Trade Only

Trade Only showrooms cater to Designers, Decorators and Architects, offering their products to the design trade for resale. It's a unique way of shopping and one that thrills me every time. The consultants in the trade showroom work for the designer, offering their knowledge of constructions, style and fabrics to assist the designer in selling their goods. Usually they have fabulous espresso and often have granola bars and fruit to boost the weary designer.  One of my favorite Trade shops is Gresham House In Oakville. All the pieces are made on site, frames are made locally, and all are bench made pieces of the utmost quality. Although it is for the trade, you can bring your clients in to sit on the pieces and view the finished ones in the back. I've never had a client who hasn't bought from me after showing them the craft that goes into the furniture here. 

At Gresham House, it's a sea of white floor samples. Every frame they make is on the floor in the various depths and widths so you can feel how they sit. Plus you can change around the seats to show clients how a standard vs feather vs down seat or backs will feel. One you select the frame, you move onto the fabrics. Walls of fabric samples and books provide endless selections. Once the fabric is chosen, the order is placed and 6 weeks later, Voila ! the most gorgeous and comfortable furniture and a happy client.

I am off today to meet with the consultant to finalize the fabrics, styles and prices for a whopping 10 pieces to go into their new home. I get as excited as they do. When a client wants quality pieces and has great taste and style, it makes my job really easy. 

I thought you make enjoy a peek into the showroom. 

My client is getting this day bed in a natural linen

They want this chair for the office

Fashion Stylist

Photo Source http://styleblog.ca/2012/03/26/fash-weekly-april-2012-editorial-preview/

I am just so proud of my Girl Child who is about to graduate from college (again) in three weeks. Already a makeup artist, she returned to school to earn another Diploma, this time in Fashion Arts/Management. She's been doing a straight run of back to back semesters so she can graduate this April. 

Part of the process is securing an internship. Hers is with www.FashWeekly.com ....an online magazine based in Toronto. She has the enviable task of attending fashion events like Toronto Fashion Week, restaurant openings, launches of new lines etc. She gets a press pass, loot bags, free food and sometimes even champagne. All in return for writing articles about the event. Not a bad gig for a student. Recently she was the stylist for a photo shoot. That's her, the 4'11" blonde girl behind the (over 6' with heels) model during the shoot. And HERE is the entire shoot. She is listed as the shoot stylist in the credits. Good going Girl! 

Smitten- with Suzannah Tisue's work

It doesn't get more adorable than this guy.

Art mug by www.susannahtisue.com

I am totally smitten with these ceramic art pieces by Susannah Tisue of SKT Ceramics. As my readers already know, I am not a SHOPPING MALL girl. The best gift for me to give or receive is by far a handmade art or craft piece, or something vintage, worn or salvaged. For Easter I wanted to get my Special Girls (Girl Child and DIL) something special. When I saw these beautifully made ceramic cups, I knew they were just the thing. I ordered a few and decided to keep one for myself as I honestly can't part with them all.  

These pieces are a good size, nice and sturdy, with charming drawings on the front that are just so beautifully done. The bunny has a soft pale blue glaze and the bird the prettiest Robin's egg blue. Instead of mass produced offshore gifts, these make the perfect birthday, baby, Easter or anytime presents. Buy Local. Buy Handmade. Support the Arts...that's my motto. 

I can't show the 2 for the girls, but you can see by looking at Sweet Chickadee and Gorgeous Bunny, that I'm going to have a hard time deciding which to keep for my own desk. I am going to fill them with little chocolate eggs and gussy them up in cellophane and ribbons.(will post pics another day) You can visit Susannah Tisue's web shop HERE.

Found Money March 2012

I am trying to save an Extra $2012 in 2012. Not from trimming the household expenses, but by looking for money and opportunities for money that were there for the picking, missed by me or the Raz Man. Selling unused items, making cash from things like blogging, saving bits of cash that trickle in.

Mostly, Finding Money is about getting off my butt and not being lazy about it. This month I signed up for BlogHer ads and made an extra $5.73 to ad to my $19.30 from Google Ads. I got motivated to list an old cabinet that belonged to my friend and I on Craigslist, and made $150 (shared) on that and while the person was picking it up, she asked if we had anything else and purchased a little wall cabinet with a crack in it for $30.00. (I was going to get rid of it thinking no one would want it). So that was $180.00 to share with my friend..$90.00 into my Found Money Jar. In addition my husband was at his metal shop, and there was a pool for a baby about to arrive. He threw in $20.00 and he won. Winnings were $110.00. He was pretty happy at thought of some bucks to spend in the pub, but I quickly ended that excitement and took the winnings, giving him back the original $20 for his bet. Thanks Raz Man...a cool $90 of Found Money.

I ended this month with a cool $365.00 making my year to date FOUND MONEY $861.49. I would love to know if any of you Found Money this month or have some good ideas to save money. I have created a Linky below so you can link a post to this one. How do you FIND MONEY.

The Praying Kind

My Mother in Law is the praying kind. If you tell her a story about anyone who could use it, she'll pray for them. She started a prayer chain 20 years ago for my little cousin, about to have a bone marrow transplant, and today she's a healthy 27 year old. She did a lot of praying, and sent a lot of blessed items for my Sweet Mama when she was dying (she didn't). She prayed for my sister with her brain tumor. She conquered it. She has a lot of praying power my mother in law does. I know she prays every day for her family, the less fortunate, and for her son Dale, whom she lost a number of years ago. Her blessing over dinner takes so long, and includes so many people, the grand kids used to get the giggles when they were little. I truly think she the most praying person I know.

Tonight, she's in critical condition in hospital and she could use all the praying you've got. I took her one of my rosaries, and hope when she wakes, she will find comfort in finding it laced through her fingers. I know her hands will automatically start turning those beads. We love you Penny. And we're praying for you.

