Side Street Studio Blog | Unique Local Canadian Gifts, Great Prices, Since 1984
About This Site
Side Street Studio in Oak Bay Village, Victoria, has been selling the work of British Columbia artists since 1984. Currently the Studio represents over 320 local B.C. artists and the web site www.sidestreetstudio.com has over 2000 pages of unique and exceptional value local artists work. All of our artists work makes superb gifts for any occasion.
Unique, locally crafted and original pottery, jewellery, textiles, glass-art, wood turnings and carvings, sculptures and west coast photography; all unique and one-of-a-kind. There are gifts for every occasion, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, house-warmings, romantic events, thanks you's, good luck and just for you! more...
Master Wood Carver, Kees Luchs lives on the edge of the Lantzville Foothills on Vancouver Island, overlooking the Georgia Strait. In his cedar sheltered workshop, he pursues his passion of making beautiful items from local and non-endangered exotic hardwoods.
MAPLE & LACEWOOD PENDANT
Each piece of hardwood is carefully selected for grain and colour configuration, so that no two items are ever the same.
BOCOTE, YELLOWHEART & BLOODWOOD EARRINGS
Now Kees has created a new collection of one-of-a-kind Jewellery using some of the most beautiful hardwoods that he has been working with for many years. Fabulous pendants made using Vancouver Island Birds Eye Maple or Spalted Maple & Tiger-wood. Each pendant comes in its own gift box and has a very durable cord 20 inches in length. Pendants have sterling silver attachments and a very secure lobster claw fastening.
BIRDS EYE MAPLE PENDANT
Hardwood Earrings have been made using Maple, Blue Aloewood & Purple Heart woods. The hooks and findings are made from Sterling Silver and each pair is presented in a box together with details about the artist and type of woods used. Pendants made from Walnut wood or Zebrawood earrings look superb for any occasion.
MAPLE, BLOODWOOD & LACEWOOD EARRINGS
Kees European background and his love for elegant simplicity is evident in the clean flowing, organic lines of his all his work and is highlighted in his new Jewellery collection. Kees unique work has for many years been sold in juried shows and fine art galleries, finding homes on every continent but Antarctica.
TIGERWOOD PENDANT
All of Kees work is made on Vancouver Island.
BOCOTE, YELLOWHEART & BLOODWOOD EARRINGS
Every pendant and earrings comes with their own presentation box along with details of the artist and woods used – making for a perfect unique gift. You can see Kees fabulous new jewellery collection at Side Street Studio, Oak Bay Village, Victoria, B.C.
Kees Luchs
On Hummingbirds
They don’t sing very well, just a few squeaky little chirps and they don’t hum at all!
Their wings do the humming – they move at 20 – 80 times per second and up to 200 times per second during courtship dives.
AMBER HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER
The iridescence of their feathers comes from a special air-filled structure that reflects light, much like an Opal. The Pacific Northwest has four kinds of hummers. The interior has Calliope and Black-chinned and on the coast, the recently arrived Anna’s. The Rufus seems to be the most common and is found throughout the area.
Feeding Hummers
They are sucrose junkies (white sugar). In nature they go to pants that have 25% sucrose content in their nectar. This is why your nectar should be 1 cup of white sugar to 4 cups of water. Boil for a few minutes and allow it to cool. Keep what you don’t use in a glass bottle in a fridge. DON’T USE HONEY AS IT CAN GIVE THE BIRDS A FUNGUS. Don’t use store bought nectar as it is a waste of money and has preservatives and a dye in it. DON’T USE RED DYE. The bird’s eggs will not hatch.
BURGUNDY GLASS HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER
Just use plain white sugar in a 1:4 ratio – don’t argue!
Don’t worry about their diet, the get standard nectar from flowers. They also eat a lot of mosquitoes, gnats and spiders.
YOU MUST FILL YOUR FEEDER RIGHT UP – this will stop it dripping. However, if you put the feeder in the hot sun the fluid will expand and drip – then stop when it cools down. If you have to put a feeder where it may drip and make a mess, just put a water filled bowl under it. A splash of bleach in the water will keep the ants & wasps away.
