Artisans Festival attracts 31 crafters

This coming weekend brings the 10th annual Westmount Artisans Festival to Victoria Hall, featuring 31 artisans in total — 20 returning and 11 new participants.

Greg Chepurniy, with turned wood objects, and Brian Penning, with fine wood furniture, have joined Pete Claude with his birdhouses, and Barry Gaiptman returns with his coin pendants as the men of the show.

The new ladies bring us blanket quilts, bags and baby accessories, jewellery, art stationery, walking sticks, flower cards and folk-art dolls.

Returning again after an absence are bicycle bells by Annie Legroulx, and Wendy Hayden’s teddy bears. Suntaree Palasingh with her wonderful papier maché creations also returns with friend Suphatra Anan, a jeweller and we welcome them back.

Along with the new are the works of artisans that you know— blown glass, quilts, dog biscuits and blankets, pottery, and wearable art including scarves, recycled woolens and felted wool hats. There will be jewellery, of course, and floor cloths and table runners, hand-knits and silk handbags made from Japanese kimono fabric.

The Café-on-the-Stage offers lunch, coffee and tea time sweets and treats to take home.

Join us this Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Victoria Hall, 4626 Sherbrooke St. W. For more information, please call 514-934-0294 or 514-484-1974. • Ilyse Segal and Flora-Lee Wagner are co-organizers of the annual Artisans' Festival.

Photo: Martin C. Barry