Ethel needs a new home....

For the past few weeks, we’ve been holding off on buying any new inventory for the shop. Our customers keep asking “when are you getting new stuff in” and we’ve been telling them that we do this every January, to help clear out old energy and to encourage new.

This year it’s different. Ethel is looking for a new home and we’re not buying any new inventory as we don’t want to have to move it.

We love Leslieville and would love to stay here, in our cozy space at 1091 Queen St. East, where the store has been located for the past 14+ years. However, our new landlord has other plans for the building so we find ourselves surfing MLS for retail space for lease, and we have our friends, family and trusty real estate agent Nancy Wilson of Remax, http://www.nancywilsonteam.com/, helping us search for Ethel's possible new home.

We’re hoping to stay in the east end, as this is where our customers know to find us, but we could be looking at setting up shop in a totally new neighborhood. We keep hearing interesting things about St. Clair West, and even Gerrard and Jones has it's potential. We'll keep you all posted and make sure everyone knows where we're headed.

Ethel's motto is “Life is too short for Beige”, which means we’re open to possibilities and new adventures. Wish us luck on this next step on our journey. (and if you know of any great retail space in a busy neighborhood, let us know!)

See you at the store (wherever that may be!)

Lollipop, lollipop. oooh, lolly lollipop!

We just got in this gorgeous set of 6 dining chairs and we are in love!

They are so reminiscent of the Robin Bush Lollipop seating (see above), but instead of a metal tandem base, these beauties are solid wood and were made in Milverton, Ontario by the Honderich Furniture Company. They've been reupholstered in maroon leather and are priced at $900 for the set of six.

Lollipop Lollipop, oooh lolly lollipop!

See you at the store!

Winter is finally here!

We got our first serious snowfall of the season today and we’re so happy that winter is finally here. The snow makes us want to curl up in a comfortable chair by the fire, drinking hot chocolate (or hot toddies!) and dream of tropical vacations, or even building a snowman.

Why don’t we try this chair for curling up in?

Gorgeous refinished teak chair with new cushions in the classic Eames Circles pattern.

Chair is $895

UPDATE: Chair has sold!

How about this classic Canadian Beauceware mug for hot chocolate?

Mug is $8.

Oh, you have someone to share your hot chocolate with? How about a couple of these vintage yellow ware barrel mugs? Or would these work better for hot toddies?

Barrel mugs are $8 each or all three for $20.

If you really need to go out into the cold, why not do it in style? Our vintage clothing gal Shannon has a few fur coats here at the store. No need to feel guilty wearing these furs...they’re vintage!

Fur coats are $200 each. More available at the shop.

If fur isn’t your style, try one of these vintage knit toques or berets?

Knit hats are $10 each.

Don’t forget to keep your feet warm!

(my boots, not for sale!)

See you at the store!

Happy New Year!

It's January, and that means cleaning up and cleaning out the store. After closing for a few days to spend time with our friends and family, we came back with lots of energy and ideas for 2012.

We spent the last couple of days packing up the remnants of the vintage holiday merchandise and taking down the tree, and now we're focussing on remerchandising the store. So if you feel like helping out, come say "hi" and buy something, so we don't have to pack it up or move it!

Happy New Years from everyone here at Ethel!

Boxing up Christmas

It's the day after Boxing day, and that means it's time to clear out Christmas. We're not at all insinuating that you take down your twinkle lights, dismantle your tree and stow away your decorations till next year (that's done on New Years Day in our house, accompanied by a larger than normal hangover and larger than normal cups of coffee). Instead, it means Ethel is putting all Christmas decorations (vintage and new) on sale, so WE don't have to box them up and stow them away till next year. So if you didn't pick up any Whigby ornaments and cards, or vintage baubles and satin lustres, now's your chance. All Christmas merchandise is 50% off, so stock up for next year!

See you at the store!

Holiday Ethel

Well, it's Christmas Eve and we're busy helping all those last minute shoppers find vintage goodies for their loved ones. Whether it's a set of vintage cocktail glasses, handpainted ornaments (like the ones your Grandparents had!) or a pair of groovy 70's lucite candlesticks, giving vintage means you've put thought and love into your gift and we know the receivers will appreciate it!

We'll be closing early today so we can go home to enjoy some holiday cheer while we wrap our last minute gifts. We'll be closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day and back in the shop on Tuesday December 27th. Next week, we'll be open from the 27th to the 30th and closed on New Years Eve, New Years Day and January 2nd.

We wish you and your family lots of love, wonder and joy this Christmas and and much health and prosperity in 2012!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from your friends at Ethel!

Canadian Pickers in the house!

We got a phonecall from History Television last week, asking if we were interested in having the Canadian Pickers, Scott Cozens (left) & Sheldon Smithens (right), come by on Monday to film an interview with Rogers Television in our store. Of course we were interested! We love this show as these two are not only funny but they really get into the history of their picks and do a lot to educate people about the vintage and antique marketplace. It's all about getting your hands dirty and putting in loooong hours if you really want to find the good stuff, something we know too well here at the shop!

Anyway, they were here this past Monday morning and were not only charming but also very interested in how I got into this game, and we swapped a few stories about some of the great stuff we've found over the years (and since have sold.)

The new season debuts January 9th at 10pm, on History Television.

http://www.canadianpickers.com/