Lash Bar West
Jessica Lee has been a lash artist since December of 2018 and opened Lash Bar West on the corner of Sooke Road and Happy Valley Road in October of 2019. She fell in love with eyelash extensions when she had some applied before a trip to Mexico. She loved how she looked and how low maintenance they were.
| Darcy Nybo |
“Ever since then I’ve thrown myself into everything there is to do with lashes. I’ve been certified for four types of lash applications and my mentors have been some of the top in the industry,” Lee said. “Even now, if there’s a new development in the industry, I’m out there taking the course so I can give my clients the latest techniques, styles and products.”
You can also take courses on eyelash applications through her shop. For more information or to book an appointment, go to lashbarwest.com.
Poshy Paw
Belinda Jay, a busy art photographer before COVID hit, was looking for ideas. She decided to recreate a bag she’d bought in Hawaii that was great for taking on dog walks.
“Whenever I was out walking, people would comment on the bag. I asked a friend to teach me how to sew and create the pattern. It took me a few months to learn and it took five bags before I got it right,” she said.
The result, Poshy Paw Dog Walk Bags, are a cross-body bag with a large pocket for a cell phone and sanitizer and a small pocket for dog treats. The best part about them is the built-in bag dispenser, which makes it easy to dispense the scoop bags.
Jay, a volunteer for the Canadian Mental Health Association, donates 10 per cent of all sales to the organization. You can see these fun bags at etsy.com/ca/shop/PoshyPaw.
Vancouver Island Pyroart Designs
Jenny Stanford started her company in November of 2020, after her holiday home was grounded.
“I took a few weeks off to go home to the UK, but since we couldn’t fly, I got bored and started creating pieces of art,” she said. “I had some reclaimed wood and painted a picture on it for the house. Then I researched what else I could do. I’ve combined three techniques of wood burning, acrylic pens and water colours. Then I seal them all to protect the art.”
The smallest items she makes are keychains, about three inches across. Ornaments and coasters are about four to six inches and larger plaques are also available.
“I am open to custom orders and like to work with live edge wood. If someone has a piece of wood they love, I’d be happy to look at it and see if we can use it,” Stanford said.
You can see some of her work on Instagram, Facebook and Etsy by searching Vancouver Island Pyroart Design.