I know they offer a service of convenience to many but living in a city affords me the luxury of avoiding huge shopping malls. I feel trapped and get irritable-and that’s just from the parking alone, before I’ve stepped into the place.  If I need something, I’ll find it quickly and make a swift escape. Shopping is not leisure for me-there is a WHOLE WIDE WORLD OUT THERE OF THINGS TO SEE AND DO. But for excursions with my girls, I would avoid it altogether, kitchen stores notwithstanding.
I’ll make an exception though for the giant craft fairs held every year in Toronto. Inspiration is in the bones of the One of Kind Craft Show and who doesn’t need a jolt of that?

Earlier this month I spent a few hours, meandering about the stalls and oogling the artistry. Here is invention in creative form, like the beautiful products at Stinson Studios, from Tamworth, Ontario, where gorgeous bowls are made from wood sourced locally from family-run wood lots.

My new bowl, replacing my old cracked burl, makes any salad a little jazzier. A change of scenery is just the thing in this in-between season.

Over at the Noelle Hamlyn booth, curious onlookers crowded around to peer at the very cool ‘up cycling exhibit’-repurposed books are framed, giving the stories inside instant gravitas. Books are gathered in collections both by their subject matter and their spine colours. Here are two purchased by my friend who joined me.

I love these works almost as much as one I bought last year from this same artist.

Creativity in food and fashion is everywhere in this craft fair, from the delicious macarons and pretty boxes from Anet Gesualdi...

to the wild athletic wear of Vancouver’s Daub + Design, 

And the gorgeous blooms from Headmistress were the purest injection of spring in the whole building, thanks to this Toronto designer’s gorgeous floral accessories.

Found too were fantastic vintage linens at Country Clothesline. I fell for the roses. Yes, I do have to be that predictable.

All of it inspired and lifted me from my where-is-spring-woes.

Hopefully you will have fun browsing their websites! I’m inspired to make up some version of those macarons or take a class to avoid the inevitable flops of an amateur macaron lover.