Christmas preparations at Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina, Part 1.

Winter is almost upon us, and our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and planning for the Holidays. Visions of Christmas Trees, Gifting, and Family get-togethers all come to mind. We were so lucky to be able to tour Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. I had read all about it and it is  definitely on my bucket list.  We drove from Raleigh into Asheville, taking the stunning Blue Ridge Parkway. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we stopped numerous times to breathe in that fresh mountain air, and gaze at the beautiful views all around us. Usually the mountains are cloaked in Fall colours, but this year was unusually warm, and there were just a few leaves turning. We visited Biltmore Estate on a weekday, and it did not disappoint.  

This is the entrance to the building where you purchase tickets...which are $75.00 U.S. a person, but keep in mind that prices vary. 

I am already enthralled with the ornate woodwork, and large floral wreaths and green garlands encircling tall pillars. We watch a short film about Biltmore Estate, and then take a bus along meandering pathways leading to the large Home, this estate is large, 8,000 acres. 

One can imagine these large evergreens all lit up and decorated at Christmastime. 

The above photo shows a small part of the outside of Biltmore. It reminds you of the chateaus in France! Watch these 2 videos below which show you all the work that goes into decorating at Biltmore. 

https://youtu.be/g68T5AOZpIo

https://youtu.be/t74gjryxciQ

At the entrance to Biltmore, you are greeted by beautiful urns filled with a mix of preserved leaves, hops, dried grasses and hydrangeas. They are simply stunning. Flowers add so much to our lives. 

These floral urns are a work of Art. 

Beautifully decorated Christmas trees are almost in every room. Each tree tells its own story, and has its own colour scheme. 

Teams of people are working on each tree, with multi level trays beside them, filled with ornaments. 

It seems strange to see people dressed in shorts decorating trees, but this is North Carolina, and it is a rather warm day today. Ladders and Lifts are in place as this tree is very tall! 

Outside Biltmore, beautiful views are plentiful. One can't help but feel refreshed by the mountains. 

How often do we have a 'Bah, Humbug' feeling about Christmas? It's too much work to put up a tree, I don;'t want to put up any decorations, it's so much work, etc. 

Visit The Camellia in beautiful Slate River Valley, and see how you can add Winter decor to your Home, with minimal effort. 

The Camellia at 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River. 

Open Wed. 11-5. Thurs. 12-5 Fri. and Sat. 11-5. Sun. 12-5

p 807-475-3551 

www.thecamellia.com

We will be at Artisans Northwest Show which takes place Nov. 10 & 11th. 2018 at the Valhalla Inn. 

Hours at The Camellia, October 2018

Happy October..it's been raining lots lately, but Rain is preferable to snow. 

We are closed at the moment for a short time, and will be open from October 21st. 2018, straight through to Christmas Eve. 

Here's to hoping the Sun comes out, and you have a great October!! 

Classes will be posted soon. 

www.thecamellia.com

New Arrivals at The Camellia

It's Fall thyme here in Thunder Bay, a time of orange and yellow coloured leaves, which make up into beautiful Fall wreaths. Earthtones and russets never go out of style, and provide a bold pop of colour in a neutral colour scheme. 

Add some gourds and Pumpkins from your local Farms, and you have an instant Thanksgiving table centrepiece. If you have a maple tree in your yard, pluck a few branches and place them in between your Pumpkins.  Beautiful! 

We have been busy on our "working Holiday" meeting with new vendors, paint companies, and checking out soapmakers and Lavender Farms. It's hard work finding small producers who care about their products, and use only the finest of ingredients. Featured above are Kitchen cabinets painted with Cottage Paint, Paint pours which creates a marble like surface, Neob Lavender Foot Balms, and Lavender rosemary Bath bombs from Silly Goat

Meeting the goats of Silly Goat Company....Hello! they are very curious...and cute. We now carry Silly Goats products at The Camellia. Goats Milk is a lifesaver for dry and sensitive skin, and is loaded with vitamin A, the most important vitamin for your skin. 

Goat Milk soaps drying at Silly Goat company. 

A few detours along the way..in Niagara wine country. 

There are so many ways to repurpose, like this olive bucket made into a Farmhouse light fixture.

For those of you who are down with that awful cold going around, these eucalyptus and lavender bath melts from Neob Lavender are perfect in the shower. The essential oils and the steam in the shower will help you feel better. 

These are an upcoming workshop - Cottage paint Pours. Do stop in at The Camellia and see our new arrivals! This Thanksgiving weekend, we will be Open Wed. Thurs. Fri. and Sat. Closed Sunday , October 7th. for Thanksgiving. 

The Camellia, 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, Ontario

p 807-475-3551

www.thecamellia.com

Happy Thanksgiving! We are Open at the Camellia, Thunder Bay, On

Our Canadian Thanksgiving seems to fall really early in October this year..it's Monday, October 8th. 2018. Time to break out the sweaters, and to decorate your Home for Fall. Using a giant faux sunflower swag like the one above ( which we designed for a client), adds instant autumn vibes to your entrance way. we love how it brings out all the colours in the brick. 

We have been closed for a while, and are now Open here at The Camellia. While we were away we visited several retail stores ( after all, window shopping is the most fun!). Isn't this painted piece a beauty?! You can change the look of any furniture you have with Cottage Paint, and here at the Camellia, we are your Thunder Bay Cottage Paint dealer.

