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Stocking up at ShopWAG

The holiday season is here! Looking for the perfect gift for the person on your list who has everything—or for the pickiest person on your list?

ShopWAG has you covered with hundreds of unique, thoughtfully curated items at all price points. By shopping with us, you’re not only finding a meaningful gift but also supporting local artists.

One of our favourite exclusive collections this year is the quilted stockings collection from Rox Creative. Almost a year in the making, these unique stockings are the creation of Naila Janzen, the creative force behind the brand. Naila shared the inspiration behind these unique holiday stockings, which are perfect for stuffing with other goodies from ShopWAG!

Naila discovered quilting while recovering from an illness, finding the meditative craft to be a creative release and opportunity to explore and learn new things. Before she knew it, her passion for home décor and handmade items took off, putting her on a new career path that led to the creation of Rox Creative.

Handmade things are sacred to me, I think we treat items differently when they are handmade, we can understand the human experience through craft and the value of your investment in craft. – Naila

Sherri Van Went, Manager of Retail Operations & Partnerships at WAG-Qaumajuq, first approached Naila about creating custom stocking collection nearly a year ago. Initially, Naila felt uncertain, wanting to design something beyond the typical quilted stocking—something more inspired. “I thought, ‘how would the sky celebrate the holidays?’ and the Northern Lights came to mind,” Naila shares. The Northern Lights hold special meaning for Naila,  as Manitoba was the first place she witnessed the spectacular light show, forming a deep connection to the phenomenon. Using the colours and dancing movements of Northern Lights as inspiration, Naila incorporated elements of music and pattern making into her designs.

There are three different patterns of stockings that are now available for purchase at ShopWAG, each one using different colour palettes inspired by the Northern Lights and Naila’s favourite Christmas carols – O Holy Night, Silent Night, and Joy to the World.

“I went back to my primary school music lessons and how to read sheet music, the different counts and timing, and came across sheet music that worked with the count for the design I wanted to use: 1” blocks. Each song has its own bass line count, rhythm, and I made the patterns work with the shape of the stockings. It was a lot of math calculations to translate the songs to a grid!”

These special stockings are truly unique and heirloom-quality, destined to be passed down along with the story of their creation. They’re the perfect gift for anyone who appreciates one-of-a-kind items. “I think the stockings have multiple narratives, they tell a story and connect to music, dancing, lights, even Tetris with the grid design.”

“I’ve done other holiday collections in the past, but I’m really proud of these stockings. I think they’re unexpected and meaningful, they can be used for many years to come, and tell a story of someone’s first Christmas, their favourite carols, and celebrations.”

You can purchase your stocking exclusively in-store at ShopWAG, retailing for $160.

 

Hear more from Naila from our CTV Morning Live interview!

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WAG-Qaumajuq recognizes that land acknowledgements are part of an ongoing dialogue with Indigenous Nations, and we are grateful to live and work on these lands and waters. Institutionally, WAG-Qaumajuq is committed to acknowledging our colonial history and we are actively working to interrogate the Gallery’s colonial ways of being.

WAG-Qaumajuq is LEED certified.

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Winnipeg Art Gallery—Qaumajuq
300 Memorial Blvd
Winnipeg, MB
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