A2Sea Creations

Facebook Contest

2012-01-18T19:12:00.000-08:00

We're having a contest on A2Sea Creations! Share our Facebook page link on your Facebook wall, inviting your friends to check us out and 'Like' our page. Tell us you've done so by leaving a comment on our wall and your name will be included in our contest for a chance to win a nautical mystery gift worth $15 or more. A name will be drawn as soon as we reach 120 'Likes'. Help us get the word out and have a chance to win! Good luck!

Our Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/A2Sea-Creations/49379619217

Our Italy and Greece Adventures

2011-11-03T02:18:00.000-07:00

Well here it is November already and I am wondering where September and October went to? How could I have missed them? I must have because I see that my last blog post was in August. Hmmmm.....

So what's new with us? Cheryl and I returned on September 19th from our amazing trip to Italy and Greece with so many stories to share... thrilling stories of adventure and excitement, danger and peril, pirate ships and police stations, train robberies and lost luggage, landing on the wrong island, angels and miracles, wonderful mistakes and strange secrets, gypsies and gyros, surprise trips through Venetian canals... you name it - it happened! So I am in the process of writing a novel about our many adventures as they are just too fantastic to not be told. I warned my husband and friends that they won't be seeing much of me in November as I will be typing my little fingers off. I guess I should have worked harder in typing class in grade 10. Oh well. Wish me luck! I will let everyone know when my novel is published. Quit laughing... it could happen!

L'AQUA MAGICA - PhotoArt by Micki Findlay - TheSingingPhotographer.com

As for A2Sea Creations, we were delighted that the local shop on the Nanaimo harbour took so many of our creations this summer, right into the fall. We're hoping it continues like this. Also, a shop in Chemainus has expressed an interest in taking some of our Christmas decorations so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Cheryl, my co-partner and quilter-extraordinaire, sold another one of her Tropical Fish Children's Quilts to a local gal in Qualicum Beach and has also created a lovely new Killer Whale Wall Hanging which is for sale on our site. Be sure to check it out and consider it for a Christmas present for your nautical-loving friends and family members. Christmas is only 52 days away you know!

I hope everyone has been enjoying our spectacular fall weather. Happy November everyone!

Micki of A2Sea Creations and A2Sea Photography

Our Great Adventures!

2011-08-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

I realized that I have sadly neglected our blog here... I have been putting a lot of time into creating our new Vancouver Island Etsy Team blog and working on our Van Isle Facebook page but neglecting my own blog in the process. I have to say that it's been fun, though... I get to correspond with various team members and enjoy getting to know them.

But back to us. My dear partner in crime, Cheryl (of our shop, A2Sea Creations) is away on her dream vacation... an African Safari! It has been her lifelong dream to go there so I am ever so happy for her. I haven't heard from her for a long while so I am really hoping she didn't get eaten by a lion or get stuck up a tree in the jungle all tied up in vines!

But Cheryl isn't the only one going on an adventure... I will soon be off to Italy which is MY all-time dream vacation! I will be meeting Cheryl and our mutual friend Dorothy, in Rome and spending three glorious weeks in the most deliciously romantic part of the world! The only sad thing about that is my husband won't be able to come. But you know what they say about the heart growing fonder. I will sure miss him!

So we will be closing up shop very soon and off I go into the wild blue yonder! Sono così fortunato! Evviva! Ciao a tutti. Micki

Our Vancouver Island Etsy Team Has A New Blog!

2011-06-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

A Few of our Vancouver Island Etsy Team Members
(Click on photo below to see members' names and their shops via Facebook)

Cheryl and I of A2Sea Creations, are members of a terrific group of artists and crafters, called the Vancouver Island Etsy Team. I am happy to announce that our team now has their own BLOG! We will be featuring various members and their shops which will include photos , their stories of how they got started, their challenges, their successes, etc. so mosey on over and check us out from time to time! We hope to run a few contests in the future as well! It promises to be a very fun, informative and newsy site!

If you are a Van Isle Etsy Team member, check out our discussion link for all the info on how to featured!

For those of you on Facebook, you may also find our team there! We have our own Twitter account now as well. Yay for Vancouver Island!

Our First Blog Giveaway!

2011-06-10T20:41:00.001-07:00

Handcrafted Glass Tile Sea Turtle Pendant

Our First Blog Giveaway!

Open to Canada and U.S. residents, 18 yrs of age or older.

Well it's finally happening! We are having our first blog giveaway! The sea turtle photo for this pendant was taken by yours truly in Oahu, Hawaii. You may see a close-up of the photo here.

You could win this lovely glass tile sea turtle pendant by following just a few simple steps. Here goes...

How to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post, telling us what your favorite item is in our shop. (Scroll down to the bottom of this post and click on the word "Comments".)

2. Become a follower of this blog (Click on 'Follow' on the very top left margin of this page.) Leave a comment, letting us know you've done so.

3. 'Like' our Facebook page and leave a comment there letting us know.

4. Follow us on Twitter (Click on 'Follow' right under our Twitter profile picture) Let us know you've done so. Don't have a Twitter account? Then add a comment on your Facebook wall about our blog giveaway with the link to this blog. Then tell us you've done it.

5. Check out Micki's other site 'A2Sea Photography' and pick out a favorite photo. Tell us which one it is.

Good luck and may the best woman (or man) win!

New at A2Sea Creations... Pottery!

2011-06-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

Nautical Ring Bearer's Ring Holder Or Treasure Dish - Hand-Built Coiled Pottery

We are very pleased to announce that A2Sea Creations now has a few hand-built pottery pieces for sale! Clay is very enjoyable to work with and the creative possibilities are endless.

We have a new nautical multi-purpose treasure dish (see above) a unique and fun 'denim jean' clay mug (perfect for dad for Father's Day) and a brand new artsy bird plaque called the 'Bird of Hope'.

We will be introducing more pottery pieces in the near future so check us out from time to time! I hope to have my clay 'sea goddess' mask finished soon and when it's completed, it will be for sale on A2Se a Creations. We'll see how it turns out first. One of the exciting aspects about working with clay is the wonderful surprises you get when you open the kiln after the glazing/firing process is finished. You never quite know how your treasures will turn out. I can hardly wait! So stay tuned! We will even have some nautical clay jewelry for sale.

Our Goal Was Met For Japan!

2011-05-25T18:02:00.000-07:00

WE REACHED OUR GOAL OF $10,000.00 AND BEYOND! $10,012.73!!

Fundraising Ideas

Thank you to each and every Etsy seller, and others who have contributed, for making this possible! It is amazing what can happen when people join together with a common purpose!

Sara of Sarawen Perfume Art on Etsy was our final contributor who tipped the scales and brought us to our goal. She is a Canadian from Ontario. Thank you Sara!

I will be doing an article soon on each and every person and shop that has contributed to our fundraising efforts on Facebook. Thank you everyone!

Let us not forget Japan and their struggles even though we aren't hearing about it in the news as often. There are several areas in our world that have been hit by natural disasters. My hope is that this fundraising effort for Japan might encourage each and every one of us to remember others who are struggling and to inspire us all to reach past ourselves and donate what we can, utilizing the talents we possess. We are all neighbours and we need each other.

God bless each and every one of you who have been so supportive to this cause as well as to me personally. I have met so many wonderful, caring people through this from all parts of the world and I consider myself privileged to have connected with all of you.

Imagine what could happen if everyone in the world donated just one thing... whether it be a piece of art, a song, a service...whatever! Anyone can start a fundraiser. Anyone... young or old. Just find a need and do your part to fill it, and ask for help from others. I hope to see many more fundraisers like this one pop up everywhere. Get inspired!

Thanks again!
Micki

Newest Tally For Japan

2011-05-25T01:44:00.000-07:00

MAY 25, 2011 TALLY FOR JAPAN - $9,886.73!!

Fundraising Ideas

We might make $10,000.00 by the end of May afterall! That is our goal! Want to get onboard? Go to our Facebook page and shop at the Etsy stores that are donating to Japan!

Inching Toward $10,000.00!

2011-05-17T21:19:00.000-07:00

NEW TALLY FOR TODAY - MAY 17, 2011 - $9,230.73!

Fundraising Ideas

Etsy Sellers and friends have made this possible!

Would you like to help us getto our goal of $10,000.00? Here is our page...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/What-Can-You-Do-To-Help-Japan/200538399970415

Our direct link to SHOP FOR JAPAN:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.202081393149449.49705.200538399970415

Simply donate something to sell then, when it does, donate the proceeds to an organization you trust that is helping Japan.

Onward and upward for Japan!

A New Total For Japan!

2011-05-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

OUR NEW TALLY FOR TODAY - MAY 16, 2011
$9000.73!!!

Fundraising Ideas

This is a huge accomplishment by caring artists and crafters from all over the world! Most of the contributors have been Etsy sellers but we have also had others come onboard who care about the plight of Japan and want to make a difference.

I believe we WILL make it to $10,000.00 by the end of May! That is our goal. Would you like to help us get there? Here is our page...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/What-Can-You-Do-To-Help-Japan/200538399970415

Our direct link to SHOP FOR JAPAN:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.202081393149449.49705.200538399970415

Simply donate something to sell then, when it does, donate the proceeds to an organization you trust that is helping Japan. I have given all my proceeds to the Canadian Red Cross but there are plenty of great organizations out there that are making a difference.

This is a great day! Keep up the great work everyone! Onward and upward for Japan!

May 8th Tally - Helping Japan

2011-05-07T00:31:00.000-07:00

OUR EXCITING NEW TOTAL FOR JAPAN - $8730.98!!

