Canadian handmade jewellery shop Garnish marks four years in Grizzly Plaza

Revelstoke’s handmade jewellery boutique Garnish is celebrating four
successful years of service this month. Garnish is known for its
selection of creations by local and regional jewellery artists, and its
expanding line of gifts including kids wares, candles, hats, and
leather goods.

Owner Arleigh Garratt is a trained jewellery artist and makes her
ADK Jewellery Design line in the back of the store. She says the shop’s
unique offerings have a common theme: “I stock Garnish with things
that I want.”

Garratt curates works through personal contacts with designers, but
also spends a lot of time on Instagram searching out new talent. (See Garnish’s Instagram account here.)

“I like someone who has a very strong sense of their brand and who
they are,” Garratt said. “I like to carry pieces that last.”

Garnish’s lines are diverse. The prices range from something a
youngster could afford for a Mother’s Day gift, up to special high-end
pieces popular with visiting heli-skiers. They carry custom shrink
plastic jewels, pieces made from recycled skateboard decks, and many
more traditional works in silver.

In her studio, Garratt explains some of the tools she uses to create
her ADK Jewellery Design line. She shops garage sales looking for
vintage hammers with unique wear patterns, used to beat the metals
with unique textures. Other hammers are cut with special patterns to
achieve the same effect.

The studio also hosts visiting artists who do residencies and training
with Garratt.

Click on any image for an expanded view. Seven images.

The shop is known for its artistic presentations of their products.
Unique, custom arrangements use firewood, moss, wood shards and
river rock collections to showcase the collections in unique ways.
“The shop is never really the same season to season,” Garratt said.

They are always revising their selections, and experimenting with new
artists. Check out b.b. gun leather, made by Vancouver artists Dustin
Bentall and Spencer Baker. Their handmade leather wallets, belts,
purses and small luggage is made by hand without machines.
They’re designed to last a lifetime, countering our throwaway culture.
Tense watches are made from recycled or reclaimed woods and
designed by Vancouver-based artist Ken Lau, who has been producing
them since 1971. They are manufactured by hand.

Garnish owner and jewellery designer Arleigh Garratt. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

Nooks Design creates footwear for babies and children. Kelowna artist
Ruthy Penner has been creating the wool and leather slippers for just a
few years, and the business has exploded. She’s set for an appearance
on CBC’s the Dragon’s Den soon, hoping to get even bigger.
Vancouver’s Flight Path Designs creates super cute leather Mason jar
sleeves adorned with miniature paintings.

New artists for the spring of 2016 include hand-drawn plastics artist
Anne Tranholm, wildcrafted body care products maker Northlore and
Calgary jewellery designer Ashleigh Amber Moore.

Garnish stocks several Revelstoke artists. Check out the unique,
contemporary works by Cat Cadegan Jewellery, and local artist
Jess Leahey.

Garnish is located at 118 Mackenzie Avenue in Grizzly Plaza.
Find them online at garnishhandmade.ca.