GREEN HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER
The Colour Red and Hummingbirds
To say that Hummers are only attracted to red flowers is a myth. They will go to any flower with nectar which has a 25% or more sucrose content. It is not the colour that attracts them.
If want to see Hummers up close – just stand by the feeder and freeze. They won’t ‘see’ you unless you move.
ORANGE HUMMIMGBIRD FEEDER
Feeder Problems
If your Hummers have disappeared you have probably let your nectar become moldy. You can see the mould – those little back spots. The warmer the weather the faster the mould will grow – two weeks when it is cold, 3-4 days when it is hot.
To clean your feeder use mild dish-soap and water. Rinse well and let dry. If you put your feeder out too late in the year the Hummers won’t come. The Anna’s are on the West Coast all the year round, but the Rufus arrives at the beginning of April and leaves mid July to Mid August. You will need to have your feeder up in March to attract the first arrivals.
You can find Lawrence Ruskins beautifull Hand Made Glass Hummingbird Feeders at www.sidestreetstudio.com in Oak Bay Village Victoria B.C.
RED HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER
Potter and writer Faro Annie Sullivan has been working with clay for over a decade. For many years she worked part-time in co-operative studios in Victoria BC. With a sense of adventure and plenty of enthusiasm she opened her studio and gallery Dirty Girl Clayworks in 2004.
Her current work is mainly functional slipware decorated with text and animals. Her work is informed by historical slipware, with contemporary twists.
BEE & ROSE DESIGN MUG
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She uses bright, fun colours which reflect her belief that playfulness is an integral part of life. An optimist at heart, Faro tries to imbue each piece with a positive attitude. The text often reflects her state of mind. It can be fun, contemplative, opinionated, silly, and sometimes a little risqué.
DRAGONFLY DESIGN DIPPER
Faro is excited to be involved with arts education. She is currently the ceramics technician for the visual arts program at Camosun College.
SWALLOW DESIGN TUMBLER
She has been involved with the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria as a visiting artist with the New Extremes program. She also teaches pottery at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre.
HUMMINGBIRD & BERRY PLATE
Her work may be found at Side Street Studio in Oak Bay Village, Victoria, B.C.
Robert Held. Canada’s finest Glass Artist Retires….
Robert Held, one of Canada’s finest glass artists has now retired at the age of 70. Robert was born in California and obtained his Master’s Degree in Fine Arts at the University of Southern California.
GIVERNY BOWL - AMETHYST
Robert taught hot glass making in North Carolina and Calgary until 1987 when he moved to Vancouver establishing what was to become one of the largest glass art studios in Canada – Robert Held Art Glass.
MEADOW FLAT CRUCIBLE VASE
Robert used techniques that dated back as long ago as 2000 B.C. Some of his works were inspired by the paintings of famous artists such as Monet and Klimt while other pieces reflect beautiful fields of poppies or summer meadows.
MOSAIC CONE VASE
Robert’s work is featured in collections of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2, The Governor General of B.C. and the Roland Michener Collection.
CALIFORNIA POPPY TEARDROP VASE
In 2008, at the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Stephen Harper presented a magnificent bowl created by Robert Held to the Premier of China on behalf of the people of Canada.
CALIFORNIAN POPPY FROSTED TEALIGHT
Robert retires to Parksville on Vancouver Island where Side Street Studio wishes him a long and most enjoyable retirement.
CALIFORNIA POPPY TEARDROP VASE
Side Street Studio has a superb collection of boxes all hand crafted onVancouver Island.
YELLOW CEDAR BURL RING BOX
Our artist’s boxes are made to be used for keeping your most precious jewellery safe and sound. There are special boxes for wine, tea (after wine presumably?), playing cards, candle sticks, presentations and even memories!
AFRICAN BLACKWOOD & MAPLE BURL RING BOX
Our artists have used just about every fine and rare wood available to crafts these beautiful boxes. Yellow Cedar Burl to African Blackwood to Maple, Garry Oak and even Cambodian Rosewood.
WINE OR CANDLESTICK BOX
So why let your beautiful and important piece of jewellery linger in some felt Jewellers box or wine rest in some cardboard box - take some moments to look at these superb boxes and you will be very impressed at the quality and value of just what you can find.
