Monday, November 25, 2013

The Leslieville Flea's blog posts have a new home!

The Leslieville Flea's blog posts have a new home!! Now all of our blog posts and information about the Flea can be found at
www.leslievilleflea.com

It's the place to go to for all things Leslieville Flea. To receive our blog posts and stay up to date on Leslieville Flea events, sign up at
www.leslievilleflea.com

See you at the next Leslieville Flea, December 15th at the Jimmy Simpsn Recreation centre, 870 Queens street east

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Upcycle Saturdays....Guest Blogger Jack Fouracre from Son of a Woodcutter

Hello all,

My name is Jack Fouracre and I am the Son of a Woodcutter. Before I begin, I must say that it’s an honor to have the opportunity to write this post - the Leslieville Flea Market has been very influential for us since I officially launched Son of a Woodcutter back in the Spring. The Flea has inspired me to continuously innovate and seek out new ways to use reclaimed materials. The feedback from Flea goers has certainly helped guide my business to what it is today.
Barn Board Bottle stands, the perfect seasonal gift! It works on very simple physics and always impresses the crowd. It’s completely free standing, and believe it or not, it still works with an empty bottle ;) Imagine this as a gift accompanied by a bottle of wine. Swing by at the next flea on Dec 15th and let me show you one in action!


The name ‘Son of a Woodcutter’ was simple to come up with as it has been an inside joke with my family and close friends, ever since my brother and I were children. My father has always worked with wood, and when we sold our family farm in the UK sometime during the early 1990’s, he became a full-time woodworker. Since I was a boy and to this day, whenever I would mention anything to my dad along the lines of: “Dad, check out this go-cart I just made!” or “Dad, I failed my maths test,” his reply would be: “Well, you are the son of a great woodcutter.” Back then and even now, it still doesn’t make any logical sense to me. I still wonder: is being the son of a woodcutter a bonus or a hindrance!?!
The ‘Against The Wall Console’ from reclaimed barn board (underside) is designed specifically for the narrow hallways of Toronto’s mid-century homes and condo’s alike. These sleek consoles make a great place to throw your keys and wallet before kicking your shoes off after a hard day

How did I get into the business? When I arrived in Canada four years ago, I dreamed of a career in finance. I had a short spell working at a stock brokerage and a wealth management firm, but I would sit there stressed, fingers red raw from bashing keys and staring out the window, wondering if this was really what I wanted from life. My girlfriend and I needed a coffee table and I wondered how I could construct one without any tools. I figured: if I built three and sold the extra two, I could cover the cost of some basic power tools. This is where it all started, three tables led to ten and the rest is history. I wake up each morning and look forward to going to work!


Reclaimed Barn Board picture frames 
All of our products are made from reclaimed materials including pallet wood and barn board to name a few. Pallets really are hidden gems and it drives me wild to see all that character in the wood go to waste or landfill. There is something so very satisfying about making use of another man's waste, creating something that is oozing character and that really gets people intrigued. Considering this, we still stand by our three principles; craftsmanship, functionality and design. When a barn comes down in Ontario, there are so many parts that we can make use of. The beams go for benches, the doors for coffee tables, the flooring for desks and the grey siding for all manner of different things. When I look around at other reclaimed furniture stores and see items priced in the $1000’s, I feel there is no need for prices to be that high. Using reclaimed materials does take more man hours than picking a pre-cut board from the shelf at Home Depot but I want everybody to enjoy having this furniture in their home, not just a select few. That’s the driver for me, knowing that the general public see my items as affordable and well built, buying a piece that carries values and will last for a long, long time.
                                           
Coffee Tables from reclaimed pallet wood

Our flagship item, the Pallet Top Coffee Table is the design that started it all, we are proud to have shipped them all across Canada and the US. Since our humble beginnings, we have settled into a new workshop that enables us to explore different materials and continue to find creative ways to re-use and upcycle reclaimed wood. Our product line now includes furniture and smaller products such as mirrors from vintage window frames, chalkboards, trays and many more.

Happy Saturday everybody and thanks for taking the time to read my post, head over to our website at www.sonofawoodcutter.ca for more info and pictures of our work.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

FOUND AT THE LESLIEVILLE FLEA......... BLINDED BY SCIENCE!!


Sarah and Emily from Mississauga found a vintage science kit at Mies En Scene.  Nostalgia and function in one package......Mom Donna tells us that the kit has already provided hours of fun and learning. Mom Donna also tells us that she removed the scalpels before giving it to the kids.....good thinking mom....

