Donald
Teuma-Castelletti
BRISTOL Nov. 25, 2017
The Pine Lodge was bustling with customers and vendors alike on Saturday, when the conference halls and meeting rooms were packed with over 50 vendors from the Pontiac, Gatineau and Ottawa area.
Entering it’s seventh year, the craft show has only grown bigger and busier, as the organizers and owners work to spread the word at shows they attend all year long.
“The last two years, we’ve averaged 300 to 400 people,” said Jodi Thompson, one of the day’s organizers, of the number of people they can expect.

They look to attract more customers by attending as many shows as possible all over, advertising their show via pamphlets. So far, they’ve attended the Cobden Farmers’ Market, the Etsy Outaouais show and the Nepean Sportsplex Christmas Craft Show.
But, they won’t be stopping now that theirs is over.
“We continue going to shows afterwards, too,” said Thompson.
They’ll still be attending the Museum of History’s show, helping spread word for next year’s iteration.
While most of their vendors were returning, they do try to include more each year, this time adding Carleton Place’s Living Edge Studio, amongst others, to the mix. Offering a huge variety of wood home décor, Jen Tataryn was selling everything from cutting boards to coasters, but goes as far as even making furniture.
“I started at Carleton University, where they had a woodshop. I hated the program, but liked making things,” she said.
Tataryn carried that passion to a cabinet-making program at Algonquin College, and eventually began selling her work through Etsy. Her products grew in popularity, so much so that she’s been making and selling her work full-time for two years now.
Tataryn isn’t the only one who’s plenty busy doing what they love though, as Thompson and her family run around hosting the craft show, preparing a light lunch for sale and manning the baked goods table they had on display, featuring many varieties of holiday baking and year-round favourites.
“We can’t prepare too far in advance,” said Thompson, motioning to all the cookies and pies for sale. “But it’s been all week, all hands on deck and a full-time job, without much sleep.”