18th Annual CBC Charity Craft Sale

In the last week I've had the Christmas songs playing while getting ready for my Christmas show in Toronto this Thursday.   I've been beading like a mad woman (well a happy one but sort of in a frantic way!)  Beads are, well, let's just say everywhere right now.  I'm hoping I can find the dining room table again before Christmas dinner!!

In amongst the beads, wire and chain I've been printing earring cards and having a trial run setting up my table.  I've been tagging and pricing and rearranging the table set up.  Phew no wonder I've been drinking a lot of coffee this week!  I also ordered new business cards - twice.  I'd love to say it's just because I love them so much that I had to order more.  Well, actually I am really happy with them except for the spelling error on the front.  Arghhh!!   My fault entirely as I just didn't see the error.  Perhaps this is a cue that I have a tad too many things going on at once! Anyways, the new and improved ones should arrive just in time for the show.

It is a busy time of the year but I'm really looking forward to this show.  It will be great to see some of my customers in person and to meet new ones.  It's also a great opportunity to meet some fellow vendors.

If you are in the Toronto area please come out and visit me at the CBC Charity Craft Sale. 

 CBC Building Atrium at 250 Front Street.

Thursday, December 13th 2012.

8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.  

You can find me at Booth #51 under Wallis Designs.

The Sale is in support of Unicef.  All proceeds from vendor table fees and public donations go directly to Child Protection around the world. 

While I'm at the show most of my Etsy shop will be travelling with me so I'll have reduced listings on Wednesday and Thursday this week.  I also won't be shipping those days.  I'll be back listing and shipping on Friday the 14th.

...and the walls came tumbling down.

The renovations have begun.

Before.

I've decided to show you real before pictures.  I took the photos as the bathroom was.  I didn't put away the bottles of shampoos and lotions and things.  I really wanted to show the transformation to a space that made us cringe to hopefully a peaceful space with an actual working bath tub! You can see here we kind of gave up on this bathroom a while ago.  The windows were replaced a few years back but we never did replace the window coverings. Yes, those are sheets that we used as curtains tacked to the wall. It can only get better!

After demolition.

 Gone is the vanity and tub. Not a thing left.  The bathroom is totally gutted.

Before.

I will not miss the purple on the walls. It seemed fine at the time when I painted it years ago but once we repainted our master bedroom it clashed.  I had really lost any enthusiasm to repaint while things were breaking and we knew repairs and renovations were in the future.

There goes the shower.  (good riddance!)

After demolition.

...and it looks promising.  Some expected water damage (but no mold which is great) and a weird pipe thingie (yes, that is the correct term) in the wrong spot that needs to be relocated.  A new subfloor needs to go in but best to start the work correctly.

An Evening with Rick Mercer

Earlier in the fall I was lucky enough to snag 4 tickets to the taping of the Rick Mercer Report.  So Friday arrives and it's just one of those days...you know the kind I mean.  I think any one of us could have said let's forget it and just stay home and we would have.  So the girls put their studying away for the evening (exams next week) and we get in the van (albeit 1/2 an hour later than originally planned) to drive downtown to meet Al.

So apparently the snow came in earlier than forecasted.  We were driving a whopping 40 clicks down the DVP and you could barely see in front of you.  Finally we drive out of this snow squall to almost bare roads. (So strange when that happens.)  The Gardiner was backed up from Yonge to the 427 - ok that's quite a back up - so I scooted underneath to the Lake Shore.  This was a good idea but somehow I missed the Spadina exit.  I feel like I know my way around Toronto fairly well but not on Friday night I guess.  It was dark, snowing, the lights were reflecting off the windshield and there were lots of pedestrians scurrying to get home. Cars were blocking the intersections and pedestrians were running across against the lights.  Bedlam I would like to call it.  I was the first car turning left onto Spadina and all of the sudden I realize I'm on the designated streetcar right away.  Mild panic as I manoeuvre my way off the oncoming track to the northbound and then off - "girls we're going to feel a 'bit' of bump now" onto the road again.  Accident thwarted we were close to our destination.  Late and shaken we only have time to grab a bite of dinner in the food court that was quickly shutting down.  We're going fancy tonight...Mickey D's.

It was all worth it though.  They whisked all 400 of us up the elevators to the 10th floor studio and like a well oiled machine we were all in our seats in minutes.  Rick came out to welcome us and the show began.  It took less than an hour to tape the whole thing with comments and jokes in between from Rick.   It was a lot of fun for all four of us and the laugh that we all needed.

It was fun to meet him after the show.

