Jules Mae Clothing

I know we keep bragging about the talent - but we can't help it.  And we aren't stopping today, as we want to introduce you to  Jules Mae Clothing at 100 Mile Finds.  Take a look at this cape - versatile (with belt for those svelte days, without after Christmas dinner), but mostly gorgeous.  Made from an array of reclaimed fabrics, and truly one of a kind.


If you haven't visited the Jules Mae Clothing blog you should - the Moo Moo 100 is a lot of fun http://www.blogger.com/goog_577703071/.  Not that we want to send you away.........

Local beer - did you know?

I was at the beer store today and found out some interesting info that I wanted to share.

First, my new favorite beer is WIT by Mill St. brewery. If you like Hogarden you'll love WIT! This is just an aside, rather than the story!

We're having some friends over Friday night and I know one of them is a big fan of Stella, so I asked the guy at the cash what a good local replacement would be. He said that any local beer is better than any imported beer because of the perservatives and additives that imported beers have to have in them in order to be able to stay stable on the shelf for a year!  Who knew?!

He also talked about how he used to drink Stella but found out that they use anti-inflamatories in their beer! OMG! He has switched to Old Milwakee in the tall boy cans. Oh I know what you're gonna say, not very local! Not so, apparently beer is one of those products that looks like it's not local when it is, and visa versa. Old Milwaukee is brewed by Sleeman in Guelph. Because Dave is a good friend I am introducing him to Old Milwaukee Tall Boys, I hope he likes it!

So without getting into too much detail, apparently the laws governing Canadian brewed beers are much tougher than that of imported beers so it is more healthy over all to drink local beer! I knew it, it's always better if it's local!

Here's another interesting fact that I didn't know. The Beer Store is owned by breweries! Did you know that? I'm probably the only person who didn't know, it happens! I thought it was like the liquor store and owned by the government!
Anyways forty-nine percent of the company is owned by the Labatt arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev of Belgium; forty-nine percent is owned by Molson Coors Brewing Company which has headquarters in both the United States and Canada; and the remaining two percent is owned by Sleeman Breweries, an arm of Sapporo of Japan.- (I got that last bit from wikipedia, I know I couldn't reference it on a college paper but I figure if I'm quoting the guy at the beer store I should be safe with wikipedia!) The guy at The Beer Store mentioned this, the ownership thing because they are apparently not supposed to recommend different brands, which is totally annoying as far as I'm concerned, aren't they supposed to be the experts!


I will be sharing all this information at our dinner party on Friday evening, I urge you to, too!
Shirley

Echoes in the Attic

There are bags and then there are BAGS. Shirley talked a while back about the plethora of re-usable bags that are so poorly made that they will be actually taking up more room in a landfill than the demon plastic bag. So it is without guilt (and with pleasure) that we introduce you to Echoes in the Attic, a creative and talented maker of bags for many purposes. These bags are Canadian, hand-made, using one of a kind fabric combinations and eco-consciously created from reclaimed fabrics.
"Our commitment is to transform discarded 'rescued remnants' from post-manufacturing and designer samples into salvage-chic fashion & home accessories. Echoes regularly rescues tons (literally 500 lbs/2 weeks) of landfill-bound fabrics, refashioning and re-offering them back to consumers as gorgeous, re-purposeful designs such as handbags, totes, diaper/laptop bags and beautiful pillows. We then pass on our leftovers to local artists, craftspeople or it is recycled through one of our donor factories".
It's practical, beautiful, re-purposed, so guilt free.- Susan

I was just in Diaper-eez and there was a great selection of bags from Echoes in the Attic. They are also available at Beadle and Grassroots! -Shirley

Year round Farmers' Markets in Toronto

Oddly enough, one of the hardest things about shopping local can be finding out where local goods are available, especially produce in the Toronto area! We have complied a list of lists, so to speak, of markets that are running year round.

Let us know if any of these entries are out of date or if you have any to add. You can do it through the comments section at the bottom of the post. 