MOOI CARD PLAYER'S BOX
Bruce Coney was born in South Africa and grew up in farming communities there. He was always fascinated with the art and colours used by the different peoples in South Africa.
ORANGINA GLASS POURING BOTTLE - TURQUOISE
After gaining a degree in Economics and Marketing Bruce emigrated to Canada with his small family. They settled in Deep Cove, North Vancouver and Bruce went to work for newspapers in Vancouver in the Advertising field. In the nineties Bruce owned two newspapers in Vancouver and North Vancouver.
PORT GLASS POURING BOTTLE - BLUE
In 2001 the Coney’s moved to Salt Spring Island with the idea of starting a craft studio. Glassware soon became the number one medium. It allowed Bruce the opportunity to explore a wide variety of colours whilst creating pieces that are useful in the home. The fact that most of the glassware used is recycled was a bonus.
PELLEGRINO GLASS POURING BOTTLE - ORANGE
bco
To create a cruet pourer Bruce sources a recycled bottle, cleans off all labels and markings, washes and sterilizes and paints it by hand with a special glass paint.
STRONGBOW GLASS POURING BOTTLE - GREEN
The bottle is then fired and the paint cures and bonds onto the glass. A pourer is then added and, voila, you have a very useful cruet bottle that can be used for olive oil, vinegar, salad dressing, dish detergent, liquid soap – virtually anything you can pour.
DEMI WINE POURING BOTTLE - PURPLE
All glassware items can be washed with hot water and detergent.
The fact that the glassware is recycled means that Bruce can keep his products affordable.
CHAMPAGNE GLASS POURING BOTTLE - BLACK
You can see Bruce’s beautiful & functional work at www.sidestreetstudio.com
Recycled Glass Cruet Pourers
Buy on line – Pick up at Side Street Studio
Did you know you can buy something online then stop by Side Street Studio to pick it up?
You can also order a Gift for someone who lives in or near Victoria – for them to pick up.
Ideal for sending gifts to friends or relatives who live in or near Victoria – this saves you all the packaging and cost of postage.
The best of online shopping meets the best of in-store shopping, and it’s FREE!
Side Street Studio
It’s Fast: During Studio hours, you can pick up your order from 1 hour of placing it on www.sidestreetstudio.com
It’s Convenient: Pick up your item based on your schedule or that of your recipient’s; instead of waiting at home for a package to arrive.
It saves you Money! There are of course no shipping charges for an in-store pick up.
And…you can have your order Gift wrapped for FREE
Gift Wrapping
Some Questions!
What do I need to bring to the Studio? Just bring a copy of your email receipt and one piece of Government Photo I.D. – that’s it.
Can I use this easy order process as a ‘Gift’ for someone else to collect? Yes. Simply include their name, email address and phone number in the Comments section of the order form – that’s all that’s needed.
Your recipient should bring with them a Piece of Government Photo I.D. plus the order number – shown on your confirmation email when they come to the Studio to collect their order.
A Gift From Australia
True Romance
You’re the bride to be, so you deserve only the best on your special day. Having spent a great deal of time searching for that perfect engagement, wedding, eternity or anniversary ring your day needs to be ‘perfect’!
CAMBODIAN ROSEWOOD RING BOX
One element which is so often overlooked is the presentation box for that beautiful ring. Too often, even with the finest rings, the presentation box is little more than a felt covered cardboard small box, made in some far off country.
AFRICAN BLACKWOOD RING BOX
So to complete that important special occasion why not present that beautiful ring in a hand carved unique ring box, made on Vancouver Island.
MAPLE WOOD RING BOX
Every one of these ring boxes is original and one of a kind. They have been crafted by Christine Davidson, one of B.C.’s foremost wood turners from a mix of local and exotic woods.
MAPLE WOOD RING BOX WITH ROSEWOOD FILIAL
Choose from Cambodian Rosewood, African Blackwood together with an Arbutus wood filial to a Garry Oak with an African Blackwood Filial ring box. There is even an exquisite hand turned ring box made from Maple wood together with a Rosewood filial. This ring box has been made by Christine Davidson in Victoria, B.C. and is unique. This ring box has a ‘free turning ring’ carved as an integral part of the box; the mark of a master craftsman.
