Side Street Studio Blog | The best art that B.C. can offer
About This Site
Side Street Studio in Oak Bay Village and now Humboldt Street, Victoria, has been selling the work of British Columbia artists for over 25 years. Side Street Studio is family owned and has the support of five highly trained and helpful staff. We are commited to providing a showcase for the best pottery, jewellery, wood, glass art, textiles, cards & books, carvings, West Coast photography & art prints and special Gifts that B.C. can offer. more...
Monica writes: “I love colour. It is always what interests me first, what my eye sees first. Texture and pattern combined with colour inspire me and get the creative ideas flowing. My hand felted, wearable art pieces showcase colour, texture and pattern in a pleasing balance of form and function”.
Felted Merino and Corriedale wools with Silk
“My wraps may look delicate but they are very wearable. Made mostly from Merino and Corriedale wools felted on to iridescent silk chiffon, they are soft on the skin, lightweight but warm, easily draped around the shoulders on a cool summer evening or wrapped around the neck, tucked under the chin and into a winter coat.”
Merino & Corriedale Wools with Bison & Baby Camel down on Silk
“I was born and raised in West Vancouver. I received my Bachelor of Applied Arts in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Ryerson University in Toronto in 1988. In 1991, I took my first quilting class and from that moment on, fiber became my creative outlet”.
Fine Beading details on Wrap
“Throughout the 1990s, I studied embroidery, hand and machine stitchery, fabric dyeing and surface design with a variety of international teachers. I started teaching quilting in Vancouver in 1995 and continued to teach even after my husband, Trevor, and I moved to Pender Island in 1999. When I started learning to hand felt in 2001, I knew I wouldn’’t be working in fabric arts anymore”.
“Once I saw how my hands could get into the creation of the art – literally – I was really excited”.
Corriedale Hand dyed Silk and Mohair
“Almost overnight, I stopped working with fabrics and started working with sheep’s wool, goat locks, silks and exotic fibers such as camel down, bison, qiviut, alpaca and llama. The ability to design and create the very fabric itself is an amazing feeling”.
“Everything I make is done by hand. I lay out the unspun fibers then felt them – gently rubbing them with warm, soapy water, then rolling them in bubble wrap over and over, constantly checking and adjusting as the work progresses. My hands tell me when a piece is felting, where it needs more attention and when it is finished.”
Merino & Corriedale Wools with Silk
Monica’s beautiful, handcrafted work makes a magnificent gift and all represent outstanding value. See more at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/monica-bennett-m-80462.html
Merino & Corriedale Wools with Silk
Jack Olive writes;
BEAUTIFUL ABSTRACT DESIGN TEA POT
Growing up in Thunder Bay, Ontario in the 40′s and 50′s, I spend much of my time drawing, painting and photographing the images around me.
I registered for drawing and graphic design instead, and when the instructor for ceramics called out the door of the pottery studio that he now had an opening for me, I found my life’s work.
BEAUTIFUL APPLE DESIGN CASSEROLE
In 1971 I moved to Vancouver and became a founding member and director of the Vancouver Clayworks Society, a 12-member cooperative ceramics studio.
BEAUTIFUL APPLE DESIGN CAPPUCHINO BOWL
In this creative atmosphere I worked with other members of the group to develop methods of applying imagery through drawing, painting and photographic images to ceramic sculpture and pottery.
PEARS DESIGN PITCHER
The optical effect of stretching graphic images around a circular from fascinates me. Peripheral vision bends what the observer sees at the edges. Ceramic glazes with their richness and capacity for layering and depth of imagery, give the opportunity to create a mirror of that peripheral view as images bend around the surface of a pot.
BEAUTIFUL PEARS DESIGN SERVING BOWL
My work in clay is both functional and decorative. I work with wheel thrown and slab built form, all fired to cone 1 with over and under glazes. All pieces are food safe and the wheel thrown ones are oven and microwave proof. I have formulated my clay and glazes to fit with a slight compression that prevents crazing, and creates a very durable and chip resistant surface.
