My kind of shopping

I am not the world's biggest fan of shopping.  I generally like to go to a store for a specific reason, buy what I need and get out.  But I do love craft shows.  And I went to the biggest in the city last night, the One of a Kind Christmas show.  Every year I have to psych myself to go because before I go I think … it's so big and takes forever, do I really need to go this year … and every year I go.  And I don't regret it.  Sometimes I go with a friend and sometimes I go by myself.  Sometimes I see a million different things I want to buy and sometimes I don't.  But I always find a gift or two and my husband really likes the one of a kind Christmas tree we've built up with the ornaments I pick up every year.

Here are just a few of the things I found last night.  I bought much more but can't include photos or stories since they must be kept secret from the prying eyes of others in the household until December 25th.

So, I know.  The cat is 18 and gets fluids for a kidney problem.  But I think that is when you really need a new bowl.  And it was either this or a monster pottery cup from Julie Richard.  

Not that a monster cup would have been a bad idea.  It's just that, despite adding a boatload of extra cupboard space, our kitchen cannot support many more dishes.

Next are linens from Rain Goose Textiles.  I've bought a few things over the years from this artist.  A yoga bag, oven mitts, tea cozy…  This year I bought a new tea cozy and these placemats and hand towels.  I love her stuff.  Simple designs but just enough to make them stand out as different.

Last of the ready-to-blog items purchased are lip balm and soap from Olive Authentique.  Their lip balm is perfect.  I lost the one I carry around in my purse a few months ago and finished the one I had beside the bed around the same time and have been missing it ever since.  Truth be told, this is probably the number 1 reason I got myself to the show this year.  I knew I could order it online but that just didn't seem sporting.  I haven't tried their soaps before so picked up a couple of those too.  Just before I was going to check out, the fire alarm went off and I kept thinking, please don't make us exit the building before I do my transaction.  Clearly there wasn't any sort of real emergency because the show went on.

So all-in-all, I'm glad I went.  I would say that this was one of the better shows I've been to.  Much more in the Christmas ornament line than in some years and lots of other really great things too.

If you are in the Toronto area, try to get there.  If nothing else, you'll be inspired by all of the hard work these artisans put into their craft.