Thursday, August 1, 2019

August Long Weekend at The Camellia, Thunder Bay, Ontario

We're heading into August long weekend ....what are your plans ? If you're heading along Hwy.61, turn Left onto Hacquoil Rd. and visit us here at #TheCamellia. What is The Camellia? We are a destination Lifestyle store in Slate River Valley. On August Long, we are open Wed. 11-5, Thurs. 12-5, Friday 11-5, Saturday 11-5, Sunday 12-5, and closed on Monday. 


pink camellia drawing

What is a Camellia? A Camellia is a flower that grows on a shrub, the bloom looks like an overblown Rose.  We get asked all the time, " Why is your store called The Camellia? " It could have something to do with my name, Camille. 

Hacquoil Rd. Thunder Bay

There are great country views on Hacquoil Rd. Once you turn onto Hacquoil Rd. we are 1.6km. down Hacquoil Rd. and we are at #30/32 on the left hand side. 


flowering crabapple trees on driveway

You will head down our driveway and park, then head to the store. 


lavender and lime green Cottage painted cabinet

There may be a paint project or two going on, here at The Camellia, we are a #CottagePaint stockist. What is Cottage Paint? It is a low voc, water-based paint that goes onto varnished furniture or cabinets, with no stripping required first. Visit www.cottagepaint.com and www.paintoldkitchencabinets.com


Cottage Painted Oak Kitchen Bar area - colour Driftwood

You can use Cottage Paint to paint over Oak Kitchen cabinets, baseboards, trim, closet doors, interior and exterior doors, light fixtures and more. 

Lavender farm collage

You will also find all kinds of hand-made, Lavender Bunches and Spa products from various family-run Lavender Farms. We have Lavender bunches, essential Oils, Hand lotions, Muscle rubs, soaps and more. 

napa soap company at the Camellia

This is the most incredible hand-made Soap you can buy. Hand made in St. Helena, from wine and grapeseed Oil. Oh yes, soaps are named after wine, such as Cabernet soapignon, Pinot Guava, and Soapignon blanc.

coir birdhouses

You will find an unusual mix of products, like these coir birdhouses from India. 


pillow and furniture display at The Camellia

We carry a wide array of Pillows, Clara Clark Sheets and weighted blankets.


Clara Clark sheets Thunder Bay


french themed purses at The Camellia

We would love to see you at our store, The Camellia. If you cannot get here, we do deliver in the Thunder Bay & Slate River area. Call toll-free at 1-877-523-7444.
What do we deliver? We deliver Plants, Gifts such as Spa baskets, Faux Floral designs, Cottage Paint and more.
www.thecamellia.com
Look for our sign on Highway 61, then turn left onto Hacquoil Rd.

Highway sign The Camellia

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Happy Summer Solstice! The Camellia, Thunder Bay




sailboat in Silver Harbour, near Thunder Bay

It's finally summer in Northern Ontario! We're so lucky to be surrounded by Lakes   ... the great Lake Superior and many inland lakes. Summer means Fishing season has begun. Time to head out to Camp. Summer solstice is the longest day of the year and there are many ways to celebrate Summer Solstice. Click on the link below to see how the Scandinavians celebrate Midsummer. 


ivy plant on wall


We celebrate by planting in our gardens....so nice to see Green outside instead of white! What did you plant in your Garden this summer? Flowers or Veggies or both? 


white midsummer danish rose bloom

This is a Danish Mid-Summer Rose bloom. It's a bit late this year, but is now starting to bloom. You remember that sweet Rose smell ....this variety has plenty of that. 

girl on beach with waves splashing
Photo by Danka & peter on Unsplash.com
Summer means heading to the Lake to enjoy some wave splashing activity, and some outdoor ME time. What day of the week have you set aside this Summer for outdoor hiking and sitting by the Lake? Or do you fill your days off with errand running, grocery shopping and cleaning? This summer is your Summer to make a change. After all, summer is a short 90ish days long. It does go quickly. 

