After working alone in the studio for 5 years, I thought it would be nice to have some visitors, so in May 2009 I converted half of my Manhattan-style second floor, walk-up studio into a boutique.

I have monthly ads in The BUZZ (arts and entertainment magazine), a rack card with my neighbours called the Olde Charlottetown Artisan Studio Walking Tour, a sandwich board on the sidewalk, and now, a very eye-catching display window at street level. It is amazing to me how many people climb the stairs. I love visiting with these people and my life is much richer for the experience.

The studio is a riot of colour. My grandfather was Swedish, so the walls match the Swedish flag. The ceiling is the original tin from 1897. To avoid putting 12 holes in the tin for the lighting, we used a grid of “Central Va” pvc tubing to run the wiring through. I repurposed colourful citronella candle buckets for light fixtures. My husband and I built the countertop from MDF and gave it a very curvaceous profile. My fine artist friend, Terry Dunton Stevenson likes to pop in for “the lovely UP-ness” of the studio.

This photo is of the “blizzard” I hang every winter.

I am very happy to call myself an artisan jeweller and a businesswoman.

Thanks for visiting!