ORIGINAL PEAR DESIGN JAR
I now work out of my own studio on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of British Columbia and you can see my outstandingly good value work at Side Street Studio, a long established Victoria based arts & crafts studio and web store – www.sidestreetstudio.com
LOVELY SMALL JUG
I have been a practising potter for over thirty years now and it all began accidentally, when after completing three years of study at U.B.C. I took a year off to travel and learn something outside of an academic surrounding. Upon returning and going to work to earn some money for my last year at school, a friend asked me if I would take a pottery course with him at the Burnaby Art Centre and that was how it all began. My instructor there was a wonderful young woman named Bonnie (we have continued a friendship since then) who inspired me to drop my academic career and pursue the life of a potter.
THE PERFECT SOUP OR SMALL BOWL
From there I went to the University of Montana for a year while my wife was completing her B.F.A. It was here that I had the great opportunity to study with Rudy Autio, one of America\’s great ceramic artists; as both a teacher and person he made a lasting impression on me. From there I went to the Alberta College of Art in Calgary where I completed a four year programme with a major in ceramics. We stayed on in Calgary for the next eight years while I worked at a pottery that made high fired stoneware and porcelain. This work experience helped me to develop the practical skills necessary to work as a studio potter and led to my life‐long interest and fascination with the beauty of ceramic glazes. During this time in Calgary I and some friends built a large wood fired two‐chamber climbing kiln on a friend’s land west of Calgary. For a group of young potters that was such an exciting time, the kiln and fuel being a direct connection to our collective history stretching back for thousands of years.
SMALL BRIE BAKER
But now it was time to come home, so my wife and I and our two children returned to Vancouver, where I at first attempted to build a gas fired kiln to continue to work at high temperature, but City regulations and the need to get to work fast made me start to use the old Estrin electric kiln that I had brought back with me from Calgary and to work at low temperature. I had to learn a lot fast, the commercial low‐fire clays I tried were all very inadequate for producing strong functional pottery, so I began to test and test and finally developed a clay body that was in my opinion much better( much of the ceramic technical literature mainly concerns the cone 6/10 temperature range and finding information concerning low‐temp. required what was a long search for the answers I needed‐ much of ceramics/pottery technical information has been transmitted orally for thousands of years and unfortunately lost to us).
MEDIUM SIZED JUGS
Since my return to the coast twenty‐four years ago I have continued to work making pottery, mainly concerned with the preparation or serving of food, using majolica and transparent glazes with slip decoration to glaze my pots. For the past fifteen years I have taught a course on glaze chemistry for all temperature ranges at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. This has been a been a way for me to continue to explore my interest in glazes and pass on an appreciation of their mystery and beauty to the students. I have increasingly over these years as a potter come to see what I do, not in terms of work but rather as labour and recently, while reading the most inspiring book, ‘The Gift Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property’ by Lewis Hyde, I found this line.
BEAUTIFUL LARGE FLUTED PLATE
“When I speak of Labour, then I intend to refer to something dictated by the course of life rather than by society, something that is often urgent but that nevertheless has its own rhythm, something more bound up with feeling, more interior, than work.”
This I think is good description of what it is to be a craftsman, and in a culture where the machine made is omnipresent, is an important one for all of us.
You can see more of D’arcy’s superb and excellent value work at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/darcy-margesson-m-80457.html
David Parks
Decoy Carving is the self -taught occupation of David Parks that began in the mid 1980′s as a hobby. 
Long Billed Curlews are David’s favourite bird, having grown up with them in his native Ireland. You will find many different Curlew styles in his appropriately named ‘The Curlew Workshop.’ Some are of his own design while others are in the tradition of the early carvers who made Curlew decoys.
In fact, David relies on the styles of the early traditions and much research goes into the making of each of his decoys so that they replicate the originals as closely as possible.
In days gone by, shorebirds migrating up the Atlantic seaboard from Central & South America were hunted for food and feathers. As the demand increased, populations of the birds that were once so bountiful it was said that they “darkened the sky,” decreased alarmingly, and certain species became extinct.