NOW magazine lists the markets by the day. www.nowtoronto.com

Taste TO has a list of markets listed by the day and season. www.tasteto.com/markets/
 
Here is the list of year round markets listed by TFMN

Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers’ Market
873 Dufferin St. (in Dufferin Grove Park)
Thursdays, 3 –7 pm, 
Open all year
www.dufferinpark.ca/market/wiki/wiki.php

Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market
550 Bayview Ave (between Prince Edward Viaduct (Bloor/Danforth) & Pottery Road)
Saturdays, 8 am - 1 pm,
opening May 29, 2010
www.evergreen.ca/rethinkspace/?p=148

Montgomery’s Inn Farmers’ Market
4709 Dundas West, Etobicoke Wednesdays, 3-7 pm, July 1 to October 13, 2010
Harvest Tea Oct. 17 with pumpkins and apples
Winter Markets: 2-6 pm on Nov 3, Dec 1(holiday market), Feb 2, Mar 2, Apr 6
www.montgomerysinn.com

St. Lawrence North Farmers’ Market
92 Front Street East (at Jarvis)
Saturdays, 5 am – 5 pm,
Open all year
www.stlawrencemarket.com

Sorauren Farmers’ Market
40 Wabash Ave. at Sorauren Mondays, 3-7 pm, May 17 to Oct 25, 2010
Winter Markets weekly in the fieldhouse (except Dec 27 and Jan 3), 4-7 pm
www.westendfood.coop 

The Stop’s Green Barn Farmers’ Market
The Green Arts Barn, 601 Christie Ave. (entrance from Wychwood)
Saturdays 8am - noon, year-round
www.thestop.org/green-barn-market

University of Toronto Farmers’ Market
Earth Sciences Building
Wednesdays, 2:30-5:30 

The Village Organic Farmers’ Market at the Toronto Waldorf School
9100 Bathurst
Saturdays, 8:30 am – 1:30 pm, Open all year
www.villagemarket.ca

Zippster

Hip and Handmade - that's how Zippster describes themselves. Purses, pouches, pins, magnets and other small accessories.

I love this magnet collection. For someone who loves to cook - a great gift to hold up artwork or your shopping list on the fridge. Comes in a hinged tin, which can be re-purposed to store your safety pins or elastic bands. Custom orders available, so if you are looking for something original for your company or your organization, Zippster has lots of ideas.

Retro-inspired fabrics or vintage materials are used to make Zippster's coin purses and zippered pouches. Great to keep your purse organized and always fun to look at.

Don't you have some stockings to stuff?

KC's Hats

I bumped into David at the Runnymede United Church Craft show this past weekend. Not only is he amazingly talented, but he is a great guy!
He creates beautifully handcrafted hats for special occasions, don't worry if you don't have somewhere really special to go,  he makes amazing hats for everyday. I picked one up myself at the show. I'm feelin' pretty cool! Look out for an article about him in the Toronto Star this Thursday!


Founded by Milliner David Dunkly, KC's Hats specializes in top quality millinery.  Each hat is a unique, handmade using time-honoured practices of blocking, forming and embellishment. David graduated from George Brown College Millinery program, and recently completed millinery studies in England with Rose Cory, Milliner to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.  This dedication to craftsmanship is fundamental to David's work. 

His collection of fascinators available through 100 Mile Finds is extraordinary.  Inspired by David's studies in England, these wonderful fascinators are created from the finest hand rolled and shaped sinamay and accented with burnt peacock and hand shaved coque feathers.  We are so thrilled to have David as a part of our site  - we hope you can take the time to look at his amazing work.

Nun of a Kind

Shirley and I laughed when we first met the sisters. Handmade, collectible nun dolls, and personalized nun figures and ornaments from Nun of a Kind. Now that is an original idea!

"I am Canadi-nun” is proud of her heritage, and carries her flag to prove it! She is a great gift for native “Canadian” sisters, no matter where they may live now! Once a Canadian “sister”, always a Canadian “sister”….eh? Patriotic and local - truly a 100 Mile Find. The “Nun of a Kind” Collection celebrates the “Sister” in all of us, and is meant as gifts for all of the “sisters” in your life! All the sisters have their own identity ensuring you find one to fit the personality of the recipient.

