Trish Stuebing's Homefront Diary

Lampe Berger now in and on sale at Homefront

2012-02-28T18:27:00.003-08:00

In 1898 in order to deal with disinfection in hospitals Maurice Berger Inset) invented and patented a system of “ diffusion by catalysis” This revolutionary technology for purifying the air in enclosed rooms, to which he had the bright idea of adding fragrance, was soon to be applied to home use, giving rise to the company Lampe Berger. While the use of indoor fragrance has increased considerably over the last decades, not all products have the same advantages. Lampe Berger is one of the few technologies that offer real improvement in the quality of air in the home. Thanks to its exclusive burner, the Lampe Berger purifies and perfumes the air indoors, like no other. The system actually destroys the molecules responsible for undesirable smells. The collection range of lamps come in many shapes, sizes and colours in frosted and lacquered crystal, glass and porcelain in both modern and traditional styles. The fragrance range is extensive so come in and try the testers.

Homefront's favorite bib is back

2012-02-24T12:58:00.002-08:00

Homefront's favorite children’s bib is back again from Belgium. In assorted boy and girl patterns, this bib is made of banded edge 100% cotton terry cloth and is reversible. At $15.00, the length is 16” or 40cm long. It covers the whole child, which most bibs don’t. They wash beautifully and still look fresh months later. We also have a good selection of baby and toddler blankets for new arrivals and their siblings.

New shipments in at Homefront Eglinton

2012-02-21T13:45:00.001-08:00

There have been a number of new arrivals at Homefront, 371 Eglinton Ave. W. A large re-supply of our popular bathroom accessories from Interdesign has arrived. There are tumblers, soap dishes lotion and soap pumps, tissue boxes, wastebaskets and tooth brush holder in many styles. There is also a new delivery of storage baskets and laundry hampers in fabric, faux leather and bamboo. Finally Julia Knight has shipped her servers. There are salad sets, cheese sets, spreaders spoons and forks. Each piece is a wonderful gift.

Blanket and throw sale at Homefront Eglinton

2012-02-13T21:10:00.001-08:00

Homefront is launching a new window in our Eglinton Store to announce our blanket and throw sale. You can take 25% off the original price. Here are some of the styles in stock: . Faux Fur Originally priced from $79 to $126: Zebra, Leopard, Silver Fox, and white faux fur. Austrian blankets and throws: There are two left in Queen Size. Originally priced from $180 to $299 in mauve, reds, neutrals, plain and patterned. Fringe Throws in pink and chocolate originally priced at $165 now $132. Soft Rose pattern in blue, white, green, and chocolate originally $190 now $152. Quantities are limited This sale is at Homefront at 371 Eglinton Ave W (416) 488-3189. It's just west of Avenue Road opposite the Eglinton Grand.

Chilewich mats are in at Homefront Eglinton

2012-02-12T10:05:00.001-08:00

There's a new shipment of Chiliwich brand doors mats just in at Homefront, 371 Eglinton West (just west of Avenue Road, across the street from the Eglinton Grand). These superior indoor-outdoor polypropylene mats have sold out several times at Homefront. The Chlewich mats come in three sizes: 18 X 28, 2ft X 3ft and 3 ft. X 5 ft. Most of the patterns are available and they at the Eglinton store only -- Trish Stuebing

Rabbi Gunther Plaut dead at age 99

2012-02-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut, Senior Scholar at Holy Blossom Temple, died February 8 in Toronto at the age of 99. Holy Blossom, a Reform Synagogue, is the oldest congregation in Canada’s largest city. Rabbi Plaut was the longtime senior rabbi there, from 1961 to 1977. Plaut was born in Munster, Germany, the son of Jonas and Selma Plaut. After earning a law degree in 1935, he fled the Nazis and went to the United States, where he was ordained at Hebrew Union College in 1939. After serving as a chaplain in the American military during World War II, Plaut took pulpits in Chicago and St. Paul before moving to Canada. The late rabbi’s name is most familiar as the author of “The Torah: A Modern Commentary” the Chumash used widely by Reform congregations. Forward

