Let me introduce myself: I'm Janet Davis, an artist and entrepreneur living and working on the North side of Bonavista Bay, on the island of Newfoundland in Eastern Canada. There are many challenges to running a business here in a small rural community, and there are many wonderful benefits too. This blog is where I share some of those challenges and triumphs, and share what it's like to live in this part of the world.
For those of you who follow my blog, you might be interested in the blog over at The REACH as well! There’s lots happening at the old museum, the art gallery, and coming soon, artisan showcases! I’m really looking forward to seeing The REACH reopened this summer, and hope to see some of you there at events! Take a trip over to http://www.thereachweb.wordpress.com.
We are pleased to start showing you around our newly designed space! Our three room schoolhouse, built in 1930 as Memorial School, now uses those three rooms a little differently. One of those large rooms now houses four display areas for museum artefacts, plus two ends which make shelving displays, and the walls are filled […]
Some images taken from around this old shop today… have I mentioned lately just how much I love my studio?
Printing in green ink today and sipping Gros Morne Coffee Roasters’ Mexico-Chiapas Medium Roast with a gorgeous crema. Nice that it’s also fresh, local, fair trade, and organic.
I’m not blue. Well, my hands are. We’ve been printing blue cards and bookmarks today, on to mini-prints tomorrow. I’ve got plenty of orders to keep me printing for the next couple of weeks. It’s a great time to drop in for a visit, to see printmaking in action!
Blue inked printing plates and cards on a drying rack.
We’re sampling some coffee from Gros Morne Coffee Roasters in the espresso machine at the studio, and today’s cup of Tuckamore Blend I can quote was the “best cup of coffee I’ve ever tasted” according to JW. The roasting company describes it as “a sweet, full-bodied, creamy blend that produces a lovely crema, makes a great espresso.” And we agree! You’ll be able to find Gros Morne coffee beans at the Café’s giftshop this summer!
Can you feel summer coming? The grass turned green this past week, my crocuses are blooming, and the sun is strong even when it’s still cold outside. And of course the icebergs are here there and everywhere. This time of year, it’s fun to have a look first thing in the morning to see if any icebergs have drifted away or broken apart, or if new bergs have appeared. They are beautiful, no matter how many we see.
I’ve been doing some shop-keeping, updating displays both in the studio and the Café’s Gift Shop, and I’ll be printing late this afternoon and tomorrow. We’d love to see you here!
Mother’s Day photo-litho I made a billion years ago while a student at NSCAD University: my mom with a red rose overlaid. The tradition here was always to wear a red rose on Mother’s Day, or a white rose if your mom had already passed on.
This weekend, we’re wishing all moms out there a Happy Mother’s Day! A special shout-out to my mom, Ollie Davis, to my mother-in-law, Louise Kelloway, and to my Aunt Gwyn, who has always been like a 2nd mother to me. I love you!
Here’s the schedule for Norton’s Cove Studio this week:
Sunday
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
We have just a couple of openings left for Mother’s Day Brunch tomorrow. Contact me via e-mail or text or at the studio to reserve your table. While we welcome walk-ins, we often can’t accommodate them. Please do make a reservation to avoid disappointment!
Mother’s Day Brunch at Norton’s Cove Café 10am-3pm
I’m back to my regular hours here at the Studio this weekend! I’ve finished my 8 week contract with The Town of New-Wes-Valley to help set-up The REACH, and I’m pleased to be back in the studio getting cards, mini-prints, and bookmarks printed, packaged, and sent off to all the fabulous shops that carry my products!
While I have agreed to continue to do a little work at The REACH until the arts centre is ready to open, it will be a different schedule which allows me to get back to work at Norton’s Cove.
Sunday
Closed
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
The Café is taking reservations for Mother’s Day Brunch which is just a couple of weeks away! Contact me via e-mail or text or at the studio on Saturdays to reserve your table.
Mother’s Day Brunch at Norton’s Cove Café 10am-3pm
Norton’s Cove Studio & Café is looking for three team players who qualify as participants in the Canada Summer Jobs program:
Art Salesperson 11am-6pm Wednesday to Sunday; 35 hours/week July 3rd 2022 – August 27 2022 (8 weeks) $15/hour
Host/Hostess: Food Service 10am-2pm & 5-9pm Wednesday to Sunday; 40 hours/week June 12th – September 17th 2022 (14 weeks) $13.50/hour + tips This position has been filled.
Assistant Chef 2-10pm Wednesday to Sunday; 40 hours/week June 12th – September 17th 2022 (14 weeks) $13.50/hour + tips This position has been filled.
If you are interested in art, the beauty of this part of the world, great food, and smiling people, please apply! Send your resumé and a cover letter telling us why you’d like to be a part of Team Norton’s Cove.
By email:
nortonscovestudio@nf.aibn.com
Or by mail:
Norton’s Cove Studio Inc. P. O. Box 223 New-Wes-Valley, NL A0G 4R0
Another busy weekend here at Norton’s Cove! I was thrilled to receive a flower delivery from my friends Ashley & Aladdin on Friday afternoon! Ashley has been a long-time supporter of Norton’s Cove- I first met her as a teenage volunteer here in the studio. I employed her for a couple of summers, and taught her a few arty things that she continues to use in her career as an educator in Alberta. I still have my fingers crossed that they will make the move back to Newfoundland eventually, but for now, we keep a long-distance friendship!
