Okay, where did those 11 days just go?
Tomorrow I fall into my annual state of mixed emotions. Ready to put my feet up and relax but equally wanting to go right back for another 11 days and enjoy every single one of you all over again. I get euphoric and somewhat depressed all at the same time! That’s okay, I’ve always been a fan of roller coasters!
The One of A Kind Show has an amazing history. As of today this little show of 800 exhibitors is officially 42 years old! One sunny day in 1975 artist June Bibby recruited two dear friends, Steven Levy and Martin Rumack when she realized that there was no show in Toronto for her to exhibit and sell her work. Other artists must have been having the same challenge so hey, wouldn’t it make sense to create the best craft show in Canada?
The show opened in December 1975 and it was called “The Canadian Christmas Craft Show”. Five Years later the name changed and the “One of A Kind Show” was born. The thumbprint logo was created so that attendees of the show knew they would see nothing but beautifully hand crafted One of A Kind works of art.
I love this story for so many reasons. I love how June Bibby had an idea that became a gift for 800 artisans like me! For many of us this show is how we generate the majority of our income for the year. It keeps us going through the winter and finances our dreams to create new pieces for our customers.
I love how important the show has become to its attendees. Many of you come year after year as a tradition. You come and talk to your favourite artists and you all are more like family than customers to us. You ask how we are, what we’ve been working on, you compliment our latest pieces and most of all you bring to light the joy that our work brings to your life.
I am so grateful to June Bibby and her wonderful idea and to all of you for continuing to support the show and all of us as we continue to create and live the life of ever evolving artists.
Tomorrow might be my annual roller coaster ride of mixed emotions but where else could I ever get such a rush from a full time occupation? Thank you for making my glamjulz dreams come true!
Monica XO
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