Catching Up and New Treasures

I just realized that my last blog post was last August.  Oh my!  Apparently, blogging is not my strong suit.  Not that I don't like to write... I do!  But my writing has taken a turn in another direction.  I have been encouraged by many a friend, over the years, to write my life story.  So that's exactly what I started doing.  I have seven stories written and I am working on three more.  I get distracted easily so working on more than one seems to work best for me.  Should I ever be published, I will be sure to blog about THAT because I will be too excited not to!

As for my life at A2Sea Creations, it is still going strong.  I just finished a humungous order for the wonderful 'Newfoundland to Nanaimo Gift and Souvenir Shop' on the Nanaimo Harbour.  Ninety items... whew!  Here they are...

And here is a close-up of the new nautical bottles I designed especially for the 'Newfoundland to Nanaimo Gift and Souvenir Shop' - handpainted by yours truly.

I never tire of creating new, nautical treasures.  I wonder what I will make next?  Who knows?  Sometimes I don't even know myself! 

A2Sea Creations Loses a Ship Mate

Well, a few of you may know that my co-partner Cheryl has left A2Sea Creations.  But there are no hard feelings, whatsoever.  In fact, Cheryl and I are still the very best of friends and always will be. But with her gone several months of the year, it is no longer practical. However, I am sure she will keep on collecting shells and such for me.  She is the 'Sherlock Holmes' of finding nautical treasures.

It's difficult to believe that we started A2Sea Creations together six years ago!  The time seems to have flown by and that is probably because we have had so much fun creating things together.  They say that 'laughter is the best medicine' and I believe it!  We have certainly done our share of laughing together.  Cheryl does this 'thing' with moon shells... well... you'd have to see it to understand.

I recall our humble beginnings, creating at my kitchen table.  What a mess that made!  Then we moved to my guest room.  That was fine until I had guests!  Finally, we moved everything out to my workshop.  My husband, David, kindly allowed us take over the space and reduce him to a very small corner... the only spot that isn't messy, I might add.  Bless that dear, patient man.

Cheryl and I did the craft markets for awhile... it was fun, but not lucrative enough for all the work it entailed.  This is a photo of Cheryl pretending to be 'Vanna White' at the Errington Farmer's Market.

We tried a few more markets... one was, what one might consider, a disaster!  We were invited to bring our wares to a local marine swap meet.  Sounded like a great opportunity, right?  Wrong!  We were the only ones there that sold 'girly stuff'!   Everyone else was selling things like greasy boat parts and motors from the tailgates of their trucks!  LOL.  But the upside is, it had motivated us to make a whole bunch of new and different nautical creations and get some experience in setting up a craft table.  I always try to find the positive spin on things.  Plus, I got to hold a parrot that day!

Cheryl and I eventually made a decision not to do any more markets once we started selling our handmade products in local gift shops.  That is, until I talked her into doing one last one... 'Etsy Made in Canada Day'.  Being the team captain of the Vancouver Island Etsy Team, I felt it would be a good thing to get involved in, as this was a 'first'.  I helped promote it and we had our own table as well. Although it wasn't a huge money maker for us, we got to meet several of our VI team members in person, which was lovely.  Out of that came some great friendships and connections.  And again, it motivated Cheryl and I to create some new beach treasures.

It has been a wonderful 'nautical ride' with my friend and co-partner, Cheryl.  Although it wasn't always 'smooth sailing', we learned a lot about what to do, what not to do, what sells, where it sells best and, above all, we had a great time working together.  This is a photo of Cheryl and I displaying our wares at the Newfoundland to Nanaimo Gift and Souvenier shop on the harbour in Nanaimo, BC. The photo below was taken by the local newspaper after we had raised over $10,000 for Japan for the earthquake / tsunami disaster relief in 2011, with the help of the Vancouver Island Etsy Team and other local artisans.  

The Newfoundland to Nanaimo gift shop is our best venue for selling our creations and, if you haven't been, it's well worth visiting. It is a wonderful shop chock full of nautical yumminess and many fabulous items made by local artisans. Say hi to Esther for us and tell her we sent you!

Thank you Cheryl for making A2Sea Creations so fun, for making me laugh, for giving me confidence, for believing in me, and for being so unafraid to try anything.  You've been an awesome 'ship mate', a wonderful travelling buddy and I will always be thankful for you and our friendship.  

Love... your 'ship mate - Mickers'.  

Looking back on 2014

As I ponder 2014, there are so many things that made this year so special and memorable.  Nothing particularly elaborate or impressive.  But special, nonetheless.

What I have learned personally is the true value of friendship and the need people have for one another.  In this day and age, we have more ways of communicating than ever, and yet, many of us... (dare I say most?) are glued to our mobile devices and online social networks.  Thanks to the internet we can connect instantaneously and yet, there are still so many lonely people removed from vital human contact and companionship.  I am a prime example of computer excessiveness.  But over the last few months, I have found myself pulling away more and more from the computer and craving physical connection.  I made a point of inviting friends to our home over the holidays and I must say, I am all the better for it.

