Local Buys: Winter 2019

Warm up

Mono’s Elspeth King of HummingHill Alpacas works in alpaca fleece from her small herd and in washable wool to create her charmingly old-school designs. She knits light-as-air alpaca baby clothes and uses an antique-style sock maker for her cheerful striped wool socks. We’re fond of this washable wool scarf as an easy-care winter lift – watch for it at the Holiday Treasures show at the Museum of Dufferin, November 30 to December 15. (Scarf $50, Holiday Treasures)

Glowing glass

These majestic stained glass mountains by Orangeville-based artisan Jessica Wisniewski of Flux Glass Co. glow when backlit or hung in a sunny window. Jessica also sells smaller Christmas tree-worthy ornaments including birds, feathers and arrows. They’d make a fitting gift for the wilderness buff on your list. Find them at Dragonfly Arts on Broadway in Orangeville, Alton Mill’s Noodle Gallery and online at Etsy. (Glass mountain window hanging, $80, Flux Glass Co.)

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Heart on your sleeve

This charitable Erin Cares T-shirt is the brainchild of four Erin friends – Katherine Mahoney, Laura Seaton, Morag Stewart and Justyna Toeppner – who wanted to help community members experiencing poverty, hunger and homelessness. The super-soft shirt features a subtle graphic by Wow Design Studio weaving together the names of Erin villages and would make a thoughtful stocking stuffer. All proceeds go to East Wellington Community Services. (T-shirt $25, Erin Cares)

Block party

Artist Andrea Trace designs, draws and hand carves unique printing blocks from soft linoleum in shapes such as trees, leaves, angels and musical notes. She sells them through her Dragonfly Arts studio in Orangeville for use with ink, inkpads, and acrylic or watercolour paint. She also used them to make her own prints, paintings, collages, gift tags and holiday cards for the Holiday Treasures show. (Stamps $8 to $32, stamp plus inkpad from $36)

Charmed, I’m sure

Orangeville-based Amanda Galiffi’s Sky Gem Designs come from the heart. Her forte is delicate sterling silver charm necklaces featuring semiprecious gemstones and meaningful motifs including angel wings to honour late loved ones – available online and at The Scented Drawer in Orangeville. Shown here, Tree of Life charm necklace with labradorite and moonstone beads. (Necklace $58, Sky Gem Designs)

Sources

• Andrea Trace, Orangeville. andreatrace.com
• Dragonfly Arts, 189 Broadway, Orangeville. 519-941-5249. dragonflyarts.ca
• Erin Cares, Erin. [email protected] @erincares on Instagram
• Flux Glass Co., Orangeville. Flux Glass Co. on Etsy. fluxglassco.com
• Holiday Treasures Show. dufferinmuseum.com
• HummingHill Alpacas, Mono. humminghillalpacas.net
• Noodle Gallery, Alton Mill Arts Centre, Alton. 647-505-8995. noodlegallery.com
• The Scented Drawer, 143 Broadway, Orangeville. 519-941-9941. thescenteddrawerltd.ca
• Sky Gem Designs, Orangeville. skygemdesigns.ca