The Avant-Garden Shop: Your Garden & Bird Store

Gary Cowie – Animal House Creations

Animal House Creations is the business of woodworker and outdoor enthusiast Gary Cowie. Gary has developed shelter designs for cavity nesting animals, including bats, bees, bluebirds, butterflies, owls, and eastern grey squirrels. Gary has sold his hand-crafted houses at The Avant Garden Shop since 2012. They are a big hit! The construction of Gary’s products … Read more

Nawal Motawi – Motawi Tileworks

Nawal Motawi is the founder and principal designer of Motawi Tileworks of Ann Arbor, Michigan.  With her team of designers and craftspeople she created hand-made, historically-informed art tile for distinctive installations and as art pieces. Motawi Tileworks was started in 1992. After Nawal studied ceramics and figure sculpture in art school, she took a job … Read more

J. P. Schoss & Brenda Tucker – Dog Bite Steel

I use recycled materials for a number of reasons. First, it is our responsibility to contribute to this world in as many ways as possible. Garbage is a great place to start. Oil tanks are costly to cut up and recycle so the scrap yards don’t want them. I began using oil tanks, water tanks … Read more

Terry Craig & Jennifer Wanless-Craig – Artech Glass

    In the time of the Renaissance, artists had to be practical and versatile.  They had to make things people really used.  That’s what Jenn and Terry do at Artech Studios.  They make art that people can really use.  Funny, practical and all made by hand.  . Artech is a traditional glassblowing studio nestled … Read more

Basic Spirit – Pewter (Nova Scotia)

At Basic Spirit they love to design and create products that touch the heart and delight the spirit. All of their pewter is handcrafted in their seaside studio in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, Canada. They use the highest quality pewter alloys available and are privileged to sell our products through many of the finest handcraft galleries … Read more

Barbara Taylor-Earthworks pottery

Barbara Taylor is the creator at Earthworks Pottery in Burlington. Barbara specializes in non-glazed clay products for the home. Old techniques made new again! These clay wine cups are the perfect way to smooth a young wine or to bring out the best in a well aged wine! The inside of the wine cup is … Read more

Ruth & Grant Robinson – Watson Pewter

Watson Pewter began in Peterborough in 1972 by Marjorie & Gordon Watson. For many years the Watson?s had a beautiful shop in downtown Peterborough, but after deciding to retire in 1998 they closed the shop. At that time their daughter Ruth and her husband Grant took over the business and have been running it from … Read more

Wendy Stanwick – A Slice of the North

Wendy Stanwick – A Slice of the North Jewelry A Slice of the North was conceived and created by Wendy Stanwick. Using the natural materials found in and around the tiny town of Matachewan, Ontario. Wendy has created a unique, made in Canada-of Canada mini work of Art. The local prospectors and miners provide her … Read more

Peter Baker – Island Winds, Prince Edward Island

For a guy who does not claim to be very musical, Peter Baker has managed to bring a lot of music into people’s lives. For the last 20 years, Peter has been making wind chimes at his studio situated atop the hills of South Granville – one of the windiest locations on Prince Edward Island. … Read more

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