At the beginning of the holidays, I was feeling inexplicably down in the dumps.  I could not pinpoint the reason, really.  Perhaps it was a combination of not being able to visit my Oregon family this year, missing my dad who passed away not long ago, and my business partner taking off to her winter home, hence, missing her friendship, laughter and the joy of creating together.  Throw in a couple of funerals into the mix, a little menopause and blam!  Who knows?  Anyhow, for whatever reason, I could not get into the spirit of the season.  A friend commented how she was concerned to hear that I had only just put up my Christmas tree on December 14th, as she knows how early I normally have everything decorated.

Anyhow, I needed to somehow change how I was feeling.  Who needs a 'grumpy gus' at Christmas?  So I threw myself into spending time with friends and doing a few special things for people.  I enjoyed a fabulous Christmas tea with a couple of my gal pals at our favourite cafe in Qualicum Beach... Cafe Brie.  Another time I made some Christmas goodies and little gifts for the staff where I work.  I invited a neighbour over who I knew was going to be alone over the holidays.  Anyhow... you get the idea.  What I soon discovered was, I was feeling better; decorating, baking, and becoming my old self again.

So the moral of the story... when I start to do things for other people, I stop thinking about myself so much.  When I concentrate on finding ways to make others happy, I can't help but become happier myself.   Humans need each other... we need connection, we need purpose, we need to make a difference.  When we reach out, we change.  It's simple, really.

On that note, my hubby and I were invited out for a Christmas Eve get together, as well as a Christmas day brunch with friends.  So we were blessed by others as well. 

As for A2Sea Creations, we are now into our seventh year.  Who knew?   In September, we were heavily involved in the first ever 'Etsy Made In Canada Day' held in cities across Canada.  It was a privilege to take part and to meet so many wonderfully friendly and talented Vancouver Island artisans.

Cheryl and I have learned a lot over the years and have been blessed by our wonderful, loyal customers.  We also value the friendships we have made along the way.  We would like to take a moment to thank Esther of Newfoundland to Nanaimo and Patti at the Parksville Tourist Centre for continuing to carry our seaside creations and appreciating our work.  It's been a pleasure ladies.

Happy New Year to all of our friends, family and customers.  We wish you all only the best life has to offer. 

 Micki of A2Sea Creations - Etsy Made in Canada Day

Cheryl of A2Sea Creations - Etsy Made in Canada Day

We Are Now In Six Towns!

Cheryl and I are very pleased to announce that our handmade seaside products are now in six towns here on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada;  Errington, Parksville, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Cedar and Chemainus!  If you are in any of these areas, be sure to drop into these wonderful gift shops and look for our beach gifts…  in Errington at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre; in Parksville at the Tourist Centre; in Nanaimo at ‘Newfoundland to Nanaimo’ on the harbourfront; in Ladysmith, Cedar and Chemainus - at the 49th Parallel stores in their floral/gift departments.  The floral department in Ladysmith is actually a separate shop from the grocery store.  Cheryl and I were so impressed with all the beautiful gifts for sale there.  It is called 'Bloooms Flower Shoppe'.

Turns out, our products made it into this week’s 49th Parallel flyer… (they spelled our business name incorrectly but oh well… it’s still very cool.  LOL)

It is a very nice feeling to have your handiwork appreciated and wanted in stores.  It’s also a good feeling to walk into a store and see your products on the shelves.  Yay!

A Perfect Day on the Quay

I must say, it's a little embarrassing to see that my last blog post was in January.  Dear me!  I have been so focused on my weight loss blog that I have neglected this one.  My apologies to my partner in crime, Cheryl, and to anyone who may have wanted to see what we've been up to.  I will have to find a way to organize my time better.  (Yeah... right Micki)

We just did up a hefty order for the delightful little nautical shop on the Nanaimo Harbourfront - Newfoundland to Nanaimo.  For a small shop, they sure have got a nautical mile of wonderful items in there from jewelry to souveniers, home decor to local pottery, you name it.  In fact, if you live in central Vancouver Island, the Nanaimo Harbour Quay is a great place to bring your out-of-town guests to get a feel for our beautiful coast.  Stop in the nautical shop, then go to the Lighthouse Bistro for a delicious lunch, or just enjoy a drink in the bar on their outside patio. (Not too long ago, Cheryl took me for a belated birthday lunch at the Lighthouse Bistro and it was delicious... and what a treat to eat right over the water!)  Then, check out the various boats in the marina and do some more shopping for souveniers and local gifts.  Finish off the day with a yummy ice cream waffle cone or savour some old-fashioned candy of yesteryear.  You can even take a ferry ride over to Newcastle Island.  Perfect day in the making.

Here are a few examples of our beachy gift items we have at Newfoundland to Nanaimo...  Say hi to Esther for us when you visit!

A2SeaCreations.com

Christmas Is Fast Approaching

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.

Our Journey

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...

A2Sea Creations Goes to the Nanaimo Waterfront Plaza

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.