Things Made

07/11/2025

It is with great sadness that we announce John's sudden passing. Things Made will be closing down indefinitely. If you had dropped off any items for customization, please reach out through his email with a description and someone will get back to you.

Condolences can be left with Daley Funeral Homes.

John Jackson, owner of Things Made John Clarence Jackson passed away at the age of 67 on July 8th, 2025. Much loved husband of Ann ne McLaughlin. Loving father of Tim Emily, Pat and Kate Clay. He was cherished by his grandchildren Aurora, Cameron, Mikayla, Brianna and Lauren. He was

02/20/2024

Recently I had the pleasure of working with Laura from Aurora Life Sports to engrave their yoga blocks, both the foam and the cork types. They turned out fantastic!

You can check out Aurora Life Sports at Aurora Life Sports Inc.

Of course, if you would like your own yoga blocks engraved, please send me a message.

01/19/2024

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Living Locally Fair at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School in Russell, from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm. 120 Vendors!

01/19/2024

Things Made offers engraving on metal travel mugs like YETI and Stanley. We also offer the Polar Camel line of tumblers in a variety of styles, sizes and colours. We do not sell YETI or Stanley products, but you can bring your products to us for engraving.

12/08/2023

A wonderful tribute to those who made this park top-notch.

04/11/2023

Connor Mockett does a great job providing detailed weather forecasts for rural Eastern Ontario. Things Made was glad to provide the acrylic plaque for this celebration.

01/17/2023

Things Made will be at the Living Locally Fair at St. Thomas Aquinas CHS this Saturday from 9:00 - 3:30 pm. There will be over 80 local exhibitors to come and see. I am in my usual spot in the gymnasium.

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06/17/2022

This week, the Township of Russell unveiled two new bronze plaques in their historical landmark series. One is at Saint Jacques Catholic Church in Embrun, and the other is on the recreational trail near the Embrun Train Station. Things Made created the design and supplied the plaques.

09/15/2021

Two new bronze plaques were released at the Russell Heritage Festival on September 14, 2021, as part of the Russell Township Historical Plaque Program. The plaques were supplied by Things Made. John Jackson (left) from Things Made and Pierre Leroux, Mayor of the Township of Russell shown in the picture. Look for more plaques in this series later this year!

05/20/2021

"Ghost Signs" are the faded relics on buildings and trucks that are almost gone, but not quite. This is back when signs were painted with a paintbrush and considerable skill. Today the digital art comes out of a large format printer, I came across a link to a blog that talks about a sign painter who travels in the US restoring some of these old Ghost Signs. He also has written a song about his adventures which is on YouTube, linked in the story.

It is not a long read but it makes you think when driving past an old building where a sign is still visible, that decades ago a sign painter spent a few days on a ladder creating it without all the technology used today.

There is a deep thought expressed in a late eighties song that goes “Ashes to ashes, dust into dust, buildings will crumble, bridges will rust . . . and so it goes with everything but love.”