Take a stroll through the city and you’ll find streets lined with hand-lettered boards. Venture into shops and you’ll discover the various ways calligraphy has personalized a business’ brand. Chalkboards have become the norm for business advertisement. 

Chalkboard signs have also entered the home as practical yet aesthetic pieces. Lists and sentimental messages adorn our spaces. Our maker, Chalkboard Chique, has tapped into this growing...read more

It’s possible to stay cool, calm, and cozy this December, with a dash of Maker House Magic!

Join us for our Canadiana Christmas Party, where you can shop and mingle with friends, and enjoy free samples of beer and hot chocolate in store!  Visit our Byward Market Pop-Up location for some extra month-long festivities.

Our first ever Wish Book launched on our website, where we offer top picks for local gifts this season - shop from the comfort of your couch!

Don’t miss...read more

Who would have thought that POOP emoji coasters would be one of our best selling products at Maker House?!

Crafted by talented maker, Of The Town (OTT), their popularity is a testament to blending pop culture and craft in a timely manner. The savvy and know-how comes from creative force and owner, Sarah Adema. I met with her and little one, Evee, in their quaint Hintonburg home. We discussed how Sarah...read more

Remember the good ol’ days when the Sears Christmas Wish Book would arrive on our doorstep?

It was roughly 10cm think and weighed more than a brick. Not a moment was wasted in tearing through the plastic wrap, and hours were spent flipping through the pages with that fresh “magazine-smell.” Each family member would take turns carefully scanning the pages, circling what they hoped Santa would bring...read more

We’re kicking things into Holiday gear to get you in this season’s spirit! 

We’ve got new arrivals in store and online, with a Black Friday bonus on all of the locally made gifts you’ve had your eye on!

With TWO workshops coming up in store, you’ll be ready to give the gift of handmade, WRAPPED in a second dose of handmade! Make leather drink koozies with Patti Normand and Rob Stevenson, and screen print your very own festive wrapping paper with Winged Beast (whom...read more

Have you ever picked up a postcard from Winged Beast, held it in your hand, and thought to yourself, “Wait a minute, this is actually brilliant.” 

You’re not alone. And that’s why we love him.
 
I met with the owner of Winged Beast, Stirling Prentice in his Mechanicsville Studio. We talked about the messages behind his art and some of...read more

Fall is finally here and we're preparing for a proper Hallowe'en at Maker House in Hintonburg. Join us on Oct. 19th from 6 to 8pm and let Low Poly Crafts guide you on how to assemble your own pumpkin, black cat, raven or skull. Your creation can serve as a Hallowe'en decoration or as a stylish 3D piece for the home. All materials are included, but spots are limited, so sign up! 

Tomorrow,...read more

Combine a bit of science, a wild imagination and a passion for crafting, and I give you, Low Poly Crafts. If you haven’t heard of them, you’ve likely seen their geometric animals popping up across town. They are a customer favourite, proving to be both fun to assemble and stylish for the home. I met with Britta and Adrian – the co-founders...read more

It’s official! We have opened the doors at our second shop - located right at the main Byward Market entrance at William and George Street (click here for directions), right across from the original BeaverTails! We are lucky to work with both BeaverTails and the City of Ottawa to be the tenant of this amazing new Gateway Stand to handmade local products. The new Maker House Market will have...read more

Tanya Droege is the owner of SeaLuxe Co., but is better known for her infectious positivity and down-to-earth business approach. I met with Tanya on her sailboat in Sidney, British Columbia, to discuss how her company, just barely two years old, has products in over 100 stores Canada-wide. This year Tanya will be attending the Etsy Made in Canada market in Vancouver and the One-of-a-Kind Christmas market in Toronto – two noteworthy milestones for SeaLuxe.

As Tanya...read more