How Much is That Potter in the Window

Press Release

For immediate release

Date: November 26, 2009
Contact: Diane Walters
Phone: 250.354.1228





How Much is That Potter in the Window – The one with the spinning Wheel…

eARTh Community Clay Studios Supports Local Artists with a Live Exhibition

Nelson BC – From Saturday November 28th to Monday the 30th Diane Walters of eARTh Community Clay Studios is particularly excited to feature local and innovative Potters in a window display of the Factory Arts Collective on Baker. This is a rare opportunity to see an active potter in their natural habitat, well at least a window display version of eARTh Community Clay Studios. People will have the chance to watch daily wheel demonstrations, ask questions and shop for seasonal gifts while raising money for the Factory Arts Collective.

On the weekend of the 28th, Diane and her studio members will be making eARTh dishes in the window of the Factory on Baker and feature finished ware for sale in time for the Holiday season. Partial proceeds from the weekend sales will help to support local artists through the initiative of the Factory Arts Collective. The Factory is a diverse group of artists that work together in an open studio concept. This is where people are invited to not only purchase local art, but to witness how it is created and connect with the artist.

“This event is wonderful opportunity to be apart of the vibrancy of Baker Street. Our living, working, creative window display is a fun way to showcase the talents found in our community.” Diane said. “Potters in The Window is going to be a entertaining activity for the whole family, and is a perfect launch for the eARTh Community Clay studio family workshops, Christmas in the Kiln.”

Everyone is invited to come on down from Saturday November 28th to Monday November 30th to watch a live clay art show and experience the Factory on Baker. For more information or to be apart of the action, contact Diane Walters at her eARTh Community Clay Studios at 250.354.1228 or check our the website http://www.earthstudiosonline.com/ .

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Kootenay Wedding Connections Huge Success

Happy Brides and Grooms did the vendor stroll at

Kootenay Wedding Connections on October 4, 2009

- an ecstatic Bride & Groom won the Dream Kootenay Wedding Package!

CASTLEGAR BC – Kootenay Wedding Connections was a huge success on Sunday October 4, 2009. Held at the Castlegar Community Complex close to 150 guests had the opportunity to meet close to 40 local business owners in the wedding industry to help plan 2010-2011 weddings. Brides and Grooms had the opportunity to taste samples from Selkirk Classic Catering, see beautiful décor by Just Your Style, rental options from sarees to linens to coffee machines and sound equipment from L.O.V. Event Rentals, cake-tasting from Fantasy Fondant, lighting options from Sounds Alive, dress selections from Kiss The Bride and a local photographer in action from Peridot Photography.

Helpful seminars were offered in choosing a photographer from FRESHphotography, Financial advice from the Investors Group and wedding coordination tips from Destined To Be.

An elegant fashion show was sponsored by Kiss The Bride and door prizes galore were handed out throughout the day. Kootenay Wedding Connections would like to thank all of the vendors for their enthusiasm and door prize donations. Larger door prizes were also gratefully accepted from FRESHphotography, Vanilla Bean Bakery and the Fireside Inn & Conference Centre.

The Grand Prize Winners were Brittany Meierhofer and Richard Feeley from Nelson. The thrilled bride and groom won full coordination from Destined To Be, a décor package from Just Your Style, a wedding dress (up to $1000) from Kiss The Bride, Banquet room and $500 gift certificate from The Hume Hotel, $400 gift certificate from Feelings With Flowers, Full photography package from Peridot Photography, Trash the Dress Session from Ali Watt/Chicken Little Photography, Mic package and sound pass from L.O.V. Event Rentals, Tupperware Package from Susan Wilson Tupperware, “Welcome Basket” from Columbia Gardens Weddings, Gift Baskets from Sharon Hilts for Arbonne, and Country Roads, Gift Certificate from Mountain Spa Retreat and a $200 Duvet from Kootenai Moon.

“We were thrilled with this fall’s bridal fair. It is fantastic that we can let brides and grooms know that they can plan almost every aspect of their dream wedding right here in the Kootenay’s. And it was thrilling to present such a fantastic grand prize to a local bride and groom! We couldn’t have done it without our community of local business owners, Thanks!!!” says Marni, Cecilia and Andrea of Kootenay Wedding Connections.

