Sandstones Art Gallery & Gift Shop

Sandstones is a unique combination of an artisan gallery, gift shop, and flower shop. Set in the heart of Downtown Moncton. Located in suite 104 on the main level of the Blue Cross Centre on Main Street, Sandstones offers an unusual perspective on aesthetics in its presentation of top quality, authentic area artwork from local artisans who work in a variety of mediums. Fine collections of handmade jewellery, wall art, sculptures, handcrafted candles, photography, and gifts from nature such as wonderful minerals, shells, crystals, and fossils are delightfully displayed in a store that is a jewel in its own right.

Sandstones is the creation of its owner Shawna Gagné. The realization of a 13-year-old dream, Shawna explains, "I’ve always loved working with my hands, creating artistic pieces in jewellery and photography, and I’ve loved going to sales where I can showcase my work. I’ve always disliked packing up my stuff at the end of each day, however, so having my own store has been a dream." A gifted individual, Shawna’s own photography can be found at Sandstones in a line of greeting cards and framed pieces evoking a range of emotion in the viewer from some of the Maritimes’ most beautiful, natural surroundings.

Sandstones is the perfect place to drop in and browse. Its peaceful, beautiful surroundings offer an oasis of calm in the midst of a hectic world. Here, one can take time to explore the hearts and minds of our area’s wonderful, local artisans through compelling works from the likes of renowned area artist Georges Goguen, textured paintings by emerging artist Terri Chalk, stained glass by Kilby McLafferty, pottery by Sylvia Bell, exquisite beeswax candles by Kurt and Katherine Zeltner, superbly shaped jewellery and trinket boxes by Tim Sears, wooden bowls by Rick Gallant, framed photographs by Louis Gagné, and hand-carved alabaster bowls and unique jewellery items by Hans Durstling.

"Sandstones," explains Shawna, "has been attracting many visitors. Everyone is really excited that Moncton has an artisan gallery. Consumers and art lovers want an alternative place to shop and opportunity to purchase unique hand-made gifts. This gallery has more than just paintings, we offer functional art too. More and more people are taking pride in local community arts and culture. Sandstones’ focus is to grow that interest".

Featuring the works of a different artisan each month, Sandstones is currently displaying the works local jeweller and artisan Ginette Henri whose most recent creations are contained in the exhibit entitled, "Flowers in Time." These exciting pieces are developed using copper foil, stainless steel, and brass wire fused together onto smoky plexiglass panels using Ginette’s own inventions in technique to create truly remarkable works of art.

The City of Moncton in collaboration with an exclusive group of local galleries and artists who work together, will host a special studio tour beginning on November 1, 2008. Various local galleries will be "central stations" or "starting points" for the tour, including Sandstones, of course. Watch for information brochures and tour guide pamphlets to become available soon. For more information, or to be included in the guide, contact Shawna Gagné at Sandstones Gallery at 388-2332, or e-mail at info@sandstones.ca and be sure to check out their website at http://www.sandstones.ca/. Curious about the name Sandstones? Here is an illuminating explanation about the name choice written by Hans Durstling:

Why "sandstones?" The beauty and stature of this region’s sandstone is among our better kept secrets. In building Central Park 150 years ago the celebrated landscape architects Calvert Vaux and Frederic Law Olmstead specified Dorchester sandstone for the ornamentation of its most important installations. Who can imagine a more culturally iconic public place in North America, indeed perhaps even in all the world, than Central Park, New York? And it is "our" stone that decorates its most prestigious features. There’s more. Some years ago, Fred Pellerin of Atlantic Sandstone in Scoudouc supplied Dorchester sandstone, decorating the two proudest places on the continent, Atlantic to Pacific, sea to sea. Yet, sandstone is no snobbish thing but down to earth, solid, accessible. The stone itself thus reflects and signals the intent of Sandstones’ Gallery, which is to place before the public works that are both of the region and of stature, of quality, artistry, and pride. These are the hallmarks of our stone.

Visit Sandstones Mondays to Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm and experience a place that will stimulate your mind, please your heart, and replenish your soul!

Chantal Véchambre - Bouquet Garni

The Farmers Market is the perfect place to sample a variety of wonderful food offerings from the world brought to us via some of the finest “at home” chefs in our area. Chantal Véchambre is such a chef – and a chef extraordinaire is she! Her table at the Marché Moncton Market is laden with bounty from her kitchen in the form of traditional recipes from the county regions of France. A complete menu of snacks, appetizers, main dishes, desserts, and condiments includes her special Parisian baquette with ham, cheese, salad, and unsalted butter seasoned with a French vinaigrette; delicious crepes rolled with bechamel sauce; vegetables, garlic and parsley; creamy soups with vegetables; delicious stews of pork, chicken, or beef with bacon, onions, bread and eggs in chicken stock; sumptuous quiches in salmon, goat cheese or spinach; and a variety of tempting desserts such as creme caramel in ramequin; clafoutis with fresh cherries or blueberries when in season; and mouth-watering banana chocolate bread and tarts. Condiments include Chantal’s own blend of herbs such as “herbes de provence,” sea salt from Brittany in France and “court bouillon mix” which is a combination of grey salt and dried vegetables. A special this summer is Chantal’s creation of “Special BBQ” salt with red, green, and white peppers perfect for rubbing into meat and fish on the outdoor grill. Watch for the fall creation of “Bouquet Garni” which is a tasty mix of herbs traditionally used in France for soups and stews, and be sure to sample Chantal’s “quatre-epices mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and pepper which is so essential to sweet or savoury French food. All of Chantal’s dishes are prepared in a healthy way using only the finest ingredients that are fresh, contain no preservatives, and are prepared in a slow cooking method to retain the optimum in flavour. The result is an authentic taste of France in classic recipes lovingly created with the freshest ingredients often purchased from local farmers and producers.

