Purse by Kim Kutner.
For the boys
No Need to be confused or intimidated as to what to get your sweetie for Valentine’s Day. Think about what your true love would really dig — it doesn’t have to be over-the-top or expensive. Ideally, opt for something personal — jewelry is almost always a hit — maybe paired with a mixed CD of songs that mean something to you as a couple (risk being a corny sap), plus a home-cooked meal, cupcakes or her favourite take-out with candlelight.
Here are some sources for unusual goodies that are sure to impress your Valentine next week:
Jewelry and/or accessories: Lovely pieces made by local designers are plentiful at Made You Look (1338 Queen St. West, 416-463-2136) as well as Distill (55 Mill St., Distillery District, 416-304-0033).
Chocolate: Go for top quality that’s sure to trigger food orgasms with unusual flavours by Toronto’s chocolatiers. Favourite sources include: Soma (Building 47 at the Distillery District, 416 815-7662) and new kid on the chocolate block Kakayo (1584 Queen St. E., near Coxwell — just east of Leslieville, 647 346-2936)
Quirky Valentine’s Day cards: Winkel (1107 Queen St. E., Leslieville, 416-465-4247), Outer Layer (430 Bloor St. — Annex, 416-324-8333)
Craft Show
For one-stop V-Day shopping, make sure to pop by The Workroom this Sunday (Feb. 10) for its Valentine’s Trunk Show (co-organized by City of Craft).
From noon to 5 p.m. expect to find an unconventional mix of handmade goods by more than 16 vendors, including jewelry, cards, buttons, accessories, journals and even on-site intentionally unattractive sketched portraits and ghost-written love letters “on-demand.” There will also be boy-friendly items for sale.
Much loved Toronto illustrator/designer Kim Kutner is in the medley of artisans as well as Sweetie Pie Press and Matthea Made’s lovelies will be on hand (hair accessories), plus distinctive jewelry by PaperSnake, randy animal soaps by Soap Scum and lots more quirky-cool stuff.
Where: The Workroom, 1340 Queen Street West (416-534-5305) www.theworkroom.ca
Nathalie-Roze Fischer
Nathalie-Roze Fischer is an accessories designer, writer and DIY enthusiast. Visit her online at www.nathalie-roze.comor at her indie shop/studio in Leslieville (1015 Queen St. East).