Homefront will consolidate on Eglinton Avenue

2012-02-04T19:34:00.001-08:00

Homefront buyers have now returned from an exciting week at the Canadian Gift and Tableware show. We are diligently working on updating our inventory. The focus will be the main store, Eglinton Avenue West (right across the street from the old Eglinton Theatre). We will be adding new lines and services. for example, Homefront will soon carry Lampe Berger. Customers have shown a lot of interest. The store at 1579 is in clearance mode and will continue that way until the end of March when it will close. We invite all our good friends to who like Homefront to drive the 12 minutes to Eglinton and Avenue road where you will find all the familiar faces and wonderful merchandise and service. We are also having a sale there right now. Trish Stuebing

A family's winning passion for needlepoint

2012-01-26T19:16:00.000-08:00

Right to left: Cindy Saltzman, her Mom Betty Gelman,
and sisters Randi Gelman and Bonnie Kruger

A Toronto family has built a highly successful business in the absorbing craft of needlepoint. Cindy Saltzman began Needle Art in a small way in 1993. Today, with the collaboration of her mom, Betty Gelman and sister Randi, Cindy owns a Needle Art that is the foremost producer of needlepoint, a unique source of sewing advice and a thriving retail store. A third sister, Bonnie Kruger, is a vice-president of Homefront, the home accessories shop that sponsors this blog. It is a family fully in retail. Needlepoint is an ancient skill that has evolved through centuries. Families with needlepoint heirlooms cherish them as I treasure a dining room set with needlepoint chairs done by my Grandmother a hundred years ago. Most of us are not familiar with this artful craft. Those who make needlepoint were usually taught by a relative. They are often addicts to their needles, threads and canvasses. The busy and talented ladies of Needle Art can be visited at the shop at 9078 Leslie Street (Highway 7 and Leslie) (905) 709- 7759. Cindy, Betty and Randi travel North America to display and sell their work. They sell out very quickly. To give an example, one canvas of an owl sold 60 pieces in three days. They also sold 250 Christmas tree canvases and hundreds of ornaments. The website http://www.cindysneedleart.com. Check Sew Much Fun and some of the finished canvases. Christmas Trees, Turkey, Foxy Frog, Judaic and Scrap Book. This store is the only one of its kind in Toronto and if you want to see beautiful thread art it is worth a visit. Trish

Eglinton's Cantonese landmarks vanishing

2012-01-24T18:13:00.001-08:00

Hard on news that China House at 925 Eglinton West has closed for good, comes news that House of Chan, across the street, will also close. House of Chan will fall to the wreckers ball in a couple of years to make way for the Bathurst LRT station. Generations of Toronto families have dined on the traditional Cantonese dishes of these two restaurants. The changes are no doubt partly due to the profusion of Chinese cuisine elsewhere in the City. It is said that the valuable property where China House thrived for more than 60 years will now be developed into a condominium. House of Chan and a few other business on the northwest corner of Eglinton and Bathurst will come down to permit additional access to the LRT. At a public meeting before Christmas many of these details were presented to local residents. It was revealed that a small plaza at the northeast corner will be the site of the main station. Secondary entrance across Bathurst will require demolition of Israel's Judaica and House of Chan. A third property, Halleluia Restaurant, which is situated between House of Chan and Israel's Judaica and is now vacant, will also be torn down. A second public open house for the Bathurst Station design is scheduled for next spring.

Bonnie Brooks now CEO of Bay and L&T

2012-01-24T17:28:00.000-08:00

Bonnie Brooks (left) has been appointed to head up both The Bay as well as its U.S. sister department store Lord and Taylor. She replaces Brendan Hoffman (right) at Lord and Taylor. He is said to be heading to another retailer, Bon Ton. As a news conference today Ms Brooks refused to deny the idea that Lord and Taylor would make a move to Canada, or what form that move might take. Richard Baker, whose New York investment firm, NRDC Equity Partners, owns HBC, will remain governor and chief executive officer of the company, HBC said in a statement Monday. Financial Post.

Sale on signature lines goes on at Homefront

2012-01-23T10:32:00.001-08:00

Your response to our 15 percent discount on designer pieces until January 31, 2012, has been great. The sale goes on so don't miss an opportunity to add to your collection of Simon Pearce, Emma Bridgewater, Julia Knight and Michael Aram. Homefront has many other discounts up to 50 percent as well on Linens, Blankets, Glass and Door Mats. Bonnie Franca and I are off to buy at the Gift show next week so if there is anything you want us to look for just call or email. Trish Stuebing

New selection at Homefront's mat sale

2012-01-19T20:27:00.001-08:00

The sale on coloured occasional mats continues at Homfront with a new selection now on display. These useful and decorative mats range in size from 24 by 36 inches to 24 by 84 inches. There are two styles, natural and polypropylene. All mats are reduced by 20 percent. Also, matching runners measuring 24 by 84 inches are marked down by 30 percent. The great mat sale carries on over the weekend at both stores, 371 Eglinton Ave. West and 1579 Bayview Ave.

