One of the new pieces that we have taken on is the Sitka trees, from Canadian Metal artist Jack Willoughby.

The Sitka spruce is an iconic west coast tree and one of the tallest conifers, it can attain heights of more than 80 metres and can live for about 8 centuries.

In the display we made a bit of a woodland scene using west coast carvings and sculptures. I really like it, let me know if you do to.

          

Here in Banff though you have to be careful. The natural hazards can chase you!.

I have shown it before. However, on the subject of golf, I thought you might like Octavian Florescu’s version of a natural hazard – in the form of golfing bears.

From now on how can you ever hear of golfers seeing a bear on the golf course without coming up with this image.

Let me know if you like it.

          

We have just taken on a new original piece from Chris Derubis. It’s called I Love Wine.

I love it, let me know if you do.

          

This week we have made the store window along a theme of food and drink and I thought I would share with you a lovely new line that we picked up this year.

It is hand built pottery from Nancy Hilborn.

I particularly like the pistachio bowl, in the rich cinnamon colours. (You fill one side with nuts and the other with the resulting empty shells).

As one side fills and the other empties it leads to the question – are you a half full or half empty kind of person?

Let me know if you like it.

          

For those of you that celebrate Mothers Day in two weeks, on the 13th of May, we have created a page of Mothers Day gift ideas (click here). If you have already had your Mothers Day then bookmark this page for the future.

Some of the ideas that I like best are:

A Mothers Love

View product

Breath

View product

Dip Dish

View product

Oxidized Silver Earrings

View product

Protection

View product

Paperweight

View product

Pullover

View product

Second Lesson

View product

Tree Of Love

View product

          

However another photo on the same blog, that I really liked was the mystery of the lynx walking through fences!

On the subject of the lynx I thought you might like an image from Nathalie Parenteau. It is a limited edition called Northern Birch Forest.

Let me know if you like it.

          

In the spring there is no celebration but there is the reverse migration. This week there have been loads of eagles about. In fact on Wednesday this week, despite poor visibility, Eagle watch counted, among many other birds, 8 Bald Eagles and 17 Golden Eagles!.

I thought that, on this subject, you might like the print Flight by First Nation Artist Andy Everson.

Tell me if you like it?.

          

The bears are coming out of hibernation. They were saying in the local paper that there have been three bear sightings over the last week. Despite the fact that it continues to snow this is a sure sign that winter is almost over.

I thought you might like to see my 6 favourite bear products. Some are from artists that are new to us, some are old favourites.

Bear with attitude

View product

Jade bear with fish

View product

Mamas Hunter

View product

Orion bear pendant

View product

Relax

View product

Silver bear paw

View product

          

These are high quality prints on photographic paper and look really sharp framed up!. In fact they proved so popular that we extended the range.

With all the snow we have had this year (30 feet+ at Sunshine) the one that speaks to me is called “When Ski Trails Call“.

The other, because it could be anyone, is “Ski in the Canadian Rockies“.

Let me know if you like these.

.

          

Its a great day and, though there are some great racers, most people are just there for fun. I have been entering for six years and have met families from Europe that plan their vacation to coincide with the race.

The group to try and beat, for me, is those 70+ year olds (I don’t stand a chance against the rest), wish me luck.

For your info

Bruno Engler is a recipient of the Alberta Achievement Award for Excellence, the Premier Cup for Photography and Mountaineering, the 1987 Rose Award and the 1986 Summit of Excellence Award, which is the highest honor that the mountain community can bestow upon its peers for contributions to mountain culture.