Everyone has a dream!
Mine was to find something that I was passionate about! Then I touched clay! Right from the beginning in late 1998, my passion for clay started. This was to be a hobby for my new season in life.
Solstice Pottery was born!
My studio, set in a back building of our property, is a beautiful setting. As you enter through the gate, being here is part of the experience. Often I enjoy having an early morning coffee as I sit by the pond on my way to my studio. The mountains and the river are both close by.
My own little paradise!
I have been mentored by Herman Venema, of Venema Pottery, as well as Vijaya Morrison of Rainforest Pottery. Encouraged by my many friends and family, I have continued working through the process of developing my own unique style and colours. Nature is often a strong inspiration; though my several years of being a florist have definitely have had its influence.
I enjoy wheel thrown and hand built pottery. It has been a great journey discovering the different styles of firings, including Functional stoneware, Raku, Pit firing and Salt fired. Each style creates a wonderful finish to the clay. Each piece is made individually, so they are all One of a Kind.
Jeannie Savard resides in Fraser Valley, B.C along with her husband and son. Her background is in the world of fashion, art and design. She excelled at Sales & Marketing in College and recently upgraded her Business Management skills. Jeannie has over 20 years of experience in retail, fashion, marketing & sales. She was also a director for fashion and trade shows. Later she moved on to work for a reputable kitchen and bathroom design company but realized that she preferred a more hands on career.
Jeannie loves working directly with people. When Jeannie got an opportunity to become an entrepreneur she was then able to bring to life beautiful hand finished sculptures and use her design skills and creativity. Jeannie is continuing to create new pieces and experimenting with new finishes and colors. Keeping up with current market trends and decor is Jeannie's specialty.
Stealthstone Designs are manufactured in Chilliwack, Canada. All products are hand made and skillfully crafted with natural finish. Our large collection features some reproductions of the local finest sculptures. Stealthstone decor is made from a hydro-stone base and environmentally friendly ingredients, making it high in tensile strength. Each piece is hand finished and as colour and texture varies to some extent, each item becomes a distinct sculptural product.
Julie Bourne was born in New Westminster, B.C. and raised in North Delta. At an early age she showed a talent for art and developed an affinity for sketching and drawing. However, it was not until years later, while during her maternity leave that she was able to consider her talent as a creative outlet.
In 1998, she undertook a handbuilding clay course at Kwantlen College; now Julie has acquired two kilns, a studio, and a repertoire of clay artworks that is both unique and beguiling.
She specializes in raku and luster glazed clay work. She works on an array of pieces but her subject matter mainly consists of horses, fish, maple leaves and flowers.
Julie lives in Langley, B.C. When not working in her studio she is busy with her other passion - gardening.
As a potter I'm interested in the marriage of function with aesthetic living. With this in mind, I aim to create pottery that fits with the rhythm of modern life. Sometimes I want to slow down that rhythm so there's time to connect with my environment. Using a handmade pot helps me to make this connection. As I work, I strive to keep the energy of the making process in my pots. I want each piece to have a unique character to enhance the food or drink its made for.
Stoneware - I enjoy working in stoneware because of its versatility as a clay body for hand building or throwing on the wheel. It was developed in China over 2000 years ago; and has been favored for its hardness and durability ever since. I fire my kiln to 2200 F, which vitrifies the clay, and bonds the glaze to the surface of the pots. My pots are safe to put in the dishwasher and microwave, and the glazed are food safe.
My passion for photography originated in my hometown of Abbotsford BC. I began my photographic journey as a hobby, capturing my children as they went about their athletic and leisure activities . Over time, I have honed my skills and focused primarily on the art, and quintessential essence of “"capturing your memories"”.
As a photographer, I have an ability to capture the character of every photograph through the use of natural lighting and surroundings. I have a natural eye for the beauty of simplicity and the capacity to seize your attention in a single frame. I strive to capture the true emotion, personality and intensity in each of my subjects.
After formal photography training, Chester spent over 30 years in the commercial advertising field. His creativity, attention to detail, technical skills brought him national recognition as a world class photographer. Beyond many personal awards and accomplishments he was awarded the Master Photographer status in both Canada and the USA.
In recent years he has caught the art worlds attention by creating stunning, hand painted, digital artwork. Applying his talents to this new art medium has been a very natural transition for him and is now creating commissioned art for clients all over North America.
Surprise your family or friends with a custom painted artwork of their very own home!
Digital artist, Chester Goosen, will work from a photograph to create the gift of a beautiful painting that will be cherished for a lifetime.
Josh Jenkins Photography produces art for all those lonely, empty walls out there. Art photography is not only my business; it's my life-long passion. A lot of research, experience, creative energy and work have gone into producing art that is accessible, affordable and will help you create the right mood in almost any space.
