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Wreath & Floral Crown Workshops At Bird On A Wire Creations

19 May

BouquetsByMaryWe recently stopped in at Bird On A Wire Creations in Mount Pleasant. If you don’t know the store, it is a great artisanal gift shop located at 2535 Main Street near Broadway. We noted a few personal favourite artisans in store, but what was hard to miss was a colourful display  of flowers in the corner of the store which we learnt was Bouquets by Mary.  On some Saturdays, you will find Mary Kelava hosting a small Pop Up Shop with stunning bouquets available for very reasonable prices. The bouquets we saw featured were $25 and beautiful.  What we also learnt is that Mary will be conducting some floral workshops at Bird On A Wire Creations in June.   We’ve set out the two upcoming workshops below:

Living Wreath Workshop – June 4th

You will learn how to make a succulent living wreath in a 2 hour class which runs from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at a cost of $55 which includes all the materials.  You can book your spot by calling Bird On A Wire Creations at T:  604.315.1188 or by booking online at Bird On A Wire.

Floral Crown Workshop – June 11th

Have a wedding come up? Well these would be a great idea for the bride to be whether for the actual day or for her wedding shower. On June 11th, learn how to make a floral crown. Everything will be provided for you.  Cost of this class is also $55 and also runs from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.

If you are interested in the Floral Pop Up shops and picking up some stunning flowers, note Mary is not in store every Saturday and we hear she won’t be there over the upcoming long weekend, but she will be back on May 28th.

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The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread – The Jean Hanger Being Designed At MakerLabs

18 May

JeanHangerSomething very cool has been happening at MakerLabs in East Vancouver. This creative co-operative hub space is currently home to another innovation.  Steven Sal Debus, a Vancouver designer, has been working on a new product idea and prototype, specifically the Jean Hanger.  His initial steps with his new design were met with quick success.  He recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise a funding goal of $20,000 to cover his initial costs which goal he reached in under 48 hours.

So what is the Jean Hanger?  The Jean Hanger is made for yes, you guessed it jeans. It is one solid piece of  beech wood with no moving parts, but allows for easy hanging by the belt loops of your jeans.  As we know, putting jeans in the dyer, shortens the life span, so the Jean Hangar can be used for drying your jeans as well as hanging them right into the closet.  Steven Sal Debus believes that nothing needs to be created unless it solves a problem.  He hopes to use the proceeds from a successful crowdfunding campaign to launch a design company dedicated to building smarter products that save time and conserve energy. Steven’s aim now that he’s recovered his initial design costs is to raise $100,000 to launch his design company at MakerLabs.  If you would like to learn more about Steven’s Kickstarter campaign and the Jean Hangar, we invite you to check out Kickstarter-Jean Hanger.  Last check we made, Steven had 888 backers and has raised over $50,000 so he is well on his way. Of course, we think it’s great to see so much support for this local designer.  The kickstarter campaign runs till June 17th, we invite you to check out the best thing since sliced bread.

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Vancouver Brewery Tours Starts Walking Tours In Brewery Creek

17 May

VBTLogoAre you interested in getting a little fresh air and tasting a little craft beer along the way? Well Vancouver Brewery Tours has just announced a new tour that combines these two things perfectly, the Walking Tour of Brewery Creek. This area of Vancouver plays host to some great up-and-coming breweries and at the turn of the century, was in fact a vibrant local brewery scene. It now is home to Main Street Brewing, Brassneck Brewery and many others.  You can now explore this area on a guided tour which starts off at CRAFT Beer Market in the heart of the Olympic Village. From there, you will walk to Main Street Brewing, Brassneck Brewery and R&B Brewing (soon be R&B Pizza and Alehouse).  The tour will take approximately 3 ½ hours and will include 3 behind the scenes brewery tours with some very knowledgeable tour guides and well, of course, beer tastings.   The tours will run on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at 2:00 pm at a cost of $65. You can reserve your seat online anytime, just visit Vancouver Brewery Tours. Cheers!VBTWalkingTour

 

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New In Town – Golden Thread Consulting: Support For Your Small Business

16 May

GoldenThreadConsultingFor those that follow us regularly, you know that we love featuring local businesses, makers and artisans. If you yourself are a local business, artisan or maker who is trying to do and be everything, we know all too well it’s near impossible.  Not only are there not enough hours in the day, but one’s sanity and quality of life come into play.  So today we would like to introduce you to the cavalry that is here to help, that being Maria Marcakis who is the Principal and Founder of Golden Thread Consulting. Maria is based in East Vancouver and provides customized administrative support solutions for small businesses under the title of Administrative Consultant. An Administrative Consultant is not a virtual or administrative assistant, but a hybrid between one who performs specific administrative work while consulting (providing expert advice, professionally). Assistance is available on an ongoing monthly basis or is offered on a per project basis. Maria has over 14 years administrative experience including executive assistance, recruiting, and all types of administrative work in for profit and non-profit organizations.  Some of the things she may be able to assist you with include:

