Powell Street Festival 2009 in Woodland Park

This year the location was changed from the usual Oppenheimer Park in Chinatown to Woodland Park just a block or two off Hastings and Commercial Drive.

There are two main things I love about going to the Powell Street Festival every summer.

1) Food

2) Shopping from local artists and vendors

Takoyaki assembly

As usual, the line for takoyaki was super long.
This line was so long… I think for next year they need to have their booth on the edge or corner of all of the concession stands instead of right in the middle of everyone. So worth it though- so fresh and hot! I even got an extra one just because it was small.

: )

Sushi jewelery by tatsuko

I found tatsuko again at the festival.
Last year I had to order the maki earrings I wanted online after the festival, because she had sold them out last year.
Her chiyogami earrings are beautiful too, but sushi accessories are definitely something handcrafted and unusual.

I was so excited to see an “onigiri” ornament.
I asked if earrings were available, but she said that the ones at the festival were just created before she came to Vancouver from Quebec to attend this festival.

I can’t wait until she gets back to her studio to make my customized onigiri earrings.

Glass fruit by Minori Takagaki

I am also a big fan of Minori Takagaki’s glass beadwork.
I picked up something different this year: an apple pin.
I was surprised to see a mailing list asking if anyone was interested in attending a glass bead making workshop or class.

I asked where was the studio, and Minori said at the moment the details aren’t solidified yet.
She’s seeing if there’s enough interest, and then she would figure out if she can fit students at her current studio on Granville Island or her colleague’s studio near Main and 3rd.

Sushi Plushi by Andrea Shizumi

I found a couple of other Etsy artists at the festival this year.
I said the longest “awwww” when I saw the cute little sushi plushis at Andrea Shizumi’s booth.
Andrea sews all her plushis by hand, and hopefully she will design her second edition of sushi designs soon.

HUG NERD JOY wooden blocks

I really admire Akane Designs’ concept of “refurbishing materials” and transforming them into new adorable handcrafted accessories.
Christina Oguchi had sweater laptop sleeves, coffee cup sleeves, passport sleeves, pillows and so many other cute things.

Rings by Akane Designs

I jokingly commented that she had a lot of soft sweaters.
Christina Oguchi said that she personally goes out and shops for vintage and consignment sweaters so she could make these accessories.
Currently her Etsy shop is empty, and let’s hope it will be up and running again soon.
She can be followed on twitter @akanedesigns

As much as I try to keep my shopaholic frenzy to a minimum,
at least I’m keeping it local or within Canada these days.

Shop local and Happy BC Day long weekend!