Gabriola Island Lifestyle Blog

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Gift Giving Gabriola Style

Monday, November 28th, 2011

This year I have made a pact that the majority of my Christmas gifts will be locally bought from our incredible selection of local merchants and artists. You may ask “How do you decide where to go as they are all so fantastic?” and you would be right! I usually start at the craft fairs in the hopes of finding locally crafted items to send to Ontario, sending them a little “Gabriola Style” every year. This year was fun (as usual) as I picked up items at “Crafted Booty” and the Rollo Center Christmas Craft Fair. As for my own family members here on Island I tend to shop around for them until I find the right thing that is just for them. The Gabriola Island Elementary School Christmas Craft Fair is this coming Saturday at the school and as well as the craft fair there is the Silent Auction where you can pick-up a plethora of local good and gift certificates to local merchants.

For your ease of shopping I will list some of my favorites for gifts big and small and some great ideas for stocking stuffers!

North Road Sports – Great clothing, shoes, and accessories for anybody in your life

Slice of Life Gallery – Local artists as well as imported items, bright colors and great atmosphere

Mad Rona’s – Gift certificates, apparel, and to-go cups

Woodfire Restaurant – Gift certificates and specialty foods

Village Liquor Store – Great selection of wines, beers, and scotch among others

Raspberries Cafe – Gift certificates

Artworks – Local artists, home decor, gift certificates, apparel, and so much more

Wooden Hanger – Lovely boutique clothing and accessories

IDA Pharmacy – Home wares, decorations, children’s toys, cards etc.

Village Foods – Specialty Foods and gift certificates

Robert’s Place Restaurant- Gift Certificates

Harvest Thyme Restaurant – Gift Certificates, books, and some gift wares

Colleen’s Home Center – Housewares, apparel, baby clothes and toys, shoes

Madd Art – Hemp clothing, giftwares

Silva Bay Pub and Restaurant – Gift Certificates

Gabriola Arts Council – list of all the artists that belong to GAC www.gabriolaartscouncil.org

And check out the Gabriola Chamber of Commerce webpage for more links to local businesses.

Have fun shopping…I know I will!

Posted in Buy Local, family life, Gabriola Island, Gabriola Living, Gulf Island Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Holidays and Special Events, Kids, People, Shopping on Gabriola, The Arts, west coast, West Coast Living | No Comments »

Countdown to Studio Tour

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Just five days left until the start of the Fantastic 15th Annual Thanksgiving Studio Tour, when you can have a peek at many of the island artists in their studios surrounded by the most creative examples of artistic expression that you could hope to see. For Give and For Get Boutique showcases the wearable art one of a kind clothing and accessories created from designer fabrics by Robyn; and Carly’s jewellery of silver and copper, semi precious stones, dyed ribbon and glass beads. You will not want to miss the style, color and sparkle to be found at studio 36. I visited just yesterday and found the studio space upside down and in a riot of activity – will they be ready? I’m betting they will! To preview the tour check out the gabriola arts council website.

Posted in Buy Local, Holidays and Special Events, Shopping on Gabriola, The Arts | No Comments »

Mad Rona’s

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

It is great little coffee bar at Madrona Shopping center. On a hot day they open the overhead doors for a refreshing open air experience. There is plenty of comfortable seating, both inside and out. They serve really good coffee, tea, snack bars and pastries. You can buy a delicious lunch of soup, sandwiches and wraps. We arrived early on Sunday and by the time we were finished the place was hopping. Afterwards we browsed in the shops, I found a lovely pair of leather walking sandals at the North Road Sports & Clothing shop – on sale! For us this is just a 15 minute walk from home and a nice way to get some exercise.

Posted in Buy Local, Food, Gabriola Living, Shopping on Gabriola | No Comments »

A Great Weekend

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

This past weekend was the third annual Gabriola Theatre Festival and what a wonderful time it was. The Street Art vendors provided a fantastic display of local arts and crafts including jewelry, leatherwork, wood work, paintings, cards, glasswork, handmade soaps, photography and more! There was a pancake breakfast, a kids craft corner, dancing and music, and fantastic theatre. We went to the performance of ‘Deck’, a hilarious rendition of a young family forced into a lifestyle change by a slumping economy. This one man play was timely, very well done and quite hilarious! We shopped on the street and I bought tye dyed skirts for my grandchildren and colorful writing cards. We watched the gumboot dance, participated in the boot art auction and all round had a great time!

