WC Holiday Shopping Guide Part 4

WEST CARLETON – This Christmas, why not pamper someone with a present that delivers on style and delights the senses.  

In West Carleton Online’s fourth holiday gift guide, local entrepreneurs tell us it’s always a good time to put a little indulgence under the tree.

For more than a decade, glass artist Roxanne Ward has been making her stunning one-of-a-kind glass art and jewelry. The MacLaren’s Landing resident works out of her home studio Shiny Things by Roxanne using the ancient technique of lampworking to melt and shape glass. To experience the light and beauty of her creations is to understand the power of sparkling glass to lift one’s spirits.

Of her dedication to this art form, she said, “it takes a lot of hours on the torch to get this right.”

Although Ward says her nature inspired glass earrings and pendants have been popular sellers at recent craft markets she also likes to make functional and less expensive items as well.

“People tell me they don’t wear as much jewelry anymore so I also make other things such as, ornaments, swizzle sticks, zipper pulls, and wine stoppers,” she said.

Ward says she continually explores new design ideas. On a recent trip to Newfoundland she saw how the Vikings used a U-shaped metal clasp and straight pin to close their cloaks before the advent of buttons. Her glass version of this ancient design is a very stylish way to keep one’s scarf in place.

“I also like to make funky necklaces so I am experimenting with that,” she said. For Christmas she suggests any one of her whimsical and seasonal makes is an ideal stocking stuffer.

“I have hand blown glass Christmas balls and spiral icicles which are very decorative,” Ward said. “Or if you are looking for jewelry, invite someone to make a wish by gifting my glass pendant filled with dandelion seeds.”

Readers may be familiar with Ward as her studio has been a popular stop on the Red Trillium Studio Tour for many years. She is also a veteran vendor at craft markets from West Ottawa to Orleans as well as selling on Etsy. She can be contacted at www.shinythingsbyroxanne.ca.

Carp resident Lori Thornton says her business Rosemary and Fleur Candles was a lucky consequence born out of the pandemic.

“I used to be that girl who would go to the big box store every few months and come home with bags of commercial candles,” she said. “I was beginning to notice the soot on my walls and ceiling and then COVID hit. I wasn’t going back to the stores anytime soon so I thought I can do this.”

Thornton says she was surprised to learn commercial candles may contain harmful substances. So for her own products she decided right from the start to use plant based waxes only. As gifts, her hand-made candles were an instant hit with friends and family.

“My husband said I should really think about selling them,” she said. “I wasn’t sure how that would fit into my life but eventually I decided to give it a whirl and it just took off.”

Sales at local craft markets have been fantastic Thornton says and adds customers can expect new products to be added to her 2025 lineup.

“It is super important for us to use natural ingredients in everything we make because of the health and environmental benefits,” she said. “For example, soy candles are more expensive to produce but they are safer and last longer; one of my 15 ounce vessels will burn for 88 hours.”

In addition to her scented candles, Thornton recommends her all natural goat milk bath soak and salts as ideal self-care gifts. She also suggests her pillar and taper soy wax candles are perfect for a traditional holiday table setting.

Thornton can be contacted via Facebook or Instagram. Rosemary and Fleur candles are now available locally at Giacinto’s Barbershop and March Meadows Farm.

You might wonder why a barber shop sells candles but as it turns out, Giacinto’s Barbershop at 433 Donald B. Munro Dr. in Carp offers more than meets the eye.  In addition to haircuts and specialized beard care for men, owner Andrew Papadolopi has been working daily to develop the shop into a community hub since it’s opening in March 2024. 

“I like to encourage local business and to promote them,” he said. “Anyone is welcome to drop by and browse local makers’ wares on our Mini Mart shelves. While you are here check out the more than 150 businesses who have posted their goods and services on our bulletin board.”

Local vendors interested in selling their makes at the shop are welcome to contact Papadolopi.

For Christmas, Papadolopi suggests Giacinto’s shaving kit as an old-fashioned and traditional gift destined to become a family heirloom.

“The kit comes in a decorative wooden box,” he said. “The shaving blade is Japanese carbon steel with Giacinto’s logo emblazoned on the African mahogany handle. The kit also includes a strop (used to hone the blade), 2,000 grit honing wax and a boar bristle brush.”

It’s thanks to barber Hari Darazi’s expertise, Papadolopi says, that Giacinto’s is Carp’s beard specialist. However, he adds, they cater to everyone beards or not.

“We would like to see the shop as a spa for men – a place for guys to relax,” Papadolopi said. “We want each customer to feel special from start to finish. In the waiting nook we have an old Nintendo video game with console, cartridges and a light gun for kids of all ages. We also serve up specialty coffee and tea while you wait.”

Barber Darazi says his customers are roughly 50:50 men to boys and these days the mullet is a popular cut for the youngsters.

 “The people are real nice and it is a vibrant community,” he said. “It’s a small town but they keep coming back.”

On Sundays the space is given over to stylist Deb Whalen for Sunday Salon where she is available for both ladies and men’s haircuts. 

For something that is always in style, why not consider a Giacinto’s gift card redeemable on the purchase of beard care products and any of the services on offer. There’s nothing like a sharp new look or a luxurious hot towel shave to jump-start the New Year.