Another Season Begins

 Winter does not give up on Digby Neck easily. Winds off the water keep temperatures cool so even sunny days can be unpleasant. But eventually, all bad things must come to an end. The crocuses are croaking and the Great Blue Herons are back. The hummingbirds have reached southern Maine on their annual trek north and the cormorants will soon be basking in the sun at the dock across the street.

So after a tough winter, it's time to open The Artist's Mark.

The sign post will definitely need some repair but inside, things are looking pretty spiffy!

As you can see, we still have a good selection of our premium hand dyed yarn at our cost ($22/skein). Over the winter, we have created a wide selection of jewelry including some awesome copper bangle bracelets for both men and women, Viking Knit chain necklaces in both copper and sterling silver and pendants featuring stones from across the street and around the world. Here's a show stopper we just did in silver.

So if your vacation plans take you to Nova Scotia, come to the best part- Digby (the scallop capital of the world) and Digby Neck, home of the famous Balancing Rock, Whale Watching and, of course, our beautiful little shop.

Since I am a lapidary, I have an awesome rock shop so if you have kids, stop by and we'll give them a free gift and show them how you cut and shape rocks.

We're usually open every day but you can contact us by phone (902) 482-2188 or email ptoceanwaves@gmail.com to make sure.

Hope to see you soon!

Our Own Little Art Colony!

Each year, more people discover that Digby Neck is a great and unique place to live. Among them are artists who find unlimited inspiration in the beautiful natural surroundings. So far this spring, we have had several new arrivals come in and say hi and tell us a bit about their craft. On top of that, we have some amazing talent that has grown up right here! We have several galleries and many artists (including ourselves) are more than happy to have visitors tour their studios.
It has reached a point where we felt that we had the critical mass necessary to put on our own local art exhibition and sale.

So if you are here in early August, stop by and see some amazing art and meet some of the local artists. You will see a fascinating diversity of mediums and styles and you may even be moved to take home "A Piece of The Neck"! Vickie Turner, our resident artist will have some pieces there and if you want to see more, just drop by our studio/shop, The Artist's Mark, on your way out or back from Sandy Cove. You can't miss us- we're right on the highway.
And if the tide is out, leave some time to walk the beach across the street and maybe find your own "treasure"!
Each year there are new things to see and do on Digby Neck and more and more people are visiting for reasons other than the amazing whale watching. So if you are considering a Nova Scotia vacation this might be the perfect spot for your family to spend a few days.
And when you come, stop by The Artist's Mark Studio/ shop where each visitor gets to choose their own free tumbled stone as a souvenir of this amazing area.

Winter Hours at The Shop

Well, I guess it had to happen.
The days are getting a lot shorter and it is dark when I get up to make coffee for "The Queen". We have already had some sleet, freezing rain and a dusting of snow. The last lot of stones have been polished and are being cleaned in the tumbler and after that, it will be put away for the winter. All the chairs are either off the deck or tied down with bungee cords because one thing is certain- big winds are coming! Last weekend we had gusts to 100 Km/hr. but the generator is fixed and back on its pad and just waiting to kick in when the inevitable power outage occurs. And today, for the first time, we fired up the wood stove.
Winter is coming.

Battening Down The Hatches:

Over the winter, we'll have a few big blizzards but what we worry about most is wind. It is absolutely amazing to see what can blow away when the winds are over 100 Km./hr.! So this weekend we will be taking down the large roadside sign. But the smaller Open/Closed sign will still be there.

Winter Hours:

Because of the number of locals who are coming here for the Seawall Fibres Yarn, we will be keeping the entire gift shop open until December 24th. We will be open Thursday and Friday from 10-4 and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5. We don't intend to be away so we will also open the shop by appointment as well if we are around. Just call (902) 482-2188 and we'll do out best to accommodate you. And since anyone coming by will have braved our "cool, breezy weather", everyone will be considered a local and will receive a 10% discount on all merchandise except the odd piece which we have on consignment. It is quite possible that we will open on other days so if you drive by and see the "open" sign, come on in and say hi! You never know when you might be rewarded by a cup of hot coffee!

Keep checking the blog over the winter as I intend to tell you what's new for the spring.

We have had an amazing summer with about double the visitors to the shop. It would appear that tourism in Nova Scotia is on the upswing and we are going to spend the winter preparing for even more visitors next year. I have an industrial heater installed in the rock shop and will be out there as often as "The Queen" (and my hip) allows. As things stand now, I am scheduled to get my new hip in February so I should be well along in my rehab by the start of the tourism season next year. Thanks to everybody who came by and if you weren't able to make it, there's always next year!

