Maker Spotlight

Helia is one of our newest Makers, located in western Canada. She is an artist, with a passion for creating beautiful mandalas. For those of you that don’t know, mandalas are a geometric symbol and are often associated with spiritual guidance. Found within Buddhist and Hindu circles, Mandalas can be used to establish a sacred space and as a visual aid for meditation.

Helia found her passion for mandala art at the age of fifteen when her auntie registered her into an introductory workshop. From there, she began practicing and drawing pieces by hand, beginning with simple patterns, and later creating very intrinsic pieces.

BACKGROUND

Helia is originally from a small village in the Côte D’azur southeast side of France, called St. Paul de Vence. As a child, she attended an alternative education elementary school which incorporates more open learning into the education system, allowing children to have the freedom to follow a variety of different interests. This type of school system focuses on showing children the outdoors, experiences within other communities, and provides children with the freedom to follow creative pursuits.

Helia spent her childhood drawing abstract pieces and curiously delving into the arts. Before going to high school (age 16-18), children in France must choose a field of focus during their college years (age 12-15). With the support of her family, Helia decided to apply for the field of art and design during these years. Realizing her growing passion for the arts, she prepared for entrance into fine arts school after finishing high school. Successfully gaining entrance, Helia had the opportunity to study textile design for two years. She studied hard and learned a variety of new skills within this artistic field. After this time focusing solely on education, she was feeling drawn to the idea of travel and new experiences. After two years, Helia decided that she wanted to keep art as a passion rather than pushing it to be work. So, she began travelling and gave herself time to explore and connect with herself.

TRAVELS

Helia couldn’t shake the feeling to travel and booked decided to book a flight to Hawaii. She began travelling three years ago, first living in Maui before making her way to Canada. Living with a relative in Maui gave her a unique perspective to a new country as a local which allowed her to slow down and fully embrace life and new experiences. She loved living under the sun in Hawaii but eventually wanted to continue her travels and experience a new country.

After holidaying with her uncle in Big White, she fell in love with British Columbia and knew she wanted to spend some time living in a ski resort town. When she came to Canada almost two years ago, she decided to live in Whistler. She was drawn to Whistler for the beautiful natural landscape, welcoming community, and endless year-round activities. She spends her winters skiing in the snowy mountains and summers by the lake, hiking, camping, and sitting around campfires with friends. She is inspired by her life in the mountains and was able to rekindle her passion for the arts. She began drawing mandalas as a hobby and is now taking her art to new levels.

BUSINESS

During the Covid lockdown last year, Helia began focusing on drawing every single day. She found the best way for her to deal with this time alone was through art, focusing on creating beautifully intrinsic mandala pieces. Becoming more and more passionate about creating art, she realized she wanted to do something more with her artistic side. Although it is a hobby, she hopes to also have this as a small business pursuit, sharing her art with the world.

Helia began an Instagram account, where she is able to scan photos of her hard-drawn pieces to share them on her page. She hopes to also begin an Etsy store in the near future where she can sell her pieces. Her mandalas make great framed art pieces, but she hopes to also have cards available and perhaps printed onto textiles as well!

Recently, Helia had the opportunity to partner with a local company in Whistler that printed her art onto skis! A creative way to get her work out there while holding up to her hobby and lifestyle in Whistler! These limited-edition skis were released in October and will be available all winter.

If you want to see more of Helias work, check out her Instagram here!

Michael Kowalski is a Maker from Ontario and a founding member of KWArtzLab, a not for profit Maker society. Located in the Waterloo region, KWArtzLab wishes to provide tools, community connections, and learning opportunities for Makers in the area.

Beginning of KWArtzLab

Michael developed this space for creators lacking the means and proper space to create! KWArtzLab is operated solely by volunteers and there are no hired employees or staff. Therefore, it is not freely open to the public and people must join as a member. Members need to pay a small fee and will then receive a key card with 24-hour access to the shop. To govern the workshop, there is an election that takes place each year. At the annual meeting, seven directors are elected, and are meant to serve for a term of 1 year.

