For many years I’ve volunteered in a range of arts and entertainment roles, first in Toronto and now in Stratford. My experience has touched nearly every corner of the cultural world including art rental and sales, museum gift shops, Olympic sports venues, and film festivals. Since 2019, I’ve also had the privilege of volunteering at the Stratford Festival, our local and world-renowned live theatre festival. For more than 70 years, it has been a cornerstone of the province’s culture and tourism. Today, the Festival presents twelve main shows annually with a repertory cast, along with dozens of lectures, workshops, and special events. Shakespeare’s work has been part of the Festival since its inception, and this year, four of the twelve productions are his work.
As a Friend of the Festival, I most often welcome patrons at the four theatre venues from April to November. This year, though, I took on a new volunteer role: working in the Festival Archives. The Archives is one of the largest of its kind in the world, housing costumes from hundreds of productions, a vast collection of props and furniture, and decades of documentation, marketing materials, press coverage, and photography.
My task this summer was photo captioning. Each production is professionally photographed during previews, producing hundreds of images per show. These photos become an essential resource for researchers, media, and future directors.
Using a reference folder of each actor in costume, my job was to give each production shot an appropriate title and record the all the actors/characters visible in the photo in a giant spreadsheet. It could have been tedious, but instead, it sparked fresh inspiration.
Working so closely with these images has fueled new ideas for Stratford-inspired patterns. My first design, Timeless Connections, released this past summer is a playful, colourful look at the landscape around two of the theatres.
My next pattern will weave in more Shakespearean imagery in a toile de jouy style. Here’s a small preview: my sketch of two lovers in period costume, deep in conversation.
Inspired by Shakespearean productions.
I’ll be sharing more glimpses as the pattern takes shape, inspired not only by Elizabethan costumes and interactions, but by the sets and performances that help bring his work to life.
When Craft Meets Community
Over the decades, I’ve taken part in dozens of shows and markets featuring my creative work. Indoors or outdoors, in every season, I’ve set up tables full of ceramics, and now surface designs, in fields and parks, parking lots and boulevards, office boardrooms, school gyms, community centres, and even family dining rooms. With the help of my husband and a few very patient relatives, the ritual has become familiar: early morning setups, late afternoon tear-downs, and the constant shuffle of boxes, packaging and products.
No matter how prepared I feel, there’s always that little whisper of worry: Did I bring enough spare change? Where did that pen go? Do I have enough stock? Will my work resonate with this new group of people coming through the door? Months of making and manufacturing rarely quiet that voice completely.
As I continue to participate in these events, I’ve become more intentional about how my work is presented by tweaking table arrangements, refining my signage, and building cohesive branding to support my marketing efforts. Every sale teaches me something, and each one sparks ideas for the next.
But the greatest reward of showing up in person is the opportunity to talk directly with people. I see immediate reactions, hear questions and comments, and learn what appeals. The life of a solo creative producer can be isolating, and even consistent posts on social media can feel strangely hollow. In-person shows, on the other hand, offer a wonderful sense of connection. They remind me why I make what I make.
This past weekend, I spent a few hours at a small pop-up market in my local community centre. It wasn’t packed with shoppers, which meant I had the luxury of longer, richer conversations with those interested in my work. It’s something I’ve come to appreciate as much as making a sale.
My table at the Pop Up Market in St. Marys.
On Sunday, November 16th, I’ll be presenting my tea towels and throw pillow covers at the Four Winds Barn for the first time as part of the 7th Annual Holiday Market, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation.
It’s a new venue for me and a bit farther afield, so those familiar butterflies will no doubt flutter again. But that’s part of the adventure. It’s another chance to connect, talk about the intricacies of surface pattern design, and hopefully send a few items home with newly discovered friends.
I'm looking forward to seeing familiar faces and greeting new ones!
Thanks for your support!
It’s been a slow and steady build, and I’m happy to reach the milestone of 100 readers of this newsletter! Thanks for all of the positive feedback, and new connections I’ve made with some of you in person at my sales throughout the summer of '25. Here’s to growing the circle even larger !😊
Poppies in Remembrance
This month’s freebie is a swatch from my Poppy Damask pattern. It represents remembrance of our veterans in war time, and a very personal remembrance of my sister Melanie, lover of the poppy. I know she will be there in spirit as I venture out for another sale. You can use it as a digital background or even print it out for a card.
This red colorway is my response to Remembrance Day.
If you enjoyed this newsletter, please feel free to respond. I’d love your feedback! And if you have friends or contacts who’d enjoy this content, please share this link so they can sign up:
Thank you for reading! If you know anyone else who may be interested in my content please pass Shapeshiftr along to encourage people to sign up! And if you just want to leave a comment, feel free to reply to this email.
Grow Your Pattern Literacy with my Shapeshiftr Newsletter
What is the alchemy behind the creative process and surface pattern design? Learn to notice, appreciate, and understand the patterned world you live in. And, get a free, custom download with every issue.
