In this YouTube video, host Tod Maffin introduces a community gathering scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 AM in Maffeo Sutton Park. He reminds viewers to wear red or Canada‑flag lanyards (optional but helpful for identification) and outlines the event’s features: a market, food trucks, brief political remarks, and a large family photo. He then hands over to his wife Jocelyn, who provides a rapid tour of Nanaimo’s art and craft scene. Jocelyn highlights two downtown cultural destinations—the Nanaimo Art Gallery and the Nanaimo Museum—both with notable gift shops. She recommends Iron Oxide Art Supplies for a wide range of art materials, including resin, and the Nanaimo Ceramic Art Studio for ceramics, noting its proximity to the Modern Café. Across the street she points out Artsy Stuff, a local‑made‑goods gift shop. Moving to yarn, she describes three specialty yarn retailers: Mad About Ewe (a well‑stocked, Canadian‑focused shop in the Old City Quarter), Yarn‑Tastic (a newer store on Brecken Hill offering Canadian/UK yarn and custom dye lots inspired by local scenery), and Stitcher’s Muse (embroidery/needlepoint supplies). She briefly mentions a scrapbook store and promises more shopping tips in a future video. The overall tone is friendly, enthusiastic, and community‑focused, aiming to encourage both locals and visitors to attend the event and explore Nanaimo’s creative businesses.
Chapters
Okay, take 3. Um, hello, welcome to Tod's Dänemo infusion planning videos. Um, we are one week out. Um, we are going to talk today— well, Jocelyn is going to talk today about art things, which I don't have a lot of experience in. Um, and just before we begin, make sure you have your red lanyards if you're coming. Red colored lanyards or Canada flag lanyards. They're not required for admission or anything, they're just a way for everyone to identify each other. You don't have to put anything on the bottom. Um, locals and mainlanders, yes, you are welcome to come. Please come. Please also wear your lanyards. You can get them at Canadian Tire and dollar stores and things. And please come Saturday morning, that's April 26th, at 10:00 AM at Maffeo Sutton Park. There's going to be a market, food trucks, politicians saying things very briefly. And then we're going to get a big family photo taken. So that's the Saturday at 10:00 AM. And now I present to you my lovely wife, who will talk to you about arty things, which I don't have a lot of experience in.
As fast as I possibly can. Uh, okay, so, uh, maybe if you're like me and you are into arty crafty things, um, come along with me. Here are some places to see along your way. Um, I'm going to start with two destinations that are art and craft related and kind of shopping, and that is the Nanaimo Art Gallery and the Nanaimo Museum, and they're both on Commercial Street, which is the like north South Road, um, on in the middle of our downtown. Um, the museum is in the part that's under construction, but all of those shops are open and you absolutely should go see them. And the museum is right, right along that block. Um, both of those places have amazing gift shops, like art-related, very creative gift shops. Well worth it. The Nanaimo Museum is a great little place for history and indigenous art, so I would recommend it. Um, if you, like me, like to buy art and craft supplies everywhere you go, uh, then you should go to, uh, Iron Oxide Art Supplies, and it is on Cliff Street, which is handy, like on the cliffside of downtown. Um, it's less than a block away from Maffeo Sutton Park, so you could like just toddle over there after the family photo on Saturday. Um, it's in an area like next to an auto glass place, so it's not glamorous, but it's very cool. The owners, like, they know their stuff. And if you like anything related to art, there's even like resin art stuff there, all kinds of really cool art supplies. And I love that shop. I find it really inspiring. Um, I I wrote so much for that one. Okay, also downtown is the Nanaimo Ceramic Art Studio. There is ceramic art to buy. It's also on Commercial Street. It's like almost right next to the Modern Cafe, which has a huge marquee sign so that you can't miss it. Um, you can do ceramic art there, and I believe you can also buy ceramic art. Across the street from that ceramic art studio is a very cool and possibly poorly named gift shop called Artsy Stuff. Oh yeah, A-R-T-Z-I. You got a Z there, huh?
Yeah.
Um, and it is all art, art items made by local people sold on, I think, on consignment or something. Um, really cool arrangement. Great. I do a lot of my gift shopping there for Christmas. Oh, the light went out.
Yeah.
And, um, I also really enjoy it for like creative birthday presents. Um, if you're looking— oh no, no, so I'm gonna skip up to yarn. We are kind of spoiled, we have 2 yarn shops other than those big box stores I'm just not gonna mention. Um, so the big one— the small one that is stuffed to the gills is Mad About You in the Old City Quarter. So you just go up the hill to where all the little historic buildings are. Um, Yeah, is the yarn store called Mad About Ewe, like, like a sheep, E-W-E. Um, it is absolutely stuffed with yarn, and a good chunk of it is like workhorse Canadian yarn. Um, so if you want something a little different than you're used to, that might be a place to stop by. Um, they are not open on Sundays. Uh, the other one is Yarn-Tastic, which is a new one. It's on Brecken Hill. I don't know what the name of the road is. I'll fill it in the doobly-doo. Anyway, Yarn-Tastic is a company from, like, a local business from Qualicum, a couple of towns north. And it— they, they pretty much specialize in non-American yarn, Canadian and UK and a few others. And they have special custom dye lots that are inspired by photographs of the local area of Nanaimo at Neck Point Park and one up in Parksville. Really cool. If you're really into cool indie dyeing and tonal yarn, you should check it out. And their staff totally know their stuff. Another really cool one that is kind of close to downtown is called the Stitcher's Muse. That's more for embroidery and other types of needlepoint art, and I think they used to have a quilt shop there too, but I'm not sure about that one. Really worth a look if it's— if you're really into needlepoint, embroidery, that kind of thing. Um, I So that is my yarn tour. Um, I have so much more I could say, but that's what I can fit in about yarn and crafts. Um, there's also a scrapbook, uh, store in town, but I am not super familiar with it. Um, and I have so much more to tell you about shopping specifically. Um, and you won't want to miss it. Maybe I'll do that one tomorrow. Hope you enjoyed it. Can't wait to see you all on Friday. Friday, Saturday.
Lanyards. Don't forget lanyards. Red lanyards or Canada flag. And Saturday morning at 10 AM, April 26th at Maffeo Sutton Park for the big family photograph. All right.
