"Where there is jam, there must be toast." A gathering place and resource for artists and art fans of the Anime North Artist Alley (Comic Market+Crafters Corner). AAtoast is NOT an official convention site, and Anime North is not responsible for any of the content posted in this community. For official information and news on Artist Alley and any convention events or items, visit AnimeNorth.com.
The most exciting zine fair is returning to Toronto AND Ottawa! Register today to join this uncanny smorgasbord of zines, art, comics, discussions, workshops and surprises!
[...] As was the case last year, due to limited space it will not be first-come-first-serve. Artists and vendors who focus on zines will be prioritized. If your zine is not ready or listed on the site you provided, please make clear in your application what kind of zine you expect to sell.
Ottawa Canzine will be taking place on September 22, 2024 at the Glebe Community Centre (175 Third Ave)
Toronto Canzine will be on October 27, 2024, returning to the Cecil Community Center (58 Cecil St)
For more information, please see the official website, with links for Toronto and Ottawa applications.
The most exciting zine fair is returning to Toronto AND Ottawa! Register today to join this uncanny smorgasbord of zines, art, comics, discussions, workshops and surprises!
[...] As was the case last year, due to limited space it will not be first-come-first-serve. Artists and vendors who focus on zines will be prioritized. If your zine is not ready or listed on the site you provided, please make clear in your application what kind of zine you expect to sell.
Ottawa Canzine will be taking place on September 22, 2024 at the Glebe Community Centre (175 Third Ave)
Toronto Canzine will be on October 27, 2024, returning to the Cecil Community Center (58 Cecil St)
For more information, please see the official website, with links for Toronto and Ottawa applications.
Bazaar Toronto is a co-operative arts and vintage market in downtown Toronto, hosting nearly 100 artists and vendors.
Bazaar Toronto is at 306 College Street, just across the street from The Beguiling, and the store exterior is quite eyecatching. They do consignment sales with artists and vintage goods sellers. Full details on applying to sell in their physical store at the link above! You can see more photos of the space on their instagram.
If anyone has experiences of selling through Bazaar, please feel free to share!
[The following was a submission to AAtoast! that we were having technical difficulties publishing to the blog properly and have recreated as a new post. Please visit the link at the end for official information about Whitby FanCon 2024 and how to apply as an exhibitor. We do not have personal experience with this festival - if you’ve checked out previous incarnations of the event, please feel free to share your experience!]
New name, same amazing festival
Join us at the Central Library on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for an extraordinary event celebrating all things graphic novels, comic books, and talented artists.
Whitby FanCon promises to be a vibrant and creative gathering, building on the success of WhitCAF 2023, which shattered attendance records with well over five hundred people in attendance. Guests can expect the same exciting experiences and immersive atmosphere that made WhitCAF a fan favorite.
Fans can connect with fellow enthusiasts, celebrate their shared passions, and immerse themselves in the dynamic world of comics, graphic novels, and talented local artists.
Get more info and apply to be a vendor, exhibitor, or presenter here: https://www.whitbylibrary.ca/FanCon
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[Direct link to Exhibitor Application: https://whitbylibrary.ca/webform/whitby_fan_con_exhibitor_applica ]
Bamtori Studio is a new and very cute little gift shop located in Toronto (North York), with an assortment of anime and blindbox goods, washi tape and stationery, stickers, totes, snacks, etc. As of this post (March 2024) they've been open for about a month; I chatted with the owner, a graphic designer who seeks to make a friendly space for creatives and people who appreciate these things to gather.
They've been/are hosting events like Smiski trades and stamp rallies, pop up markets, and other artist alley type events. They're currently looking for local artists interesting in selling in a physical space. The form linked from the site says:
Bamtori Studio is taking applications for local Toronto artists who wish to rent out a shelf in our brick and mortar studio space! Creators pay a flat monthly rate of $180+tax and keep 100% of inventory sales.
For more information, check out their site link. Their instagram account is also very active.
Note - when you visit the space, you need to go around the south side of the building where the parking lot is, and use the door there. The unit is on the third floor.