Fortunately the passage of the Migratory Bird Act of 1918 ended commercial hunting of shorebirds. The act also ended decoy production for hunting purposes. Those few remaining decoys are classified as North America Folk Art and are highly prized.
It was shortly before the cessation of the hunting of shorebirds, that the mantel bird came into existence. Hunters would order decoys and include some for their mantelpiece. Thus the two-legged mantel bird was created specifically for this non-hunting purpose and is an integral part of the lore of the shorebird decoy.
Hand carving shorebird decoys gives David great satisfaction as the image emerges form the wood. These decoys are highly imaginative works of art and represent a by-gone era. 
You can find more of David Parks superb carvings at www.sidestreetstudio.com
NEWS RELEASE
June 1, 2010
Mayor Dean Fortin Launches Humboldt Valley Commercial Precinct June 8, 2010
VICTORIA – The Humboldt Valley Merchants Association welcomes His Honour Mayor Dean Fortin to hoist the final banner to launch the Humboldt Valley commercial precinct on Tuesday, June 8 at 11:00 a.m.
The HVMA recently partnered with the Downtown Business Association (DVBA) to develop an area identity program. Anonymous Advertising was selected to create the identity and logo, which has been applied to new fuchsia banners that will line the commercial precinct along Humboldt Street from Blanchard to Government.
The banner hoisting event on June 8th signals the installation of the banners and launches the area as a dynamic new commercial precinct in downtown Victoria.
The Humboldt Valley Merchants Association was formed in 2009 by a handful of merchants who had begun setting up shop in the newly developed Humboldt Valley. The group’s membership has increased to over 20 businesses this year to include the major hotels, galleries, real estate offices, gift shops, restaurants and cafes that line the Valley.
Members include: Winchester Galleries, Café Mela at the Belvedere, The Sky is the Limit Design, Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour, Executive House Hotel, Fairmont Empress Hotel, Brown’s Social House, HSBC, Church of our Lord, Macdonald Realty Victoria, Armeni Jewellers, Side Street Studio, Kiva Design, Budget Car and Truck Rental, Sotheby’s Realty Victoria, 5 Star Whale Watching, Miniature World, Willow Stream Spa, Nootka Traders, Union Club of B.C., Pescatore’s Fish House and Oyster Bar, Scala Boutique and Roger’s Chocolates Soda Shoppe.
“If you haven’t walked along this part of Humboldt Street recently, you may be surprised to find that it has become an attractive destination for Victorians and visitors alike,” says Elizabeth Levinson, chair of the merchants association. “We’re all excited to be part of this dynamic residential and business community.”
Contact:
Elizabeth Levinson
Winchester Galleries Humboldt Valley
250-382-7750 elizabeth@winchestergalleriesltd.com
Gitte Bruun Of Rainbird Arts writes;
WASPS NEST PAPER & PEARL EARRINGS
“It’s all about the natural world for me. Without it, my soul would shrivel up and die, or at best, atrophy.
We need to respect and treat our great and wonderful planet with kindness.
It’s the only one we’ve got. Every little thing, big or small; creature; being; organism; is amazing and breathtaking in it’s design and an integral part of the whole.
CEDAR BARK PAPER & JASPER EARRINGS
I want to share and convey those feelings of excitement and humbleness for the beauty and complexity of the natural world, enlightening and educating if I can.
CEDAR BARK PAPER & COPPER BEAD EARRINGS
I tend to choose subject matter for my pen and inks that are not “popular”, focusing on bats, vultures, snakes, insects etc with the occasional foray into birds of prey and orcas.
WASP NEST PAPER & FLOWER JADE EARRINGS
My jewellery reflects treasures of the natural world and their history, combined with sterling silver and gemstones, or at other times borrows influences from the tribes of Africa and Asia, from people who still live connected to the land and its rhythms.
Art should provoke thought. I hope that my work will inspire some to take another look at aspects of species inhabiting our world, open their mind a little more to the importance of all creatures, not just the handsome ones, thereby, hopefully softening our impact.
