CHILDHOOD RE-VISITED BY HONICA | Side Street Studio Blog

CHILDHOOD RE-VISITED BY HONICA | Side Street Studio Blog

CHILDHOOD RE-VISITED BY HONICA

November 25th, 2012 | No Comments

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Honica writes

“Playing with fire, and placing pennies on the railway tracks…., these are things I actually did not do in my childhood, but I have indulged in these youthful pastimes many times since I became a jewellery designer.

CHILDHOOD REVISITED EARRINGS

Playing the soft flame of the torch over brass shapes and copper pennies brings a rainbow of colours to the surface. And of course, the train do a wonderful job of reforming pennies into soft curved irregular shapes.

CHILDHOOD REVISITED EARRINGS

While the genesis of this collection was a playful exercise of seeing materials in a new way, more traditional metal working techniques such as roller-printing, hammer forging, and engraving gave depth and value to each design.

CHILDHOOD REVISITED EARRINGS

Adding a carefully chose palette of many different beads, which highlight and enrich the metalwork, this jewellery reminds me daily that “all work and no play”….well, you know the rest”.

See this new collection of Honica’s fabulous work at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com

CHILDHOOD REVISITED EARRINGS

14 Reasons to Buy Locally this Christmas | Side Street Studio Blog

14 Reasons to Buy Locally this Christmas | Side Street Studio Blog

14 Reasons Why you should buy Locally made Canadian Arts & Crafts this Christmas Season.

November 20th, 2012 | No Comments

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14 Reasons to Buy Locally this Christmas

1. The B.C.  Finance Minister Mike de Jong recently announced an unexpected revenue loss of $1.4 billion over the next three years for B.C. finances! How can such a breathtakingly large number be described as ‘unexpected’? This huge sum will have a major impact on Government spending for employment, schools, hospitals and other Government services for many years to come.
   

   GIVERNY COBALT GLASS BOWL
2. Unemployment in B.C. is currently running at 6.7% according to Statistics Canada– but a more accurate number should be 8.8% if people are included who have just ‘given up’ looking for work.
   

   MEDIUM CASSEROLE
3. Instead of buying goods made in some far off country (often for low wages) we need to support local Canadian made goods and services.
   

   COPPER & STERLING SILVER NECKLACE
4. Shopping at Wal Mart, the big box stores and shopping Malls often does very little for our local economy. Much of the goods sold in these places are imported and sometimes made with low cost labour.
   

   SILVER MAPLE BURL SALAD BOWL
5. 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.
   

   

   RAKU BARNACLE POT #25



6. Local artist produce work of excellent quality and always take a personal pride in their hand-made 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.
   

   

   PADRAIG LADIES WOOL SLIPPERS



7. Save money! Contrary to what some people believe, buying directly from the artist or their local Studio can most often cost less than buying some mass produced item from a department store. Reduced transportation costs, no middle men and low advertising helps to keep costs down.
   

   SKY BLUE FUSED "HANKIE" BOWL


8. 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 some remote Customer Service person.
   

   FULL MOON EYES


9. Personal service is greatly 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 to your requirements.
   

   BEER STEIN


10. Most ranges are always available so that you can add to your range or just collect individual pieces over time.  Not just for pottery but jewellery or even glass art as well.
    

    HUMMINGBIRD SILK SCARF


11. 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.
    

    GLORIANA BRACELET


12. 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! It you ever think of supporting a Green movement then the local Arts & Crafts groups are an excellent place to start.
    

    MAGNIFYING GLASS


13. Fun and Learning.  It really can be a fun shopping experience – you get to meet the artist and find out about their skills, how they make their work, the huge time and effort that goes into a single piece. So take time to visit your local artist’s studio or Gallery, or local craft show. It can be great fun.
    

    SILK & RAYON FRINGED SCARF


14. 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 or the person to whom the gift is given.
    

    AMBER & SILVER EARRINGS

Side Street Studio has been supporting local artists for over 28 years. More than 360 local artists work from pottery, jewellery, textiles, glass art, wood turnings, aromatherapy, cards, books, and lots more can be found at our Oak Bay Village Studio or on-line at www.sidestreetstudio.com. Shipping is world wide with FedEx and Canada Post.

Side Street Studio

Canadian Scarves with the Colours of Nature | Side Street Studio Blog

Canadian Scarves with the Colours of Nature | Side Street Studio Blog

Canadian Scarves with the Colours of Nature

November 17th, 2012 | No Comments

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Lois Thomson

Born and raised in rural British Columbia, Lois grew up with a strong creative spirit nurtured in BC Wilderness. Lois has always been fascinated with the colours of nature and the textures of fibre.

HERON SILK PICTURE SCARF

As a young child her art included the use of lichens and birch bark in her paintings and when she began sewing and designing doll clothes she experimented with the use of colour found in scraps of fabric, lace and ribbon.

IRIS SILK SCARF

Schooled as a fashion designer her creative pursuits lead her to painting on Silk where she could create her own fabric colours on a variety of silks including satin, chiffon and crepe.

DOLPHIN DESIGN SILK SCARF

All Lois” work is hand drawn and painted using high quality imported dyes. Many of her designs are inspired by the beautiful Oceans, Mountains and wildlife of the B.C. coast where she lives.

