by Caitlin Bryant

Adorn the bedroom…or find things sure to get you into the bedroom with your special someone. This column is full of self-satisfaction because I have a bit of a collection, also known as obsession, with many of these products.

Adorn The Bedchamber
The Magic Trunk: Lois Warner creates stunning bedding in sets and separates: duvet covers, sheets, pillowcases, quilts and wall hangings. A set usually includes a unique batik duvet cover matched to a bottom sheet and two pillowcases. Made of 100% cotton (even the thread) at a standard thread count of 600 (that’s a very fine count, in case you wondered) all for $250.00. Nothing feels better than cotton! Classy bedding is an easy way to jazz up a bedroom and quality duvet covers and sheets last many years. Lois buys her batik cottons from a family in India who dye the fabric by hand. The colors are rich, vibrant—yet machine washable! If you are a Texada resident or visitor, you may have frequented her store, The Magic Trunk, 3309 Cedar St. in Gillies Bay (open spring to fall). If you are unable to make it into her Texada store, contact her at 250 951-6629.

Fabrications: Shelia Munro’s latest textile adventure uses rich textures, colors and prints for decorative cushions in all sizes. She’s always on the lookout for beautiful fabrics in any form, velvets, silks, upholstery, heavy cottons, tassels, fine netting and soft piping. Shelia’s father, who worked in the fabric department at Eaton’s in Vancouver, used to bring home scraps of brocade fabrics for her, and so began the love affair. Just under a year ago, she decided to take her hobby to the streets and test the waters—the waters are warm and business is steady, at prices from $20-$40. Contact Shelia directly at 604 483-9212 or check out her Fabrications at TrendzEssence Fashions.

Adorn The Body
Karin Birch is a master silversmith. She works with .999 % pure silver and stones like emerald and ruby to create stunning earrings, necklaces, pendants, brooches and more. Inspired by nature and sensuality, this silversmith, with 35 years’ experience behind her, has been selling her flawless works of art for the last six years. You can imagine the high quality and craftswomanship, but it’s more fun to see it and handle it. Maybe you saw Karin’s private collection of erotic jewelry at ‘Expose Yourself’ 08? Keep an eye out for her new pieces at Expose Yourself 2 in March. Priced from $25-$200, Karin’s art is available exclusively at Artique.

Adorn The Bathroom
The Primrose Path boasts a line of essential-oil-scented soaps, bath salts and bombs, salt and sugar scrubs (divine!), moisture bars, beeswax candles, and new, undiluted essential-oil blends. One product I’d recommend for Valentine’s Day…the Exotic Orange Moisture Bar. Moisture Bars are made with a mixture of beeswax, cocoa, mango and shea butters, olive and castor oils and—the best part—pure essential oils. The exotic orange blend is particularly nice with a really sweet, spicy and easy scent.

You can peruse them from home with your eyes at www.primrosepath.ca or bring your nose to the display at Artique

The Art Bump is one my favorite new fashion options in town. Jenny Taves moved to our funky little haven last summer to revive, repurpose and reinvent fashions for men and women. Using recycled materials, Jenny works in fabric appliqués, illustration transfers and hand painting and re-dyes. Out of her propensity for recycling come lots of options, from tee shirts to vests, pants to headbands, hats to vintage leather bags. Her more intimate selections? Slips, slips, slips! Slips with appliquéd flowers, slips with hearts (and I mean anatomically correct hearts), tie-dyed, long, short, pink, black, and green. Slips for the bedroom, slips for layering over jeans or leggings, slips of all kinds.
Priced at $45, Jenny’s slips are available exclusively at TrendzEssence Fashions.