An East Vancouver fibre artist managed to secure a spot at this weekend’s Etsy: Made in Canada event less than a year after she started creating her signature textured woven wall hangings.
Jolynn Vandam was one of 78 vendors picked from approximately 350 applicants vying for a coveted spot in the pop-up marketplace that attracted more than 5,000 shoppers at last year’s inaugural event.
“It’s a step up from your normal craft fair, everybody has their own business,” Vandam says, noting that her ultimate goal when she started with Etsy earlier this year was to be picked for this fall market.
For those who might not know, Etsy is a worldwide marketplace where millions of people around the globe connect — mainly online — to make, sell and buy mostly handmade and vintage goods. The market event is a chance for those vendors to come together and sell their goods — everything from crafts to jewelry to home décor — direct to customers. Thirty-three cities across Canada are participating in the single-day shopping event on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Vandam will have a table at the sale featuring the charming wall pieces she crafts — traditional macramé and woven pieces made with natural fibres with a soft consistency that adds warmth to a room. She hangs her woven pieces on naturally shed deer antlers that her sister finds in the fields of Alberta, or on handpicked driftwood from local beaches.
For Vandam, part of the appeal of being an Etsy vendor is being able to stay at home with her kids — four-year-old Cooper and one-year-old Norah — while running her small business, which she calls Saige and Skye (after her kids’ middle names).
“This is something I really enjoy doing at home with the kids,” Vandam explains from the living room of her Grandview-Woodland condo, which is charmingly decorated with mid-century modern pieces, upcycled furniture and, of course, woven wall art.
She was surprised at how easy it was to sign up to sell on Etsy, and since doing so Vandam has sold her wares at the Eastside Flea and hosted a pop-up shop at West Elm on Granville Street.
“It’s taken off like wildfire, and I’ve never looked back,” says Vandam, who pulls from nature for the colour combos she uses for the woven pieces, which are made of soft merino wool.
Her fabric basket is full of delicious colours — rich teal, bubblegum pink, cool lavender, buttery creams, warm sands — that Vandam thoughtfully weaves together in mixed colour patterns.
“I usually use nature — the colour palettes of nature,” she explains.
Vandam is the typical Etsy vendor in that she is a woman with kids. Etsy Vancouver founder and vendor Crystal Ho says about 80 per cent of the locals are women, many are moms, handcrafting from home.
As an Etsy vendor, Ho sells tote bags, pillows, shipping labels and wall clocks with painted animals — foxes, giraffes, dogs, sea otters, etc. — through her line Triple Studio, which will also be featured at this weekend’s sale.
“It’s important for small business to support each other,” Ho says, explaining her involvement in the global organization that still retains a quaint, homespun feel.
As for this weekend’s Etsy market, Ho says there is lots to look forward to, including new sellers such as Vandam.
“They just started an Etsy shop, and they want to bring their stuff out to the world,” she says. “I’m excited for them because it will be a busy market.”
The market takes place this Saturday at Robson Square (800 Robson St.), from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry is free.
@nikimhope
