A little inseason re-up from our bearded friend in Vancouver with Ken Diamond Quality Leather Goods arriving today at Still Life For Him:

• Braided Leather Wallet Chain (available in black) - Hand braided kangaroo leather finished with waxed cord and solid stainless swivel snaps on either end.
• Classic Bill Fold (available in black, chocolate and natural) - 3/4oz high quality veggie tan leather, hand stitched with 2 card slots and 1 bill slot. A taller and narrower option than the shorter and wider New Bill Fold.
• Classic Key Fob (available in black and natural) - High quality 5/6oz veggie tan leather finished with solid brass swivel snap.
• Envelope Card Wallet (available in black, chocolate and natural) - 3/4oz high quality veggie tan leather, hand stitched and finished with engraved Ken Diamond snap.
• Skinny Key Fob (available in black, natural & cognac) - 5/6oz high quality veggie tan leather, solid brass swivel snap finished with engraved Ken Diamond snap.

Ken Diamond began to work with leather in the late 90′s and established Ken Diamond in 2003. The philosophy behind the works of Ken Diamond are simple: high quality leather goods with classic designs, entirely hand made in his Vancouverstudio. As leather work is a dying art, he works at keeping the traditions alive while using modern techniques to keep the work simple and minimal.

Red Cap Cards was founded in Beverly Hills, California by Hal Mertz and illustrator Carrie Gifford. In 2007 Red Cap began collaborating with illustrators, artists and designers from around the world. The artists behind Red Cap are story tellers who have created a unique collection of cards that are truly original and one of a kind.

These have become the sweetest way to tell someone how you feel over the past months we've had the range at Still Life For Her. Today we're happy to get a beautiful new collection of cards from the Red Cap artists with sentiments expressing love, admiration and birthday well wishes as we approach Valentines Day and all those Spring Birthdays! Click through the images to see all available new cards and swing by 550 Johnson Street to pick up some treats for your sweetheart.

Manufactured in Great Britain, North Sea Clothing draws inspiration from the traditional sweaters issued and worn by the British Royal Navy through both World Wars. By the 1950s motorcyclists had adopted these warm, snug, exceptionally-manufactured sweaters to wear under their jackets as a fantastically effective way of keeping warm and dry in the British weather; North Sea Clothing is all about garments that are suitable "Whatever The Weather".

North Sea Sweaters are made in Britain using traditional practices and beautiful British wool. The wool used in their yarns are not washed prior to spinning, helping to retain natural lanolin which acts as a natural waterproofed agent perfect for life on a ship's deck, the British countryside, or the wet West Coast of Canada. Available now at Still Life For Him, The Expedition shawl-collared sweater is available in navy or ecru, finished with a brass shank anchor collar button.

In addition to the arrival of The Expedition Sweater from North Sea Clothing, we've also received The Explorer Wallet in a stunning vegetable tanned navy blue English bridle leather with two internal and one external card/cash compartments and The Bosun Key Fob made from the same vegetable tanned navy blue English bridle leather and strong navy or ecru cotton webbing with marine grade 316 stainless steel bow shackle.

If anyone was looking for a reminder as to how varied and unpredictable the weather can be on Southern Vancouver Island this past week was a shining example. We're proud to welcome North Sea Clothing into Still Life and eager to introduce this iconic British range to the men of Victoria, Whatever The Weather.

We've welcomed a new arrival at Still Life For Her this week that looks as if may disappear into the hands (and mouths) of our staff before any of the public even gets a chance to see it... Vancouver's BETA5 Chocolates are produced in small batches using ethically sourced estate chocolates and premium ingredients. Careful alignment of the BETA5 matrix results in their chocolates’ distinctive shine and crisp snap. The form-5 beta crystal structure is the most stable form of cocoa butter crystallization, formed through the controlled melting, and subsequent cooling (tempering) of liquid chocolate.

