The handmade movement seems to gain strength at Christmastime as people see the value in investing in heirloom decorations, clothing, and toys this time of year. And so, it’s the perfect time to feature some local artists who are not only very talented but also incorporate the concepts of upcycling, handmade, and being unique!  Meet the Vancouver-based sister duo of Pip & Pin. They’re not only very sweet people, but very talented. Katie Anne, besides from freestyle knitting is a skilled graphic designer. Megan specializes in making patterns, crocheting, and photography. Their business name  is a nod to their grandmother who taught them how to knit and their Etsy store is filled with one-of-a-kind scarves, shawls, cowls and other cozy goods using new and vintage yarn.

Having spent the day with this talented team last year, I smile thinking about their charm and sweet nature. If you’re lucky you might get to hear their tandem laugh in person..there’s nothing quite like it! Think of something funny and head down to visit the sisters at Make It in Vancouver next weekend (November 8-11) and meet the full list of talented exhibitors!

Here’s a sample of knit designs that would make wonderful gifts this year!  I chipped in with another mom at our school last year and gave Pip & Pin cowls as gifts. I love giving handmade gifts – they’re special and the recipients appreciate hearing the story behind the gift.

A message that stuck with me from my UsedVancouver.com visit to Gibsons Recycling Depot last month is to refrain from giving cheaply, mass produced gifts at Christmas. The worst time of year for a recycling depot is right after Christmas as they struggle to deal with the massive amounts of meaningless junk. Wrapping paper and unopened pre-packaged gifts (!!) infiltrate the recycling depots in January. Visiting a market like Make It is the perfect place to shop because these gifts will not end up discarded. Yes, they’ll cost a little more, but if the person you’re buying for isn’t worth that extra few dollars, maybe just give a card. The reaction you’ll get from giving a Pip & Pin gift is almost as spectacular as the sweet laughter from these very talented sisters!