Heading south

Don't take it too hard, dear reader, but this is it for blog postings for the next week. I'm headed down south with the Teenaged Daughter to visit the Aged Mother. Leaving the Hapless (not really) husband to handle the Teenaged Son. Don't worry, they both like pizza and hot-dogs, and there will be lots of hockey to keep them busy. (Sadly, I won't be there in the stands to shout "play nicely" if any testosterone-fueled teens - on either team -  gets nasty and starts taking swipes at the brain pans of their opponents. Call me crazy, but I  like my hockey sans thuggery. But that's a whole other story, isn't it?) Because it's a vacation, I'm not taking a cellphone, and I won't be tweeting, texting or sending endless messages on my Crackberry. Hey people, that's why it's called a holiday! Tell you what, though, I'll take the camera and if I  come across anything must-see in the home decor section of Target, I'll snap some pics and share them when I get back.  Au revoir!  

Sweet sights of Spring

  
Oh, how I love to see the geese and ducks head north this time of year. True harbingers of Spring. But then I love birds at all times of year. Don’t tell anyone, but occasionally, I go to birdJam.com, a website where you can listen to bird calls and play various species. In fact, sometimes when I’m ignoring a deadline doing exhaustive background research, I amuse myself by playing bird calls while my cat, White Kitty, sits on the desk and acts perplexed. Very entertaining, indeed. I’m also loving all the bird motifs that are showing up in decor these days – to wit, the lovely vases from Urban Barn, shown above. Cute,no?

You grill, grrl

Barbeque season, already? Yes, baby! If you live to grill (see pic below), get yourself out to Ontario Gas Barbeques — “the world’s largest barbeque store” —   for the latest and greatest in barbeques.

Why buy when you can barter?

A newly launched bartering site I reported on earlier this year promises to be a boon for budget-conscious Canadians. SwapSity opened to the public on March 22 and is offering all sorts of goods and services. I love this idea, because it helps people save money and go easy on the planet. According to SwapSity founder, Marta Nowinska, some members have already saved as much as $2,500 by choosing to barter instead of buy. "Online swapping of unwanted possessions, free time or talents is a perfect solution for cost-conscious Canadian consumers seeking a more affordable way to acquire goods and services during these trying times," she says. Nowinska also points to a recent Consumer Confidence Report from marketing company TNS that indicates that "confidence numbers remain quite flat" and there is little indication of "significant consumer spending." That, says Nowinska, means that cinching one’s financial belt is the latest fashion.

Second hand is super hot

While researching this week’s Hot Home Products column about the trend toward used and reclaimed décor, I posed a few email questions to Eric Pierni, of Kijiji Canada, about how it’s affecting sites like his. Got some interesting information, which I’ve transcribed just for you, dear reader:

Q: Is the area of home decor and improvement products growing as a category for Kijiji?

A: Categories related to home décor and improvement products continue to grow rapidly on Kijiji.ca. For example, in the last year, the art and collectibles category has grown by 44 per cent, the furniture category has grown by 53 per cent, and the home and garden category has grown by 55 per cent.

Q. Why do you think this is?

A: Kijiji’s growth in general, and especially in the buy and sell category, is due to a few things. Consumers are increasingly budget-conscious, concerned about the environment and looking to shop locally. They’re looking for a convenient option that satisfies these needs.

Q. What do you think is behind consumer interest in second-hand and gently used home products?

A: For some, it’s all about looking for more affordable options while still being stylish. Finding gently-used items on a site like Kijiji saves money and also offers a wide variety of choice. If, for example, a consumer is looking for a piece of furniture from a certain era, say 1970’s kitsch, or art deco, they’re sure to find those kinds of items in the buy and sell category. For others, it’s all about saving money. For many, it’s also looking at ways to be more eco-friendly. By buying from a local classifieds site, consumers are saving items from going to landfill, as well as keeping their carbon footprint low — since the item is available locally and doesn’t need to travel a great distance.

Q: What “tips” do you have for consumers shopping for goods at a site like Kijiji for getting the best possible product at the best possible price?

A: Consumers should be persistent. The key is to be an avid shopper by coming back regularly. New home décor items are constantly being placed on the site. They should also be precise; if you know what you are looking for make sure to search for that item using the search box or browse in the most relevant category. Also, the more exact your search, the better, so use brand names if appropriate when performing searches. Finally, if you see the item you want and you like the picture make sure to respond to the ad as soon as possible by either giving the seller a call or sending them an email. Once you’ve connected with the seller, simply arrange a time to meet so you can see the item before committing to buy. Most importantly, Kijiji is all about local transactions. Always, always purchase an item in person and don’t send money online.

