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Updated: March 16, 2011
Contest WINNER announced at bottom of post
Posted: March 7, 2011
Just before Christmas last year I received a lovely gift – sent to me by a then 'mystery vendor' at the Cape Breton Farmer’s Market. They were earrings – but not like any I had ever seen before – which put me on mission to discover their origin. That’s how I found Morningstar Pinto…in Catalone Gut, on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. And that’s how I learned of a lady from Victoria, BC who relocated and embraced the place she now calls home…who creatively enjoys every day in a 'reloved' kind of way. SABS
A perfect addition to our month long celebration of “One of Kind Wonderful” what follows is a “Q&A” as they say with Morningstar Pinto .
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SABS: How did you come to live in Cape Breton?
Morningstar: This is the stuff love stories are made of!
In 2007, after a 16 year friendship, my now husband Stephen and I decided to date. About 4 months later he was offered a job working with AECOM in Sydney, Nova Scotia – overseeing the clean up of the Sydney Tar Ponds.
So after a few discussions we decided that the opportunity was one he couldn’t turn down. He moved in January, we were engaged in March and married in May.
A week after we were married Stephen, our two children and I touched down in Cape Breton. For three of us it was our first time on the Island!
Moving to Cape Breton gave us the opportunity to buy our dream home - an old place right on the ocean, with 17 acres and a lake in the back; not to mention the fact and I would have a chance to re-invent myself.
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Before moving to Cape Breton I had graduated from a Communications Program and was working in Public Affairs for the Government of B.C. It was a fulfilling job, but moving to Cape Breton became the catalyst for a shift in my career path.
I still do some contract communication work, but now I am able to focus my creativity in other ways.
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SABS: When did you start creating your works?
Morningstar: My jewellery is a pretty new venture. I started off with my farm, the roadside stand and the disc golf course. Then I had so many folks in Sydney wanting the products that 
I sold at my stand that I decided to hunker down at the Cape Breton farmers market.
I began creating brooches, earrings, cards, baby booties, etc… using recycled or “reloved” sweaters in 2008.
While at the farmers market I met another vendor, who happened to be a jewellery maker and painter. Lynda Lou MacIntyre, who is also a teacher at the Centre for Craft and Design here is Cape Breton, gave me the inspiration and the encouragement to begin working with birch bark and creating my jewellery.
SABS: What materials do you work with?
Morningstar: Hand harvested birch bark from pre - consumer bound fire wood, silver, gold, wire wrapping materials, felted sweaters, paper. I will also be moving to resin work and stained glass jewellery within the next year.
SABS: What does your living in Nova Scotia bring to Reloved Design?
Morningstar: Inspiration, flexibility, encouragement, and most of all- materials! The birch bark is 100% Nova Scotia grown and harvested.
SABS: Do you do custom designs?
Morningstar: Definitely, if you dream it I will try my best to re-create it. I make wedding and party favours with felt, specialty birch bark pieces and have even been known to make a doggie sweater or two!
SABS: Where can people find your works?
Morningstar: right now you can find my things at The Sunset Gallery - Cheticamp NS, Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design - Sydney NS, Boutique JOLIETTE - Halifax NS, Sandra's Country Treasures - Berwick NS, Ecoutrement - Newport Beach CA - http://www.ecoutrement.com/, The Hive - Victoria BC. I’m also 
on Etsy- http://www.etsy.com/people/twocrowsfarm
There are many areas on the East and beyond that remain Reloved free - so I have set up a page on my website with information on carrying Reloved Design products www.reloveddesign.com
For more with Morningstar Pinto - check out her Cool People Profile
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SABS FREE STUFF 4 U
Winner Announced March 16, 2011
We gave you a chance to WIN these beautiful earrings hand crafted by Morningstar Pinto simply by telling us where in the Atlantic Provinces she resides.
Thanks to everyone who entered and knew that the correct answer is "Catalone Gut, Nova Scotia"
We chose our winner at random from all correct entries received and we're pleased to announce big congratuations to....
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KELLY TANNER
from Kentville, NS
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Stay tuned for more chance to win more great free stuff! SABS
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Her earrings are so beautiful, light weight, and best of all natural so I wear them all the time! I would love to own another pair so I can give someone special a wonderful present...or keep them for myself
Comment by christine patterson — March 8, 2011 @ 7:21 pm