Whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift for someone special or just something special for yourself, White Rock is home to a number of wonderfully talented local makers crafting one-of-a-kind goods. White Rock’s local artisans make everything from hand-poured soy candles to stunning pottery to White Rock prints. Take a look at just a few of the unique items being made in White Rock.
Beautigurlz Designs is the online home of watercolour artist, Scarlett Ballantyne. Based in White Rock, she specializes in a loose style of watercolour painting, ranging from bold florals and fashion illustrations to beautiful local scenes. Pick out a charming holiday card featuring the White Rock Pier, and floral art prints, or choose a scrunchie or tumbler adorned with Beautigurlz distinctive artwork. Beautigurlz merchandise can be purchased online or at The Handpicked Home in White Rock.
LAF Apothecary crafts hand-poured, soy wax candles inspired by favourite BC locations, and often crowned with somewhat irreverent names! This holiday season pick-up candles scented with balsam fir, eucalyptus, pine and roasted chestnuts and citrusy peppermint clove. And with names like “Ho Ho Ho Pour the Merlot”, “Nice’ish” and “Proud Member of the Naughty List” you’re guaranteed to get chuckles from your giftees. Available via Instagram or at the White Rock Museum Christmas Market.
Self-professed jitterbug – inspired in many directions and rarely sitting still – Jeanne of White Rock’s Jitterbug Studio finds inspiration for her artwork in vintage items and her beachfront surroundings. In the online shop, and at local markets and retailers (The Handpicked Home and The Shop Next Door), you’ll find a unique mix of vintage home decor as well as locally-made gift products, like the popular street names series of modern prints, and retro-style cityscape canvas prints. Look for the White Rock street print or canvas print for an ever-present reminder of White Rock!
The Dutch Tulip creates beautiful glass ornaments and window designs in their White Rock studio. Specializing in bright colours designed to catch the sun and bring a little brightness to dark winter days, you can find a collection of their work at The Shop Next Door (1187 Johnston Road), the White Rock Museum Christmas Market or order directly through their Etsy shop.
Sherry McMillan, the author of the adorable children’s book, “What the Seal Saw“, is a resident of beautiful White Rock where she can often be found paddling her kayak out into Semiahmoo Bay. It was on these kayaking adventures that she found herself talking to the seals when they popped up out of the water to visit. And the question she asks of the seals? “What do you see?”. It’s from these conversations with the seals that this quintessentially White Rock book was written. Beautifully illustrated by South Surrey artist, Carla Maskall, the pages of the book depict Semiahmoo Bay and White Rock’s coastline. Find “What the Seal Saw” at the White Rock Museum Gift Shop and online retailers.
While living in Hawaii Robb Harding learned the craft of roasting coffee using a makeshift cast iron drum roaster. Now the owner of Islands Cafe, Robb and his wife Jalene, began importing green beans from the Islands and became coffee roasters. Roasting their own coffee allows for better control of the coffee taste profiles and provides customers with the freshest coffee beans possible. All of their coffee is roasted the week it is offered for sale and since opening their Island-themed cafe, they’ve established themselves as a premium boutique roaster. Take home a bag of Lazy Afternoon Medium Roast, Ukelele Dark Roast or a Surf Seasonal blend, beans from other amazing coffee regions all of which coincidentally have amazing surf!
As White Rock’s oldest business, Hillcrest Bakery and Deli is White Rock and South Surrey’s destination for high-quality bakery and deli goods. All of their baking is done in-house from scratch using real ingredients you can pronounce with no preservatives. And with the holidays almost upon us, the crew at Hillcrest are in full holiday baking mode! From gingerbread cookie (and house) decorating kits to authentic stollen and mince-meat pies, Hillcrest Bakery is a must-visit this Christmas.
Life is too short to drink beer that’s not brewed locally! White Rock’s 3 craft breweries are serving up the finest locally brewed beers. With seasonal releases and tried and true favourites, there’s a beer for everyone. And this winter, there are some fabulous seasonal beers on tap like Galaxie Craft Brewhouse‘s Blackhole Chocolate Stout, 3 Dog Brewing‘s Feliz-Navidog, an espresso Kahlua Porter and their K-Nein Mandarin Christmas Kolsch and White Rock Beach Beer Company‘s Border Stout.