Local and Sustainable Holiday Shopping Ideas

I am not really a fan of Christmas. I'm not a Christian and the holiday doesn't hold much meaning for me. I'd rather give someone a present on a random Tuesday and share greetings and good times throughout the year than try to pack it all in to one hymn-laden, over-scheduled month.

I'm not a total Grinch or anything. I still believe in getting presents for kids and letting them experience the magic of Santa Claus and all that. I like having a big meal with loved ones, singing a few carols and watching the 1951 version of Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) with the brilliant Alastair "I-don't-deserve-to-be-so-happy!" Sim.

But I'm perfectly happy not to get any presents.

However, I know not everyone chooses to opt out of the season to the extent I do. And if you are shopping around for holiday treats, I happen to have some great local, indie and/or sustainable gift ideas, in Nova Scotia, in Toronto, and, as things go these days, online, too.

Nova Scotia/online:

1. My new record Blackbirds, of course. It's available for sale at The Biscuit Eater Cafe and Bookstore in Mahone Bay, The Power House Gallery in Lunenburg and this Saturday only, from 1-6pm at the Holiday Artist's Market that is taking place at the Lunenburg Cultural Centre (I'll also be playing music there, swapping sets with brilliant finger-style guitarist Bob Ardern). It's also available online, shipping physical copies from Canada (i.e. my house) through Bandcamp, from the US through CDBaby, and digital copies through those two - and through iTunes (did you know you can gift music through iTunes? You just need to know the e-mail address the recipient uses for their iTunes account.)
2. My Mom, Janet Barkhouse's picture book version of my Nana's novel, Pit Pony. (Mom will be reading and signing books at The Biscuit Eater Cafe and Bookstore in Mahone Bay this Sunday, December 2).
   
3. My cousin Nancy's awesome handbags. Check 'em out here at NPK designs on Facebook:
   
4. Art from Power House Gallery in Lunenburg, especially art by Lynn Misner, the genius artist who painted, "The Caretaker", the piece that graces the cover of my new CD:
   
5. The Ark (655 King Street, Bridgewater): a great place to buy gifts and support a community of physically and mentally challenged adults at the same time. I love the things made by the folks at The Ark, especially their handcrafted rugs, cushions and woodworking. 

Toronto/online:

1. Firefly Creative writing's on-site and on-line writing workshops, especially The Blog Shop, a weekend on-line workshop for aspiring and stuck bloggers.
2. A Nia Dance Party with Jenn Hicks. Fun, uplifting, good times dancing with your friends.
3. Creativity coaching with Danette Relic at The Radical Creative Sanctuary.
4. Life coaching from Jamie Ridler. And, while you're there shopping, make sure to sign up for Jamie's motivating free newsletter yourself.

Online:

1. Reflections: an inspiration journal from Paper Bag Press: an art journal to inspire artistic creativity.
2. Feeling a little frisky? For those intimate friends, how about something from Kim at Ecosex.ca?

Oh, so many wonderful ideas—gifts you can feel good about giving and that your recipients will love!

Happy holidays!

Starving Artist? It's all relative

It's seven degrees Celsius today in West Dublin, NS. A beautiful day! So nice that I ate my lunch sitting on the back stoop and this afternoon I'm going to tackle the wood pile. I can't help but think that six weeks ago, a seven degree day was freezing! And now, it's a warm day.

I've been thinking about that in terms of money, too. I think we're all prone, and maybe artists more than some, to thinking that we're poor. Tight of funds. Struggling to get by. The image of the Starving Artist looms large. Artists pour a lot of time, energy and money into doing what we love. And then we feel strapped for cash. Crossing our fingers that just one more person will buy our new record (hint, hint) on Bandcamp and we'll be able to pay rent the next month.

But, I'm giving myself a wake-up and a shake-up. I am not poor. I am warm, properly fed and live in the most beautiful place in the world. My rent is pretty cheap and there are six cords of wood out back, just waiting to be stacked.

To find true poverty, I don't have to look very far. In the midst of our affluent nation, there are people living in construction trailers which were never meant to be residences. There are people struggling for the bare necessities.

I was reminded of that this week, when my friend Todd invited me to Share Something Day, an event that he is organizing through his 500 Kindnesses project on November 23, 2012. On the same day as Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day, Todd is inviting people to simply share something of their choice either with friends or strangers.

It happens that I have a show on Friday, November 23. I'll be singing and playing at The Biscuit Eater Cafe and Bookstore. I had a show at the Biscuit Eater last November, too, right around the time that the news about Attawapiskat was hitting its peak (remember Attawapiskat? You can find updates on how they're doing now on their web site). Last year, I donated all sales of merchandise from The Biscuit Eater show to Shannen's Dream, a charity that is working for the people of Attawapiskat. And I'm going to do the same thing this year. So, please come on out and pick up a copy of my new CD. Or a T-shirt. Or an old CD. If you can't make it to the show, consider giving to a charity of your choice, just because you can.

To heck with feeling poor, I say. It's a crazy way to feel when I was born into a level of privilege and comfort that much of the world only dreams of.

Starving Artist? It's all relative.

Winter Shows

I have some great shows coming up in the next few months. I'd love for you to join me for some laughter and/or tears at any (or all) of these dates:

UPDATED DECEMBER 29, 2011 - PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGES - THERE WILL BE NO SHOW AT THE SCUTTLEBUTT RESTAURANT ON FEBRUARY 4, 2012! INSTEAD, I WILL BE AT THE NIGHT KITCHEN IN WOLFVILLE THAT NIGHT!

Friday, November 25, 7–9pm
The Biscuit Eater
16 Orchard Street
Mahone Bay
www.biscuiteater.ca
In keeping with the poetic and uncensored spirit of the Biscuit Eater, I'll be bringing out some rarely-performed "B-sides". It's going to be a fun, and possibly controversial, evening. (I'll have CDs and T-shirts for sale at special prices if you're looking for Christmas shopping opportunities).

Friday, January 6, 6-8pm
Scuttlebutt Restaurant
Lunenburg, NS
Scuttlebutt on Facebook
A triumphant return to Scuttlebutt Restaurant after a few months' hiatus. I can already taste that smoked salmon club sandwich!

Saturday, January 28, 7:30–9:30pm
Trellis Café
Hubbards, NS
www.trelliscafe.com
My very first appearance at the renowned Trellis Café. I'm looking forward to it!

Saturday, February 4
The Night Kitchen
The Al Whittle Theatre
Wolfville, NS
I'm very excited to be part of Andy and Ariana's famous Night Kitchen.

Saturday, February 4, 6–8pm
Scuttlebutt Restaurant
Lunenburg, NS
Scuttlebutt on Facebook
A triumphant return to Scuttlebutt Restaurant after a few months' hiatus. I can already taste that smoked salmon club sandwich!

Thursday, February 9, 6-8pm
Lunenburg Sessions
@ Scuttlebutt Restaurant
Lunenburg, NS
Lunenburg Sessions on Facebook
Delighted to be a part of Lunenburg Sessions 2012 Concert Series Schedule!

Friday, February 24, TBA
Fables
Tatamagouche, NS
www.fablesclub.com
I'm honoured to be part of Fables' Freedom to Read Week Celebrations. Events all day; details TBA.

Saturday, March 31, 6-8pm
Scuttlebutt Restaurant
Lunenburg, NS
Scuttlebutt on Facebook
Another yummy dinner and song event at the Scuttlebutt Restaurant!