New Retail Location for Celtic Creations
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER- With the arrival of Spring and the onset of finer weather, the wedding season is fast approaching. Many brides and grooms of the Celtic persuasion, and those of the not-so-Celtic background, who are looking for those special touches will be making a trip to Celtic Creations at Lonsdale Quay Market.
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HELEN RITCHE stands beside the bold new Celtic design border around the entrance of her new store in Lonsdale Quay.
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The store specializes in fine quality Celtic jewellery and offers an extensive display of Celtic design engagement and wedding rings.
"Wedding bands are our biggest seller," said Cork-born owner Helen Ritchie. "Pink sapphire is a really popular stone right now and it is the hardest stone next to a diamond. It's something different from the traditional blue sapphire, but diamonds are always a classic. We can do a solitaire engagement ring with matching wedding bands.
"Another idea which is really popular right now, is that people will only go for only one ring such as a Celtic knot ring with diamond rails all around it. With the Celtic design you need more space which makes for a wider band, so you can't fit two rings together comfortably.
"We also do Claddagh rings with diamond rails and we can do platinum, white gold, yellow gold or a combination."
Celtic Creations is located on the second level of Lonsdale Quay and in February they moved to a new location which is on the same level. I recently dropped in to visit the new store and was very impressed. The new premises feature a bold Celtic design border around the entrance and a Celtic mosaic mat greets you at the door.
"We had been at the other location for 10 years and it was time to do some renovations," said Helen. "We were also looking for a store to come available that would offer better exposure for us.
"Even though this store is a little bit smaller, we thought that we could work with it, and it's worked out very well. In fact we have had one of our biggest and best St. Patrick's ever. It was possibly a combination of moving the store, CelticFest, and the added exposure that the new store has provided."
Celtic Creations store is beautifully merchandised and along with the jewellery showcases, there are also showcases of Belleek Parian China, Waterford Crystal and Pewter.
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AN EXAMPLE of one of the custom designed Celtic rings which Celtic Creations offers to their customers.
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The store also carries bodhrans (Irish drums), and there are two different kinds. The lighter bodhran for display purposes and the heavier pro-bodhran which most musicians would want since the skin is heavier. Some of the bodhrans are also adorned with Celtic designs on the skin. They also have a great stock of Celtic music and books.
One excellent booklet which Celtic Creations carries is called Creating A Celtic Wedding. It features wedding traditions and celebrations from the Celtic Isles of Ireland and Scotland with all kinds of traditions, superstitions and folklore, right down to the wearing of the kilt. It's a handy little resource for Celtic weddings.
Celtic Creations is located at Lonsdale Quay Market, second level, North Vancouver. For more information, call (604) 903-8704, or visit: www.celticcreations.net.
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