Workshop

The workshop has a variety of tools available such as 3D printers, an electronics workbench, and much more! There is a section available for laser cutting which includes a 2×3 ft. bed which can cut materials such as plywood, acrylic, and fabric. Another section is made for fabric arts which includes heavy duty sewing machines, a serger, and a CNC embroidery machine! Lasty, there is also a ‘heavy lab’ where Makers can work with wood and metal working tools such as lathe, mitre saw, bandsaw, drill press, MIG Welder, and a CNC router.

Events

During normal times, KWArtzLab holds weekly events and meetups for Makers to create and learn from each other. An example of the events held are the robot club meetups, oil/lube/filter workshops, and open nights for the public! Adapting to the times, KWArtzLab now has many virtual events and workshops available. Still, the team is hoping to hold their first post-COVID meetup at the beginning of July!

Community

There have been many interesting projects made at the KWArtzLab workshop with talented Makers from all over Ontario. Projects have included a massive 3D printed statue, hex tile murals, and furniture. This is a place where there is a balanced mixture of science, technology, mechanics, and art! People come to the KWArtzLab full of ideas and inspiration to create, thriving off the enthusiastic environment. People can feel free to create as the please in a positive environment, free of judgement, with the support of their peers!

If you are interested in learning more, check out the KWArtzLab website here!

Nutrien Wonderhub is a local organization and museum which focuses on intergenerational creativity! The purpose behind the organization is to foster curiosity and lifelong learning through interactive and hands-on exhibits and programs. The Wonderhub museum is located on Spadina Crescent in Saskatoon. The mission of the organization is to combine play and education by bridging the gap between school and home!

Mission and Values

The values of Wonderhub focus on curiosity, child-centricity, and sustainability. They wish to make the establishment more than just a museum but an inclusive meeting-place. They want to use our natural wonder and curiosity as a catalyst for educational experiences. Wonderhub offers both in-house and outreach educational programs, made for playful learning!

“The Nutrien Wonderhub community extends far beyond the walls of our home at the Mendel. Through outreach programming, affiliations with community-focused events and initiatives, and our own signature events, we continue our commitment to creating interactive, inclusive opportunities to play, learn, and grow.” – Nutrien Wonderhub, 2021

History

Nutrien Wonderhub first began back in 2002 when a group of passionate volunteers came together to create the Children’s Discovery Museum. Up until 2009, the museum was mobile, with volunteers working with supplies and educational material out of their van. In 2009, they were able to secure a space at the Saskatoon Market Mall and quickly became a mecca for families with young children. The following years showed much success with hosting international travel exhibits, debuting the Kid Approved capital campaign, and obtaining the fundraising goal of $14.5 million to help build a world-class children’s museum. Now, the museum is up and running for the general public. The museum offers general admission or memberships for those who wish to visit more often. There are both individual and family memberships which offers great discounts, special pricing on camps and programs, and access to private events.

Museum & Exhibits

The museum offers exhibits, workshops, and a variety of rooms. There is also a café with quick grab & go snacks and gift shop on site. The gift shop has a selection of toys and learning tools available for purchase so you can keep learning at home!

There are three levels to the museum with wide variety of exhibits, each one offering unique displays and educational toys. One of the most popular exhibits is the ‘Cosmic Commotion’ which is the only permanent installation from internationally acclaimed artist Toshiko Horiuchi in North America. The installation is a giant crocheted structure where kids can climb about, popping up in different pods. The other exhibits allow guests experiment with sound, light, colour, wind, and art. The exhibits have all been created with a purpose, whether it be to trigger sensory development, imagination, motor skills, collaboration, or creativity. Each exhibit is a fun experience not only for the children but for parents too! Wonderhub believes in a method where the child leads the way, without timeline, which guarantees a new and enjoyable experience at each visit!

Programs, Classes, Workshops, and Camps

Along with the exhibits, there is also a workshop, create spaces, and a gathering place which gives guests the opportunity to get involved and attend different programs. The workshops include 3D printing, laser cutting, drilling, and sanding. The create spaces are made for guests to collaborate and explore creativity. The gathering place is a tree-lined space which is used for groups to come to share stories and experiences.

There is a selection of eight different programs available from Pre-K all the way to Grade 6. Each program offers an interesting approach to creative learning and experience. One of the programs called ‘Rock On’, offered for Grades 3-6, focuses on rock formation and erosion to learn how landforms are shaped. Another program called ‘Clang! Bang! Boom!’ explores the science of sound by introducing pitch, volume, sound waves, and vibrations. This program is offered for Pre-K to Grade 4 and gives children the opportunity to create their own sound makers.

