Take A Look Inside CG Design Atelier

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Store operator Cigdem Guner working at her work station inside CG Design Atelier

Driving down Wyandotte Street East, you might notice a new store front with Cigdem Guner doing her craft through the window – in CG Design Atelier.

CG Design Atelier, the newest addition in the East end, opened their doors in late August — and with this opening, bringing a variety of handmade jewelry, beads and natural stones to the area.

Store co-owner and operator, designer and maker of the handcrafted goods Cigdem Guner has been enjoying having a brick-and-mortar location after having been taking part in multiple events and farmers markets as a vendor, and hosting her online shop at the same time. She co-owns the store along with her husband, Ibrahim Hakki Guner, who she thanks for his support and cooperation in making her vision of the store come to life.

Store co-owner and operator Cigdem Guner

Guner, who is originally from Turkey, made her way with her family to Canada 4 years ago to give her twin children a great education as they are heading in to their final year of high school this year. Guner herself attended St. Clair College for their Tourism – Travel program with interest in pursuing a tourism-related career – but the pandemic put a bit of a change in plans for her life.

“I wanted to work and produce something,” She mentions. “So I started a business.”

The business stems from a 20-year-old hobby and passion Guner has had: beading, creating and making beautiful things.

“[Beading] was always my hobby – I always liked jewelry, wearing it and making it. I didn’t have as much time before to focus on it,” she explains, but now that her kids have grown she has had the time to get back in to her passion.

Now, Guner spends a large chunk of her days in her shop, creating as well as greeting customers who visit.

“It’s more than money,” Guner notes. “It’s so nice that people like what you make…and wear it! I feel encouraged to make more and learn more,” she explains, as it always feels nice to be appreciated for your craft. “People love buying [the items I make] for gifts, which feels nice. They let me know the gift was enjoyed, which makes me feel good.”

Guner works with a variety of materials, including: seed beads, natural stones, crystals, superduo, and really any type of bead. Guner also will make her own designs from clay to add to jewelry pieces, and is looking to soon get in to ceramics. With all these components, she makes a variety of one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, with over 1,900 original pieces made by her in store and online.

The store in itself is a design piece that Guner is very proud and happy to have been part of. “My husband and I did a lot of DIY around the new store. A lot of the things in the store were put together or made by us. We redid the whole unit, from the walls to the door to the floors.”

Now that Guner has been able to open her shop, she is looking forward to soon be offering workshops to small groups. Workshops made for adults and teenagers will soon be made available, from jewelry making, to beading, working with clay and much more. “I will set a theme for workshops for small groups,” she mentions as she is greatly looking forward to doing such a thing now that she has her own space to do so.

In addition to the hand made goods and soon-to-be workshops, the store offers repairs and custom orders, hand made items sourced from turkey such as bags and scarves, beading supplies, lace work and much more. Items and materials in the store are sourced from all over the world — from Turkey to Morocco to the United States to Canada and beyond.

See CG Design Atelier yourself at their new location located at 4746 Wyandotte Street East to check out some handcrafted and unique goods. Browse Guner’s work on their Instagram here and find more information on their website here; make a custom order via [email protected].