Twenty years ago Jenn Canvin bought her three-year-old daughter her first set of Star Wars Lego, though she admits now that she really bought it for herself.
Canvin said she’s long been a fan of the tiny, brightly coloured Danish toy building blocks and decided to look for a way to turn that interest into a home business so she could spend more time with her children. Canvin started selling Lego pieces online, where she made a name for herself as the “Brick Chick,” and even worked for the company for a while, but eventually the Mudge Island resident found she wanted to do something more creative.
“Selling on the internet gets a little bit dry and I like to meet my customers so I started doing craft things and going out to shows,” Canvin said.
It was a logical transition for Canvin, a trained fashion designer, and her graphic designer husband whom she met while working at Lego in Denmark and brought back to Canada. Their creations will be on hand when they participate in their third Kris Kringle Craft Market this weekend.
Among the items on display will be engraved bricks, Lego jewelry, soap, Christmas ornaments and stockings.
Kringle is one of four craft markets Canvin will be appearing at this holiday season. She said she’s “going full tilt” on crafting and spent this past summer restocking new embroidery, engraving and printing machinery and trying new things.
“For me the crafting thing is a way for me to get off our little island and go out and see people and hopefully bring them something that they feel like their little Lego fan would enjoy, or a little bling that they could show their pride for Lego in their ears or around their necks or whatever,” she said. “Because otherwise I would just stay on my little island all the time just looking out at the ocean and doing nothing else.”
WHAT’S ON … Kris Kringle Kraft Market takes place at Beban Park on Nov. 15 from noon to 9 p.m., Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $10 daily pass, $15 four-day pass, two-for-one on Nov. 15 and 16 from 5 to 9 p.m. $8 for seniors and students, free for children under 12.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
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