa, more recently the Elmdale Tavern and Ottawa’s food trucks. He was there selling some of his prints. He participated in his first Ravenswing in 2008. “I liked the fact that it was independent and supported the DIY ethic and smaller vendors. I also happened to meet some of the founders and organizers around the same time, and liked their attitude and vibe!”

Fiona Sant and Michelle Potter, co-owners of the Curious Shop at 159 York Street, were there selling their own crafts from Idi Designs and My Jacket Pocket respectively. “We love the wonderful sense of community we feel when we come here. We always have such a good time with all the artisans, the live music and all the visitors… and it seems to get better every year.”

May was also Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Women’s Initiative for Safer Environments decorated Minto Park with painted t-shirts on clotheslines, to reflect the messages and experiences of survivors of violence. Ravenswing attendees could make their own t-shirts as part of the Clothesline Project.

Some people came and stayed for the music. Free live music by local acts added to the spirit of the event: The Yips, Winchester Warm, Scattered Clouds, Jesse Dangerously and SaxsynDrum. Ottawa’s Loon Choir helped wrap up the event up by playing an energetic closing show for the day while the vendors packed up.

“Once again the fair was incredible,” said Potosky. “The quality of our vendors and the talent of our local musicians astounds me. I love that all these people come together to bring such a wonderful event to the Ottawa community. It makes me excited to start the planning process all over again in preparation for next year.”

Even though Ravenswing runs once a year, the spirit of the initiative is kept alive through its Tumblr site where you can find zines and reviews.

The dust has barely settled along Somerset, and the rhythms of Chinatown Remixed are still ringing in our ears—you would think this would be the ideal moment for one of the event’s curators to take a well-deserved breather. But Jennifer Stone, who helped transform the Daily Grind Café into an anthropomorphic wonderland only days ago, already is moving on to her next feat of curatorial innovation, as she conjures up the spring edition of the Idle Hands Craft Sale.

Billed as “something for everyone naughty or nice,” Idle Hands is a juried event that brings together a remarkable range of artists, artisans, and wildly original vendors from Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and beyond.  The much-anticipated biannual sale, which had its inaugural show in 2009, is eagerly anticipated by visitors and vendors alike, thanks to the vision Stone brings to the content, design, and overall vibe of Idle Hands.

Stone has some very clear goals for the event: “Basically keeping people out of the malls and money away from big businesses that do nothing for our community. I want it to be an event where you can talk and ask questions with the person who made what you’re buying.” To that end, Stone was especially interested in including a vintage component this time around, which she hopes will encourage visitors not only to purchase original crafted works, but also adopt a re-use/recycle philosophy, and to buy local, handmade, and up-cycled works. Most of all, Stone wants the sale to inspire people to get ideas and start creating as well.

Some Idle Hands favourites will be back, as well as many new participants.  Just to name a few from the treasure trove of vendors, there will be handmade body care products La Fee Des Bois, pottery by Muddy Shine Mines, vintage-inspired artwork Mary Spicer, clothing designs by Twiss & Weber, prints by Todd Stewart, botanicals and textiles by Crown Flora Studios, and urban birdhouses, jewelry, and transmuted city maps by N-Product. The list of eminent vendors goes on, including Lisa Pepper, Eco Equitable, Raymond Biesinger, Housewife Vintage, Salvage, Morningwood, Supayana, and more.

Multiply that creative energy by about forty vendors, and Stone has put together another community-oriented venue where visitors can not only be inspired, but can also meet and talk to the creative individuals at the source of that inspiration.

The spring edition of Idle Hands takes place on Sunday, May 26, at St. Anthony’s Banquet Hall (523 St. Anthony off Preston).  Admission is $3, and the event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  You can find Idle Hands on facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/idle.sale.

Sunday’s fabulous finds will be had first down at Minto Park, where Ravenswing Arts and Music Fair will be having their seventh annual day o’ fun. They’ll have workshops and music, along with the expected arts and crafts. Take your love of crafty delights down to Little Italy after that – Idle Hands craft and vintage sale will take over St Anthony’s with a diverse selection of gifts, clothes, art and tiny treasures. Wrap it all up with a celebratory drink down at 8 Locks Flat, which opens this weekend down by the canal. The Dusty Drifters will be stopping by to play a few tunes there on Sunday night.

Theatre buffs have a few treats on hand. It’s your last chance to catch White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, a one-person play featuring a different actor for every performance – it wraps up on Saturday. On Sunday, you can catch three talented young women in Tenderhooks – these high schoolers have been receiving much acclaim for their piece.