Our shelves have been filled this past AW2011 season with sundries of all types, and with the arrival of some locally-produced chocolates from BETA5 we're staying well fed through the winter. When creating BETA5, founders Adam & Jess wanted to create a different kind of chocolate range. One that uses the best ingredients they can find, in support of farmers and in the name of taste. One that goes against the grain, by recognizing where they stand in the global economy and by committing to making ethical choices instead of profit-driven ones. BETA5 Chocolates are stay off the beaten path, blurring the lines between customer and cook and smoothly revolves around innovation and craftsmanship.

Cherry, Almond, Bean & Hazelnut Pebbles, Solid Chocolate Bars and Salted Butter Caramels are all now available from BETA5 Chocolates at Still Life For Her.

Our very first official Spring/Summer 2012 arrivals are here and they come from the fine folks at Sweden's most loved denim brand: Nudie Jeans Co. For the past ten years Nudie has done things within this retail fashion industry that, in all honesty, they didn't have to: they've eschewed speed and overhead for quality production, they've worked tirelessly for human rights with Amnesty International, and this year (2012) they will finally become an entirely organic denim company as they rework all their classics with new denim options moving forward.

Nudie proves there's more in their pricetags than the backwards "N" and a cool stitch deal. There's a lot of heart, soul and hard work put into every pair of jeans they produce, and we're proud to have been such a big supporter of the brand for as long as we have. Cheers to Nudie Jeans Co, check out what we've received thusfar for Spring 2012:

• Tape Ted Black Black Ring: Italian comfort stretch. 10.25oz dry denim with evident ring effects. Black warp and white weft. A soft and flat fabric. Black threads all over and black back pocket embo. Gunmetal trims. 97% cotton/3% elastane. Made in Italy.
• Thin Finn Dry Flat Selvage Dry: Italian 13.25oz selvage denim with a little red-cast. It's compact and regular with a smooth, flat surface. On this style you find the selvage edge coin pocket and silver trims. Nudie orange threads all over except for the back pocket embo that is faded indigo. 100% cotton. Made in Italy.
• Khaki Slim Dry Black Coated: Unwashed dry black-coated denim from Italy. At front: Slant side pocket. A secret coin pocket just below the waistband. Zip fly with orange bar tack. Silver button and orange buttonhole on waistband. At back: Lowered yoke. Welt pockets where the pocket bag is marked with a blind stitch. Lined waistband. Narrow two-needle seams along yoke seam and front and back rise. The fit is based on Thin Finn.
• Backbone Sweatshirt Black or Grey Light: Dry unbrushed piqué in organic cotton. At neck a classic rib insert with flatlock seams. All seams are stitched down with flatlock. 100% fair trade & organic cotton.
• Backbone Boxers Black, Grey or Indigo: The cotton used for this jersey is organic. They feature an elastic waistband with the Nudie Jeans Co logo. Matching bindings at front and leg openings. 98% cotton/2 % elastane. 100% fair trade & organic cotton.
• Wayne Leather Belt Black or Natural: This fine leatherbelt is handmade in Portugal. Made out of the finest saddle leather thet when treated right will age beautifully. Nudie jeans Co logo embossed at end.
• Denim & Leather Haghdal Wallet: A wicked pocket-sized wallet that only measures 10x7.5cm when folded. It contains one currency pocket and eight pockets for cards, six horizontal and two vertical ones. The outside is made in a 13.25oz Japanese denim with the selvage edge visible at the currency pocket. It is stitched with heavy off-white stitches. The inside is made in genuine saddle leather that will age beautifully. On the inside you also find the Nudie Jeans Co logo debossed.

Over the years, Filson's philosophy has never changed: Make sure it's the absolute best. Clinton Filson spent a lot of time talking to his customers and refining his designs to their specifications. So it's not surprising that the items that worked then still work today, over 100 years since he started the company. Comfort, protection and durability never go out of style.