Cheers!

The Verdict is In on Seawall Fibres!

We have now had our beautiful Seawall Fibres hand dyed yarn in the shop for a few weeks and it has been a real eye opener for me- a non-knitter.

Here are some actual quotes from people who have shopped in person and then posted on the Seawall Fibres board on Ravelry:

"...a yarn addict (and yarn snob). Your yarn is orgasmic!"

"I couldn't wait to get home to sit and enjoy the softness and colours of these yarns..."

"...a lovely store with a nice selection of different weights of yarn."

" It's soft and squishy and the colours are amazing."

"...the St. Mary's Bay blue is calling my name. Just need to find the right pattern for the gorgeous yarn."

"The yarn colours are outstanding! As beautiful as they are seeing them online, they are even more beautiful in person."

"...what a gorgeous selection of gorgeous colours! Can't wait to get one of these on the needles."

"I fondled and probably drooled just a little..."

Needless to say, sales in the shop have been brisk and this week alone, through our Etsy Shop, we have shipped yarn to Sweden, Ireland, England, the USA and even Canada!

So if you are a knitter, you owe it to yourself to check out Seawall Fibres!

And now a word to you long suffering non-knitters who know a serious knitter (we'll call it SK). In the words of ex President Clinton, " I feel your Pain!".

When I was in the golf business, I was convinced that golfers were the worst fanatics known to man.

I was wrong.

When I got into the sunglass business I met the surfing community. I thought they were the worst fanatics.

I was wrong.

We sold to bass fishermen. Who but the world's biggest fanatics would spend tens of thousands on a bass boat which is basically an open skiff with a seat in the middle and a honking big motor on the back and then enter a tournament and stuff their fish with lead weights to win?

I was wrong.

I say that because I have now met SK! SK enters a yarn store and starts to drool. Read the above quotes people! SK doesn't just knit yarn, SK has an intimate relationship with it. SK has a "stash" of yarn. If your SK has say, 50 skeins, they can still be saved. I've seen worse- a LOT worse! Vickie's stash is so big that if she dies before me I can sell it and move to Tahiti. Heck I could BUY Tahiti!

So if your SK says "I want to go to The Artist's Mark to look at the yarn, they are LYING! I suggest you bring a good book or hang out with me in the rock shop. In the time it takes SK to fondle every skein in the store before buying (and trust me, SK WILL buy) I can teach you to be a first class lapidary!

Oh, did I mention that rock hounds are the biggest fanatics in the world...?

Wish You Were Here!

We have been pretty busy in the shop of late as the tourist season heats up. We've had visitors from Australia, Germany and even Cape Breton! (heh,heh)

A few days ago a neighbour from Sandy Cove showed us a picture she had taken of the sunset over the Bay of Fundy.

Pretty spectacular, huh?

And if you need more reasons, there is the fabulous fresh seafood, high value of the U.S. dollar, amazing whale watching, Rappi Pie (look it up) and, of course, the friendliest people in Canada!

Come on and put us to the test. We look forward to meeting you and value adding to your vacation. And remember, we know all about The Neck so if you have questions, just ask. We also have a lot of brochures on local attractions and points of interest.

Cheers!

Flash! This week we will be receiving a shipment of another 100 hanks of our gorgeous Seawall
           Fibres yarn. Everything we have in the shop is listed on our Etsy site
           www.seawallfibres.etsy.com  so if you can't make it here, you can buy online. We will even  
           pack your purchase in fresh sea air!
           And don't forget to check out the latest posts at www.seawallfibres.blogspot.com
         

We're Open!

May 1st is the official opening date for the shop. Actually, we've been open from time to time all winter when there are special events in town. It was great fun meeting so many of the senior curlers and their supporters from all across Canada.

But now we notice more and more out of province plates coming out The Neck so tourist season is here!
So what's new for this season? Lots!
First off we have a larger, eye catching sign that details a lot (not all!) of what we sell.

We've even managed to add a few floats to our collection!

Next we changed the entrance to the shop.

We're putting in new planters and creating a great "photo op" for our guests.

Inside the shop, we've really expanded our knit goods and this year we are selling our own line of luxurious, exclusive hand-dyed yarns. These yarns will also be sold online through a new venture- Seawall Fibres, and will reflect the beauty found in the natural materials around The Seawall.

The colours are truly spectacular and sure to delight any knitting enthusiast. We will be starting a new blog and Facebook and Instagram page with regular updates on what's available, and when that's in place, we'll let you know and provide links from this blog.

