Pithy and Practical is a handmade, hot process soap brand created by talented local, Amanda Bosiak. Amanda has always been crafty, learning skills such as cross stitching, drawing, painting, knitting, and sewing! She has spent her life delving into creative projects and taking part in creative organizations. To Amanda, being a Maker is kind of a lifestyle, stating that she is happiest when she is making things. She believes that being a Maker gives freedom to be creative and self-sufficient.
Amanda’s inspiration for Pithy and Practical came from creating a solution for her own skin concerns, trying to step away from harsh and drying ingredients. Most products found in stores are known to have many harsh and drying ingredients, such as alcohols, parabens, and other chemical additives. Using products with toxic fillers too frequently and over a long period of time can cause skin irritation, acne, and other skin problems. With this in mind, Amanda decided to create her own product, knowing exactly what ingredients are going into the soaps.
“I wanted a soap that I could really lather up and would leave me feeling squeaky clean but not dry. If it also had some extra ingredients with known benefits for skin, even better!”
Amanda’s philosophy is rooted to creating a multi-beneficial product that is not harmful for the skin. She went through trials, testing many different ingredients until she came up with the perfect combination. Her products are gently cleansing with a rich and creamy lather. With the oils and butters used, the soaps have deep moisturizing properties.
Amanda makes her hot process soap in a slow cooker at home, using a mixture of lye, water, oils, and butters. Using this technique allows for a quicker saponification process, which is a reaction that causes the conversion of the fats and oils to create soap! Amanda believes that handmade soaps are the way to go for cleansing rather than purchasing mass produced cleansers. It is a whole different experience when you purchase something local, made by someone passionate about what they are creating.
Other than the cleansing and moisturizing components, Amanda likes to play around with a variety of scents! Some of the unique scents include green tea and peppermint, tomato citrus, lilac, and apple mango. The collection in Pithy and Practical are not only soaps, but there are also lotions, balms, and face masks available!
If you would like to read more or shop online, head over to the Pithy and Practical website here!
Styx is a sustainable jewelry brand, handcrafted in the French alps in the small mountain village of Annecy. Annecy is recognized as the ‘Venice of the Alps’, known for the small cobblestone streets, winding canals, and charming French bakeries. Up-and-coming designer, Hugo Jamain, has a workshop in Annecy where he transforms materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
“Styx is a modern brand made to inspire the creatives, the explorers, and the adventurers of the world. It is for the bold, the people who push boundaries and aren’t scared to step outside of their comfort zones”
Hugo’s philosophy is deep rooted to his connection to nature, having always taken an interest in the preservation of the environment and ecosystems as well as the protection of the animals around him. He noticed a problem in his village and decided to create something positive from it that can also inspire people to care more about sustainability.
It all began when he noticed the amount of scrap metal and materials leftover from local businesses around the city. These materials would get loaded up in the back of a dump truck and taken to the landfill. Seeing this sparked the idea to make a second life for these materials and to create something much longer-lasting. Getting creative in his workshop, he made several prototypes before finalizing his first collection of jewelry.
With two parents that have inspired him to work with his hands in the realm of design – his mother has a background in architecture and his father is a craftsman, working for many top-level brands in France. When not in school, Hugo spent most of his childhood in a workshop by his father’s side, learning from and eventually making his own products. Watching his dad work, he grew up with the idea that everything was manufacturable or transformable.
Hugo has always taken an interest in learning and reading about ancient cultures and mythologies from around the world, taking a special interest in ancient Greece. As the Greek mythology states, ‘Styx’ is the connection of worlds, the continuation of life from one world to the other. With this in mind, the idea of transforming used materials into new jewelry is giving another life to something that would otherwise end up discarded.
Hugo is happy to spend hours on end in his workshop, using his hands to craft beautiful, polished, one-of-a-kind pieces. It began as a pastime to keep busy during the times of Covid and turned into a passion that he wishes to share with the world. He uses both stainless steel and brass to create different collections of bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings, cufflinks, as well as a variety of other things. He mainly uses stainless steel because it is one of the strongest metals and will not change, rust, or weather over the years.