Making Limoncello

This post is practically a Public Service Announcement. With the Early Spring we've been having in the Northern Hemisphere, you need to get cracking and make your Limoncello for summer. It needs 40 days to sit and steep, so now's a really good time to get going. 

I was gifted a bottle at Christmas, made by a young and handsome Italian fellow, (boyfriend of one of my favorite girls) (thanks Eugene). I was quite smitten with it. I tried to get him to spill the Secret Recipe, but he was perhaps a little guarded. Cryptic instructions, vague measurements and iffy details, forced me to search for the written word. Here's a RECIPE if you would like to try. I was thinking it would make great summer hostess and birthday gifts for the drinkers in your life.

To serve my Limoncello, I am using my tiny Bonne Maman jam jars. The waiter at the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas didn't even notice I was eating 8 a day at breakfast. My suitcase home was nearing the overweight allowance in petite jars of preserves alone. Mise over the the blog PRETTY FAR WEST is a huge fan of Bonne Maman jars of both sizes. Please note, these are the miniature 1 oz jars....Limoncello is made with 100% proof vodka..you really don't want to use your large jars.

Cheers!

Urban Farm

Handsome red eyed rooster.

Girl child and I headed to our local Provincial Park last Sunday to walk a bit and visit with the farm animals. I was shocked that it was $16.00 a car to get in. While there are acres of picnic and hiking lands, and a barn with a few animals, it is additional $ to camp and swim. I think $16.00 excludes a lot of families that would otherwise enjoy a lovely day in the country. 

We had a lovely walkabout and enjoyed the vivid colors that the sunny Spring day helped us capture.

Excuse us, we didn't know you were laying an egg at that moment.....

"get lost"

look at those head feathers

There is a random egg at the back of the box although he/she was not sitting on it.

These guys would not be still enough for a photo....you all know I love motion photo's

Afternoon Ladies

Soaking up shunshine

I think these are bluebells.

Sparrows on the old barn shutters.

On Wednesday, I am heading to a new farm about 40 minutes away to scout them as a new source of fresh eggs, veg and meat for our family.

Flowers in the House

My friend Chickie brought me these hot pink tulips as hostess gift. I placed them in a vase and popped them on the mantle. I was really chuffed with them. In my head, I thought "Yippie! look how spectacular that pink looks with my blue painting and how perfect they would be for Jane's Flowers in the House over at her lovely blog Small But Charming.

So, Yippie Yi Yay over HERE to visit Jane to see all the other pretty offerings this Monday.

 

The Morning After the Night Before

The "decorator magazine" Blackboard. Neat, precise, organic.

I mentioned in my last post that I was a) hosting a party last night and b) had recently installed a blackboard in my dining room. I know you all had visions of it looking like the one above. With my shopping list to remind me to pick up organic eggs and to take Jack to piano lessons.But I also told you my style is relaxed, casual, hippy, and that I don't take my house too seriously.

So when, I combine my friends, good wine and a little cup of colored chalk....the results are far from magazine worthy.

50 year olds and chalk.!

Because our friend Barry likes a lot of attention, I made the cake all about him, with little cuts outs of him that I skewered with a toothpick and poked them in the top. Although it doesn't look like it in the little cut outs, he does have 2 arms.

Party of 8

We're hosting a birthday Party tonight for our friend Barry. When I host a do, it's always somewhat casual. Since I had a 5 minute wedding that cost $15.00, I didn't have a registry and therefore never had fancy china and matchy silverware. Tonight I am using my vintage flea market Buffalo China, a paisley block printed tablecloth, and some bright Indian napkins mixed in with some grey linen ones. 

Because my house is rather small, I only have 4 matching chairs, so one side of the table sits on white slip covered chairs and the other side on the leather chairs from the kitchen. Women on the left, men on the right I say. The pretty candle stick is a second hand find. If I was to liken myself to a TV personality, it would be Ina Garten but with more of a hippy flair, and I think that is reflected in my oh so casual table setting.

I've added $20.00 worth of supermarket flowers all re-potted in white earthenware bowls and I made sure the chalk is out in the little silver cup so people can write their real thoughts on the blackboard that is right behind these leather chairs. I may have to erase it in the morning.

And on to the Weekend.....

I am a sucker for corner store flowers. Especially the potted bulbs. Not so fond of the plastic pots and coloured paper wraps they come in. I always yank them out and re-pot them in something a little prettier. This was my Sweet Mama's mixing bowl from when I was a kid. I remember her making steamed puddings in this. The bottom is a bit worse for wear due to her old hand cranked mixer, but the glaze on the outside is still lovely and it's simple and fresh, so I use it for planting.

I treated myself a little pot of daffs and one of crocus for $2.99 each. Once they are spent, I shall replant them in the garden and the'll re-gift me next year. I decided they look prettiest on my old dresser along with my stag horn-a gift from my sister who found it while walking. I had hidden away from the banana eating Foster Dog (you can read about his antics HERE and HERE) lest he think he had a new 4 point bone. Foster Boy has however passed muster and I am happy to say his "trial" is over and he is now officially adopted into a family who adores him with 4 cats. I anxiously await for "the Call" regarding Foster Dog 2. Perhaps this weekend. I am hosting a dinner party Saturday night so that may prove interesting. Enjoy your weekend.

Wee Gifts

I've been stockpiling wee gifts for little occasions and as thank you's for random kindnesses. I came across these cute little Scottish soaps made with luscious ingredients such as Seaweed and Oatmeal. They come in lovely little tins to re-use for odd bits. 

Add a pretty ribbon, reused from another gift and you don't even need to waste your pennies on gift wrap.

Would you pick Oatmeal or Seaweed for your wee little gift?