Ah, anthropologie how do I love thee?

I discovered Anthropologie a few years ago on a trip to Chicago. I could afford items off the sale rack and that was pretty much it, but I LOVED IT. I recently discovered that they now ship to Canada via their website...

This is, of course, all new to me

I've heard and heard and heard all about restoration hardware. For some reason, I was under the impression that they don't ship to Canada but they DO. And you can get their catalogues! I ordered mine and will now wait for them to arrive. I know that if I was in the US, it would take five days to get. With CanadaPost, I'm sure it will take weeks and weeks. Is it worth it? I'll tell you when I find out.

Please ship to Canada

Open Letter to West Elm and Space Savers:

Hi,

I love your stuff and wish that you shipped to Canada. It makes me sad that you don't. Did you know that a lot of Canadians live within a two hour drive of the CAN/US border? Seriously, we do. In fact, over 75% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the border.

When I was young, I used to go to Washington State to buy school clothes. I remember all the "We speak Canadian!" signs (seriously, they said that) and am now stuck wondering if maybe you don't. Aren't our dollars practically the same now? Can't we be friends?

Let me know. Thanks,

Ginger

Kitchen Towel Rack

So I never have any idea where to put my kitchen towels, I always just hang them off the door of the fridge where they never seem to completely dry. And then I saw this!!

This is a forma over cabinet single towel rack (they also have a double). You could use this in the kitchen OR in a really small bathroom.

Sadly, they don't seem to ship to Canada. DAMN THEM.

Found via Space Savers.

Hanging Bed

Found via apartmenttherapy (I have no idea when or where...).

The Barcelona Lamp

I found this lamp via a paper lovers' dream - Trace Paper. Isn't it dramatic? Over the top? Fantastic?

Vintage Store Review

Just off the corner of Bank Street and Gladstone (on Gladstone), there's a new store called The White Monkey. They have a fantastic collection of vintage furniture mixed with new pieces - by far one of my favorite stores in Ottawa.

Local Flea Markets

I found a local (well kind of local) fleamarket a few weeks ago - it's open on Sunday and had some really interesting stuff. The name eludes me but I remember the location: take the 417 East (towards Montreal), take the Casselman exit (the one to the best tim hortons on the way to Montreal). Instead of turning left to Tims - turn right and continue for about ten minutes. It's on the right and can't be missed.

Rafter book storage solution

Small space book storage idea via apartment therapy (of course!). This blog is definately evolving into my personal space for inspiration ;).

More bathroom pics

Bathroom view inspiration via apartment therapy...



I love the idea of an outdoor shower - if I ever live in a more temperate environment, I'm going to have one of these!!!!

Do it Yourself Instructional Sources

I seem to always stumble across How to pages and am always wishing that I could just have a complete list of them all - so I've decided to compile some:

• Apartment Therapy - How to ...articles


• This Old House (how to is included in their Home Improvement Topics page)


• HGTV - How to Video Centre


• Martha Stewart Living - Renovation and Remodeling


• The W Network - Do it Yourself projects.

Buy Canadian Art

So once again, I was reading apartmenttherapy and they had an article on How to Buy Art. They recommended this site for advice. Buying art in the US is a little different - I've been in a number of galleries there and have always found the customer service to be lacking and the prices to border on ridiculous. I'm sorry - if your art has never been featured in a major gallery asking me to spend more then $500 on an amputated head is a lot to ask.

But in Canada - is it really that complicated? Canadian art is truly under appreciated - and as a result it is amazingly affordable in comparison to our neighbors in the south. I've had a thing for art for a few years now - I began my modest art collection in 2002 when I bought some student art at an auction at the University of Saskatchewan. In Canada, there's this ridiculous traveling poster sale that goes to all of the Universities and hits students up with overpriced and overproduced paper. Students flock to these annual sales in order to spruce up their dorm rooms or apartments. When I was a student at the U of S, the brilliant art program there came up with the idea of offering a competing art event with REAL ART made by students. The prices were comparable and the item I left with was truly unique - after that I was hooked. I've never seen another event like that - if there were more, I would still attend them as I think supporting developing artists is important.

I think a lot of people avoid buying art because they think it will be too expensive - not because the shopping experience is negative. Know this - Canadian art is amazingly affordable. I have original works of art that I paid as little as $50 for. I have big dramatic pieces that cost around $250! A modest price when it comes to art - the best part? Most of the pieces I own are by award winning, internationally recognized artists. The pieces I have aren't going to depreciate in value - they were sound investments.

So now you are probably wondering - where do you find original art that is so affordable? Well, my favorite place to go in Ottawa is the Galerie d'art Jean Claude Bergeron. I am a repeat customer for this gallery because the owner is so fantastic - he always takes the time to talk to us about whatever pieces we are interested in (no matter how small). His prices range - he has original works that start at around $100 CDN to into the thousands. He supports local Canadian artists as well as artists from around the world - his selection is really interesting. The best part? He sells art because he loves art - no budget is too small for him and he always makes efforts to find unique pieces that will give you the bang you want for the buck you have. I've spent entire afternoons in his gallery, chatting about art and have left buying nothing but feeling like a highly valued customer.

Meditation Bench

For all my yogit friends - I present beautiful hand-crafted, Canadian-made meditation benches via etsy store Sleeping Forest Studios. Designed and made by a husband/wife team Jai and Lauren Soloy from BC that now live in Nova Scotia (transplanted westerners, like me!). They even have a BLOG!




Did I mention that they do custom work? With their creativity and yours, you can have your dream yoga corner that can travel with you where-ever you go...

Our first house

I've also been looking at the local house listings (via mls) - I fell upon a beautiful log house that is close to Ottawa. Though we aren't currently in the market for a home, I started doing some initial research and came across a blog based out of Finland - loghomescabin. After reading about a log house being someones dream home, it's made us think that maybe we should take a look at the place. What do you think?!

This house would be a dream, of course...