15% off signature lines at 371 Eglinton W

2012-01-13T18:47:00.001-08:00

As the Homefront plan for consolidation continues, our shop at 1579 Bayview will be in clearance sale for the next few months. Homefront at 371 Eglinton Avenue West will be offering 15 % off all regular and new in stock merchandise to our customers. You will know that this is a very unusual event for us, as we never markdown Emma Bridgewater, Simon Pearce, Michael Aram, Julia Knight or Sabre. If you are collecting these lines here is a perfect opportunity to fill in your collection. We have a very good selection in these lines and it will be first come first serve and it will end in two weeks. We also have 20% off on glass, table linens, adult blankets and some door mats. We are open every M-F 10 until 6 pm.., Sunday noon to 5 pm. (416) 488-3189 Trish Stuebing, President .

Rare sale on Emma Bridgewater china at Homefront

2011-12-29T17:38:00.000-08:00

Homefront at 371 Eglinton Ave West is having a rare sale on Emma Bridgewater china. For a limited time, prices have been discounted 15 percent. This is clearance season and Homefront is reducing inventory across the board, including this much-loved signature line of dishes and completer pieces from Bridgewater's Stoke-on-Trent factory. This sale is only at the Eglinton Ave shop as many lines have been consolidated there during the clearance period at 1579 Bayview.

"Bite me too" a satisfying cookbook

2011-12-14T19:25:00.000-08:00

Sisters Julie Alpert and Julie Gnat are back with a sequel to their hugely popular cooking book, Bite me. Yes, it's time for Bite me, too. Click picture.

Auctioning Elizabeth Taylor's jewels

2011-12-14T19:07:00.000-08:00

The Iron Lady an epic portrayal

2011-11-30T19:30:00.000-08:00

Coming early in 2012, an epic portrayal of the Margaret Thatcher by Meryl Streep. It's been said that Streep is transformed into the Iron Lady. Here is a review from SugarBuzz: The first glimpse we had at Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher was very brief, but the full trailer for The Iron Lady fully introduces us to Streep as Britain's first female prime minister. The preview follows Thatcher in her career struggles, makeovers and all, and we also get to see behind the scenes of Thatcher's personal life. Jim Broadbent plays her husband Denis, who gives her as much criticism as support.

We're ready at Homefront

2011-11-29T18:49:00.000-08:00

We are almost in December and Homefront is ready and waiting to deal with your holiday gifts. The earlier you come in, the less stressful it will be. We have the best selection ever in all prices and we can wrap them beautifully whether it is Christmas or Hannukah. Our paper and ribbons are exceptional this year. For those of you who need to do teachers or corporate gifts we hope it will be sooner rather than last minute so we can give you the time it deserves. We can also store them if you wish to deliver them later or ask us about delivery options -- Trish

School kilts: Confessions of a old girl

2011-11-29T18:47:00.001-08:00

The recent concern about school kilts has prompted a St Clement's (private) School old girl to observe that the nerve-wracking business of just where the girls should have their hemline has been around since the time of that great Ontario educator Egerton Ryerson. She confesses without embarrassment that she and her friends all hiked up the hems purely to tantalize the boys. It was not the kilt, but the one-piece tunic, that seemed to inspire the most hussy-like behavior she reports. "You would fluff up the top of the tunic above the belt and as you did, the skirt got shorter and shorter." And she suspects that those present-day kilt wearing undergrads who say innocently "But, I like the kilt" have something similar in mind. What can you do? We suppose asking the boys to wear kilts, while not unmanly, is definitely out of the question. It seems for sure that the girls don't want to wear the trousers, except figuratively, of course.

Is this the end of Ogilvy's?

2011-11-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

Will Selfridges Group finally kill off Ogilvy's in Montreal? It begins to look more and more like it. The British retailer owns both Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy's. It apparently plans to move HR into the present Ogilvy's premises (left). Then the fashionable Art Deco home of Holt Renfrew (seen at right in 1937) would become condos. Many shoppers say that Ogilvy's has never been able to shake off the Anglo image that made it a place to avoid for French-speaking Montrealers. The Gazette

Lady Gaga opens Barney's workshop

2011-11-22T09:42:00.001-08:00

Lady Gaga one-ups Santa claus with her own workshop cooked up with Barneys of New York. you get te picture.