Fundraising Ideas

If you would like to help Japan by selling something for the cause, add your item to our Facebook page with a link to it (or a price) and when it sells, donate the proceeds to whichever organization you trust that is helping Japan! Come aboard and help us help Japan!! Here is the link to our Japan page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/What-Can-You-Do-To-Help-Japan/200538399970415

Our direct link to SHOP FOR JAPAN: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.202081393149449.49705.200538399970415

Helping Japan - May 5th Tally

2011-05-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

OUR TALLY AS OF TODAY - MAY 5TH - $8188.98!

Fundraising Ideas

If you would like to help Japan by selling something for the cause, add your item to our Facebook page with a link to it (or a price) and when it sells, donate the proceeds to whichever organization you trust that is helping Japan! Come aboard and help us help Japan!! Here is the link to our Japan page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/What-Can-You-Do-To-Help-Japan/200538399970415

Our direct link to SHOP FOR JAPAN: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.202081393149449.49705.200538399970415

Etsy Artists Help Japan

2011-04-20T22:32:00.000-07:00

UPDATE FOR OUR JAPAN FUNDRAISER ON FACEBOOK

2011-04-16T00:04:00.000-07:00

MAY 2ND TALLY - $7904.58!!

Fundraising Ideas

Want to help our fundraising efforts? Go to our page on Facebook entitled 'What Can You Do To Help Japan?' Post something there that you wish to sell with a link (if no link, add a price). 'Share' you post on your own wall so others will see. If it sells, donate the funds to whichever organization you trust that is helping Japan. You may also help by shopping from the items already donated to the cause. in our photo album.

A few organizations that people have donated to are: Doctors Without Borders, The Red Cross, World Vision, Direct Relief International, Americares and Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support.

Our Story In The News

2011-04-14T16:20:00.001-07:00

CLICK ON ARTICLE TO ENLARGE

A NEW GOAL

2011-04-13T23:42:00.000-07:00

TOTAL AS OF APRIL 14, 2011!

Fundraising Ideas

I am very happy and excited to announce that our Etsy community and other creative supporters and contributors of our facebook page, 'What Can You Do To Help Japan?' has met our goal of $5000 and then some! Today we reached a grand total of $5476! Therefore, we have decided to revise our goal and change it to $10,000 to reflect the success and enthusiasm the contributing artists have demonstrated. Japan needs our help so we will aim higher and believe that we will reach our new goal!

Our Vancouver Island Etsy Team leader and another VI Etsy seller, were in the Sooke News Mirror today. Way to go girls! Our story is getting out there and spreading! "It only takes a spark to get a fire going..."

HELPING JAPAN

2011-04-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

OUR FACEBOOK PAGE TOTAL AS OF APRIL 13, 2011!

Fundraising Ideas

Our total is now at $4935.50 and going up! We will have to adjust our goal because we are only a few dollars away! Wonderful news. Etsyians, friends and other artists who have gotten onboard with our Facebook project... thank you for making this all possible! Japan needs our help and you have risen to the challenge!

If you would like to donate something to the cause, post your link or price to our page entitled, 'What Can You Do To Help Japan?' Perhaps you would rather buy something to help at one of our contributors' online shops?! It's a great way to buy handcrafted gifts, have fun and help Japan at the same time! If so, just go to our online album and click on each photo. You will find the shop links under the photos.

Onward and upward everyone!

Etsy Sellers Helping Japan

2011-04-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

A Treasury of Etsy Sellers Who Are Donating Items For Japan Relief

Our Vancouver Island Etsy Team created a Facebook page to help generate funds for Japan in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that swept the region. Artisans and crafters from all over the world, are encouraged to donate something to the cause by posting a link on the wall that leads to an item that they have chosen to donate the proceeds of the sale to. You may also help Japan by buying a handcrafted item from our donors' gift photo album.

A NEW CONTEST DRAW ON FACEBOOK

2011-04-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

CONTEST DRAW : Win this Framed 11x14 PhotoArt by Micki Findlay (thesingingphotographer.com) Value $250 (Outside dimensions: 21" x 17")

How To Enter: 4 Steps

1. 'LIKE' our page

2. DONATE one good quality item

3. ADD a price (or a link if you have one) a photo and a short comment about it

4. 'SHARE' your post (so others might get onboard by either buying your item or donating to the cause)

When it sells, simply DONATE the proceeds to an organization you trust that is assisting in the Japan Disaster Relief. Feel GOOD that you are making a difference by reaching out to those in need!

NOT SURE WHAT TO DONATE? Here are some ideas...

* Perform a service and donate your profits: mow someone's lawn, babysit, clean someone's house or yard / wash their car

* Sell your art or handicrafts

* Are you an author? Donate a book

* Clean out your closet and sell something

* Have a bake sale or a garage sale

A very special thank you to those who have already donated and also to 88.5 - The Beach, Oceanside Star and the Sooke News Mirror for getting onboard!

*WINNER will be announced on May 27, 2011 (Artist's birthday)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER CONTEST AND JOIN PAGE

Etsy Artists and Others Unite To Raise Money For Japan

2011-04-06T01:20:00.000-07:00

Fundraising Ideas

"Look how much we have raised so far!"

(As of April 12, 2011)

Thanks to our wonderfully generous contributors, this is where we are at to date with money raised for the Japan Disaster Relief Efforts! Most of the money came from sales and some of it came from people purchasing items that were for sale to help Japan. So whether you donate an item or whether you buy from shops that are donating to Japan, you are helping either way, so it's a win win situation!! So please support the shops that have contributed to this cause by purchasing gifts amongst their donated items. Go to 'What Can You Do To Help Japan?' and do you part to help. You can also find all the donated items in our Photo Album .

Thank you for caring!

Help Us Spread The Word!

2011-04-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

What Can You Do To Help Japan?

2011-03-17T09:29:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Island Etsy Artists Use Their Talents To Help Japan

Most of us have been experiencing a general feeling of helplessness as we watch the recent devastation incurred after the earthquake/tsunami in Japan. Our team of Vancouver Island artists and crafters from Etsy.com have joined forces to try and make a difference.

A new Facebook page entitled 'What Can You Do To Help Japan?' was created by the team for that purpose. This innovative project offers an affordable, creative way for anyone to help, regardless of their budget. People are encouraged to donate one or more items to sell, or a percentage of what they sell, to the cause.

The Vancouver Island Etsy Team was created by its captain, Lindsay Jenkins of 'Sunshine Jewls', and its mandate is to bring island crafters together from Sooke to Port Hardy to network, communicate, support and build one another's handmade businesses. Etsy is a social commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. One of its aims is to restore community and culture to our commerce.

Here's how the Facebook project works; you are asked to place a photo of what you wish to donate and include a link, if you have one, so others may find the item and have the opportunity to purchase it. If the item does not have a link, you are asked to add a price instead. You are then asked to share the page link with your contacts and invite them to donate something also, or to shop amongst the donated items. The proceeds from the sales are then donated to whichever organization the seller trusts that assists in the Japan disaster relief efforts.

The premise offered is this, "Each of our contributions may not amount to a whole lot but together, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!" (Micki Findlay of ASeaCreations.com). The Vancouver Island Etsy team would also like to put out a challenge to other Etsyians, and all local artists and crafters, to contribute something to the cause. If you would like to rise to the challenge, here is the page link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/What-Can-You-Do-To-Help-Japan/200538399970415
If you prefer to help by shopping, you may go to their Facebook photo album @ http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=200538399970415&aid=49705

Here is a quote posted on the page: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." Edward Everett Hale

The team has produced a touching YouTube video to drive traffic to the Japan project page. It can be found below and online @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KluiOr5pmF4 The team has also organized a Spring Meet-Up for April 22nd at 2 pm in Ladysmith to network, plan and share ideas. Some of the handcrafted items they are donating to the Japan Disaster Relief Efforts will be on display there as well.

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little." Edmund Burke

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." Helen Keller

An Amazing Year

2011-02-21T23:11:00.000-08:00

Seaside Silk-Lined Gift Box

Well it is certainly an amazing year for Cheryl and I both. It was strange how I had experienced a sense of excitement stirring within me in early January. I just sensed that something was going to be different and special this year. And I couldn't have been more right. In August, I am going to Italy, which is a lifelong dream that I never thought would actually materialize. It is still quite surreal for me as I drool over endless photos of Italy and plan my trip with Cheryl and our friend Dorothy. What a blessing to be able to go with such good friends and share this once-in-a-lifetime experience together.

Cheryl is also going to Africa this year, which is her lifelong dream. We will meet in Rome during the last half of her trip. It is so exciting booking hotels and planning our trip to the Greek Islands as well. Our favorite island so far that we have researched is Santorini. It is breathtaking in every way imaginable.

There are several other wonderful things happening in Cheryl's and my life this year... too many to mention here. But we are both so thankful and we're certainly enjoying the ride. We are very blessed.

Cheryl and I will be spending a lot of time at sea, which is also our passion. The ocean is a constant inspiration for us both as we create new nautical treasures for our site. One of our bestsellers are our gift boxes which are just so perfect for presenting a small gift to someone, or simply giving as a gift unto itself. We sold one to a man who was proposing to his sweetheart and wanted something unique to present the ring in. Our gift boxes are all silk-lined which makes the presentation very elegant. And they are embellished richly with nautical beauty. A perfect favor for a beach wedding or gifts for the bridal party!

