About Us

Krystyne's love for life's little indulgences and her 'Escapes from the Ordinary' began long before her first website debuted in 2001. For many years previous to that she had made bath and beauty products to rave reviews from her family and friends. It was back then that she began experimenting with exciting blends and tempting mixtures, allowing her creative mind free reign to try a variety of smells and tastes, many of which were inspired by her surroundings. Krystyne lives in the Niagara Region, which is one of the world's foremost wine producing regions. Surrounded by fresh fruit, lush local flora and fauna to say nothing of the many excellent wineries, Krystyne is constantly discovering new and fascinating blends that she is more than happy to share with friends both old and new. The name 'Ivy Keep' is a nod to her roots in historical re-enactment societies, a hobby she has enjoyed for many years and one that is partially responsible for bringing Krystyne to where she is now through her many different contacts with various merchants throughout the world. She feels that everyone has a right to affordable luxury and is also determined to bring some good to the world through her support of many worthy causes. More about her charitable efforts and opportunities for us all to participate will be announced on the Ivy Keep early in 2009. Married to her best friend and mom to three happy furbabies, she's always got time for a quick 'cuppa' and a chat. CREDITS There are always people who help bring a dream to life, and here is where I would like to say thank you to them. In order of thier introduction to my project: Thank You to my husband for his unending support in all my "silly" ideas. You are - and always were - the best. Thanks to our local SCA group and other clients for their support and enthusiasm with this venture. Thanks to Mrs. Jennifer Johnson for designing the original - and now retired -Ivy Keep logo. Jenn - your work was appreciated. Thanks to Mary from www.MaryWheelerPhoto.com for providing us some excellent photos for the front page and elsewhere on the site. To our suppliers for making this a pleasant experience. And to Danny Ridenhour - you proved to me that there are still "good guys" out there. Overall web site design and maintenance by Taylor-Smith Design in conjunction with The GDC Group Thank you to CanadaCart.ca for providing a Canada-friendly shopping cart. This is our ninth cart in five years.. and this one is a KEEPER!. My tea label and website category graphics are all thanks to a very talented lady, Holly May , who managed to pull off the impossible and find time for hundreds of little projects! Visit Holly's [ About Me ] page if you are looking for some graphic work! Kudos to Lenore for copywriting, proof reading and help testing the site into the wee hours of the morning! Talk about "dedicated". To my other copywriters: Cheryl, Susan and now, Sarah - Thanks go to you too for all your work and tea sipping! And finally, to my group of wonderful volunteers who helped try to break this shopping cart before it went live. It is a testiment to CanadaCart.ca that the cart did not choke, sputter or otherwise crack when I sent these people through it. Thank you all.