Friday, November 13, 2009
Holiday Wanderlust 2009
We're gearing up for another fun Holiday Wanderlust night in Leslieville. Stop by for screenings of vintage holiday specials (Christmas with Sonny & Cher, Charlie Brown Christmas) in the front window, a photography exhibit by Faye Liolis, and gift baskets for sale from Forbes Wild Foods. We're also giving out the new edition of our Winkel buttons with every purchase and everything in the store will be 10% off! Please join us for an evening of fun, warmth and holiday cheer.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Oilcloth Addicts
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Saturday, August 22, 2009
TorontoLife.com Spots Winkel!
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Pulp Fiction
Last year I recommended revisiting childhood adventure books for your summer reading, but as the temperatures have soared these past couple of weeks I've been in the mood for a steamier bit of entertainment. The gem pictured above is the autobiography of Lynn Keefe, "...one of the nation's most successful women of pleasure." Apparently the book was made into a film, but I don't imagine it appearing on any Blockbuster shelves near you. Perfect read for a sunny afternoon at the beach.
"...a tense and gripping drama of violence and murder which builds and builds to the most horrible, shocking climax imaginable!"
Get Tarantino on the phone, this one's right up his alley. He could even cast Winehouse in the lead as part of her inevitable comeback.
Sure, it's great to engross yourself in a critically acclaimed bestseller, but a quick fix of trash goes so well with a cold drink on a hot day.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thanks, VIA Rail
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Leslieville Past
After brushing off loose flakes of paint, I just hung one up on the wall and I love how it catches the light coming in from the door. If you're a little more formal, you could also have a simple frame made to finish the edges and you've got a great piece of original artwork that is also a bit of Leslieville history.
There are lots of ways to breathe new life into old tin tiles. Create decorative panels for the face of a counter or bar by attaching the tiles and finishing with a little trim. For an original tabletop, just inset the tiles on a board and cover with a piece of clear glass. I've also seen some interesting birdhouses made from salvaged bits of wood and trim with tin tile roofs. Below are a couple of projects for inspiration.
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This cabinet gets a new life with sections of tiles cut to fit into the front door panels. The patina of the tin matches the age of the wood perfectly. Cleaned up and sealed, three tiles hung in a row make a very cool headboard. Finding a throw cushion with needlework that mimics the pattern of the tiles finishes off a great rustic modern look.
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Labels:
diy projects,
Leslieville history,
tin ceiling tiles
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
New and Noteworthy
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Dog is in a Blog
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A few weeks ago, Christopher Jones from StyleNorth stopped by for a visit to Winkel. I was excited because I've been following his design blog for some time and was flattered that he had found my shop. He was working on a piece about retail mascots and had heard about my black pug, Hubble. Who would guess that a shopdog would be the lure to get me a spot on a great local design website? He snapped the perfect photo of Hub in his usual state, fast asleep.
Fortunately, Christopher also appreciated the oilcloth that is one of our bestsellers at Winkel, and featured it in a separate post that went up earlier today. Props also went out to Erin Leah Pryde who is the superstar-oilcloth-craftster-extraordinaire. It's amazing to see what she's created with it! Check it out here.
For whatever reason, I'm always grateful for any store publicity. Thanks, Christopher!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Leslieville Stomp
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Sunday, March 01, 2009
Blossoms
Winter is just not ready to let us go. The temperature has dipped below zero (AGAIN) and I'm desperate for some sign of spring around the corner. One of our local shops was selling apple blossom branches the other weekend--when it actually felt like spring--so I asked Marla to pick one up for the window. Pink blossoms have bloomed since then and it's a little taste of warmer weather while I'm still trudging around in hat, scarf and boots.
The branch inspired a little DIY project for Marla and her daughter Josephine who've been minding the shop during weekdays. They gathered a few fallen branches and hot glued pink, white and green tissue paper "blossoms" to the end of each branch. Delicate and rather lifelike, spring had sprung in the front window!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Gimme Some Lovin'
February 1st.
According to a recent survey, 75-80 percent of all Valentines are purchased by women.
Here's your two weeks notice, fellas.
Bald Guy Greetings has added two new Valentines (including the one pictured above) to his collection this year, both of which are available at Winkel. You can also order your very own Bald Guy t-shirt at www.baldguygreetings.com if you're one of his many avid fans.
Hello Lucky Valentine Coaster Cards
The weightiness of these adorable cards will let your sweetie know just how much you care. And if things don't work out, you can always use them as coasters for the many glasses of wine after the break-up.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Get Your Act Together
Santa has made his way to Florida just in time to skip all the shovelling that's happening at Winkel these days and the Christmas decor is put away for another year. Spring cleaning seems to be the order of the day and with that the urge to organize our lives.
Art School Girl, a recent addition to the independent card artistes we like to support at the shop, has this oh-so practical perpetual calendar for those of us with good intentions but not so good follow-through with calendars and day planners. You know when you buy that sassy planner to keep track of important dates, notes and numbers, but by April it's settled into some deep dark corner of your home or office, neglected until year's end when you can no longer use it. This is why I like non-committal calendars that let me fill in the days (when I'm really on top of things) and not worry about an "expiry" date at the end of the year.
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