Chantal Véchambre comes to us from France! Born near Toulouse in the southwestern region of France, she grew up watching her mother and grandmother prepare food with many “tricks of the trade” she employs to this day. An avid collector of recipes and books on French regional cooking, she now boasts a library of over 400 books that have made the life-changing trek from France to Moncton with her. After almost 30 years in Paris, Chantal now makes Moncton her home! Well qualified with two French diplomas in general cuisine and in pastry as a chocolatier, confectioner, and glacerie, Chantal has also had an extensive experience in the fields of marketing, sales, training, and running her own company of gourmet products in France. Since arriving in Moncton, Chantal has continued her entrepreneurial bent, working as a chocolatier and finding employment in fine area restaurants. The urge to be her own boss has led her to provide a number of services in the city, including catering, chef at home, cooking classes, consulting and team building, and, of course, her booth at the Marché Moncton Market! To date, Chantal has taught cooking classes at various area restaurants, at the Thomas Williams House for the Alliance Française and at the Centre Ste Anne in Fredericton. Chantal has also catered events for private individuals and for corporations including the Consul de France, and she has organized the Gala of Alliance Française for 2007 at the Capitol Theatre. A keen follower of the history of food, Chantal has also worked last year on the review of historic recipes at the Louisbourg Fortress for Parks Canada.

Chantal’s goals are to provide cooking classes in people’s homes for groups of family and friends. She is intent on maintaining her catering business and would love to open a B & B where she can have a tearoom, teach cooking classes, and conduct seminars in nutrition and gourmet foods. Watch for a fall schedule of Chantal’s various activities and contact her at (506) 863-4265 for additional information.

Chantal Véchambre is a warm, personable, and creative person whose love of food and passion for what she does emanates from her person. She is gifted with the heart of an artist, the soul of an adventurer, and the vision of a master crafts person. She brings to mind the eloquence of Denmark’s celebrated writer, Baroness Karen Blixen, who wrote of her personal cook Kanante in her masterpiece “Out of Africa.” “As a chef, he was a different thing, and precluded classification. Nature here had taken a leap and cut away from the order of precedence of faculties and talents; The thing now became mystic and inexplicable, as ever where you are dealing with genius. In the kitchen, in the culinary world, Kanante had all the attributes of genius....” These words first penned over 70 years ago might very well have been written of Chantal Véchambre.

Boutique Le P’tit Cadeau Gifts & Crafts

Le P’tit Cadeau – the name says it all! This gem of a gift shop is in turn a true gift to the customer in the sheer volume and quality of its diverse inventory which comes to the Town of Shediac from across Canada and the world! Located at 336 Main Street in the heart of the downtown area, Le P’tit Cadeau defines the flavour and character of this quaint seaside town in its friendly atmosphere, in the quiet elegance of its surroundings which invites the customer to revel in the various worlds represented by their goods, and in the heritage setting of a home that dates back to 1870!

Le P’tit Cadeau has been serving the charming Town of Shediac for 21 years. The creation of owner Léopold Léger and his wife, Joanne, it continues to attract old customers who are like family and welcomes new patrons to its magical offerings. A connoisseur of the finer things in life, Léopold has the eye of an artist and the heart of an entrepreneur. He credits the idea for his unique gift shop with the inspiration he gathered on visits to Vancouver where over the gift shops and boutiques are upscale and elegant. "My success over the years comes from my love for meeting people," says Léopold, whose attention to the little things such as warm greetings, soothing music, individualized service, gift wrapping in quality gift boxes, and even creative and generous interaction with the children who visit his shop, all exude the charm of bygone days.

Le P’tit Cadeau presents an eclectic mix of inventory which included quality designer clothing and accessories such as scarves, shawls, hats, purses, and handmade artisan jewellery from local artists. Items hail from such far-flung places as Bali, Indonesia, Montreal, Quebec, and Calgary. "Customers visit us from as far afield as Moncton, Bathurst, Prince Edward Island, Saint John, and Halifax for clothing lines which cater to sizes not often found in regular stores," says Léopold as he points out sumptuous gowns in fabrics from the Far East and casual sarongs in tropical colours perfect for the beach crowd. Tilley Endurables, elegant jackets in unique materials and designer ponchos that are one-of-a-kind complete a wardrobe of fine apparel. This is certainly where the smartly-dressed woman can find an outfit with that "wow" factor.

Le P’tit Cadeau is the perfect place to lose oneself in wonder over the original art pieces by such local artists as Claire Chevarie. A fantastic line of culinary wines such as herb and garlic, herb and onions, peppers, and chili are made locally and supplied internationally and can be found at Le P’tit Cadeau. Also available are items such as Gourmet Village Foods, Enchanted Meadow Candles and aromatherapy oils, huge wall clocks, decorative mirrors, exotic picture frames, pottery, Snowbabies figurines, and a huge selection of giftware with the plantation feel of the tropics. "Many of my customers travel to exotic places," says Léopold, "and they love to recreate the look of an island paradise in their homes." Well versed in dealing with the public from his 12 years of renting tuxedos, Léopold can truly feel the pulse of what customers are looking for.

A Christmas wonderland on the second floor caters to the tourist seeking festive holiday moments while travelling. Two rooms of Christmas trees decorated with a fantasyland of ornaments and decorations have items to suit every taste. Open year round, Le P’tit Cadeau is a must for any visitor to Shediac. For more information, call (506) 532-3348, fax at (506) 532-6514, e-mail at cadeau4@nbnet.nb.ca, or drop in for a visit – you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the treasures that await you!