  • You need to set up relationships with new or existing vendors to ensure smooth running of paperwork,
  • You need research done on a particular software you need to implement,
  • You want to create or finish that employee handbook, toolkit or report that has been on the back burner for 2 years,
  • You want to increase your employee satisfaction and need a survey, data analysis and/or ways to implement the changes you want to see,
  • Drafting presentations, consulting on how to give better presentations, etc.MariaMarcakis
  • Advice on how to streamline your website to create a better user experience,
  • Any miscellaneous higher level items that require time and attention that take you away from other aspects of running and growing your business.
  • Create new procedures to streamline your business
  • Help you plan and organize a Pop Up Shop

If you are wondering what it costs for these services, Golden Thread Consulting uses a value-based model. Maria does not charge by the hour, but quotes are based on individual business needs. Maria is more than happy to provide a complimentary consultation to discuss your needs.  We invite you to check out her website to learn more about how she can assist you.  She’s mastered the art of efficiency, something we aim for every day.  From having met Maria, we are confident she will be able to help you be more efficient in your business and complete projects which help move your business forward.

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Knifewear Pop Up Shop May 1 – July 31 At 845 East Hastings Street

11 May

KnifeWearLesAmisMelWooIf you love to cook, or know someone that does, then we suggest you make your way down to the Knifewear Pop Up Shop at 845 East Hastings Street. This pop up shop is now on until July 31st in the great space next to les amis du fromage in Strathcona. We recently popped in as they were getting set up on their first day and the place was packed!  What’s in store is an amazing selection of handmade Japanese knives which are yes, ‘scary sharp’ and oh so beautiful to boot.  Everyone working in the store is an ex-chef, so they can answer a whole host of questions and provide some advice on what knives work best for your personal needs. There are some other items on hand in store such as beautiful cutting boards made of Larch wood.  If you need knives sharpened, bring them down and watch it first hand. Of course, if stop in at Knifewear, we do recommend you also stop in next door at les amis du fromage and check out the amazing selection of cheeses. Outside of their cheese selection, they also have a delicious selection of gourmet frozen foods, giftware, cutting boards, crackers, olive oils and much more. And if the idea hasn’t already crossed your mind, you could easily pop in and throw together just about everything you need for a picnic.  If you wish to learn more about Knifewear and what makes their knives so you unique, we invite you to check out their website or pop by their Pop Up Shop on till July 31st.

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Treat Your Mom To A Brunch Tour Saturday May 7th

28 Apr

OffTheEatenTrackWant to do something tasty and fun with your mom for Mother’s Day? Well Off The Eaten Track Tours is offering their Vancouver’s Best Brunch Tour in the heart of the East Village with a discount on Saturday, May 7th.  You are invited to join them on Saturday morning at 9:30 am to meet some local businesses and nosh your way through a progressive brunch.   On this tour, you will visit 5 culinary spots including a 35-year old Italian deli, a funky southern restaurant, a bakery, a local butcher shop and Vancouver’s smallest tea shop. There are only 10 spaces available on this tour. If you wish to get your seats, be sure to use the promo code TREATMOM to receive a 10% discount. For more information on the tour, or to purchase your spots, visit Vancouver’s Best Brunch Tour.

Photo Credit: Off The Eaten Track

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Some Great Ways To Shop Local This Weekend

27 Apr

JuneHunterSpringStudioSaleIf you have some gift shopping to do whether a baby shower, wedding shower, birthday or Mother’s Day, there are some great opportunities to shop local this weekend. Each spot will have perfect items for gift giving whatever you may be shopping for.  First up, there is the:

Modern Fort – The Market That Gives Back – Saturday, April 30th

The Modern Fort is hosting The Market That Gives Back which is also a fundraising event benefitting families with austism. The market happens this Saturday, April 30th at The Aviary, 637 East 15th Avenue from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  All participating vendors will be donating a percentage of their sales to Canucks Autism Network. Some of the local businesses on hand include Loulou Lollipop, Emerson Apparel, Giving Gifts, Linden’s Art Gallery, K’Pure and a photo session with East Van’s Klik Photographic.

Giving Gifts 3rd Anniversary Party – Sunday, May 1st

Giving Gifts is a great cooperative shop with an ethical focus located at 4075 Main Street. This Sunday, May 1st they are having their 3rd Anniversary Party so along with balloons and treats, there will be some deals to be had as well as an opportunity to win a $300 gift certificate to the store.  The celebration gets under way at 2:00 pm and goes till 5:00 pm.

June Hunter Spring Studio Sale April 29th – May 1st

June Hunter is opening up her East Van Studio for a Spring Sale this weekend from April 29th to May 1st.   June’s studio is located at 2785 Parker Street (one block west of Renfrew Street). You can expect to find jewellery, tiles, wood panel prints, photo prints and unique pieces of art and yes, sale prices as well.  Nature features prominently in June’s work as do some iconic spots around East Van.  You can check it out for yourself on Friday, April 29th from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday this weekend from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Winter Farmers Market – Hastings Park Sunday May 1st

Lastly, if you have a foodie in your life, we recommend the last winter farmers market of the season at Hastings Park which happens this Sunday, May 1st from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  You are sure to find something delectable that makes a great gift, or a collection of a few items from this market.

