black creek pioneer village

I visited Black Creek Pioneer Village (Toronto) in the summer of 2008. I love recreated colonial villages because they're full of the stuff I like to have in my own home: natural wood and fabrics, cast iron, worn surfaces...

I took a million photos that day, but have only included my favorites here. Above is a shot of a wall in the tinsmith's shop. I love the intricate patterns they could make with only a few tools.

Below are some brooms from the broom maker's shop. I bought a cobweb broom in the gift shop before I left, and it hangs in my front room today.


Below is a chandelier from a Mennonite meeting house. I love its simple lines.


The meeting house itself was really spare. I'm not sure if it's an authentic representation of what the space would have looked like when it was being used for worship services.


Below is a tool shed, with plants hanging to dry from the rafters.


A cart in the tool shed.


Another chandelier, this one from the town hall.

The interior of the town hall. I love the colours.


A quilt in one of the homes.


Irons sitting on the stovetop.


A rusty wash basin full of water.


The weaver's shop.


The dining room in the doctor's house.


A shamrock sitting in the window.


One of the many photographs of chairs that I took that day. I also love the colour of the painted floorboards.


A cutting board for bread.


The cobbler's shop.


Rocking horse.


I love the rush seats in the next couple of chairs.




A simple table. Look how wide the boards are.


Another table.


Whimsical "creature" on a windowsill.


Tools inside the mill.


I love how deep the window sills are.


One of the mill doors, studded with nails.


A discarded mill wheel.


I really liked the exterior of this little house. Very simple.


Berries drying in a window.


Dried flowers in a bowl.


I absolutely love the colours in this quilt.


Another bed in the same house.


And yet another bed...


Another chair...


A basket of toys on a porch.


Fleece waiting to be carded.


Sunshine on another basket of fleece.


Inside a barn.


Check out the massive beams.

narcissi still life

Okay, so here are a few junky things assembled to make a temporary still life one February a couple of years ago. The narcissi are growing in a glass bowl filled with marbles and river stones. The wooden stretcher was rescued from a former client's garbage pile. I thought it made an interesting accent in the only window in my Toronto apartment.

junk style christmas tree

I'm not a big fan of decorations at any time of year, but perhaps even less so at Christmas. It's not that I'm a Scrooge - I love the time of the winter solstice, and the symbolic return of the light celebrated in the Christian tradition. But I definitely don't go in for Christmas trees, lights, or any of the other knick-knacks that many people seem to love.

The second Christmas I lived in Toronto, however, I felt the need for some special THING in my apartment to mark the season. I found a small branch on one of my walks and, inspired by Tibetan prayer flags and various other rituals, decided to "decorate" my branch with paper slips upon which were written the qualities I wished to develop in the coming year. Things like discipline. (To be honest, that's the only one I can remember. Apparently I didn't wish to develop memory. Just saying.)

Anyhow, I offer my Christmas prayer tree as an example of what you can do with found objects to create unique seasonal decorations for your home.

(The pot, by the way, was a gift a couple of Christmases earlier from a client of mine. Her daughter had painted it. I treasured it until it broke.)