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Our New Newsletter - March 2017

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Nigel Hayes | 1 comment

 Our newsletter - March 2017.

 
Vancouver Island, like much of B.C., has seen some unusually cold and snowy weather this winter. Nothing as compared to our Mid West but for us less hardy folk on the West Coast this has been a cold winter.
 
Just before the first of the big winter storms hit with its full force, Sue & I together with Finn, our mischievous Kerry BlueTerrier, made a trip up island to replenish some much-needed work from our artists.
 
First stop was to Bob Held’s glass studio in Parksville.  The warmth of the glass kilns was welcome as the snow was already quite deep. The day previously the delivery of raw glass had to be cancelled as the truck could not get near Bob’s studio. However, we collected some beautiful new work examples of which you can see below.
 
The new Mocha Swirl Cone vase is superb as are the new glass Hearts
Next, we moved onto Charles Van Sandwick’s studio in Qualicum Beach. Charles being sensible was away enjoying the sunshine of Fiji but his partner was there with our order ready and waiting. For the first time on the trip, we needed to use 4 Wheel drive in our 4-Runner as the ice and snow were so deep. A first for Qualicum Beach?
 
The visit was well worth the effort as we managed to collect some new prints by Charles as well as lots more greetings cards and copies of his magnificent books. The Print of the Grizzly Bear from Charles’ Canadian Content Book - is particularly noteworthy.
Then it was on to Whiskey Creek (what a great name) to visit Darrel Hancock’s studio. A mug of tea was greatly welcome as was the warmth of the kiln. Darrel had a large amount of work ready and packed for us to replace that from sales at Christmas. New teapots, mugs by the case load, terracotta butter dishes and bowls and more.
It was with reluctance we left the warmth of Darrel’s studio and moved onto our final visit. This was back into Parksville to collect new work from Sharon Beatch of Beach Pebble Studios. Sharon’s Shadow Boxes have been a great asset to our studio with creations for all occasions. It is always a pleasure to see what new ideas she comes up with. Two of her new creations were particularly interesting:

At this point, we needed to move quite quickly as a storm cloud, as dark as night, was rapidly approaching with a new and even heavier fall of snow. 
 
We made it back just ahead of the storm….something out of a Hollywood movie (“Twister” comes to mind!). Fortunately, we had pre-paid tickets for the Mill Bay Ferry and so just escaped the dubious journey over the Malahat.

We hope that you enjoy the images of some of our artist’s new work and as a thank you please find below a small sample of our appreciation. A 10% discount off any item from our studio. Valid until 31st March 2017. Online sales only.

10% DISCOUNT WHEN YOU USE CODE BN2D2TOOVIYU AT CHECKOUT

 

VALID UNTIL 5 PM (PST)
31st MARCH 2017
One order per customer. One use only.

START SHOPPING
Warm regards, 
Nigel, Sue & Finn
PS: Did you know that you can Buy on Line and Pick Up in the Studio. Excellent for saving on shipping and a good way buy for friends and relatives who live near the studio.

 

Posted in art, charles van sandwyk, darrel hancock, gifts, glass art, mugs, new home, paperweights, pottery, robert held, shoplocal, vancouver island, vases, victoria b c, wedding

10 Reasons to Shop Local this Christmas

Posted on November 26, 2016 by Nigel Hayes | 0 comments

 

We are writing this article to ask you to please consider supporting these wonderful B.C. Artists and other local businesses before you spend all of your Christmas shopping budget at big box stores.

We believe that one way you can help is to consider buying locally produced goods and services. Below is a short list of reasons to support local, handmade goods.

1. Locally crafted work is unique! Unlike items made in a far off factory; local crafts people make work that is individual and one-of-a-kind. This does not just apply to a magnificent vase or a glass bowl. Even with a humble coffee mug, every piece has a very slight difference. When just one person or a husband & wife team makes an item the numbers are by the nature of the process – small. It’s great to have or give as a gift something that is genuinely unique and locally made.