Napa Soap company , Thunder Bay, On

Here at The Camellia in  Thunder Bay, we are purveyors of Napa soap which is handmade in small batches in St. Helena, Napa Valley, Ca. This is the best soap, it lathers up beautifully and is soft and silky feeling. The smell is not overpowering. New is Eucalyptus Spa - this bar is reminiscent of a Day at The Spa, with Eucalyptus and Peppermint Essential Oils. Come into our store at 30, Hacquoil Rd. to buy some Napa Soap. 


Lavender Napa Soap at The Camellia Slate River

Our most popular bar is Lavender Napa Soap...this bar makes a great hostess Gift. Buy and keep a few at home for those occasions that come up suddenly when you need a thoughtful Gift. 


Mussels and More Pottery dishes at The Camellia, Thunder Bay

Another special Summer Gift is our #MusselsnMorePottery - all handmade, and most pieces are oven safe and dishwasher safe. Lovely dishes for someone who lives at the Lake, or has fond memories of  living by the Lake. 

Visit The Camellia, at 30, Hacquoil Rd. in Slate River, On. 
Open Wed. 11-5, Thurs. 12-5, Fri. 11-5, Sat 11-5, Sunday 12-5. 
p 807-475-3551


Monday, June 10, 2019

Adding summer to your Northern Ontario Home, The Camellia, Thunder Bay, On.

blue eggs in Robin's nest

Well, it's June in Northern Ontario and everything is finally green, we have had so much rain and our rivers in Slate River are swollen to the point of over flow and flooding. Robins are busy nesting and chirping. And there are so many blackflies. Today we had sun, warm weather, wind, rain, and then hail. All in 1 day! 


Summer along Lake Michigan

Summer means hanging by the Lake, with a picnic lunch, and some loungers. It's refreshing to sit by the Lake on a really hot day, with the Lake breezes blowing in your face, whipping your hair around. No phones, nobody asking you to do something for them, just Peace and relaxation. Summer in Northern Ontario. 


Summer means that our Gardens are growing again... and the return of blooms, like this lovely Peony bloom which grew in my mother-in-law's Farm. We transplanted this peony bush into our Garden, and every year it blooms faithfully. This colour of Peony dries to a deep burgundy pink. Summer means lush Flower gardens. 

Farmhouse Kitchen Serenity cottage paint

Summer means Kitchen renovations...look at this beautiful Farmhouse Kitchen! Cabinets are being painted with Serenity Cottage Paint, backsplash will be done in old brick, and counters are all solid wood. If you are thinking of painting your Kitchen cabinets, come visit us at The Camellia to take  a look at our sample paint boards for Serenity Cottage Paint. For information, go to cottagepaint.com and www.paintoldkitchencabinets.com


painting a fabric chair with serenity cottage paint at The Camellia

Are you thinking of updating your Lakehouse? If you have a mix of old and unwanted furniture, why not update by painting right over the fabric with Cottage Paint? Get the how-to in our store, The Camellia, and choose from 60 colours of Cottage Paint. 



Look at all these blues and greens and aquas.....take a look around you and see how you can Summerize your Home with Lake decor and Cottage paint from The Camellia. 
The Camellia, 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
  Open Wed. 11-5, Thurs. 12-5. Fri. and Sat. 11-5. Sunday 12-5p. 
Bring your photos, measurements and swatches. 
p 807-475-3551

Friday, May 24, 2019

Kitchens take a beating - if I paint my Kitchen cabinets, will the finish last? The Camellia, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Quite often, we get asked the following question: " If I paint my kitchen cabinets with Paint, will the Painted finish hold up in my Kitchen? "
Kitchens take a beating.... at least 3 meals a day are prepared and served in your Kitchen EVERY SINGLE DAY. Unless you work out of town, and are just home on the weekends. That's a lot of wear and tear on your cabinet doors, garbage cans, counters, floor and so on. Oil and grease are constantly spattered, water from the sink, mess from the garbage can, recycling, fruit and veggie peels, and raw meat waste......all of these add up to a big mess everyday. It seems like you never get out of the Kitchen. If you have small kids, aging parents or a retiree in your Home, hah! Need we say more?

