Crafting a Maritime Christmas

“I love games,” says Ken Grandy of Uncle Ken’s Woodwork in Lawrencetown. Grandy hand carves his games locally and sells them on Kijiji under the name UKW. “I have washer toss and the jenga game, called Stacked, goes up to six feet tall,” says Grandy. He also produces a heavy duty ladder golf that he says can stay outdoors all summer and won’t fall over like the lighter-weight ones found in the big box stores.

Gillian Allen crochets her hats at her studio in Fall River, just past Inn on the Lake and says her hats can be purchased through her website, named after her children Gabs and Eddy. “We’re taking orders up to about the fourth of December, depending on where it has to be shipped … we also do gift cards,” says Allen. She even crochets doggie hats and says a portion of every sale goes to Bide Awhile animal shelter in Dartmouth. People can purchase at her home studio, by appointment or visit www.GabsandEddy.com.

Golda Merlin Walsh of Merlin Walsh Creations in Halifax plans to launch her website later this month and will be showcasing her jewelry and windchimes at the Dalplex show. “I take previously loved jewelry apart and recreate it,” says Merlin Walsh.

Rita Laidlaw of Sea Glass Design in Dartmouth is now selling her sparkling seascape Christmas balls and Christmas decorations at the Seaport Farmers’ Market. “The balls are filled with tiny pieces of driftwood, shells and sea glass we’ve collected throughout the summer,” says Laidlaw. She says Cape breton is her favorite place to collect sea glass and says there’s a beach near Inverness that’s a goldmine for collecting sea glass for her jewelry. Christmas balls start from $14.

“Everything is handmade, beach-themed,” says Derek Stewart of Shore Things from Fisherman’s Cove in Eastern Passage. “We recycle and upcycle everything we have in our booth,” Stewart says he’ll be at the Dalplex Christmas market and possibly at Atlantic Superstore on Portland St., Dartmouth in December.

“I make them all myself.,” says artisan Kimiko Willgress describing her handcrafted Prana Rock candles. “They make great gifts for guys and girls,” says the 2010 Olympian. Willgress says most of the rocks are found from all over Nova Scotia, with some coming from Ontario. “It’s a family business that’s been operating for almost a decade.” See her products at Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, Rusty Hinges in the Hydrostone and online at www.pranarock.ca.

Nature’s Natural Solutions in Bridgewater produces a line of goat milk skin care products that Michelle Breen, a Tantallon-based sales representative says make excellent stocking stuffers. “Great Christmas gifts would be our soaps, and our lip balms and deodorants make great stocking stuffers,” says Breen. Lip Balms start from $4.50 and can be purchased at the upcoming Dalplex market and at Alderney Landing Farmers’ Market in Dartmouth. “Everything we make is 97-to-100 per cent natural, focusing on the essential oils or 100per cent natural lines.” Products also available at www.goatmilkskincare.com.

Traditional Marine harnesses quintessential maritime, selling everything from mermaids, to cod jigs and handpainted ores. The family business is based in Annapolis Royal, but despite the distance, owner John Edelmann says they sell their products online at www.traditionalmarine.com, shipping around the province. “We paint paddles in varying colours starting from about $40, and we also do the buoys,” says Byron Edelmann.

Dalplex Christmas Craft Market takes place Nov. 28 to Nov. 30. in Halifax.