Model of the Moment is Lindsey Wilson

2011-11-21T14:00:00.001-08:00

She is said to be the Model of the Moment. A mind-bending mix of simple teen, beautiful woman and fully-trained firearms handler. And here she is hanging out with a Telegraph reporter during Fashion Week in New York. The late night fittings, 6am starts, layers of different makeup, and three shows with three hour advance call times every day for a week usually leaves the toughest of girls overworked and exhausted. Lindsey Wixson has the added pressure of being just 17-years-old and having only been a fixture at the shows since spring 2010 - when she was on exclusive for Prada and Miu Miu - has not had much time to get used to the craziness.

Superb elegance for your holiday party

2011-11-19T13:07:00.000-08:00

Add superb elegance to your holiday parties with this large wine and champagne cooler made of hammered stainless steel. Homefront, 371 Eglinton Ave W and 1579 Bayview Ave. 9.5 inches high by 15 inches wide at the mouth. $105.

Health Canada scrambles to review cancer drug

2011-11-18T14:18:00.000-08:00

Canada is looking a little left out of things as Health Canada actively reviews the drug Avastin to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks as a treatment for advanced breast cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration revoked its approval for the drug for patients with metastatic breast cancer Friday because there's no proof that it extends lives or provides enough temporary benefit to outweigh dangerous side effects. Maclean's

"King of all Pregnancies" gives his advice

2011-11-17T12:54:00.000-08:00

It's still an "alleged" pregnancy, according to the tabloid, but it's enough to get everyone going and even this doctor , who calls himself the King of all Pregnancies, is giving the Duchess of Cambridge advice on her condition. "Alleged pregnancy". Makes it sound like a crime.

Bradley Cooper People's sexiest man

2011-11-16T18:15:00.000-08:00

Bradley Cooper, the 36-year-old star of 'The Hangover' films beat out Ryan Gosling, Liam Hemsworth and other Hollywood leading men to win the cover of People magazine's annual 'Sexiest Man Alive' issue. The issue is on sale now and at People.com. (Nov. 16)

Luxury goods boss pays $50 million for house

2011-11-16T05:31:00.000-08:00

Don't let this one get around down at Occupy Toronto. It appears that a luxury goods billionaire has shelled out £20 million for a two-bedroom house in the heart of London. He is founder of luxury goods group PPR, Francois Pinault. The French billionaire, whose family-controlled PPR owns brands such as Gucci and Stella McCartney, has paid around €23 million (about C$50 million) for a house in the upmarket neighbourhood of Chelsea. Despite paying the huge amount, Pinault is still reportedly planning to renovate parts of the house, which was so far owned by a professor who is said to have profited handsomely from the sale. Professor Bernard Nevill reportedly bought the house for just around £80,000 in 1970. Pinault, whose son Francois-Henri Pinault currently runs the Paris-based family business, also owns two art galleries in Venice and is well-known for his vast art collection. He has a fortune of around $11.5 billion (€8.5 billion), according to Forbes. Telegraph, London

Wonder Girls new video a black and white caper

2011-11-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

It seems unbelievable but the South Korean group known as the Wonder Girls has, according to You Tube, racked up some 7,000,000 plays of their new video. It says the vid was posted November 5, 2011. Whatever, its clear that the Wonder Girls, a sexy but somehow rather wholesome fivesome, are very hot. There are a lot of videos on the You Tube playlist. Their music is quite listenable.

Silvio Berlusconi's unbuttoned bloopers

2011-11-11T20:19:00.000-08:00

This is a compilation made by the Telegraph of London showing the Italian Prime Minister's odd and sometimes vexing behaviour. Silivo Berlusconi can be amusing, vulgar and infuriating. Check the look German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives him when he keeps her waiting. An icy knife.

