Perfection. A sunny Sunday in mid July at one of my happy places — a Farmer’s Market! We’d scoured the stalls, picked the yummiest stuff and were headed to the car. Mission accomplished.
Whoa…..
I catch something out of the corner of my eye.
ABRUPT STOP
“WAIT!” I call to my daughter and husband who were lugging multiple bags of produce.
My ‘WOW’ radar was firing on all cylinders. This was NOT the veggie, fruit, cheese, pies, preserves, flowers, eggs, and soap known as traditional Farmer’s Market fare. These were beautifully designed, hand crafted coats.
I made a beeline for the closest one.
“Would you like to try it on?”
‘It’ was already in my eager hands. “YES!” I respond (mostly to myself). It was on in a nanosecond.
“I LOVE IT!” I announce to the woman who is chuckling at the hurricane who swept her stall. “Do you MAKE these????”
“I do!” she laughs. This is artist and designer Stephanie Blackford. Originally from Ottawa, now based in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island she’s been working her magic for 25 years. The work is extraordinary…..the most beautiful wearable art I’ve ever seen.
I (no surprise) order a coat! Stephanie obligingly tracks down red fabric and makes it to order. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas and then finally….the day of delivery. WOW!
It seems I’m not the only one to give it a WOW. Wherever I wear my coat it’s a steady stream of “WOW’s” followed by, “LOVE your coat” and “WHERE did you get it?”
So here it is! Luck was shining on me the day I stumbled on Stephanie and her designs at the Ladner Farmer’s Market. But there’s a direct route…. her website Blackford Designs. Enjoy the work of this gifted artist/designer in the comfort of your own home (there’s lots to see) or catch up with her at one of the design shows she’ll be attending in BC and Alberta.
PS … what you can’t see in pic is that the coat laces up with back corset style….totally feminine, totally beautiful!
Big WOW!
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