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.