Uncategorized – Tangled Heather

Bridgeland-Riverside Market Coming up August 24th

Next week will be my last summer market of 2023!

Farmers and artisan markets are a lovely place to slow down, enjoy the day, and see what our beautiful city has to offer. Local and handmade, these places sing with the charm of all things ‘home’. We get a beautiful variety of goods, demonstrating the skilled hands of people, many of which have come from far and wide to end up staying here in Alberta. We’re so lucky to have these gatherings that bring us all together to support our growing communities.

Just recently I attended Crossroads Market and had the pleasure of meeting many local vendors, including some very delicious eateries. I’m so excited to have found Kirks Alpaca Farm, they raise their own alpacas and processes the wool themselves! I think I’ve found a new supplier! There are some wonderful handmade items and great opportunities to be found at markets.

If you’re looking to check out some local vendors yourself, Coming up next week is the Bridgeland-Riverside Farmers Market, Located at the Bridgeland-Riverside Community Hall (917 Centre ave NE) on August 24th from 3:30-7:30 pm. The market turns 10 this year, and will be happening rain or shine! There will be local vendors selling fruit, veggies, eggs, baked goods, coffee, salsa, pickles and preserves, beer and cider, desserts, and more! And don’t miss out on the great activities, lawn games, face painting, and the Busker Hour at 3:30-4:30. On this particular Thursday you can also catch Carter Felker at 5:30pm, for the “Locally Grown” concert series – bring a lawn chair or blanket and come enjoy the show!

Once again I’ll be out there under my big white tent selling artwork and felted gifts. I’m looking forward to showing off my skills at the demonstration table of my stall – making felted flowers, rings, and trinket bowls. Perhaps you’re a collector, a fellow artist, or someone who has an eye for unique items, or If you have need of a one-of-a-kind gift for a special person, I might have just the thing!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Expanding my art

The past several months have begun an intense exploration into self discovery, finding my roots, and building artistic confidence.

I’ve been taking great pleasure in the changing seasons, watching the landscape shift from frosted branches to growing green and lush, seeing the earliest spring flowers come and go. And like nature, I’ve seen a shift in my self as well.

I often ride a rollercoaster of ups and downs, as one does in life. And this year has been no different. The chaos comes together though at times of clarity, and I find myself on new paths of creativity – insight into myself and a deeper understanding of the world around me and my place in it.

As usual, my inspiration is rooted in nature, its ebb and flow, and life’s precariousness. A recent death of a loved one remind me of the uncertainty of the future, but nature is full of reminders that life will always come full circle. I look back on pictures from the winter and find it hard to believe how quickly the heat of spring takes everything in a new direction. Suddenly the stillness is bursting with life. Gardens become a fresh focus and the drudgery of the seemingly endless snow and ice gives way to bustling energy and renewed hopes.

These thoughts have slowly built in me a new obsession, tactile elements call me, and I’m ready to start a new path. I’m developing several multimedia pieces, inspired by my home – Alberta – with familiar elements – the mountains, the flora, the fauna – they are highly textured and colourful. Combining my love of multimedia and collage, I work with textiles, hand dyed fabrics (using natural elements), embroidery techniques, pastels, charcoal, paint, and more. I hope to express, through layers and depth, the vastness and variety of this beautiful place.

In regards to my sculptural pieces, things are leaning into a fantasy direction. Fairies have been dancing in my imagination, like circus performers flipping in the air. These lively characters will lay on the moon, prance with the flowers, and hide by the mushrooms in some magical decorations – fantastic gifts for your most whimsical loved ones. I am so excited to share these pieces with you in upcoming weeks, and hope you enjoy them as much as I’m enjoying making them!

This leads to me next market, Triwood Farmers Market, at Triwood Community Centre (2244 Chicoutimi Dr NW) Tuesday July 11th from 3-7pm. The weekly summer market runs every Tuesday from June 6th to September 26th. Packed with local vendors, live music, and food trucks (Taco Tuesdays anyone?), the market is sure to please! Looking forward to seeing you there, come on down to take a look at my new handmade items and artworks.

The Momma Market

This spring and summer I’ll be selling my felting and art at several markets. I havent done a market in several years and I’m so excited to get back at it!

The first one up is The Momma Market on May 7th. The market is being held at the Calgary Jewish Centre (1607 90ave SW Calgary, Ab) from 10am to 3pm. The event is family friendly and free to attend, so I hope you can make it! 20+ health/wellness/family/fun focussed vendors will be there and every guest gets a swag bag (and don’t forget a chance to win door prizes!). There’s also a cafe that will be selling tasty snacks and lunch.

My table will be well stocked with new one-of-a-kind sculptures, keep an eye on my social media for a sneak peek! But some designs wont be revealed before the market, so I hope you can come down and scoop up your favourites before they’re gone!

Etsy page is up and running!

After years since my first craft fair, several more children, and all sorts of global events and change, I’m opening up the wool bin and dusting off my needles. I continue to be in love with nature and pregnancy, and I’ve been itching to make several new designs with a touch of magical and whimsical details. I hope these new one of a kind sculptures inspire and delight.

Along with taking this path back into art, I fell upon a new business name. “Tangled Heather”, an idea that came to me from the tangled webs and silks of several insects, mashed up with the often obscure connections my brain takes when I’m on an artistic journey. I am a bit of a tangle, and my fibres tangle together to make beautiful things. It feels like a good fit to me. Do you like the name?

I’ve also finally bit the bullet and decided to start up an etsy page. Please visit it to see my current pieces available to buy. Almond Blossoms went up yesterday and Twilight Stars will be going up within the next few days. Custom orders will also be available soon! Slots will be limited, so if you have a time sensitive gift in mind please order early.

This blog will also be updated regularly with information on my upcoming events. Keep in mind some sculptures may be craft fair exclusives, or be available first at events before being put up for sale on etsy. So I hope to see you at my next craft fair to scoop them up before theyre gone!

Thanks for checking out my blog, until next time,

Heather-may