Happy Pancake Day!

Yum...Pancakes for dinner!

Pancakes are so much fun to make. They can be healthy whole grain pancakes, gluten-free pancakes, ricotta pancakes, blueberry pancakes, apple-cinnamon pancakes...are you drooling yet? I sure am. The best thing about pancakes is the pat of butter that melts down mount pancake, and the real Ontario maple syrup drizzled on top.

Here are some quick facts about real Maple Syrup, courtesy of Fultons Pancake House and Sugar Bush:

- Contains Antioxidants & Anti-inflammatory properties (Yay!)
- Contains 10% calcium, equal to that in milk. (Yay!)
- Is an excellent source of potassium. (Yay!)
- Contains several trace vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, iron and vitamins and trace amounts of amino acids) (Double Yay!)
- Is low in sodium (Yay!)
- Is lowest in calories of all the natural sweetners. (right on!)

Enjoy those pancakes tonight!

(Photo courtesy of Where.ca)

It's Time to Plan the Garden!

The birds are tweeting, the snow is teasing...when can we start gardening! Well, we do have a bit of a wait until we can start playing in the soil. But underneath all that snow, the plants are getting ready to reveal their new buds and stems. I can hardly wait!

Now is a good time to do some planning as well as go through your gardening tools. Do your pruners need sharpening and oiling? Have you purchased your seeds? Are your garden gloves and apron clean and handy? Yes, there is still lots to do while old man winter finishes his job outside.

Crumb Designs will be at the Peterborough Garden Show, April 8 - 10. This is a great place to get some ideas for your garden. And while you are there, drop by the booth to purchase a durable Crumb Garden Apron. This is a really handy apron. Perfect for keeping all of your tools close at hand. Plus it has a pretty bow in the back. Of course!



Have a fabulous Monday!

Happy Valentine's Day

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you,

I could walk forever in my garden.

(attributed to Claudia Ghandi)

One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale - Booth # Y58

The One of a Kind Show is coming up in just a little over a week. Our booth is bigger this year and that means more aprons.

The show starts on November 25th, and ends on December 5th. We are located at booth # Y58.


Click on the link below to receive $3.00 off regular admission!


One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale

Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes' Blvd., Toronto, ON

Show Hours:
Weekdays and Saturday: 10am - 9pm, Sunday: 10am - 6pm


Click below for $3.00 off regular admission!

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE AND SAVE $3.00.
ENTER COUPON CODE #: ADpvg72

See you there!

100 Mile Finds

Crumb Designs now has a new online store at 100 Mile Finds. Now that we are entering into the Fall season (technically, it is still summer!), there are lots of occasions coming up in which one will need an apron. Just think...apple pie, pumpkin pie, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy...I think you know what I'm hinting at.

The ladies at 100 Mile Finds has written a lovely review about Crumb Designs and myself. Thank you so much for your kind words. To read the review, click HERE.

See you at 100 Mile Finds!

Crumb is now at Yummy Stuff!

Hello everyone!

I would love to introduce to you ... (drum roll) ... Crumb Designs at Yummy Stuff!

Yummy Stuff is a retail bakery where you can tempt your taste buds with some delectable desserts. From wedding cakes and custom cakes, to cookies, and tarts...and now aprons by Crumb Designs...Yummy Stuff has something for everyone.

Yummy Stuff also has a blog, Eat Yummy Stuff, in which they feature a cupcake of the month.

The cupcake for September is a take on the good 'ol campfire favorites...roasted marshmallows and s'mores.

Get ready for this ... are you ready ... okay ... graham cracker base, chocolate cupcake with chocolate filling and ... ahem ... a perfectly toasted marshmallow topping. HELLO! Oh yum!

So Drop by Yummy Stuff and get yourself a treat and check out the new selection of Crumb Designs aprons.

For more information, please visit www.yummystuff.ca.

Yummy Stuff is located at 1660 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON

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I solemnly swear...

Today I just took the Handmade Pledge.

I, Jennifer, do solemnly swear that I make everything with my own two hands. I'm proud of my workmanship and proud to be handmade in Canada.

Gosh, that felt really good.