The classes and workshops offered incorporate STEAM learning to encourage a balanced education. For those of you new to this concept, STEAM learning is a method that focuses on a blend of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. Summer camps are also up and running which allows campers to experience both the indoors and outdoors of what Wonderhub has to offer! The summer camps are made for kids ages 5-9 and are offered as either day camps or week-long camps. The camps are a great way to keep kids busy, give them a chance to make new friendships, and gain independence in a fun, open, and educational environment. Throughout the camps, campers will get to explore the museum, work together on projects, and interact with the hands-on exhibits and workshops. Each workshop, class, camp, and program are meant to be inclusive and celebrate community!

If you are interested in learning more about Nutrien Wonderhub, check out their website here!

Amanda is a local designer in Saskatoon with a sustainable label called Scarlett Dahlia which launched back in 2013. Since she was a young girl, she was passionate about designing clothing, accessories, and keeping herself busy with different creative projects. As an adult, she continues flourishing her artsy side and chasing a few different creative endeavours! One of the biggest projects Amanda is working on is her business, Scarlett Dahlia. She designs and creates all pieces in her home studio and has come up with a range of products such as wallets, scarves, and shawls. Along with the clothing brand, Amanda is a multi-talented visual, textile, and makeup artist. She has a deep-rooted connection and understanding of sustainable slow fashion, implementing her beliefs into all aspects of her life and business development.

Sustainable Focus

The roots to the brand, Scarlett Dahlia, is based on a sustainable business plan, having a small-impact and sticking as close to zero-waste as possible. Amanda strongly believes in re-purposing and re-using old materials to create new, updated pieces. She is also mindful of the pieces she is repurposing and mainly uses materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill. She uses materials from a variety of sources such as old clothing, banner vinyl, leftover leather, and yarn. Each piece of Scarlett Dahlia is one-of-a-kind and uniquely handmade, using a variety of colours and patterns.

“My morals are simple: choose materials that will have as little negative impact on the earth as possible, buy local and support companies who operate and trade fairly and ethically, and then use 100% of that material.”

Fast Fashion

Being hyperaware of the fast fashion industry, Amanda wishes to use her brand as an example that the fashion industry does not need to be so wasteful. In the past, it was not uncommon to use scrap material to repurpose old garments. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that the fast fashion industry boomed. Over the past few years, it has gotten worse with more people wanting the latest trends that rotate at an extreme rate. Social media, such as Instagram, has created a world where many people want to continuously have new clothes per post as well as staying up to date with the latest trends.

Based on the quick rotation of trends, people turn to cheap, low-quality clothing. Fast fashion has become engrained into first world countries and the problem lays with people not seeing the full extent of impact with their purchases. It is important for information like this to be easily accessible to the public and for people to know the negative impacts they contribute based on their purchases. With brands like Scarlett Dahlia, people now have the option to opt for slow fashion without breaking the bank! Not to mention, smaller designs offers both quality and uniqueness compared to mass produced items that are all exact copies which millions of people have access to purchasing.

The Zero-Waste Process

For those of you new to this concept, zero-waste is simply a principle to cut out any form of waste from start to finish. The focus is to resource materials and use every piece rather than throwing anything out. This is an extremely important initiative in a world with a population exceeding 7.8 billion people. The term came to light in the 2000s when the wastefulness of today’s society and the colossal amount of waste in landfills was acknowledged across the globe.

Waste is one of the worst environmental impacts in our current world. Over-consumerism has created a new global problem and we see it in our landfills. Some of the problems associated with waste is the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, soil contamination, and water contamination which all contribute to the climate crisis. The fast fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to waste, globally.

To make her brand ‘zero-waste’, Amanda mainly works with scrap offcuts, left over from other products, and uses them to make her new pieces. When making wallets, Amanda only uses a small amount of fabric and the leftover fabric is then cut up and weaved into rugs. Any tiny bits of leftover material after this gets cut into even smaller pieces and is used for stuffing. Any woven goods are 100% zero-waste and made completely of natural fibers and any leftover yarn from this is used to make different designs using accent stripes. All the packaging also comes from either re-usable, recyclable, or compostable materials. From beginning to end, each step is taken with the utmost mindfulness to achieve sustainability.

