Unique pop-up market in Timmins offers a chance to support local artists

A one-of-a-kind pop-up market is operating this spring at the Timmins Square Mall, featuring hand-crafted and homegrown goods.

A one-of-a-kind pop-up market is operating this spring at the Timmins Square Mall.

Waxwing Commons Ecological Farmstead features handcrafted or homegrown goods. It’s also a chance to support local artists like those from the Timmins Quilters Guild.

The guild is demonstrating how to make squares for a spring-themed quilt, just in time for its Shoot for the Stars quilt day May 24 at the McIntyre Arena.

“They need to learn that quilting has not died, that they and can come to our, group and join if they wish,” said guild member Janet Jamieson.

“We meet every Tuesday, every two weeks (in) the back of the Covenant Church. So everybody ... interested is certainly invited to join, but they’re also invited to come to this quilting guild event because they then can see if they would like to be with us.”

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Tickets for $50 each are being sold at the flower shop downtown, Jamieson said. Tickets are $50 each, and comes with “a lovely luncheon and includes lots of goodies.”

Artist Quinn Lockman is offering a watercolour flower painting workshop Wednesday evening.

Lockman and quilter Lois Caron are two of the 50 makers with goods at the co-operative market at the Timmins Square. It’s open during mall hours until May 10.

Mike Degagne of Waxwing Commons Ecological Farmstead said the long-term goal is to “have a place where people who are doing local, ethical, sustainably sourced, handmade things can have somewhere to display their products year-round and to grow the community that we already have.”

“We have both sides of the equation here and people who want to support local and shop local,” Degagne said.

“We’ve got a great group of artisans and makers and farmers in our community that need the support.”

He hopes to grow its footprint at the mall, all in an attempt to bring people back to spaces that matter and hold small communities together.