B6 Friday, March 23, 2012 - The Morning Star
www.vernonmorningstar.com
EDITOR: KATHERINE MORTIMER
Life
Y
PHONE: 550-7924
Y
E-MAIL: lifestyles@vernonmorningstar.com
New arrivals Sept. 7: Born to Jeremy and Amy Koch of Vernon, a boy, 6 lbs. 11 oz. named Nathanael Aaron. A grandson for Shirley Koch of Vernon, B.C., Douglas Koch of La Crete, Alta., Frank Guetter of London, Ont. A great-grandson for Heinz and Ludmilla Koch of Abbotsford, B.C., Hazel Keating of White Rock, B.C., Ruth Green of Mt. Brydges, Ont., Frances Guetter of Grimsby, Ont. Feb. 26: Born to Sherise Lacey and Ly Faber of Vernon, B.C., a girl, 6 lbs. 8 oz., named Lacey Athena Faber. A granddaughter for Angela Lacey, Dean Lacey, both of Burns Lake, B.C., Toos Faber, Arnold Faber, New Additions both of Vernon. A greatgranddaughter for Shirley and Bill Ortloff of Burns Lake, Anje Faber of Vernon. Feb. 27: Born to Sheldon Matte and Rachel Bibby of Vernon, a boy, 6 lbs. 14 oz., named Isaiah Hugh Matte. A brother for Elizabeth, 17 months. A grandson for Bob and Kelly Bibby, Nicole Sengotta, Brigitte Bruneau, all of Vernon, B.C. A great-grandson for Giselle Fontiane, Peggy Balfour, Tom Balfour and Evelyn Torrence, all of Vernon. Feb. 28: Born to Jamie and Regena Seminutin of Vernon, a girl, 7 lbs. 15 oz., named Rachel Elizabeth. A sister for Jackson, 2 3/4. Feb. 28: Born to Perry and Alana Dube of Enderby, a girl, 8 lbs. 7 oz., named Gabrielle Claire. A sister for Nathan Marcus. A granddaughter for Mark and Slavica Bolan of Enderby. A great-granddaughter for Linda and Tim Carter of Kitimat. A great-granddaughter for Estelle and Geoff Tilby of Edson, Alta. March 1: Born to Mandi Maundrell and Kolby Klassen of Falkland, B.C., a boy, 7 lbs. 3 oz. named Kolton William Klassen. A brother for Dylan, 2. A grandson for Bob and Deb Maundrell, Jim and Ruth Klassen, all of Armstrong, B.C. A greatgrandson for Clara Harasymchuk of Vernon, Katherin Klassen of Armstrong. March 1: Born to Nathan Sulz and Amanda Illidge of Vernon, a boy, 8 lbs. 8 oz., named Samuel Thomas Sulz. A brother for Annalise, 3. A grandson for Bill and Normi Illidge of Armstrong, B.C., Barb Sailer of Vernon, B.C., Gary and Chrissie Sulz of Revelstoke, B.C. A great-grandson for Ella Ritchey of Vernon, Norm Gronskei of Goldbridge, B.C., Glenna Chalupiak of Vancouver, B.C., Shirley Hale of Canoe, B.C., Len and Jolyne Sulz of Malakwa, B.C. March 2: Born to Glenn and Elise Allan of Coldstream, a girl, 7 lbs. 2 oz. named Sadie Elizabeth Kathryn. A granddaughter for Liz Nixon of Coldstream, B.C., Rick Dedora, Les and Beryl Allan, all of Vernon, B.C. A great-granddaughter for Phyl Nixon of Vernon. March 5: Born to Mike and Lisa Gyorkos of Calgary, a boy, 8 lbs., named Jack Edward. A brother for McKenzie, 4. A grandson for Mel and Jacquie Cucheron of Vernon, Mike Gyorkos of Calgary. A great-grandson for Mary Cucheron of Vernon.
STORK REPORT
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Linda Derks, with Autumn, in a field of steel sun flowers made by her husband Roland Derks for Shoparama March 31 and April 1.
CARA BRADY/MORNING STAR
Roland Derks puts the finishing touches to a piece of metal art at his Lake Country studio.
Crafting metal into art CARA BRADY Morning Star Staff
Linda Derks still has the first flowers her husband ever gave her. Roland Derks, a welder, was working in a camp and looking for something to do in his spare time so he tried making some metal flowers. Then the couple got busy with family, Roland working in the oil and gas industry and Linda owning home decor stores in Calgary. When they moved to Lake Country four years ago, they were ready for a change. They brought together Linda’s love of meeting people and sales and Roland’s plans to use his welding experience for art. The result is Middlebench Metalworks, an art studio filled with handcrafted metal art for indoors and outdoors. The work is sold at Vernon and Kelowna farmers’ markets and selected art and craft shows. Roland starts with plain steel sheet metal, metal rods and sometimes a piece of wood or rock, and is inspired from there. “Every piece is different. I cut the metal, shape it, hammer it, treat it with heat. And it will rust and change over the years. I’m always getting more ideas. Now, I’m interested in kinetic art — people particularly like pieces that move for the garden,” he said.
CARA BRADY/MORNING STAR
Roland Derks’ metal quail are one of his most popular hand-crafted items. Linda also comes up with ideas. “People like our work with a wine theme. We also like doing designs based on the local wild life and plants. The quail and chicks are one of our best sellers. We might be doing more with the fruit of the Okanagan,” she said. Their yard is a showplace for their work — metal trellis, sundials, an eagle overhead, flowers blooming through a late snowfall. Inside pieces include bookends, wine racks and wall art. A personal favourite, a family of owls, keeps watch in the living room. There are plans to do more
This is Lyle...
larger pieces, including animals like bear and deer, and gates and fences. Fish are a common theme in pieces of all sizes. “This kind of art has given me a finer appreciation for nature and nature photography. Living here, we feel more in tune with nature and we have slowed down,” said Roland. “We like to hear how people are using the pieces in their homes and gardens and it’s great see them out in yards when we are driving around. Some pieces are in the Lake Country Art Gallery and we know a lot of them go out of the province. There’s a piece at a hotel in Northern Manitoba.” Middlebench Metal Works will be at its first Shoparama Spring Market this year with the new tomato trellis, the popular sunflowers and pansies, tulips and tiger lilies, as well as the animal, wine and other theme pieces. The Shoparama Spring Market has crafters, artists, entrepreneurs, home-based businesses, baking, entertainment, things for kids, door prizes and a concession. The market takes place March 31 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and April 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Vernon Recreation Centre (3310-37th Ave., Vernon). Admission is free but people are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the food bank.
Our Business is Glowing
Don’t let confusion Eclipse your lighting decisions. Lyle and our other experts are here to help with fixtures, lamps, shades, bulbs and ceiling fans.
2801 44th Avenue, Vernon
545-7370
VERNON’S LARGEST LIGHTING SELECTION ~ NO ONE EVEN COMES CLOSE!