Looking forward to next years’! And a big thanks to all of the local press, without you functions like this wouldn’t be able to reach the community.

Largest Fall Bridal Fair This Side of The Kootenay's

Largest Fall Bridal Fair This Side of The Kootenay's -

Kootenay Wedding Connections

Wedding planning made easy, as every feature of your dream wedding can be set in motion in one afternoon, under one roof.

CASTLEGAR BC - KOOTENAY WEDDING CONNECTIONS takes place on Sunday October 4, 2009 at the Castlegar Community Complex. If Brides and Grooms have not started the plan for their Spring/Summer 2010 wedding yet, now is the time before wedding vendors like venues, photographers, caterers, coordinators and more are booked up. And how to tackle this gigantic task? Attend Kootenay Wedding Connections and meet every wedding vendor under the sun (and their competition) in under 3 hours and at one location!

Kootenay Wedding Connections will feature 2 separate showcases to choose from: A Morning Showcase from 11am - 1:45pm and an Afternoon Showcase from 2pm - 4:45pm. Within these showcases Brides and Grooms have the opportunity to meet with Wedding Décor people, invitation people, wedding dress people, Stag/Stagette people, Coordinators, Photographers, Caterers, DJ's, Gift Registry people and so much more. Each showcase will be catered by Selkirk Classic Catering, photographed by Peridot Photography, decorated by Just Your Style Wedding Décor & Rentals and L.O.V. Event Rentals and special treats to test from a local vendor. Seminars will be presented from local, experienced wedding business owners on how to make your wedding day a dream come true. At the end of each showcase, enjoy a fashion show with all the latest wedding wear trends.

And Brides, dread dragging your Groom from table to table? Let them enjoy the Groom's Room while you suss out the options and then drag him away from his part of the wedding planning to enjoy the fashion show, fantastic door prizes and delicious treats!

"After participating in so many bridal fairs, both locally and in major city centres, we (Marni of Destined To Be, Cecilia of Just Your Style, and Andrea of Kiss The Bride) wanted to create a bridal fair that was fun, attractive and bottom line - lets brides and grooms realize they don't have to go to Kelowna, Spokane, Calgary, or Vancouver to get what they need for their wedding. It can all be found here in The Kootenay's. The 2 showcase format is new to the Kootenay's and our goal is to give more one on one time with Bride & Grooms with local vendors."

To top it all off every Bride and Groom is entered in a draw to win their Dream Kootenay Wedding with full prizes being donated by local businesses. At a value close to $15,000 with prizes that include Full wedding coordination from Destined To Be, Wedding Dress from Kiss The Bride (up to $1000), Wedding Décor from Just Your Style (up to $1000), Photography package from Peridot Photography (up to $2800), Floral Package from Feelings With Flowers and so much more! And if Brides and Grooms pre-register they double their odds at winning the Dream Kootenay Wedding Package as they will be entered twice in the draw! The Bride and Groom will also receive a gift for pre-registration.

Pre-registration tickets available at: Destined To Be, 619 Front St, Nelson 250-505-2454 and Kiss The Bride, 1B-1801 Columbia Ave, Castlegar BC 250-304-1901. Pre-registered tickets are $10 each and include gift for Bride/Groom. Cash or Cheque only. Tickets available at the door $10, cash only.

Partial proceeds to The Pura Vida Foundation.

Andrea Hughes
250-304-1901
info@kissthekootenaybride.ca
http://www.kissthekootenaybride.ca/

Kiss The Bride - a modern store for the Modern Bride...

Read, Cook, and Roll Around

Why I Love Being a Dad
By Chris Holland

Before I became a Dad, I researched, read, listened and asked questions on the best ways to raise a healthy and well balanced child. In almost all of my research there was an underlying theme; Engage, Communicate and Relate

Engage the mind – encourage them to think, this world is a wonderful place and the best way to engage your child is to read. Take the time to rediscover the stories you remembered as a child yourself and if you don’t have any memories, now is the time to create them.

