The Avant-Garden Shop: Your Garden & Bird Store

canadian made

Garden Gate: Episode 28 – L’Immaginaria

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cardialCHEX TV Air Date: Friday, Dec. 27, 2014

Click here to view this episode of The Garden Gate.

On this episode of The Garden Gate, I’m speaking with local artist Lisa Martini-Dunk about her wonderful scratch board art.

Lisa is inspired by nature and by her imagination to create her stunning works of art, and lives in East City (Peterborough).

Lisa begins with an idea and then a sketch. Once she’s happy with the image she begins to create her work. Using a special black paper board she scratches away the black parts to leave the image behind. Almost working in reverse. ?Then special paint is used to add colour. She will transfer the image to her computer where she is able to define or “punch up” the colours. ?She will print the card and then hand coat them with a product to bring out the sheen. ?You’d think she was done then, but no, she chooses a paper that specially matches the image or colours on the paper. What a wonderful and thoughtful gift.

We carry her beautiful cards. Each is a limited edition with only approx. 20 of each image being printed.

 

Garden Gate: Episode 26 – Buy Canadian

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CHEX TV airdate: Friday Nov. 29th, 2014

Click here to view this episode of The Garden Gate.?

Why is it important to buy gifts that are Made in Canada?

You hear about the 100 mile diet – how far did that item you just purchased have to travel to get to you?

Are the people making the item getting a fair wage for what they are creating? Do they have health care? Education???

Coasters ML (8)It’s sometimes impossible to know the answer to these questions, when the item has come from a container that was shipped half way around the world! ?When you buy Canadian and from someone who knows about the product, you can usually get the answer to your questions and feel good about your purchase. ?And once you know that information, you can decide where best to spend your hard earned dollars.

During this episode of The Garden Gate, you’ll learn a few facts about the many Canadian made items available at The Avant-Garden Shop, and answers to some of these questions. I hope you’ll tune in or drop by and ask some questions!

 

 

Garden Gate: Episode 25-Basic Spirit Pewter, Nova Scotia

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CHEX air date: Friday Nov. 15th, 2013

Click here to view this episode of?The Garden Gate.

The folks from Basic Spirit love to design and create products that touch the heart and delight the spirit. All of their pewter is handcrafted in their seaside studio in Pugwash, Nova Scotia. They use the highest quality pewter alloys available and sell their products through many of the finest handcraft galleries and gift stores in North America (including The Avant-Garden Shop).

Pugwash, a small village of approximately 800 residents is located on the north shore of Nova Scotia, and is known for its heritage of pewtersmithing and peace. It is the birthplace of the internationally respected Pugwash Movement which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995. If you’re ever in Pugwash, you can visit their retail store.

CO-308Basic Spirit contribute 10% of profits to charitable organizations and programs. The ornaments are packaged so the recipient will see where the donations are going. ?For example when you purchase the “Plant-A-Tree” ornament, a donation is made to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to plant a tree! Others include an animal shelter, a food bank, Cancer society, a school in Kenya etc. A gift within a gift!

 

 

Dog Bite Steel artist from Uxbridge

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If you’ve been in?our shop or perused our website, you’ll know that we carry A LOT of works by Canadian artists. Here is some information on one of my favourites! Click on the link below to watch a video of the artists. Dog Bite Steel is a business from Uxbridge with works by Jean Pierre … Read more

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