Saturday, December 3, 2016

FA-la-la-la-la..It's DECEMBER ...... Time to decorate, The Camellia, Slate River, On.




Most of our customers are decor-obsessed..... not that there is anything wrong with this. All those lovely ideas we see on Pinterest.... only 1 slight problem, it's December 5th. and we may not have started Christmas Gift shopping. Or cleaned our house. Yesterday, the first Christmas card arrived in the mail, a small bit of panic ensues ( why are some people so organized? makes the rest of us feel inadequate).  
We love the Deer motif in Winter decor, just not the real Deer that eat cedar and some homeowners have said they will come right up to their front door and munch on fresh Christmas Wreaths. 





Here is one of those Pinterest type ideas...visions of a wonderful hand- painted sign on this pallet. Just who is going to do all the work? #CottagePaint to the rescue. Water-based, dries quickly, no smell. Love it! 55 colours to choose from .








#1 Favourite  is #CrimsonRed,  now back in stock at #TheCamellia. 


We have been busy doing Winter planters for Hotels and Homes. Such a dramatic transformation from an empty pot with frozen flowers to a Winter wonderland with fresh, local, evergreens., and imported Magnolia branches.




Here is a Magnolia tree in California, they also grow well in the Carolinas and Florida. If you are making a wreath in any of these places, just raid someone's Magnolia tree. ( Ask them first!).  

We've been asked... "how do you do Planters with evergreens? How do I know how much to put in?" You need lots of greens, some birch sticks, red osier dogwood. We use Spruce, Balsam, red pine, white pine, cedar, Magnolia, and Boxwood. Get double what  you think you need. This is not a case of Less is more. More is More. It should be packed nicely, with no dirt showing. But not packed so tightly that you risk cracking your container. 


Shallow windowboxes should be weighted down with a mixture of gravel and dirt. Otherwise the first wind that comes along will knock your planter over. Here the shape is defined by first inserting stems of red dogwood. 


Then the greens are added in layers, and B.C. cedar added as the last layer, as it has a nice, draping effect. 




Don't forget to add a bow into your planter. 



Here are 2 large planters which are part of a Hotel's decor in the front entrance. Soil is pretty dry so break it up with a spade, water will be added once planters are finished and in place ( less weight when lifting), the water will then freeze in place and hold all the stems in. Of course, if your dirt is frozen, then planters have to be brought indoors and left for a few days to defrost, sometimes this can take as long as a week.




Here is our bundles of greens which will be used in these Planters. We sell these in our store, The Camellia at 30, Hacquoil Rd. Phone (807) 475-3551 for current prices, as of now, bundles are $39.95 to $49,95 ea. and are all local evergreens from Northern Ontario. 



Start by placing Birch poles, then fill in with greens. There is no right or wrong way, everyone does their planters differently. 






The finishing touch is a 2 ribbon bow, with 16 to 20 loops. 





Voila! all ready to beautify the Hotel's entrance. 



You can embellish your Summer garden lanterns, adding battery pillar candles in the middle. 






Christmas is the time to bring out your cherished Teddy bears and porcelain dolls. and Santas.




Our #Paristhemed tree at #TheCamellia - black tin stars, Eiffel Towers, and checked ribbons.


Matching #Paris & Burlap wreath - a lovely, year-round Wreath for a Parisian-themed room, an order we made for a client.






For great Gift ideas and Winter decor, Visit The Camellia at 30, Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, Ontario.
Open Wed. 11-5. Thurs. 12-5. Fri. & Sat. 11-5. Sunday 12-5p.
p -807)475-3551 or toll-free in Canada 1-877-523-7444
We deliver in Thunder Bay, Slate River, and surrounds. 


Saturday, November 19, 2016

Merry and bright and the S-word as in HOLY SNOW at The Camellia, Thunder Bay, On.






Merry and Bright and Holy SNOW...! Here most of us  in #ThunderBay were thinking maybe the warm weather will continue indefinitely...giving us lots of time to find our snowbrushes, get our snowblowers going, etc. all those fun things that come along with the fluffywhite stuff. And then, wham! We got slammed with SO much snow in one day and night!





It is well kinda pretty and white and...why is the tractor misbehaving and refusing to start? The joys of the S-word. 



Especially since this is what the view was the day before the snow. 




Good thing we dug up our garden bulbs a while ago. 



We were happy to see so many of you at our booth at  #ArtisansNorthwest Show at the #ValhallaInn last weekend! Here is one of our custom-made Wreaths which can be used for all seasons by changing the insert. Great for small spaces, nothing much to store. 




Our all-season Magnolia Wreath...just change out the bow after Christmas. 