I discover as I read stories to my daughter, that we share a moment together and as I watch her grew daily so does are relationship. I decided to shut of the TV and explore the endless wonderment of the human mind and let me tell you, there are a lot of fun surprises in store when you try this. From the crazy and wonderful mind of the Munch Man to the rhythmic dance of Sandra Boynton I have read more books with my daughter than I did in college.

For me, I was never invited into the Kitchen until late into my teens, and then it was more about survival than exploration. Today my little girl and I routinely create meals, bake bread and make cookies. I’m not an expert in the kitchen but by letting go the fear of the unknown and having a co-pilot to discovery, my daughter and I enjoy our time in the Kitchen, she understands were food comes from and the process of how it is made and I get to see what it is like to taste sugar for the first time.

I realized very quickly when my daughter was brought into my life that she is way smaller than I am. I watched other parents and remembered what it was like to be small. The one thing I remembered was this world was not built for children, bank tellers sat in towers, chairs were always to big, the underneath of the table was my first view of dinner and when the adults gathered around me to talk, I felt like ant amongst giants.

With my daughter I make sure when I’m talking to her that I make eye contact, this means getting down on my knee to her level to show respect for her current height. I also discovered that while your down there you can play, goof, laugh or just plain roll around.

The other day my little girl came to me with a secret. As I got down to her level she cupped my ear and whispered – I love you Daddy, you are my best friend, Thank You.

And that is why I love being a dad.

Grounded Gives to the Kids

For immediate release: February 19, 2009

Contact: Sasha Kitch of Grounded at 250-352-1712

Grounded Gives to the Kids - local businesses lend a helping hand

Sasha Kitch of Grounded organic coffee house is taking an inspirational step toward helping kids in the Kootenays. On Thursday March 5th, Sasha will donate her entire proceeds for the day to Kootenay Kids Society. From the 6:30am opening until the 6pm closing, ALL proceeds from that day’s sales will be given to the society’s Family Place Life After Birth parent support program, a unique program that helps to give little people a big start.

With all the uncertainty and volatility of today’s economy, there is a tendency for people to be less generous when it comes to community donations, Sasha Kitch and the staff of Grounded want to change that by being an example in Nelson of business giving back to the community.

"When Sasha approached me with this idea, I was thrilled and humbled by her generosity,” says Stephanie Fischer, Executive Director of Kootenay Kids “At the Family Place we see daily how the economic uncertainties impact families and children, In 2008, BC had the highest child poverty rate in Canada for the fifth year, an estimated 181,000 children, or 22%. Our Life After Birth program offers an engaged and supportive environment for families of all walks of life and with our food cupboard program we can address immediate needs of some low income families and children”.

Sasha and husband James are no strangers to the services that the Family Place offers. The Life After Birth program is not only a benefit to parents that are just starting out, it is an excellent service for the children, Sasha explains.

“When I gave birth to my first son, the Family Place was there for me. They helped me to adjust to the new life that a child brings and taught me how to maximize the enjoyment out the experience,” says Sasha, “It was very clear to me that during these tough economic times that giving back to those who need a helping hand should be a priority.”

Giving back to the community is part of the philosophy of Grounded Organic Coffee House. They regularly give a portion of their tips to charity in hopes that it will inspire other people and businesses to become even more involved in community organizations and associations towards building a healthy and supportive environment for all.

It already is working, according to Sasha. When other businesses heard about this plan they too understood the importance of giving back to the community, and have generously donated gifts and prizes for a special draw. Mountain Baby, the Kootenay Coop, Pixie Candy, McLaughlin’s, Kootenay Coffee and Mountain Waters Spa have all come forward in support of the Grounded campaign for Life After Birth.

Everyone is invited to also help by coming down to Grounded at 616 Vernon St. in Nelson BC on Thursday March 5th from 6:30am to 6pm and buy a coffee, latte, or one of the many delicious offerings that are available. For more information about this event or to get involved, contact Sasha Kitch of Grounded at 250-352-1712.

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