PART I - TORONTO, ONTARIO BASEMENT & CANADIAN CRAFT SHOWS: 1975-1978 

LOCATION: 308-B Adelaide St. W., Toronto: Basement workshop in the heart of downtown Toronto's "needle & thread", fur and small mfg. district. This factory/warehouse district provided ideal work space for "struggling artists" and introduced Pepe & Maureen to a fascinating community of entrepreneurs, musicians, artists and craftsmen/women.....all pursuing various avenues of SELF-EXPRESSION! For Pepe & Maureen, Toronto's beauty, strength and excitement of the 1970's lay in the city's dynamic energy, spirit of creativity and WARM HEART!

MATERIALS: COPPER, BRASS and SILVER

TECHNIQUES:

(1) acid etching in copper and brass

(2) fabrication techniques for handmade wire work in silver

DESIGNS:  

Copper & brass plates, pendants and cuff bracelets etched in
traditional designs of LATIN AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURES (AZTEC & MAYA) ....made with leftover metal strips purchased (at bargain-basement prices) from the scrap bins of a large copper company, Peckover's! 

(2) Sterling silver handmade wire earrings, rings & pendants; Pepe & Maureen's means to learn the elementary skills of jewellery fabrication, while at the same time gathering basic tools & equipment for a BEGINNER'S METAL WORKSHOP.
INCOME:

(1) Wholesale to Canadian Craft Shops in Ontario & Quebec, one of which was 'The Green Owl' in Elora, Ontario.
TEN YEARS LATER: Pepe & Maureen chose Elora for the relocation of their business to a quieter, country/village setting.

(2) Retail sales at Canadian CRAFT SHOWS in conservation parks, church basements, school auditoriums and community centres. Mid-1970's and into the 1980's? Pepe & Maureen found themselves involved in the vibrant "Alternative Lifestyle Experience" of the Canadian CRAFT MOVEMENT, participating in up to 32 craft shows a year during this period!

As the size and sophistication of craft shows developed and the loyalty of the public grew, Pepe & Maureen celebrated 10-year anniversaries at the following arts & craft shows between 1975 and 1986: Guelph's FAIR NOVEMBER, Ottawa's CHRISTMAS CRAFT SALE and.....

Attendance at numerous other shows included sales in:

NOTE OF THANKS:

Pepe Fernandez & Maureen Dwyer would like to take this opportunity to express a SINCERE THANKS to the many faithful customers of the early craft show days! During these years, Pepe & Maureen's creative dreams survived thanks only to the financial and moral support of many enthusiastic patrons of local arts & crafts!

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