100 % Local, Handmade Gifts at Side Street Studio!
100 % Local, Handmade Gifts at Side Street Studio! Side Street Studio is like visiting your favorite holiday craft fair all year round!
We offer a wonderful range of unique designs and prices on local, handcrafted, West Coast Inspired Gifts both in-store and on our extensive website. We ship all over North America.
Our selection includes: Jewelry, Functional and Decorative Pottery, Wood Turnings, Wood Art, Glass Art, Functional Glass, Small Works, Textiles, Sculptures, Gift Cards, Photography, Metalwork, Natural Soaps, Bath Salts, Candles and much more. We really do have something for everyone and rarely a customer leaves empty handed.
This year Side Street celebrates 40 years since the business opened having represented over 675 localBC Artists and Makers during that time. I am the 4th owner and have continued with the vision of the original Seven Women Artists who founded Side Street to create a space to showcase the unique work by artists inspired by the natural beauty of British Columbia.
At Side Street Studio we endeavor to build connections between the work, the artist, and our customers. The Studio has been curated with the hope that when you step inside you can see from where the artists draw their inspiration. The majestic mountains, our ancient forests, the rugged coast, and the beauty of the sea.
Every purchase made at Side Street Studio not only supports a small, independent, woman run business but a whole community of local BC Artists andMakers. By “Shopping Local” you have really made a difference for all of us and we are so grateful for the ongoing support.
Whether you are shopping for the upcoming Holiday Season or every day we always have something new in stock!
See you soon!
Jill Fitz Hirschbold
Side Street Studio is Celebrating 40 Years of representing Local Artists!
Side Street Studio is Celebrating 40 Years of representing Local Artists!
In 1984 Lilly Bohlin, Shirley Ann Bertz, Francisca Hayman, Rita Darling, Nanci Secter, Naomi Smith and Marjolyn Winkel rented the annex of an upholstery store on Fell Street to showcase and sell their work. The entrance to the store was on the side of the building, hence the name Side Street Studio. Over the years they welcomed other artists to the collaboratively run space and built up a very loyal clientele for their locally handmade work. In the 90’s they moved to our current location on Oak Bay Ave and sold the business in 2000. I took over as the 4th owner in 2017.
Over 650 local BC artists have been represented over the last 40 years and we currently have over 140 artists and their amazing West Coast Inspired work both in-store and on our website. We offer a wonderful selection of 100% local, handmade: Jewelry, Functional and Decorative Pottery, Wood Turnings and Art, Glass Art, Functional Glass, Small Works, Textiles, Sculptures, Gift Cards, Photography, Metalwork, Natural Soaps, Candles and much more.
We have continued with the vision of the original Artists who founded Side Street and have created a space to showcase the unique work by artists inspired by the natural beauty of this coast. We endeavor to build connections between the work, the artist and the customer and have curated the Studio with the hope when you step inside you can see from where they draw their inspiration….the majestic mountains, the ancient forests, and the beauty of the sea.
Every purchase made at Side Street Studio not only supports a small, independent, woman run business but a whole community of local BC Artists and Makers!
Looking forward to seeing you this summer!
Jill Fitz Hirschbold
100 % Local, Handmade Gifts at Side Street Studio!
100 % Local, Handmade Gifts at Side Street Studio!
It has certainly has been an unprecedented time and hard to believe that 2 years ago we were just opening the store again after being closed for 10 weeks! I can’t thank everyone enough for the support we receive everyday and during that time. Every purchase made at Side Street Studio not only supports a small, independent, woman run business but a whole community of local BC Artists and Makers. By “Shopping Local” you have really made a difference for all of us.
Currently we represent over 150 Local BC Artists and Makers but since the store opened 38 years ago over 600 artists have showcased their work in the Studio. We strive, both in-store and on our extensive website (sidestreetstudio.com), to offer a really wonderful range of unique designs and prices on handmade, West Coast inspired;
Jewelry, Pottery, Wood Turnings, Glass Art, Small Works, Textiles, Sculptures, Gift Cards, Photography, Metalwork, Natural Soaps, Bath Salts, Candles, Organic Honey, Organic Teas and much more.
We have thousands of 100% locally made items to choose from and rarely a customer leaves empty handed. Whether you are searching for a keepsake during your visit or looking for that special wedding gift we really do have something for everyone.
I travel Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and to Vancouver on a regular basis visiting our artists and their studios to pick up stock for the store. Building these personal relationships and hearing their stories of where their inspiration comes from is the key in creating connections between their work and our customers.
I’m so grateful to represent the work of so many talented local artists and makers, for the amazing group of women who work beside me in the store and our wonderful customers!
Thank you!
Jill Fitz Hirschbold
100 % Local, Unique, Handmade, West Coast Inspired Gifts at Side Street Studio!
100 % Local, Unique, Handmade, West Coast Inspired Gifts at Side Street Studio!
I would like to begin with saying how grateful we are to all of our local and online customers for the incredible support we receive every day and throughout this challenging time. Each and every purchase that is made at Side Street Studio not only supports a small, independent, woman run business but a whole community of 200 local artists. By “Shopping Local” whenever you can you are really making a difference for all of us. I also have to thank all of these amazing local artists for trusting me to represent their heart-centered work. Side Street Studio is celebrating its 37th year with representing over 600 local artists during that time.