GARRY OAK LIDDED RING BOX WITH AN AFRICAN BLACKWOOD FILIAL
These original ring boxes are probably some of the finest which you will find anywhere in the world. They are absolutely ideal for that important and memorable occasion.
CAMBODIAN ROSEWOOD & LOCUST WOOD RING BOX
See more of these unique ring boxes at: http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/christine-davidson-m-80236.html
Annie Pang was born in Toronto, Ontario. She started life as an accomplished child violinist. Annie moved out to Nanaimo as a young adult and then to Victoria, where she was in the Victoria Symphony for 5 years. Due to illness, Annie suffered a premature loss of her 21 year violin career. She has re-invented herself several times, self-teaching as she went. As a miniature clay sculptor her miniature, “The Symphony”, was on display for 1 ½ years at the Royal Theatre.
SERENITY FELTED BOWL WITH 3 WOOL BALLS
Always a gardener, Annie grew, dried and created art as a dried flower artist. After another severe illness left her fighting to walk again, she became a prolific poet and wildlife photographer, combining these two loves to create exceptional “poetographs” for both educational and custom commissions.
FELTED DREAM POT
In the last few years, she has grown to embrace the grounding and earthy feeling of working with wool to create her “Serenity” line of felt pots and bowls. “The tactile feeling of wool helps me stay in touch with my inner being and I enjoy my pots and bowls in every room. They are visually delightful and very useful tools in my spiritual growth and healing. Just holding one brings me back to myself, helping me smile or laugh or release inner tension.
SERENITY FELTED BOWL WITH 3 WOOL BALLS
I write my dreams and affirmations on bits of paper and pop them into a Dream Pot, releasing it to the Universe…”
You can see Annie’s beautiful work at at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/annie-pang-m-80542.html
FELTED DREAM POT
Side Street Studio Gift Certificates are redeemable for any purchases, have no fees, and never expire.
Trying to find the perfect gift for someone isn’t always easy. Side Street Studio has an incredible selection of hand crafted products, but sometimes you just can’t find the right gift for that special someone. Whether it’s a birthday present, holiday gift, employee reward, a gift to celebrate a special occasion, or a simple gesture of appreciation, a Side Street Studio Certificate is the perfect present.
CLASSIC BLACK NECKLACE
Side Street Studio has joined with Pay Pal’s safe and secure payment system to efficiently manage your Gift Certificate on-line process.
MEDIUM CASSEROLE
Side Street Studio Gift Certificates are redeemable toward thousands of items at Side Street Studio and never, ever expire.Side Street Studio Gift Certificates can be purchased to any value, from $5 to $1,000. Your recipient can spend their Side Street Studio Gift Certificate right away on line or deposit it into their Pay Pal account and wait for that perfect piece to appear. Any Side Street Studio Gift Certificate balance left over will stay in their account for future use.
SILVER MAPLE BURL SALAD BOWL
Side Street Studio Gift Certificates can be delivered two ways: by e-mail to your recipient or print-at-home then mail the Gift Certificate to your recipient perhaps together with a greetings card. You can even time the delivery of your email Gift Certificate by up to a month ahead. So you don’t miss that important occasion.
GIVERNY BOWL - AMETHYST
Gift cards or gift certificates used to be considered an impersonal, “I didn’t know what to get you” gift …but no longer.Side Street Studio Gift Certificates are tailored with a design and a personal message to make any recipient smile.Side Street Studio Gift Certificates are perfect for every occasion or holiday: birthday presents, Thank You gifts, wedding or house-warming gifts, baby shower gifts, retirement gifts, graduation presents, gift cards to give Mom or Dad for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day presents.
SOFT HAND WOVEN SCARF
Side Street Studio also sells Gift Certificates ‘in-store’ which you can send to a recipient who lives near (or is coming to) Victoria for use in the studio. There is a Side Street Studio Gift Certificate for any occasion.
LADIES PADRAIG WOOL SLIPPERS
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