Shopping for Ribbon in Toronto

ass="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5888" title="door-open2" src="http://www.loulou.to/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/door-open2.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480">*** UPDATE : Mokuba has moved to 3146 Dundas Street West, Toronto. ***————I wanted a small length of ribbon for a project I have planned, so on Monday I set out to an area that I knew had the shops I wanted to look in. Though all along, in the back of my mind I was thinking about the place I knew would have exactly what I was looking for. It's a shop called Mokuba, located at 575 Queen Street West, and it is a ribbon boutique .. an entire store dedicated to it!I had been there before to buy the ribbon for my hand-tied wedding bouquet, so I knew they were ribbon nirvana, however I was in the mood for a walk so I thought I'd shop around in the garment-district on Queen Street West, west of Spadina. And the 5 stores I checked out did in deed have nice ribbons, but they just were not exactly what I wanted. I was looking for something black and very soft to the touch, that would tie into a nice bow and would not wrinkle too much.Each store was filled to the rafters with glorious textiles and trims. In one shop I saw a clothing designer discussing weights of fabric for a certain project, and in another, a girl wearing a bear costume, shopping for materials to make a second costume. Note that it is the month of March and not near Halloween, so I guess she wore the costume rather than carry it. In one place the clerks behind the desk didn't stop their conversation for a moment, while I browsed the isles and racks of interesting things they had for sale. At one shop I overheard the vendor negotiating the price of fabrics with a couple of fashion students, encouraging them to get the large piece and splitting it in two, for a very good price. They went for the deal. I saw the agreement for a new set of drapes being struck, and a woman buying cotton to make her grand-kids dresses. So much creativity going on around me left me very inspired indeed.Back to the ribbon ... I had left Mokubo for last because, as mentioned, I knew they'd have what I needed, so I didn't have to worry about going home empty handed. And I found what I had in my mind's eye, plus I got to look around at the most gorgeous selection of fabulous ribbons! They even had a rack of pure silk ones, in a wide range of colours and widths.

Ebay Calling : Blue Glass and Charming Flowers

Here are some recent 'cheap and cheerful' items I got from ebay lately.Memories of my maternal grandmother's blue-glass Noxema jar, that she had re-purposed to be a little catch-all on her window sill, have left me with a lifelong enchantment with this cobalt coloured glass. So, when I happened upon this tall parfait glass, going for under $2.00 on ebay, I had to have it. The vendor also had this second one of a lighter shade, but for an additional $1.50 it would be mailed in the same package as the tall one, I thought 'why not?'This second group of items were found via my search for a bowl with an under-plate attached. After a recent lunch party where our salad-dressing bowl very nearly slid right off the saucer it was sitting upon, while being passed around the table, I have been after one with an attached plate. And as with the parfait glasses, the vendor had the matching milk jug and covered sugar bowl, that they would pop into the same box for only the additional cost of the item ($9 for both!), I went for these pieces too. I mean, how could I resist that cute vintage floral pattern?! And little jugs and covered bowls are very handy to have around the kitchen for things other than milk and sugar.

Much Love Monday : Hotel Heartbreak and Missing Squirrels

For Much Love Monday this week my photo doesn't actually contain a heart in it, but it includes the word! This is a mysterious sign, saying Hotel Heartbreak, hanging on Queen Street West. However there is not, nor has there ever been, a hotel there as far as anyone I've talked to about it knows. The internet doesn't have much to say about it either, except that it may be the remains of a nightclub that was once there in the 90s. So while the origin is long gone, the interesting sign is still there. Now, if only someone could figure out how to get the neon lit up again!

My story about love pertains to squirrels. We have many of them around our place, that we can see through the windows. We have come to know the mamas and their babies when they emerge from their nests in late spring, and we noticed last fall when a new grey one joined the colony of black coloured squirrels.

We both laughed in delight last week as we watched one digging in our leaf compost bin. For the longest time, only her hind quarters could be seen, with her little legs straight up in the air and whole head and front arms buried. Then, suddenly she popped upright, clutching a completely intact round seeded cracker in her tiny hands, that had obviously been stored in the leaves for later retrieval. Then, right in plain view to us, she began to munch on this large cracker. After a while, she realized that there was no way that she could eat the whole thing in one sitting, so off she dashed to find a new hiding spot for the rest of her treasure.

Caturday Goes to the Dogs : Kiki in the Snow

Move over Eddie the Cat .. It's time for Kiki to have her day on the blog. Kiki is my parents' beloved chihuahua. She was a rescue from a puppy mill, where she worked very hard delivering many puppies. Once she became too old for this, she was put out, and luckily found her way to a very loving home. She has been with my mom and dad for a couple of years now, and I would venture to say they've been the best years of her life so far! She seems very happy and is so darn friendly, sitting in anyone's lap who will have her. Apparently she particularly loves me but I think my mom is just saying that, and she really loves everyone!

I got these shots during my visit north this past week.

Baked Rice with Mushrooms

I have been making this rice dish since I was a teenager and still love it every time I taste it! In fact, I love it every time I smell it cooking!

At university, living in a house with four other girls, it was my often-requested specialty.

I will give you the basic recipe, which makes a terrific side-dish for everyday meals. And, I'll fancy it up with some wild-rice mixed in, making it a great side-dish for dinner parties or pot-lucks. Either way, it can be served hot or at room temperature.

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Mail Call : Recent Card Making Then Versus Now : King Street West and Spadina AvenueMuch Love Monday : Hearts in a Window and SnowBits and Pieces : Februay 2012Eddie in a BagHomemade Vegetarian Pea SoupBrooches on Branches : Reusing a previous DIY project