Kirsten - Market Director (aka Lady Stardust)

@ladystardusthandmade

Greetings! I’m Kirsten, the creator and director of Halloween Market YYJ and Punk Market YYJ.

I am the maker behind Lady Stardust Handmade, and am proud to be a part of Victoria’s handmade maker community. You can find me year-round at handmade artisan pop-ups and markets around town and on the mainland. I am not just a Halloween maker. I create pieces that combine punk, art, and fantasy with vintage vibes and a heavy dose of whimsy.

My journey as a maker began in the early dark days of the pandemic when I picked up a $50 sewing machine and began sewing masks for my family and friends. My masks were then picked up by a number of retail stores, and eventually, I shipped out over 5000 masks across North America. Looking to break out of the monotony of production sewing, I explored the world of quilting (these are NOT your grandma's quilts!) and also taught myself bag making. From here, I established my Lady Stardust brand and began my journey as a vendor at local artisan and farmers’ markets. I love our handmade market community and truly value the friends and colleagues that I have met along the way.

My passion lies in creating unique and spooky bags, chainstitch patches and banners, and clothing with a touch of nostalgia. Each piece is carefully crafted with a mix of modern and vintage techniques, making them truly one-of-a-kind.

You can find me at other events such as the Oddities and Curiosities Expo (Vancouver), The Nightmare Before Christmas Market (Vancouver), The Fernwood Maker’s Party, Artistree Festival, the Winter Bazaar, the Owl Fair, the Krampus Market, the Esquimalt Farmer’s Market and other artisan pop-ups around town.

Welcome to our market community! We are excited to have you as part of our coven.

Our Origin Story

Just as we were emerging from under the cloak of the pandemic, I wanted to create a market that combined my love for the handmade, Halloween and the dark mysteries of the world. With the support of my fellow local vendors and Halloween enthusiasts, we held the first Halloween Market in October 2021 in Fernwood. The response from my fellow makers and the community was HUGE! And from these humble beginnings, this little spooky makers market has grown into an amazing community of artisans, community members, performers and community groups.

In 2022, we moved into our current home at the Da Vinci Centre and were once again overwhelmed with the support for our market. The word was out that Halloween Market YYJ was not your typical Halloween event. This space has evolved into a vibrant, inclusive and exciting community that welcomes all who are seeking out a mercurial and magical experience.

Along the way, we are pround to have partnered with some amazing community groups and have established initiatives such as our Early Bat Shopping Hour to benefit the Habitat Acquisition Trust Bat Program (special shoutout to my friend Jenny for being the spark that ingnited this amazing partnership), our youth vendor spaces, Halloween Drag Story Hour and our new market workshops (details coming soon!).

A market like this truly takes a team! We have a wonderful lineup of artisan vendors, craftpersons and performers that help to bring the market to life.