It might be your only chance to take a coveted snoop around the inside of someone else's home, but if you see something you like and want to take it home, you will have to pay for it.
Homes in Nanaimo are opening their doors to the public this weekend for the Old City Quarter Art Walk.
Five different houses and studios will make up the sale and showcase of art, textiles, jewelry, ceramics and clothing on Saturday and Sunday.
In its eighth year, the art walk draws hundreds of shoppers who roam freely from house to house in the Old City Quarter, browsing items and enjoying snacks and Fair Trade coffee. Admission is free.
Michelle Barkay, the "Gypsy Mermaid" who lives at 214 Kennedy St., will display hand painted glass lanterns, mermaid and interpretive paintings and sexy tools.
She said she is especially excited about her tiffan purses, based on an Indian design.
"I just saw them in O Magazine," Barkay said. "They are these wicked little purses."
This is the fourth year Barkay has been involved in the art walk, and said the event has been wildly successful in the past.
"We open up our studios and our homes," she said.
"The public gets a sneak peak at all these old, funky homes.
"We have hundreds of people who come through."
Barkay, who dabbles in new art forms all the time, said the artists showcasing this weekend are low-profile and can benefit from the exposure.
"There are some amazing, talented artists in Nanaimo," she said. "But none of us are super commercial."
Heath Anderson, will also show his work at 214 Kennedy St.
Anderson will display his collectible solar pyrography wood burned scenes.
The Yellow Door Studio, located at 174 Commercial St., will display the works of Jane Garcia, Jan Smart and Gerda Hofman. Garcia said she regularly displays her work at the Yellow Door.
"I'll have hand-printed fabrics, silk scarves, tote bags," she said.
"As well as framed fabric and stitched pieces for the wall."
Garcia said sales during the art walk are usually impressive, but that she also makes friends and connections.
"Last year, I exchanged some phone numbers, and they came back to buy some pieces," she said.
Tanya Streeter-Wilson, a textiles artist, will be holding court at 129 Milton St. with fellow artists and homeowners Debbie and Steven Harwood. Streeter-Wilson will offer silk scarves, printed t-shirts, handmade paper and silver jewelry.
"There's something for everyone," she said.
Debbie Harwood will sell one-of-a-kind metal art pieces and Steven Hardwood will sell turned pieces.
Artists Maia Levine and Sherry Mitchell, the "Synergy Sisters," will congregate at 720 Campbell St. and offer puppets, games, and their new book, Sally Squiffly and the Runaway Rodent: The second in the Squiffly series, following the highly successful Mr. Squiffly's Cow, published in 2005.
Mary-Jo Fulmer will peddle her "beauties of nature" jewelry at 620 Prideax St.
Barkay said she'll do a sunshine dance in preparation for the potentially rainy weekend.
"Just in case, bring an umbrella," she said.
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.