We have been working around the clock filling the shelves and adding to the thousands of items we have on our website for the Holidays. We continually strive to offer a really wonderful range of unique designs and prices and believe you will enjoy our selection of 100% local, handmade, Jewelry, Pottery, Wood Turnings, Glass Art, Small Works, Textiles, Sculptures, Gift Cards, Photography, Metalwork, Natural Soaps, Bath Salts, Candles, Organic Honey, Organic Teas, Holiday Cards and much more.
Almost every item in the store is also available online at www.sidestreetstudio.com.
We offer worldwide shipping, curbside pick-up and in store shopping.
Side Street is currently open 7 days a week and will be expanding our hours in December. Being able to open everyday has been made possible by the incredible team of women that work along side me in the store. I couldn’t do this without them.
Wishing everyone the very best for the upcoming season as families and friends reunite after such a long and difficult time apart.
Be kind and take care of each other.
Jill Fitz Hirschbold
Thank you for Shopping Local at Side Street Studio!
for the incredible support we receive every day and through this past holiday season.
Each and every purchase that is made at Side Street Studio not only supports a small,
independent, woman run business but a whole community of 200 local artists.
By “Shopping Local” whenever you can you are really making a difference for all of us.
Thank you!!
After a short break to reset we have been busy refilling the shelves and adding to the
thousands of items we have on our website. We have also had the pleasure of welcoming
a number of new artists to the amazing group we have in the studio and can’t wait for you
to see all of their beautiful work. We continually strive to offer a really wonderful range
of unique designs and prices and believe you will enjoy our selection of local, handmade,
West Coast inspired; Jewelry, Pottery, Wood Turnings, Glass Art, Small Works, Textiles,
Sculptures, Gift Cards, Photography, Metalwork, Natural Soaps, Bath Salts, Candles,
Organic Honey, Organic Teas and much more.
Almost every item in the store is also available online at www.sidestreetstudio.com .
We offer worldwide shipping, curbside pick-up and free delivery within 10 km.
Side Street is currently open Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 5 pm. If you have any
questions or want to confirm our hours please give us a call at 250-592-1262.
We continue to take every measure to ensure your experience in the store as safe as
possible by limiting the number of customers at one time and personally hand sanitizing
each and every person as they enter the store.
Looking very forward to spring and seeing you soon!
Jill Fitz Hirschbold
Two Years Have Flown By Already!
What has not changed is our commitment to highlight our incredibly talented pool of local BC Artists, to provide our regular, visiting and online customers with a wide range of beautiful handmade work and to maintain an exceptional level of customer service!
New Owner at Side Street Studio
New Owner at Side Street Studio
Hello,
Now that everything is settling in I would like to properly introduce myself. My name is Jill Fitz Hirschbold and I am the new owner of Side Street Studio.
I have lived on the Coast for 30 years and my formal education is in the Sciences. I have a Diploma in Environmental Quality Control, a Bachelor of Science; I’m a Certified PADI Dive Master, a Paddleboard Instructor and spent 12 years working as a Laboratory Manager in Environmental Analytical Chemistry before starting a family. When my daughters were born, in my early 40’s, I made the decision to leave my career to stay at home with them.
To be honest I could not have predicted what would come next.
Over the last 7 years I have created a home based business with my West Coast and Abstract Photography. It extends from a line of photo gift cards to large format art sales and photography services. I have participated in Studio Tours, Arts Shows; have been a member of the Gage Gallery and for many years was represented by the Brentwood Bay Resort. I have organized art shows from the conceptual theme, curated participating artists, hung the artwork, scheduled staff, facilitated sales and fully planned the opening nights. My pieces have made their way to England, China and the US and many private residences in Western Canada. I have participated and successfully sold at the Sooke Fine Arts show in 2015/17. I have also volunteered my photography skills to Raincoast Conservation, Greenpeace Canada, FraserFEST, Watershed Watch, Tour de Victoria, Swiftsure, Santa Shuffle, many other community events and donated works to the Banff Mid-Summers Ball 2014/15/16/17/18, CNIB Art Appeal 2015/17, Heart for Hospice 2015, VGH/UBD Night of 1000 Stars Gala 2015 and YWCA Woman of Distinction Awards 2016/17. I have participated in over 20 shows and have self-published three books of my images paired with my writing.
You would think with all this and raising children it would be say enough but I was missing the daily interaction that comes with working outside the home. Then this amazing opportunity came my way. I have sold my cards at Side Street for many years so was very familiar with the Studio and the business model. It is a perfect fit.
My goal is to continue to build on the vision and many years of hard work, by all of the previous owners, that has made the Studio a success. To maintain the standard that is expected by customers when visiting the store and online, to keep all the artists that customers have come to know and love but also add in new talent so there is always something new to see. I also hope to meet each of the British Columbia artists that are represented in the store and try and understand a bit about how their process works. It is that personal connection that can be translated to the customer when we sell their handmade artwork.
This is truly the key to this success……Art comes from the Heart.
My wonderful staff, Kathy, Jean, Samantha, Heather, Joanne Sheila, and I invite you to come down to the Studio and see what we have been up to.
Best,
Jill