The Momiji Health Care Society in Scarborough is hosting its first ever Momo Anime Market March 23-24, 2024! For more details check out the link above and their main site: https://momiji.on.ca/en/participate/events/momo-anime-market/
Please note - this event is hosted in a (very beautiful!) facility that is also a seniors' residence. Masking as part of pandemic safety measures is strongly encouraged to help protect everyone.
"Broken Pencil is proud to host Spring Canzine 2024, an opportunity to table at the hottest zine fair online. Registrations are now open and will close on March 1st. Registration is open to all, but we will prioritize vendors who applied to Fall Canzine but couldn’t be fit in.
Spring Canzine 2024 will run from April 13th-21st. Announcements about additional programming and features will be incoming. Until then, get ready, get strange."
For full details and the link to the application form, please check out the official site above!
Shortbox Comics Fair 2023 is happening all October, and applications for the 2024 original digital comics festival is open right now till Nov 9! More details in the link.
Toronto, ON — August 15, 2023 — The Toronto Comic Arts Festival is thrilled to announce that TCAF is returning to its classic Spring dates o
TCAF is now taking applications for 2024!
The in-person festival will return to the Toronto Reference Library from May 11-12, 2024, and the online festival will run from May 3 to May 24, 2024.
[...] Applications to exhibit (in person or online) at TCAF 2024 are open until October 20, 2023, and applicants will be notified of their status in early December 2024. Exhibitors will choose a preference of exhibiting online or in-person, or both! International exhibitors are welcome. CLICK HERE TO APPLY.
For further details, including the full application form, check out the link.
We recently learned about Mr. Surprise, a gacha/blind box toys shop located in Scarborough that has an artist alley feature. It appears to be a mix of personalized store pages on their website, as well as in-store popup events. A friend who checked it out after seeing a local artist share their popup feature says that it's very cute. The back is the artist alley; the front is the commercial toys and collectables.
For more information, check out Mr. Surprise's official pages, including address, store hours and contact info.
If any of our followers have direct experience, we'd love to hear about it and share it!
Xpace Cultural Centre is a not-for-profit artist-run centre based in Toronto. They recently shared a recording of their 2023 Annual Tax Workshop for artists, designers, and creatives, facilitated by Kelly Ross, CPA. Very relevant this month!
More info about Xpace: https://www.xpace.info/ (Check out their site and social media accounts for more info on events and practical artist resources!)
26 Likes, 0 Comments - TAAFI (@thetaafi) on Instagram: "Calling All Artists! Do you make art? Do you sell art? Do you like meeting new and exciting peop..."
Toronto Animation Arts Festival International is open for applications for their artist alley that takes place alongside their industry job fair event.
From the form:
TAAFI's Job Fair will take place in person on Sunday April 23 from 10am-5pm at the Toronto Reference Library.
[...]
TAAFI's Artist Alley will accept applicants on a first come, first serve basis at TAAFI’s discretion based on appropriate content and thematic fit in the realm of ‘animation art.’ We consider ‘animation art’ to include anything ranging from Cartoons, VFX, Video Games, Comics, Toys, Caricature, Illustration, Painting, Apps, Interactive Design, Graphic Design, Voice Acting, Filmmaking, Broadcasting, Distribution, to Animation Educators.
Vendors and artists take sole responsibility for content that is available at their tables for sale. TAAFI will not be held responsible for illegal sale of copyrighted material, including fan art. Artists may only sell their own work, therefore the sale of mass-produced merchandise and plagiarized works is prohibited. This includes AI art.
For more details, click through the above link to their post.
Their instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetaafi/
Their linktree which includes a direct link to the application form: https://linktr.ee/taafi
Official TAAFI website: https://www.taafi.com/jobfair/2023/
563 Likes, 33 Comments - Tomo arts market (@tomoartsmrkt) on Instagram: "Save the Dates! Tomo Arts Mrkt will be happening on Edmonton - June 11
Toronto - August 5 💥..."
Tomo Arts Market is running indie events again - two summer festivals, one in Edmonton on June 11 and the other in Toronto on August 5.