There were lots of funny bits in this week's episode but the 'commercial' for the forehead/smile tape really caught me funny.  If you get a chance watch it on Tuesday, 8p.m., CBC.

To cap it off on our way back to the parking garage we stopped in Second Cup.  We found out they were closing but they treated us to free lattes and hot chocolate.  How nice and unexpected! A perfect way to end the evening.

A time for Comfort Food

I made this delicious cake on Sunday.  It's one of the best desserts I've made in a while.  It's the kind that produces oohss and aahs as the first bite is tasted.  The light textured cake is filled with fresh apple chunks and cinnamon.  It's lovely and moist and not too sweet.  It becomes absolutely mouth watering, gorgeous when you drizzle the warm, homemade caramel sauce on top. The sauce definitely raises the sweetness level but when you mix in the cake and apple with each forkful it's bliss for your mouth.

(If you find this recipe a little too small to read

 just click on it and the link will take you to the full size version.)

The recipe is from Trish Magwood's latest cookbook, In My Mother's Kitchen.  I bought it for myself in the spring and have made several recipes from it so far.  It's filled with recipes that are great for the family and gatherings.  They're easy and accessible and produce delicious results with lots of accompanying photos (which I love).  None have disappointed and some have left me feeling nostalgic for my childhood.

 I even love the picture in the inside cover of recipe cards sprawled over a table.  Some yellowed and stained, bent with use, most are handwritten.  I miss recipe cards.  Do you remember when most homes would have a little stack of blank recipe cards tucked in a drawer ready for the coveted question...Can I have the recipe for that?

recipe cards and box by 1Canoe2

We'll be making this again this weekend to serve at Thanksgiving dinner.

My Point of View

My husband and I were very fortunate this year to have been able to travel to Italy this summer. It was an amazing eight days! The first leg of our trip was with my husband's company and then we spent the last three together on our own.

With incredible timing we managed to take off before the tornadoes hit Toronto. I am really glad I heard about this weather after the fact! We later learned we must have been one of the last flights out until after the storm had passed. We knew other friends with later flights that sat on the tarmac for over 3 hours. Of course, for others there were many missed connections due to the delays, redirections and needless to say many lost bags.

So really, our flight was quite uneventful - the way that I like it. We were on a big jumbo jet, the kind that has the second level and to our surprise that's where our seats were. They're just regular, economy seats in the upper deck, no bar or disco dance floor as my husband had hoped but kind of fun anyways. We flew Toronto to Paris and then Paris to Naples. With only an accumulation of 15 minues sleep on the first flight I was pretty tired landing in Paris but we made the most of our 2 1/2 hours. We bought a great cup of coffee and a fresh pastry in the Paris terminal and we managed to snag two lounge chairs and rest our eyes a bit before our next flight.

I think we were served a light breakfast on this next flight. I no longer knew what meal my body wanted or even if it wanted anything at this point. I just ate what was put in front of me. On a flight it's like an event, you earnestly watch the flight attendant as they approach your seat until they pass you your plastic tray. You carefully eye the food as you unwrap your plastic dinnerware. I've never been so excited about a plain semi-fresh muffin and a strawberry yogourt before! Ah, 15 minutes have passed. What will happen next? Coffee, tea some water perhaps? How am I going to wake the guy next to me so I can get up and go to the washroom? Should I wake him up? I have to wake him up! I can't sleep on a plane. I haven't slept at all. I have to get some sleep! I want to get off this plane. I wonder if my luggage will be there?...ah, the ramblings of my mind while flying. Next thing I know, as I finally feel like I've started to doze off a rather loud announcement is made declaring that we are making our descent and we will arrive in about 30 minutes. Couldn't they tell us this in 30 minutes?!!

We arrive in Naples.

...stay tuned.

Profiles: Handmade Design

I'm very excited to introduce you to a brand new zine Profiles created by two multi-talented women, Maggie Krawczyk the sole proprietor of Neogami Origami Jewellery and Cassandra Ellen Morgan a graphic designer with a portfolio loaded with editorial and print work.

Maggie and Cassandra say it best when describing their new venture, "Profiles will provide an informative glimpse into the world of hand made design. We will highlight the newest trends, hottest boutiques and designers with products that are unique and (especially) local to the GTA. From Artisan to starving artist, Profiles will uncover the passion and motivation that keeps these designers making the goodies we love".

Take a look at my own Wallis Design profile.

I'm thrilled to be a part of this project and proud to be included with these talented artists. Check out the Artisan Profiles.

Cheers! to Maggie and Cassandra. I wish you a very happy and successful new year!