Take Me To The Ocean Blue

2011-01-15T18:08:00.000-08:00

Cobalt Blue Treasure Bottle

Take me to the ocean blue
And leave me there to be renewed
Let salt spray cool my weary face
And slow my mind to coastal pace

My heart shall guide my ship to steer
Where life's concerns become so clear
And melt like dross and fall away
As eventide draws in to play

Take me to the ocean blue
And leave me there to be renewed
Release all cares upon the shore
And vow to pick them up no more

By Micki Findlay

Eco-Friendly Stocking Stuffers

2010-11-20T13:54:00.000-08:00

Eco-Friendly Coffee Sleeves

In our last blog post, I promised to let everyone in on what Cheryl was up to in our next post so I shall now spill the goods. My talented sewing/quilting friend has designed some coffee sleeves for our site and besides being attractive, re-usable and reversible, they are delightfully affordable. My personal favorite is the music-themed one. So if you are searching for great stocking stuffers or little Christmas gifts for teachers, club members or co-workers, these fit the bill.

While we're on the subject of Christmas, we had our first snowfall last night so I am feeling more Christmasy than ever. What a magical, silent, peaceful world it creates. I took this photo this morning just outside the front of our home. I am so privileged to live in such a beautiful place. Do you notice how your home feels cozier after a snowfall? Snow's magic affects the ambiance inside of our homes, not just the outside.

I was fortunate to be able to go to Hawaii a couple of summers ago, thanks to my dad who gave us a cruise as a gift. It is a lovely place but I could never live there. It may sound silly but I would desperately miss the four seasons. They call it paradise and yet to me, Vancouver Island is paradise. I love the opportunity to see and appreciate the changes in seasons and the wonder that each season brings with it. I can't think of anywhere else I would rather be.

Going Natural

2010-11-11T22:40:00.000-08:00

NATURAL AND EARTHY DESIGNS BY MICKI

Lately I have been staying up extremely late to create new nautical treasures for our Etsy Shop. And by late I mean LATE! I think I must be part owl. I know that I'm ready to fall asleep in my chair (which I have done upon occasion) and yet I must obey the beck and call of the unrelenting and unpredictable task master named 'Inspiration'. Once it hits me, that's it; there's no turning back.

Here are my two latest creations: our 'Nautical Seashells and Charms Keychain' and our 'Naturally Yours - Pendant and Earring Set'.

Cheryl has been hard at work also, creating brand new treasures for our site. Stay tuned for our next blog post to find out what they are. The only thing I will mention right now is that her creations make for perfect stocking stuffers. And yes... Christmas is coming faster than you might think! Shopping online is so fun, easy and the best part.... you don't have to get dressed to go shopping!

Christmas Is Fast Approaching

2010-10-31T23:48:00.000-07:00

Island Treasure - Christmas Beach Ornament

It's difficult to believe but tomorrow is already November. I'm not sure where the time has gone but it is definitely fleeting. Cheryl and I have been hard at working creating fresh, new nautical treasures for Christmas. We're quite thrilled that Newfoundland to Nanaimo has placed yet another order from us, even though their busiest tourist season is over. So be sure to check them out, especially if you live in the Nanaimo area. They have a wonderful selection of nautical-themed gifts created by local artisans. And the walk is ever so enjoyable down at the harbourfront. It is a great place to bring out-of-town family and friends. And you can find numerous stocking stuffers that are ideal for those out-of-towners.

Do you have a favorite Christmas memory or tradition? Every Christmas my sons and I would do something special for people who were less fortunate. One year we made up cute little reindeer goodie bags and put little gifts and treats inside. Then we packed them up and took them to a local care home where we gave them out to the residents and sang to them. The residents were delighted and my sons learned about how good it feels to give of yourself at Christmastime instead of just receiving. That was my primary goal. To this day, both of my sons are very giving people and it is important to both of them to make others feel good. They are kind, considerate men and that makes me so proud.

A2Sea Is About Kids, Too!

2010-10-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

Tropical Fish Children's Quilt By Cheryl

Cheryl has been quilting up a storm these days and, I am happy to announce, she has just finished her newest one for A2Sea Creations! Cheryl puts a lot of love and care into every quilt she makes and this newest one is no exception.

Cheryl and I work on some of our handmade nautical treasures together which, I might add, is always a pleasure. But we each have our own specialties as well... with Cheryl, it is her quilting and her lovely handmade cards. With me, it is my jewelry and our glass treasure bottles. Plus, we also have our own unique ways of working. But we make a wonderful team, not to mention all the laughter that goes on when we get together. It is a rare gift indeed to find someone you can work with so beautifully and enjoy being with week after week. I am truly blessed.

Weddings Are In The Air!

2010-10-17T15:47:00.001-07:00

Sandy Beach Wedding Guest Book

It has certainly been a busy month for weddings, it seems! One of the weddings was my son's and what a memorable wedding it was! Being the mother is, of course, a proud and happy moment... especially when you adore your daughter-in-law as much as I do. I am blessed with two daughter-in-laws that I certainly would have picked to be in my sons' lives. They are real treasures.

Perhaps because I am in the wedding mindset, or maybe because Cheryl suggested I finally get it finished, our first wedding guest book is on sale in our Etsy shop. Besides being natural and very pretty, it is affordable, which, I don't know about you, but when I got married we had to really pinch our pennies. And it is very practical because there is no text, only lines, so they would work beautifully as gifts for everyone in the bridal party as well. We can make them more masculine looking for the fellas, too.

Well now that my sons are both married, maybe I can look forward to more grandchildren! What a delightful thought! I think I may drop a hint here and there... just in case.

A2Sea Creations Donates to Jingle Mingle!

2010-10-14T22:56:00.001-07:00

Gift Basket Donation to the BC Cancer Fundraiser

Cheryl and I are honoured to be able to take part in this year's B.C. Cancer annual fundraiser called 'Jingle Mingle' by contributing a large and luscious gift basket by A2Sea Creations filled with an array of our nautical treasures. The basket will go towards their silent auction.

Besides the silent auction, guests will also enjoy loads of dancing and delicious appies - all for an excellent cause. This glamorous affair is a favourite among Victorians each year as it offers up the chance to dress up in fancy attire and, at the same time, make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and survivors through the hard work of the BC Cancer Foundation.

This magical evening will take place at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria on December 1st, 2010 from 5:30 to 7:30. For more information and to purchase tickets go to http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/site/Calendar?id=105785&view=Detail
It promises to be a night to remember!

A Local Success Story

2010-10-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

CLAUDETTE R. DODD
CREATOR/OWNER OF LATHERTONS NATURAL BODY PRODUCTS

Our online shop on Etsy sometimes gives us the opportunity to network with other crafters and artisans here on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC. We had the privilege of meeting a talented fellow Etsyian back in June, 2010. Her name is Claudette Dodd and she was the organizer and facilitator of our local Etsy craft party held in Nanaimo. BC. Besides being a very personable lady, Claudette created her own, successful home-based business called 'Lathertons Natural Body Products'. At the craft party, we were able to try out some of her wonderful products for ourselves and I was very impressed. Besides the fact that her concoctions felt wonderful and smelled delectable on my skin, I was interested in the fact that all of her products are completely natural, not mass-produced, and that she is committed to supporting local businesses when purchasing ingredients for her products.

Lathertons offers everything from handmade soaps to lip balms, foot soaks to bath teas... even hand stitched eye pillows to soothe away the cares of your day. And every sumptuous product is handmade with love by Claudette herself and packaged with professional flare, ready for gift-giving.

How did it all begin, you might ask? Claudette grew up as a farm girl in Alberta and consequently learned many homespun skills such as soap-making, knitting and needlework, to name a few. In 1999 she decided to make her first cold process soap bar and from there, continued to experiment. She created more products and now, 11 years later, Claudette has her own line. She sells them online on Etsy, at the local Farmer's Market in Nanaimo and she also hosts 'Make Your Own Body Products' classes and home spa parties. Book Lathertons for a fun, relaxing night and invite your girlfriends and neighbours!

Besides her Etsy shop, Claudette now has her own website - www.lathertons.com. Be sure to check it out.

You may also find her on Facebook and Twitter

I just read on Facebook that Claudette is busy making up gift baskets, so be sure to get your order in now for Christmas! They are selling quickly so don't be disappointed. It's wonderful to support local business and give unique, handcrafted gifts from our very own Vancouver Island.

The Secret Inside Our Bottled Treasure

2010-08-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

BOTTLED TREASURE

On summer holidays in the Okanagan as a young girl, I remember, with great fondness, those times when my mom and my grandma would take me to the local thrift shops. Back then a dollar went a long way. My mom would always give me my own money to shop with and she would say, "When that money runs out, that's it, so spend it wisely." Somehow that made it more fun because I would have to plan out what I would buy and I also appreciated what I did get, that much more. My favorite thrift shop was in Naramata... a tiny community in the Okanagan. The thrift shop was tiny, just like the town, yet they managed to pack a lot of items in there. It was my favorite one because it was so cute and the ladies always made you feel like you were the most important customer there.

Since my youth, I have always loved shopping in thrift stores and at garage sales because you can get so much more bang for your buck. And they are so unpredictable in that you never know what 'treasures' you might find there. I come from a single parent family where money was scarce so I have appreciated the role thrift shops play in the lives of people who are struggling to make ends meet. To me there is no shame in shopping secondhand and now, it is actually trendy to recycle. Go figure. More and more people are appreciating the value in reusing items and not wasting valuable resources.

Cheryl and I have both worked in thrift stores as well as being avid thrift store and garage sale shoppers. We believe in recycling and we have carried that belief into our business. Our Bottled Treasure is a great example of that. People are always surprised to discover that the beautiful, glistening, green glass inside our bottles and several of our candle holders are, in fact, chunks of broken windshield glass! So there... our secret is out!

