One of A Kind is Back

The annual Christmas craft show returns, with an eclectic bunch of gift ideas in tow.

By Rachel Lissner • Photos by Corbin Smith

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Gabe Thrilwall's handmade finger puppets of Canadian politicians had us in stitches. We think this might be the first time Olivia Chow and Rob Ford have ever seen eye-to-eye.

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Artech Studios repurposes beer bottles given to them by local breweries. Green's never looked so good.

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The Recycle turns scrapyard bicycles into all sorts of crafty items. We imagine this will be a big hit in Toronto.

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Hockey player puppets for babies! Get ‘em while they’re young.

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This artist did a series of “monsters learning how to play.”

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We loved Avril Loreti’s old-school hockey player pillows. With the lockout going strong, at least we can still dream of seeing our favourite teams back on ice.

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This little guy is playing a Tamboa, which sounds like a dreamy wooden chime.

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Pook won us over when creator Kevin McCotter demonstrated all the different uses for this item, a cross between wooly long johns and a flannel trapper hat. He’s sporting the “Peter Pan” in this photo, which is recommended for first dates.

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One of a Kind has a ton of artists hailing from Quebec, but nothing said “Je Me Souviens” more than Richard Cyr’s musical spoons. He only sells them at this event.

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Ceramics are plentiful on the show floor, but Evelyne Rivest Savignac’s colourful and earthy items stood out.

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Roxypop has knitted apple cozies for all your apple needs. They also work well for the bottom half of a pear.

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Hilary Cosgrove's fox puppets were the cutest. The cutest! She also does squirrels and other Canadian animals. (Overheard: "They're so light, eh!")

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Nothing says “cottage” like Jardinique's booth, decked out in Muskoka chairs and campy wooden signs.

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Daniel Pollak designed every piece of jewelery on this table by hand. In person, it was somewhere between absolutely dazzling and unbelievably blinging.

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One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale
Direct Energy Centre
(100 Princes’ Boulevard)
November 22 to December 2
Weekdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The One of a Kind Show, now in its 35th year, is back in town until December 2. Looking for the perfect gift for the cyclist in your life, or for your friend’s newborn? Or maybe you want an instrument that’s perfect for jamming out in Trinity Bellwoods? Torontoist scoped out all 800 artisans on display at the Direct Energy Centre. Some of of our best finds are in the photo gallery, above.

The show will run late until 11 p.m. on November 29. It’s best to go early and during the week, though, because the place gets crowded. Happy shopping, and be thankful that you’ve avoided the Black Friday insanity down south.