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In the beginning …
After moving from B.C. to Ontario, I became interested in how stained glass creations were made and wondered how hard it would be to design and make some myself. So, I took some lessons and fell in love with the art.
After learning about stained glass, there was a natural progression from making it for gifts, to selling it at small shows, to larger shows, accepting commissions and teaching.
We named our company after the Arbutus tree which grows on the West Coast of Canada. Arbutus is restricted to a narrow band along the south coast and generally occurs within 8 kilometres of the ocean. It is often found on exposed rocky bluffs overlooking the ocean. Arbutus is the only native broadleaf evergreen tree in Canada. Another common name is madrone, a Spanish word for the strawberry tree, of which arbutus is a close relative.
Stained glass gives me a creative outlet. I am constantly challenging my imagination to come up with new and different designs. Every piece I make has a little bit of me in it. After 20 years, I am still in love with making stained glass creations.
A few years ago, we started the retail gift part of our business, selling items that seems to compliment the stained glass, although the association is sometimes hard to perceive. Some are handmade in Canada, others are imported with a handmade component.
Buy them for gifts – to give to others, or for yourself!
Most items have some relationship to nature: birds, animals and flowers.
They all make us smile!
Arbutus Crafts offers unique products that are of excellent quality and value.
Hopefully, they will make you smile too!