Lastly, Vickie has been busy in her studio creating some amazing jewelry!

This is her new Mako design, inspired by the shark of thew same name. It has gotten rave reviews to date so we can't wait for you to see it.

Our house renovations are almost finished and soon I'll be able to get started in the Rock Shop. I have some spectacular agate to work with to create specimen pieces and jewelry.

So if you live in the area or are planning a trip to Nova Scotia, be sure to include the amazing Seawall on scenic Digby Neck. We'll be waiting for you.

Also, if you are planning a trip at a time when we might not be open, just email or call and we'll see if we can arrange to be open, just for you!

Digby Area Tourism Association

Those of you who follow the blog will find a change starting with this post.

The above is the logo for the Digby Area Tourism Association- DATA- a group of which I am a proud member.

DATA has as its mandate, the promotion of tourism in the greater Digby area. Digby is a fantastic destination point for any vacation to the maritimes with a wealth of things to do and see. I try to include businesses and groups on this blog but it is impossible for me to cover everything.

The DATA sight has a much more comprehensive listing of what is available as well as festivals, etc. that you might wish to plan your vacation around.

Summer is just around the corner so you owe it to yourself and your family to see what Digby has to offer. Just click on the logo to the right and you will be magically transported to their web site.

Enjoy!.

Exciting New Merchandise:

We will also be featuring our own exclusive selection of ultra high quality, hand dyed wool yarn this summer, so come on by and see them. If you are a knitter, you'll be in heaven. And for those non-knitters, we have a wonderful selection of unique, high quality knit goods. I'll do a post in the near future.

Spring Will be A Few Days Late

So yesterday at around noon, we had nothing but bare grass. And then it started to snow. And then it started to blow. And this morning we woke to this:

Winter makes a brief return

At the height of the storm yesterday, we watched a huge section of a dock flow by on the waves and current. It's probably in Boston by now!
If the windows weren't covered, you could see all the neat stuff inside.

The new snowblower is working great and we are connected to the world once again.
So when you come and see us next summer, think of that snowdrift as you walk in the door!
See you soon.

Vickie's Latest Work of Art

Vickie is back on her polymer clay horse and has decided on the theme for her next collection.
She is calling it predator and she is taking her inspiration from the teeth and talons of some pretty nasty beasts whose shapes she finds beautiful (go figure).
The first in the series is the Mako.
When we lived in Jacksonville Florida, Ponta Vedra Beach, actually, we used to find a lot of shark teeth. Each shark has a distinctive tooth design and the Mako's are particularly beautiful.

actual fossilized mako shark's tooth

So starting with this figure, Vickie hand cuts her own forms and uses several different polymer clay techniques to form representational shapes with unique and beautiful patterns. She then combines them with agate and metal spacer beads to produce a beautiful necklace. A set of ear rings, a bracelet and a pendant will complete the set and she plans on doing several in different colour combinations.

The Mako Necklace - no two alike - collect the whole set!

These pieces will be available in the shop next spring and will also be for sale on our new Etsy site (more about that in the next post).
Out here on the Neck, the sun is getting stronger every day and most of the snow has melted. Although we are expecting a big snow storm next week, spring is just around the corner so make your plans now to visit our little piece of paradise out here on scenic Digby Neck.
See you soon.

Whale Cove Campground- a True Digby Neck Experience

Many years ago, I worked as an exploration geologist, spending entire summers living in a tent. I loved it! Growing up, my family camped every summer and the experience gave me some of my fondest memories.
Nova Scotia is basically one big camp site, and a fabulous one to boot! Each year, outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world come here to enjoy the outdoors.
Out on "The Neck" we only have one campground but fortunately, it's a real beauty.
Whale Cove Campground (located, coincidentally, at Whale Cove) gets its name from the numerous whale sightings nearby. It's a beautiful place which offers several different types of accommodations.

Check out the nearby wharf

Do you RV? They have large, easily accessible sites with water and electricity and a dump site.
How about a rustic cottage They have them- with housekeeping!
Campers have a wide choice of clean sites with a lot of amenities including free WiFi, a coin laundry, a small museum and lots more.
Maybe you've never camped in a tent but would like to see what it's like. Well, they even have a Rent-A-Tent program so you don't need to buy expensive equipment before you try it out!

Your home away from home

There are plenty of nearby places to eat and you can even get fresh caught lobster right at the campground!

They even have their own lobster boat!

And there's lots to do for the whole family. Beach comb for agates and sea glass on the rock beach, explore the coves and wharf and hike nearby trails. (And if you find a nice piece of agate, bring it to my lapidary shop at The Artist's Mark Studio/Shop and I'll cut it and polish it for you for a nominal cost. Guests from Whale Cove get a 10% discount on all our goods and services.