Filson has long been one of our favourite most versatile, rugged, and sought-after brands at Still Life. We've restocked in some of this winter's seasonal accessories ranging from Tin Cloth tote bags, duffle bags and umbrellas to heavy duty canvas and leather ruck sacks and briefcases, and classic Filson leather-bound flasks and Mackinaw Wool vests. Some of these items seriously flew off our shelves this past autumn/winter, so if you're feeling the press of the winter cold, swing by either shop and pick up some rugged Filson accessories.

Filson goods are still made and guaranteed in Seattle - available to take you through the winter at both Still Life For Him & For Her.

Oh Comely is a lifestyle magazine with life. It is a magazine that makes people smile, full of quiet moments and stories. Read it with a cup of tea or a toddy.

Oh Comely Issue Eight is a free spirit who speaks its mind: They photographed people whose tattoos had stories. Writers confessed their secret crushes. They munched through the history of a digestive biscuit that travelled to the Antarctic. They dyed scarves with fennel and onion skins. People of every age talked about kindness they'd given and received. Interviews: My Brightest Diamond, Smoke Fairies, Paddy Considine, Jenny Balfour-Paul, Antipodium, Julianna Swaney.

The current, Eighth Issue of Oh Comely is now available at Still Life For Her.

A package journeyed across the straight from Vancouver and arrived at Still Life For Her today filled with sweet sentiments of love, longing, best wishes and the types of things you wish you could always say to those who mean the most to you. Inside were some of our favourites and some inspiring, brand new Dani Press Greeting Cards from our friend Dani Kreeft.

A long time ago Dani heard that to get the things you want in life, you have to first decide what you want. She cut out the self-doubt, let go of the word "should", drove away from the noise and eventually knew what she wanted. Her beautiful line of greeting cards comes from ten years of wanting: a card line of wayward travel photos and old typewriter text to inspire people, to give them the words they want to say but don't know how to, to give something meaningful.

Each card measures 4-3/8" x 5-3/4" and is sold tucked into something earthy: a grocery bag envelope made from 100% recycled materials. Action Envelope, the company Dani sources her envelopes from, is also 100% wind-powered and committed to greener efforts to help keep our earth beautiful.

Remind someone how much you care about them, with beautiful new cards from Dani Press.

Some of of knew Jamer from way back, some of us knew him from more recent times, some of us knew of him only from his work; Any way we knew him we were all affected by his tragic passing yesterday, January 12 2012. Read a beautiful writeup from a close friend over at Scout Magazine Online. We'll miss you Jamer.

It was with the utmost anticipation that our friends at Big Wheel Burger opened their doors at 341 Cook Street this past Autumn staking their claim as the "Best Real Fast Food in Victoria". In a city like ours it would seem every other foodie dining out is seated at their table eagerly drafting their review of the service/food/atmosphere/decor of the establishment on the tiny screen of their smartphone before the main course is even finished; Thankfully for these same Victoria foodies, Big Wheel Burger will leave them slipping smiley face emoticons into their reviews after finishing one of the absolute best burgers in the city.

Located in the vibrant Cook Street Village, a hop, skip, and a jump from Beacon Hill Park, Downtown Victoria, and the Dallas Road Waterfront, Big Wheel Burger is the perfect place for take-out picnic supplies, fun family meals, and speedy business lunches. The result of great ideas coming together between the brains at Pig and Zambri's, Big Wheel Burger has immedately harnessed the heart, soul and food quality of a legendary burger joint working with only the finest ingredients.

Sourcing product from within 100 miles of their location, Big Wheel Burger limits their carbon footprint while support local economies. Their burgers are ground fresh daily, using locally raised, hormone and antibiotic free meats and cooked well done on a cutting edge flat top grill all the while embracing a philosophy of fresh, local and delicious. They use only environmentally safe packaging materials and have instituted recycling programs on every product level.

You've probably heard the buzz surrounding the hottest new burger joint in town, so next time you're biking, walking or driving down by the water or up through Cook Street Village, be sure to make a pitstop at Big Wheel Burger and tell them "Hi" from all of us at Still Life.