Join me on Saturday at the Kemp Care Network Holiday Market!

Wondering if there are any holiday markets near you this weekend? Well, wonder no more! Join me on Saturday, November 22nd, at the Kemp Care Network Holiday Market.

Details

When: 10.00 am to 2.00 pm on November 22nd

Where: Royal Canadian Legion, 435 Limeridge Rd E, Hamilton

To benefit: Kemp Care Network

Why SBKM will be there

I haven't been a market vendor in a long, long time. As you may know if you've followed me for a while, I've evolved from someone who crochets items to sell, into being focused on creating designs to share with other crocheters, as well as teaching people to crochet.

I already support the Kemp Care Network through Project Linus (you can read more about that here, if you're interested) and when I heard about the Holiday market through a friend who volunteers for them, I decided I would love to participate.

When you design items, you tend to make prototypes and extras in order to rigorously test your patterns before publication, so over the last couple of years I have accumulated lots of things I don't really need to keep. To wet your whistle, over the next few days I will be sharing some of the items I will have with me at the market!

In addition to some of my makes, I will also have with me some gorgeous handmade items crafted by my friend, mentor and teacher, Kel Snake.

Introducing Kel Snake

Over the summer I've been studying with Kel, and if you follow my personal page on Facebook, you will have seen some of the things I've been working on. I'm going to be bringing my first project made under Kel's tutelage to completion soon, and I can't wait to share it with you!

So who is Kel? Here's his artist biography:

"For over four decades, Kel Snake has followed a creative and spiritual path shaped by curiosity, craftsmanship, and consciousness. What began as an exploration of materials and meaning, has evolved into a unique body of work that bridges art, mechanics, and metaphysics.

Each puzzle Kel creates is both an object and an invitation - a finely crafted mechanism that challenges perception while revealing deeper truths about patience, awareness, and the nature of discovery itself.

His years working with a wood recycling company became a turning point - a time when he learned to listen to the wood itself. Among forgotten boards and discarded beams, he discovered that every piece carries memory, tone, and teaching, that the wood decides where it wants to be used, we just need to listen. That listening continues to guide his process today.

Working primarily in exotic wood and upcycled boxes, Kel transforms history into harmony, giving old materials new purpose and voice. His ongoing Yardstick Series - a ten-piece collection - exemplifies this vision, blending nostalgia and precision to remind us that true measurement lies within. Other notable works, like The Nesting Lure, reflect and evolving mastery of design that has captured the attention of collectors worldwide.

Rooted in a lifelong spiritual journey, Kel's process is guided by intuition and reverence for balance. Each puzzle, whether complex in form or simple in motion, mirrors the inner mechanics of transformation.

In addition to his signature creations, Kel uses offcuts from his puzzle work to craft small, affordable pieces - tangible expressions of the same mindful artisty, each under $40 - ensuring that the joy of craftsmanship remains accessible to all.

Through every piece, Kel invites others to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the quiet dialogue between maker, material, and mystery."

Why I'm working with Kel

Kel's creations are more than just objects - they're a testament to the art of creating something with love, passion, intention and care. He pours his heart and soul into his work, and I strive to do the same. Working with Kel is helping me learn to be a student again (an incredibly valuable skill for a teacher to develop and practice!). I'm learning new technical skills, which I'm putting into action in creating something new and special, but I'm also growing in a spiritual sense, which is informing, shaping, and subtly changing all of my creative endeavours, including both my crochet designs, and how I teach others to crochet.

Small items made by Kel will be showcased at the Holiday market

In alignment with his goal to craft beautiful pieces that are accessible to everyone, Kel has shared with me some of his smaller items. This include necklace pendants, key fobs, long-handled clips, and toast tongs: