Sunshine Coast Art Crawl, 2020, Coast Chimes

 Kaleidoscope Wind Chime

by Coast Chimes

It's always been an exciting part of the year: the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl. And Coast Chimes has always attracted a lot of visitors. Despite Covid 19, the Crawl is still happening this year, albeit in a much reduced and limited way, with various safety measures in place.

I decided to skip this year, as I could too easily envision things getting out of hand (Coast Chimes has traditionally been a very popular place to visit). It's a shame, as I so much enjoy showing my work, and my process, and people seemed to enjoy visiting and shopping. But safety first.

The good news is that my entire stock, everything you would have seen in person, is available with pictures on both my website-- Coast Chimes -- and in my Etsy store. Free shipping anywhere in Canada and the USA, and you can also shop and have me ship to your friends and family. If you wish me to enclose a personal gift message card, I am happy to do that.

Coast Chimes Gallery, Gibsons, BC, Canada

Coast Chimes Gallery
Gibsons, BC, Canada

Having reached a state of serious chaos in my workshop, I decided to do an early clean-up-- something typically reserved until closer to the date of the annual Sunshine Coast Art Crawl, in October. But I really needed to do something about the mess, so why not add more display space at the same time as re-organizing? Pictured above is one of the additions, a new lit zone to show off some of my kaleidoscope works.

Everything in my home gallery is already photographed and available online, so no need to leave your home to order. Visit Coast Chimes to see all the great works available right now.

Sunshine Coast Art Crawl, 2019, Coast Chimes

Sunshine Coast Art Crawl
October 18-20, 10 AM - 5 PM
Coast Chimes

The 10th Annual Sunshine Coast Art Crawl starts tomorrow, October 18 and runs through Sunday. I hope you can visit Coast Chimes, 535 Woodland Avenue, Gibsons!

This year, I started preparing earlier than ever, and it shows! More wind chimes! More suncatchers! Using artist-made sea glass, copper, brass, cedar, beach stones, driftwood, I've made beautiful art for your home and garden.

Despite a rather grim weather forecast, rest assured the Coast Chimes studio gallery will be warm, inviting, bright.

Enjoy the 2019 Art Crawl!

Tree / Christmas Ornaments, Earrings, Suncatchers, Wind Chimes

Sunshine Coast Art Crawl, October 18-20, 2019

Cobalt Blue Artist-made Sea Glass and Copper Wind Chime
by Coast Chimes

How exciting! Just over a week until the 2019 Sunshine Coast Art Crawl! I'm almost ready, with nearly 250 gorgeous wind chimes and suncatchers. Most of these are available for preview on the website: Coast Chimes

There are a few more special works to assemble, and then the BIG transformation: changing my workshop into gallery space. This involves moving and storing all the tools and glass, cleaning up, hanging fixtures and lights, and arranging the works of art. I allow four days for that.

If you live on the Sunshine Coast, or if you are visiting for the Crawl, be sure to drop by Coast Chimes. I look forward to seeing you! Here are directions: Coast Chimes Location

Frosty White Artist-made Sea Glass Chime by Coast Chimes

Larger Works, BIG Wind Chimes, Sunshine Coast Art Crawl

Massive Driftwood
Glass and Copper Outdoor Wind Chime
at Coast Chimes

The Sunshine Coast Art Crawl is fast approaching (Oct. 18-20, 2019), so I am finishing up a number of works-in-progress. I take the opportunity of having lots of people visit my studio to create some larger than usual wind chime, ones I would not be too keen on shipping.

The gorgeous piece of driftwood pictured above is one I found several months ago. I could ship it, and it is, in fact, available online, I just would prefer not to, for obvious reasons. I also made half a dozen very large freestanding double wind chimes, with huge beach stone bases, that I don't even bother putting online, as they cost so much to ship, and take me many hours to box up. I do love having the chance to make some larger works: so much fun!

If you live on the Sunshine Coast, or if you will be visiting for the Art Crawl, I hope to see you at Coast Chimes, 535 Woodland Avenue, venue no. 13.

Sunshine Coast Art Crawl, 2019

Getting Ready!
Sunshine Coast Art Crawl
October 18- 20, 2019

Each year it is bigger, better, more exciting: the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl. This is an exceptionally well organized, fun, and free, event. If you are on the Sunshine Coast, visit some of the 165 galleries and studios featuring 380 artists and crafters. It's so much fun to not only see the creativity, but also the workshops and display spaces. Chatting with the artists is great, too!

Each year I am determined to have more finished works, and each year I allot more time to prepare. Despite this, it is more of a struggle than ever this year, because online shopping is constantly taking stock away, and there have also been more walk-in customers, mostly thanks to the Purple Banner program. But you can see from the picture above that there will be a great selection available. Also, there is never any need to feel even remotely like if you visit studios you should buy something-- not in the least! It is always a thrill to show off works, talk about inspiration, methods, and there is never any pressure to buy.

That said, Coast Chimes does have lots available for a very reasonable price (starting at $8 for glass and copper tree / garden / Christmas ornaments). And if you should decide to get a larger item, you get one of those for free!

I hope to see you at Coast Chimes, Venue no. 13, 535 Woodland Avenue, Gibsons, BC

Kaleidoscope Wind Chime with Blue Glass
$95 at Coast Chimes

Sunshine Coast Art Crawl 2019

Elegant Sea Glass, Cedar, Copper Wind Chime
$195 at Coast Chimes

Full speed ahead— for the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl, 2019!

October 18-20, 165 galleries, 380 artists, including Coast Chimes. If past years are anything to go by, this will be an extremely fun, busy, interesting weekend. If you live on the Sunshine Coast, don't hesitate to visit some studios-- it's free, and so interesting to see the creativity and the studios. If you live outside of the Sunshine Coast and can possibly make it over, it is truly worth the effort. The Sunshine Coast is home to a large number of extremely gifted artists and crafters.

Studios are open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10 AM - 5 PM. Some studios also have events on Friday evening. 

I have been working for months in preparation, determined to have the most works, the best displays, yet. Coast Chimes will have about 225 wind chimes and suncatchers: glass, copper, cedar, driftwood, beach stones. Many of these are also on display on my website where you can get a taste (www.coastchimes.com), but when you visit during the Art Crawl, you save at least 30%-- my way of encouraging shop local! Susanne Keller will also have her gorgeous Can't Break Me Bowls, and Can't Break Me games on display.

Busy Days at Coast Chimes

Busy days at Coast Chimes, both fulfilling incoming orders and preparing for the exciting Sunshine Coast Art Crawl 2019. Loving the sunflowers in the background of recent photos of new stock. Visit Coast Chimes to see more. Follow on Instagram to see fresh images.

Frosty White Glass and Copper Wind Chime

Artist-made Sea Glass Wind Chime

Cobalt Blue by Coast Chimes

Blue and Green Glass Chime

Artist-made Sea Glass and Copper Spirals

Coast Chimes Gallery: Almost Always Open

Coast Chimes Gallery
Gibsons, BC, Canada

Since moving to our new home six years ago, I have been fortunate to have a nice space to use as a gallery. Coast Chimes is open whenever I am home, which is most of the time. A fair number of people drop by, which is great: I love showing off my work, and talking with people about my inspiration and methods. Sometimes they just want a quick look, or they already know Coast Chimes and grab a gift for someone's birthday. Other times, they are visiting for the first time, sometimes from far, far away, and are very curious about all aspects of my work. I enjoy all this a lot. I always have plenty of time to talk with visitors.

I am usually home, because I work long hours to make all these things, to photograph them, to do the website work, to communicate with online customers, to do social media, to pack and ship. Already, I am preparing for the annual Sunshine Coast Art Crawl, which seems to be approaching very fast! If at all possible for you to visit the Coast for the Art Crawl, you will enjoy it immensely. It is huge, and extremely well organized. But book accommodation early, as I believe it gets sold out. Ferry reservations would be a good idea, too. It is always possible to come across from Vancouver as a foot passenger. The Art Crawl itself is a free event.

If you can't visit in person, everything in the gallery is on my website: Coast Chimes

Now it's time to pack some orders, cut some brass.

Sunshine Coast Art Crawl

A Little Corner of My Gallery: Coast Chimes

 

 

This past weekend was the annual 3 day Sunshine Coast Art Crawl, and if the crowd swooping down on Coast Chimes (one of the 165 venues) was any indication, what a success! So many people from so many different places (the Crawl is becoming really famous and popular even off the Coast). The gorgeous blue skies meant even wider smiles.

Each year I try to do better. This year I had another 800 feet of ferry lights, and those received a lot of compliments and interest. I'll aim for another 1000 feet next year, to really sparkle!

Each year I wish to have every single chime with a bottom section, i.e., complete. Since the top parts are more interesting for me to make than the chimes, over the winter I tend to fall behind on chime sections. Well, I was far short of achieving my goal-- about 50 small chimes short, and 30 large copper chimes short. Too bad, as it is fun to see all the works displayed, and I had to put many out of sight. Next year will be even better!

If you missed Coast Chimes during the Art Crawl, I am part of the Purple Banner group, so Coast Chimes is open all year round. Maybe phone ahead (604-229-5560) just to make sure I am home and not out on a beach combing mission.

Sunshine Coast Art Crawl 2018, Coast Chimes

One of the more than 200 works available this weekend at the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl 2018 at Coast Chimes, venue # 10, 535 Woodland Avenue, Gibsons. Hope you can visit!

 

 

 

 

Free handcrafted copper earrings with every wind chime or suncatcher purchase (also for sale without purchase)

October 19, 20, 21 is the date, this coming weekend, for the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl--  165 venues of great arts and crafts, free to visit and explore.

This will be the 4th time Coast Chimes participates, and it looks like the first time there will be blue skies, and warm temperatures: that's the way to see suncatchers!

I have actually been preparing for several months, and this week I have been transforming my workshop into a second gallery space. Now for the final clean-up, pricing, and arranging. With the blue skies, I look forward to placing more than usual out in the garden as well.

Hope you can visit! But if you can't make it, remember, Coast Chimes welcomes visits all year long.

Large Kaleidoscope Sea Glass Wind Chimes

Kaleidoscope Wind Chime by Coast Chimes

I have been working really hard, preparing for the fast approaching Sunshine Coast Art Crawl where, if history repeats, things should be hopping at my studio. It is the most exciting event of the year, but it does take an enormous amount of preparation. At the same time, I increase my stock enough to have lots available for the Christmas rush, which follows fast after the art crawl.

Just now, I have finished 10 rectangular large kaleidoscope wind chimes. They turned out really well, so I am very pleased. They are a striking addition to any garden, yard, sundeck, or porch. My entire collection of kaleidoscope wind chimes and suncatchers can be found here: Kaleidoscope Works.

Now I am cutting, polishing, assembling copper chime sections. This is one of the most labour intensive parts of all my duties. I hope to get nine sets assembled this week, and then I can move onto mid-sized freestanding beach stone chimes.

Fall Hikes, Fall Chores

One of my favourite trails
Mount Elphinstone, Roberts Creek, BC

After many months of preparation, the 2017 Sunshine Coast Art Crawl took place last weekend, and it was the best one yet! The only real glitch is that after investing in several thousand awesome fairy lights, for the first day the power was out the entire time! It was kind of fun, getting everyone to take out their cell phones and to use their flashlights. Still, I am sure that cut down on the sales for Friday a bit. Especially Friday and Sunday, but Saturday too, were all far busier than past years (which were already super busy!). Excellent!

It is now time to unwind. Today I went on a solo hike through one of my most loved trails, above Roberts Creek on Mount Elphinstone. It was delightful taking time to stroll, breath, let nature wash over me. Really nice!

I have also already started and made good progress revamping my website. First I had to clear out over a hundred sold items-- nothing like browsing on a website where it appears everything is sold! Now it is a much nicer experience. I changed pictures on the homepage. Polished some of the language. If you have time check it out: Coast Chimes.

Tiny Mushrooms, Mount Elphinstone Fall Hike

2017 Sunshine Coast Art Crawl Starts Tomorrow, October 20

The Sunshine Coast Art Crawl 2017 Starts Tomorrow
October 20- 22 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The 2017 Sunshine Coast Art Crawl consist of 144 locations: the Sunshine Coast rich in talent! Although I've been making my creations for about 25 years, this will be just my 3rd year participating in the art crawl, as I did not have suitable studio space before moving to our new home.

The Art Crawl is a wonderfully exciting event to participate in, with an estimated 500 people visitings my studio last year. Despite a rather gloomy weather forecast, I hope for another fun weekend this year. I have improved lighting in my studio, so cloudy skies do not concern me as much as  they would have.

Hope to see you at Coast Chimes, 535 Woodland Avenue, Gibsons, BC (map below). 604-229-5560. Be sure to pick up the Art Crawl brochure-- there are no shortage of great places to visit!

Update, Sunshine Coast Art Crawl 2017, Coast Chimes

A busy weekend preparing for the
2017 Sunshine Coast Art Crawl
Oct. 20-22
535 Woodland Avenue
Gibsons BC
Gallery no. 9

A very busy, but rewarding, weekend preparing for the 2017 Sunshine Coast Art Crawl. I finally had some success solving my long time lighting issues. Number 1 was making quite cool perforated  sheet metal shades for the bare light bulbs. Those bare bulbs have annoyed me enormously, and I am very pleased to have resolved that issue. No. 2 is the fairy lights, a few of which you see in the image above. Previously I had used strip LED lighting, but was not at all satisfied with the look. These fairly lights are a lot more interesting. The only issue with them is that they are not quite bright enough to illuminate my glass from behind, but at least they give some idea of what the glass might look like in the sunlight, and they do not throw the colors as badly as the strip LED.

There are just 4 more days to finish preparations, and I have a lengthy list. It is going to all get done, but, as usual, just barely!

Looking enormously forward to the big weekend!