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Nature Crafts

- West Coast Inspired

 What's happening . . . 

Where to find us:

We are going to be focusing on selling our products more out of local and regional galleries and gift shops in 2025.  Once we have some locations set up we will post them here.

You can also call to arrange a time to visit us at our studio to see what were are working on and have a chat.

 

Dragonfly over the Wetland fused glass wall hanging.Dragonfly over the Wetland fused glass wall hanging.

Nature Sightings

It’s fun to see the bird life that comes into our backyard over the fall/winter/spring.  The Black-headed Juncos, Towhees and Chestnut-backed Chickadees are regular visitors.  Various woodpeckers including the large Pileated Woodpecker stop by frequently for suet from the feeder.  Our little Anna’s Hummingbirds are of course also regulars . Further afield, it seems our best birding spot all winter and spring are the trails around the Airpark in Courtenay.  You can see so many migrant birds overwintering or passing through.

News from the Sanctuary Craft Studio

Sanctuary Craft Studio featured in Triple Vision exhibit at the Pearl Ellis Gallery - based on inspiration from a one week creative residency at the Mcloughlin Gardens in the summer of 2022, Thom, Glenn and their good friend Brenda presented an exhibit at the Pearl Ellis Gallery in Comox, BC in the fall of 2024.  The show was based on the theme of "Triple Vision" and featured the three artists, their three visions of the gardens using  three different mediums.  The show was a great success with excellent feedback from all who attended.

Triple Vision exhibit at Pearl Ellis Gallery - Fall 2024Triple Vision exhibit at Pearl Ellis Gallery - Fall 2024

Triple Vision PosterTriple Vision Poster

Triple Vision OverviewTriple Vision Overview 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sanctuary Craft Studio featured periodically at Pearl Ellis Gallery - Glenn and Thom are both members of the Pearl Ellis Gallery in Comox and periodically display examples of their work during the four annual member's shows at the gallery.  Thom has tended toward featuring stained glass pieces due to there being a perfect display window for glass in the gallery, whereas Glenn has been displaying black and white photographs taken during his explorations around the Comox Valley.  They both volunteer once per month at the front desk to help support the gallery.

Ice in the Sky - Stained glass landscape showcased the Comox Glacier above beautiful Comox Lake.Ice in the Sky - Stained glass landscape showcased the Comox Glacier above beautiful Comox Lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Stained Glass Window Unveiled at Athabasca Extendicare - the first stained glass window Thom created for this Athabasca nursing home in 2017 was such a hit that they commissioned him to create a companion piece for an adjoining window frame.  This second creation was unveiled on January 12, 2019 and depicts Alberta's Provincial Bird and Tree - a Great Horned Owl and a Lodgepole Pine along the banks of the Athabasca River.  This window completes a beautiful diorama for the dining room at the home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Canada 150 Stained Glass Window - Thom RypienCanada 150 Stained Glass Window - Thom Rypien

 

Canada 150 Stained Glass donation to Athabasca Extendicare - as both a celebration of Canada's 150 birthday and in memory of Thom's mother and grandfather, Thom designed and created an amazing stained glass window to donate to the nursing home where both his mother and grandfather spend their final years.  The window depicts two Gray Jays (Canada's unofficial bird) and a Maple Tree with 15 red leaves to represent each decade in Canada's rich history.  The window was unveiled at a ceremony on September 8, 2017 that celebrated the 50th anniversary of the home.

 

 

 Recreating the Past with a Rep Weave Rag Rug - in honour of his grandmother who was a contract weaver in her native Sweden, Glenn has recreated the pattern of one of her vintage rugs.  This pattern is a spaced rep weave rag rug that is fun to weave and quite easy to modify based on your choice of warp and weft colours.  To order a copy of the directions and pattern contact us for more information.

 

 

Natural Dyeing Made Easy article Published - dyeing yarn using garden plants and "weeds" is a safe and satisfying way to add colour to your weaving or knitting.  To learn more you can request to view a digital copy of an article we published in the Ashford Wheels and Looms 2016 edition of their magazine The Wheel.

Article on Snow Dyeing Published - the members of the Studio were very pleased that Ashford Wheels and Looms published their article about Snow Dyeing in the 2015 edition of The Wheel.  This internationally distributed fibre magazine is seen by spinners, weavers, felters and dyers throughout the world.  If you would like to view a digital copy of the article please contact us.