I combine sterling silver and semi-precious gemstones with my “beads” made from handmade cedar bark paper or abandoned wasp nest paper”.
CEDAR BARK, TURQUOISE & LICHEN EARRINGS
CEDAR BARK PAPER & PEARL EARRINGS
“For the paper-making process, strips of bark removed from fallen or windblown cedar (Thuja plicata) are torn into narrow lengths and then cut into postage-stamp sized pieces before being soaked in water overnight or longer. It’s then cooked in the water gently (on top of the woodstove) with a small amount of soda ash for half a day to break down the fiber, rinsed thoroughly, and zapped in a blender to become a rich dark brown paper pulp for casting or sheet making.
CEDAR BARK PAPER, SODALITE & LICHEN EARRINGS
Sheets of dried cedar bark paper are cut into strips and rolled into beads, or cut to size to cover cardboard blanks, glued into place and left to dry, and then covered in a protective layer of matte varnish. Or the pulp is pressed into round discs, dried and trimmed, and covered in a light varnish.
Some of the ‘beads’ have pressed lichen, dried hydrangea petals, or parts of maple leaves and ferns decorating them. A sterling silver bail is attached and the ‘bead’ is ready for it’s marriage to stone and silver”.
“Yellow Jacket nests (vespiary) are found abandoned in the winter after the colony has died off and the surviving queen hidden herself away to overwinter underground or somewhere sheltered until spring. The nest is made from wood of various species of shrubs and trees chewed into a pulp by the Yellow Jackets, and then transformed into an elegant brindled paper structure that can take on a typically urn-shaped form as large as a football or bigger.
CEDAR BARK, CARNELIAN & HYDRANGEA PETAL EARRINGS
Some are in shades of grays, ivory, granite, and silvered cedar, or shot through with waves of russet, taupe and tan, a few with softened amber and sepia tones. They are a work of art in themselves. The nest is very brittle and fragile so pieces are cut to size for the cardboard blanks that they cover, wetted carefully with glue and folded over into place and left to dry.
WASP NEST PAPER & TURQUOISE CLIP-ON EARRINGS
A few layers are used to complete the process, drying between each layer otherwise the paper disintegrates with the slightest touch. Once all the layers are on and dried, the wasp paper blank is coated in a protective layer of matte varnish, the sterling Silver bail attached and it’s ready to be combined with silver and stone”.
Gitte Bruun lived for over 22 years on an island with no roads nor electricity (accessible only by boat) off the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Read more about Gitte and her beautiful work at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=80452
CEDAR BARK PAPER & HYDRANGEA PETAL EARRINGS
Camelot & Celtic Symbolism
Sheila Smedley writes:
“Artists and authors have held a centuries-old fascination with the mystery surrounding Arthur and his Utopian kingdom believed to have been at Camelot.
CELTIC PEWTER KNOT/PEARL/CRYSTAL EARRINGS
CELTIC LINK GEMSTONE EARRINGS
“Today we continue to recognize and acknowledge the strong symbolism and wisdom of the Celtic peoples. The Camelot Collection of jewellery by Sarabande Treasures harks back to an ancient time. Antiqued bronze and gold pewter, combined with an array of gemstones, indicative of those used in decoration and adornment in the Dark Ages, create this unique and distinctive collection”.
CELTIC GEMSTONE NECKLACE
CELTIC LINK GEMSTONE BRACELET
“The Celts ruled a great portion of Britain and northern Europe before the arrival of Christianity. The symbols and signs of Celtic artwork held incredible power for the ancient Celts in every aspect of their lives, which is evidenced in the beautiful artefacts collected over past centuries”.
CELTIC GEMSTONE BRACELET
CELTIC LINK GEMSTONE EARRINGS
“The Celtic cross not only is a central symbol for Christianity, but in a number of cultures, the intersection of vertical and horizontal axes can represent the union of heaven and earth. Although the ancient Celts left no written records, their art and symbolism remain as captivating and poignant today as it did centuries ago”.