I am mainly self taught in my photography, always prefferring to learn on my own. I have, on the other hand, been schooled in computer arts and design, which have given me a passion for line, color, and composition. It also helped me gain the knowledge I need for digital imagin and editing, which has become a large part of the process I use to bring you the best final product I can. I continue to learn, and will never stop.
Adventurousness, wisdo, and always keeping my eyes open to new things have brought me to where I am now with my photography. I see beauty in everything, and I strive to portray that to you in my images.
BC Teen Challenge is a faith-based residential program for young men and women, ages 19 and over, who are trapped in life-controlling addictions. Addiction takes numerous forms, affecting countless people regardless of gender, age, education, or economic class. Every day we see lives broken because of an endless cycle of drug use, alcoholism, pornography, gang involvement, sexual abuse, or dysfunctional families.
But the story doesnt end there.
Every day we see lives overcoming addiction, changed forever by the healing power of Jesus Christ, and bringing freedom, change, and new direction to their lives. When you look into the eyes of our students, you see a spark of renewed hope and purpose. Teen Challenge started in New York City in 1958, as Rev. David Wilkerson (Author of The Cross and the Switchblade) began working with gang members and troubled youth. Since then, the ministry has grown into one of the largest and most successful programs of its kind in the world, operating 1,000+ centers in over 100 countries, and serving children, teens, young adults, and families. Currently, there are three centres in operation in BC (Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Okanagan), with plans for additional facilities in other areas of the province.
At the Abbotsford Women's Center they create and design beautiful handmade cards and sell them as a way of funding their ministry. The cards are one of a kind!
Welcome to "Choosing to Smile" - We are the 'Choosing to Smile' authors - Julie Houlker, Glenda Standeven and Michelle Rickaby. Our three life stories are presented in our book which has been described as "encompassing the wholeness of life."
Although all three of us have had our lives touched by cancer our stories are most definitely not just about this disease. The book follows our lives as three ordinary women who encounter extraordinary life circumstances. We decided to share our message of hope with others by writing this book in 2009 and before we knew it we had started a world-wide movement called 'Choosing to Smile'.
The Choosing to Smile movement evolved from our desire to make a difference and our book is for men and women of all ages who are facing ANY type of adversity. Our goal is to help people find strength by choosing to smile through whatever challenges life brings. The movement continues to grow and we now have over 4000 members in our Facebook group as well as visitors to our website from 50+ countries. Through our experiences we have discovered that choosing to smile can help everyone no matter what journey they are on in life and we want to share our message with the world. Choosing to smile sounds simple but it's not always easy.
We hope you enjoy reading our book
CHOOSING TO SMILE CO-AUTHORS MICHELLE RICKABY AND GLENDA STANDEVEN ACCEPT THE "WOMAN OF COURAGE AWARD" IN WASHINGTON DC, October 2011.
As far back as I can remember I have been creating and selling my art. I was the kid on the side of the road not only with a lemonade stand, but also a fruit, veggies and fresh flower stand. I would also spend hours finding beautiful rocks from our driveway or shells from the beach. I am a born entrepreneur with a passion to create.
I first began making jewellery out of pottery pendants, which my mom taught me how to make. I made several hundred as a fundraiser because I was moving to Mexico for 3.5 years to work with Youth With A Mission, Mazatlan. After my first sale, I decided to purchase some beads to work on while I was in Mexico. I've worked with all kinds of materials, including stones, shells, nuts, glass, and wood.
My company name is Inspired which came out of my realization that I want to live my life inspired by what God is calling me to do, as well as inspire others to do the same. I am passionate about God and passionate about business and art.
These handcrafted items of jewelry begin as original concepts. Individual beads are handworked to create the design. Each handcrafted lampwork bead is formed from Italian Moretti glass rods. These rods are heated slowly in the flame until the glass flows around a hand-held stainless steel mandrel. The beads are shaped by gravity and stone or metal tools. They may be enhanced by additions of glass or metal and gradually cooled. After being released from the mandrels they are cleaned, inspected, and annealed in a kiln. They are strung on high quality cable or wrapped with semi-precious metal wire, and finally, presented in this setting for your enjoyment.
Jim Walton has found a refreshing approach to incorporating the environmental three Rs in his art. Jim works in the unusual medium of silverware. He started by collecting sterling silver and silver plated cutlery, utensils and serving dishes.
With each piece of silverware, Jim creates striking pieces of jewelry. Giving his imagination free reign, he heats, bends, reshapes and drills knives, forks, spoons, and other silver tableware to create pendants, bracelets, and rings. Just about everybody has something in their household that is tarnished and forgotten and his goal is to bring new life to these unappreciated things. That is the fun of it for him.
