Eve Dove Gagnon and husband Paul Gagnon have found a new place to call home and sell their wares.
The pair have been operating Gagnon Antiques out of De Mille’s Summertime Market since the long weekend in May, after returning from selling at antique shows across B.C. and Alberta.
“He puts in hundreds and hundreds of days,” says Eve of her husband, who she credits as being the public face of the shop, while she deals with most of the behind the scenes details.
Eve and Paul sold antique jewelry out of Piccadilly Mall for years but have been without a physical place to sell from for quite some time.
“It was weird not to have a place,” says Eve, who is a gemologist and diamond grader. She says that they were without a retail space for about four years.
“It’s been sad because we live here.”
Eve and Paul, originally from the U.S., have been in Salmon Arm since 1992, and have been in the antique business since the 1970s.
“We know what’ we’re giving you,” asserts Eve, who says that part of the appeal to antique pieces, especially jewelry, is that it’s difficult to run into anyone else with the same item.
She says that although growth has been slower than they would like, and the new space is a touch small, the rediscovery by old customers has been rewarding.
Gagnon Antiques is home to estate jewelry, antiques and unique glass lampwork beading made by Eve herself.
“We’re largely jewelry, that’s our specialty,” she explains.
“The old stuff was made with attention to quality that is rare now.”
With her beading, which is made by melting long glass rods with propane fuel and oxygen, Eve was part of the Shuswap Artisan Co-op last year, next door to their current location at the market.
“At the artisan meeting we found out that the tack shop wasn’t coming back (this year)… Pretty much that day I left the co-op,” says Eve.
Paul and Eve are now renting the space throughout the year, and hope to be able to stay open as the seasons change, although this is dependent on whether or not they can find a way to heat the small shop.
Eve says that the couple is happy to share their knowledge, and along with buying from customers, Eve and Paul are pleased to help date, identify and evaluate antique pieces.
Source: http://www.bclocalnews.com/