Music-wise, tonight Rimbombante are celebrating the release of their new album at Mambo, while Delta Will and Claude Munson & the Storm Outside will land at Pressed for what’s sure to be a unique experience. Amanda Bon and the Outskirts will perform from their new album on Friday night, and The Richardson Band, The Old Salts, and The Matt Ferriers will be at Raw Sugar. Fevers will be at Ritual on Saturday, marking the release of a new single, and will have a few local musical friends popping by to help celebrate.

And for you foodies, find out a few tips from Chef Justin Scott at the Unrefined Olive on Saturday, or stop by the Hintonburg Public House on Sunday for Chef-Faced. This party will pit four chefs and four bartenders against each other, to come up with monthly specials – and, May is “Meat on a Stick” month. Yum!

What else is happening in your ‘hood this weekend, Ottawa?

I am excited. E-X-C-I-T-E-D.

If you love local as much as I do, you want to know about and support EcoEquitable. On the surface, EcoEquitable is a local fabric boutique and Ottawa-based charity that sells recycled textiles and notions – both new and vintage – that have been donated by businesses and individuals in the community. They are moving to a new storefront location and are hosting a kick-ass event this Saturday to make that move just a little bit easier.

Bring cash, people. Cash, your favourite (reusable) shopping bag, and an appetite. Why? EcoEquitable is having a “Fill-a-bag” fabric sale. For $10 you can walk away with a shopping bag full of unique, recycled, high quality, and affordable fabric and notions. How often do you hear that in one sentence?

You can also pick up fabric from $2-5/meter, as well as coffee and baked goods.

I don’t need an excuse to get my craft on – that comes rather naturally, as my ever-overflowing studio space would contest to – but this event is not one to be missed. This isn’t just a fabric sale.

All proceeds from this event will go to EcoEquitable’s ever-growing sewing, employment, and training programs for immigrants, refugees, and marginalized women. You will not only be helping to divert textile waste from the landfill, but you will be supporting an organization that empowers low-income Ottawans to transition to financial independence.

I can’t think of a better way to spend my next $10.

EcoEquitable’s first ever “Fill-a-bag” fabric sale happens on Saturday, April 6 at Heartwood House (153 Chapel Street) from 10am-2pm.

It’s St. Paddy’s day this weekend, folks, and we’ve got just the burlesque show to celebrate. Need something a little more traditional? Head out to your local pub, Irish or not! Guaranteed they’ll be in a festive mood.

Tonight at the NAC, you can catch the hip-hop/rock/soul music of Sound of Lions, while Algoma releases her new album down at the Mercury Lounge. Three local bands will take to the stage at the Lunenburg Pub for their weekly battle of the bands – this week, Go Long (!), Leadfoot Pretty, and The Way compete for your affection (and votes). Friday night, Glorious MoonRockets play at Burgers on Main (on Somerset), while those of you needing to dance should head to Mercury Lounge or Timekode. Also on Friday, the Cafe Alt concert series continues, with cheap local beer and great music – John McKiel and Scattered Clouds are up this time. Saturday? Inlet Sound and Amos the Transparent stop by Zaphod’s for the early show.

We’ve also got a new record label in town – head to Spins and Needles Friday night to get a limited edition copy of their first album! If you need more craft in your life, get your fill at their silkscreening workshop on Sunday.

You know spring is really in the air when sugar bush spots start opening, and you start craving the epic breakfasts they serve. Planned Parenthood also has Spring Fever, their fundraiser and rock show tonight at Babylon. In other fundraisers, CHUO continues to hold their funding drive, and Saturday night will have StillNative, Hearts and Mines, and DJ Adam Saikaley at Mavericks to raise a bit o’ cash. A night of spoken word will raise money for cancer research down at Bijou Lounge on Saturday night. ICAfrica is also holding a fundraiser, this one with a few comedy greats. Need even more laughs? Grounded can hook you up!

If you can’t wait for what summer is going to bring, Arboretum Arts Festival + Party is throwing a little fundraising bash with the Hilotrons and Silkken Laumann at Babylon on Friday night.

Are you an aspiring art writer or critic? On Saturday, the Ottawa Art Gallery is hosting Articulation, a critical art writing workshop – and we have a ticket to give away! From 10am-4pm, the lucky winner spend the day learning from prominent members of the national art writing community. Email us the name of the facilitator of Articulation at apartment613[a]gmail.com and we’ll enter you into the draw. Contest closes at 6pm today.

What else are you up to this weekend, Ottawa?