Along with creating his jewelry brand, Hugo shapes surfboards. He buys the stock board and has all the materials to cut, shape, and design new boards. He also has a background in marketing and business, obtaining a diploma over the course of three years. An entrepreneur at heart, he has a lot of ideas for art, design, and creative endeavors.
From beginning to end, Hugo wishes to keep the entire process as sustainable and low impact as possible. For shipping, he uses biodegradable materials, such as bamboo packaging. He hopes to always keep the production process small and give as much attention to detail as possible. He wants the brand to remain artisanal, with the belief that it provides the best quality and uniqueness to each piece.
His travels around the world have inspired him to create collections based on the landscapes and cultures he visits. Being a surfer has connected him to the ocean and has inspired his first collection to mirror the ripples of the water. Along with this, the materials he uses are not harmful to the ocean and vice versa. He wears his pieces surfing with the knowledge that they will not rust or be affected from the saltwater.
He has begun working on collections based on different countries, including Canada! Based on his travels and friendships in Canada, he has grown to love the country and hopes to be able to move to Canada once restrictions are lifted. He observes and uses features that resemble the landscapes in his art and creations. His Canadian collection takes the vast differences of provinces and territories from prairies to mountains to forests to the ocean coast. For Saskatchewan and the prairies, he is working on belt buckles as well as a variety of other pieces. He is thrilled to be a part of Maker Faire and wants to share within this supportive and uplifting community.
To see more designs, check out the STYX Instagram page here!
This has been a difficult time in the world for a lot of people and being creative during uncertain times can be difficult. It can be tricky to stay positive or motivated – especially throughout winter, isolation, and with the lack of in-person activities and events. The impacts on mental health have been very real and statistics show that there has been a huge increase in depression and anxiety over the past year. Due to this, people feel less capable and less interested in learning or creating new things. These feelings are all completely normal, understandable, and common throughout the world. Though, it is important to remember that there is a bright side, the happy moments in life, and to find ease in the uncertainty.
Now, more than ever, it is extremely important to take care of your health in all ways – including both physical and mental health. Small habits such as routine, sleep, and exercise can help maintain a healthy balance. One great way to regain positivity and inspiration is through creativity! Exploring new ways to create and learn can provide a new excitement into your life. Whether it is a small hobby, something you have always wanted to try, or something you want to turn into a business, now is a great time to get started!
If you are looking for some inspiration on where to start, take a look at some of the Makers in our community and around the globe! There are many options to choose from and many people who are happy to share online workshops to get you started! Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing some of our newest members and spotlighting their creations. Let this be a tool to trigger your own inspiration to create! Whether you are interested in fashion, theatre, cosplay, jewelry, or a variety of other areas, there is something for everyone in this community! And if not, now is the time for you to step up and add your creations too!
Another great way to care for your mental health is by creating a sense of community. Although you may not be able to get out to social events, there are now many ways to join social communities, virtually! At Maker Faire, we are a community built on creativity and acceptance! We are excited to welcome new Makers into our family and learn what skills and creations they have to share with us! Our Makers are enthusiastic professionals who are passionate about their field and we are here to support them. Being part of this community not only gives you a platform to share your talents but also gives you an online space to network and make new friends! If you have something in mind, do not hesitate to reach out or to join our community!
Over the past year, many people hit a wall and put a pause on many aspects of life. A new normal came upon us very quickly and we have been adapting to deal with the new situation ever since. The extra time we now have indoors is a great excuse to start putting effort into the things we used to put on the back burner. When life is in full swing, many people feel too busy and overwhelmed to allow time for creativity, learning, and new hobbies. Being creative can be your steppingstone to help feel normal and productive again. Now is the time to hit the play button and to take the steps forward to build the life you want!
By beginning today, you are helping to set the trajectory of your future. The future is full of blank pages and you are the author to decide the story that is written. You never know what you may come up with or who you may inspire. There are many people stuck in a rut and need a little inspiration to get out – you could be that inspiration! Let yourself be free to explore all new paths in life. It is never a waste of time to learn a new skill, hobby, or habit. If you feel down, remember that it is not forever and that you can take steps, big or small, that can help you get back into a happy and healthy headspace.