Edmonton applications opened about a day ago: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpf02JVvDrc/
We’ll update whenever we see Toronto has opened too. In the meantime you can follow them on instagram for the latest news: https://www.instagram.com/tomoartsmrkt/
Enamel pins: They’re shiny, they’re collectible, and they’re portable enough for fans to pin them on just about anything. If you’re looking for resources on how to make enamel pins, then here’s my thorough tutorial!
1. Creating the Art
First things first: you’ll have to make your art! The following tips are for making your art with enamel pins in mind.
SIZE
It’s good practice to draw your art at at least 2x the size you plan it for, at 300 DPI. For one, you can always resize your art down, but it’s a pain to size up without pixelation or loss of quality. For two, big art allows you to cross over into other products, like having the same design on vinyl stickers.
Personally, I like to draw my art at a minimum of 5” at 300 DPI.
I recommend drawing with the same color lineart as the plating you want. E.g. use a rose-gold color if you want rose gold plating, dark nickel, etc. You can check out common plating types later in this tutorial.
COMPOSITION
Enamel pins are a unique medium that prioritizes composition, minimalism, and color palette. Make sure to keep your pins in a cohesive silhouette, rather than have a lot of cut-out areas in the middle. Manufacturers may charge you extra for cut-outs.
COLOR SELECTION
When designing enamel pins, simplify your color palette and keep it restricted to a handful of colors. This is mostly due to the minimalist aesthetic of the medium, but also, manufacturers will charge you extra for more than 5 colors in one pin.
Most manufacturers will require that you send the art to them in CMYK color format, so save your files as CMYK and watch the brightness of your blues, since CMYK eats blue for breakfast.
2. Picking a Manufacturer
Your art is ready, and now you just need a producer! There are two different kinds of manufacturers: middlemen versus overseas factories. At the time of this writing, there isn’t a way to truly order enamel pins domestically; most western companies disguise the fact that they’re middlemen.
MIDDLEMEN
Middlemen are domestic businesses that act as an agent. They accept your enamel pin order and communicate with overseas factories for you to make the enamel pins.
PROS
Good communication
Extra quality control check
Works with the factory for you
CONS
More expensive
Longer creation time
Working with middlemen is intended to give you some protection from issues and problems with global producers, and also give you someone to easily communicate with. Within my personal experience, I haven't had great experiences with them; however, they are a solution that work for many others, and can be beginner-friendly.
Below is a list of notable middlemen at the time of this post’s writing, although I haven’t tested them all myself.
Notable middlemen: Wizard Pins, The Studio, Enamel Pin Factory*
* I do not have a good experience with this company and don’t recommend them, but have included them on this list since many know their name.
ALIBABA PRODUCERS
Alibaba is a global trade marketplace where you can commission custom products directly from factories in other countries, mainly China.
PROS
More affordable
Tons of options
Faster creation time
Ships direct from factory
CONS
Expensive shipping
Higher rate of shipping damage
Larger risk of art theft
People may be reluctant to order from overseas like China or India due to rumors of art theft, but there are many manus who specify that they will never take or distribute your designs. Much of your experience will depend on which factory you choose, so do your research in this area. Rely on reviews and trusted recommendations when you make your selection. If picked properly, working with Alibaba manus can be a very smooth and easy process.
Since packages ship from overseas, you will find a slightly larger rate of flawed products in your order compared to domestic orders from shipping damage.
Below is a list of notable Alibaba producers at the time of this post’s writing, although you can find a more up-to-date version at my artist resources masterpost!
Notable Alibaba producers: Krell, Vograce
3. Pin Options
There are a lot of options when it comes to the world of making pins, so here’s a helpful little glossary/guide to what all those terms mean!
Found this helpful? Support the blog on Ko-fi!
HARD VS. SOFT
Hard enamel pins have the metal lines and the paint colors on the same level, while soft enamel pins have the paint colors lower than the metal lines. As a result, hard enamel pins feel completely smooth, while soft enamel pins have slightly bumpy edges.