Pottery

2. Local artists produce work of excellent quality. They always take personal pride in their handmade work. I have yet to meet an artist who was not passionate about their work! From potters to glass artists to textile makers – this is their life and they are justly proud of their work. If treated well, much of this work can last a lifetime. How many things can you say that about in our society today? How many of those ‘bargain’ mass produced items last more than a few years?

Jewelry

3. Save money! Contrary to what some people believe, buying directly from the artist at a craft fair, market, or their local studio can often cost less than buying a mass produced item from a department store. Reduced transportation costs, no middle men, and modest advertising budgets help to keep costs down.

glass art

4. Local artists do really care about customer service! The artists are available to repair, alter, clean or replace your purchase if you should ever need this service. They are genuinely interested to help if there is ever a problem. You never, ever need to speak with a remote customer service person.

5. Personal service is very important to local artists. Many artists will custom make work to your specification. If you need a gift for a special occasion then very often the artist will be happy to make it to your requirements.

textiles

6. You can start your own personal art collection with a small budget. We recently had a nice young couple visit our Studio to purchase some Robert Held glass heart paperweights (which start at $45). They were glass heart collectors – and were excited to see some new styles that they could add to their collection! If you are on a budget you can collect individual pieces over time. Many of our customers collect pottery, jewellery, glass art & more!

side street studio blog

 

7. Shopping locally helps your local economy. By supporting local artists it keeps money in the community and ensures that hard learned skills are alive for future generations.

charles van sadwyk

8. Go green and help your local environment! Local arts & crafts produce a minimal carbon footprint – little transportation is involved. Conservation is important to all of us. Much of what local artists use is recycled – including what little packaging is ever used!

padraig slippers

9. Fun and Learning. It really can be a fun shopping experience – you get to meet or learn about the artist, find out about their skills, and how they make their work. It’s impressive how much time and effort goes into a single piece. So take some time to visit your local artist’s studio or gallery, or local craft show. It can be great fun! You can check Meetup.com for local art appreciation groups in your area. If you are in Victoria there is an arts & crafts meetup group: http://www.meetup.com/Meetup-art-group-of-Victoria-BC/ The Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria is a great resource as well: http://www.cacgv.ca/

 

10. Supporting your local community. A locally handmade gift reflects the community and region in which it was made. It has greater relevance for the person who purchased it, and to the person to whom the gift is given. Thank you for taking the time to read our top ten reasons to shop local this Christmas. We would love to hear from you! What will you do to support local this holiday season? Finally, if you would like some suggestions or gift ideas please see our blog here; Gift Suggestions.

If you are short on time, then you can 'Buy on Line' and 'Pick up in Store'.

Please share with us in the comments below. From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Sue & Nigel Hayes

Side Street Studio Oak Bay Village, Victoria, B.C.

side street studio

 

Posted in bracelets, charles van sandwyk, earrings, fruit bowl, glass art, jewellery, local crafts, oak bay, pottery, shop local, shoplocal, silk scarves, wedding gifts, wooden bowls

Short on Time – Buy on Line

Posted on August 27, 2016 by Nigel Hayes | 0 comments

Short on Time – Buy on Line

Did you know that as well as visiting our studio in Oak Bay Village you can search our web site for any of our artists’ work? This can be really convenient for busy people as you can find the perfect gift for yourself or for your partner or family & friends at your leisure.

french butter dish

You then have the options to buy on line and have your item shipped or you can choose the ‘In Store Pick Up’ option and your gift will be ready for collection at the studio within 24 hours.This of course saves any shipping cost! Please remember to bring in your Government I.D. 

coffee mug

For your friends and family, what could be easier than finding that perfect locally made gift on line and sending it directly to them . If they live near to Victoria you have the option of choosing ‘In Store Pick Up’ allowing for collection at any time from the studio. To request free gift wrapping and a greeting card with your gift, simply send us a quick e-mail with your request and we will be pleased to help :) 

Please note, that when you choose the “In Store Pick Up’ option, you need to enter in the address of the studio when placing your order. The address is easy to see on the home page of our web site. Side Street Studio 204-2250 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, B.C. V8R 1G5. Tel :250 592 1262

Side Street Studio

 

Posted in BC gifts, butter dishes, Canadian gifts, glass art, hand made crafts, in-store pickup, local jewelry, pottery, shop local, wedding gifts

OLD WORLD SPICE SHAVING SOAP

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Nigel Hayes | 0 comments

OLD WORLD SPICE SHAVING SOAP

I have just tried this new product from Sharon of Kama Soap and it is excellent!

