It really did start with a pair of porcelain shoes...

Back in 1996 when my now sister-in-law was getting married to my brother. My mom who designed and made her wedding gown, wanted to give her a little something special and found a beautiful porcelain doll that perfectly resembled her. She made a replica of her wedding gown for the doll. However, the dolls shoes were black not white, so my mom asked me to paint over the black shoes with white to match the dress. Since I frequented the art shops, that is the first place I ventured to find some paint that would work. I picked up some Pebeo Paints and successfully repainted the shoes.

After that, I went back and picked up some more paints, just to try and paint some designs on mugs. The very first little craft show I did, my mom and I put together the handpainted mugs with some homemade biscotti and chocolate covered spoons. I sold several of the mugs and I had a request for some wine glasses. So, I started designing and painting and thought this little venture could turn into something more. I needed a business name for my little craft enterprise and The Spiked Olive Artware Co. was born in 1997. Over the next few months I was also painting on martini, margarita, beer and shot glasses. Several of the patterns I currently sell today were some of the firsts, Smoochies, Fiesta Dots, Flames and then the Classy Squares. I introduced my Tic-Tac-Toes, which the very first four were, martini, margarita, cat and a dog. There are now over 80 Tic-Tac-Toe patterns not including the 32 custom patterns I have done. When I found little mini Salt & Pepper Shakers they were added and I have so much fun painting those. I love painting tea pots, mugs, large serving platters, but my favorites to paint are mini salt and pepper shakers and shot glasses.

In 2008 after moving from BC to Ontario, I started as a table vendor at the Kitchener Market and later the next year I opened a shared gift shop with a very talented knitter at the Kitchener Market. I loved the energy of the Saturday market, however I really missed doing craft and art shows, so in 2010 I closed up the store and attended several art and craft shows including The Home Show in Toronto, TD Festival of Friends in Hamilton, Christmas in Cambridge, Mill Race Folk Festival and the Etsy PopUp Market Made in Canada to name a few. I have also done shows at VanDusen Gardens, The Womens Show, Yaletown in Vancouver, and so many more local shows and most recently was invited to the BBB Artisan Market.

In 2010 I was commissioned by Ashanti Winery in South Africa to design and paint several wine bottles as gifts to their family. A wonderful experience and wonderful owners. In December 2013 my Christmas Lights Platter was featured in SheKnows Canada Magazine. I was thrilled to be featured in this prominent online magazine.

Today over 23 years later, I am loving my small artisan business, designing, creating, dreaming, experimenting with new ideas that I hope will never stop. Of course, it's not all about business and I love to get outdoors, hiking, fishing, camping, touring, sightseeing, daytrips, bonfires, chocolate and photography. The little pooch pictured with me is Sandy, he was the love of our lives for over 16 years who my husband rescued dachshund cocker spaniel that was rescued at 7 weeks old. He traveled with us when we venture to the great outdoors and even when he become blind and diabetic he was full of life, fun and lots and lots of love. We miss him when he passed in 2019 and now give extra hugs to our other little man, Diego, a Jackoweenie who we adopted in 2016 from Canadian Dachshund Rescue of Ontario.

In 2018 I was diagnosed with Heart Failure due to Rhuematic Fever when I was 2 years old and needed open heart surgery to repair and replace a value. So just one day after my last vendor show of 2018 I went into surgery. I was home for Christmas, then back for another month and more procedures, I now have a mechanical mitral value that sometimes ticks loud enough to hear and I suffered severe compression injuries in my legs. While it's not been a cake walk, the last two years have brought me several new challenges. I may have slowed down a bit and still trying to cope with new health challenges, creating, designing, painting, selling, and having The Spiked Olive is now not just my hobby, it's my therapy.

Well, there is the story of the little shoes! Please visit my Etsy store, my blog, facebook or twitter to connect and please feel free to send me a hello!

Cheers!

~Sharron