PLATING TYPE
Most enamel pins are made with zinc alloy, but are plated to create different metal colors. Each manu offers different colors, but the most popular options are generally:
Gold
Rose gold
Silver
Black nickel
ACCESSORY TYPE
Accessories are the clutches or fasteners that come on the rear side of your pin. Some of them may come with an extra charge. The most popular ones are generally:
Black rubber clutch
Butterfly clutch
Your manu may offer other options like heart rubber clutches or pastel clutches, so be sure to ask them for a complete list of options!
SILKSCREEN PRINTING
Silkscreen printing applies enamel paint directly to the pin's flat surface, allowing you to apply borderless color spots. Especially popular for applying blush or hair highlights to character pins. Silkscreen printing costs an extra fee.
GLITTER
Glitter is mixed into enamel for an eye-catching multicolor shine. Costs an extra fee.
PEARL
Pearl powder is mixed and swirled into enamel paint for a beautiful, marble-like shimmer. Best applied onto large areas as the pearl needs to be swirled. Costs an extra fee.
STAINED GLASS
Translucent enamel fills a cutout section, resulting in a light-catching stained glass effect. Costs an extra fee.
GLOW-IN-THE-DARK
Glow-in-the-dark pigment is added to enamel for a luminous effect in low lighting. The brightness will depend on the palette, as some colors are more luminous than others. Costs an extra fee.
RAINBOW PLATING
Rainbow plating is a special metal finish where the pins are submerged into a chemical solution and applied with electricity, called anodizing. This changes the metal into vibrant colors. Due to the process, this is only available with soft pins (recessed enamel levels). Costs an extra fee.
4. Ordering Pins
PLANNING THE COST
Enamel pin orders are typically broken into two parts: the mold fee, and the per-unit price.
Mold Fee 🔨 — The mold fee is a flat fee associated with every enamel pin order. It takes a lot of start-up work to cast the mold for metalworking, and the mold fee represents that. Mold fees are anywhere from $60-$100.
Per-Unit Price 💎 — The per-unit price is the cost associated with the enamel pin quantity. This will be anywhere from $1 - $3 per pin, more if you have special effects added.
Due to the high startup cost associated with ordering enamel pins, you want to order a minimum of 100 for each design. 200 or more is preferred.
Please note that enamel pins are expensive to make, and not recommended for starting merch artists. The high minimum demand also makes shipping expensive ($100+), and transactions can often reach into several thousand dollars. They're beautiful to look at and fun to make, but it's safer to make them with some starting capital, like a Kickstarter or side job—or experience in ecommerce and shipping from making something more accessible, like acrylic charms and prints.
GETTING A QUOTE
To get a quote, make an account on Alibaba and click “Contact Supplier” on the listing page.
In your inquiry, include all the details of your pin, as well as your shipping address so that they can calculate the freight cost for you. Generally, order 10% more than what you plan to sell. This is your safety margin in case you receive any damaged pins.
The manu will generally respond within 1 business day with a detailed quote.
STEP FOUR: SENDING PAYMENT
If everything looks good on the quote, it’s time to send payment!
Some manus will ask for you to send payment via Paypal and take a screenshot, while others will send you an invoice using Alibaba’s system.
STEP FIVE: DIGITAL PROOFS
Shortly after sending payment (usually 1 business day), the manu will send you a digital proof of your pin that might look something like this:
Here’s the things you really want to check so that you don’t waste $200 or more:
Dimensions. Are the pins the right size? Are you sure you want them at that size? Take a ruler, measure it out, and imagine holding it. Tell the manu if you want any changes to the size.
Clutch points. Check the colored circles on the back of the pin. Those mark where your clutches will be. Are they in the correct place? Will your pin hang securely? Do you need more or less clutch points, or do they need to change position at all?
Clutch type. The clutch type you asked for will be beneath the clutch point diagram. In the above image, it’s a black rubber clutch. This is the standard for most enamel pins, but if you requested a butterfly clutch or something else, make sure it’s correct.
Color palette. This is the most important area, and a bit more detailed, so I’ll take some time on this below.
STEP SIX: COLOR PROOFING
At the bottom of your digital proof, you’ll see rows of numbers next to a colored swatch. Each of these numbers corresponds to a Pantone Solid Colored swatch.