You can see more of Sheila’s magnificent Celtic work at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=celtic&sort=3a&page=1
CELTIC LINK GEMSTONE PENDANT NECKLACE
ZODIAC SIGNS & GEM STONES
Capricorn(Dec. 22nd – Jan. 21st) |
Ruby & Lapis Lazuli The name Lapis Lazuli comes from the Persian word lazhward meaning blue, in allusion to its color. In ancient times, lapis lazuli was known as sapphirus, which is the name that we use today for the blue corundum variety sapphire. Lapis Lazuli has been highly valued for many thousands of years. The most famous locality for fine quality lapis lazuli is the same ancient deposit high in the mountains of Afganistan where it was originally mined at least 6000 years ago. Lapis lazuli was often made into jewelry, carvings, amulets and talismans which were believed to have occult powers. Lapis lazuli was said to dispell melancholy and depression, and to cure recurring fevers. It was also said to impart ancient knowledge, and the wisdom to use it. Up until the nineteenth century, lapis lazuli was ground up and mixed with oil to produce the deep blue-green pigment known as ultramarine which meant literally beyond the sea, as the lapis lazuli was brought from far away by ship
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Aquarius(Jan. 21st – Feb. 21st) |
The word Garnet is believed to have derived from the Latin granatum, meaning pomegranate and referring to its deep red coloured seeds. Garnet has been used in jewellery since ancient times and was thought to have great curative powers, protecting the wearer from harm. It is believed that Garnet powers the emotions, promoting confidence and strength of character. |
Pisces(Feb. 22nd – Mar. 21st) |
Amethyst is said to be the stone of contentment and to bestow stability, serenity and peace. Amethyst belongs to the quartz family and its variation in colour is largely due to the traces of iron it contains. Amethyst was highly prized in antiquity for its calming effect and the name derived from the Greek amethustos or “non-inebriated”. It is often used as a meditation stone to help relax the mind and as an aid to finding inner peace.
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| Aries(Mar.22nd – Apr. 20th) |
Bloodstone |
| Taurus(Apr.21st – May. 21st) |
Sapphire |
Gemini(May 21st – June 21st) |
Agate obtains its typical banded appearance through the deposition of other quartz substances within the layers. It enjoyed a high reputation as a protective stone in the ancient world. The tradition still holds strong today as Agate is widely used in spiritual healing, believed to balance and bring harmony to the body and mind. |
| Cancer(June 22nd – July 22nd) |
Emerald |
Leo(July 23rd – Aug. 22nd) |
Onyx is valued for its strong lustre and colour and has been used in jewellery and ornamentation since pre-historic times. Onyx is a type of chalcedony and is coloured black through the presence of iron and carbon. Wearing onyx is thought to bring self-mastery, confidence and assertiveness.
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Virgo(Aug. 23rd - Sept. 23rd) |
Carnelian is a stone from the quartz family, cornelian is found all over the world but it is widely held that the best stones come from India. The name is derived from the Latin word for horn. Carnelian is said to help the wearer “live in the moment” as well as restoring the natural energy flow of the body.
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Libra(Sept. 23rd – Oct. 23rd) |
The name Peridot is thought to have been derived from the Arabic faridat, meaning gem. Peridot was used in ancient Egypt as a stone for jewellery. It is said to alleviate anxiety and fear and to relieve insomnia. |
Scorpio(Oct.24th – Nov 21st) |
. Beryl is quite unkown to many people when in its original pure form. Here it is colourless. But is is a very important gemstone as when we see Beryl in its green form it is know as Emerald and in its blue form as Aquamarine. The double reference to water in the name Aquamarine is a mix of the Latin words aqua, for water, and marina, “of the sea” suggests that the ancients connected the stone closely with water. In addition to appearing in settings with other, more precious gems, Aquamarine was also highly valued by sailors, who considered it to be a lucky stone.In the Middle Ages it was thought that aquamarine would reduce the effect of poisons |
Sagittarius(Nov. 22 – Dec. 21st) |
The name Topaz is derived from the Sanskrit word tapas. In ancient cultures topaz was considered to be the stone of Jupiter, representing rule over one’s own life, self-realisation and wisdom. When heated, yellow topaz often becomes reddish-pink. Topaz is said to promote peaceful and calm emotions. |
Birthstones have been used for many hundreds of years as a means of associating a specific stone with the date of one’s birth. The exact relationship’s between a stone and a calendar date is lost in the mists of time. But there are many enjoyable guides available to you to research and for you choose what stone is most appealing or appropriate to you.
