Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

damned dollies

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

damned dolly

christina and i have loved these dollies from the moment we saw them.  i wasn’t totally sure about putting them in the shop window (to be fair, ottawa can be a pretty conservative town and we had just opened…didn’t want to anger our customer base of friends and family!), but we did.

a few days after they had made their debut, an elderly lady walked in through the front door and quite dramatically asked to speak with the owner.  cowering behind the desk, quite sure that i was about to get a slap on the wrist, she had me come with her to the window and asked me about the dolls.  i told her as best as i could about dana, the lady who made them, and about how cute i thought they were.  i was diplomatic and gave her my best “don’t be mad at me if this isn’t your vibe” smile.

then she asked me about the butcher knife one of them was carrying.  i was pretty sure my career as a shop owner was over.  and after only a couple of months.  and the shop looked so good.  too bad.

“uhhh, ummm, i don’t exactly know what she was thinking when she made that one,” i stammered.

then the lady started to laugh, almost hysterically.  she asked me to get it out of the window.  she wanted to buy it.  she put down her hard earned money and told me that it was going to sit on her desk, front and centre, so she could look at it every day.

“i know what she was thinking”, she said as she walked out the door…

Loot Leather Hair Clips

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

loot hair clip

christina is making these fab hair clips, all lovely hand-silkscreened recycled leather…that lady is great with a hot glue gun!  (-:

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

hey ladies!

a quick note today… christina scooped up some new wallets, belts and other lovely goodies from Rachel F at the last ladyfest craftsale! come check them out, super cute hand silkscreened recycled leather…and made in mtl! what more could a girl want??rachel f wallets

speaking of summer fun…

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

the lovely lady in the workshop front windowi walked in to the shop this morning and fell for this outfit!  it seemed perfect for a day at the office followed by cocktails with a few ladyfriends, followed by a wander down the canal, followed by… (-;

here are the goods:
pretty blouse – dru’s designs, made in BC
great cropped cardi – anna zygowski, made in Caledonia
cute pleated denim skirt – glasgow, made in Mtl
bicycle bag – jenna rose, hamilton

workshop’s new summer hours…more time to shop!

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

around this time of year we get the bug for cute new flowery summer dresses, bright purses and fun accessories, so we open earlier and close later…more time to shop that way!

our new summer hours (starting now) are:

monday 10-6
tuesday 10-6
wednesday 10-6
thursday 10-8
friday 10-8
saturday 10-6
sunday 12-5

happy shopping! (-:

A Few of Our Favourite Things ~ Christina

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Christina just loves this edgy new line that is one of the newest additions to the Workshop family. Slashpile Designs comes to us from twin designers Tara and Courtney Neray, of Toronto.

While it is difficult to pick favourites among Slashpile babies, when pressed, Christina admits to loving the especially fun and crazy earrings and necklaces that represent the chemical compositions of such necessities of life as water, caffeine and alcohol.

Lovely Pieces by Slashpile Designs

Water earrings ($30), Alcohol earrings ($80), and Caffeine necklace ($100) by Slashpile Designs

You’ve gotta see them to believe them!

Come on in to check out the entire line, which also includes gorgeous lost & found stacking rings and pendants made from pieces of the Canadian Shield or rocks from the Niagara Escarpment.

♥ Workshop

This Just In…New Pieces From Anna Zygowski!

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Hi Workshoppers,

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Trunk Sale.  It’s hard to believe that it was exactly one week ago!  We saw so many happy ladies walk away with their “steal of a deal” deals safe in their Workshop bags.  Judging by the smiles on your faces, we’re guessing that you had as much fun as we did!

Emily rocks the black 3/4 length sleeved top...

Emily rocks the black 3/4 length sleeved Anna Zygowski top...

But that was then, and this is now.

And right now, we want to show you photos of some of the brand new Anna Zygowski jersey tees.  Check out lovely staffer Emily modeling the gorgeous jersey tees, then come to the store to see them in person.  At $65 for the 3/4 length sleeve tees and $60 for the short sleeve tees, they won’t last long!