Like it or not, Toronto is Canada's brand

2011-11-10T18:41:00.000-08:00

Flash -- Toronto is the most disliked city in Canada and, at the same time, Canada has the best brand of any country in the world. What should we make of these stories before hitting delete? All around the world people say they want to emigrate to Canada when they really mean that they want to emigrate to Toronto. For vast millions of immigrants and their relatives back home, Toronto is Canada. Out west, many people say 'they dislike Toronto. We suspect that Westerners dislike Toronto for the same reasons immigrants like it. It's a potent place of raw power. (All those banks!). Westerners --especially those who have never been here -- have always disliked the city as a dynamo of Eastern power. It's a kind of no brainer. Unlike the immigrants, Westerners (God bless them) are comfortable and resource rich just where they are. Some of them don't even pay sales taxes. And many of those who do come here find they like it. Funny how that works. As for the rest of the world, well, sorry you non-Torontonians, but it appears that Toronto is Canada's brand.

Billy Crystal returns to the Oscars

2011-11-10T18:01:00.000-08:00

Billy Crystal has swooped in to aid the troubled awards program, announcing today that he would undertake the duties Feb. 26 for the ninth time. He replaces Eddie Murphy, who dramatically stepped down 24 hours earlier. "Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show," Crystal tweeted. In a statement later, he took a slightly more serious tone: "Some of the best moments of my career have happened on the Oscar stage. I am thrilled to be back there."

Mackenzie-Childs Christmas trees

2011-11-09T13:33:00.000-08:00

As Christmas approaches we're looking back to some popular holiday features. This is one. These are pictures of three examples of the celebrated MacKenzie-Childs Christmas trees last year. They are shown annually at the Giardino Gift Shop in the Botanical Rotunda of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. This is the shop that carries the ceramic work of Toronto artist Eva Gordon. Her personalized baby plates may be purchased at Homefront.

Madison Avenue's new luxury look

2011-11-09T12:55:00.000-08:00

New York media are crowing about the retail rebirth on Madison Avenue, according to the New York Times. The local Business Improvement District say that at least 60 new retailers—most of them high-end and many of them luxury brands—have opened on the avenue's northern strip since January 2010. As the cognoscenti will recall, Joe Fresh, the Canadian retailer has recently opened on Madison as well. Wall Street Journal.

Manitoba to put liquor stores in supermarket

2011-11-08T14:40:00.001-08:00

The Manitoba Government has announced that it will open a number of Liquor Mart Express shops in grocery stores. A neat idea, eh Premier Dad? Manitoba is in Canada. Check it here.

Fairfax Financial buys William Ashley

2011-11-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

This is a repeat of an earlier story of interest. It was in the CGTA newsletter Trish:

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited has acquired the family-owned business William Ashley China, Canada's largest prestige retailer of exclusive tableware and gifts.Since 1947, William Ashley has been recognized worldwide as a leader within the dinnerware and wedding registry industries, by providing premium quality products and services. As an innovator in the industry, William Ashley was the first company in North America to introduce a computerized wedding registry system. “We are excited to sell our company to Fairfax not only because of its significant financial strength, but also because of its access to global markets and history of decentralized, long-term support for entrepreneurial businesses," said Dean Stark on behalf of the Stark family. “We are very pleased to acquire this quality business from the Stark family, which has owned William Ashley for over 50 years,” said Prem Watsa, chairman and chief executive officer of Fairfax. We look forward to working with Jackie Chiesa, president of William Ashley, who has been with the company for over 30 years. This acquisition is consistent with our interest in acquiring businesses from entrepreneurial founders who want to find a long-term home for their business." Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a financial services holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investment management.

Operation "could not have gone better

2011-11-06T17:11:00.000-08:00

video platform video management video solutions video player
The opeeration to separate Angelica and angelica "could not have gone better"according to doctors.

Zachary Kruger Bar Mitzvah in Kensington Market

2011-11-06T05:24:00.000-08:00

The Kruger family celebrated the Bar Mitzvah of their youngest son, Zachary (centre) on Saturday in Kensington Market. That's Bonnie and Richie on the left and sister and brother Alex and Matthew on the right.

Homefront's holiday window on Eglinton

2011-11-02T07:45:00.001-07:00

These elegant over-sized serving pieces are part of Homefront's holiday presentation. Top, our window on Eglinton. Below left, a magnificent alloy cake stand. Centre, the Homefront Fairy. Right, a hammered stainless steel Champagne bowl.

As promised, here is Homefront's Bayview shop dressed in a holiday fantasy and showing the many over-sized serving pieces available for gift-giving, or maybe just for you. See the window at 371 Eglinton West on Trish Stuebing Homefront Diary.