Unique Alaskan Experiences

The next time you are in Juneau and are looking for that perfect, one size fits all, sure to please everybody, kind of gift to bring home to the family, check out the shop and studio of one William “Bill” Spear. Bill has been featured in Coastal Living Magazine as the “Alaskan Pin Pal”.

Bill’s studio and shop are neatly hidden away on the second floor of a beautiful vintage building in the heart of downtown Juneau. This is one of those shops that the cruise lines do not feature in their shore talks. Actually, I think Bill probably prefers it that way and pretty much says so in some of the catchy facts and phrases attached to the stairs leading to his studio from the front street entrance.

I can’t say that I have actually met Bill personally yet but he is surely preceded by his reputation as a unique and “independent” Alaskan. In his Juneau studio he designs some of the best enamel pins found anywhere in the world. The process is laborious and requires very skilled artisans. Everything is done by hand. (To learn more about the process see http://wmspear.com/process.php)

He does mainly lapel pins and zipper pulls with a few magnets and other oddities thrown in. There are literally thousands of designs to choose from. Selections include such far-reaching categories as Medical Science, Humans and Society, Mammals, Insects, Reptiles and Amphibians, Birds, Alaska, Travel, Dogs (my personal favorite!), Kitchen and Garden, and Marine Life. There are new designs to choose from nearly every time I go.

On my last trip I bought a Golden Retriever zipper pull for my husband (We have 2 retriever-mix “kids”.), some sled dogs for a friend and a lead dog for me. I also got an Alaskan moose magnet and some assorted other animal and Alaska pins for gifts. Most are priced at no more than $20. They pack famously, taking up virtually no space in your already stuffed homeward bound luggage. Additionally, there is virtually no danger of breakage or of having gotten the wrong size for anyone.

To learn more about Bill and to see a selection of his wonderful hand made enamel gifts check out http://wmspear.com/

For directions to Bill’s studio and to take a look at the “Alaskan Pin Pal” himself at work in his studio check out http://wmspear.com/location.php