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Found at the Leslieville Flea- Industrial cool

The Leslieville Flea's first indoor market at the Jimmy Simpson Recreation centre was a shopping mecca of cool retro and vintage finds. This industrial lamp from Sourced and Salvaged will provide function and style for a uniquely stylish home. Darius from Sourced and Salvaged promises that the lighting selection at the Leslieville Flea's December 15th market will shine just as brightly!


Thursday, November 14, 2013

Guest Blogger...The Broody Hen!

Our guest blogger, Lisa Edgar of The Broody Hen, tells us what she loves about selling at the Leslieville Flea Market:

Let me tell you about the Leslieville Flea and Broody Hen - that's me!  
As I stand on the other side of my table, with my hours of hard work and devotion laid out in front of me, my quilts, blankets, pillows, onsies, tees, bunnies and more, I witness the most wonderful interaction between shoppers as they pause, scan my table and say to each other or to me if they are alone, "who do I know that's having a baby?"  Or they admire a monkey tee, laugh and say, "this would be perfect for my nephew, he's a real monkey"!  "Or my niece would look adorable in this owl onsie"!  Instantly it zaps them out of their world and brings babies, children and good friends baby bumps to mind. A 15 year old girl shopping with her mom said "it's weird because if you think of it, almost everyone at all times knows someone who is having a baby" Well spotted little lady, this is why I am here and what I build my foundation on. I get to hear about babies or see adorable baby bumps and even more adorable I get to goo goo at babies in their strollers or in baby slings. And babies well, Leslieville is full of them! At first I was insecure about my placement at the Flea when I decided to just bring baby items.  But one glance around you see a parade of strollers and bellies and I feel better that it is where I am meant to be. 

The vibe at the Leslieville Flea has been so great. I have met so many awesome people, shoppers and vendors. The feedback about my pieces and the Leslieville Flea has been so positive! I am proud to say I sell at the Leslieville Flea. It has given me the confidence to apply to other local craft fairs so I now have a full Christmas craft show season lined up! 

Here are some pictures of some stock coming to the November indoor flea, Sunday November 17th from 10am-4pm at The Jimmy Simpson Rec Center, 870 Queen Street West.
  
Add Eco chic fabric scraps filled bunnies
Soft and Colourful blankets
Custom Name Blocks...place your order in time for Christmas!
All natural baby safe laundry soap and DIY sewing kits
Onesies and tees
Super Cute Baby Bibs

In the meantime, check me out on etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/broodyhendesigns 
And follow me on twitter @broodyhendesign
See you at the next flea,

Lisa 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Leslieville Flea Guest Blogger - Heather of Best of Her

Our Guest Blogger today is Heather of 
Best of Her www.bestofher.com


Last winter I worked in England for a small furniture business. My boss went off to auctions and teardowns and came back to the warehouse every week with these amazing antiques and vintage treasures. My job was to give these pieces a fresh, updated look by painting them. It really is pretty amazing what a coat or two of paint can do.
When I came home in the spring I decided to make use of my father’s woodshop and started out by working on pieces I found around our family farm. I then began to scour garage sales and even the ends of peoples drive ways on big garbage days… Seriously, you can find some awesome stuff.
I’ve turned upcycling furniture into my business and it’s so much fun.
My project this last week was for a client who just repainted her front hallway. She had this old pine cupboard that was just a little bit too country for the new look.
Removing the back decorative detail immediately streamlined the piece, and then I got to work with my palm sander, some paint and some nice dark brown stain.
I sanded the old finish off the top and applied a new coat of dark espresso stain. I painted the rest of the piece using Benjamin Moore’s “Overcoat” (after mixing it into chalk paint, check out this article for how to do this yourself! http://howtodistressfurniture.net/definitive-guide-homemade-chalk-paint-recipes)
Finally to finish, I distressed the edges and corners of the piece to let a little bit of the old wood show through, sealed it all with a coat of water-based Varathane in a satin finish and switched out the old white porcelain knobs for something a little more modern.

She was thrilled with the result! Upcycling is a great way to give an old, quality piece of furniture a brand new look.

Be sure to come check out my furniture as well as a variety of handmade hardwood cutting boards, hand painted kitchen utensils and vintage housewares at the next Leslieville Flea this Sunday November 17t from 10am-4pm.  It's moved indoors to the Jimmy Simpson Recreation Center (870 Queen Street East).

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Upcycle Saturday: Stylin' with The Leslieville Flea...When One Door Closes...It becomes a Headboard!

Welcome to Upcycle Saturday!
This week we show you how to take an old door and turn it into a headboard.  It's a super simple project and costs next to nothing!




