BC Artisan

Haida Carver – Lyle Campbell

ByKeri Coles

When I was up in Prince Rupert for the rally, I spent Friday just wandering around. I came across Lyle Campbell’s carving studio and went in to check out his amazing work. I love spending time with artists and witnessing the process of creation. Lyle’s fiance Kim was there as well, painting. I was grateful for the opportunity to hang out and chat and capture them in action. They are such a lovely couple. Be sure to check out their studio if you are ever in the area! You can see Lyle talking about his art here.      …

Exhibit A

ByKeri Coles

What a great show it was. I feel so fortunate to have connected with all these amazingly talented women photographers for the Exhibit A gallery show. The turnout to the opening was incredible; the gallery was packed from the moment we opened the doors right up until the end. The day that I sat the gallery, it was pretty quiet which allowed me to take a few photos and have some fun 😉 The series that I did for this show is called “Modern Portraits of a Heritage Town”. I created abstract art by incorporating movement into my shooting while…

Growing Grain on Vancouver Island

ByKeri Coles

In 2010 Gene and I bought a share in a grain co-op that was being hosted by Makaria Farms just outside Duncan. We learned how to plant, grow and harvest grain. At the end of the season we were rewarded with harvests of organic Red Fife, Spring Wheat, and Rye. True Grain Bread, the fabulous organic bakery in Cowichan Bay was kind enough to let us use their gorgeous stone grain mill to grind our grain into flour. If you have never been to the bakery, drop what you are doing, go there and bliss out on their luscious organic…

Sacred Mountain Lavender Farm

ByKeri Coles

On my way home from the cob building workshop on Salt Spring Island, Ella and I took a detour to Sacred Mountain Lavender Farm. Sadly, we were missing the lavender festival by two days but I thought we should still take the opportunity to go by the farm. It was soooooooo worth it. The lavender was GORGEOUS! Oh, the heavenly smell! The farm is a fabulous working demonstration farm where they encourage you to get in there and experience it. I think it is so important these days, with the prevalence of the disconnect between our plates and the farmers,…

Mud Girls Cob Building Workshop

ByKeri Coles

I spent an incredible week on Salt Spring Island at a Mud Girls Cob Building Workshop. The Mud Girls are about promoting and enabling the construction of natural building (mostly cob) affordably. A group of about twenty of us came together to live as a community for a week and build a cob cabin. We all camped in a beautiful apple orchard, swam/bathed in the pond, and were treated to three delicious organic meals a day (the chefs were brilliant! mmmmm). In return, we worked our butts off…literally! They were long, hot, hard days but so rewarding! One of the…