Amanda is both passionate and talented with her business and other creative endeavours! She is another example of just how creative our local community really is! To read more about Scarlett Dahlia or shop the website, click here!

To read more on our other Makers, click here!

Hugo Jamain is a talented jeweler, making handmade pieces in his shop out of sustainable materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill. Check out our blog from a few weeks ago on his brand, STYX. For this week’s blog, Hugo decided to get a little more involved in the details on the jewelry making process for a 101-tutorial guide for anyone that wants to try their hand at making their own jewelry.

Step 1: Finding the Materials

Firstly, Hugo goes through boxes of scrap metals and searches for materials that he can use, such as stainless steel and brass. He mainly uses stainless steel because it’s high-quality and is one of the strongest metals.

Stainless steel is a very common metal used to make products like sink faucets, home appliances, and furniture. For this reason, there is a lot of stainless-steel pieces that end up in the garbage as scrap metal.

Step 2: Analyzing the Materials

Once Hugo chooses the good pieces of scrap metal, he brings them back to his shop to be transformed. He first cleans each piece by hand and then analyzes the best way to move forward with each piece. He tries to maintain the true shape so that there is as little waste as possible. Since the jewelry turnout depends on the shape of the material at hand, each piece ends up unique. For example, rings are generally made with tubing and earrings are usually made with thick sheet metal.

Step 3: Designing

This is where it gets fun! Hugo sits down with his pen and paper and gets creative with some design ideas. He tries to make pieces that are bold and unique, stepping away from concepts that are too mainstream. He wants to create timeless pieces that can last a lifetime. Each piece is created to be one of a kind as he doesn’t follow any specific pattern.

Step 4: Getting to Work

Hugo uses four main tools – a hammer, saw, sander, and polisher. Once the materials are cleaned and the concepts and designs have been thought through, he gets to work in his shop. Firstly, Hugo uses an electric saw to cut the steel into the shapes he wants. Since jewelry is very small, he then uses pliers to cut the specific shape and go into more detail with the design. He will then add some texture using a hammer which creates ripples on the metal. Afterwards, Hugo uses three different types of electric sanding disks to sand down any imperfections. Lastly, he makes holes in pieces such as necklace pendants and earrings before attaching the chain or earring hooks. The last step is to polish and add a protective spray for the perfect shine!

If you’re interested in getting into the art of jewelry making, Hugo suggests starting simple and moving to more complex projects as you learn. This blog includes the steps Hugo takes to design jewelry with metals but there are many videos and tutorials out there as well to get you started! Along with metal jewelry, there are plenty of other types of jewelry you can make if you don’t have a shop or equipment!

Saskatoon Maker, Nicole Boczula, is a passionate creative, interested in a variety of artistic fields. She grew up in Calgary, studied in Toronto, and later moved to Saskatoon where she has become a local Maker! After finishing her bachelor’s degree in science, she realized that she was always turning to creative outlets and decided to follow her passion as an artist instead.

Nicole currently works at Painfully Pretty Tattoo Studio in Saskatoon as a Tattoo Apprentice. She is happy to have the freedom with this job and to have the ability to create every day! In Nicole’s free time she explores other creative activities, taking a special interest in cosplay. Other than cosplay, Nicole keeps busy with aerial hoop classes, music, and crafting. Being a Maker has allowed Nicole to hone in on her artistic passions and talent for creating new things. She believes that “everyone has the ability to create and show the world what they can do – whether you are a makeup artist, cake decorator, or engineer”!

Nicole’s Designs

For those of you are new to this term, cosplay is a portmanteau of the words costume and play. Cosplay originated in Japan but has since become a globally recognized community. Not only does cosplay offer a new imaginative space but it has also created an amazing sense of belonging for those interested in this area. There are conventions and expos held around the world, whether they are small local gatherings or massive events in major cities. If cosplay attendees feel up for a friendly competition, some of the conventions and expos allow for costumes to be judged based on construction and presentation – and the opportunity to win a prize!

