Mindshadows at 100 mile finds

Want a great summer read that takes you back to the eve of the first world war? I've got a book for you! The Summer Before the Storm is the first in a series of novels revolving around 3 generations of a rich family just after the turn of the century. It's full of love, betrayal, scandal and unrequited love! Now all you have to do is pull up a deck chair and get comfy.

Mindshadows is the name of the store at 100 mile finds, the book is called "The Summer Before the Storm - Book 1 The Muskoka Novels by Gabriele Wills.
I read it this past winter, it is amazing! I loved it. It is historical fiction and it is fascinating to read about how the 1st World War was seen through Canadian eyes. There are tons of references to both Toronto and the Muskoka region.
It would make a fantastic read as you lounged around on a rainy day, or on 'a way too hot to go outside' kind of day.
This book would make an amazing hostess gift when you are invited up to a cottage, especially somewhere in the Muskoka's. I just gave it to a friend and we figured out, it is set on the island just north of them. How cool is that!?

neatTreats

neatTreats is a vendor we met at one of our many craft show jaunts - although this one (located at Swansea school) was close to home.  It is so nice to place faces to names as we are primarily in the virtual world.  We were pleased to have neatTreats join us - their products are lovely and there is a design to compliment the decor of any bathroom.
neatTreats works only with goat's milk or shea butter in creating their luxurious soaps. Each individual bar is handmade with care, and unlike commercial soap contains no harsh detergents to dry out your skin.
Custom orders are my welcome - imagine working with the vendor to create your own unique design - whether it's for your home, B&B, or hospitality business.
Local pick up is available.

neatTreats at 100 Mile Finds, another unique product.

Artefacts

OK, so maybe my head is still in renovation mode, so I can't help myself from writing about Artefacts one of Ontario's premier architectural salvage businesses.  I know from experience, during the renovation process, how tempting it is to go to that big box store and pick out everything you need.  However, your house starts to look like a big box store - soon you are whipping up dinner in your orange apron.
 "Artefacts has sourced the best in architectural salvage from Canada and around the world - stained glass from the Annex in Toronto, carved gothic doors from a church in Woodstock, a wrought iron window guard from Egypt, panel shutters from Romania. For those looking to restore their old home or looking for an accent piece for a new home, Artefacts is the resource of choice".


Whether it is hardware, or a larger piece to customize a new headboard, Artefacts has unique items that makes your home your own.
 

Eco Stems

Since it's growing season and we have been talking about locally grown produce, it's also the time of year to talk about local grown flowers.  Eco Stems is a 100 Mile Finds vendor that supports local, sustainable and thinks green in many ways.

According to eco stems, the cut-flower industries in many countries "use toxic chemicals that have been banned in North America. Some of these chemicals leech off of the flowers and contaminate the subsoil and water table where they are grown, but some remains on the flowers and end up in your home. The cut-flower industry also contributes to water and soil depletion by placing unsustainable demands on the local biosphere. When the flowers are fully grown and ready to be sent to Canada for you to enjoy, they are flown. Emitting 1.48 tons of carbon dioxide and contributing to global warming.  These are a few of the reasons why Eco Stems chooses local, organic and fair trade flowers".

We can celebrate summer with the harvest of our own beautiful flowers.

Report on the Conscious Food Fest last Saturday

It is always with enthusiasm that I attend a local show/sale, but it was also with an  empty stomach that the whole family ventured out to last Saturday's Conscious Food Festival at Fort York in Toronto.
Included in the admission price were 5, $1 vouchers to purchase the sample plates being offered.  We might have had to top up our kitty a little as we wandered around.

Here's our lunch menu:

A bhudda dog with jerk sauce and peach garlic sauce.  Bhudda Dog makes fantastic, kid-friendly, guilt free hot dogs.  They are actually very adult-friendly too, which is fab.
Creamy and flavourful Fifth Town cheeses
Incredible heirloom tomato bruschetta by chef Rodney Bowers (accompanied by just a taste of Rose from Southbrook Vineyards, this was a family event)
Ying Ying's sweet and sour tofu kebabs (yummy, and I'm not a huge tofu fan)
and finished with a taste of frozen kefir from Yogalicious and a scoop of organic ice cream from Mapleton Organics.  I tried some lemon frozen yogourt and maple sugar ice cream.  Heavenly.
All of this was washed down with lemonade sweetened with Stevia.

It was a great event, and dinner was easy to prep that night - noone was very hungry.

MagZ-BagZ for Back to School

We love running into Megan from MagZ-BagZ when we are out and about at the many shows we enjoy. She is both professional and enthusiastic and we are thrilled to have her as a part of 100 Mile Finds.
MagZ-BagZ produces beautiful, functional bags for all the stuff you need to carry. According to Megan, "why should you carry this stuff using a bag that doesn't reflect your style, your personality, and ultimately your individuality - a little self expression is required in everything you do. MagZ-BagZ allow YOU to shine through".
So September is around the corner. There are some amazing sling bags that would be perfect for hauling texts back and forth to the classroom. (Of course, they are also a perfect gift for the new Mom). I know that I am a little tired of the poor quality bags I have purchased for my kids. If they last more than one school year I feel lucky, and I'm thinking that landfills full of cheap knapsacks would not be exactly pretty.
Anyway, if you're in the market, check them out.

Magic and Mud Design

 

Mish Sutherland is one of our talented jewellers.  Her eclectic designs are an expression of the artisan she is.  Shirley and I were both fascinated by the crocheted jewellery - like we see in the heart brooch. Mish is one of those artists that uses a ton of different techniques that keeps her pieces really fresh and one of a kind.


Hand- crafted, Mish is happy to work on custom orders or adjust the size or length of a piece to fit.  I think it is this involvement in the process and the connection with the artist that makes shopping locally so satisfying.
Check out her work when you get a chance - Magic and Mud Design