We take pride in the fact that we use primarily local, organic, recycled & eco-friendly materials in our designs. We love what we do and we love that we can take something and reuse it to make something else. while making it more lovely. We also like the fact that our treasures end up in someone's home 'in a land far, far away'. This Bottled Treasure is on its way to Euless, Texas. We will be posting a new one soon so check out our site for new treasures!

So, I suppose that the moral of this story is, we take 'going green' very literally!

A Precious Time Capsule

2010-07-17T20:51:00.000-07:00

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

When you decide to create something, you just never know the impact it might have on someone. I have always loved the romance behind the 'Message In A Bottle' concept... the fact that someone would write a heartfelt message meant for someone they love or someone they haven't even met, in hopes that someday, somewhere, someone would find it intact and read its precious contents.

We recently sold a Message in a Bottle to a mother of a young child. She explained that her plan was to give it to her young daughter with the intention of having her daughter open the bottle several years later to see the meaningful words her mother had written to her so many years before... a time capsule of sorts. What a wonderful idea!

Time is indeed a precious gift that is so easily taken for granted. We never know how long someone we love will be in our lives and, when that someone is gone, we remember vividly the last words we spoke to them, either with a smile on our lips or regret in our hearts. Whether we choose to express those words the way this mother did or whether we say them audibly, it is so important that we say them. While there is time...

Win A Mermaid Treasure Pendant!

2010-07-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

THE MERMAID TREASURE PENDANT GIVE-AWAY!

Cheryl and I are pleased to announce that we are sponsoring a Give-Away Contest and if you would like to participate in the fun, just click on the photo above and it will lead you right there to the blog that is featuring the contest - 'Tools Are For Women Too!' And while you're there, take some time to peruse through this awesome blog and see what they are up to and the wonderful art they help promote.

Our Mermaid Treasure Pendant is a darling miniature bottle filled with precious mermaid treasure which consists of baby seashells, white 'fish netting', glass bits that sparkle in the sunlight and tiny beads. The blue fluid is... well... we can't tell you because it is a magical, secret solution known only by mermaids and mermen. But we can tell you that it is non-toxic. The top has a very tight, secure fit. It comes with a pewter starfish charm tied on with raffia.

For those of you who believe in recycling (as we do) you should know that the glass bits inside the bottle are actually, and you aren't going to believe this, tiny bits of broken windshield glass. Nifty huh? Mermaids collect EVERYTHING!

Best of luck to all you participants. May the best Mermaid or Merman win!

A2Sea Is Now In Three Tourist Gift Shops!

2010-07-02T21:05:00.001-07:00

OUR THIRD OUTLET

Cheryl and I are quite thrilled to report that our creations are now officially in three tourist shops! This one is the latest... a little gift shop in Brown's Bay Resort, just north of Campbell River.

The lady who owns the resort contacted us through our Etsy site to ask if she could sell our products in her shop. So I decided to go down there personally to meet her and bring basically one of everything we make. She decided to buy just that... one of almost everything - just to see how things sell. She also placed an order for a few more items so, all in all, I would say it was a pretty successful day.

I had arrived ridiculously early as I wasn't quite certain how long it would take me to get there and I haaaaaaaaaaaaate being late. So I walked down to their floating restaurant and had some lunch. You will never guess what I ate... not in a million years. I had sushi with yam fries in the middle! Crazy! I had to order it to try it out because I had never heard of it before. They were quite yummy, btw. I was impressed with the restaurant... the cook gave two free candy-covered ice cream cones to two little girls, which I thought was a really nice touch.

Here is one of the mirrors we sold to Brown's Bay Resort. This one is completely covered in sand: white and brown. We do not have this style on our site quite yet, but we have a similar one that is worth checking out. We will be posting one like this soon so be sure to check out our site from time to time.

So we better get back at it. Looks like we are going to be pretty busy for awhile!

Bringing the Beach To You

2010-06-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

SEA SHELLS AND SAND TILE ART

Cheryl and I attended our first ever Etsy Craft Party in Nanaimo last Friday. What really impressed me was the fact that this party was actually going in other cities all over the world! It proved to be an innovative way to connect and network with other Etsyians while forming new friendships, exchanging ideas and learning new crafts. And, I must add, share delicious snacks... very important!

Speaking of connecting, my niece came to the party with her mom. I hadn't seen either of them for a long time so it was really an extra special evening for me. She was teaching us a few beading techniques and, while referring to a few of her jewelry pieces, she used a term I had never heard before... "UFP's". So I asked her what that meant and she replied, "Unfinished Projects." I laughed and told her I could certainly relate to that!

This Sea Shell and Sand Art Tile you see here was one of those 'UFP's that I finally decided to finish. Now I must tackle a few other 'UFP's' and hopefully change the meaning of the term to:
'U Forgot to Procrastinate'!

I hope everyone has a chance to enjoy this wonderful weather! I am off to do a Singing Telegram in Duncan, BC today. The poor girl has no idea what is about to happen to her. (Snicker).

Have a happy, creative day everyone!

Beach Wedding Hair Accessories

2010-06-08T20:16:00.001-07:00

Mermaid's Delight - Scallop and Faux Seaweed Hair Barrette

I would be a mermaid fair;
I would sing to myself the whole of the day;
With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair;
And still as I comb'd I would sing and say,
'Who is it loves me? Who loves not me?'
I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fall
Low adown, low adown,
From under my starry sea-bud crown
Low adown and around,
And I should look like a fountain of gold
Springing alone
With a shrill inner sound
Over the throne
In the midst of the hall;
Till that great sea-snake under the sea
From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps
Would slowly trail himself sevenfold
Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate
With his large calm eyes for the love of me.
And all the mermen under the sea
Would feel their immortality

Die in their hearts for the love of me.

Excerpt from 'The Mermaid'
by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Have you ever seen the movie 'Splash' with Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah? I found it delightful and have seen it more times than I can recall and still, I love it. There is something about the idea of mermaids that captivates me. I am not big on animated movies and yet I Iove 'The Little Mermaid'.
Christopher Columbus recorded sightings of mermaids on his 15th century voyages, and stories about the perils of the lonely mermaid and her tempting songs were standard sailors' lore until well into the 19th century. They say that the best time to observe mermaids are fine summer days when the sea is calm and the waves twinkle in the sunlight. It is also said that mermaids are easier to see at dawn or dusk, noon or dawn, being just visible at the extreme edges of vision, far left of far right. Mermaids should never be gazed at directly or they will disappear in an instant, as fugitive as a mirage.

If you, too, have a fascination for mermaids, you will appreciate our new 'Mermaid's Delight' Hair Barrette. It is a magical accessory for any bride having a beach wedding or for any woman who simply loves the sea. We will be adding more nautical hair accessories to our site soon, so keep an eye out from time to time!

May you enjoy many magical days by the sea not be afraid to believe 'the impossible'.

Our Journey

2010-06-03T09:57:00.000-07:00

MERMAID TREASURE BOTTLE - COBALT BLUE

Well it's been such an adventure for Cheryl and I ... when I think of how it all started and where we are now, I never would have imagined it. From selling a few Christmas ornaments at our local art gallery to opening our own online gift shop and now, having our creations selling in two tourist gift shops ('Newfoundland to Nanaimo' and 'The North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre'), boggles the mind. I think that what I have learned through our journey is to never say "never" because, if you love to do something and you believe in what you do, anything is possible. One foot in front of the other.

Here is one of our latest creations... the "Mermaid Treasure Bottle - Cobalt Blue". A customer loved the other one she bought so she ordered one in blue as well. So it was sold almost as soon as we made it. Hopefully, we will find a few more cobalt blue bottles as they are very striking.

Tomorrow, Cheryl and I will be getting together to create a new tile serving tray as our first one was sold at the Nanaimo store. Good news! They are rather time consuming but the finished product is very satisfying. It can be used either as a tray or as a seaside art piece for the wall.

Well, today is yet another indoor day due to the fact that it is raining YET AGAIN! So time to catch up on some marketing and blogging. I will be creating a couple of new seaside creations for our site today, too. Good idea for a crummy day! So check out our site soon to see our new treasures! Hope you are having less rain than we are...

Our Trip to Gabriola Island

2010-05-15T04:33:00.000-07:00

Shabby Chic - Beach Cottage Vase or Container

Washed Ashore - Rustic Picture Frame

Cheryl and I decided it was time to catch up on our beachcombing so we headed off on the ferry to Gabriola Island recently. We could not have picked a better day. The sun's rays felt so wonderful after such a long spell of gray, rainy weather.

We packed a picnic lunch and ate it at beautiful Drumbeg Beach where we found all kinds of seashells and pieces of driftwood for our creations. It was a bit of a drive but oh so worth it! I was amazed at how we would find different things we needed at different beaches... oyster shells at one, sea glass at another, mussel shells at another.

When we were too pooped to do more beachcombing, we went for some delicious steamers at Raspberry's Jazz Cafe located in Folklife Village Shopping Centre. Perfect timing as the weather began to get chillier and grayer. Then we had a look around a lovely little shop with all kinds of local handcrafted treasures called Gabriola Artworks .

So our day on Gabriola was perfect and now we have all kinds of new ocean treasures to make our creations. You may see a couple of our newest seaside creations in the photos above. They are both for sale on our website. We hope you take some time this spring and summer, to enjoy the ocean and all the beauty our area has to offer. It is so good for the soul.

A2Sea Creations Is Now At The North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre!

2010-05-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

Cheryl and I are pleased to announce that our seaside creations are now at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. They have a wonderful gift shop that has recently been expanded and carries a wide variety of handcrafted items made by Canadian artisans.

