Celebrate Summer at The Camellia, Thunder Bay, On

It's  finally Summertime! What's summertime stress? It's that feeling of "I have so  much outdoor living to pack into a few months...." Gardening, yard work, fishing, walking by Lake Superior, and outdoor eating, just to name a few summertime activities. Do you feel like you'll never get to it all?

One of my favourite evening activities during the Summer is walking by the water. It's soothing and will destress you from your busy day.

Let's not forget the Flip-flop, an important part of Summer living.

Our large outdoor  Summer flag - buy instore .

Eating outside - another Summertime pleasure. Outdoor wood-fired pits are a popular backyard addition. 

Our hand-made cedar pizza planks - made by Larry. Buy at $25.00

A nice shower Gift. 

This is a tasty sprout Salad  made by Chef  Nikos Mantis of Pinetree Catering. He was demonstrating at the Country market at the C.L.E. grounds, showing how easy it is to make tasty meals with fresh, local produce.

His demo inspired me to  do something with the rhubarb I picked from my garden days ago, and was now languishing on my kitchen counter. 

Yummy..! Spoon some of the Rhubarb compote on top of Vanilla Ice-cream, what a great summertime treat. 

Our wicker baskets with wrought-iron holders are a nice addition to your patio at $29.95 ea.

This bird knows how to stay cool - $9.95, and the metal sunflower bath ( $45.95)  is also a nice addition to your patio. 

Come Visit us here at The Camellia! Here's a batch of  hand-made Olive oil soap - Hornby Island Soap. A nice Gift to take when visiting someone's Camp. We're open Wed. through Sunday. Fri. July 5th, 2013. 11-5, Sat. 12-5, Sun. 12-5. 

Shop online at www.thecamellia.com

Visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Camellia-From-Nature-to-Home/145600168837975

p-807)475-3551

If you're visiting Thunder Bay for the Blues Festival going on this weekend, have a great time. Here's the link to the Bluesfest http://www.tbayblues.ca/

Happy Canada Day - The Camellia is Open this Canada Day Weekend! Good weekend to try out Cottage Paint!

 Can you believe it's the Canada Day weekend already! Where did the time go? What are you planning for this weekend? Some of you may have an old piece of furniture laying around, waiting for the time to strip it, and redo it. Wait no more! Cottage Paint is here, just wash your piece down with TSP, make sure it's free of flaking paint or rust, then choose a colour from our palette, and just paint. What could be easier. Cottage Paint dries in under an hour, and has low voc's. Cottage Paint is a unique, clay based paint. Not to be confused with Annie Sloan paint, which is chalk based.

 I too have a zillion projects, saved up for years, like these old shoe lasts I had purchased from a shoemaker who was closing his shop.  Here is the Before photo.

 

Here is the after, I used the colour Creme Brulee, and the number stencil. After you paint, you can ( before the paint dries) use a damp cloth to wipe the piece back, this gives it a nice, distressed Shabby Chic look. Then finish with a water-based varnish, or a wax, both of which we sell at The Camellia. You can also purchase on-line at http://www.thecamellia.com/buy-cottage-paint.html

 Here is a metal star I painted with  Cottage Paint.

 Some larger pieces of Furniture painted with Cottage Paint, photos from Cottage Paint and Linda Lock's website.

 An outdoor planter I stencilled on, stencils will be in stock soon.

Come into The Camellia to see our Paint colours, along with waxes and varnishes. To see colour selection and to buy Cottage Paint online, go to : http://www.thecamellia.com/buy-cottage-paint.html. We are Open this Canada Day long weekend, Sat. 11-5, Sun. 12-5. Check with us for Monday Hours - p-807)475-3551.

30, Hacquoil Rd. Thunder Bay, On

Have a great long Weekend!

It's Planting Thyme at The Camellia, Thunder Bay.

 What are you planting today? How about this moss Wreath with Air plants? I don't know about you, but I am so far behind with seeding and planting. The weeds have taken over my perennial beds, and the poor flowers are buried in the weeds. Sigh..

 Looking forward to fresh Strawberries , which apparently will not be ready until mid-July.

 Just planted some of this - Kangaroo Paw. Does great in a sunny location, and doesn't like a lot of water.

Happy planting, and weeding ( and swatting of blackflies and other assorted bugs )..!

Visit us at the Camellia, we are Open Wed. 11-5, Thurs. Noon-7, Fri. 11-6. Sat. 11-5. Sun. 12-5.

