Pamela Coulston, the lady that wrote the story Ice and Men which I reprinted on this website also has another talent – she designs jewellery – Canadian-inspired jewellery. This is not a plug to get you to buy her jewellery. I get no commissions from it. I just wanted to bring to your attention the craftsmanship here. Myself, I love silver jewellery, but there is also gold offered if you are so inclined. I have three or four favourites among her selections.
It’s hard to say which is my most favourite, but this salmon from her Canadian West Coast Marine Life collection is one of I would choose first. It is 5 cms long and swivels actively on a necklace. I would have to say this ranks number one with me.
I met Roy in Smithers, British Columbia at the Heartstrings store where he was signing some of his works. I mentioned that I was writing about the BC lighthouses and their keepers and said that I would look him up one day to promote his work. On his website it says:
Canadian artist Roy Henry Vickers is best known around the world for his limited edition prints. He is also an accomplished carver, design advisor of prestigious public spaces, a sought-after keynote speaker, and publisher and author of several successful books.
In addition, he is a recognized leader in the First Nations community, and a tireless spokesperson for recovery from addictions and abuse.
Roy has received many awards and honours for his art and community involvement. Among them are a hereditary chieftainship and several hereditary names he has received from Northwest Coast First Nations. – with permission Roy Henry Vickers website
I purchased the above card as it showed Trial Island lighthouse in the distance, but according to Roy, he has many more lighthouse art prints. If they arrive before this gets online, I will add them here; if not, later. Continue reading Roy Henry Vickers – Native Art Extraordinaire→
The Studio of JUST SHIPS, located in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, produces three dimensional stained glass, wood, and metal artwork.
Whenever possible the material used is from re-cycled sources. Scrap metal, bottles, old copper pipes, electrical cables, driftwood and computer parts are utilised to manufacture these unique and individual sculptures.
Harry Heine R.S.M.A., C.S.M.A., N.W.W.S. (July 24, 1928 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – September 25, 2004 Victoria, BC, Canada) was an artist who specialized in maritime scenes. – Wikipedia
Many years ago, having found the Heine family website at Spindrift Studios, I admired the lighthouse paintings of Harry Heine and upon request I was given permission by his son Mark Heine to reprint the following three works of Harry Heine for your enjoyment, and as a lure to get you to visit the family website. Beautiful artwork. Click the photos below to go to the website.
Risking it All – Oil on our Coast is a short film that outlines the plans for the pipeline and tanker route and what it means for our beautiful coast. It is produced by Twyla Roscovich in association with Hartley Bay & Gitga’at Nation, Oil on our Coast is meant to inspire, empower and help fuel the battle to save what sustains us. – Twyla Roscovitch
Another artist that will get your lighthouse blood running is Graham Scholes. He just loves lighthouses and has artwork of southern and northern BC lightstations. Click the photo below for a link to his website.
Photos of British Columbia lighthouses by Cyril R. Littlebury in the years 1922 to 1932 with thanks to Dudley R. Booth for permission to publish – please visit Dudley’s new website at Historic Photos. There are many more photos there besides lighthouses.
When Dudley Booth developed some old negatives his father gave him he found a treasure trove of scenes from 1920s and 1930s Vancouver.
A lot of contacts that I have made with this website have given me permission to use some of their lighthouse photos and art to illustrate my stories. Quarter Master Design is one of these. Perusing the website today, I decided that instead of showing selected items to wet your appetite, I would print a copy of their home page for you to see. Click on the picture above to go to the website of Eric Nevatie at Quarter Master Design – beautiful!
This song is by Westlife (Facebook link), a group that has been in the charts since 1998. It is from their final album “Greatest Hits” . The Irish group has said they will be splitting up after their final 2012 tour.
The album contains some older songs and four new ones including this one called “Lighthouse”. It is the band’s second compilation of greatest hits, following the 2002 release of “Unbreakable.”
In December 2011 I received a Guestbook entry from a Scottish ex-lighthouse keeper who said “I was made redundant from the service in 1992 and the last Keeper retired from the service in 1998 . . .” His name is Peter Hill and he has written a few poems about his life and also a book. The poem I like the best is reproduced below.
Peter was a keeper in Scotland and I was a keeper in Canada, and we have never met before, but he wrote in the poem below:
“I dress in darkness yet know my style, my clothes on dresser neatly piled.”
Now only a lighthouse keeper would write about this fact about dressing in the darkness to go on the morning shift. I did the same thing, as it allows our eyes to adjust to the darkness so we can see better before going outside to observe the weather for the upcoming weather report.
I hope you enjoy the poem as much as I did.
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The Lighthouse Keeper – A day in the Life
In softest echo and muffled beep, I am awakened from my shallow sleep Anticipating that very call! It’s a wonder how I sleep at all Accustomed and by ritual seed refreshed in body by slumbers need My motions slow and gentle take, while sleeping Mags, am careful not to awake I dress in darkness yet know my style, my clothes on dresser neatly piled. Shirt and jumper left till last, washed and ready for my watch.
