Seven artists I can't wait to see at the Etsy Montreal Fall Show 2018

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It's that time of year again!

Every September, Etsy Canada and its regional teams of passionate leaders host an annual fall show in almost 30 cities across the country. It's the Etsy Made in Canada market (which also goes by the name "Etsy Fait au Québec" in our province.)

On September 29th and 30th at the Locoshop Angus in Montreal, over 100 makers and designers will be gathered under one (historical) roof to exhibit their locally-made jewelry, paper goods, home decor items, fashion accessories, food, children's items, skin care products and more! 

For more of my event photos, visit my Facebook page or this blog post. Please credit when reposting!

I was fortunate to discover this scene almost as soon as I launched Veni Etiam back in 2015. I volunteered for the team for a few shows and was later recruited as one of the team leaders. What I love most about working on this leadership team is witnessing how incredibly talented our community is, and encouraging it to thrive even further. Not only are our participating vendors creative artists, but they are also inspiring entrepreneurs with unique life journeys. 

Those unique life journeys and behind the scenes moments are being shared on Instagram and Facebook this week as part of our seven-day social media challenge. You can follow us with the hashtag #EtsyMtlChallenge2018. I promise you you'll be inspired by what these artists have to share about their craft and their shops. ​

When we curate the collection for each of our shows, the process is meticulous and long. We go through close to 500 applications each time and mark the ones that stand out above the rest in terms of a list of criteria including originality, branding, photo quality and appropriateness for our shoppers depending on the season. That first cut doesn't even make a dent because of the caliber of applications we tend to receive. We then have to go through at least 300 applications, category by category, with a jury of team members. We do this in person, often until the wee hours of the morning, and then we continue to fine-tune our selection through an online discussion process.

Every edition, each of the organizers ends up falling in love with shops that are either new to our community or who have really upped their game in terms of the products they offer and how they present themselves as a brand.

Here are 7 artists I cannot wait to see at our market this weekend!

Veinage

Joannie Houle Art

The Softies - Tout doux

Pease

Lilot Poterie

Elisa Signature

Endearing Knits

If you are in Montreal this weekend, stop by our show! I'll be there with my photographic wall art, framed prints and decor accessories, including some of my new trays. Like many of these artists, I will also be taking custom orders and exhibiting lots of new items that are not listed in my online shops! 

Here is the full list of participating vendors and here are the full event details.
It's FREE to enter and the first 30 guests in line each day get a special goodie bag!

If you're not in Montreal, have a look whether an Etsy Made in Canada show is coming near you this weekend! I promise you it's a special feeling to support local makers and your local economy!

Do you have a favorite shop in your community? Leave a comment below and spread the love. ​

Event photos by Veni Etiam Photography

From my heart to yours.