Proprietor Linda West is in a sea of black and white (and puns all over) right now prepping for the gift giving season. Check these out - they will make you smile.

Noisy Butterfly

Love the name of this vendor - just take a moment and imagine a noisy butterfly......I had a little fun with that , it sounded like a helicopter. Anyway, back to our amazing 100 Mile Finds vendor, Noisy Butterfly who "makes the ordinary extraordinary".

For example, check out this gorgeous harmonica pendant. The harmonica measures 1 1/2" in length and has the "Swan Harmonica" logo either side. The harmonica is charmed with a freshwater pearl and a charm with a butterfly on one side and the word "inspired" on the other.

  Or, this Vintage Style Bronze Locket features a beautiful Rare Bermuda Blue Jewels set in brass charm and a single Kishi Pearl. The chain is about 24" long. The pendant can be opened by pressing the knob to reveal the time.

Thank you Noisy Butterfly for sparking our imaginations and for your truly unique creations.

Vintage Paper Parade at 100 mile finds

Sometimes the virtual world feels a little intangible to us here at 100 Mile Finds. We 'virtually' see these amazing products, and keep in touch with our talented vendors primarily through email. We always get inspired when we see our vendors at the Shows and Sales we try to frequent.

All of this is a slow segue into the tangibility and tactileness(if that's a word) of using and sending handwritten notes and cards. With no further adieu, meet Debra Norton of Vintage Paper Parade. Debra's designs have a vintage feel with a modern twist in their clean design.

Debra's personalized note cards listed on 100 Mile Finds are "simple, stylish personalized cards for your children (or yourself) to write thank you notes to friends and family. This listing is for a set of 10 folded cards and envelopes". A variety of colours available. Just let Debra know what you are interested in.

Don't wait for the next special occasion to run out and buy that card. Stock up in advance so you can send it out on a whim, when those 'real' moments pop up.

Auntie Gin Handmade Knits

Ski passes have been purchased, I had to scrap my windshield this morning - we can light a fire and bring out the basket with the hats and gloves.  There is always room in that basket for one more hat, I think.  Especially when it is as cute and cozy as Auntie Gin's.  Virginia Dineen, sole proprietor of Auntie Gin Handmade Knits works from her home to create each piece.

There are Auntie Gin hats on 100 Mile Finds for all the generations - from babies to adult sizes and they are colourful, comfortable with a hint of nostalgia. This 1920's inspired cloche hat is one of my favourites.



And I know we are looking at the hat in this picture (not that scrumptious baby with the cutest expression in the world...)



Auntie Gin will be at the Farmers Market at the Evergreen Brickworks on Saturday from 9-1pm. See you there!

A FUNdraiser for 'Not far from the tree'

100 mile finds 1st give away ever!

We are giving away a signed copy of Sarah Elton's LOCAVORE!

Contest ends November 19th, 2010

Susan and I were lucky enough to see Sarah Elton speak last Thursday evening. We were so impressed that we wanted to share her book with a lucky someone. She was gracious enough to sign a copy for us! Thus our first ever give away at 100 mile finds!

Click here if you want to read our blog about the evening.

You can enter the give away by doing the following. (Please make sure you leave EACH as a separate comment so that you qualify for all the entries that you are entitled)

• "Like" us on our Facebook Page (remember to leave a comment below, on the blog, telling us that you've done it)
• Follow us on Twitter (don't forget to leave a comment, on the blog, telling us you've done so)
• Subscribe to our newsletter (you guessed it, leave a comment here, on the blog, so we know you've done it) 
• Share us on Facebook or Retweet us (seriously, you don't know what to do?)
  

THE GORY DETAILS

1. Entrants MUST be 18 years or older.
2. Contest entrants must live within 100 miles of Toronto. Click here and scroll down to find out if you are in the area.
3. Delivery of prize is limited to shipping within the 100 mile radius as described above.
4. No purchase is necessary - A purchase will not increase your chances of winning.
5. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, a random number generating website.
6. Upon determining the winner, we will notify the winner by email. The winner has 72 hours to respond. If we do not hear from the winner at that time, a new winner's name will be drawn.