cooking crab rice in pan



Getting back to the original question, it depends. On:
  • On how careful persons in your household are in the Kitchen.
  • Does everyone clean up after themselves, and put things away? 
  • Handles and knobs on your doors, can your finger fit comfortably in the handle without your nail scraping at the paint? are the handles on the doors located in a convenient spot? ( a handle in the middle of the door will not get used). 
  • Are you racing around the kitchen ( usually), banging into your cupboards with  pots and pans?
  • Are you unloading the dishwasher and stabbing the drawer front with the edges of knives and forks? 
You will probably say...."No, I don't do THAT!" Yet, most of us live an over-scheduled life, and there are many ways to procrastinate, so we end up being in a big hurry when we are using our Kitchens. Kids are hungry, people have to get to work, the dishwasher needs unloading...

We may be on our phones, and not really paying attention to meal-making....does anyone want some burnt dinner, you yell? We KNOW you don't do this...!

cooking lobster and getting meat out


Spatters from Lobster shells ........every day, mess happens in your Kitchen. 
We often think that everyone else has a calm, peaceful Life where everything goes according to a timed schedule. This is usually a single person who has an executive job, with a chef who prepares her special meals at the Office. 

old oak kitchen cabinets before

Here is our 33 year old oak Kitchen - the Before Cottage paint. 



painted old oak cabinets the  Camellia

Here is the same Kitchen - After Cottage Paint. The inside of the doors were flipped to become the front of the doors, displaying a perfect Shaker profile instead of the busy squares. 

So, how do you keep a painted kitchen looking great? Cottage Paint is a low voc, water-based paint. Most Kitchen cabinets that you buy new are finished in a factory with Paint that contains bad stuff for your lungs, but hardens and dries quickly. It's a trade-off between a paint that you can DIY and takes longer to cure, or a factory finish with bad stuff in it. 
With Serenity Cottage Paint, you should keep a small jar for touch-ups which you will probably do once a year. This is true for any painted cabinets. Serenity Cottage Paint is applied with a microfibre roller and a brush, it is self levelling.  Cleaning is done mostly with a microfibre rag and water, do not use anything abrasive on painted Kitchen cabinets. 
For information on Serenity, click here: https://cottagepaint.com/product-category/serenity/

For more information, visit our store, The Camellia at 30, Hacquoil Rd. Thunder Bay. 
We have 2 free Paint Demo Information nights, June 4th. or June. 11th. at 8pm. at 30, Hacquoil Rd. 
You can also check out a small display cabinet at Superior Custom Granite, and pick up a Cottage Paint brochure, at 645 Hewitson St. in Thunder Bay. https://www.facebook.com/superiorcustomegranitetbay/


The Camellia, 30, Hacquoil Rd. Thunder Bay. 
Open Wed. through Sunday. 
p 807-475-3551


Friday, May 17, 2019

May long weekend in Northern Ontario, start of Fishing season!! The Camellia, Slate River.

fishing tin and wood sign, the Camellia, Thunder Bay

Hello! It's the first long weekend of the Summer... although in Northern Ontario, the snow has just barely left us. It seems like Winter never wanted to end. So although our temperatures are still cool, most have their Campers packed and ready to roll! May long is the official start of Fishing season! 


shores of Lake Michigan

We will bundle up and sit by the shores of the Lake, enjoying this short interval without pesky bugs and blackflies. 

Breakout buster Rocky mountain soap The Camellia

If you do get bitten this is our go-to product, Breakout Buster by Rocky Mountain Soap, it stops the itching and swelling of blackfly bites. It is blended with tea tree essential oil, peppermint oil, chamomile to soothe irritation, lemon, grapefruit, and Lavender . Lavender is a natural anti-inflammatory to calm and to help reduce redness. 

mosquito and noseeum nets The Camellia Thunder Bay

And while we are talking about bugs, stop by our store at 30, Hacquoil Rd. to grab a Mosquito net or a No-see-um net. As every person that grew up in the Caribbean knows, a mosquito net is the next best thing to sliced bread. These ones have a hoop that folds up so the net is small for carrying around. 

