Bruce Coney of Studio Coney has for many years been recycling glass bottles and turning them into useful and functional Cruet bottles.
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.
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.
All glassware items can be washed with hot water and detergent.
Handcrafted on Salt Spring Island, B.C.
See more: Here
Charles Noel van Sandwyk was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1966. In 1977 he emigrated with his family to Vancouver, Canada.
By the early 1980's he was selling his drawings and water colors in a style reminiscent of the old prints and paintings which hung in the family home. Van Sandwyk studied graphic design at the Capilano College art programme in North Vancouver.
Upon completion in 1986, the wanderlust of younger years sent him travelling to the South Pacific. He discovered the Fiji Islands, and fell in love with a remote island and its inhabitants.
He began to divide his time equally between Vancouver and Fiji, leasing land from the neighboring family and building for himself a simple home of grass thatch, in the traditional island style.
In recent years Charles has been spending more of his time in beautiful Vancouver where he has been creating more beautiful works including an audio CD where he reads passages from his books to giving a 'Ted Talk'.
Charles Van Sandwyk uses his wonderful, romantic imagination, artistic talents and calligraphy skills to create his beautiful, superior quality, hand-stitch books for you to treasure. His world is a gentle one in which to escape. He believes that art, indeed life, should be a rich visual feast, restrained only by good taste. Hand crafted in BC. Beautiful greetings cards are available for most of the illustrations.
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 relationships between a stone and a calendar date are lost in the mists of time. There are many enjoyable guides available to you to research and for you to choose which stone is most appealing or appropriate for you. A World Made by Hand...
Garnet: The name Garnet is from the Latin granatum, meaning pomegranate and refers to its deep red coloured seeds. Garnet has been used in jewelry 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.
Amethyst: Amethyst is the stone of contentment and is believed to bring stability, serenity and peace. It 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 jewelery since pre-historic times. It is a form of chalcedony and is coloured black through the presence of iron and carbon. Wearing Onyx is thought to bring self-mastery, confidence and assertiveness.
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
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 have made it one of the most desirable of gemstones in jewellery.
Chrysoprase: Chrysoprase is the most valuable stone in the chalcedony group. The name Chrysoprase has been derived from a Greek word "chrysos prason," which means gold leek. It is said to be a "Victory Stone." California has a good deposit of Chrysoprase.
Pearls: In ancient mythology pearls were thought to be heavenly dewdrops caught by shells rising from the sea bed. Pearls were 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 a full moon. It is said to bring good fortune to the wearer as well as success in love and business issues.
Carnelian: Carnelian is a stone from the quartz family. Carnelian 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.
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
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. Lapis lazuli is said to dispel melancholy and depression, and to cure recurring fevers. It is also said to impart ancient knowledge, and the wisdom to use it.
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.
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.
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 jewelry, often combined with silver.
A Guide for Men: Top 10 Gift Ideas for Women
Most men if they are honest will tell you that they hate going shopping. With the approach of the holiday season, the very idea of heading to the mall with their wife or partner fills so many men with dread! It is a syndrome often called 'Death by shopping'; just look at these poor men.......
The very idea of trying on clothes, or wandering around aimlessly (women call it browsing), is simply ‘unnatural’ to men. Shopping malls are not designed for us – it can well be the worst torment that a man could experience. Men generally like to plan their purchase and then get in and out of the store as quickly as possible; 10 – 15 minutes and we’re done. This is illustrated in this popular ‘Men vs. Women’ shopping graphic:
It is often suggested, possibly correctly, that men’s and women’s minds are wired differently – something to do with the male ‘hunter’ instinct, and the female ‘gather’ dynamic so to speak. To women, shopping is a social experience to be enjoyed, but for men, it is a task to be accomplished – the faster, the better. So that’s it – as a male, I can tell you it is a dreadful experience that we wish to avoid at all costs... A little like listening to the Pogues, or Justin Bieber, or watching “The View”.
So when you need gift ideas for the women in your life… What should you do? In this internet age, there is a solution! At Side Street Studio we literally have hundreds of gift items that will appeal to most females – including girlfriends, wives and most importantly Mums (I will avoid daughters as they are simply too difficult). To help you make that purchase easier, you can order Jewellery online and we will GIFT WRAP it for you for Free, and ship it to wherever and to whomever you wish.
If you live in the Greater Victoria area, and you have left your gift buying until the last minute, you have the option to ORDER ONLINE and PICK UP your purchase at our STUDIO in Oak Bay Village – we will aim to have it ready for you in two hours. We will be open until 1.00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Here are our recommendations for Top 10 Gift Ideas for Women:
1/ Jewellery
For your girlfriend, wife or Mum, jewellery is always well received – even for that ‘Someone who has everything’ (there is always someone). A Honica necklace or earrings are stylish and beautiful. Our client’s tell us they always receive compliments when they wear their Honica jewellery.