We want to use Maker Faire as a way to share and spread positivity, creativity, and inspiration throughout our community. Everyone is capable to have new ideas and share their work in this judgement free zone. Let us use this space as a way to build something positive together. We are so excited for the future of Maker Faire and to build this community online so that when we hold events in the future, we can all meet and share our experiences!
For more information on what it’s like to be a Maker, check out our post from last week here!
With the cancellation of this years Maker Faire, we have decided to go virtual! If you’re new to the website and want to learn more about what the Maker Faire is, check out our previous blog here!
We have many talented Makers this year with a wide variety of skills and creations. Over the coming weeks, we will be going in more depth on each individual’s creations to give them the spotlight to show off their talent. Today’s blog is a sort of appetizer that will briefly touch on the Makers we will be interviewing. We will be showcasing our Makers in two ways, through video or through article and photo, depending on their trade and preference.
Summary of Makers:
We have Makers who create art, apparel, home décor, robots, props, as well as a variety of other things! Beginning with hand-made personal care products, we have Scott Walde who makes soap from scratch! He uses a variety of scents and moisturizing components such as olive oil and coconut oil. Amanda Bosiak is also a soap maker and creates hot process soaps using a slow cooker with oils and lye!
Moving on to textiles and fabrics, we have Ryan Linklater who creates apparel and costumes! He uses a hand cranking sewing machine, mainly creating pieces for cosplay and background sets. Next, we have Amanda Brown who is a textile artist focusing on handweaving to create accessories and home goods. Kara Perpelitz uses a spinning machine to spin yarn and later weaves onto it. We will be releasing a video demonstration the techniques she uses to create the materials and final product.
In the category of music, we have John Demchenko who composes electronic music! He uses his computer and software programs, all from his at-home music den. (Listen to “String Theory” he created for the Saskatoon Maker Faire string art video below.)
In the realm of arts, crafts and design, we have Laura Henderson Shylo who creates children’s books, at-home crafts, and photo restoration. Jordan Yaworski uses his vast experience and education to create props, sculptures, molding, and a variety of unique pieces for hire. Ferne Hebig crafts hand-painted miniatures and RPG themed dioramas. The Saskatoon Kilobots is a fun group that creates radio-controlled fighting robots. The robots are in tournaments and are some of the most destructive sub-lightweight robots in the world!
With this brief summary, we can see just how many talented individuals we have in Saskatchewan! There are many interesting products, arts, and crafts that the people in your community are ready to share with you! Again, if you are interested in becoming a Maker for the Saskatoon Online Maker Faire, feel free to submit here!
Maker Faires are independently organized events held annually at different times in cities across the world. The events allow locals from each area to showcase their creations, whatever they may be, and allows attendees to try their hand at a variety of hobbies and crafts! The concept stemmed from the ideas of collaboration, creativity, and community and allows makers to be in a supportive space, free of judgement, and provides locals the opportunity to connect and network!
In Saskatchewan, this family-friendly festival is held in the city of Saskatoon. The event displays a wide variety of handmade creations from local people. Maker Faire Saskatoon is set up at Prairieland Park and guests can wander from booth to booth, checking out anything from tech gear to woodworking! There are more than 100 Makers involved, showcasing thousands of new creations each year. Along with the exhibits, there are also presentations, performances, and workshops. These range from DIY projects and crafting to education and robotics. This is a great way to spend a fun-filled afternoon with friends and family. It is also a great way to be social and connect with new people! No matter what you are interested in, there is a little something for everyone who attends!
Saskatchewan’s Maker Faire began in 2018 and involves makers of any background from science and technology to the arts and crafts. This has become a big event in our province that brings the community together, uplifts each other, and supports local businesses! It provides a positive space to share, learn, and incorporate culture.
Unfortunately, due to COVID, the 2020 live event has been cancelled, but we are taking this as an opportunity to virtually shed light on some of our creative Makers! We would like to take this time to go into more detail on our Makers and to provide more information on the event itself, as well as answer any questions from the public.
Maker Faire is an open event for newcomers to join in on the fun and display their creations at the next event. If you have something you would like to show the community, feel free to reach out to be on our newcomer’s list! If you want to participate in the virtual edition you can still sign up here: https://saskatoon.makerfaire.com/virtual-call-for-makers/