Entries may be posted between November 3rd and November 19th at noon EDT. The number will correspond to the comment entry and the winner will be notified via email.

Good Luck!

LOCAVORE by Sarah Elton

Last Thursday evening Susan & I were lucky enough to have the privilege of hearing Sarah Elton speak at the Runnymede Library! She is not only the author of LOCAVORE, but she contributes to the CBC Toronto drive home show 'Here and Now', she writes for the Globe & Mail and The Atlantic's Monthly website! She mentioned kids too! Yikes, now that is busy!
Susan and I had just been talking about the book and her radio show and that she was definitely one of our "people" then, voila, I'm at the library, a favorite place of Sarah's too, and I see the poster announcing that she is coming. If you put it out there, the universe snatches it up! It happens time and time again.

Sarah didn't read from her book, instead she shared some of her favorites stories. She told us about Harold and Kathy Steves, and she talked about some her own experiences growing up. Then she opened up the floor to questions. That was when it got really interesting, not that it wasn't fascinating already! She has a great way of keeping the conversation going and inviting people to ask controversial and provocative questions. I learned more about food in general, in that hour and half, than I've known up until now.

Did you know?

• That Sarah Elton, and those in the know, believe that the first step to developing a sustainable food source in Canada is by developing a locally sustainably meat.This is scary, because we all know how expensive local organic meat is. We have to change the way we eat! It's as simple and complicated as that. Does that mean we all have to eat less, good meat? How do we make local & sustainable meat more accessible?

• We have to recognize that we have power as consumers. Sarah mentioned time and again how important it is talk to your grocery manager about providing locally sustainable fruit and vegetables. She spoke of talking to the managers of local Farmers' Markets about staying open later so that working folk can get access to them. Right now, whether we like it or not, it is our responsibility to get access to more local, sustainable food. We have to make this happen.
  
  
• Long Distance Organic doesn't have any real value. It needs to be local & sustainable. We have to get fossil fuels out of our food system. The only way to do that is to buy local. She did predicate that she buys local and sustainable first, but will buy long distance organic over long distance non-organic. This is something that happens in February rather than July.
  
  
• Organic produce is not considered nutritionally richer than regular produce. It's the pesticides that are the issue.
  
  
• There is an Organic Dirty Dozen, if you can't afford to buy everything organic, these are the items you should consider
• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Grapes (Imported)
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes
  
  These are the items that are the "safest" to eat
• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet Corn (Frozen)
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas (Frozen)
• Kiwi Fruit
• Bananas
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Papaya
  
  
• We really have to change the way we eat, if we want to support a local & sustainable food source. We have to start eating with the seasons.
  
• Most of the farmers in Canada are poised to retire, their average age is 56 years old. Interestingly though there are an abundance of young men and women ready to take their places, what we need is land for them to farm.
  
• We need to shape food policy! Check out these websites www.peoplesfoodpolicy.ca and www.sustainontario.com
  

Thank you Sarah Elton for an amazing evening! Susan and I were so impressed by everything Sarah shared with us we have bought a copy of her book, she generously signed it for us and now we are going to give it away to a lucky winner of our very first giveaway ever!

Check us out on Face book and Twitter or keep checking back to the blog for all the details.
Enjoy this beautiful day!

Halloween at 100 mile finds w/Sweets from the Earth

I did it! I handed out a healthy Halloween treat, and lived to tell the tale! Actually as word got out that we were dishing out cookies from "Sweets from the Earth" we seemed to become a destination stop in the hood! Kids loved getting chocolate chip cookies as a treat! We had our biggest turnout ever!
I think the secret for these guys is to have two campaigns. One geared towards families who battle allergies and sensitivities to food and a second to lucky families like us who just want to eat as healthy as we can! It's an added bonus that we're supporting a local and sustainable food source too! Now that I'm getting to know the folks at Borden Communications + Design, I'm trying to find out more about Fair Trade and how to support that initiative. There is allot going on there, that we need to be think about how to make sure we are leading the lives we want to!
Have a great 1st day of November everyone,
Shirl