MONTH & STONE
JANUARY: Garnet: The name Garnet is from the Latin granatum, meaning pomegranate and refers to its deep red colored seeds. Garnet has been used in jewellery since ancient times and is believed to have great curative powers, protecting the wearer from harm. Garnet strengthens the emotions, building confidence and strength of character. 
Rose Quartz: Rose quartz is believed to be a fertility crystal. It is known as the “love stone” and is thought to attract and strengthen love as well as heal emotional wounds. Most rose quartz is mined in Brazil.
FEBRUARY: Amethyst: Amethyst is the stone of contentment, and is believed to bring stability, serenity and peace. Amethyst belongs to the quartz family and its variation in colour is largely due to the traces of iron it contains. Amethyst has been highly prized in antiquity for its calming effect and the name derived from the Greek amethustos or “non-inebriated”. Amethyst is often used as a meditation stone to help bring peace to the mind and as an aid to finding inner peace. 
Onyx: Onyx is prized for its colour and has been used in jewellery since pre-historic times. It is a form of chalcedony and is colored black through the presence of iron and carbon. Wearing Onyx is thought to bring self-mastery, confidence and assertiveness.
MARCH: Bloodstone & Aquamarine: Aquamarine is a form of beryl and has been valued as a gemstone for thousands of years. It and even appears in the Bible. The double reference to water in the name, which is a compound of the Latin words aqua, for water, and marina, “of the sea” suggests that the ancients connected the stone closely with water.
In addition to appearing in settings with other, more precious gems, aquamarine was also highly valued by sailors, who considered it to be a lucky stone. Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and the stone for the zodiac sign Scorpio.
In the Middle Ages it was thought that aquamarine would reduce the effect of poisons 
APRIL: Diamond: Diamonds are formed many miles beneath the Earth’s crust and, as pure carbon, is the hardest mineral known to man. The name diamond is derived from the Greek adamas meaning “invincible”. For many hundreds of years diamonds have represented strength and invulnerability. Highly prized due to its rarity and purity, the characteristic fire and brilliance of the diamond has made it one of the desirable of gemstones in jewellery.
MAY: Emerald and..
Chryophase: Chrysoprase is the most valuable stone in the chalcedony group. The name Chrysoprase has been derived from a Greek word “chrysos prason,” which mean gold leek. It is said to be a “Victory Stone.” California has a good deposit of Chrysoprase.
JUNE: Pearls: In ancient mythology pearls were thought to be heavenly dewdrops caught by shells rising from the sea bed. Pearls were b believed to be sacred to the Roman moon goddess Diana. Pearls are thought to symbolize peace, beauty and friendship. 
Moonstone: Moonstone is associated with the moon and was the stone of the goddess Diana. The most powerful time to use the moonstone is in a full moon. It is said to bring good fortune to the wearer as well as success in love and business issues. 
JULY: Ruby & Carnelian: Carnelian is a stone from the quartz family, cornelian is found all over the world but it is widely held that the best stones come from India. The name is derived from the Latin word for horn.
Carnelian is said to help the wearer “live in the moment” as well as restoring the natural energy flow of the body.
AUGUST: Peridot: The name Peridot is thought to have been derived from the Arabic faridat, meaning gem. Peridot was used in ancient Egypt as a stone for jewellery. It is said to alleviate anxiety and fear and to relieve insomnia.
Peridot is thought to bring joy and good fortune
SEPTEMBER: Sapphire & Lapis Lazuli: Lapis lazuli was popular thousands of years ago among the people of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome. It is said that the legendary city of Ur on the Euphrates plied a keen lapis lazuli trade as long ago as the fourth millennium B.C., the material coming to the land of the two great rivers from the famous deposits in Afghanistan. In other cultures, lapis lazuli was regarded as a holy stone.