Step 1: Acquire an old panelled door...we'd suggest shopping at The Leslieville Flea
The beauty of using an old door is that it is solid and usually made from a good quality hardwood.

Step 2:  Cut the door down to the right size for your bed

Step 3:  Sand and then finish the door in a paint colour or stain of your choice.

Step 4:  Hang the door on the wall behind your bed
* Designer Tip:  You can add molding and trimwork to the top if you want for a more decorative look

Voila!  Instant (almost) headboard thats inexpensive, stylish and eco friendly!

We look forward to seeing you at the next Leslieville Flea, November 17th, 870 Queen Street East from
10am-4pm


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Guest Blogger; Slim Pickins

About Slim Pickins:
Shaun (Slim) Stilwell's love of picking started at the age of six, when he began collecting discarded toys, cleaning them up, and selling them to eager friends. After servicing the interior design community for over 20 years - in furniture, carpets, and now fabric - his taste in 'picks' has become more refined, but the thrill of the find remains the same. Together with his partner, marketing executive and interior design-lover Julianne, Slim Pickins was born. Our mission is to breathe new life into old treasures, then find owners who will appreciate them as much as we do.

To see our fab finds in person come to the Leslieville Flea November 17th at the Jimmy Simpson Recreation centre, 870 Queen street east. See you there!





Monday, November 4, 2013

The Leslieville Flea now has FOOD!

The Leslieville Flea introduces 9 NEW food vendors
November 17th at the Jimmy Simpson Recreation Centre.

Inline image 2

Whether browsing, buying gifts for the holidays or shopping for that one of a kind vintage find, shopping requires fuel. Thats why we can’t wait to introduce you to some of Toronto’s best food vendors.  Here’s a preview of who will be there. Bon appetit!


Merchants of Green Coffee

100 per cent premium Arabica beans; grown organically, at high elevations


Kitten and the Bear

Scones as well as preserves made in the French confiture style,


Earth and City

Savoury menu full of fresh, plant-based produce. Try the Spring Roll Wraps or lentil burgers


Big E Hawaiian Grinds

Street style Hawaiian food Inspired by traditional Hawaiian dishes and culture

 

Bonne Journée

French bakery offering fresh baguettes, pain au chocolat, buns, loaves and sandwiches
Homemade beef, chicken, veggie, lamb and lobster pies.

Monforte Dairy

Exceptionally made sheep, goat, water buffalo and cow's milk cheese from Stratford Ontario

Just Beef

grass fed, hormone and drug free beef

Marigolds Finest

Marigolds finest artisan chocolate handmade in Leslieville



So save your appetite for the next Leslieville Flea, 
Sunday November 17th 
at Jimmy Simpson Recreation Centre, 
870 Queen Street East, 10- 4PM

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Upcycle Saturday: Stylin' with The Leslieville Flea....How to style up a bookshelf!

In this weeks Upcycle Saturday we will show you how to style a built in shelf or book case with Flea Market Finds!


If you love collecting as much as we do...and trust me that is quite a bit...then you no doubt have collections of "stuff" that you love but don't know how to display.

The great thing about putting these items on display in a bookcase or built in shelf is that they are a great reflection of your personality and add so much character to your home.  So bring out all those collectibles and put them on display!

There are a couple of designer tricks and rules when displaying objects that are varied in size, colour and type....and we are happy to share them with you!

Group like minded objects together to form a "collection"...these can be items that relate or are similar colours or materials.   Try putting them into shadow boxes to crreate a museum like or showcase style display.
If you are using frames or shadow boxes choose ones that are the same colour to add continuity to the display.  They can be different shapes, styles and sizes but the similar colour will tie it all together.

Group objects in odd numbers...3, 5, 7 etc.  This is the most pleasing arrangement to the eye.

Experiment and have fun...chances are if you love all of these objects they will look great in your home and become a wonderful conversation starter.

Look forward to seeing you at the next Leslieville Flea, November 17th at the Jimmy Simpson Recreation centre, 870 Queen street east.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Lulu & Lolie back at the Leslieville Flea November 17th



Lulu & Lolie are back at The Leslieville Flea November 17th and are bringing a wonderful selection of winter coats for men, women and children! Some great wool blankets, a ton of milk glass and kitchenwares as well as vintage luggage, purses, hats, and scarves! Oh and we always have a fantastic assortment of vintage fisher-price toys!

Come by and see Lucy and Nikki of Lulu & Lolie to browse our gorgeous racks of clothes or just to say hello! Visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/LuluandLolie

Monday, October 28, 2013

The Leslieville Flea gets a website!

