Bathtub Beauty

My itchy fingers took these pictures the other day at WilBe Bloomin, a flower emporium at Baldwin Street, in the heart of Kensington Market.

At first sight you will probably gasp and coo (like I did!) and visually feast on the brilliant idea of recycling an old bathtub! Yes, you heard that right. A bathtub turned into a little pool for Wilda McLellan and Beverley Kolbe’s fishes.

Look at these pictures and you will be surprised how creativity talks back at you!  Want a closer, top shot?
Yes, that’s just one of them! I was told all three of WilBe’s fishy friends are five years old.
Dotting the water in the bathtub are these bright colored lotus blooms/ water lilies. Its only on a real close peek will you realize that they are not real.

This bathtub beauty is not for sale. But what you can stop here for are their wide variety of event and designer bouquets, lush plants with attention to seasonal palettes, and modern yet elegant combinations of classic and exotic flowers, all handpicked by the duo who started WilBe Bloomin in 2004. (Photos from:wilbebloomin.ca)

I guess I was just plain lucky when I picked this blushing hibiscus from their fresh arrival for Spring. The discovery was that one pot had two plants- a yellow and a red hibiscus! Take a look.
WilBe Bloomin is located @:

160, Baldwin Street, Unit 9
Toronto, ON, M5T 3K7, Canada.

Nepal Handicrafts

Last weekend I went to one of my favorite places – the Kensington Market. There is one particular store I love going to. India, Nepal and Tibet just explode in Nepal Handicrafts.

I'm a huge fan of this shop!  Why? Because this place is the most remarkable boutique for imported Nepalese and Indian decorative accents. Behind this great collection of traditional style artifacts is Dipesh and Doma, who have been running this store for the last 10 years.

Wooden masks, Tibetan ritual objects, wall hangings, lamps, framed prints, incense and fine linens, all with a fairly traditional style are under one roof here. I have done some silver shopping in TO, and by far this place is a treasure trove for silver trinkets. If you like chunky silver jewelry, Doma will even help you out with her recommendations and wee little discounts!

What I most appreciate are the Ganesha and Buddha statues in metal, wood and stone. I will let the photographs from Nepal Handicrafts do the talking now… Dipesh posing with his collection of funky jewelry.
Traditional Tibetan pendants.
 Batik Ganesha on fabric.

A lot of things for your home (and trinket box) can come from this fantastic little gem of a store! I found these wooden birds which fit so well on my windows. And if you are fond of silver jewelry, you will be hooked on to this place.

I picked this hand-printed wall hanging from there some months ago, and mounted it on an Ikea (Ribba series) frame.
Visit this fun store @:

Nepal Handicrafts
44 Kensington Avenue, Toronto, ON,
M6B 4J3, Canada.

Funk at Kensington Market

I am told I have a good eye for things creative and non-ordinary, even antique home décor. And Kensington Market in downtown Toronto is one such place I love going on a lazy afternoon. If not much, I will come back home making “friends” with a world traveler, an art connoisseur, or just another shopper like me.

Kensington is a neighborhood in no hurry. It has the unmistakable old world charm and truly so! Old bungalows have been converted into vintage stores and coffee shops and its one place you can spend hours just looking.

I am usually in Kensington for ethnic Indian/world décor stuff. And yes sometimes I pay Canadian prices for an Indian piece of art or collectible.

But if you love flea markets, Kensington is the place to hang out in. You should not go there pre-decided, but if you like something, you should pick it up and don’t forget to ask for a bargain price. You never know! Sometimes you could get away without paying any taxes.

But if you don’t enjoy shopping around in artsy, hippy neighborhoods, this is not the place for you.

I love the fresh fruits, dry fruits, coffee and sandwiches you get at Kensington. Not to mention the cheese, pastry, meat and fish and bakery stores. This place sure isn’t for the weak-hearted.

My home has some knick knacks from this market, its sheer luck what you may land up with! Its the unexpectedness that is so attractive about this place.

Enjoy the pictures while I sanitize my hands! :-)

The owner of Indo East Trading is a fiftyish man from Kashmir, India. He also has a good collection of Jaipuri bed sheets and spreads.

“Vintage” jeans. Anyone?

You get the cheapest deals here when it comes to local.

The Mexican/Spanish stores are great to just go nutty!

Eye of Shiva is pricey- all Indian stuff from Indian kurtis, cushion covers. Don’t forget to ask the lady to bring down the prices a bit. She may just indulge you.

He had to sit out while his master was in the meat and sausage store :-(

Nepal Handicrafts is run by a Nepalese couple – Doma (from Darjeeling, India) and her husband. The masks are something you should come home with. They might even bring down the price a bit if you are charming.

For the freshest, most delectable breakfast and any time sandwiches!

My hot chocolate!

A grilled smoked bacon sandwich with some grilled eggplant and peppers, crumbled feta and aromatic arugula. ‘Twas simply delish!

Pad Thai, not too great but enjoyable on a cold day.

Till next time…

 

 

 

 

 

Au revoir!