Back in the day, Pantone had a free online color finder that let us check the swatches. However, they decided to gate that behind a subscription (whee capitalism) so now, we'll have to use a different technique.
To check the swatches, go to encycolorpedia and type in the paint code. You might see several brands pop up, so make sure you select "Pantone / PMS."
You’ll want to check each individual swatch to make sure the color is accurate to what you want. If the swatch isn’t quite accurate, try typing in the original hex code (e.g. #298f3a) into encycolorpedia's search, and look for a similar Pantone color that ends with C. Then tell the manu which swatch you’d like to switch it to.
Be picky with the proofing step. Once the manu makes the mold, it will take a huge fee for you to switch things around since they have to recast the mold. It’s better to request changes on things that bother you now, rather than wait and receive a flawed product later.
5. Packaging Pins
BACKING CARDS
Almost all enamel pins come with backing cards. There’s all sorts of options, from matte cards to shimmer cards to foil cards. Spend some time on the design aspect, since this will really enhance your pin and catch customers’ eyes at conventions.
For indie pins, backing cards are usually either 2.5” x 2.5” (US square) or 85mm x 55mm (European portrait).
You can get the manu to print the backing cards and attach the enamel pins for a fee, but I like to do it personally so that I can use compostable sleeves (next section).
SLEEVES
Once the pin is attached to your backing card, you’ll want to put it in a sleeve for protection. I recommend using ClearBags’ compostable PLA sleeves, which are crystal-clear, but plant-based and biodegradable.
With the sleeve in place, your pin looks absolutely pristine!
QUALITY CHECKING (SECONDS)
While every manu runs a quality check on your pins before they ship to you, they’re bound to miss things that you’d catch since you know the characters. When packaging or organizing your incoming pins, be sure to check each and every one. You don’t want to send your customer a flawed pin!
Be on the lookout for:
Missing fills or colors, especially in small areas
Small holes or bubbles in the fills
Scratched plating
These are considered B Grade pins, or more commonly, seconds. They are usually still very decent quality and can be sold on your shop at a discounted value (15-20% off).
You Did It!
You’re at the end of the tutorial! I wrote this post because it was difficult for me to find beginner’s resources on making enamel pins. Hopefully, it can act as a helpful starting point in your own enamel pin journey! Now go forth and make ye some shiny things.
If you found this tutorial helpful, please consider buying me a Ko-fi to support the blog!
[image: illustrated poster of a frog sitting on the largest toadstool in a cluster of three toadstools with leaf borders at the four corners. The poster reads: “Online Canzine / April 7-12, 2023 / Registration opens Feb.15-March 1, 2023 / Free to apply / Canzine.ca”]
Broken Pencil is running an online edition of Canzine again this year, and the time between applications and event is only about a month. For full details, check out the official website!
Anime North has announced they are officially merging Comic Market and Crafter’s Corner back into a single artist alley for 2023.
The full information on applying for artist alley is now available on the site for review. Please note that this is for preparatory review before applications officially open - you cannot apply for a table yet for 2023.
We always strongly recommend people read through all the policy information carefully as there can be changes year-to-year, but especially with such a major change this year you should definitely make sure you do so! In addition to the merge, for instance, a few other items we noted on initial review (this is not a complete list, just some examples):
Application currently says it will open “Sunday February 11, 2023 at exactly 8pm EST.” Feb 11 is a Saturday so this may be updated/corrected later.
The policy for permitted merchandise now clearly states “AI generated media is prohibited from the Artist Alley.”
“Art collaborations are only allowed for sale in the Artist Alley if they involve a maximum total of two (2) individual artists who are registered and present at the Artist Alley. There are no exceptions to this rule; waivers will not be accepted from artists that are not present in the Artist Alley.”
Pro Plaza remains a separate section.
We will post any updates we are aware of, but please remember aatoast is not an official Anime North communication channel. Questions about policy that can’t be answered by reviewing the info posted on the Anime North website should be directed to the contact information on the site for official convention representatives.
