CHEX TV airdate: Friday March 18th, 2016 5-6pm Click link to watch this episode online. I first met Caroline Lepannen at the Cobourg Indie show in the fall of 2015. I was immediately attracted to her colourful and quirky “Dudes” made from recycled “scrap.” Her booth was filled with strange and wonderful happy characters in … Read more
CHEX TV airdate: Friday March 4th 5-6pm Click link to watch this episode online Ron Stephens, reduction stoneware potter, painter and sheet metal sculpture, was born in Kitchener, Ontario. At high school, he took a potters course. The craft came naturally to him. After graduation, Ron hitch-hiked west in the late 70’s and found work … Read more
CHEX TV airdate, Friday Feb. 19th, 5-6pm In late January we attended two gift shows for retailers only. The By Hand show is only for Canadian artisans. There are 100+ vendors at this show including jewelers, potters, metal artists, glass artists and much more. Only a small segment are suitable for our shop, but we … Read more
CHEX TV airdate: Friday Feb. 5th, 2016 5-6pm Click link to watch this episode online Each year we attend the Toronto Gift Fair to meet up with our suppliers, find new products and to check out the quality of items. Pictures in catalogs don’t usually show the true item, so we like to check things … Read more
We’ve been helping customers pick the perfect gifts for 13 years so have a pretty good idea of what people like and are looking for. We love what we do and really are “here to help!” On this episode I give you a few ideas for dad, mom, kids and friends. Pop in the shop and we can give you some ideas for that special someone on your list. Lots of Canadian made too! ? Click link to watch this episode online.
A few years ago I introduced you to our wonderful Solmate socks! ?Customers love these socks because they make them happy. ?So we’ve nicknamed our “Happy socks!” I first showed them on CHEX TV in Garden Gate: Episode 27. ?This episode is a followup to that one. The company was established about 15 years ago by Marianne Wakerlin. In 2014 she retired and her son and daughter-in-law took over. The socks are milled in Vermont. ?Recently the owner of the mill also wanted to retire and sold to the Wakerlin family. ?Employees are very happy with the transition. The socks are a hit! ?Fun, colourful and very comfortable. Watch this episode to see the awesome products offered by The Socklady.
Local artist, Cathy Mark makes stunning windswept trees from her studio in Little Britain. These have been very popular items since we got our first order this spring. Cathy uses beautiful granite rocks hand picked from her farm or hand hewn burls found in the wood. Hand cut stainless steel trees are bent and shaped and finished and then attached to the rocks or burls to create one of a kind pieces of art for the home. She also does a variety of other items including herons and wall pieces which come and go at the shop. Stunning, unique pieces.
CHEX TV air date: Friday Oct. 30th 5-6pm Click link to watch this episode online. We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful area of the Country. Close to nature and the ruggedness portrayed in art like the paintings of The Group of Seven. We have a wide variety of items in the shop that reflect this style of art.?From sets of tea cups with designs by Tom Thomson, Lawren Harris and other members of The Group of Seven to wall art and table art. We have wall art with those beautiful rugged pines of the north. ?And more recently we’ve added work by Cathy Mark from Little Britain. ?Her beautiful hand cut and formed trees will be featured in the next episode of The Garden Gate. Tune in to this episode to get a glimpse of the artistic?pieces available at The Avant-Garden Shop.
CHEX TV airdate: October 2nd, 2015 Click here to watch this episode online 
?We’ve been carrying a variety of products from All Fired Up for many years. ?They are best known for their beautiful ceramic switch plate covers. ?Located in Milton Ontario, they’ve been creating ceramic art?since 1984. We have a variety of switch plates and can order covers to match your decor! ?The artist makes them in a variety of designs and styles. Single covers, double, triple, receptacle covers even combinations covers. In addition covers are available for the wider decorative switches now seen in many homes. Drop by to have a look at the catalog and we can place an order for you. All Fired Up also make beautiful clocks, little bowls and in the past necklaces. ?For the 2015 Christmas season we’ll also be bringing in some lovely vintage style ornaments.
In addition to the switch plate covers, we also carry small indoor clocks, flower frogs, bird bowls and candle holders.
The clocks are just a perfect size for a guest room, bathroom or on a small table or shelf. ? 
The flower frogs are wonderful little gifts for the gardener in the family. Buy or pick a few flowers and include a flower frog. ?It makes arranging them in a Mason jar easy! ?Smaller flower frogs fit on a baby food jar or Parmesan shaker!
CHEX TV airdate: Sep. 18th, 5-6pm Click here to watch this episode online 
Remember “Doodle art?” Sharpen your pencil crayons! Colouring books for adults have become extremely popular! ?Stores are selling out faster than they can stock the books! ?One book in particular is back ordered for months! We’re hoping to have it in time for Christmas. On this episode of The Garden Gate, I had two guests helping me out. We had a little colouring party at the shop! ?Fun. ?There was a bit of fighting over pencil crayons….you’ll have to tune in to see how that ends up. Plus we had a contribution from a family member in The Netherlands! People have really taken to this new pastime. Some of my customers are trying to quit 
smoking and find colouring is a great way to keep their hands busy! ?Or if you love to do puzzles but don’t have the space to leave out 1000 pcs for months on end…this is another similar hobby that can be easily packed up and put away. Doctors are telling us it’s a great stress reliever as well. ?Your mind goes off into places it doesn’t go when you’re on the phone, watching TV or surfing the web. Take time to de-stress and feel like a kid again! ?Colouring books are between $10 and $20 on average. ?Great gifts! ?Think ahead to Christmas!!