I'm so excited to share my new design for 2022: The Woodward's Tower!

This design pays homage to the famous Woodward's neon sign, erected in 1944 atop the beloved Woodward's department store in downtown Vancouver.

If you’re over a certain age, you might remember the festive Christmas window displays at Woodward’s, often featuring an animatronic Santa Claus. If you’re like me, every once in a while the $1.49 Day jingle from their radio and TV commercials suddenly pops into your brain: “Dollar forty-nine day, Tuesday. Dollar forty-nine day, Woodward’s.”

A little Woodward’s history

For those unfamiliar, Woodward’s Stores Ltd. was a department store chain that operated in Alberta and British Columbia for over one hundred years before it ceased operations in 1993. The downtown Vancouver building—the flagship store—was eventually demolished in 2006 to make room for housing complexes and new businesses. In 2010, the original W sign was relocated to the grounds outside the new Woodward’s building and a replica tower and LED-illuminated W was reinstalled atop the complex, restoring a beloved landmark to the Vancouver skyline.

My miniature Woodward’s tower Christmas ornament

My miniature Woodward’s Tower ornament stands at 4.5 inches and is made entirely of blown glass. The red W on top is outlined with orange to hint at the neon glow of the original sign. What’s interesting about this ornament is the glass between the arms of the W is clear, so you can see through to the "sky" behind it.

I hope you love it as much as I do!