Tonight, Legion of Saints hits the stage at Babylon, while NDMA celebrates a new EP down at the Mercury Lounge. The Goodluck Assembly is giving a sneak peek of their new album at Cafe Dekcuf Friday night, and there will be lots of jazzy goodness with Molly Johnson at the NAC. The Flaps take over the GluePot Pub for their cd release party – The Hilotrons and Remi Royale will drop in to amp up the party. Pressed will have shows Thursday and Friday, with Cold Warps dropping by tonight, and Solids tomorrow. Local band Orienteers team up with CAI.RO and The Bright Road for a show at Avant Garde, and the Glorious MoonRockets stop by the Atomic Rooster to play a few tunes. Slim Moore and the Mar-Kays heat up the Black Sheep on Saturday, and that same night Elgin Skye, Derek Harrison and Max Marshall join forces for a show. Or, practice all weekend and head to the Hintonburg Public House to take the stage yourself!

We’ve got plenty of film options. Wanderweg opens tonight at the Mayfair, and the DiverCiné Film Festival goes all weekend with a few films from La Francophonie. The Tibetan Film Festival, while lacking Brad Pitt, will feature several films exploring the land, culture and people of Tibet. In visual art, Balancing. act II opens tonight at Cube Gallery, part of the first Thursday art walk that happens down Wellington each month.

Craft lovers take note: Urban Craft is now quarterly, and is happening this weekend! Plus, Auntie Loo will be hosting a pop-up vegan dinner of deliciousness.

And, if you’re a big Madge fan, Adi Shesha Yoga is hosting a night of vinyasa flow set to her greatest hits. Continue that grooving at Kitchen Party down at the Rochester Pub afterward!

What else have you got going on this weekend, Ottawa? Let us know below!

Artengine is an artist-run centre that focuses on art and technology, and that’s how they started getting into media like laser cutting and 3D printing. “Artists were using these tools more and more” says Evans-Fenton, so they decided to acquire them. In recent years, Artengine began noticing more of a “maker” trend, where creators would come in to the lab to gain access to these tools. The recent purchase of 2 Ultimaker 3D printers greatly improves on the technology they once had. “Our Makerbot (their first 3D printer) dates from 3 years ago, which in 3D printing years is a long time. The Makerbot seems like it’s 30 years old when you compare what both models can do.”

The price of the open source Ultimaker is about $2,000. You have to build it yourself…which perfectly fits with the ethos of the artists, makers and hackers who gravitate towards Artengine. The open source printer was put together just last week at Mod Lab – Artengine’s weekly hacker get together. Say what? A weekly hacker get together? Ottawa never ceases to amaze me. Aside from the hacker crowd, Evans-Fenton tells mes there’s a diverse crowd that will be using the new Ultimakers from artists to designers and jewellers to life time public servants that dig creating things in their free time.

Aside from reading an article a last year in The Economist on the future of 3D printing, I felt very much like a neophyte. Not too sure how the process worked, a colleague of mine suggested bringing a mug that they might be able reproduce. Not so. Typically, someone will design something using 3D software like 3D Sketch Up, AutoCAD and Blender, or will scan an object using a 3D scanner. Artengine doesn’t own an official 3D scanner but they can hack their way to create one via a Kinect. Once this is done, you put the design through a slicer that slices the image of the object in many layers, and this is what ends up being sent to the printer. Britta had started a print for me – an owl made out of corn plastic – I was able to take home. The printing process, for the 5 cm high object took about 45 minutes. The new printer will be able to create objects of varying complexity – but is by no means an industrial sized printer – something Artengine hopes to be able in the future…but for now they only dream of it.

The reason for Saturday’s 3D print-a-thon is to showcase the new printer, and what it can do, but it’s also an opportunity for the 3D maker community to showcase their work. It will be a great opportunity to learn about 3D printing in Ottawa and the makers behind it. The city’s foremost 3D printers will be at the even to showcase their own machines and designs. Don’t miss out!

What’s on your agenda for this weekend, Ottawa? Perhaps some burlesque with your usual Sunday brunch? Or a holiday food market like no other?A bit of improv? Or a classical Christmas concert, perhaps?

If you’re looking to take in some art – or trying to find some for gifts – the Ottawa Art Gallery and Cube Gallery might have something for you, or Cyclelogik’s Holiday Sweat-ER in an art sale like no other (we’re talking food and DJing). Craft sales continue, too, with Craftalicious happening down in the Glebe on Saturday, and it’s the Chinatown Craft Walk Sunday afternoon down on Somerset.

