Saturday, October 2, 2010

6 Good Reasons to Own Locally Made Pottery. | Side Street Studio Blog


6 Good Reasons to Own Locally Made Pottery.



There is a fast growing group of discerning people who are discovering the pleasure of owning hand made pottery created by local artisans.

Apple Design Casserole



These individuals appreciate the importance of supporting local arts & crafts. Beyond the expensive forms of ‘wall art’ an abundance of fine crafts still exist (in some cases “only just”) within many communities.

Temmoku Glaze Teapot

1. Locally made pottery is unique. One or two individuals (often husbands & wives) work hard to create pieces that are unique. Every single piece is turned by hand and therefore one-of-a-kind.
2. Locally made pottery is beautiful and of outstanding quality. Each potter takes great pride in their work. Many local potters have their work in national galleries and major collections but you can still find them at your local craft studio.


COPPER RUBY VASE
3. Locally made pottery is affordable and prices often do not reflect the skills and time spent creating the work. Take a moment to check out prices at your local arts & crafts stores – you will be pleasantly surprised.
4. Locally made pottery is Green! By using little transportation, packaging or advertising and by involving local skills greatly helps reduce the carbon footprint.
5. Locally made pottery helps your local community by supporting the hard learned skills of local crafts people and retaining your $ in the community.

Large Honey Coloured Baker
6. Locally made pottery adds unique style to a home and reflects your confidence, good taste and concern for the environment.



Gravy Boat

So take some time and visit your local arts &crafts community. Look for local crafts shows or visit the artist at their home studio. Take a break from your local department store or shopping mall and discover superb, creative arts & crafts close to home.

Salt Pig

Side Street Studio represents over 320 local artists and has been supporting local arts & crafts for over 26 years. Our web site http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/ has over 2000 pages! of artists’ work and is the largest of its kind in Canada.



BRONZE JAPANESE STYLE NEOLITHIC JAR

Monday, August 2, 2010

"Jade, or Nephrite, is the provincial stone of B.C. Although found in many parts of the world the largest deposits are found in British Columbia.Jade has been used in practical and artistic applications for thousands of years within various cultures. Its value is due in large part to its remarkable toughness. Before the advent of steel Nephrite was the toughest material available and was used especially for tools.It is thought that Jade will atract good fortune to your home and is the stone traditionally given in honour of the 12th wedding anniversary. Jade is also believed to keep pets healthy and give them a long life. B.C. Jade is regarded as the stone of gardeners and lovers"

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Hand Felted Wool & Silk Scarves from Pender Island: Hand Felted Wool & Silk Scarves - From Pender Isla...

Hand Felted Wool & Silk Scarves from Pender Island: Hand Felted Wool & Silk Scarves - From Pender Isla...: "Hand Felted Wool & Silk Scarves – From Pender Island July 19th, 2010 No Comments Monica writes: “I love colour. It is always what intere..."

Hand Felted Wool & Silk Scarves - From Pender Island




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”.

“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.”
“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”.
“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”.
“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.”

You can see Monica’s beautiful work at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/monica-bennett-m-80462.html