Blogpodium Highlights: Part One



Peeps, I am back!

Did you miss me?

Sorry it has been quiet on the blog front. I am still getting over the lack of sleep and time change. Hard to come back to reality after 4 days of pure fun!

I saw, experienced and heard so much that I can't wait to share with you. 

Today I'll share part of my weekend highlights, I did so much that I broke it up into a few posts!
Next post will be about Blogpodium itself and what I came away with, then I'll finish up the highlights.

Lots of good stuff.

I had the most amazing travel partner, Nancy from Marcus Design. We both won the Aya Kitchens Blogpodium Bound contest. Thank-you Aya for this amazing opportunity.
I couldn't of asked for a better travel partner in crime.

Nancy and I left at the wee hours of the morning {woke up at 3:45, had to be at airport 5:30}.

Bye- bye Vancouver.


Hello Toronto!


 First up. 

We met up with the uber talented Tim Lam from Design Maze. He has become a such a great friend. Look what I won on his blog giveaway!! 

An Alanna Cavanagh {you can read my interview with her here} limited edition tea towel from the Hudson's Bay Co. The tea towels sold out in a matter of minutes. But Tim had my back - now I have one too! 
We went for lupper {that's lunch and supper} at Bannock, where they serve Canadian comfort food.


Then Nancy and I popped into The Bay to take in some Dwell Studio loveliness.


This quaint church was tucked in between our hotel and the huge mall next door.


 Nancy and I were quite dismayed at the carpet choice of the hotel. Seriously folks.....a much needed design intervention.


That night we headed to a local watering hole, South of Temperance, to meet up with Beatrice from The Crafty Bee and Lindsey from Recreated.

The next morning Nancy and I hit Queen Street West, the ultra hip shopping strip of Toronto. Our goal was to end up at Designer Fabrics, the fabric store made famous by Sarah Richardson.

Who did we accost outside? But the fabulous Michael Penney. Former design editor at House and Home, designer who worked with Sarah Richardson's Sarah 101 show, and now opened up his own shop Penney and Co.

I think he didn't know what to make of our overly excited hello to him! He was kind to give us directions to West Elm, the next stop on our shopping tour!

Me as giddy as a silly school girl.



Died.And.Gone.To.Heaven.


 After drooling at Designer Fabrics we made our way to West Elm, which we sadly don't have in Vancouver, yet.


Hello West Elm where have you been my whole life......




I couldn't leave empty handed. Both Nancy and I bought a set of Turkish towels, for guest use only we agreed. Too luxurious to use for everyday grubby hands.


We quickly rushed to the subway {and got lost along the way} to visit the fantabulous Meredith Heron and her studio. It was such a honour to be invited to come.

Loved every square inch.




These chairs were amazing, loved the pinstripe upholstery on the front.


That chandy was to die for, funny story behind that one. I exclaimed to Meredith that I had helped unwrap one just like that when I worked as an assistant for a local designer and friend, Karla. It was incredibly heavy and too big for the space and she had to order a new one and get rid of the too-large one. Well, Meredith said it was that one - Karla had sold it to her! What a small world!!


I loved these chairs, they are similar to my kitchen chairs. But I like Meredith's better. The detailing on the legs is brilliant!


Then after spending a while with Meredith, enjoying a glass of chilled white wine, talking to her and her assistant, Nancy and I rushed back to the hotel in the heat.
We had dinner plans at Teroni's, organized by Jen and Lindsay for all the out-of-town bloggers. That is when I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to the key note speaker of Blogpodium, Nicole Balch from Making it Lovely.



 I ended up going back to the same watering hole with three other bloggers after dinner, the fun Gabrielle Savoie, Vanessa Sciotte and Beatrice. 

Then it was off to bed to get ready for Blogpodium.

Come back tomorrow as I share my day at Blogpodium, the people I met, the things I learned and the fun I experienced.

Then the next day, I will share the rest of my trip's highlights. The fun continued right up until the flight home!.


XO Barbara



17 comments

  1. Looks like an amazing trip! SO happy that you enjoyed your time in Toronto! What a funny story about the chandelier, small world indeed. I'll have to go to blogpodium next time if I can score a ticket, they seem to sell out so fast!
    Tiffany
    tiffanyleighinteriordesign.blogspot.com

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  2. Jealousy is a funny thing.....well not ha ha funny though. Wish i could have gone...Looks like SO much fun going to all of those fun places and meeting people!!!! Can't wait to hear more about it.

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  3. Sounds like you had a great time pre-blog podium!

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  4. Looks like so much fun! I can't wait to go back to Queen Street West, so much to see!

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  5. So sad that I missed meeting you and Nancy IRL this time around at Blogpodium but unfortunately I wasn't able to attend as I injured my knee at last week's Blogfest in NYC (believe it or not!!). Sounds like you both had a great time in Toronto. Hope to meet you next time!!
    Christine

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  6. Um... that fabric store is amazing! I would need a whole day to browse and then one more to come back and purchase! Looks like fun.. would love to come next year! Or is this only for Canadians? HA!

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  7. Oh so fun! Did you think you were in a dream? Did you keep asking Nancy to pinch you?...I would have! Can't wait to see more...

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  8. I'm so glad you enjoyed your whirlwind trip. What an amazing little break from reality.

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  9. Glad to hear you had such a great time Barbara!

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  10. What a great way to start! So much fun with incredible stops along the way :-) looking forward to tomorrow's post, too!!!

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  11. Sounds like such a fun trip- I'm enjoying living it through you so thanks for sharing. Toronto has such great shopping, right?

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  12. Oh Barb, it looks as though you had a fabulous time in TO. I have never been so I am hanging on here taking in all of your sights. How cool is that that you met Meredith!!! Can't wait to hear more about your trip and Blogpodium.

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  13. What fun! Looks like such an amazing weekend in Toronto! ~Lily

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  14. Just the first few days with soooo much fun had by you and Nancy!!
    Looking forward to hearing more :-)
    Victoria

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  15. whoa...I am tired and you have barely started! Yee Haw...sounds so very interesting! Glad you are sharing with us!
    What a great sounding trip and wonderful pictures!

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  16. I can't believe how much you guys packed into your trip to Toronto!! Was so great to meet you in person!!!

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  17. You're so lucky that you and Nancy had time to shop in TO - we only made it to Pottery Barn. Mind you, we had some long meals that probably cut a bit into our shopping time ;-) I HAVE to get to West Elm one of these days, now that I have two gift cards :-)

    It was great meeting you and Nancy. Hopefully we'll have more time to chat at another future event - there was so much to do and see on Saturday, it was impossible to talk to everyone.

    Kelly

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