This centre does amazing work in rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife on a regular basis. NIWRA is in a peaceful, park-like setting on Leffler Rd in Errington, BC. When visiting the centre you will be able to view eagles, owls, falcons, hawks, ravens, swans, black bears and more. Volunteers and donations are crucial and always needed to keep the centre running. Be sure to spread the news by becoming a fan on Facebook. And I highly recommend coming out to see this world famous recovery centre. It makes for a great family outing as well as a wonderful opportunity to teach children about wildlife. Check out their website for their various events that happen throughout the year.

It is such a thrill and an honour for Cheryl and I to have our seaside creations be included among the many Canadian artisans featured in the NIWRA Gift Shop.

Mother's Day Is Just Around the Corner!

2010-04-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

MOTHER'S DAY MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE PENDANT

I don't know about you but I love gifts that are personal and really touch the heart of the receiver. I made one of these pendants for my dear mom-in-law and she just loves to show it off. May 9th is the big day... do you have something for the most important woman in your life? We also sell the same whimsical pendants with an "I Love You" message, which is perfect for the wives, sweethearts and mother's of your children. Please don't forget us!

A2Sea Creations Goes to the Nanaimo Waterfront Plaza

2010-04-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

Newfoundland to Nanaimo Gift Shop

Cheryl and I are both quite excited about this next step in our A2Sea journey. I am very proud of my dear friend and partner as she bravely approached the gift shops at the Nanaimo Waterfront, photo album in hand with pictures of our seaside creations, and single-handedly landed a contract with an excellent store on the Nanaimo waterfront. I cannot think of a more ideal place to sell our treasures, especially with the cruise ships coming in at the end of April. This is a wonderful break for us. Now we have much work to do seeing as the shop owner ordered a ton of handmade items from us. I am happy to say that our treasures should be on display by April 27th. And to think this all began with a few nautical Christmas ornaments that I made for the Christmas table for the Nanaimo Arts Council Gallery two Christmases ago. It just proves that you never know how life will surprise you and what turn it will take.

Cheryl and I began with selling our handcrafts online. Then we had our items in a little store in Coombs. Next we went to a few local fairs but we found that they were very hard on our poor old backs. But it was good we tried them because they gave us something to work towards, helped us work out kinks and network with others. Each step of our journey has taught us so much and has brought us so much closer to our goals. I know I have learned so much through all of this. And I could not have done it without my friend Cheryl. It has been such a joy working and creating with her and I hope to do it for a long time. We make an excellent team.

FREE GIFTS FROM A2SEA CREATIONS!

2010-04-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

FREE GIFT CERTIFICATE: Help us get the word out! Simply become a fan of A2Sea Creations on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, and you will receive a $5 Gift Certificate towards your next order! (You scratch our backs...we'll scratch yours!)

Either convo us on our site or email us: (micki@a2seacreations.com) telling us you have done this and we will email you your gift certificate right away. You may use it either toward your next order (of $25 or more) or give it as a gift. If it is for a gift, let us know and we will email it to the recipient of your choice.

For our Facebook and Twitter page button links, check out the right sidebar on our blog.

FREE SHIPPING: Do you live in the Nanaimo/Parksville/Coombs/Qualicum Beach areas? We will deliver your orders right to your door for FREE! Before making your purchase, simply let us know via our site or email us: (micki@a2seacreations.com) and we will create a special reserve listing for you, minus the shipping charges! Right neighbourly of us, don'tchya think?

Our New Seaside Serving Tray

2010-03-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

Cheryl and I decided to try our hands at some something brand new for A2Sea Creations. Here is our first seaside serving tray that we designed and handcrafted together. It can double as wall art by just adding a hanger on the back. It would make an ideal gift for a bride who is having a beach wedding, someone who lives near the ocean, or for anyone who loves the sea!

Our new seaside tray won't be for sale on our site, however, we hope to have a few for sale in a local gift shop. We shall see... if so, we will keep people posted here and on Facebook. For those of you on Facebook, here is our link... A2Sea Creations on Facebook. Please consider becoming 'A Fan' and help us spread the word! That would be much appreciated. Now, off to Oregon I go to see my son Matthew, his wife Cristina and my adorable grandson, Levi. Yay for me!

A Unique Souvenir from Vancouver Island, BC

2010-03-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was an amazing day... almost like summer. My hubby David had a great idea to go for a drive along our gorgeous coastline up to Courtenay and have brunch by the sea. We saw hundreds and hundreds of sea gulls because they always come in droves during herring season.

So after our yummy brunch, we walked along the seashore and we saw several seagull feathers along the beach so I decided to collect a bunch of them and do something fun with them. So this is what we, at A2Sea, put together... a 'Seagull Feather in a Bottle Souvenir'. I don't know about you but I am pretty bored with the usual souvenirs, namely spoons and mugs. So here is something completely different with a seaside twist!

I can't say I am very thrilled with snow visiting our island (what is that about?) but I am sure glad we got to enjoy that one, lovely summer-like day!

Something Brand New At A2Sea Creations

2010-03-10T22:13:00.000-08:00

Heavenly Seaside Beach Cottage Wreath

I just love wreaths. When I see a wreath up on someone's door, it says to me, "Welcome... come on in!" So finally I have made one and, the best part... it just oozes ocean!

To make this wreath, I needed to drill holes in the shells that hang down from the top. My hubby David helped me get started and I was on my way in no time. Now I want to drill holes in everything I can get my hands on! Especially if it has anything to do with the sea. I will have to make a large shell mobile one day soon as I just love them!

Because this was my first wreath, it took me a long while to get it just right. Mind you, I am so very picky and will fiddle with things to ad nauseam. I did have an idea of what I wanted to achieve, thanks to Cheryl's gift to me; a wreath how-to book. But having no real experience, except for making Christmas wreaths out of cedar boughs 100 years ago, I found that I continually had to play with it, coming back time and time again to adjust something or add more shells, or what have you. Finally I was happy with the finished product. And I love the feminine quality to it. I have a real fondness for shabby chic and this wreath certainly fits the bill. And what a lovely addition or gift for a wedding!

I will try my hand at various styles... perhaps one that is more rustic looking for the natural buffs. It would have the same kind of feel as our 'Washed Ashore - Rustic Bottle' we sold awhile back; one with primarily driftwood, seaweed and natural fishing net. The sea's the limit! And the sea has so much to offer. And we have so many ideas!

Something's Fishy at A2Sea Creations

2010-03-01T01:16:00.000-08:00

Fish Tales - Unique Tin Pendant With Pewter Starfish Charm

When it comes to designing new jewelry, I find it quite easy to be inspired by the sea. And it is such a satisfying feeling seeing someone wearing your design.

This is the newest addition to our online gift shop. There are a lot of ocean lovers out there, like ourselves, so our creations are appreciated all around the world... and that makes us pretty happy. Like music, the sea is something that so many of us have in common and it tends to draw us together. It is a magical place that holds so many wonderful memories for so many of us. And it's never quite the same... always new treasures to be found and collected. It's like a treasure hunt and who doesn't love those?

Well, now that we have posted this new jewelry design, what will be next, I wonder? I can hardly wait to find out!

I hope everyone has enjoyed the Olympics as much as Cheryl and I have. What an exciting time to be a Canadian, I must say! We are so proud.

New Beach Treasures at A2Sea Creations!

2010-02-21T11:45:00.000-08:00

Little Beach in a Bottle Magnet

Clam and Abalone Tealight Candle Holder

Oyster and Abalone Shell Tea Light Holder

Well, the creative juices are flowing once again at A2Sea Creations. Here are three of our newest seaside designs. What is really nice is that in each creation, we include beach treasures that we have collected ourselves. The Little Beach in a Bottle has seaweed that had been collected and dried in the oven (smells a little odd in my kitchen from time to time), the Clam and Abalone Tealight Candle Holder is set in a huge clam shell and embellished with real fish netting, both of which was cleaned and bleached in my sink, and the Oyster and Abalone Shell Tea Light Holder is nestled inside a ginourmous oyster shell from our very own Vancouver Island Beaches.

What is also neat is that many of our designs are so perfect for a beach-themed wedding. Or, for that matter, any bride who loves the sea.

We put a lot of time and care into the packaging end of the business because we want our customers to feel special and excited when they open their gift/order. And what some people do not realize, we will personalize our creations as much as possible. So if you are having a wedding, we will add a tag with the recipients' names and your wedding informaton, We will even wrap your treasures in clear cellophane and organza ribbon, if you so desire. In an age of big department stores with little to no customer service, this is a nice change that gives the recipient warm fuzzies.

Bottom line: we want to offer our customers an 'experience', not just make a sale.

AN OCEAN VIEW

2010-02-09T11:44:00.000-08:00

PREVIEW OF 'AN OCEAN VIEW'

A 32 Page Coffee Table Book by Vancouver Island Photographer, Micki Findlay

What a great journey this has all been for me. I had certain goals I wanted to achieve this year and having a book out was one of them. So to my surprise and amazement, I actually stayed focused long enough to stick to it and get it done. Now comes the time-consuming task of getting the word out wherever I can. Over the past few years, I have picked up all kinds of tips on how to do just that and I find I am on a constant learning curve. But I so enjoy the challenge and the great feeling of accomplishment I receive at the end of the day when I have attacked yet another goal, gotten over a hurdle and landed on the other side.

