The 4th Annual Toronto Etsy Street Team Springtime Marketplace

On Saturday June 1st the Toronto Etsy Street Team, also known as TEST is holding its 4th Annual Springtime Marketplace in the 918 Bathurst Centre, just north of Bloor on Bathurst in the heart of the Annex. 

This year the TEST Springtime Marketplace is bigger and better than ever! Along with our handmade vendors, you can peruse great vintage finds, enjoy music from our live DJ, and take part in one of a series of FREE craft workshops. The Marketplace will be followed by a cocktail reception offering refreshments, a cash bar, a charity raffle, a special tea-infused cocktail workshop and a chance to mingle and chat with the members of TEST. The show features 40+ TEST makers and vintage sellers and includes; one of a kind jewelry, art, fashions (both new and vintage), toys, handmade body care items and baked goods. See the the website for more details www.shopcats.ca

Spend a fun spring afternoon checking out these talented handmakers' wares, support local artisans in your community, enjoy the hunt for the perfect vintage item.

Admission is free

Location: 918 Bathurst St.

Date: Saturday June 1, 2013 11am - 5:30pm

Reception to follow at 6pm

Etsy is the largest on-line marketplace for hand-made goods, vintage products and craft supplies. Toronto is the home to TEST, the more than 600 member-strong Toronto Etsy Street Team. Between them they have a vast array of handmade jewellery, fine art, contemporary craft, indie fashion, accessories, eco-friendly bath and beauty items, handmade food and vintage finds.

Check out our facebook page and their blog to keep up with everything we've got going on.

Made By Hand Show April 20, 2013

Here's a great opportunity to shop local. The Made By Hand Show has been around for a few years now and Jacqueline Hunter has really figured out how to offer both artisans and customers a great local shopping experience. Located at the International Centre, Hall I, on April 20th, 2013 the show has almost 200 vendors. The quality of vendors has really improved as Jacqueline has earned a name for herself as someone who can put on a great show that is well attended.

Some of the many amazing vendors that will be at the Spring show this year include Warm Fuzzies, who specialize in adorable plush heating pad covers great for all ages.

If you are looking for handcrafted cards check out another great local vendor at the Made By Hand Show on Saturday,  is Lenie Designs they offer personalized unique handmade cards for every occasion. It's a great opportunity to stock up!

Mistura Timepieces will be on hand showing off their newest designs. This is a great chance to get your Father's Day shopping done.

Judy Cogo Designs has some really beautiful pieces of jewellery. One of her pieces was part of the Grammy Celebrity Gift bags this year. If that's not an endorsement I don't know what is. If you're looking for gifts for your wedding party Judy will work with you to create a beautiful statement that the girls will love. 

Can't bear the thought of the mall? Try shopping in the Junction

If you've been to the mall lately, I bet the thought of going back makes you feel queasy. Well, have no fear, there's really no need to go. There are some amazing shops sprinkled throughout Toronto that not only carry really cool products but you're supporting local businesses, artisans and if you do it right, local restaurants too! Turn a dreaded day at the mall into a fab day in a cool T.O. neighbourhood!

Check out Wise Daughter's Craft Market in the Junction. It is packed to the rafters with amazing gift ideas for hostesses, birthdays and maybe a little something for yourself. Looking for a new spring outfit, head west to Black Daffodil, Cynthia carries a ton of Canadian designers, the store has a funky retro vibe to it. Definitely worth a peak.

If you're looking for something to wear that has a modernist feel with a local flavour head east to Trap Door Boutique. They have a great selection of outfits for the artistic professional. It's my go-to place when I'm looking for something that's funky and sophisticated. You must be exhausted by now, time for a break! Head over to Crema for an espresso and a tasty treat!

On your way over to Trap Door don't forget to stop by Kid Culture, they've got amazing clothes for kids, even a decent selection of offerings for the boys and lots of great gift ideas for the kiddies!There are a ton more great stores up and down Dundas West in the Junction area. Now's a perfect time to rediscover an up and coming neighbourhood!

Organic vs. Conventional Produce

It's a big question. Should we be eating all organic food all the time? Are we crazy not to? Or are we just wasting our money?

Maybe the first question is what does "organic" mean? In Canada, organic foods are those that are grown, raised and harvested without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, GMO's (genetically modified organisms) antibiotic and growth hormones. All foods in Canada that are labelled "organic" must follow the Canadian Organics Standards Act . Conventional or non-organic foods may be farmed using some of the same techniques as organic farms, however they may also use synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.