 boat dock on inland lake in Thunder Bay


If we are camping on inland lakes, on May long weekend it's not uncommon to see chunks if ice floating. However we are hardy Northerners....we are heading out to Camp no matter what the weather is. 


comfy bedding at Camp, Clara Clark sheets at The Camellia thunder Bay

Oh the joy of having your bed look onto water and forest...!! Comfy bedding is a must...even at Camp. Here at The Camellia, we carry #ClaraClark 1800 thread count sheets queen sized...which are available in 17 colours. Need sheets in a King? Contact us at 807-475-3551 to place an order. 

Clara Clark sheets The Camellia Thunder Bay
Clara Clark sheets The Camellia Thunder Bay




A garden with wooden steps


Here is a beautiful Garden in the Silver Islet area on Lake Superior. 


vintage mid-century modern furniture redo, The Camellia

A lot of Camps have furniture that has seen better days.... it seems like Furniture gets discarded and then goes to Camp to die. Cottage Paint to the rescue!! You clean with our Clean and Prep spray, paint in your choice of 60 colours, then Enjoy! 


Here is the same cabinet, all updated and mod! For information on Cottage Paint, visit www.cottagepaint.com, and if you would like to take a class, www.thecamellia.com
Visit our store at 30, Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, On.
Open Wed. through Sunday. 
p 807-475-3551 

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Paint your old Oak Kitchen Cabinets Classes, the Camellia, Thunder Bay




Great News!! We are offering Kitchen Cabinet Classes in May! We have heard from so many of you that you HATE your Kitchen. This is YOUR class! Register on-line today as we limit Classes to 6 people at the most. 

KITCHEN or BATHROOM CABINET PAINTING CLASS

Are your cabinets outdated, and you’ve been thinking of painting them, but don’t want all the work of sanding and stripping? Then this is your Workshop, you will be using Serenity Silk paint, Urban paint ( from the Cottage Paint line), and Colour and seal glazing medium, on an actual cabinet door. Cost: $107.35. We will also discuss Kitchen Cabinet trends, and ROI ( return on investment) on Kitchen upgrades, we will also look at Trends in Modern cabinet design. 
This class is offered on 2 dates, pick whichever date works better for you. Wednesday, May 15th. 2019, 7-9.30p. Monday, May 20th, 2019. 7-9.30p. Class date subject to change, due to weather. Call 807-475-3551 to register, or register on-line. Class fees are non-refundable.






Time to take your outdated Oak kitchen from this....





To this.....








Cabinets are painted with Serenity Cottage Paint...... colours white, and Asphalt. You can buy #CottagePaint at the Camellia, at 30, Hacquoil Rd. 
The Camellia, Open Wed. through Sunday. 
p 807-475-3551. For more information go to: www.paintoldkitchencabinets.com




Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Gifts for Mom, The Camellia, Thunder Bay.

shoreline custom wreath, the Camellia, Thunder bay

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 12th. 2019. It's coming up fast and maybe your mom lives in Thunder Bay, and you would like to send her a Gift for Mother's Day to show your appreciation for all that she has done for you. Order this Shoreline Summer Wreath priced at $149.00. 

shed wooden sign the Camellia thunder bay


She-sheds are so popular, maybe your mom is planning on building a she-shed, this SHED sign makes a perfect Gift, priced at $45.00 



take time hand painted sign on denim panel The Camellia


Maybe you have a mom that is always doing things for everyone else, but never takes time for herself. This hand-stencilled saying on denim will remind her to slow down. Priced at $55.00 + hst. Phone 807-475-3551 to order Gifts for delivery in Thunder Bay. 



one day custom painted wood sign, The Camellia, thunder Bay


This hand-painted sign ( on a black ash wood round) will resonate with a lots of Moms. It always seems as if something is in the way of living our Life. We can make this saying in green writing on a stained wood panel, or black writing on a pale pink background. 

Visit us at #TheCamellia, at 30, Hacquoil Rd. Open Wednesday through Sunday. 
p 807-475-3551