Tonight, there’s a bit of alt-rock-blues happening down at The Burg, and a few French singers picking up that bluesy feel over at the NAC. Sunparlour Players are out at The Branch tonight, while a little closer to downtown, Kite Hill stop by Raw Sugar. Tomorrow way down at The Bassline you’ll find the collective Four Winds. Paco Dvoi and The Owl Eyes Project stop by the Avant Garde Bar for some acoustic rocking, and Diamond Rings will be at Ritual. Tropikalo continues at Pressed, where if you want in, you’ve gotta show up early. Music and readings will be combined at the A B Series’ Xmas party, and slam-poetry lovers can get their fill at the Mercury Lounge. Dryer is in from Toronto (it’s their holiday song video above) on the same bill as Rolf Klausener, the same night that Craig Cardiff is out at the Black Sheep (he’s there Sunday, too).

LearnHackYOW is combining creativity, curiosity and laptops at City Hall – figure out what to do with all of that budget data they’ve got floating around over there.

And if you can’t make his show in person, catch the Leonard Cohen tribute film night. In other film news, it’s the last Reel Thursday of the year, featuring shorts by local filmmakers and artists. On Monday, (International Human Rights Day), the Embassy of the Netherlands is hosting the film “Love Crimes in Kabul”, which follows three young Afghani women who refuse to accept the labels given them by their accusers.

What else is happening around town? Let us know below!

Fabrications is the joint venture of Carrie and Curtis, who saw the opening for a little crafty shop down at 1098a Somerset (at Spadina). Yes, they’ll have fabric, but they’ll also have sewing machines for rent and offer classes for those of us less inclined to start a project on our own. With the opening party tonight from 7-10pm, they’ll officially be open for business tomorrow (Saturday). And to give you a sneak peek we sent them a few questions about what they’re hoping this quaint little shop will achieve.

Apt613: So what’s all the buzz about Fabrications? Tell us about the shop, and where you got the idea.

Curtis and Carrie: The idea for Fabrications was born over coffee and complaints about the lack of good fabric stores in Ottawa. The only place that I could get the fabrics I loved was to shop online. Being a person who is both tactile and impatient, it wasn’t the ideal shopping situation. Curtis commented that I should open that store. My first reaction was to say no, but when we thought about it more, it became an idea that we both felt we could run with. There are similar shops in Toronto, Vancouver, Hamilton, and in Europe, but Ottawa’s craft scene seemed to be lacking in this area. We were both government workers and our spirits were being crushed by years of public service. This was our ticket out.

The shop itself has hundreds of fabrics from popular designers to choose from. We stock cottons, organics, Japanese fabrics and are building our collection of vintage and reclaimed fabrics. We also have a selection of ribbons, notions and almost everything you could need for your sewing projects. If we don’t have what you’re looking for, please let us know and we will be happy to get it in for you.

Ottawa’s got a thriving craft scene. What kind of niche do you see Fabrications filling?

The empty one where a fabric store is required. But honestly we want to be a place where crafters and other like-minded individuals can come and get the supplies they need without leaving the community or having to order online. Although we will have an online presence there is a particular something about brick and mortar stores that can’t be described in words. We want to add to this already thriving community and we believe that we will be filling a void.

What’s it like selecting fabric from all of the amazing options out there?

Overwhelming! It was a task to narrow it down and decide what we thought would work best to start off but we think we have a pretty great selection. It will only keep growing and getting better.

 What else will be on offer at the shop?

We have 6 Bernina sewing machines and one Bernina serger that can be rented by the hour for use in store. This is perfect if you don’t have a sewing machine of your own, or if you would like to spend time being crafty with friends in a relaxed and welcoming environment. We give you the basic tools to use, including pins, marking tools, scissors, rotary cutters, tape measures, rulers, all the goodies.

We have complementary coffee and beverages and a cozy couch to sit and enjoy your drink and read a crafty magazine for inspiration. You will never feel rushed or pushed out. After hours we will be hosting various sewing workshops, which range from beginner level to advanced. It is very important to us that at the end of each workshop, the students go home with a completed project. We think this is so much more encouraging, especially for beginners. It will prove that anyone can sew and make beautiful things. There are so many fun things planned for the store that it’s hard to include them all without going on for pages and pages but a few other cool things are silk screening workshops which will be added in the near future, book binding workshops and free stitch n’ bitch evenings. It’s an evolution and we plan to always be adding new things.

Any other thoughts on what you hope Fabrications will be?

More than anything, we hope it will be a place that inspires creativity and a desire to learn new skills. Like you already mentioned, Ottawa has an amazing craft scene; we can only hope that our little shop is welcomed into the fold and will be seen as a fun place to come and hang out and be crafty together.