We are super happy to unveil our new website!
It's the new go to place for all things Leslieville Flea! 

We also remind you that
we will be moving indoors Sunday, November 17th and Sunday December 15th 
to the Jimmy Simpson Rec Center, 870 Queen street east

Hours will still be 10am-4pm

and now there will be FOOD AT THE FLEA!! 
So bring your appetite and sample some fantastic eats!

For a complete list of vendors and to stay up to date on all things Leslieville Flea

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Upcycle Saturday: Stylin' with The Leslieville Flea....Not just a One Night Stand!

This week on Upcycle Saturday we will give you a great idea for an old wooden dresser.  One of the best things about Flea Market furniture is it's age.  For much less than you would spend on a new piece, you can buy one that is made from solid materials with quality joints and workmanship.

This project involves converting an old wood dresser into a great looking bedside table with tons of storage.

Find a dresser whose lines and style you love....might we suggest a trip to one of the many vendors at The Leslieville Flea?

You may or may not have to cut the legs down to the right height for your bed.  It should be at least the same height of your mattress.... I prefer mine even a few inches higher than that.

Choose your paint colour...here we used Onyx by Benjamin Moore which I've found is the perfect soft black.

*DIY tip:  To paint over an existing finish try using Chalk Paint.  It adheres to practically any finish without any prep....yup that's right no prep!  You can buy some Chalk Paint but it is pretty expensive...here are some recipes that you can make at home for a fraction of the cost
http://howtodistressfurniture.net/definitive-guide-homemade-chalk-paint-recipes

Add some new hardware and you are done!  The best part of this piece is how much storage you will gain....this can hold all your jewellery, scarfs belts and other accessories and will still have room left over.

Hope to see you at the next Leslieville Flea November 17th at the Jimmy Simpson Recreation centre, 870 Queen street east from 10-4pm .

Thursday, October 24, 2013

More fabulous finds from the Leslieville Flea

Mirror mirror on the wall who is the loveliest of them all at the Leslieville Flea?

Join us at the next Leslieville Flea, Sunday November 17th at the Jimmy Simpson Recreation centre, 870 Queen street east from 10-4pm

Monday, October 21, 2013

Finds from yesterday's Leslieville Flea!!

A perfect fall day for shopping......
Daryl, bought chairs at Slim Pickins!
  Stephanie and Paul bought a fan from Rural Revival!
Kirsty bought this fab frame at Recourse and Funk Stuff!
Derek found these pennants at Fair Judy's!

Stay tuned for more great 'finds from the Leslieville Flea' and remember, the Leslieville Flea moves indoors to the Jimmy Simpson Recreation centre November 17th! See you there.
  
Photos taken by Alex, daughter of Eve Weinberg of www.hillcrestdesign.ca

Friday, October 18, 2013

Guest Blogger...It's all in the name.....Brad from Fair Judy's tells us how he came up with his!


Why is your business named Fair Judy’s? I get this question in some form or another all the time and I get it…I’m a young guy and it doesn’t make too much sense does it? Well like many things in life, there is always a reason.  So why Fair Judy’s? Well, here is the story:
Like many kids, my Mom would take me on day trips over the summer breaks from school. She would always ask me if I wanted to go to the waterpark, Canada’s Wonderland or some other typical fun kid thing. Being the history nerd I am I would opt for the Black Creek Pioneer Village, Saint Mary among the Hurons, or to see the tall ships and settlements in Penetanguishene.  When you embark on these road trips you usually find yourself passing through some small towns with great antique stores scattered throughout southern Ontario. My Mom, being a collector herself, would often like stopping at these stores to see if she could find some treasures to bring home and I would tag along of course.
Like many kids not all the trips were of my choosing and often I would be brought along to weekend antique markets and festivals to save my Mom a babysitter as my Dad did shift work. From all of these experiences I developed a passion for collecting and it’s been with me ever since. It started with Coke collectibles and comic books and now it has grown to movie posters, board games, sports equipment, anything baseball and trophies; not to mention some obscure pieces I just can’t bring myself to sell. 

