Steeling Home

When Jennifer Leblond opened a short-term artists’ co-op for the Christmas season of 1993, she had no idea that it would turn out to be the idea that would define her career. Steeling Home initially focused on creating hand-forged iron and steel – hence the name. It was a space for artists to explore their craft, be creative and sell their products to the public.

While some of the artists at Steeling Home moved on to new projects or careers, Jennifer continued to create, showcase and sell her metalwork. She also started bringing in other products to sell in the store. “I ended up just buying things that I liked – colourful, useful things,” says Jennifer. “We sell a lot of functional and decorative items. People often come to us for specific items.”