Everyone's 'Bucket List' is unique. But it is my opinion that everyone needs one. I think sometimes we get caught up in the mundane chores of everyday life and forget to dream. Sometimes we are simply too tired to go there. But I believe that no matter how hectic our lives are, if we have a dream, we need to find a way to inch towards it. I know what you're probably thinking... right... it's easy for her... she doesn't have a nine to five she has to go to every day. Her children are all grown up and she has the luxury of being able to stay home. You are so right. There is not a day goes by that I do not count my many blessings. I do manage to keep myself quite busy between Cheryl and my online gift shop, volunteering at the gallery and my singing telegrams. However, I do the bulk of the work from home. Anyhow, I digress. The point I am trying to make is, even if you do have a nine to fiver, a family and various responsibilities that tend to take up all your time and energy, (been there) don't lose sight of your dream in the midst of it all. Perhaps your goal list will need to be written in smaller increments over a longer duration of time. Or perhaps you need to find ways to be creative in fitting in your personal goals. You either have to suck the life out of life or it will suck the life out of you.

I read somewhere of a young man whose dream was to be a dancer. His nine to fiver was a parking lot toll booth operator. But he would not let his job deter him from his ultimate goal. So in-between cars, he would play music and practice his dance moves in his tiny cubicle! He had found a creative way to keep his dream alive. I do not know the end of that story but, irregardless of whether he went on to be a dancer, think of how much more fun work must have been for him because he dared to dream and not 'settle' for what he 'had to do' opposed to what he 'dreamed' of doing! Plus he would have had the wonderful feeling of accomplishment whenever he stepped foot on a dance floor.

I want to say thanks to all my family and friends who continue to support, encourage and believe in me. It is easy to soar when you have wings of love .

I am looking forward to another book on the horizon. It will be quite different from this one and... well... I won't let the cat out of the bag just yet. Have a great day everyone and don't forget to dream!

(Special thanks goes to my hubby David for his immense patience and belief in me, and also to my son Matt at Inerseshen Creative Media for all of the awesome things he has designed for me!)

MICKI'S PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW

2010-02-02T21:20:00.000-08:00

FEBRUARY FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW
NANAIMO ARTS COUNCIL GALLERY

Well I must say, this last two weeks has certainly been a whirlwind of activity for me. I had no idea that putting together a photography show would be so time-consuming and so much work! Not that I am complaining because it has also been fun. But all I can say is that sometimes I'm glad I have a distorted sense of reality because I might not be so quick to jump into these huge projects if I really understood what all they involved. But it's all ready now and open to the public. And I feel as though I could sleep for three days straight. Whew!

I had a wonderful start to my show... no sooner did I have it all hung when someone came in and purchased my most expensive piece right off the bat. I was so excited, flustered and taken aback, I completely forgot how to operate the debit machine! Boy did I feel dumb! But he was ever so gracious and patient and politely and quietly took the pad and swiped his own card, when he saw that I had taken leave of my senses and was clearly in crisis mode. Bless him. I am so glad my piece went to such a nice guy. Thank you Jason!

I would like to extend my gratitude to Odette at the Nanaimo Arts Council for her diligence in getting the word out about my show to the entire media. I have seen several newspaper articles, online ads and tomorrow, Shaw Cable Community TV will be coming to interview me while I am at the gallery. Although I realize this is a great opportunity for me to become better known in the arts community, I am not, in all honesty, looking forward to it. I truly hope I do not say something too stupid. Man oh man. I used to be on tv a great deal when I was the Salvation Army Community Services Director in the Cowichan Valley and I pretty much dreaded it every time back then, too. Ah well. I will just try and be myself. Maybe I should wear my clown costume.....? Or not.

Many thanks also to the hanging committee at the gallery (Gudrun, Marg and Gary) for their hard work, patience and input. And for those yummy muffins you brought to feed us Marg!

I would also like to thank my dear husband, David, who patiently and cheerfully put up with our house being turned upside down these last couple of weeks. The kitchen is the only room with enough light to do all my framing so for awhile there, we could not even see the floor. Two nights we ate take-out because it was too much of a challenge to cook in there. I love you David. Thank you for supporting and encouraging me in all this. You are the best.

Special thanks to my son, Matt at Inerseshen Creative Media, who designed my amazing banner and my logo, who printed up my business cards, gives me great ideas and advice and who constantly inspires me to not be afraid to put myself out there and to believe in myself. Both of my sons (Gord and Matt) encourage me to not limit myself and to 'go for it'. I watch them and see all that they have accomplished in their young lives, fearlessly, and I am constantly awed by their accomplishments. I could not be prouder of them. When I grow up I want to be like them.

I also want to thank my dear friend Cheryl (my A2Sea Creations' partner) for her constant belief in me and encouragement to excel in all that I do. And for telling others to come out and see my work. You are terrific.

And lastly, I want to say thank you to two gals in my neighbourhood who took the time to drive all the way to Nanaimo today to see my show and then come by my house to bring me a big, gorgeous bouquet of tulips and a card to congratulate me. So thank you Gloria and Trina. You made my day!

I am blessed with wonderful friends who have been so supportive of me - cheering me along as I pursue my passion. I am blessed.

A2Sea Creations On YouTube

2010-01-22T03:07:00.000-08:00

A2Sea Creations - Handcrafted Beach Inspired Treasures

Well, I must say, it took me quite awhile to put together this simple video as it was my first time using Windows Movie Maker, which I downloaded off the internet, and my first time uploading a video to YouTube. And it only took me until 2:30 in the morning! LOL I am nothing, if not persistent! But when I think of the vast array of things I have learned since Cheryl and I decided to open our online gift shop, I am aware that most of it I learned between 10 at night and 3 in the morning. I suppose I am a bit of a night owl, although I haven't stayed up this late for quite awhile. I am going to be very sorry tomorrow as I try to get a million things done in preparation for my big photography show at the Nanaimo Arts Council Gallery in February. Ah well... my own fault.

So Cheryl and I had our first A2Sea Creations meeting a few days ago to plan where we would like to concentrate our efforts this year. I am excited about our plans and am looking forward to focusing on our new goals. One thing we will be doing is putting together a photo album of our creations to show to prospective buyers. So today I discovered I could actually print off some beautiful photos right on my home printer. I found some photo paper that had come with my printer and after a few oopses and boo-boos, I finally figured out how to print on 4x6 photo paper. Even my hubby, who tends not to make a big deal out of things, expressed real surprise at the quality of the photos. Who knew? I learn something new every day.

Well, now that it's 3:30 in the morning, I really must go to bed. I keep forgetting how old I am and much I am going to regret this in the morning! Oops... it is the morning.

Learning New Things

2010-01-11T00:42:00.001-08:00

Beachcomber's Bounty - Earthy Jewelry Set

A very popular pendant fashion at the moment are the longer styles. And even more popular are the ones you can adjust to any length. There is a store in Coombs that is interested in carrying my jewelry but asked if I could just change the cords to the slip knot style. I said I would give it a try.

So, with some help from my hubby, (he was a boy scout, way back when) I managed to learn the technique and posted one on our Etsy site. I love to learn new things... except for those painful moments when you are all thumbs and think you will never get the hang of it. But it's such a good feeling when you finally master something and see the finished product.

My next challenge is to start drilling holes through sea glass and seashells with my dremel tool. I've watched some videos and my dear hubby has offered to give me a hand. This will open the door to creating so many more wonderful jewelry pieces.

I have a sense of excitement about this year. I have made up my mind to do some things I have only talked about up till now. If I can't do them on my own, I will find help. The possibilities are endless and I am up for it.

So keep an eye out for our new jewelry and nautical treasures we will be posting soon on A2Sea Creations!

Feature Photography Show - Micki Findlay

2010-01-06T02:36:00.000-08:00

I am quite excited to announce that, for all of February 2010, my photography will be featured at the Nanaimo Arts Council Gallery in the Nanaimo North Town Centre (formerly known as the Rutherford Mall). There will be something for every taste, any budget and a variety of framed photos, unframed/matted photos, greeting cards and even some of my handcrafted jewelry.

Although I have had my work at the gallery for over a year, this is my first ever feature show so hence, my excitement. It didn't really hit me until I put my first poster up and then it started to sink in! It will be a good challenge for me and will help me to keep striving to learn, grow and excel in my craft. Photography has become a real passion for me. Although I have never taken a class in photography, I would like to because the more I learn, the more exciting the possibilities!

My new coffee table book will also be on display showing some of my work that may not be on display at the gallery. Photos in my book are also for sale on order and can be matted and/or framed to suit your home colour scheme. If you would like a preview of my work go to www.thesingingphotographer.com If you wish to order directly from my website but you live in the Nanaimo/Parksville/Qualicum area, simply contact me, either through my site or by email, and I will create a special listing for you minus the shipping costs. I can then deliver your order right to your door, if you like.

If you decide to come by the gallery for the show, you may do so anytime but, if you want to visit as well, I will be there every Wednesday from 1:30 to 5:30 throughout the month of February. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

Cheryl and I would like to wish everyone a very happy new year filled with love, joy, friends and exciting new adventures! It's time again to start creating more nautical treasures with my dear friend. Our creating has been on hiatus due to the Christmas holidays but we will be back on track very soon. God bless! Micki

The Magic of Winter

2009-12-15T07:41:00.000-08:00

'WINTER WALK' - PHOTOART BY MICKI FINDLAY

It is so pretty outside today... our Christmas lights glow with their magical hues against the perfect white backdrop of our very first snowfall this year. Everything is so quiet and peaceful. I have some Christmas baking to do today and what a perfect day for it! I wonder if we will have a white Christmas this year? I can always dream. One would think that my eight years in Mackenzie BC would have cured me of that desire, but not so. Although I must admit, six months of snow is a bit much. I am glad to be living on Vancouver Island.

