Beginning to look a lot like Christmas - finally

So the snow has not fallen - the trees are decorated and the malls are getting full, but it didnt feel like christmas was coming near until last night in our household.

Being of German decent - we celebrate Nikolaus - on the night of the 5th - our children polish their shoes - or in this case their boots - leave them out at night and then have Nikolaus bring chocolates etc in them the next morning.

We wanted to also add a touch of magic and told both Mari-Sol and Ben that Nikolaus also brings the christmas tree... so last night brought in the Tannenbaum and started to decorate it. Last year Mari-Sol was so shocked their was a tree that I was hoping for the same reaction.

She came down the stairs at 7 am - turned her head and saw the tree - and was so excited - it is so wonderful to watch the reaction of a little one - she ran over to it and said how beautiful it was - she loved it.....so so sweet.

The ornaments are orange, fuscia, turquoise and the odd one silver , gold or white - some vintage, some even dollar store and big box stores - the colours are great on it.....so whimsical but also a touch traditional - almost like old world European. The rest of the house of course has orange throughout - but we added turquoise and fuscia to carry through. I added fuscia silk ribbon to my collection of Hermes Boxes

I found a fabric from Japan that was somewhat in the Holiday spirit - it has all the colours of our tree and decorations as well as a stag head drawing - so my uplhosterer called today and said he finished the pillows we had made and had them piped in orange silk ribbon - I saw them already and they are going to be a nice addition to the tone of the room

The old cabinet that holds all our white dishes was touched up with feather wreaths - vintage inspired and orange silk ribbon - also inside added some sparkly oranments and a moose and bird in mica - I love this cabinet - it is one of my favorite pieces in the house.

Last but surely not least on top of an old Swedish armoire we have the whole collection of steiff deer - they range from the early 1920's to the 60's and add the last bit of whimsical Christmas .

The good thing is that it is not overwhelming in colour - our kids love it...they were all pumped up today with excitment and it is so sweet to watch them stare at the ornaments on the tree....Now all we need is SNOW.......All the best for a Happy Holiday Season

The Pie Shack has been Flik'd

 I was lucky enough to have Tim from the Pie Shack call upon me to do the interior of his new venture The Pie Shack http://www.thepieshack.ca/ - he is one cool guy with a lot of energy and a passion for Pie....

His location was small but he knew what he wanted in it...a casual space where someone might walk in and feel like they were in their old cottage...something that felt like you wanted to stay there and just enjoy a great cup of coffee and a delicious piece of pie..

the quote from his site :
I love life and I love pie, I mean real pie, the kind I grew up on made by my mom and all the moms in my neighbourhood.
I love people and love talking to them or just hanging around them.
I love cozy places, places that are like old sweaters…comfortable, and welcoming.
Well The Pie Shack is that place, my dream place, where the pies are not just the best pies but unforgettable.
Tim McConvey
"The Pie Guy"


Last week Tim called me to see if I would decorate the space for Christmas....understanding that since the place already had so much character I would need to use neutral christmas decorations....I remember doing the paint by numbers as art in his space, the rustic door tables and work benches and then last years addition of the sofas- vintage and really quite the perfect colour...so the tame golds and creams in the christmas decor would work well....

Little reindeer on the tables with pine comb candles finished off the decor and when I was finished..Tim was happy and knew I would be the right person to do the job....

The thing about the Pie Shack is....not only is the food great , the atmosphere fun - but Tim is the best...he loves what he does and it shows...and I have to say from my experience that is why we hit it off.....

Stroll down to the beaches and enjoy a piece of pie....

Getting into the Christmas season with Flik

Sometimes I sit in my store and think......hmmm.....was it a good idea to move away from a spot where everyone knew where I was?.....but then I also realize that for many reasons it was a good move...Less traffic, far more 1 on 1 time with clients and well, the chance to actually do things.....
Maybe there is time where I want to do too much but I have realized that while thinking of how to decorate my store for the holidays I am really liking the spray paint can....

I bought a wreath that was from Canadian Tire...not really trying to be a supporter of big box stores but I have seen these wreaths in many of them.....so it is made of plastic - was the standard christmas colours of red and green ( the one shown is in silver) ..took my trusty can of Tremclad spray paint to of course use the colours of my store - a standard Hermes Orange... and sprayed it with 2 coats....and then.......cool.....turned it into a Hermes orange bubblegum like wreath...will add a nice orange grosgrain ribbon and hang it in my house on an old mirror.....

But now back to the store...I love the holidays...i just am not fond of the clutter that comes with it...so....my store is simple - a few trees spray painted orange of course and some glass balls in variations of orange placed throughout the store.....and then my favorite ...spray painted reindeer..... I bought it new, it was a muted silver and yet again got the spray paint out and transformed it..
Looking into the retail environment lately - Christmas is not all about the red and green anymore...it is about using what you love and transforming it into the season. I love how the deer turned out I just need to stay away from spray paint now...otherwise who knows where it will lead.

Transforming my store for the holidays was fun - I like the sparkle of the season and also the simplicity - I love using things and changing them and of course our Christmas will be awesome this year - Mario and I have invested in unbreakable ornaments for our tree - every year the theme or colour of the tree changes - this year it changed for one specific reason......a little man named Benji...our 18month old is everywhere and true to form of most little boys is a little destroyer - so unbreakable ornaments it was...
Maybe when it is set up - I'll take some pics to show it off...

Good luck in your decorating, dont stress and just take some time to have fun...the season is short and full of positive .....enjoy.

GETTING READY FOR WANDERLUST

This thursday nite....Nov 18th from 7-10 Leslieville is host to Wanderlust..most stores and restaurants are participating. I decided I would serve "Fliktini's" of course orange in colour.  Bobette and Belle ( the newest addition to Leslieville ) will be preparing French Macaroons for sampling in our store.

Also that evening the store will feature more art from Christine Flynn - Love the Design. I have spoken about her work before and love it - high gloss resin photographs.

I have been re working the store with all the new merchandise that is coming in....pieces that make my heart go a flutter and then really wish I could take them home...we just got a set of French chairs in circa 1920 in original leather - they are amazing....the loveseat is new - it is french inspired with weathered oak trim and stuffed with down - a great piece as well.

And of course in spirit of the upcoming season - Orange christmas decorations.

Mario and I are trying to decide how to incorporate orange on our tree at home and found some unbreakable decorations at the dollar store and canadian tire - due to the reason that Benjamin is probably going to tear the tree down we figured we would be smart. Even though I love the variations of the orange ones above...they are glass and we are guessing will be the fasting things to break.....at home that is..

So Join me in my store on thursday nite....from 7-10 and share a Fliktini and a macaroon to start off the holiday season....