Made in the Fraser Valley

Lotusland Vineyards – Pulse Spotlight – 10.24.11

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

Is there anything better than a delectable drink that’s also environmentally friendly? We don’t think so, which is why we can’t get enough of Lotusland and their delicious, organic, local wines. That’s right; Lotusland is an organic vineyard based right here in Abbotsford. In fact, owners Liz and David Avery proudly say it’s the only 100 percent Fraser Valley Winery.

That means all the wines are made from Fraser Valley fruit, and they’re not just talking about grapes. Devil’s Spit, a red wine, is made from blackberries. But of course they have wines made from grapes, too. One of their best sellers is the Girlsrmeaner, a white wine in both dry and off dry, and the Ortega, with fresh citrus aromas. Or, if you feel like a red, they have a selection that includes Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Enigma.

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The Glass Hive – Pulse Spotlight – 08.29.11

Sunday, August 28th, 2011

When it comes to home decor or giving gifts, we love the unique. One of a kind items, especially those created by hand, offer something that mass-produced items simply cannot. Every time we see The Glass Hive Studio and their glass pieces at an event, we are mesmerized by the bold colours and pretty gift ideas. It was time for a visit to the studio!

 

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Erikson’s Daylily Gardens – FVP Spotlight – 08.22.11

Sunday, August 21st, 2011

Living in a bustling city can be tough – and sometimes it’s all too easy for us to forget to stop and smell the flowers. Although for Pam Erikson, founder of Erikson’s Daylily Gardens, this is hardly ever an issue!

When Pam and her husband Tom moved into their new home in the Township of Langley in 1987, they knew they wanted to create a memorable garden. Little did they know that 24 years later, they would be sharing their backyard garden with visitors from all over the city, province and beyond!

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Bloomz n’ Herbz – Pulse Spotlight – 06.27.11

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

For people looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and get back to nature, there may be no better place than Bloomz n’ Herbz to stop and literally smell the flowers. Bloomz n’ Herbz, located in Rosedale on the bank of the Fraser River, is a little piece of heaven on earth, complete with display gardens and U-Pick flower and herb gardens.

Run by Frits and Laura Praat, Bloomz n’ Herbz is now in its second year. Visitors to the gardens can enjoy the lush landscape while taking the in display gardens—actual antique beds that have been planted with flowers. For guests who just want to come and enjoy the display garden (and maybe have a picnic and relaxing afternoon surrounded by nature), there’s no charge at all.

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Rustic Soap Co. – Pulse Spotlight – 04.25.11

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Congratulations to Nicci & Maureen! This contest is now closed.

We love finding hidden gems in the Fraser Valley. For several years we have seen products from this local business, but have never visited until recently. So happy we finally had the chance to check out Rustic Soap Co.!

Rustic Soap Co. is run by Tawyna Walsh, who started making her own soaps after her young son suffered from eczema. What started as a hobby, or rather an experiment, in 1999 has now blossomed into a thriving soap-making venture! The Rustic Soap Co. retail and soap-making shack opened in 2006.

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Spotlight: Lepp Farm Market 03.14.11

Sunday, March 13th, 2011

Congratulations to Stella. This contest is now closed.

Charlotte and Rob Lepp have been farming in BC for over 25 years, so to say that they know a thing or two about fresh produce, quality meat and local suppliers is a huge understatement.  Between a self-described “foodie” who values preparing quality meals for her own family and a hard-working farmer who takes pride in providing great products, you have got two people with a major passion for local and home-grown ingredients.  And that’s just the beginning.

Lepp Farm Market has been a long time dream of Rob and Charlotte.  With the intention to build a year-round market that would also include local suppliers and gourmet food items, their dream became a reality in 2009 when its doors were opened.  With the look and feel of a farm market and a well organized store that has all of your grocery needs, they sure hit the nail on the head.

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Spotlight: Tenacious Tutus – 01.31.11

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

Congratulations to Chrystalyn and Kelly. This contest is now closed.

Warning! Warning!  The “Adorable Factor” is about to go through the roof with this Pulse Spotlight!  Whether you have a little princess, a budding ballerina or a girl who loves to play dress up, you have probably not seen anything cuter than these custom made tutus from Tenacious Tutus.

Tenacious Tutus is a Chilliwack based company that was created in August 2010 by local Mompreneur, Sarah Sorensen.  After seeing her daughter’s joy and excitement to play dress-up in a tutu at an organized dress-up party, Sarah realized that she could turn the idea of making custom tutus into a great business.  

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Spotlight: January 3, 2011 – Horty Girl

Sunday, January 2nd, 2011

Congratulations to Amy C! This contest is now closed.

When it comes to indoor plants, our team can sure attest to the fact that all female consumers do not enjoy fake purple bird decor and rooster-themed flower baskets. When I received my first Horty Girl piece two years ago, I was thrilled! It is still alive (win!), it still looks gorgeous and it was created right here in our Fraser Valley! I went in search of the local company who created it and met a lovely, hardworking team right down by the Canada/USA border.

Horty Girl is the creation of owner Cheryl Dawn. After studying Horticulture at Kwantlen, then taking on a few projects in her new field, Cheryl soon noticed an opportunity in the indoor plant market. The industry was lacking the stylish, convenient indoor plants such as this. There was nothing on the market like Horty Girl, so Cheryl got to creating a few samples and the retailers she approached absolutely loved them! That was in 2005, when Cheryl was creating the pieces in a 40×40 workshop at her home. Just a few weeks ago, Cheryl and her team opened up a big new production facility in South Langley, as well as a second production facility in Ontario!

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Spotlight: December 13, 2010 – Mally Designs

Monday, December 13th, 2010

You’ve heard us say a million times that we have some exceptionally talented people in the Fraser Valley. Today’s Spotlight is one of our favourite local success stories. Three years ago we were shopping in Fort Langley when we stumbled upon a most fabulous creation. We later learned that Mally Bibs were created in Abbotsford and now we love them even more!

Nicole Garza is a mother of two. As all mothers know, laundry and motherhood go hand in hand. Frustrated at the constant laundering of stained bibs, Nicole put her mind to creating a new kind of bib. Something durable, stain resistant and easy to clean.

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Spotlight: November 1, 2010 – Inspired Arts & Gifts

Monday, November 1st, 2010

CONGRATS TO CHRISTINE B. THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

We love artisanal fairs, craft shows and unique markets that feature the most talented B.C. and Fraser Valley artists. Trouble is, these markets are generally only a day or two long and then we have to seek out the next one in order to find these tremendous talents again. Well, not anymore. Trudi Martens and Kayla Kraubner have given us Inspired Arts & Gifts; a fabulous shop filled with the works of more than fifty talented artisans, mostly BC-based. It’s open year-round, it’s full of beautiful artwork and we think you’re going to love it.

For over a decade Trudi has explored and perfected her pottery skills as a hobbyist while her children were growing up.

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