Posted in Buy Local, Crafts, Holidays and Special Events, Music, Shopping on Gabriola, The Arts | No Comments »

Once Upon a Time…

Monday, July 11th, 2011

There were two curious little girls who were able to spend an afternoon exploring within a fairytale land.  There were dragon’s, castles, lush greenery, faeries and so much more!

This past Saturday the girls went and explored the wonderful Once Upon a Time art market/tea house here at a private residence on Gabriola. There were 16 artists, a tea house, faeries and more located in beautiful lush gardens making it a very magical experience for all.

This beautiful dragon and its rider is made from foam found on the beach then carved and felted, absolutely stunning!

Posted in family life, Flora and Fauna, Gabriola Island, Gabriola Living, Gardening on Gabriola, greener living, Gulf Island Lifestyle, Holidays and Special Events, Kids, People, Shopping on Gabriola, The Arts, West Coast Living | No Comments »

Thanks to all and a Happy Holiday!

Saturday, December 18th, 2010

Thanks to all who made it out to the studio today for the Gabriola Winter Art Affair, it was a fantastic event!  To all who receive the gifts we hope you love them even more than we do, locally made is extra special!  Also a very happy holidays to all, may it be full of warmth, family, friends and laughter.  Here’s to a great last 2 weeks of 2010 and a smile to the year to come, may 2011 be a wonderfully special year with new adventures and experiences. Thanks for all the support and business we have received this year, you are all wonderful in your own special way and we appreciate all of you!

“Ther are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward”

Kahlil Gibran


Posted in Buy Local, Crafts, Gabriola Island, Gabriola Living, Gulf Island Lifestyle, Holidays and Special Events, People, Shopping on Gabriola, The Arts, Uncategorized, west coast, West Coast Living | No Comments »

Gabriola Winter Art Affair 2010

Monday, November 8th, 2010

Saturday, December 18, 11- 5 p.m.

We had so much fun with the Thanksgiving Studio Tour – Gabriola has decided to host another studio tour for all those last minute Christmas shoppers! Read the Press Release below:

We are pleased to announce the inaugural launch of the 2010 Gabriola Winter Art Affair (GWAA). This year we will be hosting over 30 local artists working in a variety of mediums such as glass, ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, painting, sculpture and textiles. In addition, some of our studios will be featuring accessories such as homemade soaps and apothecaries. Be it an item big or small we assure you that each is made with the utmost care and craftsmanship making each purchase the perfect gift for the ones you love the most.

Located just 20 minutes by ferry from Downtown Nanaimo, you can pick up a Gabriola Art Affair map at Artworks in the Folklife Village Slice of Life Gallery in the Madrona’s Shopping Centre or any participating artist’s studio. All of the artists’ studios are indicated by a an easy-to-spot Igloo poster!

For more information you may contact Sylvie Milman at jupiterranch@shaw.ca

or Mariko McCrae  mariko.feedlotstudios@gmail.com

Enjoy a getaway to the “Isle of the Arts” this holiday season… we hope you enjoy!

Posted in Buy Local, Gabriola Island, Holidays and Special Events, Shopping on Gabriola, The Arts | No Comments »

Cottage Industry

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

One of the things that makes Gabriola Island a special place is the provision in our bylaws for cottage industry on all residential properties – this allows for a broad range of home occupations (for official list see Gabriola Land Use Bylaws under links in the side menu to the left on this page); it has allowed the art community to flourish, enriches our lives, encourages entrepreneurship, and is good for the local economy and the environment. As a long time Gabriola family we embrace our island culture; for give & for get allows us to express our creative side – see our fashion boutique at forgiveandforgetboutique.wordpress.com .

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Madrona Marketplace

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

We walked to the Madrona Marketplace today for coffee and to look in the shops. We started at North Road Sports and I bought a great pair of Merrill walking sandals which were very reasonably priced, we looked around and admired some of the shirts and shorts. Next stop was Slice of  Life, a gallery of art and gifts. I found a zebra door stop I had to have and saw a number of items that would make super gifts. We ended up at Mad Rona’s for coffee, lounging  in the their very comfortable chairs and tempted by their beautiful fresh baked goods and sandwiches. It was a very pleasant outing on this gorgeous summer day!

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At the Market

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

What a great day, it was sunny and warm. We walked to the market this morning to pick up some artisan bread and fresh produce. We ended up with that and more. There were juicy carrots, big walla walla sweet onions, and freshly made spring rolls. We bought old fashion style licorice and on the way out I picked up a shampoo bar – the best for good hair days! There were lots of people at the market and we chatted our way up one side and out the other.

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