Home for the Holidays

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Hello friend,

My favourite ritual at this time of the year is building the two Christmas urns that flank the path to my front door. I love selecting the greenery, the branches and the ornaments and then creating the wintery planter by hand, with the smell of pine and eucalyptus filling the crisp, cool air. For me, this marks the beginning of the holiday season.

This week, I’ve asked some tastemakers in design and decor about how they dress their homes for the holidays. I hope their responses provide some inspiration as you set out to deck your halls over the next few weeks. Our feature interview is with Barbora Samieian, the co-Founder of Sundays, a west coast modern furniture brand. This happens to be her second successful start-up, so we talk to her about her secrets to success. We revisit a surface designer who creates wallpaper prints inspired by nature and the founder of a textile house, who curates beautiful fabrics for designers. Last but not least, we have a special invite from an artist we love, as she opens the doors to her spectacular Toronto home.

Many thanks to Levanta for sponsoring the newsletter this week. We couldn’t do it without your support! Now join me in filling your home with the sights, smells and sounds of the holiday season with some inspiration from these wonderful, creative women.

Enjoy! 

Barbora Samieian started a furniture business when customers in her restaurants raved about the furniture in each space. We dive into how she found start-up success, not once, but twice in our feature interview.

Here’s how Barbora gets into the holiday spirit.

“For me the holidays are about tradition. My best friend started a wreath making tradition a few years ago and it’s one of my favourite ways to get into the holiday spirit, with some warm apple cider, beautiful ribbons, and slowing down to make something with our hands. Our kids proudly hang it on our door.”

  Kate Golding designs wallpaper for a living. Her beautiful prints inspired by nature are found in homes and restaurants across the country.

Here’s how Kate gets her home holiday ready:

“For me, preparing for the holidays is all about the Christmas tree.  I have a collection of vintage baubles and ornaments that have been gifted to me over the years.  There is something so sentimental about the twinkling lights and the fragrance of the tree, I love it so much!”

Sarah Lowry is the Founder of Cloth Hall, a curated textile house bringing together interior designers with textiles and wallpapers to help create beautiful interiors. She travels south for the holidays and sets up her her holiday decor early to celebrate with family and friends.

 “To kick-start the holiday spirit, we decorate small potted spruce or fir trees, and flowering plants like poinsettias, amaryllis, and Christmas cacti. Over the years I have accumulated A LOT of beautiful ornaments that I like to stack in large glass vases and bowls around the house to create a festive feel. I also love wrapping presents with hand-printed wrap and fabric ribbons, leaving them on display until they've all been given away.”

Anna Church is a self-described “sculptographer.” She creates 3-D forms, photographs them and then prints them on linen or other fabrics creating an ethereal effect. This coming Thursday, her home will be transformed into a unique art gallery, showcasing a curation of works from Toronto artists within the beautifully styled spaces in her home. The best part? We’re all invited!

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Watch this space for five quick things to make your life a little richer.

There’s a new trend in undereye patches and we’re conflicted. They now come branded and are meant to be worn as a fashion accessory, for all the world to see. Would you wear the Chanel Cs under your eyes at the grocery store?

Not sure what to do with that leftover Halloween candy? We found some great ideas and one of them could factor into your holiday baking.

Well, didn’t we find the cutest little holiday decoration tip that’s easy to do, smells amazing, and adds rustic charm to your space. Learn how to make DIY rosemary wreaths.

Entertaining a crowd over the holidays? Why not make a batch of Hot Honey Apple Cider Margaritas to get the party started.

Did you know a Christmas cactus can last for decades? The trick is in the soil.

Margaret Atwood has written a memoir. She jests that at 85, most of the people in her life are dead, so she can now write about them.

The rise of women’s hockey in Canada can be traced back to Daniele Sauvageau. The General Manager of the PWHL’s Montreal Victoire is breaking another barrier, as she is being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum set an example for women everywhere by pressing charges against a man that groped her in public this week. Her action sent a strong message, especially in Mexico, where gender violence is rampant.

The first and only woman to serve as speaker of the US house of Representatives in Washington, Nancy Pelosi, announced her retirement this week after 40 years of service.

An old photograph led a family on a search for a long lost WWII war pilot. In the process, they uncovered a lost love of their mother.

Miss an issue? We’ve got you! Find quick links to recent issues right here.

Last week we commemorated the Blue Jays with a special issue all about sport. Hopefully it can fill part of the void left now that baseball season is over. Get the It’s Okay Blue Jays issue here.

Find out what you have to look forward to next Sunday in Genuinely Stellar!

This month is full of gift and holiday prep ideas to inspire you for the season, woven together with the stories of enterprising women entrepreneurs.

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