Photo Credit: June Hunter Images

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Make It Vancouver! At The PNE Forum April 22-24

20 Apr

MakeIt!In case you hadn’t heard, one of Vancouver’s biggest showcases for one-of-a-kind handmade goods comes to East Van this weekend, Make It Vancouver!  It’s their Spring show with almost 200 makers, designers, artisans and crafters.  As you might expect, there will be an amazing selection of items including  fashion, accessories, jewellery, art, baby items, home décor and our personal favourite, food! There is great line up of vendors including some favourites such as French Made Baking, Rootables, The Salt Dispensary, Trudy Ann’s Chai & Spices, Jules & Kent and The Local Churn to a name a few.  On deck for home décor is another strong line up and includes a personal favourite we’ve featured here previously on the site East Van Light.  If you are looking for some gift items whether for Mother’s Day or an upcoming birthday, this is the place to be.  And if you think it’s all for the women, think again.  There will be something for everyone on hand.  Add to that, for all you hungry shoppers, there will be food trucks and a beer garden.    Make It Vancouver! takes place at the PNE Forum on Friday, April 22nd from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, then continues on Saturday, April 23rd from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm with their last day being, Sunday, April 24th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.   Admission is $5 at the door which allows you to shop all of the 3 days, admission is free for kids 12 and under. See you there.

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New In Town: Me & Monty Dog Spa Products

19 Apr

MontyWithSoapHere at ILiveInEastVan.com we love featuring local East Van businesses and makers. Today we would like to introduce you to Marina Hebert and her new business, Me & Monty Dog Spa Products. As a dog owner, Marina’s product caught our eye.  Marina lives in East Van off Commercial Drive with her partner, daughter, Isabel, their dog Monty (pictured) and a rotating cast of foster animals.  Marina has a passion for animals and animal welfare and has been volunteering in this area for several years. Her professional background is in non-profit administration and development which should bode well as she embarks on this new adventure featuring natural care products for dogs.  She has been making soap as a hobby for a number of years and began taking classes at Vancouver Soap Making School. She considered starting a business after adopting her Chihuahua, Monty. Marina had difficulty locating natural, organic grooming products for him that were dog-safe. So Marina embarked on a course at EMBERS Eastside Movement For Business and Economic Renewal Society from which she continues to receive mentorship as her business grows.

Marina sources all her products locally and purchases organic whenever possible. We like that Me & Monty Dog Spa Products do not contain any palm oil, artificial scents, preservatives, sulfates or animal ingredients. Marina currently makes 3 products, bar soap, dog shampoo and nose & paw butter. All the products are 100% safe for consumption should the dogs lick or ingest any of the product. Prices range from $14 for the 5 ounce bar soap, $14.50 for the nose & paw butter and $13.50 for the 8 ounce dog shampoo and $26 for the 16 ounce bottle.   You can find Me & Monty Dog Spa Products at The Bloom Bloom Room in New Westminster, The Moonlight Dog Cafe and Long Live Cats and Dogs on East Hastings Street.  You can also purchase products online via her Etsy Shop with pick up available in East Vancouver. You can also expect to see her products available at local groomers soon. Should you be one, she offers free sample packs to try out her products. We invite you to check out Me & Monty Dog Spa Products and look forward to seeing more of Me & Monty Dog Spa Products in and around the City.M&MDogBarSoap M&MDogShampoo M&MNose&PawButter SoapM&M

Photo Credit:  Karla Wakefield Photography

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East Van Bazaar Is At The Wise Hall Sunday May 8th

18 Apr

TEastVanBazaarMay8he East Van Bazaar is back on Sunday, May 8th at the Wise Hall. If you didn’t catch the previous one in March, you missed out on one great event. The organizers put together a really great mix of local makers.  This upcoming Bazaar falls on Mother’s Day so it’s a great opportunity to bring mom to check out our thriving community of artists, or pick up something special for mom if you haven’t already.   You can expect to find an array of items including hand-crafted jewelry, local wood sculptures, new gadgets, cards, oddities and collectibles, cool handmade items or vintage reworks.  They will have over 40 vendors including Tea Lani with specialty teas, jewellery designs by Larki Designs, Shab Nar Jewellery, Rish Jewellery and Crisp Bones, Pinch with all natural deodorant which I know a number of people have been on the hunt for. For a full rundown of vendors, visit East Van Bazaar. There will also be live music and a DJ on hand as well as food and drink vendors.  The event kicks off at Noon and runs till 5:00 pm. Admission is a suggested $2 donation. We invite you to pop down and check out this local talent.

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