MAPLE LEAF DESIGN SILK SCARF

Her easy care silk are lightweight, luxurious, washable and colour fast. www.sidestreetstudio.com

WILD ROSE DESIGN SILK SCARF

West Coast Raku | Side Street Studio Blog

West Coast Raku | Side Street Studio Blog

Canadian West Coast Raku Pottery

November 17th, 2012 | No Comments

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 Fabulous West Coast Raku Pottery

Ed Oldfield was born in Orillia,  Ontario in 1955. While still young, he moved with his family to Duncan, British Columbia. He graduated from high school there in 1973 and went on to the University of Victoria where he studied Visual Art and graduated with a B.F.A. in 1977.

PUSSY WILLOW RAKU VASE

He continued his studies in the Faculty of Education receiving his teaching certificate in 1978. In 1992 he earned an M.Ed. degree in educational administration also from the University of Victoria.

RAKU BARNACLE POT

Currently Ed resides in Powell River where he taught grade 7 students until very recently. After 28 years of teaching visual arts and pottery at the high school level, Ed now channels his artistic energy into creating uniquely west-coast artwork. With a particular focus on Raku pottery.

SEASTARS ON DRIFTWOOD

His work is heavily influenced by the Pacific West Coast, its natural beauty, rugged coastline, aboriginal history, and is tuned to this ecologically sensitive environment.

RED RAKU STARFISH ON TEXADA LIMESTONE ROCK

Copper Ruby Vase's From Denman Island, Canada | Side Street Studio Blog

Copper Ruby Vase's From Denman Island, Canada | Side Street Studio Blog

Copper Ruby Vase’s From Denman Island, Canada

November 16th, 2012 | No Comments

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Copper Ruby Vase’s

Copper belongs to a group of metals known as the Nobel Metals.

COPPER RUBY VASE

Copper ruby glazes were first perfected in china during the Sung Dynasty and have been highly prized in history. This ancient glaze is probably the most difficult colour to achieve in all of ceramics. The Sung Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279 A.D.

COPPER RUBY VASE

During the time of this dynasty, paper banknotes were first produced, gunpowder and the compass were discovered and Chinese arts received great support from the emperor. A major part of the arts was the development of beautiful ceramics – not least of which was the Copper Ruby Glaze.

COPPER RUBY VASE

To achieve this glaze requires an exacting chemical composition as well as a carbon rich flame at just the right temperature.

COPPER RUBY VASE

At this temperature the copper in the glaze will have an available oxygen molecule. The excess carbon in the kiln atmosphere is hungry for oxygen and will rob it from the copper turning it from copper oxide (green in colour) to the metallic form which is red.

COPPER RUBY VASE

The beautiful colour found in glazes containing noble metal crystals is mainly produced by the absorption of light by the metal crystals. Big crystals scatter enough light to make the glaze appear opaque in reflected light and (densely) coloured in transmitted light. We almost always look at, rather than through glazes, so it is the reflected results which matter most to us.

GORDON HUTCHENS

Copper Ruby Vases by Gordon Hutchens of Denman Island, B.C. Canada

From Forest to Table | Side Street Studio Blog

From Forest to Table | Side Street Studio Blog

From Forest to Table

November 16th, 2012 | No Comments

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Rod Garbutt is “Yew Tree”

As far back as I can remember I’ve had an affinity for trees and wood.  Growing up in Maple Bay on Vancouver Island the forest was my back yard and playground.

ARBUTUS BURL PEDESTAL BOWL

Professionally I worked for the Canadian Forest Service for 28 years as a forest health specialist. The work involved the identification and assessment of disturbances caused by insects and diseases and advising forest managers on mitigation.

CURLY MAPLE SALAD BOWL

I’d always dabbled with woodwork but it wasn’t until I turned 50 that I discovered wood turning.  It has been a passion ever since.  During this time I’ve experimented with most native hard and softwood species with emphasis on Pacific yew, broad-leaf maple, arbutus, and Garry oak.

DOGWOOD PEDESTAL SALAD BOWL

In my pieces I strive to combine the two elements of beauty and utility.  Beauty resides in the shape and finish as well as natural grain variations that make every piece unique.  I specialize in salad bowls and serving platters.  Each piece is finished with a food safe oil from the Chinese Tung tree.

MAPLE SALAD BOWL

Rod lives in Vancouver B.C.

Please see our 9 Point Guide for Caring for Wood: http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/wood-caring-wood-c-4_178.html

Canadian Natural Scenes from Molten Metals | Side Street Studio Blog

Canadian Natural Scenes from Molten Metals | Side Street Studio Blog

Canadian Natural Scenes from Molten Metals

November 16th, 2012 | No Comments

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THOMAS COYLE – Master Metal Worker

LONESOME PINE & DEER

Gentlemoon Metals began in a garage in Minnesota 30 years ago when Tom Coyle discovered the alluring glow of molten metal. A former psychologist, he became a self-taught jeweller & sculptor going to the University of Trial & Error and later graduating from the School of Hard Knocks.

CHICKADEE & RED MAPLE

Tom migrated to the Kootenays where he met his wife, Karen Wynn Dubord who was a talented artist in her own right. Together, they fused their skills, different strengths & artistic approaches to form an exciting new Gentlemoon Metals.

BLUE HERON

They are both inspired by nature’s grace, beauty & dazzling array of colours. Natural scenes, including animals and sea life are common themes in their work.

DUCK FRIENDS

Their unique metal sculptures are displayed and sold in fine galleries in the United States and Canada.  http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/metal-art-c-12.html?page=1&sort=3a

IRIDESCENT BEETLE ON BAMBOO