Times Advocate, 1993-08-11, Page 10Page 10 Times -Advocate, August 11 ,1993
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From crafts for Mends to satisfying business
By Erin Lobb
7'-A staff
VARNA
fucked
away on a
quaint side
road is a
small shop
where quality and care are still im-
portant.
For the past eight years Esther
Cantelon and Helen Keys have
owned and operated their business
called Country Charm. Located be-
tween Varna and Bayfield they spe-
cialize in quality handcrafted floral
gifts which they both produce.
Originally the women worked out
of their basements, and only made
grapevine wreaths, which they gave
as gifts to friends and family.
When orders for more started to
pour in they decided to go into
business at local craft shows and
bazaars making more floral crea-
tions.
Keys has taken the Florets Cana-
da School of Floral Design course
at the University of Guelph, and the
two women take courses together
in Toronto, where they learn what
designs are new.
Cantelon and Keys purchase
some of thedried flowers and other
supplies that they use from a
wholesaler in Toronto. They gather
some of the materials locally, such
as weeds, oat bunches and cattails,
and grow their own strawflowers.
Now the women operate out of
the Keys' home near Varna where
Wayne Cantelon has renovated
their garage into a shop. They.have
also opened up a store in Bayfield
which they have run for three
years.
The highlight of the year for
Country Charm is their yearly open
house which runs for four days.
This year it will be October 6 to 9.
, The entire year is spent in prepara-
tion for this event.
"We worked on the Christmas
gifts from January to March, so that
we could be ready." The Keys will
open five of the rooms in their
home for approximately 1000 peo-
ple to tour.
According to Keys her husband
Ervine is extremely patient. " He's
so easy going, he always, having to
step over my work when it's spread
across the living rooni floor. acid he
doesn't mind as long as he doesn't
have to get involved," she said
In many ways the Country Charm
.business is really a family affair, as
both Keys' and Cantelon's mother
and mother-in-law, and Keys
daughter help out a lot. Their hus-
bands have also contributed greatly
to the success of the business.
"Without our extended family
members I doubt we could do it,"
said Keys.
The gifts that Country Charm of-
fers range from $10 and under, up
to $60. Keys saysthey try to keep
their prices reasonable as to encour-
age them to drive out to the shop
they should be able to save money. accommodate you as much of their
If you are interested in custom; work is custom made. However if
designs Country Charm is able to it's wedding decorations you're
Esther Cantelon
store Country
summer there.
displays =some of her floral
Florets, which Is=a sister store
creations that she has for sale In Bayfleld at her
to Country Charm. Cantelon is now into her third
Helen Keys displays the many gifts she makes for her store
Country Charm. Keys, along with partner Esther Cantelon,
started the business in her basement seven years ago, and
now operates out of her renovated garage.
"Glad Days" in Zurich
By Carmel Sweeney
ZURICH - "Glad Days" will be
held in Zurich this Thursday and
Friday from noon Thursday and all
day Friday. Two locations will be
set up between the bank and phar-
macy and in front of the post office.
If anyone can help sell the Glads
for the Epilepsy association please
call Marie Gelinas alt 236-4981.
Please come andhelp get the Bean
Festival kitchen clean and ready for
the big day. There will be a "Work
Night" Wednesday August 11 at
6:30 in the kitchen. Everyone is
welcome.
Bus Trip
If anyone is interested in going on
the bus trip to the CNE to sec Becky
Hartman run for the Ambassador of
the Fair on Wednesday August 18,
the fee will be $20, including admis-
sion. The bus will leave from Vic-
toria Park in Seaford' at 7:00 a.m.
and arrive back at 9:00 p.m. To re-
serve a seat phone Heather Klopp at
t
236-4291 as soon as possible.
Wonderland , trip
The Canada's Wonderland trip,
sponsored by the Optimists Club,
was a success as two full buses left
Zurich on Sunday. Many who•went
enjoyed seeing Kathy Merrier skate
in the Ice Show which runs every ,
day. •�
Members of the Mennonite
Church had an outdoor service at
Ken Gascho's park on Sunday,
with a get together and picnic lunch
afterwards.
Personals
Congratulations to Gregory and
Laurie Schaefer who were married
on Saturday at the St. Boniface
church in Stratford. The groom is .
the sun of Ray and Janice Hartman, I
of R.R.1t3 Zurich.
Corepaiaiaf is to Deb and Darin
Telford who were married on Fri-
day in Goderich. The bride is the
daughter of Paul and Shirley Bedard
of Zurich.
Congratulations to Robert and
Brenda Hoffman who were married
at 1st Joseph Church in Corunna
Ontario, on July 31. Robert is the
son of Irene and Leo Hartman of
R.R.tl3 Zurich.
'Elise Durand celebrated her 5th
birthday with family and friends on
August 9. The Durands held a pizza
and pool party in her honour.
The family of Wayne and Denise
Meidinger recently enjoyed some
holidays in Winnipeg where they
visited with Denise's patents and at-
tended a family reunion.
Gord and Cecilia Smith and
daughter Kelly -Lynn returned home
last week after a three week holiday
in Jasper and Banff.
Mozart and Julie Gelinas spent a
few days last week visiting with rel-
atives Marc and Cathy Kelly.
Zunch Seniors
A chicken dinner was served to
the Zurich Diner last Wednesday.
Tammy Antanya welcomed the din-
ers and informed them of up coming
events. Harry Hohner was the 50/
50 winner. A poem entitled Going
on Vacation was read by Ira Neeb.
Five tables of .progressive euchre
was played, with the followed
players. High was Annie Finkbein-
er, Lone Hands were Ira Neeb and
Rose Regier, with Low Hand going
to Harvey Hohner.
Thames Road
By Rhoda Rohde
THAMES ROAD - Sunday, Au-
gust 22 Thames Road Board of
Managers Pork Barbecue will be
held from 5 to 7 p.m. Ticket price
is: Adults $7.00, children 12 and
under $4.00 and preschoolers are
free.
Get your advance tickets from
Board members, Don Bray, Brent
Dawson, Alan Hodgen, John Min-
er, Scot Morgan, Bill Rohde and
Mrrgaret Stewart.
Barry and Melonie Miller, Rebec-
ca. Laura, Maggie and Sarah re-
turned home last week after having
been to Prince Edward Island on
holidays.
oung
mar �
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looking for, the women are not cur-
rently getting involved in that.
"We have been approached," said
Keys, "but we have declined be-
cause we aren't ready for that step
yet."
As for the future of the business
the two women say they are content
with what they are doing now, and
have no plans to expand. "With the
two shops we keep busy enough,"
says Cantelon.
"We are also still raising our chil-
dren," said Keys.
Attention
Brides-to-be
• Visit your 111neighbourhood111
%
;. for OFF
Wedding
Invitations Offer expires Aug. 31/93
349 Main St. , Exeter
235-1570
!IIOLT2MANN'S
in Exeter
"We shall continue to
offer to our customers
a clean, bright store
with top quality
products plus variety
at very
competitive prices."
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