My sons, Gordon and Matthew, loved the winters in Mackenzie, however. They were just little boys and did not seem to notice or care that they went on for so long. I recall the snow forts they built and the numerous tunnels we shoveled to make a 'maze' of sorts through the entire front yard. It was a magical time for them as they played endlessly in the snow, decked out from head to toe in various layers of clothes, snowsuits, scarves, toques, mittens and winter boots. I always dreaded when they would have to come in to go to the bathroom because it seemed to take forever to undress and redress them for the brutal cold. Some days it felt like that was all I did all day! But they could not play outside all the time because Mackenzie can get down to 40 below at times. You didn't go anywhere on those days unless you absolutely had to. So as fun as it was for my boys, I am glad to be back here on the island alright. Brrrrr!......

I am almost done my Christmas shopping... only a couple more things to buy. Our house is all decorated and ready for David's son, daughter and their partners to come and celebrate with us on Christmas Eve. I still cannot figure out how I managed to stuff a Christmas tree in my little Hyundai but I did. That car has certainly served me well, although it is sounding pretty rough these days. I have loaded everything in that car including loads of firewood!

I hope that this Christmas is extra special for everyone this year. I am saddened to hear of various Christmas school concerts that have completely bypassed the whole Christmas message. I know that has been happening for quite awhile now, as far as the baby Jesus is concerned. But I am told that now there isn't even an elf or a jingle bell! And they are now called 'Winter Concerts'. Hmmm..... political correctness seems to be our modern day 'Scrooge' and it is sapping the life, joy and magic right out of the season. How ridiculous!

Well I will not let Scrooge get me down! Merry Christmas everyone! And a very happy new year!

Luke 2:9-12
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Neighbourhood Craft & Garage Sale This Weekend!

2009-11-24T08:09:00.000-08:00

You are invited to join in the fun...

get warm by the fire, roast a hot dog, slurp on some yummy hot chocolate with marshmallows, listen to carols, do some Christmas shopping, get some bargains and visit all at the same time! Several other homes from our neighbourhood have joined in with us to have a Craft and Garage Sale.... crafts for those looking for new and unique Christmas gift ideas and a garage sale for those looking for some great 2nd hand bargains. So, in other words, something for everyone!

Last year, after David and I moved into the neighbourhood, we put on a big Halloween open house so we could get to know our neighbours in a fun way. We had hot chocolate, hot dogs, cake, chips (all the healthy stuff) and lots of decorations and a campfire. We missed that this year because David had to work straight through the weekend. Poor guy. So it will be nice to have a chance to get together with folks again and enjoy the season together! Hope you can come out, too!

Christmas Bazaar This Friday!

2009-11-16T12:29:00.001-08:00

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR THIS FRIDAY!

A2Sea Creations has been invited to a local Christmas Bazaar this Friday. Come and get into the spirit and get your Christmas shopping done at the same time! Hope to see you there!

Date: Friday, November 20, 2009
Time: 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Locations: Eagle Park Health Care Facility, 777 Jones St, Qualicum Beach, BC

Click on the map for map link:

Remembrance Day Service in Victoria, BC

2009-11-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

'LEST WE FORGET'

Yesterday my hubby and I traveled down to Victoria, BC to visit his daughter and her boyfriend. While we were there, we went to the Parliament Buildings and took in the Remembrance Day service. It was a beautiful day and a lovely service. Turns out that close to 10 thousand people showed up. I was very encouraged to see so many businesses closed, some with a sign in the door stating they were closed in honour of the fallen soldiers. Thank goodness that many people still remember and honour those soldiers. But it was mostly all the smaller businesses, not the bigger companies. And it is the bigger companies that can well afford to close their doors for the day.

I had started a Facebook page boycotting my favorite store because I had received an email update from them saying they would be open on November 11. I felt compelled to let them know how I felt about their decision and I wanted others to know as well, so that they may also be motivated to tell the stores they frequent that it is not acceptable. As long as customers shop on Remembrance/Veteran's Day and do not speak up, the stores will continue to stay open. Sadly, money talks. It is my hope that amidst our drive for so-called 'progress', growth and big business, we will not forget the very reason we are able to enjoy and celebrate the important things that have made our country what it is; namely freedom, democracy and a sense of community. Perhaps my boycotting effort will not, in and of itself, make a significant difference, but I am hopeful that in doing so, I may have ignited a spark in others to do the same in their communities and let the stores know how they feel. If we continue to shop on that day, the stores will stay open; supply and demand.

I feel strongly that if something is important to us, we need to make it known. And our children desperately need role models. If we as parents take a stand, our children will learn what is really important to us and what is worth believing in. Just as we honour the veterans who have been our heroes, let us be heroes to our children. None of us are perfect parents, myself included. But our children don't need us to be perfect... they need us to give them something to believe in. Something bigger than ourselves. Thank you to all those who gave their lives to give us freedom.

More New Wedding Accessories at A2Sea!

2009-10-30T13:29:00.001-07:00

Elegant Ivory Seashell and Rose - Bridal Bouquet and Boutonniere

I am quite excited about our new wedding line in our gift shop at A2Sea Creations. At the moment we have our first bridal bouquet with matching boutonniere, as well as our Ocean and Lace Wedding Cake Server Set and our Earth and Sea Bridal Hair Clip . We plan to keep creating and adding to our shop so be sure to check in from time to time!

When I got married to my David, I made almost everything, with the help of my matron of honour and very dear friend, DonnaLee. It was a satisfying feeling as I watched our creativity unfold and I loved customizing our handiwork to fit with my tastes and preferences. Fortunately, DonnaLee has the same tastes as I do, for the most part... we both love the Victorian look. We spent quite a few days working together making my bridal bouquet, my ostrich feather pen, all the corsages and boutonnieres, the flower girl's basket, the birdcage centerpieces... my kitchen became our little workshop. It was fun and created many memorable moments for us both.

Creating, for me, is non-negotiable. I must create to feel balanced . And it is very important to me to do quality work and not just slap something together. Perhaps that means I will never be rich but, oh well. Richness of the heart is something one cannot buy with money. I tend to be a slow worker but in the end, I am pleased with what I have created. Everything Cheryl and I sell in our shop has been made with the utmost care and attention to detail. We would have it no other way.

Well, it's almost Halloween and I am ready for all the little goblins and ghosts. All the goody bags are packed and my eerie music is ready, the skeletons are hung and... oh oh... I almost forgot the cobwebs! That will never do! Happy Halloween everyone! OOooooooo.........!!!!

Something New at A2Sea!

2009-10-23T10:56:00.001-07:00

Earth and Sea - Beach Wedding Bridal Hair Clip

A2Sea Creations has just posted our first hair accessory and there will be more coming very soon. We will be creating several designs from rustic and earthy to more traditional and frilly; all sea-inspired, of course. This beachcombed hair clip may be worn any time, of course, but it was especially designed with the nature-loving-no-frills-bride in mind.

We love to receive ideas from our viewers and customers so email us: micki@a2seacreations.com, or leave a comment here and tell us what you would like to see us create! Is there something specific you are looking for? Is there someone you have in mind that you'd like us to design a gift for? Let us know and we'll be happy to try and accommodate you! Christmas is closer than you think!

Have a great day everyone and remember to take time to walk along the beach!

Our Online Shop Featured in Cafe Handmade!

2009-10-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

FEATURE STORY IN CAFE HANDMADE

In the Studio with Micki and Cheryl, A2Sea Creations

October 14, 2009

We are two creative friends who reside on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC, Canada; Cheryl in Nanaimo, I in Coombs. Our adventure began with me designing a beach-themed, glass ball ornament for our local art gallery’s Christmas table in 2008. They sold like hotcakes so Cheryl and I got to thinking that we ought to make and sell more. So what began with a little ornament, soon ballooned into whatever our creative brains could think up; from ‘Nautical Notepads’, to ‘Mermaid Catchers’, Seaside ‘Treasure Boxes’ to our ‘Beach Under Glass Candleholders’, beach-themed jewelry to ‘Message in Bottles’, ‘Seaview Décor Mirrors’ and more. We hadn’t taken any crafting classes… we just went with our creative instincts and before we knew it, we had shelves and shelves full of seaside treasures!

At the beginning of our venture, Cheryl and I worked at my kitchen table. This was far from ideal as my kitchen was soon taken over by seashells, driftwood, raffia, sea glass, moss, sand you name it. What a mess! It was clear that we needed to figure out a better solution. So my rarely-used guest room became our craft room. We had planned to put up shelving but when we priced out the materials, it was not an option. So our Plan B was to buy several tall, inexpensive bookshelves and a long, fold-up work table… one that we could also bring to local craft fairs.

Cheryl and I have a sort of ritual, you could say. She comes here in the morning and I put on the coffee (only good coffee, I might add… very important to the process!) and we bring out the Bailey’s and we munch on my yummy, homemade granola bars. Music is also a very fundamental part of our creative process. We usually listen to the 70’s channel on cable and sing along (badly) to all the words that we remember (which aren’t many and usually the same). As far as setting a specific time to work, this is always a challenge because we both have very unpredictable schedules. I have a singing telegram business (http://www.tickleberrytelegrams.com/) and Cheryl works part-time in a thrift store and as a house/pet sitter (‘U-Petcha’). So we aim for once a week to come together, while working on our own in between, whenever possible. Summer…well that’s another story. Our work has been pretty much on hiatus due to vacations, family and friends. But we do have a craft fair coming up, so we have been making a few things for that as well as our online store.

