Lola’s Heart Center 

 

With a focus on Holding Space for inclusion, positivity and possibility…I intuitively create from my Heart Center.

   Since childhood I have loved to create and through my parents  “waste not” approach, I learned to find value and  see hidden treasure  in raw materials and nature's gifts.  My mother's exemplary  work with fabric & repurposing and my father's woodworking mastery and up cycling of thrift store finds  modelled for me that almost anything can be repurposed, up-cycled, re-birthed , refinished and refined to become valued and beautiful treasures . 

 My own artistic  creations began while our family was still growing and out of necessity we exchanged handmade gifts during holidays and celebrations, which over the years became affectionately known as “Hippie Shit”. My passion for infusions of love and thoughtful intention in gift making  grew each year as I developed  new skills for gifting my beautiful Tribe of Family, chosen family,  fur family and friends.

 I’ve explored and delighted in making  jewelry, paper, soap, candles, canvas art, leather work, wood work, natural personal care items ( lotions, scrubs, toners , essential oil balms...), cloth garments, home accessories and decor. 

Presentation of my “Hippie Shit” was always a priority and I loved putting together gifts with unique wrapping and embellishments to create a whole experience that pleased the eye and delighted the heart, for myself and those receiving.

I am an entrepreneur who has lived, studied and worked in Victoria since 1999. 8 years ago I relocated to the Cowichan Valley and am loving my home, community and opportunities created in my personal and professional life. My educational background of studies is Psychology and Counselling Psychology coupled with a minor in Education which allowed me a great variety of professional opportunities over the years. I have worked in many fields of social work and specialized in crisis work in mental health and addiction for 15 years.  I then came to a new place in my life. I needed a change and I hoped to combine my artistic, functional  and adaptive skills to  a new career.  To start this I returned to trade school and completed my first year of carpentry training/apprenticeship.  

  For the last 11 years, I have been self employed  using and learning so many new skills along the way. “Re-fabulous Furnishings and Creations By Lola” https://everythinglola.weebly.com/ offers furniture and home restoration, repair and maintenance,  finishing work/painting , functional planning, custom woodworking and painting. Through this venture  I found a new sense of empowerment and desire to serve my community through my artistic expression and  careful attention to detail.  Continuing my learning path along the way , in 2019 I returned to school and became certified as an End of Life Doula as a preparation for the future and supporting my community. 

In 2020 we were all faced with challenge, my small handywoman/ refurbishing business was impacted severely due to my community having extra time at home to DIY the things they may have hired me to do in the past .  I dug deep into my spirit and realized “ creation brings my joy to the surface “ and I chose to feed this joy and thus began the creation of “Lola’s Hippy Shit”. My focus was creating using repurposed and vintage and natures raw materials to create jewelry, trinkets, sweet smudge tools /kits and home decor. Filled with love and a spirit of renewal,  I began using leather, wood, wire, feathers and a wide variety of fibres, fabrics, healing stones and crystals. 

As we set to welcome 2025 I have found myself inspired to aim my focus to Metal Smithing (focussing on silver, copper and brass). Mid 2023 my smithing journey began and I discovered my voice through creation once again. I have for over 35 years been a Sterling Silver enthusiast since discovering rings at craft markets as a teen. Through self guided learning and practice I dove right in and found the craft of metal smithing to be both intuitive and abundantly delightful to my soul. I now embrace the title of Silversmith and Jeweller with great pride and enthusiasm.

I’m so excited to continue to learn and grow within my practice of Heart Centred Jewelry Design. Creating Bespoke pieces is my greatest joy, I have come to find that often my clients will see a piece and want something similar so I have committed to making small batch collections to meet this need. I remain committed to honouring Bespoke pieces that are custom designed for commission work.

From raw materials to finished packaging  careful attention is given to the infusion of good will and love. I want my customers and clients to experience a complete “ gift experience” from the moment their jewelry is purchased.  Jewelry is an expression of self and I want each piece to honour that expression so the wearer feels it was created perfectly for them and holds the abundant Joy I wish them to feel. 

Rooted in Gratitude I aim to foster, Strength, Empowerment and Growth by Holding Heart Centred Space for All.