Artisans of Crawford Bay

The Artisans of Crawford Bay are located 10 minutes south of the Kootenay Bay ferry landing or one hour north of Creston on Highway 3A. Here you can watch original crafts being made in centuries old processes and machinery, culminating in a beautiful assortment of hand made items.

Inside the walls of a straw bale building, you will find walls of coloured yarn and the wooden looms of Barefoot Handweaving Studio and Gallery. Here a team of dedicated and highly artistic weavers and seamstresses utilize their skills and creativity to produce a wide variety of products from natural fibres and weaving patterns. Try on a twisted shawl, hat or shoulder bag and take home beautiful old-world artistry at its best. You will also find a large collection of Ted Wallace paintings instore.

Next door, FireWorks Copper Enamel uses fire and heat to create colorful enamelled wall pieces and a variety of jewelry items like earring, necklaces and other products. In store you will also find a variety of local artists goods on display and sale.

Across the road, North Woven Broom invites you in with the smell of broom corn and the click clacking of antique equipment, churn out a variety of brooms. These range from everyday whisks and hand brooms to functional and artistic brooms with beautiful twisted wooden handles. Ask about the Harry Potter connection while in the shop.

From there walk down to Dog Patch Pottery and hear the potter’s wheel hum or watch as unusual spirals or linear patterns are carefully etched into clay and glazes are painted for the waiting kiln. Colourful, quirky or earthy, you will find unusual mugs, casseroles and bowls at this dog-friendly pottery shop.

Right next door is La Gala Jewelry where you will find a tantalizing display of silver jewelry incorporating precious and semi precious gems. Enjoy a unique hand-picked beach pebble from the shores of Kootenay Lake carefully set into sterling silver earrings, rings and necklaces.

Then you will have the opportunity to visit Kootenay Lake Driftwood Company, where they create rustic woodworks combined with a fluid art flare. Charcuterie boards, birdhouses and one-of-a-kind pieces of art, can be found here for entertaining and gift giving.

No visit to Crawford Bay would be complete without stopping in at Black Salt Café. Here you will find artisan quality food, exquisite coffee and desserts as well as visually appealing and delicious culinary creations ranging from bruschetta and polenta fries, to almondillo merange cookies.

Go online to visit each of these artisans and be part of the growing appreciation for traditional handcrafted old-world traditions brought to life.

1. 1. Barefoot Handweaving Studio and Gallery    16101 Hwy 3A        Barefoothandweaving.com   (250) 227-9655
   2. Black Salt Cafe                             16072 Hwy 3A        Blacksaltcafe.net            (250) 227-9596
   3. Dog Patch Pottery                           16072 Hwy 3A        Dogpatchpottery.com        (250) 354-3159
   4. Fireworks Copper Enamel                    16095 Hwy 3A        Fireworkscopper.ca          (250) 551-0604
   5. Kootenay Lake Driftwood Company           16072 Hwy 3A        Kootenaylakedriftwood.ca     (250) 551-3885
   6. La Gala Jewelry                             16072 Hwy 3A        GalaJewelry.ca             (250_551-0722
   7. North Woven Broom                     1 6122 Hwy 3A       Northwovenbroom.com       (250) 227-9245