It's Been Swell

After almost six years in Leslieville, I've decided to give Winkel a break for a while. Too many other things going on and I just don't have the time or energy to keep up with a bricks and mortar store. I will miss my lovely regular customers and Hubble will miss all the lovin' he got every day at the shop. Special thanks to Marla and Josephine for their years of support and keeping my little shop going when I was busily off doing other work. I'm hoping to launch an online business next year, so check the blog for future announcements.
It's been a fantastic six years thanks to a great bunch of regulars and the best neighbourhood in Toronto for a little shop with a lot of stuff. I will miss you all.

Kari
& Hubble

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.

Oilcloth Addicts

Winkel's trusty craft sleuth, Marla, sent me a link to Oilcloth Addict today. Tons of tips, projects, and tutorials for you oilcloth obsessed folks.

TorontoLife.com Spots Winkel!

Many thanks to the folks of TorontoLife.com for including Winkel in their Leslieville Guide. I'm not surprised that they chose to run this great shot of Hubble holding court at the back of the shop. The photographer was laughing at how he would "posed", following her camera the entire time. He's had plenty of practice in front of a lens. I think this is my favourite press photo of the shop so far.

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.

Hey, Amy Winehouse! Get outta the jungle!

"...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.

Thanks, VIA Rail

If you're riding VIA Rail this summer, check out the article on Leslieville in the June/July issue of their onboard magazine. Many customers have mentioned the article and I finally found it on the VIA website today. Nice photo, too!

Leslieville Past

Leslieville has changed a lot in the past five years. Many old storefronts have been converted to accomodate the new businesses opening along Queen Street, and some times a bit of history is sacrificed along the way. These tin ceiling tiles were rescued from a building near Logan and Queen which is now a butcher shop. The installation of new duct work meant that the original ceiling had to be ripped out and there was no way for them to re-use the tiles.


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.



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.

In The Pink

My cure for a week of constant rain: a pair of classic powder pink swivel tub chairs! Makes me want to put on a breezy summer dress, sip on a mojito and get a manicure. Swish, swish!

New and Noteworthy

I recently found these vintage stenopads at the estate sale of a doctor who practiced out of the basement of his house. He meticulously kept all of his office supplies including tiny boxes of index tabs, red-bordered labels, and a tin with every single one of his used pen nibs. My weakness for paper obviously extends to any type of vintage office material, but I've only kept a couple of these for myself. I love the art deco S on the cover of the one pictured above. The rest, in their limited quantity, are in the shop and ready for your very own musings and inspirations.


For those patriots in the crowd, you can't get much more Canadian than a beaver on the front cover. I still have one or two of these, but they're going fast.