PLUSH on Main Street…Not just another pretty store!
Local crafters have found a year round home at Plush on Main Street. Located on the stretch between 27th and 28th Avenue, this petite boutique offers a pretty haven for beautiful and functional handcrafted items by artisans from across Metro Vancouver.
Brigitte Stroud runs the boutique with the support of her sister Barbara and together they offer the perfect outlet for the local craft scene. Although Plush has been on Main Street since 2003 providing custom work for designers and decorators, the retail aspect of their shop only emerged in 2008.
According to Barbara “it took a while for Vancouver to be open to the craft/artisan market. In 2005 there were a lot of clothing designers but less was available in terms of local crafts.” Brigitte adds that with the explosion of the craft market scene they were finally able to fulfill their dream of opening up a boutique for locally handmade crafts while also offering do-it-yourself (DIY) workshops.
As crafters themselves, they understood how tough it was to make a living only at craft fairs that were primarily focused on the holidays. And they were keenly aware that “if you don’t support what you love, it will disappear.” So together they slowly transformed the storefront into a charming boutique while still maintaining their 600 square foot studio space in the back for custom work and to also offer DIY workshops.
Both Brigitte and Barbara are self-taught and absolutely love making things. Everything they carry is handmade and local. They also specifically chose to be on Main Street as it “was already a bit of a Mecca for people who wanted local designer clothing. But no one was selling local hand crafted items that were not clothing.”
They now carry 20-25 artisans as well as their own work which includes felting kits, jewellery, bottle caps, tooth fairy kits, and popular seasonal items such as the stiletto Christmas stockings. Some of their favourite new items from local artisans include new art cards by Crystal and the Figo wishing dolls which are a creation of local artist Claudia Segovia.
According to Brigitte “each little wishing doll has a special 
pocket to put wish in, keep in pocket until wish comes true. Claudia started doing making the dolls four to five years ago to help fund her son’s speech therapy which wasn’t covered by medical.” The popularity for Figos grew and they were even able to host a fundraising event over Christmas to help raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They also offer small Figo kits for those who would like to make their own dolls.
Some of their upcoming workshops include a free Steampunk Craft Drop-In on March 17th, Easter egg needle felting on March 24th, a hair fascinator workshop on March 31st, rain cloud needle felting on April 7th, a no-sew T-Shirt modification workshop on April 21st, and card making on May 13th (Mother’s Day). For more information on the workshops visit DIY or DIE!! Workshops on Facebook or visit their Web site at www.plushonmain.com
Plush on Main
4298 Main Street
Vancouver, BC
(604) 708-5199
Tags: Craft Workshop, Crafts, Designer, Events, Main Street, Shopping, Vancouver