Hilltop Interiors...Heaven in Muskoka

I am so blessed to have extended family who own a piece of heaven...heaven also known as Rosseau, a quaint cottage town in Muskoka, Ontario. Whenever I visit, I count down the minutes to when I can pop into Hilltop Interiors. Truly one of my favourite shops in the world and you can see why...

I am sure all of you can relate to their motto, 'Comfortable home, comfortable life'.

Make it past the gorgeous window boxes and garden trinkets, and you enter a world of true delight...

The colours are so beautiful and the displays simply dreamy...

Can't you just imagine curling up on this lounge with a good book...and a glass of wine?

It was 'until next time' to Hilltop and over to the Rosseau General Store to have ice cream in the Summer sun. A good way to cool off after the excitement provided by Hilltop and lay down the bags of treaures you are sure to come out with!

I couldn't resist sharing this picture from my brother and sister-in-law's wedding. Us girls just had to sneak a snapshot outside the charming little shop on the way to the church.

After ice cream, it's off to the Teeny Weeny Bikini Co for the ultimate in summer wears and retro accessories. I love the fence made out of oars!

Then past the historic church (where my brother and sister-in-law got married)...

...through another antique shop...

...and another. This next one though is definitely worth a mention - Cynthia Crawford Antiques.

We managed to catch Cynthia in the shop on this particular day and she is as charming as her store. I picked up the most gorgeous his and hers hand towels and Cynthia was telling us that Sarah Richardson from Sarah's House is a frequent shopper. I am not at all surprised...it is a real treasure trove.

Rosseau in Muskoka really is a piece of heaven on earth and I can't wait until my next stay. If I didn't live so far away, I would've been able to indulge my obsession a little more and filled up another suitcase or two...or truck! But hey, it's a good excuse to plan another visit!

xx

Wildbird on Mt Pleasant

From the West Village, we hopped a plane and headed north to Toronto - my favourite city! A must-see strip for all things shabby and chic is Mt Pleasant Ave. First stop was Wildbird...

Decked out with treasures galore and a supplier of works created by local artists...got to love that! The lovely ladies behind the counter are so nice and helpful too and create the shop's warm, inviting atmosphere.

Resident feline, Kismet, will guide you on a personal tour...xx

After emptying our purses at Wildbird, we strolled back to our apartment along the Ave...

...past one of many flower shops...

...the Little Dollhouse Company...

...and Mabel's Fables.



Come back to visit heaven in Muskoka in my next post.

Until then...

xx

Whimsical West Village

When you see images of New York's iconic brownstone buildings, the first place to pop into mind is Manhattan's West Village.

Do you ever close your eyes and imagine that you could live the life of a Hollywood starlet in your favourite movie? Well, if you're like me, you do...a lot! And these is no better place to indulge your romantic dream than here...

You are Holly Golightly waltzing home, croissant and coffee in hand...

...or Meg Ryan perhaps in You've Got Mail (in this case it's my best travelling bud Sarsh - featured inset. Just as gorgeous xx)...

Hop across the tree lined street...

...and you're Diane Keaton in Annie Hall.

Stop off for a treat at 'Once Upon a Tart' with your poochy pal (garden gnomes and all in the window display...does it get anymore charming?).

We're Kate Beckinsale anticipating a chance run in with John Cusack...

...or Barbara Streisand before she reunites with Hubble Gardener.

A cupcake stop at the 'Magnolia Bakery' means only one thing - you're Carrie Bradshaw catching up with your pal Miranda Hobbs - over red velvet delights of course!

Glamourous Aussie, Sarsha caught a twinkle in her eye with the delicacies of this little kitchen.

Are we Meryl Streep here, fur coat and stilettos, skipping across cobblestone streets?

Or Meg Ryan once again, succumbing to the charm of Tom Hanks as we sip coffee and contemplate...

We musn't forget the beauty of Washington Square, where we pinch ourselves and realise New York is not just a place that exists in the movies. It is bigger, better and more beautiful than the screen can do justice.

Close your eyes and let the sunshine, gentle strum of the bass, the seductive sound of the sax and the swish of the cymbals take you there.

xx

I'm back! Oh, New York, New York!

Hello dear friends! I have returned home. After a week back at work, I am suffering from post holiday blues. But alas, I deliberately took my EOS with intent to share my adventures with you. Over the next few posts, I will be reliving some shabby, pretty and very Jack and Georgie highlights with you.

The adventure started in New York City. So allow me to take you on a walk first, through Central Park...

It's amazing, that in a park in the middle of the world's busiest city, you feel as though you are in the English countryside.

Remind you of any of your favourite films...

No traffic noise and hustle bustle as you embark on 'The Ramble'. Just peace and tranquility.

Stay posted for our next stop: Manhattan's West Village. With more to come from Canada... I am saving the very best 'til last!

xx

For tired eyes...

My overseas trip is on the horizon and the inventory of necessities is being created. I don't know about you, but I can't sleep on a plane or in a hotel room unless it is really dark. Not always possible...so today I made my own eye masks to help solve a potential problem.

I chose some pretty fabric of course and I had some satin quilting leftover from another project. I freehanded my own pattern and cut out the pieces needed.

I also added some lace for a bit of trimming.

Everything was then secured - right sides together - and the lace needed to be tucked inwards. The elastic to go around the head is also tucked in there somewhere and pinned to each side.

Once sewn and turned inside out, I finished off the mask with some zigzag stitch.

I made two - one for me and one for the gal pal I will be galavanting with. I allowed the lace on mine to be more exposed and frillier and hers a little less so. A lover of all things girly, my friend is perhaps a little more streamlined and sophisticated, so I tucked the lace in a little further. I also chose the swallows for my friend as she is a flight attendant and flutters around the globe constantly...what a life!

And when we return from our trip, the eyes masks are pretty enough to keep on a bedside...

...or bedpost.

It is late, so I am off to rest my tired eyes now. Sweet dreams.

xx

Shabby schoolyard style

I have noticed around the town, people carrying their laptops in fabric bags - all types of bags! Pyjama bags, shoe bags, recycled shopping bags, etc, etc. It seems that the padded satchel just isn't always that appropriate...or stylish. It got me thinking that there could be a market for a prettier version of these...

I stitched one together for my workmate and fellow blogger Mrs Tiff - of Mrs Tiff Living Creatively fame. I really wanted to give her something that would show how much I have appreciate her support and encouragment. She was the one who introduced me to blogger after all...and she landed the job of being my report proofreading buddy (poor Tiff!).

I know that Mrs Tiff loves fabric yo-yos, so I just had to embellish it with a few. I matched the yo-yo fabric with a ruffled bag that I knew she had made for herself. The checkered fabric is vintage and I picked the apricot roses up from a fabulous shop of treasures - Retallack's Creative Sewing in Port Macquarie.

If your laptop did need to be packed away for safe keeping in its proper satchel...the sack could always be used to house important documents and letters.

The same week that I gifted the laptop sack to Mrs Tiff, she handed my reports back to me in a plastic sleeve. It wasn't until I got home to make the ammendments, that I found she had inserted a gorgeous and mysterious little parcel inside...almost too pretty to open!

However, when I did, what a heavenly surprise! A lanyard to hold my classroom keys and whistle. I just love, love, love it and feel so special every time I put it on and waltz out into the playground.

I love placing it on my desk when I'm not using it, somewhere in clear view, as it puts a smile on my face. Takes me briefly to another place of whimsy, birdcages, cotton tape, amazing blogs and creativity! Thank you so much Tiff.

xx