A Brand We Love: Native Kids Shoes

“We love Native!” is something we hear daily from customers who are buying Native shoes for their kids this summer season. Native is a Canadian company that started with a simple idea, to create a good looking, light and durable shoe. And that is exactly what they did! The Native kids shoes are so light and comfortable your child won’t want to take them off. They are great for going to the park, on the splash pad, the beach, the sandbox or just everyday wear. We carry the Jefferson and Miller styles in some awesome colours. Click here to check them out on our website!

Distillery Store Grand Opening!

This past Saturday May 11, 2013 we had our grand opening event at our brand new store in Toronto's Historic Distillery District. I may have overdosed on cotton candy, but overall the event was a blast! The kids and parents were awesome and we had so much fun eating popcorn, face painting, making silly faces for the camera and of course playing with balloon animals (nothing better than a balloon)! I want to share some of the great pics from the day and there are many more on our facebook page for you to enjoy (feel free to tag yourself in the pics or share on your own timeline). Thanks to all who came out for the event! 

Twig Creative!

This past month, Twig Creative Blog featured our new Distillery store in their ‘Brick and Mortar Shop’ feature on their blog, accompanied by the story of our brand. Twig Creative is a small design business with a philosophy we really love! They create beautiful wooden toys and furniture, along with print and web designs that are based on a simple idea, design and creation. I am particularly taken with the Orchard Nightlight which is such a lovely piece of form and function for any room!

Check out their blog: http://twigcreativeblog.blogspot.ca/

April showers bring May Flowers

That's the expression right?  Well all I can say is that we better have a lot of flowers come May because it has been raining a ridiculous amount here in Toronto.  Thankfully our new window helps brighten up our spirits! Put together by Renee Elliott from Re: Creative, it features 3-D neon raindrops and some super bright Kway raingear (the perfect thing for this weather).

The best baby shower cards

I have to admit that I find the majority of baby showers to be a slightly painful experience.  I fully enjoy hanging out with my ladies and celebrating the impending arrival of a new human being but I don't generally love sitting around watching someone open gift after gift.

So when I do have a shower to go to, I always try to bring a funny/politically incorrect card just to liven things up a bit (caution - you need to know your audience for this).  Enter Hug & Kiss Designs.  We recently discovered this Canadian line of greeting cards (designed and written by the most sweet and innocent looking girl) and almost peed our pants while reading them. 

 

mini mioche spring window

Ok, so it doesn't exactly feel too spring-y outside yet but it's coming... soon. Our new spring window created by Renee Elliott from re: Creative is helping to put us in the mood - it's so fun and colourful! Renee used paint stir sticks (FREE!), dipped them in some acyclic paint and hung them from fishing wire in a chevron pattern. She also bought an inexpensive mat and dry brushed some paint on it. A simple but super cute and artsy spring window!

 

Brand we love: Herschel

Founded in 2009 by brothers Jamie and Lyndon Cormack, Herschel Supply Co. adopted the name of the small town where three generations of their family grew up. The company is based in Vancouver, Canada and manufactures the finest quality backpacks, bags, travel goods and accessories. Their goal is to create timeless product with a fine regard for detail and we definitely feel they have succeeded in that goal. We love their classic backpacks because they are great quality, well-priced and the perfect size for the toddler crowd. The fact that they are literally mini versions of the adult style just make them that much cooler.

Vintage baby

Just for fun I thought I would include a personal post of my little guy, Weston, rocking a vintage sweater (it was mine circa about 1977). My mom, like me, was always into baby and kids clothing and bought many amazing things (mostly French brands), which thankfully she kept and I have been able to dress my kids in. It's a good reminder that special pieces that are exceptionally well-made really are an investment and something that can actually be passed down through the generations.

Neon!

I cannot wait for our new spring Converse to arrive. I am especially excited for neon Chucks and Simple Slips!

 

 

Brand we love: Zuzii

It is a challenge to find good accessories for infants and kids.  Stuff that isn't cheap, cheesy or ridiculous looking (I personally am not a fan of the giant fake flower on my baby's head look).  Thank goodness we discovered Zuzii, the most amazing collection of accessories from headbands to clips and absolutely gorgeous infant footwear.  It is one of my favourite collections in the store not only because it is so well made and pretty but also because it is all crafted by hand in North America.

We just received another order of Zuzii in the store today (look for it online very soon) and here are just a few of my favourite things.