Tompkins Blog

We want to thank everyone who donated in exchange for a watch battery! We raised $600.00 for the Canadian Red Cross Japan Earthquake Relief fund!

Our donation for this month will go toward our Compassion Canada Child, Jehovanie Desiré.

Compassion works with the poorest of the poor children in over 25 developing countries around the world in Africa, Asia, Central and South America.

Compassion has eleven partner countries around the world, which provide funds, resources, and assistance with program development for the successful implementation of Compassion’s programs in the field.

Whenever you stop in to get a watch battrey, your ten dollars will go to charitable causes. Stop in this month to donate to Jehovanie Desiré from Haiti.

Thank you for all your support!

Sid Dickens was born in 1963, and began making Memory Blocks in 1990. This Canadian artist has his head office and studio located in Vancouver. After high school, he worked as a fisherman and dedicated his spare time to drawing and painting.

-Festina Lente- "Make Haste Slowly"

In 1983 he enrolled in the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, and in 1986 backpacked through Europe. This trip would greatly influnce his aesthetic. In 1990, he attended an art school in the internationally renowned artists' colony of San Miguel de Allende in the north central mountains of Mexico.

-Iris Royale- "Elegant Spirit of Regal Splendor"

Sid Dickens currently divides his time between British Columbia's Queen Charlotte Islands and his studio and head office in Vancouver.

At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards Sunday night, we were treated to lots of sparkle and shine!

The stars of the music world as well as the big and small screens shone with embellished jewellery on their arms, necks and ears.

“The music industry embraces fashion-forward looks,” Helena Krodel, director of media and special events at Jewelers of America, says. “They’re not afraid to take chances.”

Elaborate earrings were the biggest trend at this year's Grammy's, as well as multiple bangles and cuffs, and ornate cocktail rings.

“For earrings, a lot of celebrities were doing variations on a chandelier,” Krodel says.

And after white gold and platinum taking the spotlight for the last several years, yellow gold is making a big comeback!

“I think the proportion of jewelry, the largeness of jewelry, was definitely played out,” Michael O’Connor, jewelry style expert and celebrity stylist, says.

While some of the trends seen in jewelry at this year’s Grammys mirrored O’Connor and Kodel’s predictions from New York's fashion week, “The Grammy’s will always be the far edgier fashion statements,” O’Connor notes. These styles can be very wearable, and are a great look for the new year!