We have a fantastic artist, Alvaro Sanchez who creates some of the most beautiful and stylish work in B.C. You can see more of his work HERE
If these don’t appeal, we have more jewellery choices than you could shake a Gold Amex card at – all handmade with love right here in B.C. You can see the wide variety of jewellery we offer here: http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/collections/jewellery
2/ Scarves
What’s the best way to avoid that dreaded question, “Does this make me look fat?” The answer is scarves! With scarves, one size fits all, and there are many ways to wear them. We have a variety of unique styles from felted scarves to pure silk scarves. They are a wonderful, versatile gift! We have a good number of local textile Artists who create a superb range of scarves. You can see some of the styles we offer HERE:
3/ Glass Art
For the romantically inclined, Robert Held, one of Canada’s foremost glass artists creates a wide range of unique Glass Heart Bowls, Vases, Paperweights and more. Each one is signed by Bob and is unique. You could write a handwritten card with a note such as, “I give you my heart.” This will be sure to melt her heart when she opens your thoughtful gift.
4/ Pottery
If you appreciate the cook in your life, treat her to a unique piece of pottery! We have casserole dishes, jugs, baking dishes, pie plates, pitchers and glasses. All of our pottery is handmade in B.C. by a great group of Artists. Items are oven, dishwasher and microwave safe.
5/ Sewing accessories
Perhaps your intended or partner is keen on sewing, needlework or knitting. Wray Parsons is a micro wood turner who has been creating the most magnificent pieces for decades – from needle holders with strong rare earth magnets, to scissors of Italian steel together with cases of various local woods from Pacific Yew to Yellow Cedar Burl.
Tiny thimble holders, magnetic pin holders or tape measures in the shapes of Acorns – most are individually signed by Wray and are practical and true keepsakes.
6/ Handmade Padraig Wool Slippers
Padraig wool slippers have been handmade in Vancouver for almost 40 years. They are classics and quite simply the best slipper in the world. The sheepskin interior sole makes them super warm and comfortable. We have a huge range of sizes and colours that will fit ‘bigfoot’ to the smallest ‘twinkle toes’.
7/ Keepsake Books & Cards by Charles Van Sandwyk
Side Street Studio has an enormous collection of Charles Van Sandwyks cards and books - truly beautiful illustrations with wonderful stories that are appreciated by all. Charles’ Christmas book, ‘The Unexpected Gift’ is about the importance of connecting to those we care about - without the electronic devices of the world. Christmas is a wonderful time to do just that. If you have children or grandchildren, Mom or Grandmother will truly appreciate the opportunity to create a new Christmas tradition by reading this imaginative story as a family.
8/ Wood Chopping Boards and Serving Platters
These beautiful, one-of-a-kind wood chopping boards are made on Vancouver Island by Detlef Grundmann These are beautiful & useful handcrafted chopping boards. Made on Vancouver Island by Detlef Grundmann from locally grown Maple, Cherry & Black Walnut woods. Length: 12 inches by width: 9 inches by 3/4 inch thick. Food safe. Well cared for this board should last a lifetime.
9/ Apple Design Teapot
If your lady is an avid tea drinker, why not get her a unique handmade teapot? Jack Olive's beautiful pottery uses a distinctive multi-glazing technique and has a unique look. He discovered that rich, layered ceramic glazes are particularly useful in creating a sense of depth in design.
10/ Hand Made Soap & more!
Luxurious, natural soap made from organic vegetable oil with 5 handmade bars of Ylang Ylang/Patchouli, Fir/Eucalyptus/Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Lavender/Bergamot, Mint/Tee Tree. Strung on a Hemp rope. Undo the knot, use one and hang the others up to make your bathroom, closet etc always smell good. By Kama Soap
Take a moment and look at some of the other perfect gift ideas for women, from handcrafted jewellery boxes, to locally made pure & natural soap, to our BC Art. Side Street Studio has more than 15,000 items all handcrafted in BC - so if you cannot find something then ……..maybe it doesn’t exist
Did we mention you can order Jewellery online and we will GIFT WRAP it for you for FREE, and ship it to wherever and to whomever you wish? Just get in touch and we can make it happen! 250- 592-1262.
As a reminder, if you live in the Greater Victoria area, and you find you have left your gift buying until the last minute, you have the option to ORDER ONLINE and PICK UP your purchase at our studio in Oak Bay Village – we will aim to have it ready for you in two hours.We will be open until 1.00 pm on Christmas Eve.
So that’s it; problem solved – at least for another year. (phew)
Nigel Hayes
Side Street Studio
Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, B. C. Canada
PS. And for that ‘particular’ person may I recommend ‘Bitchy Babe’ from our ‘Soulful Sister’ Aromatherapy Collection.
Finally...a huge thanks to Nick York of www.exclusivepixmedia.co.uk for his kind permission to use three of his great pictures of 'men suffering' under the shopping experience! Nick denies that he is featured in any of the pictures but knows the feeling too well..... :)