While on trips where I was either adding to my collection or finding vintage furniture for my condo, I thought why don’t I buy a little more and try to sell it back in the city. After much success I decided to start my own antique and vintage business; now I just needed a name. I always wanted to offer antiques and vintage pieces at fair prices, but what name would encompass this and still pay homage to the person that nurtured my passion for collecting. It was actually my girlfriend who came up with the name Fair Judy’s. If you haven’t already guessed, my mother’s name was Judy.  Unfortunately my mother is no longer with us having lost a long battle with cancer 5 years ago. I wouldn’t be a collector if it wasn’t for her as she not only introduced me to antiques and collecting but she also put up with it. I remember her standing on our porch as her son would round the corner with a wagon full of our neighbours’ junk   during the spring garbage days and simply smile as I yelled to her “Hey Mom, Look what they were going to throw out!” 
The antique and vintage business is tough and spending Saturday night’s packing up a van only to then wake up early on Sunday to unpack and set up at the Flea isn’t easy, but all I have to do is look at the Fair Judy’s sign hanging in my booth and know that somewhere my Mom is looking down and smiling. That’s why my business is called Fair Judy’s. 

Hope you'll pop by to say hello this Sunday, October 20th at the Leslieville Flea located at Queen and Leslie

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Guest Blog- Douglas and Son; an Epic Restoration! Part 2

Part 2 of Douglas and Son's Epic Restoration focuses on the dining room, sleeping loft and bathroom.

DINING ROOM:

We paired this amazing table (from the now-defunct Canada Tavern) with a set of 8 rough school chairs salvaged from a church basement. The rolling shoe rack holds art, wine and some more sentimental heirloom antiques. We used basic clear tube light bulbs in the classic chandelier to give it some edge.

SLEEPING LOFT:

Walls and ceiling are rough pine planks that we white-washed with diluted white paint (this is a great DIY project for a single wall behind your bed). We made the bed out of some free skids. Bedside tables are old crates turned on their sides to hold books and reading lamps are vintage metal desk lamps.

BATHROOM:

We turned an old dresser into a vanity and added a modern-ish sink and faucet. Medicine cabinet is vintage and displays some apothecary items. Old Spanish street sign keeps things from looking too twee. Lighting is from Rona... we're waiting to find the perfect vintage sconces, but until then, these'll do!

If you like what you see then come check out the next Leslieville Flea on October 20th behind the Duke at Leslie and Queen street east! There's a ton of incredible vintage goods coming your way.

Douglas + Son Vintage Mercantile at 30 King Street East in Bobcaygeon.
TWITTER: @DouglasandSon
TUMBLR: http://douglasandson.tumblr.c

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Guest Blog- Douglas and Son and an Epic Restoration! Part 1

Many of our customers at the Leslieville Flea and at our shop, Douglas + Son, are in some stage of renovating their homes and are looking for for unique vintage details to finish their spaces. We just finished an epic restoration of our century-old farmhouse in Bobcaygeon, so we know how you feel! To keep our costs down, we mixed in a ton of DIY tricks along the way and styled the place with an eclectic mix of old and new. This process led us to opening our store this year (we found so much great vintage, we have to share it!) Here's how the house turned out. ( Part 1 of 2 to be continued on Thursday)

THE KITCHEN:


Hard to believe but his whole kitchen extension is brand new. Budget dictated that we keep our cabinetry simple, so we opted for Ikea cabinets and counters (we can upgrade someday, I keep telling myself). To personalize it, we built an island out of an old work table from the local garage, topped it with thick barn board and added vintage bar stools. We laid the floor ourselves, using basic pine planks.

For extra storage, we built a low open shelf plus added a cool old locker to fit in a narrow space. For lighting we mixed old and new... little mason jar-esque ceiling lights are from Rona ($10/each!) and the factory lights are one of our vintage finds (they used to be green but we painted these white with Trem-Clad paint).

THE DEN


We eschewed expensive built-ins for a DIY shelf unit built out of weathered wood that we found in the barn. The crates and baskets along the bottom shelf hold toys and the open shelving gives us space to curate an ever-changing display of our favourite old and new things. We uncovered this wacky wall during our renos and decided to go with it so gave it a few coats of verathane to seal it in. It's become a cool backdrop for a rotating display of old prints, antlers and more.

PARLOUR


We painted the walls crisp white to offset the original wainscotting and added a mix of new and old furniture. The Victorian-style couch and chair are (our only) investment pieces from Lee Industries paired with some mid-century furniture to mix it up. Seagrass rug and curtains are from Ikea. Art, oddities, crates, lighting, wool blankets are all from Douglas + Son. And a note on taxidermy... less is more... unless you're Norman Bates.Check back on Thursday when we will take you through part 2 of our epic restoration which will include the re-design of our dining room, bathroom and sleeping loft!  In the meantime, check us out at:

Douglas + Son Vintage Mercantile at 30 King Street East in Bobcaygeon.
TWITTER: @DouglasandSon
TUMBLR: http://douglasandson.tumblr.com