A trident for a grandson

One Google reviewer had hunted all over for a King Neptune trident for a grandson's birthday. “Low and behold, a little adventure to Fort Langley and this beautiful little shop, there it was!!!”

Better still, someone at the shop made it. The reviewer thanked “the gentleman that created the trident for my grandson's birthday,” who kept at it until it was done.

That kind of thing happens at Wild Moon & Star. It's a small artist collective down Gasoline Alley in Fort Langley, and most of what's on the shelves was made by hand in B.C.

Three decades of jewellery

The gallery started with Susan Rind. “After over 30 years designing jewelry, Susan Rind has opened her very own gallery!” the shop's Facebook page says. The website calls it “a labour of love for artists Susan Rind, Sky Phoenix, and Dana Miller.”

Susan and Sky also design as a pair. Their Wild Star line mixes silver and gems with leather. Sky named it after one of his own songs, which he wrote and recorded.

One coin started it all. Susan owned an original piece of eight, and she was “captivated by the mystery of it,” Karlene Moore wrote on the Wild Star website. Sky used the same old-world technique to make the Wild Star coin. Each one is hand struck in .999 silver, so no two are alike.

A castle wall down the alley

The shop is built to feel like a storybook. The website describes bright colours, antique-style decor and “an amazing castle feature wall.” It's film friendly, too, and invites location scouts to browse its interior photos online.

Other artists fill the rest of the room. The website's artists page lists painters and makers including Margo Harrison and Linda Muttitt, along with Karin Olsson, Erwin Tjemsland and Pat Dumont. Expect paintings next to stonework and glass. There are hand-painted shoes as well.

Crystal and Sky at the counter

Who runs the shop day to day now? The website doesn't say. Recent Google reviews name two people, Crystal and Sky. One visitor thanked “Crystal and Sky who care for this sanctuary.”

Sky still makes jewellery. “Sky makes these silver jewelries with such fantastic craftsmanship too,” the same reviewer wrote, after ordering a custom jade ring from him.

BC jade brings people in. One shopper came looking for it, “not realizing how hard it is to find now,” and left with more than she'd planned after Crystal showed her what they had.

Kindness comes up a lot. When a baby threw up during one family's visit, a staff member came outside with “a damp cloth for the baby to cool her down.”

Check the hours first

The listings don't agree on hours. Google shows 11 am to 5 pm every day, while the shop's own website lists Wednesday to Sunday. Coming from out of town? Call 778-888-0600 before you head over.

You'll find it near the end of Gasoline Alley, a short walk off Glover Road. As the shop's Facebook page puts it, the gallery “is a destination in itself.”

Photos: Wild Moon & Star.