...and the 3/4 length sleeved gray jersey T!

...and the gray!

New autumn pieces are arriving at the store daily, so why not pay us a visit this weekend?

♥ Workshop.

Trunk Sale Sneak Peek – Grob

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Okay Workshoppers, here is our first Trunk Sale sneak peek!

When the great big box from Grob arrived at the store, we just couldn’t wait to open it.  And we won’t make you wait any longer for photos.

Here is just a taste of what you’ll find at the Trunk Sale in four short days:

Super sweet tee - Past season - reg $80 - trunk sale $25!!

Super sweet tee - Past season - reg $80 - trunk sale $25!!

Grob gray and black top with drawstring at the waist - reg $86 - trunk sale $15! (apparently there is a defect but we couldn't find anything wrong with this sweet T!)

Gray and black top with drawstring at the waist - reg $86 - trunk sale $15! (apparently there is a defect but we couldn't find anything wrong with this sweet T!)

Grob brown jacket with plaid detail and buttons - Past season - $25!!

Brown jacket with plaid detail and buttons - Past season - $25!!

See you on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at the store (242 ½ Dalhousie St) from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

Workshop

Independent Designers Rock ~ By Bridget

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Independent designers…They are amazing, creative, brave…I love them!  They have the courage to put their ideas and their style out there.  Many of our designers quit stable and well-paying jobs to create for a living.  That takes guts and conviction.

Day after day, they pour their hearts into creating unique and unconventional things that are fun to wear…When I try on a wacky piece by some out-there lady using a blowtorch on her kitchen table, I never fail to smile and my day becomes brighter.

Independent designers care about the people that work for them…The people who give their designs life.  They choose quality over quantity every time.  When a design (especially a CRAZY one) is a little off, designers work so hard to fix and adjust over and over so that it turns out just right.  Don’t you think that’s lovely?

As a busy woman (and Mom to an adorable 1 ½ year old girlie!), it isn’t always easy to buy only from independent designers.  I’m not a perfect soul and sometimes I just want a plain black tee or a pair of jeans.  I struggle…sometimes I waver…but ultimately I love where my money goes when I buy local and when I buy Canadian.  It’s just a small step but, then again, isn’t that what the bigger steps are made of?

Speaking of independent designers, the Workshop trunk sale is only one week away and I’m soooo excited!  A bunch of our designers are shipping us a ton of way discounted stuff…It’s like the Holy Grail of boutique shopping…I got a haul last year.  So join us on Thursday, September 24th…I’ll be the crazy one!  ;)

♥  Bridget.

Sweet Cherry Pie

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

Have you heard?  Cherry Pie is back!

Meet Christina and one of Workshop’s new recruits, the fabulous Emily, at Cherry Pie on Tuesday, September 22nd.  The event starts on 7:00 pm and will be held at Lago on Dow’s Lake.

If this is your first time, Cherry Pie is “For women in business who mean business” and it’s a ton of fun.  Bring your business cards, resumes, ideas and business plans and come out to schmooze with Ottawa’s best and brightest.

As well becoming inspired and energized by the amazing Ottawa women that you’ll meet, you’ll also have the opportunity to talk to the Business Development Bank of Canada who will help you understand what the bank needs to know about your business plan before you approach them for a loan.  The Gowlings team of professionals will also be on hand to answer your business questions relating to taxes, contract, employees, trademarks and company protection.  The cherry on top?  An interactive barter board and career bar!

Doesn’t this sound sweet?  It gets even sweeter:  All fundraising initiatives go to the Ottawa Canine Rescue Team.

Regular tickets are $15 and they are $8 for students.  To RSVP or to find out more, contact Catherine Landry by email (catherineknows@videotron.ca) or by telephone (819-776-5161).

Stay crafty kids,

♥ Workshop.