There have been studies done to test whether or not organic foods are more nutrients rich with Vitamin A, & C, calcium and iron. There is no evidence to show that they are. Some people believe that organic produce tastes better than conventional produce. Whether or not you choose to eat organic or conventionally farmed products, here's a great video showing you how to make sure you clean your produce properly before eating.
There's the dirty dozen to look out for, if you are only buying certain veggies or fruits that organic, these are the ones to choose.

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Imported Grapes
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

So now that we have or veggies and fruit figured out, what about meat and dairy products? The things you need to worry about in meat and dairy products is hormones and antibiotics. Both of these are used in Canadian meat and dairy production to help keep animals healthy and to help them grow. In Canada growth hormones are only given to meat cows, not to dairy cows, or in chicken and pork production. Antibiotics are more widely used in poultry, pork and fish raised for food. They are also sprayed on fruit and on honey bees. Keep in mind that when a cow or chicken is treated with antibiotics their milk and eggs are thrown out for the duration of the treatment. Because Turkeys are such hardy birds they rarely need to be treated with antibiotics.
Whether or not you eat all organic, non or somewhere in between we know it's better for the environment to eat foods produced closer to home, it's saves using those damn fossil fuels. Eating locally produced foods means you are supporting your local community, who doesn't want to do that? Whatever your choices, bon appetit!

Agent Reclaim

Shannon O'Hara, the talent behind Agent Reclaim works out of her studio in East York creating handcrafted reclaimed leather handbags and accessories from their inventory of jackets or your own.

Shannon  has a background in designing everything from jewelry to an eco fashionable line of baby accessories. She definitely has the knack!

Shannon describes Agent Reclaim  "The use of post-consumer leather is an exciting medium to work with. Every garment has a story and each seam, each stitch lends to a unique piece when reclaimed into a new item."

Last Spring/Summer Agent Reclaim partnered with Danier Leather to create an exclusive line of handbags and accessories made entirely from their vintage jackets. Her Fall/Winter 2012/13 collection is available in 8 Danier stores in Toronto. Agent Reclaim's custom collection is available on Etsy. Her work is amazing, you have to check it out!

Eudora's Fine Foods

Don't know what to cook tonight? Too tired to cook? No time to put a decent meal on the table? Check out Eurdora's Fine Foods.

Eudora's Fine Foods is a line of ready-to-eat signature sauces, gourmet preserves and prepared foods from the province of Goa in India. Made in small batches by hand in Toronto using no artificial preservatives, colours or flavours using fresh and local ingredients whenever possible . Eudora Fine Foods is an easy way to make the everyday exotic.

The line started out with 4 different cooking sauces, Khaldin, Kofta Curry, Coconut Curry and Vindaloo and has evolved from there. The secret to the Eudora currys is that they are made in small batches with fresh, local ingredients.
I tried the Vindaloo and the Coconut Curry. Honestly it was so easy, all you do is pour the sauce into a pan, add some water and your meat of choice. Done! The Vindaloo has a hot, sour taste to it. It was fantastic! The Coconut Curry is similar to a Butter Chicken but it has a smooth, creamier taste to it. I gotta say, I will have several jars of Eurdora Fine Foods in my pantry from now on. I can't wait to taste their other flavours.
You have to check out their website too. They've got recipes if you want to kick it up a notch AND suggested wine pairings! LOVE IT!

Windmill Hill Bath & Body

Windmill Hill Bath & Body really is a Mom & Pop shop! Back in the mid 90's this husband and wife team realized that there was a real need for high quality, reasonably priced bath and body products. Keeping to the motto "Simple is Best" they did some research, started mixing and Windmill Hill Bath & Body was born.

Using the best quality ingredients for their lotions and potions they use minimally processed ingredients, keeping the products simple and pure. The Windmill Hill team use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible and everything is made by hand in Southern Ontario. The products are all PARABEN FREE and these goodies are clearly and honestly labelled so that it's easy to see what is in the goods you are buying!

Windmill Hill Bath & Body creates everything from soaps, to scrubs, to lip butters and tub truffles and soy candles too.
Windmill Hill is available on line or go to their "Where to find our products" page for a list of retailers.