We toured a tiny Home, and while it's cute, and very space efficient, it seems to be more suited to warmer parts of the globe, where your outdoor space can augment your indoor living space. Are you thinking about a tiny Home?

We had fun visiting with these LaMancha Goats of Silly Goats Soap Company. Due to our problems with very dry skin, we are obsessed with finding hand-made, artisanal skincare. Goat's Milk is excellent for replenishing oils, vitamins and minerals into dry skin. Did you know that Goat's milk has the same PH as human skin? Stop in at the Camellia to try a sample of  Silly Goats rich, hand lotions which we carry in an unscented version, as well as Oatmeal and Peppermint.

Lavender and Rosemary Bath bombs from Silly Goat. These are perfect in a hot bath, at the end of a long day!

If you are doing your Fall decorating, and you would like to transition into Christmas/Winter decor, consider using red in your colour scheme. Check out this stunning old dresser painted with a colour similar to Cottage Paint Crimson Red. You can purchase Cottage Paint here at The Camellia.

It's Harvest time, and nothing beats plucking ripe tomatoes from your own Garden! Slice them up on fresh-baked Bread...yumm!

Here is an old shelf being painted with Cottage Paint. Look around and see where you could use a splash of red in your Fall decor. 

Looking for Thanksgiving Flower delivery in Thunder Bay?  Contact us here at The Camellia, 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Thunder Bay, Slate River, On.
1-877-523-7444
807-475-3551
www.thecamellia.com

Historical Paint combinations that still work today, Cottage Paint, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Sometimes we can get all wrapped up in the latest trend in colour, or lack thereof, at the moment. You may be tempted to paint all your walls white, and grey, rip out all your carpets, and throw out most of what you own in Home decor. Trends are well, Tr-ends, the very word itself ends with -end. Trends end, they come and they go. Don't get caught in the Trend of the moment. If you're going to be in your house for the next 10 years or so, paint your walls with colours that make you happy. How happy will you be with drab, grey walls in the middle of winter? Don't be afraid to add some colour to your decor.  

Today we look back at Historical colours  - what was popular in early Virginian homes?  Board and Batten, Mouldings and trim painted in various hues, these all add interest to rooms. 

Someone confessed to me, the other day, that she had a thing for antique chairs, and collected them at auctions and yard sales. The green of the chairs stands out from the blue of the walls, yet it all works beautifully together. 

This is a wonderful example of a two-colour distress technique. One colour is layered over another, and then distressed. This gives a piece of furniture a wonderful, old patina. 

Visit our store, the Camellia to see Cottage Paint furniture charts, sample charts, and much more.  Yes you can buy Cottage Paint to try out. They come in 8oz.jars, quarts, and gallons. 

The Camellia, 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, On.

p 807-475-3551

www.thecamellia.com

The Camellia, September 2018 hours and Classes.

Hello September!! Have you noticed it's a lot darker in the mornings now..? We have been busy picking and drying herbs and Flowers for Winter enjoyment. Did you get a bumper crop this year form your Garden? 

We have been working hard all Summer long, so we are off for a break now, The Camellia will be closed during the first 2 weeks of September.  

New stencils just came in, so we will be offering NEW Stencil classes this Fall. 

Enjoy these weeks of Summer days and cooler nights, and plan to take a Workshop at The Camellia! Sign up for email updates at www.thecamellia.com.

The Camellia, 30 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, On . 

p (807)475-3551

Fall wraps and Purses on Sale at The Camellia! Hello September!

Hello September!  A return to cooler nights, and less humidity is welcome after the heat of this Summer. 

Days are getting shorter, some of us are returning to school and work, and yes, you may be are freaking over your general state of I-am-so-not-prepared-for-Fall! You are not alone! Here are some quick ideas to help you with your Fall decor, take a close look at the windowboxes below ( photo taken on Julie's recent Quebec trip). Homeowner has added silk flower stems and burlap wrap, and the flowers blend seamlessly with the green vines. Faux flowers are perfect for those of us with little time to spare, they welcome you when you come Home, but require no care. Here at The Camellia, we have many seasonal bushes and Flower stems for you to decorate with.

  

Some days we are about to head out the door, with our hair uncombed ( gasp...!) and worse yet, some unbecoming old clothes that should have gone onto that giveaway pile . An easy fix is to wrap yourself in a colourful Fall throw, like the one below, and finish your outfit with a matching red purse ( now no-one will notice your uncombed hair). Our Fall wraps and purses are on SALE at 30%off!  

Most of our custom Florals and Wreaths  are 30-40% off. Hydrangea dried wreaths are all on sale, and we have 1 magnolia leaf Wreath left. We are about to order New Cottage Paint, if you have any special requests, do let us know by Wed. August 29th. 

 

All that Summer heat and rain has given us a bumper crop of veggies and herbs. Time to pick your herbs, bundle your bunches into clumps, and hang to dry. Once leaves are really, really dry, you can grind them in a spice grinder, and have them on hand for seasoning dishes all Winter long.  You can also do this with Peppermint leaves, for Winter teas. 

OPEN: every day except Monday and Tuesday. 

 Open Wed. Thurs. Friday, Saturday & Sunday. 

Wed. 11-5, Thurs. 12-5p. Fri. and Sat. 11-5p. Sunday 12-5p. Last day we are open is Thursday, August 30th. 

NOTE: We are closed during the first 2 weeks of September for holidays. We will reopen in last half of September.   

   Visit our website for information at http://www.thecamellia.com