At Mid Island Artisans, we are passionate about supporting local artisans and the art of creating unique handcrafted items. Our talented artisans pour their heart and soul into each piece, ensuring that every item is distinctive and of the highest quality.
This group came together in 2021 to form the Nanoose Bay Artisans Collective. Its popularity led to an expansion that now includes local artisans from across the mid Island and beyond. Currently, we have over 100 members who hand craft their unique items.
We host at least 8 markets each year in various beautiful locations, encouraging our members to participate in as many as they can comfortably manage.
The membership fee is $25 per year, which helps offset costs for venues, insurance, advertising, and other small expenses. As all members are volunteers, we can keep table fees as low as possible.
If you are interested in joining the Mid Island Artisans, we encourage you to visit this link (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17BeMUxzaK/) and ensure you answer all the questions and agree to the rules. Once approved, you will receive a message via Facebook Messenger with instructions on how to remit your membership fee.
Being a member of the Mid Island Artisans comes with many great advantages. You join a wonderful group of like-minded individuals, enjoy lower table fees, and benefit from an Early Bird rate.
We ask each member to donate some of their time to help set up markets by placing signs around our community, marking spots for vendors, printing and putting up posters advertising our markets, and assisting fellow artisans with mobility issues during setup and breakdown. There are many ways to support our local artisans.
Marjie is a founding member of Mid Island Artisans, a collective that showcases local artisans. As a potter, she creates unique handcrafted items entirely by hand, without a wheel, resulting in one-of-a-kind, whimsical pieces. Her work often features playful gnomes and imaginative combinations of ceramics and driftwood. In addition to decorative art, she crafts functional items such as platters and chicken roasters. Marjie uses only lead-free, food safe glazes on every piece she makes, ensuring they are as practical as they are unique.
Sugar Sandwich Design Studio is the home of Grow Along Babywear®, my trademarked line of growth-spurt friendly clothing for babies and small children. I create products that are not only cute and fun to wear but also designed to fit longer, making them resilient against the wear and tear of toddlers. This year, I am excited to expand my collection of silicone teethers and introduce Little Lovelies, my new line of silicone bead playtime accessories for little ones. This collection includes unique handcrafted items such as necklaces, bracelets, and zipper pulls, all made with the help of local artisans from the Mid Island Artisans community.
“I’m a true islander, born and raised right here on the island. Two years ago, I started Fat Kitty Farm Stand with a simple goal: to grow & create things that bring joy to our community. I propagate plants and start some from seed, using recycled pots to keep my footprint small and sustainable. My mom lovingly knits the dishcloths we offer, adding a handmade touch that feels like home. Our bird‑seed wreaths are crafted from all‑natural ingredients, made with care for the wildlife.
My name is Teresa Carrao. I moved from Harrison Hot Springs to Parksville on Vancouver Island in 2021, and I absolutely love it here. One of the many reasons is the vibrant community of local artisans and the vast array of markets to join in on. I have been making jewelry for about 10 years now; I started off small, but it has become a real passion of mine. I shopped every winter in Quartzsite and Tucson, Arizona, where I discovered unique handcrafted items. I wire-wrap with square and half-round sterling silver wire, using semi-precious gemstones from all over the world, often inspired by the creativity of Mid Island Artisans.
Soap your skin will Love. I have been making small batch, all natural oil soaps the traditional cold processed way since September 2024. Each bar is carefully blended with skin loving plant based oils & butters: Olive Oil, Coconut Oil. Shea Butter & Castor oil. Then scented with a beautiful mix of essential oils & fragrance oils, each bar offers a luxurious, fresh experience you can feel good about using every day. Life is Short - Use the Pretty Soap
I have been active as a photographer since 2007. My work carries a modern coastal aesthetic—clean, functional, & grounded in natural textures & ocean tones. Inspired by life on Vancouver Island, I draw from shoreline light, movement, & the ever-changing sea. My journey began as a way to merge photography with practical design, creating pieces meant to be lived in & used daily. At its core, my work reflects a love of place, movement, and thoughtful, purposeful creation.
I have been designing my one of a kind gnomes for about 7 years now ever since I saw my first gnome. I try to create for each season and event throughout the year and will take special orders for those with specific ideas. My gnomes always bring smiles to the faces that see them.
My crafting business name is YaYa’s Creations which came from my grand daughter calling me YaYa. I have been crafting for well over35 yrs. In the past 2 yrs however, I have been creating many different things with Sublimation. This is an ink that turns into a gas which makes it permanent. I make tea towels, oven, mitts, potholders, T-shirts, luggage tags, wind spinners, coffee mugs, beverage tumblers and a wide variety of other crafts, including occasional cards and shelf sitters.
Gentle tallow-based soaps and skincare, as well as a line of eco-friendly hair care products. Anchordown Apothecary has been a member of the Mid-Island Artisans Collective for 1 year. I specialize in creating soaps and hair care products that are not only highly nourishing but also come in a range of colours and scents you can get excited about! I strive to incorporate as many local ingredients in our products as possible, this includes tallow, honey, beeswax and botanicals.
The creative embodiment of life on Vancouver Island.I am inspired by the endless abstract patterns & flowing colour palettes found daily in nature all over our beautiful island. My paintings and jewelry creations are personal expressions which seek to capture the spirit, spontaneity and natural wonder that surrounds us. Open yourself to the beauty.
I am an artist who specializes in utilizing natural elements such as beach glass, rocks, and broken pottery pieces in my work. Additionally, I am a Paper Quilling artist, and I occasionally integrate these different mediums. I particularly enjoy modern contemporary paper quilling, as well as crafting jewelry using this technique.
My name is Louise and I have been making handmade wooden pieces for just over a year. It started with hearts and has now grown to many unique pieces. HeARTS by Lou Lou is what I call my woodworking.
I have been making handmade all natural skin care since November 2022. At Em's, we are dedicated to providing plant based and healthy all natural skincare alternatives. Em's is committed to promoting skin wellness and boosting confidence through our quality skincare solutions and products made exclusively with natural ingredients and essential oils.
My painting style is whimsical, bright and colourful. Naturally, I am drawn to paint my favourite places and the beauty of nature. I often find, the more colour the better! I grew up here, have lived in various places throughout my life but one thing has always guided where I choose to live… the proximity to the forest. Whether it’s spending my time on my mountain bike, trail running or climbing mountains.. nature is where I feel most grounded and most alive.