100% plant based with essential oils.The clay and the different oils in the base of the soap; sweet almond and castor oil, make a creamy smooth lather for shaving.

Old world spice shaving soap

Hand made on Salt Spring Island B.C. Ingredients: saponified olive, coconut, castor oil, sweet almond oil, bentonite clay, essential oils of cassia, cumin, lavendin, pettigrain and thyme. 120 g. This old world shaving soap is perfect for Jack Olives pottery shaving scuttle. https://www.sidestreetstudio.com/products/copy-of-orca-design-shaving-scuttle

orca design shaving scuttle

Posted in a world made by hand, bc art, Canadian Gifts, gifts, local crafts, men's gifts, oak bay, pottery, shaving soap, shop local, soap

Picture Perfect Oak Bay - New Video.

Posted on August 09, 2016 by Nigel Hayes | 0 comments

Picture Perfect Oak Bay. This is where Side Street Studio is located We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful village!

Continue Reading →

Posted in bc art, glass art, jewellery, local crafts, local gifts, oak bay, pottery, shop local, side street studio, victoria bc, wedding gifts

Superb Pottery from Vancouver Island

Posted on August 06, 2016 by Nigel Hayes | 0 comments

Darrel Hancock was born in Port Alberni and lived there for four years before moving to the mainland.

DARREL HANCOCK POTTERY MUGS

 

Darrel went on to graduate from the Vancouver School of Art, majoring in ceramics, and has been making functional pottery ever since.

DARREL HANCOCK POTTERY

 

He says “ All my pottery is Handmade Functional Stoneware thrown on a potter's wheel and fired in an electric kiln. It is dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. Art and Function come together to make pottery that is designed to be used every day”

DARREL HANCOCK POTTERY MUGS

 

“My mugs come in a variety of sizes and shapes and also a variety of colour combinations. I make all of my pottery in a number of glazes and I will continue to do so, this way my customers can add to their collection now and in the future.

French Butter Dish and Butter Bell

Darrel said everyday he wakes up happy knowing he’s going to be throwing clay, and the act itself is very therapeutic. "If I'm feeling anxious or frustrated or whatever, I just sit down and throw 100 mugs and just that meditative repetitiveness of the action is a calming experience.”

DARREL HANCOCK POTTERY MUGS

 

He hopes people who purchase his pottery get from it what he puts into it. "I speak to a number of people who say they start off their morning with a cup of coffee in one of my mugs and they look forward to that every morning, and I think that's great, that's why I'm doing it,” he said.

You can see more of Darrel’s beautiful functional pottery at https://www.sidestreetstudio.com/collections/pottery/darrel-hancock

 

 

Darrel Hancock Pottery

Posted in bowls, butter dishes, Canadian Gifts, french butter dishes, gifts, goblets, hand made pottery, honey pots, local crafts, mugs, oak bay, pate dishes, pottery, tea pots

How to Avoid Shopping and Still Find Amazing (& Affordable) Gifts for the Women You Love

Posted on December 02, 2015 by Nigel Hayes | 1 comment

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

silk scarves

 

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.

 

casseroles

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.

 

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0836/4675/products/wray_01E_large.jpeg?v=1441111607

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.

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0836/4675/products/wray_11c_large.jpg?v=1441110486

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’.

pure wool slippers

 

 

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.

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0836/4675/products/CVS_41_large.jpeg?v=1441097420

 

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.

wooden chopping board

 

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.

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0836/4675/products/JO_62_large.jpeg?v=1441097852

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 

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.

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0836/4675/products/souls_203-02_large.jpg?v=1441100865

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..... :)

 

Posted in amber, birthdays, bracelets, earrings, fruit bowl, gifts, glass art, jewellery, local crafts, oak bay, pendants, pottery, shop local, silk scarves, wedding gifts, wooden bowls