ABOUT MARCELLA

 

Marcella Andrews is a naturalist at heart with a tremendous love of the outdoors. Raised in Kitchener, Ontario, she left the east at 21 to find a new life on the west coast, where she knew her heart and soul would resonate with the mountains and the sea. She found her way to a remote Gulf Island, where she met her husband, had two wonderful children, now grown, at the homestead they built from nothing. The years of outdoor living, gardening and creating have served her well. She is still an avid gardener, and takes inspiration from nature in all her forms. "In the beauty of nature, lies the spirit of hope."
 
Twenty years ago, while raising her children, she discovered hand paper making, and has since enjoyed years of creative fun in her ability to think up amazing things to do with paper. She loves to enliven creativity in others, and has taught a variety of creativity classes from papermaking in 2 and 3 dimensions, basketry, mask-making, and more recently, lampshade recreation and window art. She has worked with all ages from children to the elderly, as well as those with dementia. She took time out for a hip replacement, and careers in newspaper advertising and elder care, but found that her creativity kept calling her.

That she can create beautiful, functional art from what she finds walking through her life has turned into an incredible gift. In August, 2007, she launched Lighten Up - The Art of Lighting in Qualicum Beach, where she has lived for the past 18years. With her passion for paper, colour and light; she found boring white and beige lampshades to be the perfect blank canvas. From there she found frames and window blinds which became the canvas for her delicious window art, the paper makers version of stained glass. Today, she uses organic, translucent handmade papers which are imported from small villages in third world countries. Rather than burning the left over stems and stalks from the banana, mango, mulberry harvest, the women take the materials and make the most amazing papers...even textured, translucent and both neutral and rich coloured. They have it down to an art, and Marcella is pleased to buy these papers, thus helping to support these poor families.

 

Get Lightened Up

It is with great pleasure that she shares her knowledge, creativity and love for colour and light. Feel free tosend a message,or call for a quote to have your own old, broken,stained, torn or just plain boring white or beige lampshade "lightened up" to better match your lamp base and decor. If you live near Qualicum Beach, call for an appointment at 250.752.8554.

Rescued and new lamps with unique and interesting shades, window art blinds are also available. Commercial orders for hotels, restaurants, lobbies are welcomed. And she looks forward to allowing, supporting and enlivening the creativity in others through workshops. She teachesclassesatLeaving Impressions Galleryin Qualicum Beach, andVancouver Island Universityin Nanaimo.

 

Where Do I Go To Get Lightened Up?

Marcella's pre-made works can be purchased by contacting her directly via thecontact pageor by calling her at 250.752.8554. Selections of her work can also be viewed, or purchased at the following outlets (please call them ahead to confirm availability):
 

Arts West Gallery
 
3520 Brittain Blvd.
Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K 1W2

Tel: 250.752.3193
Fax: 250.752.3126
Email:artswest@telus.net
Web: www.thegardengallery.ca/gallery.php
 
Hours: Please call
 

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Biscotti Di Notte Caffe/Gallery

707 Beach Road
Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K 1S4

Tel: 250.752.3637
Email:biscottidinotte@shaw.ca
Web: http://www.members.shaw.ca/biscottidinotte2/

Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 9:30am - 2:30pm  

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Leaving Impressions Gallery
 
5320 Island Highway West
Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K 1Z2
 
Tel: 250.757.9480
Email:leavingimpressions@shaw.ca
Web: http://www.leavingimpressions.com

Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am to 4:00pm


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My Girlfriend's Closet

200 Second Avenue West, Unit 106
Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K 1S7

Tel: 250.752.1925
Fax: 250.954.2932

Hours: Please call


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Always speak your truth; because those who mind, don't matter, and those who matter, won't mind. - Dr. Seus