Instinct

Instinct is a relatively new shop in the Old Strathcona district, located around the corner near Hudson’s Taphouse. They’ve got fairly odd hours for a shop, being open only on the weekends. But I’m glad I did today, because it was a real treat!
The shop is small and quaint, but gives off a modern and almost Zen-​like vibe. The walls are painted clean white, with red and black décor. The displays are clean and simple, not cluttered and overwhelming to the eyes. And I know this may sound strange, but it smells really good in here too, a light and fresh coconut scent.
Instinct mostly carries jewelry and small home décor pieces like frames and vases. Shop owner and local designer Andrea creates most of the items herself, and her simple but feminine style is reflected throughout the shop. Her signature line is called I Kan-​dee, and she also has a kiosk set up at Southgate Mall.
Everything is exquisitely handmade. Her jewelry selection includes pieces made from various shell, pearls, and coconut materials. One particular necklace caught my eye; it was a large sand dollar that was simply strung onto a thin wire chain. It was absolutely beautiful!
Other items include handmade glass pendants that you can either buy individually, or customize them with thin wire or silver chains. They also have really cute pet charms for dogs and cats. Some of the items are priced a bit more than I would pay for, but some are just so beautiful that I would be willing to pay an extra few bucks. Plus, these are one-​of-​a-​kind items by a local designer, so I wouldn’t feel as guilty spending a bit more.