30 Hacquoil Rd.    p-807)475-3551

Father's Day Gifts: Handcrafted local Furniture

 Father's Day is coming up quickly...and I don't know about you, Fathers are quite difficult to buy for. Is there anything you need, one asks hopefully, after having peered all around his Garage and concluded that he has every tool known to Mankind. Nah..I don't need anything..!!

Well, he needs a Throne Chair!! Handcrafted from local Cedar, and available at Camellia's. But order early, as quantities are limited.Price : $425.00

 This bench is 5 feet long, perfect for those heart-to-heart chats ( or rants as the case may be..).     Price : $600.00

 A traditional Elder's Chair..these lean forward a bit, the more they lean forward, the wiser the Elder is. (so I'm told).  $300.00 and up.

 These headboards are amazing  .... solid..like a Rock.....

 The walking Table ....these legs were made for walking...... $225.00 -295.00

 Does Dad love his Sauna? Get him a Sauna Backrest -made from Poplar - which stays cool. 

  Bar stools for Dad's Bar.. $250.00

 TP holders for Camp - a nice small Gift for Dad!!

I love the structural beauty of these Diamond Willow branches. Hours and hours of work go into properly

preparing the Wood. You can order all of the above pieces at The Camellia. Email us at thecamellia@hotmail.com for sizes and prices.
Quoted prices may vary and availability is limited. All pieces hand crafted by Larry's Logworks.

Camellia's -OPEN Wednesday through Sunday. 

Wed. 11-5. Thurs. Noon to 7. Fri. 11-5. Sat. 11-5 . Sunday. noon-5

Cottage Paint demos. coming up this Thursday, June 13, 2013 7-9p. and Sat. June 15th. 2013 from 2-4p.
Bring a friend!!

p-807)475-3551

We are open Saturday, June 15th 11-5p, and Sunday, June 16th. 12-5. Open Wed. through Sunday.

Yay ..it's June...but still Spring in Thunder Bay..

 For those of you who love Spring, you can understand the agony of having snow well into May, and when the going gets tough, well some of us run away to warmer climes. Where to? Perhaps Sunny California, or maybe  Lush Vancouver Island. This lovely tree seen in a picture-perfect Yard on Vancouver Island is called Golden Showers.

 Here's a close-up, looks like hanging Wisteria blossoms.

 Sweet peas are so fragrant.. these were at the Farmers Market in  Mountainview, California.

 And the Lavender is just starting to bloom, this variety is Spanish Lavender.

 Roses are blooming everywhere you go ... in Topiary form, in Bushes rambling over fences....

 Then there are the Vineyards of Napa Valley, the grape clusters are just starting to form.

Wine Tours and tastings...all amidst rolling hills and valleys. 

 

So many wines  to choose from!

 One by-product of wine making is Grapeseed Oil, which is one of the main ingredients in Napa Valley Soap. We are pleased to announce that we now carry this wonderful Soap at the Camellia. We have tried it, and I should tell you, it feels like silk on your skin.

   

 We also stock a wonderful liquid Soap, and room diffusers.

 Next time you buy Strawberries, look at the label, chances are they were grown in Watsonville, Ca.

 Here's a close-up of the berry patch.

Field upon field of Strawberries.

Well, the strawberries will soon be ready in Thunder Bay at Belluz Farms. Stop in and visit us at The Camellia. Ask about the Napa Valley Soaps, and our Cottage Paint line. 

We are open Wed. through Sunday.

Wed. 11-5. Thurs. 12-7. Fri. 11-6. Sat. 11-5. Sun. Noon-5p.

We are at 30, Hacquoil Rd. p -807)475-3551

Flowering Spring shrubs, The Camellia, Thunder Bay, On

Spring is such a wonderful time of the Year! A lot of shrubs only flower in the Spring, and what a show it is. This post is for those of you who may be longing for blooms and warm temperatures, and you may be feeling sort of, well, is it ever going to get really nice?

Hydrangea blooms seen outside Beringer Winery in Napa Valley, California.

And everywhere you go in Mountain View, California, there's an abundance of jasmine vines, their perfume is magnificent. Flowering shrubs and vines add so much beauty to our world.

Roses are everywhere! A profusion of colour and masses of blooms, in bush and topiary forms.



Sniff..... ! Nothing smells as sweet as a Rose.

Come visit us at the Camellia! We are at 30, Hacquoil Rd. Open reduced hours on Wed. 1-3, Fri. 1-3. Sat. 1-4.

Normal hours resume on June 5th, 2013.

p-807)475-3551 or email us at thecamellia@hotmail.com with  any questions.