BLUE ANGEL JEWELRY & ACCESSORIES

Through tears, Pearl expressed gratitude for our support. “You are my community,” she said. “I believe we are all inter-connected. I have volunteered overseas and travelled extensively and always found kindred spirits no matter where I went.”

For 200 years her ancestors owned a pub in England called Blue Angel. On a plane trip from Athens to London she shared that information with her female seatmate who exclaimed, “I used to sing the blues there!” Aware that you can’t call such an encounter mere chance, Pearl gratefully accepted the message and named her store Blue Angel.

But lots happened before the store came into being. Pearl went through many “dark nights of the soul”. Ultimately, struggling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression after she left her 25-year marriage, she went long-term travelling to India, Nepal and China.

“I had no money,” says Pearl, “but people were very generous”. Her sister Iris offered air mile points which ultimately meant Pearl just had to pay taxes for the trip to India, plus $250 for another leg of the journey.

While in Nepal in 2006, people there suggested she take home jewelry, shawls and scarves from their country. Friends and family bought those items and Sagers Furniture bought most of the home decor products. So in August 2008, on her second trip to Nepal, Pearl purchased more jewelry and accessories.

Upon return to Victoria, Pearl realized she had recovered on all levels and “all my pieces were back together again”. She looked around at all the wonderful things she’d brought back from her trip and further realized, “I need to find some retail space!” She believed the perfect place and time would show itself and voila, enter ex-husband Mike who said, “Go down to Lower Yates. There’s a ‘For Rent’ sign in a window there and it’s perfect.” Within a couple of days she’d signed a lease.

Five months ago Blue Angel opened “on a wing and a prayer”. It is spacious and bright with products nicely displayed for easy browsing. Among the vast variety of goods – Arden & Grace clothing, a multitude of colourful scarves priced from $55 to $180, hats, belts, bags, wallets and lots of small accessories – are several sculptures and paintings created by Pearl herself. There’s a bronze sculpture of her daughter when she was pregnant with Pearl’s grandson (see photo), and another sculpture of a crone . Other store art is by local artists, as well as an artist in Katmandu. And we had quite a laugh over the edgy greeting cards by Vancouver’s Rabbit Rabbit.

Exquisite jewelry is local or imported and priced from $21 up. Make a statement with a gorgeous silver necklace from Thailand (see photo) that incorporates two different kinds of turquoise, opals and amethyst ($730).

Most goods are made by women, like the array of tempting purses from The Purse Princess. The wide variety of hats, however, priced at an average of $30, are designed by Vancouver’s Michael Tong and made in either Vancouver or China.

Are you tired of going into a cafe and trying to hang your purse on a rounded-back chair? Priced at $24, a trendy purse hook will allow you to hook your purse on the edge of a table to keep it clean and off the floor and in sight for security. These make great gifts.

Two art pieces created by owner Pearl: the bronze sculpture is of her pregnant daughter.

Pearl has some consignment goods and is very open to carrying new stock, especially since The Purse Princess is retiring from her business. Pay Pearl a visit if you or anyone you know has an artistic flair and would be interested in consigning their creations.

This gorgeous silver necklace from Thailand features two different
kinds of turquoise, as well as opals and amethysts.

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