Duke and I have been printing again, all day on Saturday, and again today, as St. George gave me the day off from my other short-term job which will be all done on Friday! I can’t believe how fast the weeks have gone by. You can check out the work I’ve been doing with my workmate Suzette Sheppard over at the newly designed website for The REACH! I’ve been very happy to be a part of the lovely changes being made at our local art gallery, museum, archive, and new artisan showcases! It’ll have a grand re-opening this summer. I will also be happy to get back to my regular schedule here at the studio! I’ve got lots to do!
The Café is now taking reservations for Mother’s Day Brunch! Contact me via e-mail or text or at the studio on Saturdays to reserve your table. And it’s only another few weeks until we open the Café for regular hours again! I’m so looking forward to that!
Mother’s Day Brunch at Norton’s Cove Café 10am-3pm
I’m celebrating 🍾 20 years as a business owner! Get 40% off your online purchase at nortonscove.com on April 19th 2022!
Included in this sale (00:01 hrs until 23:59 hrs) are Norton’s Cove cards, mini-prints, bookmarks, apparel, and all artwork made by me! And some things are already marked down more than 40%! You have to be a eNewsletter subscriber to get the best deals- you can easily subscribe by entering your email in the subscribe section of the main page of the website: just scroll down to the bottom of the page, enter your email, and you’re in! If you think you’re on the list, but you’re not sure, just send me a note, and I’ll make sure the subscriber box is ticked for you.
Thank you to all my wonderful supporters out there! Every purchase, big or small, over the past 20 years has enabled me to grow my little company right here in my beautiful hometown. ❤️
Norton’s Cove Studio is open 10-6 Friday & Saturday on Easter Weekend!
It’s a beautiful day here in Norton’s Cove. Some very small bits of ice ice floating around in the cove, the sun is shining into the studio, and it’s not blowing a storm (oddly!). Because my other job gives me today off (stat holiday), I can go ahead and get some work done here in my natural habitat! I’d love to see you if you’re out and about- drop in with the family to see printmaking in action in a c.1890 heritage building! I’ll be printing all afternoon, as printapalooza restarts today. Printapalooza is what I call doing an entire print run: all designs in all colour options, as needed, usually more than a thousand prints.
We have new necklaces and wine charms in stock from Karlande Designs of Clarenville. Andrea Sharpe makes lovely pieces from sea-glass found on our shores and sterling silver. Each piece is gift-boxed with care instructions, and even includes a sticker! You’ll find them here in-store only.
This coming week, I’ll be celebrating my 20th business anniversary! Norton’s Cove Studio Inc. was incorporated on April 19th, 2002, and I’m happy that I’m still in business. The struggles are not over, far from it, but I count my blessings in this life I have here in my beautiful hometown every day. I understand how privileged I am to own my own home (which now boasts a hot-tub & sun-room! I’m so impressed we could make that happen! Thank you Duke!) and to be able to offer something special here to visitors and locals alike. I’m very proud of what my Team Norton’s Cove and all our supporters have accomplished. And so, on that day, I’m offering a sale in the online shop to subscribers to my eNewsletter (subscribe here): 40% off all my cards, mini-prints, limited edition prints, one-of-a-kind pieces, and Norton’s Cove Apparel. Enter the discount code TWENTY at the checkout. The sale will be online only, with orders delivered by Canada Post, or picked up in-store on Saturdays or by appointment.
The Café is now taking reservations for Mother’s Day Brunch! Contact me via e-mail or text or at the studio on Saturdays to reserve your table.
Mother’s Day Brunch at Norton’s Cove Café 10am-3pm
My spring orders are in from the Craft & Gift Wholesale Show, and now it’s time for PRINTAPALOOZA to start again! I’ll be printing as much as I can to get about 15 orders to beautiful shops all over the island by mid-June.
I’m happy to be in my studio today (10am-6pm) getting things sorted to start #printapalooza again. Even though the shop is closed for most of the week, there is still lots happening in the background. Duke has been making thump mats and wreaths so that we are well stocked for the busy summer season. I’ve ordered some new beautiful things from other artisans, and I’m getting my print-list ready to start printing today.
We have new necklaces and wine charms in stock from Karlande Designs of Clarenville. Andrea Sharpe makes lovely pieces from sea-glass found on our shores and sterling silver. Each piece is gift-boxed with care instructions, and even includes a sticker! You’ll find them here in-store only.
Later this month, I’ll be celebrating my 20th business anniversary! Norton’s Cove Studio Inc. was incorporated on April 19th, 2002, and I’m happy that I’m still in business. The struggles are not over, far from it, but I count my blessings in this life I have here in my beautiful hometown every day. I understand how privileged I am to own my own home (which now boasts a hot-tub & sun-room! I’m so impressed we could make that happen! Thank you Duke!) and to be able to offer something special here to visitors and locals alike. I’m very proud of what my Team Norton’s Cove and all our supporters have accomplished. And so, on that day, I’m offering a sale in the online shop to subscribers to my eNewsletter (subscribe here): 40% off all my cards, mini-prints, limited edition prints, one-of-a-kind pieces, and Norton’s Cove Apparel. Enter the discount code TWENTY at the checkout.
The Café is now taking reservations for Mother’s Day Brunch! Contact me via e-mail or text or at the studio on Saturdays to reserve your table.
Mother’s Day Brunch at Norton’s Cove Café 10am-3pm
Our first icebergs have been here all week, peeking out of the fog, and now we have pack-ice coming quite close to shore too. There’s quite a large iceberg near Wesleyville, easily visible as you’re walking/driving down the road. And of course, with all that ice around, it’s time to remember to watch for big moving white things- polar bears like to hitch a ride on that ice, and while we don’t see them here very often, it is something to keep in mind this time of year while out hiking with the dog!
The View from Norton's Cove 