Shop • Learn • Share

December 7, 2025
10 AM - 3 PM

Guelph Studio Space
77 Suffolk Street West

Strings + Things: A winter market celebrating creativity and community.

Browse for unique Christmas gifts, meet our makers, and enjoy the atmosphere of a space filled with creativity and conversation.

Alongside the shopping and festive atmosphere, this event is also a chance to learn more about the fibre arts in Guelph and take part in building a knowledge-sharing collective. 

Meet the Vendors!

Blanket Hugs By Kate

Blanket Hugs By Kate

Kate Kelly, the creative mind behind Blanket Hugs By Kate, is an elementary teacher who likes to get "out of her head and into her hands."

Kate stumbled across hand knitting and taught herself the art of knitting with her fingers. No needles needed. The calming effect and beautiful product made her want to keep knitting. The yarn is so soft and there are so many designs and stitches to try.

Kate is now a vendor at local markets so she can share my "blanket hugs" with others. 

Favourite customer quote: "I had to get another one because my family fights over this blanket."

You can reach Kate by email (BlanketHugsByKate@gmail.com), check out more of her work on her Facebook page and Instagram profile!

Fun with Fabric by Marta

Fun with Fabric by Marta

Marta's passion for sewing sparked six years ago, inspired by her baby girl - who needed cute dresses and hats!

Marta fell in love with the craft and jumped into bigger projects. Today, her closet is full of unique summer dresses, tops and beanies, all created in her “happy place” – the sewing room.

With every project, Marta learns something new and is always eager to master new techniques.  

Marta is excited to bring her creations to Strings + Things! She is focusing on the coziest accessories: reversible beanies, neck warmers and headbands.

Marta would love to meet you. Come say "Hi!" and feel the quality of the fabric: a soft, breathable 95% cotton and 5% lycra blend that’s built to last! Stop at her booth to see, touch, and try the products.

Don't see *exactly* what you're looking for? Marta will whip up a custom beanie for you from her large collection of fabrics within 5 business days! 

Follow Marta on Facebook and Instagram (@fun_with_fabric_by_marta) to see more of her sewing projects.

Gossling Organics

Gossling Organics

Natalie Goss is a textile and fibre artist creating organic hand embroidered accessories and art. She explores a variety of hand embroidery techniques on functional home décor and personal accessory pieces. [I’ll add your picture from your website]

Gossling Organics, the brand under which Natalie creates, is about returning to a simpler way of life, and about how we can use natural materials and simple tools to create classic products to better our lives. Small batch, hand crafted textiles, mindfully made. 

At the Strings + Things Market, Natalie will be showcasing her Holiday Collection and demonstrating hand stitching tiny trees and fabric mushrooms. She will also have a small collection of her favourite embroidery tools and thread for sale along with many of her hand crafted textiles.

Check out Natalie's YouTube channel, shop her work here, and follow Gossling Organics on Instagram.

Just a Critter Crochet

Just a Critter Crochet

Lisa Klonikowski is the creative heart behind Just a Critter, where whimsy meets a touch of nerdy charm and cottage-core coziness. Specializing in amigurumi and floral-inspired crochet, Lisa brings personality and life to her work through thoughtful details and playful imagination.

Just a Critter began with Lisa’s belief that even the smallest stitches - and actions - can create big, beautiful ripples of change. Each of her crochet pieces is made by hand, one at a time, often with one-of-a-kind colour palettes.

You can find Lisa’s creations locally at Benjamin’s Bodega and Harrison’s Handmade Pop-Up, catch her at one of her many market days, and follow her on Instagram!

At Strings & Things, Lisa will be showcasing her largest and most technical creations, as well as some creations she designed herself!

Neurons and Nebulas

Neurons and Nebulas

Lauren Wright Vartanian is an OCAD graduate and member of S.E.W (Society for Embroidered Work.)

Neurons and Nebulas was born from her desire to bring her love of Art and Science together. Her ‘diagrammatic’ brooches, magnets and framed pieces are like textbook images recreated in felt. Each hand sewn and embroidered piece is heavily influenced by anatomy, astronomy, biology, math or physics. She has been so pleased by the response to her work and loves watching people geek out when they see it. Her goal is to spread enthusiasm for science.

Lauren's work has been used as teaching aids, it hangs in the offices of medical professionals and university professors, and her brooches have been worn as awareness badges for medical conditions. She also published a science-themed alphabet book, Stitching Science, which is filled with images of Lauren's original artwork.

You can see more of Lauren's work on her website, and on Instagram.

Old Dirty Beaders

Old Dirty Beaders

Meet the ODBs – The Old Dirty Beaders.

The ODBs are a creative beading collective brought together by a shared love of crafting, colour, and community. Since 2021, this lively group has been transforming glass beads and thread into distinctive, handcrafted pieces that celebrate artistry and self-expression.

When the ODBs gather, expect music, laughter, and the kind of joy that naturally turns into a dance party. Their collaborative spirit inspires their designs, including their signature “Dripping Blood” series—originally sparked by a deep-dive into one member’s collection of red beads. Each artist in the collective has since created their own unique interpretation of the design, exploring a vibrant spectrum of colours and styles. Other notable designs include: bead burritos, dino love, muted rainbow, and rainbow static. They love naming their creations almost as much as making them! Every piece is handmade with intention, creativity, and a little ODB magic.

Come meet the makers, share a smile, and find the piece that speaks to you!

Meet the Makers!

Katelyn Evans

@seweverything

Meet Katelyn Evans (aka @seweverything), a garment sewist with a passion for creativity, comfort, and community. Katelyn (she/her) focuses on crafting comfortable, wearable clothing that celebrates individuality and body neutrality. Since starting her sewing journey in 2017, she’s become deeply committed to using natural fibres, embracing slow fashion, and mending with care. Beyond sewing, Katelyn loves reading, jewellery, and spending time with her cats. She also volunteers with the Stitch Together mending program (which will have a table at the market too!).

At the Strings + Things Market, Katelyn will be sharing her knowledge and inspiration - from fit tips and pattern tweaks to the mindset of making clothes you’ll actually love to wear.

Ruth Haley

Three_Little_Ninjas

Ruth is a teacher by day, self-taught sewist by night. She sews beautiful clothes for herself, and her three children, just for the joy of it. 

Ruth is also active in the indie sewing-pattern community as a tester, helping ensure patterns are accurate, well-fitting and clearly written. As a pattern tester, Ruth understands pattern anatomy, sizing and fit variations, and how fabric choice affects the outcome. She has hands-on experience with both creating finished garments and working to improve the instructions/process. 

At Strings + Things, Ruth will share her knowledge of sewing, fabrics, and patterns from the inside, helping you recognize quality patterns, choose suitable fabrics, and make adjustments so your creations work for your unique body and style. She'll also share how the pattern testing process really works!

Check out some of Ruth's makes, below, and on her Instagram.