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
CHEX TV airdate: Friday January 22nd (5-6pm) Click link to watch this segment Again I was joined by Erica Nol, Biology professor from Trent University. We talked about how the weather (both good and bad) affects what birds we see in our backyards. Do warm winters mean more birds stick around? Do the long cold … Read more
CHEX TV airdate: Friday January 8th, 2016 Click link to watch this episode online. It was a cold winter day in January when I met with Erica Nol, Biology Professor from Trent University to talk about counting birds! It was beautiful to enjoy the sunshine among the trees at the Trent Sanctuary. Being as cold … 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.
CHEX TV airdate: December 11th, 2015 5-6pm Squrrel Buster Bird feeders Yes, they really are squirrel proof! Guaranteed! We have been carrying the Squirrel Buster line of bird feeders for MANY years. ?People are initially skeptical about the feeders, but once they see how well they work, they love them! There are 7 different styles available including 5 for mixed seed, 1 for finch seed and 1 for peanuts. You can keep all of your birds happy and even exclude a few that you enjoy less. Squirrels will try to get into the seed but are unable to get anything so give up! You know how smart they are! If they can’t get food they’re going to go someplace else to have their dinner! Watch this episode to learn more about these awesome feeders.
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.