Toronto is home to some of the most charming boutiques in the world (if we do say so ourselves), and whether you’re holiday hosting or holiday shopping, there’s no shortage of delightful wares to discover. To help guide your perusing, we tapped local boutique owners to find out which decor and entertaining items they’re loving this season.
Handmade stockings
Honeybea stockings, $72, honeybea.ca SHOP HERE
There are stockings, and then there are Honeybea’s stunningly detailed heirloom quilted and knit stockings. Each one is made locally at Honeybea’s Kensington Market studio “with the salvaged remnants of damaged and discarded heirloom quilts that would have otherwise been lost forever,” according to store owner and textile artist Rebecca Caulford. “I love that these keepsakes will be shared and cherished year after year and that this moment marks their new beginning after travelling through so many decades and generations before,” she says.
As for her favourites of the bunch? “I like the really imperfect ones, made of all there was lying around the house. Nothing fancy, just real life, with lots of colour, love and truth,” says Caulford.
Handmade serving spoon
Souvenir Studios bronze spoon, $98, souvenir-studios.com SHOP HERE
It’s easy to overlook silverware as a utilitarian necessity on your holiday table, but for Souvenir Studios owner and creative director Danielle Suppa, it’s an opportunity to inject an element of luxury: “These spoons feel like ornaments for the table,” she says of the store’s Calla bronze spoons made locally in collaboration with Toronto-based industrial designer Katya Koroscil. Suppa says the little gold spoons have become one of the store’s signature items over the years.
Each spoon is a work of art in itself: “They’re individually sculpted in wax, cast in bronze and hand polished and finished, retaining the imprints of the process in the final piece,” says Suppa. “They make serving anything — along with your guests — feel incredibly special.”
Handmade candles
Socco Living candles, $10 (pair), soccoliving.com SHOP HERE
No crackling fireplace? No problem. These timeless taper candles from Socco Living will add a rustic festive flicker to any space. They have a burn time of 11 hours and are hand-poured locally specially for the Queen West home decor store.
“We love them because they instantly add that warm, cosy glow that makes this time of year feel magical,” says store owner Marion Le Saux. Plus, “they’re dripless, making them perfect for table settings and mantles,” she says. Socco Living carries a wide range of colours, so you can easily match any decor theme.
Handmade cheese board
Larch Wood cheese board, $155, goodegg.ca SHOP HERE
Investing in serving ware that does double duty, like this beautiful cheese board from beloved Kensington Market kitchen store Good Egg, is a simple way to cut down on dishes and impress your guests when hosting. “We’ve been stocking these gorgeous handmade boards since we opened in 2008,” says store owner Mika Bareket, adding that they’re “made on Cape Breton Island by the kindest folks”.
These boards have been a mainstay at Good Egg for a reason: “They’re buttery smooth with elegant contours,” says Bareket. “You could serve generic cheddar on this and it’ll look impressive.”
Handmade ornaments
Moody Jooly ornaments, $35 each, pictusgoods.com SHOP HERE
The best part about these sweet handmade ornaments from Pictus Goods is that they look equally as darling trimming the tree over the holidays as they do decorating the house year-round.
“Around here, we’re big fans of local Toronto ceramicist Moody Jooly,” says Pictus Goods store owner Jazmin Burri. The ornaments are a sweet nod to the flower and gift shop’s commitment to eco-conscious floral design. “I asked Julia to make custom ornaments this year, and they are absolutely perfect.” Each one is hand-painted, so no two are exactly alike, just like the blooms in Pictus Goods’ thoughtful bouquets.