We take pride in the fact that we use primarily local, organic, recycled, upcycled & eco-friendly materials that we collect with our own little hands. We work with beach-combed items such as seashells, sea glass and driftwood. Even seaweed! It is not unusual to see my kitchen sink full of soaking seashells and my oven full of drying seaweed. Interesting smells come out of my kitchen! Cheryl and I are in love with the ocean so it only stands to reason that we would enjoy working with natural materials the ocean provides. It is a pleasure to go walking on the seashore while discovering what new treasures we can find and utilize!

Cheryl and I sell our products online in our Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/A2SeaCreations. I am also a photographer so I opened another Etsy online store which can be found at http://www.thesingingphotographer.com/ We also sell our seaside treasures at local craft fairs and a store in Coombs, here on the island. I also sell my photography in the Nanaimo Arts Council Gallery.

Humans need two things; connection and a sense of self-worth. Buying and selling handmade provides both; the artist receives the validation that comes with selling something they have designed and a relationship is formed as the buyer communicates directly with the artist in the customizing of their desired item. The buyer becomes more than just a customer; they are a supporter of the artist’s work and vision. Handmade products come with a personal history and unique story and buying handmade creates a sense of community with people from all around the world. These dynamics are lost in the world of large scale manufacturing.

It would be great to expand, but not so much that we lose the joy of creating for fun. Cheryl and I will likely keep creating for as long as we are able. We have not looked that far into the future as we both tend to live in the moment as much as we can, enjoying the process and our friendship. As a photographer, I am continually learning new techniques and trying out new processes so that I might keep growing in my art.

Vibrance Competition at Nanaimo Arts Council Gallery

2009-09-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

'Visione di Domani' - PhotoArt by Micki Findlay

Well, time is ticking by so fast with so much to do! Welcome to my world... self-inflicted of course.

Before I go to Hawaii (yes I am going to Hawaii! How cool is that?) I want to enter the fall competition at the Nanaimo Arts Council Gallery and this photo will be one of my entries. It did not occur to me, until a few days after I had finished it, that the colours were perfect for fall! I do have a knack for missing the obvious! Anyhow, 'Visione di Domani' means 'Vision of Tomorrow' in Italian. I felt it needed a rather romantic, mysterious name so my son, Gord, helped me with some great ideas. Thanks Gord! This piece is the beginning of, what I hope to be, many more. It is also for sale on our A2Sea Photography site. If you are artistic, you may be interested in checking out the Nanaimo Arts Council Gallery and perhaps enter your own work! They always have a ton of competitions and events going on!

Our two Etsy shops will be closed for a couple of weeks and will re-open again on October 5th, 2009. We apologize for any inconvenience. Our booth, however, will be down at the Nanaimo Farmer's Market on September 29th from 10 am to 3 pm, down by the waterfront on Front Street beside the Bastion. I will not be there but Cheryl will be, along with her friend Janice who will be helping. Be sure to check our booth out, even if to just visit with us and have some fun! Keep in mind that Christmas will be here before you know it and we have so many great gift ideas and stocking stuffers!

I hope everyone is having an amazing summer! I know I am.

NAME THE PHOTO CONTEST!

2009-09-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

THIS PHOTO NEEDS A TITLE - PHOTOART BY MICKI FINDLAY

Lately, I have been enamoured with layering in photography. It just gives the images a wonderful artistic, mysterious mood that I am so attracted to. The only problem is, I need to learn how to do it in Photoshop because it is quite time-consuming on the archaic computer program that I use. So my goal in the very near future, without fail, must be to tackle that hurdle.

This latest photo of mine is a mix of two different photos I had taken, which I brought all together with a palette of colour and textures in the background. I have a "Name the Photo" Contest going on at present on Facebook. If you would like to participate, click here. Or, if you like, just enter your suggested title here on our blog in the comment section. The winner receives a matted, ready-to-frame 8x10 of the photo. One entry per person please. The contest closes on September 15th at 12:00 am.

When you enter your suggested title for the photo, also let me know if you have a link you wish advertised as I will do so on our blog should you win. Good luck everyone!

TICKLEBERRY STRIKES AGAIN!

2009-09-04T12:37:00.001-07:00

TICKLEBERRY TELEGRAMS - ALL-OCCASION CUSTOMIZED SINGING TELEGRAMS

For those of you don't know, besides A2Sea Creations, I also perform Singing Telegrams. I have a singing telegram to perform in Duncan this Saturday, in fact. The poor girl! She has no idea what's coming!

I recall my very first singing telegram. Few people know how it all started. Well, I'll just tell you!

It all began in Mackenzie BC, back in the fall of 1980, when a mother of a friend of mine called me up and asked if I had ever performed a singing telegram. I hadn't. So she asked me if I would consider doing one for her daughter's birthday. She wanted this birthday to be very special and unique. I told her I would try but I couldn't promise anything, seeing as her birthday was that very day!!!

So I spent the next hour hunting and scrounging up anything I could find that, if put together, might resemble a clown costume. And seeing as it was my friend I, too, wanted it to be special. So I wrote down as many things as I could about my friend. I took those notes and made rhymes for it all. Then I proceeded to put the poem to music, utilizing a song I had already written considering my time was so short.

So somehow, by some miracle, I managed to get it all together by 8:00 that evening. I arrived at my friend's door with guitar in hand, a funny outfit, a big grin and I sang her a song all about her. She loved it and was deeply moved, actually!

MY VERY FIRST CLOWN OUTFIT (Dig the eyebrows! And so skinny! Sigh..)

Word soon got around (small town) and the next thing I knew, I had another gig! The only problem was, I had come down with laringytis! What bad luck! But I figured I'd better go anyways because if I cancelled, that would have been worse for my reputation. So I managed to croak out my song. Next thing you know (as if things could get worse) my clown nose fell off and rolled under the restaurant table! Good grief! Well, much to my amazement, everyone thought it was part of the act, as I am under the table trying to rescue my nose, and they are laughing like crazy! And no one seemed to care or notice how terrible I was singing!

So I continued doing telegrams and I soon found myself singing in the post office, in stores, pubs, homes, convention centres... once, I even found myself singing down at a log boom!

I am quite picky about my telegrams... I love making them very personalized and unique for each person. I so enjoy making people laugh. I will probably do it until I 'croak'! In fact, I saw this tv documentary where they showed a headstone you can buy that laughs as you walk by it. Talk about having the 'last laugh'! I gotta have one of those!

I also compose and record wedding songs for couples. It brings me a lot of satisfaction to be able to take part in a couple's lives in such a special, memorable and personal way.

A2SEA COMES TO EBAY!

2009-09-02T23:57:00.000-07:00

Today we, at A2Sea Creations, brought our seaside treasures to eBay for the first time! We wanted to combine our intense love for the sea with our appreciation for vintage designs. So we combined the two in our new and delightful 'Vintage Inspired Seaside Glass Pendant'. And the best part is, you can pick out your favorite design out of all the wonderful choices of vintage pictures we have on display! So cool! Click on the picture below to view larger and click here to see our eBay listing. Perhaps you'd like to even place a bid!!

At our online shop, we create and sell unique, beautifully handcrafted, ocean-inspired treasures designed to bring the West Coast into your home. We take pride in the fact that we use primarily local, organic, recycled, upcycled & eco-friendly materials that we collect with our own little hands from the beaches of Vancouver Island, BC. Canada. We bleach all the shells we collect, wash the driftwood and dry it with the seaweed in my oven (interesting smell!) It is truly a labour of love and we love what we do. Wish us luck on eBay and tell your friends and family!

Playing Tourist

2009-08-28T21:31:00.000-07:00

'MOON SHELLS' - PHOTOART BY MICKI FINDLAY

I love this island. No matter how many times I explore, I always find something new and wonderful. I have been asked by my relatives on the mainland why we don't move there and save ourselves the ferry expense. I tried that once and was miserable. My heart is here and always will be.

I spent this Wednesday with a dear friend and we just hopped in the car and went wherever the spirit moved us. We found a fantastic art gallery in Union Bay called 'Sea-Change Open Studio'. My friend and I were amazed at the unique and innovative creations we saw there, all hand-fashioned by a very talented husband and wife team. The outside is even amazing with funky chairs fashioned out of driftwood and whimsical and dramatic sculptures made from scavenged beach items and clay. What a treat! This photo of the moon shells was taken there. I hope to post a few more from there in the near future.

So we kept on driving, stopping at anything that tweaked our interest. When we talked about whether we should turn around and come home, we decided we weren't quite ready to so off we travelled right up to Campbell River. I discovered that I love Campbell River and realized that I hadn't even been there before. It's a much larger town than I had thought it would be with ocean views, boats and fishing everywhere you go. Definitely my kind of place.

I do love this island and I plan to stay here for a long, long time.

The Sea and Me

2009-08-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

'NIGHT FLIGHT' - PHOTOART BY MICKI FINDLAY

What is it about the sea that draws us? There is a serenity, a peace and a sense of freedom that is difficult to find in our man-made, hectic, noisy world we have created. And have you ever noticed that when you go walking along the ocean, that people smile at you? It's as if the sea washes away the barriers between people... it fills us with something bigger than ourselves and our problems.

The sea is a magic place and I think that somehow we are closer to our Creator there. Not because God is any more there than anywhere else. But because we are away from the multitude of voices and distractions that clutter our minds; where we can actually hear and feel God in the purity of the ocean air and the calming sound of the waves rolling in. The ocean reminds me of music for music has the same magic in the way it can reach down into our very souls and break down human barriers.

Perhaps the sea is not where you feel and hear God. Maybe it is in the forest. Perhaps right in your garden. Wherever it may be, I think we do ourselves a great disservice when we do not find that place and somehow fit it into our busy, distracted lives and recharge ourselves; find peace and joy.

Just some thoughts for the day. Have a good one!