An Abbotsford resident for over 15 years, Jim is an emerging artist who became interested in jewelry design as a possible activity for his son. Two of Jims sons were in a car that was hit by a coal train in 1992. Incredibly they both survived and recovered to live independent lives.
One of the sons has some permanent injuries that have limited the scope of his activities. Since he loves to wear silver jewelry, Jim decided to explore jewelry making as a possible activity for his son. In the process, Jim found himself enamored with the art of working with silverware.
Val Southall is from Maple Ridge and Tara Elliot is from Port Coquitlam. They have known each other for over 30 years and recently they have started making cutlery jewellery together. They feel it is a great way to recycle. Now people are thrilled to have their family heirlooms turned into a piece of jewellery for themselves and other family members. A really nice keepsake.
Tara Elliott Designs features the work of Tara Elliott. Tara prides herself in creating pieces that every woman can wear every day. Whether you are dressing up or dressing down, there is something for every woman.
Tara has been designing jewelry for over 10 years and it all got started when she made a necklace and earrings for herself out of fishing line and glass beads and everyone wanted one.
Graduating from fishing line and glass beads, Tara's designs now feature sterling silver, swarovski pearls/crystals and semi-precious stones. Tara lives in Port Coquitlam with her husband Richard and their two golden retrievers, Isabella and Willow (aka Dizzy and Willy). In her spare time, Tara can be found in her garden and enjoys fishing, golfing and time with her friends.
My name is Marjolein Poppema and my husband and I immigrated from Holland in 1983. How my business started is a funny story. A friend of my mom's came over from Europe and she was wearing this amazing necklace. I instantly fell in love with it. So, on my next trip to Haren, Holland I tracked down the lady who designed the necklace and she taught me how to make jewellery. I came home with a big bag of beads and I have been making them ever since.
There are many aspects that inspire me to create my pieces: an absolutely beautiful bead that I run into at the wholesaler, an outfit that I see at one of the stores that needs just the perfect necklace or bracelet. Sometimes it is the customer that inspires me because of their special request. Recently I have teamed up with a fashion designer that creates beautiful pieces with these amazing fabrics.
I have been creating jewellery for over two years now, but looking back I have always tried to get my hands on something. My mom used to tell me cant you just sit for one moment! One person that has been an incredible inspiration to me is my friend Linda Lock, she has been a local teacher in Decorative Art for over 20 years and she has taught me so much about colors, how to paint and many other artsy things.
My story starts with a childhood beading hobby. In 2000, it was no longer a hobby. I had realized my passion for designing jewelry. Jewelry design and creation is second nature for me and I am patiently self taught.
In 2002 my career began with consignment, wholesale and home based sales. In April 2004, I created a unique small town bead shop in Hope, BC and named the business Beadifferent .
I successfully grew the business for six years. Beadifferent is where I began teaching many private and in store beading workshops for all skill levels. I also established a reputation as a designer of unique custom jewelry. Every day I created custom jewelry for casual wear, special occasions and bridal parties.
In April 2010, I retired from Beadifferent which is still thriving in the town of Hope. I developed a business called Carla Swope Jewels which allows me flexible hours, travel opportunities and the freedom to focus on my true passion for designing jewelry.
With each design effort I strive for jewelry that is personable, timeless and of excellent quality. My jewelry designs are gifts derived from majestic color and shape combinations inspired by the peaceful time I spend in the great outdoors. Jewelry design is not just a great independent career for me, it is my lifestyle.
"DINGOLAY" is a word from Trinidad & Tobago that means "dance like no one is watching"
I spent years traveling to many tropical paradises and fell in love with the cultures, colors, music and the people in all the sundrenched countries that I visited. In every piece of fused glass jewelry that I create, I see the tribal beginnings, turquoise seas, palm trees, flowers, animals, sea life and all the colors of the rainbow after a tropical rain. Each piece is unique in design and created by me.
My name is Laura, I have a beautiful daughter Ariella (born May 2011). When my maternity leave came to a close I wanted to stay at home with my daughter. I love to craft and design, and making hair pieces for my daughter was something I was already doing so it made sense to start a business.
A retired Civil Engineer, I have, since 2005, been designing and making turned wood items in my Albery
Studio, named for my three grandchildren, Alex, Ben and Ryan. My work is displayed for sale in local specialty shops and at exhibitions and craft shows.
My creations are intended to be both useful and pleasing to the eye. Accordingly, in their design I bear in mind that to be useful, form should follow function and to be aesthetic, forms should flow. I strive to
embody these aspects along with the use of wood - a natural and renewable material whose varied types and related durability, grain patterns, textures and colours all have a part to play.
