Monthly Archives: October 2010

Just to let everyone know, there is a Ladies Night in the works. Many of the downtown business  owners are taking part in Ladies Night on Thursday, November 18th. I will make this event as it takes place the week before I head to England. Yipee! Stores will be open from 5 P.M. to 10 P.M. that night and the store owners will be doing various things like offering food, drink, samples, surprises, and prizes.  We haven’t yet decided what Under the Toadstool will be up to that evening,  but I know we will do this event proud. I am looking forward to seeing many ladies take part. Apparently this event will be advertised in the local papers and the Downtown business association will help with funding. They will provide flyers, and signs. It sounds like this might just be the start of another downtown event. I will let you know how it turns out.

I ’m often asked by my customers where ever do I find all my wonderful treasures for the store? Well I travel far and wide to purchase my stock. Every couple of months I head down through New York State. I have found dozens of treasure troves. Once a year I head to the New England States…. another great shopping spree! On that trip I also attend the Brimfield Antique Show. There, to my glee are thousands of vendors set up in field after field selling their wares. A person can find anything from marbles to the most beautiful antique furniture. This venue is the most incredible place I have ever been. I am in awe as I walk through isle after isle of the most interesting items I could ever wish to see or buy. I look forward to the next trip in early May of 2011. If anyone would like information on the Brimfield Show, feel free to get in touch. I would love to share the experience. I travel to England 3 times a year and there I find beautiful and very different treasures. I come home loaded down with some pretty unique items such as old hat pins, wonderful ladies hats, china, glass, silver. You name it and I find it. Charity Shops and Boot Fairs are my passion while in England. I truly think I am addicted to the hunt!  I must make mention of another favourite source: I have found a wonderful seller in France. I have been fortunate to buy some pretty amazing things from French_memories. I had oppourtunity to purchase a very sweet little french vintage two tiered lunch box which I displayed in the store. Customers were drawn to this little item and I had great pleasure in telling them that the little lunch box came all the way from France. To my delight one day a young bride to be came in saw the little lunch box and had to have it for her ring bearer. She was having a vintage wedding and she wanted the little boy to walk down the isle carrying the lunch box with the rings inside. Small pleasures give me such smiles. I have another one of these lunch boxes on the way so please stay tuned!

WOW! what a day this was. The weather was beautiful. The turn out was fanstastic. Thousands and thousands of people converged on the main street of downtown Bomanville to join in the fun and YES! to shop. Sales were over the moon for both Jenny and myself. We could not believe the number of shoppers and lookers who came through our doors on this special day.  We had trouble keeping up with the sales, but boy was it fun.

As always our customers enjoyed the treats we serve at all these events. We gave away another beautiful gift basket and we enjoyed many new customers to our store. People really seem to love our stores. That makes both Jenny and I very happy. As we wind down from this event we will soon start to get ready for the midnight Candle Lighting event scheduled Dec. 3rd. The store will be open quite late for Christmas Shopping. Jenny and I certainly enjoy taking part in the calander of Town Events.  Stay tuned.

EXTRA! EXTRA!….. more news. Under The Toadstool with City Cottage are now getting ready for our next Bowmanville town event. The Apple Festival will be held on Saturday Oct. 16th. This is a huge event and attracts thousands of visitors to the downtown area. With the roads closed down to traffic, people are everywhere, including popping into all the stores. Jenny and I both do very well on these special days. We will hold another draw…. giving away another wonderful gift basket prepared by Marie. Other prizes include gift certificates for each of the stores. Our customers really seem to enjoy this.