Jeanette Schisler, the owner and woodworker behind Coldwell Creations, crafts handcrafted woodworking pieces using reclaimed and repurposed materials. Her business ethos is rooted in keeping waste out of landfills and celebrating the unique characteristics of each piece of wood, where imperfections become cherished features. Jeanette aims to support the shift towards a circular economy, which emphasizes rethinking, reusing, refurbishing, and reinventing materials.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Coldwell Creations – handcrafted woodworking using reclaimed + repurposed materials.
Coldwell Creation’s collection of minimalist wooden vases hold water with a concealed glass vessel to showcase a seasonal cutting that suits your style and compliments your natural environment.
What made you want to do this work?
I chose to work with reclaimed wood to keep waste out of landfills and also to celebrate the characteristics that make us unique. Imperfections like a ding or dent, a crack or knot, is now its best feature recreated in a Coldwell Creation.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
I want to be part of the solution of moving from a linear economy towards a circular one. The circular model strives to rethink, reuse, refurbish and reinvent using repurposed and reclaimed materials. I hope that every Coldwell Creation inspires a person to embrace infinite possibilities of upcycling when making daily decisions and purchases.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
My clientele appreciates simple, clean design and believes in purchasing from sustainable and local businesses/artists.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
Coldwell Creations generates revenue through online sales, in retail spaces throughout the lower mainland and at seasonal markets and art shows.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
My studio is based in Deep Cove, North Vancouver. My creations can be found in retail spaces throughout the Lower Mainland as well as through my online shop and Instagram.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
A common and important question I am often asked is “Where do you get your wood?”
My answer: I reclaim lumber offcuts and materials from local businesses and woodworkers that are otherwise destined for the landfill. This often sparks conversation about the circular economy (reusing, repurposing, reclaiming, rethinking) and the infinite possibilities of upcycling.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part of what I do is support the circular economy. “Waste isn’t waste until we waste it” is a quote that inspires my daily practice.
The worst part – any woodworker will tell you – is the sanding, especially sanding of repurposed wood that more often than not comes to me in rough shape (pun intended).
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
I don’t have a favourite one but the one above is a decent pun – and woodworkers can all relate to the roughness of monotonous sanding. Get it?
Where can we follow you?
Website | Instagram | Facebook
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Oh my! This is tough because I love so many and have made such genuinely supportive connections with local businesses that I adore but if I had to pick my top 2:
Soulroots Moss Art: Biophilic moss art design that brings the beauty and calmness of nature and forests indoors. Not only do I have several pieces of Anne Marie’s moss art in my home but I have also constructed custom frames for her out of repurposed cedar wall panelling from a long-ago sauna. The dream collaborator!
Uni Design: Where slow fashion meets creative design. Maya creates all of her pieces from repurposed fabric and every piece I wear or have bought as a gift has surpassed my expectations of feel and fit – top-quality craftsmanship and she is a gem of a person.
