Spend on Trend was one of the first events I ever wrote about on Modern Mix Vancouver, and it was the friendly guidance and support from Nicole Stewart (the PR representative behind this event) which taught me a lot more about the local fashion and media industry.

Now, Spend on Trend is back again and Modern Mix Vancouver readers can get first dibs on this trendy exhibition event, featuring Canadian designers and their arts, crafts, clothing, jewelry, accessories and more!  From August 21-23, shoppers can head down to the Scotia Bank Dance Centre (677 Davie Street) to, quite literally, “spend on trend”.  Tickets to this event are regularly $5 at the door, but one lucky MMV reader will have a chance to get postal-mailed a pair of tickets, directly to their door.

All you have to do is email info@modernmixvancouver.com and tell me what your favorite reason for shopping local is! Submissions will be drawn at random and the winner will be notified in the first week of August!!

For MMV’s media coverage of Spend on Trend 2008, click here.

On Sunday May 3rd, visit “Got Craft?” will be taking place at The Legion (2205 Commercial Drive at East 6th Avenue).  Got Craft? is Vancouver’s largest indie craft fair featuring over 50 local and handmade vendors from clothing to jewelry to children’s accessories to bath and body products. Vendors include feather headbands by A Farmers Daughter, sewn handbags by Urban Harmonie Handbags and handmade toys by the Tiny Warbler (that elephant below is so adorable!). By bringing a modern twist to the conventional craft fair, Got Craft? is a one stop shop showcasing the best talent Vancouver has to offer while providing the general public with an opportunity to purchase one of a kind items.  The event is from 11am to 5pm and the first 30 people through the door will receive a free swag bag full of goodies.  Admission is $2 and kids 10 and under are free.

Friday November 21st (6pm to 9pm)
Saturday November 22nd (10am to 4pm)
Friday December 5th (6pm to 9pm)
Saturday December 6th (10am to 4pm)

For 35 years, Vancouverites have been enjoying the Circle Craft Christmas Market. An annual tradition for thousands of holiday shoppers, today, adults who attended as children with their parents are now bringing their own kids!

From Tuesday, November 11 to Sunday, November 16, 2008 more than 260 Canadian artisans (48 new this year) will gather under the sails of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre to present their wares at Western Canada’s largest one-of-a-kind gift fair. That’s one more day than usual!

Shoppers and attendees will find gorgeous clay work, the newest and hottest of Canadian fashion and jewellery design, stunning glasswork, handmade candles and soaps, unique clothing and toy items for children, an assortment of amazing home décor items, fine art from acclaimed visual artists, and many more carefully handcrafted items in felt, wool, wood, leather and metal. And, there’s food—delicious chocolates, sauces, dressings and more!

Tickets for adults are $12, Students and Seniors are $8 but any ticket purchase entitles you to unlimited re-admission for any day of the show. Just don’t forget to pick up your re-entry pass before leaving the premises.

At BC Place this November 20th to 23rd for the One of a Kind Christmas Show , BC Place will be filled with thousands of savvy shoppers and 200 artists, artisans and designers from all across Canada. The One of a Kind Show is a very different sort of Christmas show. True to its name, each exhibitor must be directly involved in the production of their crafts and each piece in the show must be handmade. One of a Kind Vancouver will be the place to source everything from homemade preserves to luxury fashion items.

The One of a Kind Show began in Toronto in 1975, and is now an Eastern Canadian shopping tradition. Craft shows are becoming increasingly popular with consumers who realize the value of purchasing from local artisans as opposed to supporting overseas factory-made goods. Now on its 33rd year in Toronto, this marks the first time that the One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale has come to Vancouver.

This is definitely one of the more “trendy” gift fairs to visit this holiday season. You may have seen their advertising campaigns around the city and, from a marketing perspective, you can see that it’s targeting a “modern mix” of visitors.

Last month, I went to the One of a Kind preview at Medina Cafe in downtown and had the opportunity to meet several of the participating artists. From jewelry to bags to clothing and artwork, there was a diverse range of unique gifts to suit every one’s taste.

What a small world because I happened to have gone to the same high school with one of the artists, Emily Cooper, who is specializing in mixed media photography.

Emily Cooper is a Vancouver based artist whose work has been published in Applied Arts Magazine and the National Post. Her pieces incorporate imaginative photographs of eggs, butterflies, leaves, and landscapes that are then layered together to create unique multi-dimensional art pieces.

And Emily is just one of the 200 amazing artists who will be present at One of a Kind this year. I would highly recommend checking out their website for more details!

Thursday November 20th to Sunday November 23rd, 2008
Thursday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Tickets to the One of a Kind Show will be available at the door or online.
Adults $10.00
Seniors (65+) $6.50
Students (13-17) $6.50
Children (12 & under) Free

Tickets will also be available for pre-purchase online at www.oneofakindvancouver.com at reduced admission rate for Adults of $8.00