OCTOBER: Opal: Opal is often described as “Nature’s fireworks” due to its iridescent rainbow flashes through the white gemstone. It’s popularly thought that the name derives from the Sanskrit word for precious stone: upala. Most opal is more than 60 million years old and generally dates back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Opal is considered a stone of happy dreams and good changes. 
Opal is thought to be the most powerful of healing stones
NOVEMBER: Topaz: The name Topaz is derived from the Sanskrit word tapas. In ancient cultures topaz was considered to be the stone of Jupiter, representing rule over one’s own life, self-realization and wisdom. When heated, yellow topaz often becomes reddish-pink. Topaz is said to promote peaceful and calm emotions. 
Citrine: Citrine is a variety of quartz. In ancient times it was believed to strengthen the intellect while in modern spiritual healing it is thought to fortify the nerves, aid digestion and encourage self-confidence. 
DECEMBER: Turquoise: Turquoise is believed to have been named after Turkey where European crusaders first came into contact with the stone in medieval times. In many cultures, turquoise was valued as a protection against evil spirits and was worn as an amulet for strength and prosperity. It is particularly valued in the Native American community and made into beautiful jewellery, often combined with silver.
Fiona Ballard writes:
FERN BAMBOO HANDLE BAG
“As a child I was surrounded by creativity, ingenuity and resourcefulness. I grew up on a farm in Alberta, with no running water, miles from town. My parents had to find ways to make things work”.
HANDMADE PENCIL CRAYON ROLL
“Together they learned how to run a small farm, repair tools, shear sheep and everything else they needed to know in order to make our life there possible. Dad had been a cook in the Antarctic, inside the Arctic Circle, in northern Saskatchewan, then finally worked for the forestry service in Alberta. Mum moved from a life in England as a secretary to a farm where she raised sheep and chicken, knitted, did willow basket weaving, grew a huge garden, made bread and raised the four of us. I truly believe they could turn their hands to anything!
I learned a lot from both my parents, but inherited my love of textiles and sewing from my maternal grandmother, who was a talented seamstress in Yorkshire. I am indebted to each of them for their unending support and encouragement.
Our crafty endeavours resulted in many Christmas and birthday gifts over the years, some of which we still have today. This love of handmade has stayed with me. There were periods during school and university where this creativity was set aside, but never for long. Driven by a desire to avoid mass-manufactured toys and licensed products, I began making aprons, crayon rolls, colouring bags, crowns and tutus as birthday gifts.
HANDMADE REVERSIBLE PLACEMATS
HANDMADE COSMETIC POUCH
After the birth of our second child, I began making greetings cards, drawn to the beautiful papers and embellishments available, although I preferred the challenge of making my own combinations, rather than relying on the pre-made ranges. Sewing on paper became a feature of my style and made me more comfortable with the sewing machine than I had ever been.
When I decided I needed a stylish new bag to carry everything for a baby and toddler, a passion was born! I have come a long way since that first bag and am very proud of my workmanship, designs and creativity. I work with each customer to make something which reflects their own personality and incorporates very practical features to keep things organized. I also put a lot of emphasis on making the interiors of my bags just as beautiful as the exteriors.
My focus is very much on the creation of aesthetically pleasing items which have a practical purpose, from handbags and purses to crayon rolls, aprons and the original Grab & Go Lunch Mat. Attention to detail, quality workmanship, functionality and enduring appeal are key components of my style.
The website for Pip ‘n’ Milly Creations (www.pipnmilly.com) showcases new and past projects and has a blog section where I write about product ideas and concepts. I also blog at http://thewinkingfrog.wordpress.com about more general, family-oriented topics.
I live, garden, compost, recycle, play and sew on Vancouver Island with my husband and our two young daughters”.
You can see more of Fiona’s superb work at www.sidestreetstudio.com
'STELLA' PURPLE BAG