Celebrate spring with a smart cocktail

Met the charming and talented Dee Brun (aka Cocktail Deeva) at the National Home Show a few weeks ago. We were still in the depths of winter then, so I was delighted when she offered to come up with a special cocktail for you, dear readers, to get us all through the last few weeks of winter blahs. Just because winter’s decided to take a powder (we hope) doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy Brun’s Sunshine Collins cocktail. I’ll be mixing up a batch this weekend just to celebrate the sun (unless we get a blizzard, of course - then I'll be drowning my sorrows)

Sunshine Collins

1.5 ounces Vodka

3 ounces Blueberry Juice

1 ounce Pineapple juice

1 orange

Blueberries

Fresh Mint

Muddle (smush) together the Vodka, a handful of blueberries, piece of fresh orange and mint leaf until all ingredients are well-smushed (Brun obviously loves these technical terms).Then add them to an ice-filled shaker with both juices. Shake well and strain into a large glass filled with ice. Add some fresh blueberries and a sprig of mint as a fabulous garnish. Top with a squeeze of fresh orange juice.

Cheers!

Gorgeous goodies just arrived on my doorstep

Just opened a goodie box from Pam Beattie, the Vancouver designer whose boutique, Venetian Décor, specializes in unique decor pieces and accessories for the home, including toss cushions, footstools and ottomans covered in re-purposed vintage furs and costume jewellery. Thanks to Janette Ewen for turning me on to Pam. The pic gives you a taste of these yummy pieces. But if you want to see the pillows in the flesh — so to speak — you’ll have to come down to my seminar on signature style pieces at the International Home and Garden Show  this Friday at noon. What a drag that there aren’t any stores in Toronto carrying this stuff – yet!

I can't go - but you can!

I’ll be in Florida at the end of March visiting the Aged Mother, eating early-bird dinners and hitting the local Target store pretty hard. Of course I can't wait, but it does mean I’ll miss the One of a Kind Show, which runs from March 31 to April 4 at the Direct Energy Centre. Judging from the press material, you should definitely go, though. If I was in town, I’d want to check out the fabulous glass and wood vases by Benoit Foyer, the gorgeous felt chair by John Booth and Arounna Khounnor of Bookhou Design and the lovely screen by one of my favourite furniture makers, Rob Brown of Equinox Interiors. Check out the pics below and see if you don’t agree that they’re all beautiful. I'd also hit the Ontario Crafts Council's special 900-square foot section that will feature innovative works in clay, glass, metal, wood, fibre and paper by 19 makers from eastern Ontario.

Tickets are just $12 ($10 online), while seniors and youths aged 13 – 17 are $6.50. Kids 12 and under get in free. Get yourself down there – any buy something – because I can’t!

 
 

Oh dear, how did March arrive without me noticing?

Yikes - is it really March 10 already? That means I have just a few more days to prepare for my seminar at the International Home and Garden Show, where I'll be appearing next Friday, March 19th at noon. The topic is creating signature style using reclaimed and refurbished objects, so I'm currently scouring Habitat for Humanity ReStores and Kijiji, for great stuff that I'll be giving second life to. Why yes, it is true that I might just have one or two cool giveaways. But you'll have to come down to the show to find out. See you then.

Woodworking wizards will wow wannabes on weekend

Even though I’m decidedly un-handy, I always enjoy reading Canadian Home Workshop magazine from cover to cover. It’s got solid and reliable information and ideas (few of which I’ll ever execute, but still!), fun features (love the Mystery Tool page) and excellent writing. (They also write really great headlines – a dying art, imho). This weekend these good folks are hosting the Canadian Home Workshop Show at the International Centre in Mississauga. I’m a fan of the show, although I notice I haven’t been invited back to the celebrity challenge since I accidentally let go of the handle on the power saw at the wrong moment and sent a block of wood flying off into the crowd. (To the gentleman in the checked shirt whose block I nearly knocked off, my most profound apologies.) Since I’m not participating, however, you may rest assured that it’s safe to attend the show. Lots of reasons to check it out, such as appearances by the likes of Steve Maxwell, Michel Roy and Mag Ruffman. But the one guy I urge you not to miss if you’re down there is Ralph Swan, a product specialist with Minwax. What this guy doesn’t know about wood and wood refinishing isn’t worth knowing, and he’s got an easy affable way of sharing information and tips. By the way, he and his wife Gayle have a wonderful bed and breakfast near Guelph that is chock full of gorgeous vintage and antique furniture that he’s lovingly restored. Getaway weekend this summer, anyone?