Nicole loves the cosplay world and creating her own costumes for events, photoshoots, and online. Local cosplayers might recognize her online name as ‘Simply Devious Cosplay’. She has been a cosplayer for approximately 8 years now and designs all of her own costumes! Nicole feels inspired by the cosplay scene because she loves to be able to transform into characters that she admires. She also loves to attend in-person events as it is a great opportunity to connect with other cosplayers and fans within the community. The events are a great way to “interact with others and gives cosplayers the opportunity to talk about their favorite characters from the same show/videogame.” Nicole states that she has made many lifelong friends that she met through conventions and expos.

Nicole currently has a few different projects on the go, focusing on props and armor, including the Cloud Buster Sword from Final Fantasy 7! When creating new things, she gathers a collection of photos for inspiration. She then cuts out the design she wants from EVA foam or insulation foam. From here, she begins sanding and priming in order to prep for finishing. The last step is where she gets creative with paints, colours, looks, and designs!

Cosplay Community in Saskatoon

Saskatchewan has a great cosplay community, with events held every year in Saskatoon! Anyone interested in cosplay is accepted into this space where artists get to show their talents for costume design. Those in this community are very passionate about the art and design that goes into creating the costumes. Hours, days, or even weeks are spent in the process to create an amazing final costume. The events are a great way to showcase the hard-work and passion that goes into making the costume. With in-person events being put on pause, there are now many virtual events being held around the globe! If you’re interested in cosplay, take a look at some of the expos offered and get back into your creative sphere!

If you’re new to cosplay but are interested in the scene, take a look online for countless workshops available to get you started! Youtube, Instagram, and other social platforms are also a great way to connect with this community as well as showcasing your own creations! A friendly tip from Nicole is to get inspiration from pictures/videos of other cosplayers in the community. She also recommends starting small, stating “I know when I first got into cosplay, I would be super ambitious (which is great!), but I would get overwhelmed with the sizes of the projects I took on. Do not feel like you need to craft every individual piece of your costume or prop.”

In past years, the Maker Faire Saskatoon has had a ‘Cosplay Corner’ that shows off the thriving cosplay scene in Saskatchewan! With workshops ran by passionate, local cosplayers, guests are invited to try their hand at making capes, masks, armor, and more! It’s a great way for newcomers that are interested to see how they like it! Let’s cross our fingers for a booming ‘Cosplay Corner’ at future Maker Faire events in Saskatoon!

If you want to take a look at more designs from cosplayer, Nicole Boczula, take a look at her Instagram here!

If you are interested in Nicole’s tattoo designs, check out her other page here!

In the past few weeks, we have showcased a variety of new Makers. This week we are introducing local musician, John Demchenko. John is passionate about music and has been making electronic music out of his home studio, under the name of ‘Allegorical Shadows’. He has always been interested in the musical world and has been learning and creating his own music for approximately ten years! John is a Maker because he loves creating things and having the ability to connect with other Makers within the community. He states that “being able to express one’s creativity is something you can’t really measure, but it is a very satisfying experience”.

Other than electronic music, John has taken an interest in a wide variety of other music genres. With his music education and skills, he now has a deeper appreciation for all music industries as he now knows the effort it takes to bring a piece to life.

Workshops

Along with creating his own music, John is also interested in helping other along their musical journeys. He mainly focuses on helping people beginning into the electronic music sector. John will be showcasing an online workshop “Getting Started with Electronic Music”, posted on our page at a later date. John believes that electronic music is a great start for people who are musically interested but may not have the space or the budget to afford expensive instruments.

Getting Started

John has a few helpful tips for those of you interested in getting started with electronic music. Firstly, you will need to have access to a computer or smartphone and able to download a free software. John suggests not to fret if you have never learned an instrument before as “with technology today you can pretty much create any kind of music you like using virtual instruments”. In the beginning, you’ll want to start off with the basics and to allow yourself time to learn and develop skills at your own pace. The internet is a great place to learn, especially with platforms such as YouTube. You can look up any lessons you are keen to learn and at any level as well! If you are more serious about the art of electronic music, there are plenty of online course available which will allow you to learn more technique and allow you to expand your skills. Most of the softwares allow you to change and edit along the way as part of the learning process.

If you want to see more from John, check out his Facebook page here and his SoundCloud channel here!

Pithy and Practical

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.

Inspiration

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!”

Philosophy

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.

Process

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 the Label.

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”

Philosophy

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.

Process

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.

Inspiration

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!

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!

Become a Maker:

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!