Oh Starry Night...this one is sold, but we are busy making up some new ones. After Christmas, simply pull off the wrap and use the star all year round. Maybe some small lavender tulips..





We've just unpacked some fabulous Holiday purses. Red for the festive season and Winter. 




Isn't this a fun clutch? 



Fresh and faux Urns for entranceways...we custom make these here at #TheCamellia.





Our new #LakeChristmas theme....all made with fresh, local greens. 








Not too many times that we are putting Wintergreens into our outdoor planters and the pansies are still growing! They are probably frozen today. 





#Magnolia branches look wonderful in outdoor planters, you can preorder #Magnoliatips here at #TheCamellia.




We have loads of great #Giftideas for everyone on your list, #Hockeypillow and Throw. 




Visit us here at #TheCamellia for unique, locally made Gifts, fresh wreaths, Cottage/chalk Paint and much more!
Open Wed. 11-5. Thurs. 12-5. Fri. & Sat. 11-5. Sun. 12-5
p(807)475-3551. Toll-free in Candad 1-877-523-7444.
www.thecamellia.com    Thunder Bay Flower & Gift shop

Friday, November 11, 2016

Artisans Northwest Show 2016, Camille Overmeer, Booth #44, Scandia Room, Valhalla Inn




The best place to buy Hand-made artisanal goods is at The Artisans Northwest show, which takes place this weekend at the Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay. 
Sat. November 12, 2016 from 10am-5pm.
Sunday, November 13, 2016 from 10-4pm.

Are you starting your Holiday decor? Visit Camille Overmeer of The Camellia for fresh Winter wreaths, faux wreaths and floral designs of every colour. We are in Booth 44, of the Scandia room ( just off the Main Ballroom). We look forward to seeing you! 

The Camellia on Hacquoil Rd. is open this weekend, Sat. 110-5p. Sunday 12-4p. 

The Camellia, 30 Hacquoil Rd. 
p(807)475 3551


Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Using colour to create calm, The Camellia, Slate River Valley, On



Hello! Ever notice how looking at the sky just makes you feel better? Or maybe that ocean blue?




Use colour in your everyday Life, don't be afraid of it. Notice which colours make you feel better. 




Bright blue skies, green cypress bushes, and sand stonework in Napa Valley. 





The Painted rowhouses in San Francisco. 






There are many colours in this stunning Glass sculpture in a Palo Alto medical clinic. 





The Ocean and sky are filled with so many colours, all of which you can draw on for Inspiration for your room colours. 





Neutrals are soothing, and calm, like the ocean sand. 




Bright reds are exciting, like this red Tesla. 





A scrumptious array of Macaroons....you can see a room painted in these hues. 





A lovely combination of Blues and browns, these Lavender macaroons are delicious!

Click on this link from Houzz to see how you can use colour to create calm in your Home!



Come visit us here at The Camellia, for Cottage/chalky Paint, for colour consultations, and Paint classes.
30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River Valley.
open Wed. 11-5, Thurs. 12-5. Fri. 11-5. Sat.11-5. Sun. 12-5
p(807)475-3551

Friday, October 14, 2016

Living in a throw-it-away-don't-fix-it-world, Cottage Paint to the rescue.





Those of us who live in poorer, Third World countries could never understand the throw-it-away-philosophy of First World countries. Ever watch the 1-800-got-junk crew at work? They break up all the furniture, and haul furniture and everything else to the landfill and it gets buried in the ground. The same earth that we grow our food in, get our water from. It makes far more sense to fix the broken, and re-use and repaint that old furniture with Cottage Paint. Check out this cabinet door...have dark wood, and want white? Just clean with our Clean 'N Prep, then paint. No sanding, stripping, or bad smells with #CottagePaint. Best of all, you save your Kitchen from being demolished, and save yourself money, a win-win all around. Get Cottage Paint at The Camellia, near Thunder Bay, Ontario. Choose from 55+ colours.






These are wooden, traditional end tables, being given a new life with URBAN Cottage Paint. We have 2 of these for sale.














Dining room chairs madeover with Cottage Paint Evening Sky, & grey linen. Restoration Hardware-style Table made by Brad. 





From this shabby beginning to something dramatic. Yes, you can use Cottage Paint over mdf board. 





Yes, this is the same nightstand from the last photo, with a stencilled saying, done in Black Cottage Paint. 













Here is an armoire before restoration, also not made from real wood. 






The same armoire, after, painted with Black Cottage Paint.






Next time you are tempted to throw away a piece of furniture, think about giving it a new life with  #CottagePaint from The Camellia. Take a class, or come into the store to see some of the pieces. 
Open Wednesday through Sunday. NOTE We will be closed from Oct.19 -26th.,  2016. 
p(807)475-3551