For those of you who don’t follow me on Instagram or Facebook you may not know that I spent last weekend, and most of last week in Toronto for the Toronto Fall Home Show and Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint Retailers Special Event & Training.
I arrived Friday evening around 5 pm and waited oh-so-impatiently in a very long line at customs. I had a smile on my face the entire time.
It was only a 36 min flight from Savannah to Atlanta and then an hour and 46 mins from Atlanta to Toronto. We waited on flight delays for a longer period of time than we spent in the air.
Then I met up with my new friend Barb (from The Pink Bee Company in Kelowna). She had waited on my flight (delays and all) and met me at the airport. We “met” in the Miss Mustard Seed Paint Retailer’s Group on Facebook, a group page for certified retailers. This was the first time we were meeting in person. She was game when I asked if anyone wanted a roommate. And I’m so glad she was. We had the best time!
As soon as we made it to our hotel, at the Westin Harbour Castle, we decided to have a walk around the city to find some wonderful place to eat. We might’ve walked around in circles for about an hour or so but we didn’t care. We were so mesmerized by the big city all around us.
We finally decided on a fancy and trendy restaurant called Nota Bene where I discovered I very much liked something called Cider. I had it with this meal and every meal after that. My favorite was the Blackberry Cider by Somersby.
By the time we got back to our hotel we had this delicious platter waiting on us courtesy of the girl at the front desk. Chocolate truffles, mixed berries, what I though was candied pineapple but turned out to be candied ginger (that was a spicy realization!) and walnuts.
Our first full day in Toronto was spent at the Fall Home Show where the Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint booth was located. We also got a chance to volunteer at the booth on Sunday to answer questions and to, my favorite, sell milk paint.
Lots of exciting things going on at this show. We had fun looking around at all of the many different booths.
The best part was getting to hear Marian speak. Here she’s talking about how she gets that great look for her home by updating old pieces, where to find them and how to use them. Check out her amazing shoes!
Habitat Restore booth really had it going on with their upcycle challenge pieces. Loved this crazy lamp!
Seriously contemplated how to get this sofa on the airplane with me…
Fell in love with this table and that fixture!
And got to catch up with Marian (aka Miss Mustard Seed) again. The first time I met Marian was at the Haven conference in 2013. She’d invited us retailers for dinner and we got to sit down and have a chat. What an amazing woman! She is just as sweet and down to earth as can be, just precious. And as soon I spied her nose ring I knew for sure we could be besties.
I scored a couple of copies of the new Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint Look Books. If you’ve not had a chance to check these out I highly encourage you to. It’s like a gorgeous magazine chock full of information, inspiration and all things milk paint. These will be available in my online shop (currently under construction) in the next few days.
We attended the retailer’s special event where we talked business and new products.
Like these 6 new European-inspired colors available early 2015.
Aren’t they amazing? And the color names, like Marzipan, Schloss and Arabesque just make them even more delicious.
In case you didn’t know, Homestead House Paint Company manufacturers MMSMP and they are located in Toronto. Pictured here are Marian and her mom, Jennylyn – CEO of Homestead House and her parents who started the company 26 years ago. It is truly a Mom & Pop business of the highest standards. An excerpt from the company’s website:
“Originating as the only Canadian Milk Paint manufacturer, our family run company has shown its dedication and commitment to providing high quality non-toxic paints across North America since 1988. With the increasing demand of eco-conscious consumers and years of innovation we are now able to provide a premium Zero VOC paint that no competitor can rival.
By enforcing GreenSeal standards we help to provide our customer with paint that targets the increasing concerns for the environment without compromising quality, durability or performance. Its about making the right choice and in doing so we all have the ability to provide ourselves with a healthier lifestyle.”
How often can you say that a company has invited you over to their home for dinner? Me? Never! But that’s exactly what happened on this trip. And to make it even more amazing, each of the neighbors pitched in from creating the delicious dishes to serving us.
This family is obviously highly regarded by all who know them and after having met them, I can totally see why. They are just amazing people with a passion for paint. What’s not to like!
We did not want for food or drink on this, or any, night while in Toronto.
Marian has a great post on her blog with a behind the scenes look at this family owned company and how the milk paint is still package by hand. It’s the little things, folks, that still matter!
I flew out of Toronto late on Tuesday evening so I still have so many exciting things to share with you about my trip, what I learned AND what I scored at the antique market!
My little ones are glad to have me home, eh? They even decorated the sign in the traditional Hudson Bay colors. And while I am certainly glad to be back home snuggling them I would gladly go back tomorrow if I had the chance!
I hope you enjoyed joining me for a look at my trip to Toronto. I have a few more posts about my visit that I want to share with you that I think you’ll really enjoy. Have you ever been to Toronto or are you from there? Leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite thing about this amazing city is.
Next year, you can take me with you. I debated, and elected not to go, but next year? You KNOW! Also, I am coming to Savannah for Halloween, as is our tradition. Any ideas of where to shop for vintage?
I’m glad you enjoyed your trip to Toronto. I was born and raised here and feel privileged to call it home. If you ever come back and want ideas of things to see and do, please email me, I’m biased, but this is an amazing city!
Well I think I might be biased, too. I think it’s amazing as well. I hope to be able to find a good excuse to come back really soon! I absolutely loved it there. I could totally live there myself! Lucky you!