Beautiful Bay of Fundy agate

Your hosts at Whale Cove Campground are Tina Frost and her family. If you want to see how big a difference super friendly, helpful hosts can make to your experience, check out the comments on the Whale Cove Campground web site.
Stay at Whale Cove and maximize your Digby Neck Experience!
And while you're here, stop by The Artist's Mark and say hi.

For more information on the Whale Cove Campground, go to www.whalecovecampground.com

Great Place to Stay on the "Neck"

We are definitely into winter here on The Neck and the pace of life has slowed considerably. My new snowblower has worked great so far but time will tell. We get huge waves here when the wind blows from the south and today they are spectacular at high tide. It's truly an amazing place during a storm!
Linda Graham from Centreville stopped in this morning to say hi and I thought it would be good to do a post and tell you about her operation.
Graham's pioneer retreat is located in Centreville, about 5 minutes further up the neck from our shop. If you are looking for a memorable, comfortable and unique place to stay, this is it! Four cabins overlook beautiful St. Mary's Bay, providing spectacular views all year. What makes them unique is that they are totally "off the grid" and yet have electricity and all the comforts of home. How? By generators that can be started and stopped with the flick of a switch.

One of the cabins at Graham's pioneer retreat

For more info on Grahams, go to www.digbyneck.com
So plan your next visit to beautiful Digby Neck and stay at Graham's pioneer retreat. You can go bird watching and whale watching, spend time on some beautiful beaches, go rock hounding (if you are nice to me I'll tell you where!), enjoy some local seafood and a bonfire and see a spectacular starry heavens in our world famous dark night sky.
Visit the amazing Balancing Rock and try and figure out how it got there.

And if you stop by The Artist's Mark, I'll tell you all about the geological history of the neck and show you how we create beautiful jewelry from our local agate. If you are staying at Graham's you'll get 10% off all your purchases in our shop.

Beautiful moss agate pendant in a sterling silver setting

So much to see.
So much to do.
You're gonna' love Digby Neck!

New Lapidary Equipment

So after a lot of head scratching and "creative" engineering, the old Mercury arbor is ready to use.
When I got this, there were 4 grinding wheels on it and a gravity drip system to provide cooling.
Since I now have 60 and 100 grit wheels on the other machines, I removed the 100 grit wheel. Also, the 600 grit grinding wheel has been replaced by a 600 grit diamond belt on the new Lortone unit.

3 new diamond belts

Now there are 200 and 400 grit grinding wheels that have been cleaned and leveled using my diamond sintered truing tool.
So in the empty space on the arbor, I added 3 sanding drums (1200, 3000 and 8000 grit).
I also have a 14,000 grit flat lap on one end.

On the other end, there was an old style metal sanding drum which I am now using as a holder for a padded leather polishing pad.

leather polishing pad with felt underlay

The gravity wetting system has been replaced by a "spitter" which wets the wheel being used from below.

So now I can cut rocks up to 2 inches thick, grind it from 60 grit (really coarse) to 14,000 grit (really, REALLY fine)  and then polish it.

cover reinstalled- ready for action!

The weather is getting cooler each day so the timing is perfect since I have a lot of beautiful agate to work with.
If you are in the area, now or next summer, let me know and I'll be happy to show you how it works. We should have some beautiful specimens and agate jewelry next spring.

New Lapidary Material

It is a foggy day on The Neck and I am still waiting for some grinding wheels and sanding belts to complete my lapidary set up so I thought you might like to see some of the material we have found and cut recently.

Beautiful example of fortification

Vickie found this beautiful stone at Gulliver's Cove. We will cut a few more slabs and make some gorgeous pendants.

A golden and red plume agate with fortification found on Seawall Beach by AgateEye

This stone looked interesting on the outside but even we were surprised when we cut it open! The colours and pattern are spectacular and we plan to cut some slabs for jewelry and sell the rest as specimens.

Really interesting chevron type pattern

Gorgeous example of the rare Golden Flame Agate!

These spectacular stones were both found at Seawall Beach after a huge storm. Both will be used to create jewelry this winter. Boy, is AgateEye going to be busy! It's her own fault - she keeps finding 'em.

The Rock Den is really starting to take shape. New (old) 8" sanding drums came from Black Mountain Lapidary in Kelowna, BC along with the leather buffing pad. Just waiting on the belts, and then we'll reconfigure the arbor. 

Watch for a post showing the new setup.