At last...the Peonies

Last...but surely not least...are the Peonies at the Laking Garden. I think I will just let the pictures speak for themselves.

My favorite. The blooms are so beautiful and delicate. The long floppy petals and the long yellow stamens gives this peony such a wonderful whimsical personality. I just love it's whimsical beauty. I believe this Peony is called "Seashell"...but I could be mistaken. Seashell or not...it's still very beautiful.

The bud of a Peony is so remarkable. All those petals are all tightly nestled in a perfect little bud, ready to blossom into the most perfection that man could never re-create. This is the beautiful hand of Mother Nature.

Yes, and some of those neat little balls of petals can turn into the largest flower. This one was literally the size of my face.

I hope you enjoyed the flowers! Remember to take time out of your day to connect with a piece of Mother Nature. Stop and smell a flower today, or give a nod of hello to a tree. They will smile right back at you.

Have a great day!

Irises at the Laking Garden

Seeing the Irises and Peonies all in bloom at the Laking Garden is so magical! Once we walked onto the terrace that overlooks the Iris and Peony garden, I instantly had goose bumps and I was as giddy as a little girl. I hung off my sweethearts arm and kept whispering to him "oh my gosh, it's so beautiful...look at all the flowers and colours! Isn't it amazing!"

I must mention that last Saturday was our 5th anniversary...so this turned out to be a very magical and romantic day.

I could've easily taken hundreds more pictures then I did. In fact, I ended up handing over the camera to my sweetie so I could enjoy the flowers instead of constantly snapping pictures.

The Iris blossoms remind of pretty silk chiffon dresses with lots of flowing layers and ruffles!

I will save the Peonies for tomorrow. Have a great day!

Wish List

There are a few plants that I fell in love with at the RBG...well, more than a few. Here is my wish list:

1. Prairie Smoke, Geum Triflorum, Family: Rosaceae

This is one of the most interesting plants I have ever seen and it sure does make me smile. Praire Smoke is a perennial wildflower that is native to the North American woodland and prairie environments. It likes full sun, and is drought tolerant.

2. Foxglove Beard-Tongue, Penstemon digitalis, 'Husker Red', Family: Scrophulariaceae

3. Little Blue-Eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium montanum, Family: Iridaceae

I love the little blue flowers that stand atop the grass. This grass is native to Ontario and the flower is a very important nectar source for pollinators.

4. Wood Sage, Salvia nemorosa, 'Caradonna', Family: Lamiaceae

Nice vibrant colours from blue, purple to mauve.

5. Golden Japanese Forest Grass, Hakonechloa macra, 'Aureola'

6. Japanese Blood Grass, Imperata cylindrica, 'Red Baron'

7. Tulip Tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, Family: Magnoliaceae

I love this tree. I love the colour, shape and size of the leaves. The top of the leaf is a deeper green then the underside, which is more of a chartreuse green (my favorite green!).

Tomorrow I will take you through the Laking Garden at the RBG. This is where all the Irises and Peonies are in bloom. I have many more pictures to share with you. Have a great day!

Royal Botanical Gardens

My honey and I spent the day last Saturday at the Royal Botanical Gardens. As you may already know, this is one of my favorite places to visit and spend the day. I took well over 200 pictures. I could've easily taken more...EASILY.

We began our day at the Hendrie Park. Hendrie Park consists many many gardens. We visited the Rose Garden, and the Morrison Woodland Garden. The roses were absolutely magnificent and I found a few gems from the Woodland Garden to add to my wish list.

My favorite rose of the day (oh I hate choosing, but this one spoke to me that day) was the Floribunda Rose, "Escapade".

Tomorrow I will post my wish list I created from visiting Hendrie. Have a great day!

peek-a-boo!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there! Have a wonderful day!

I gave my Mom a ring-a-ling this morning to wish her a Happy Mother's Day and guess where she was...on her hands and knees in the dirt planting Geraniums at my Grandmother's. It is only 4 degrees outside, with possible flurries. That's hardcore! I see where I get my gardening bug from. I must say that I'm feeling a little sad that I'm not by her side helping her in the garden. Work has been so busy and I haven't been able to get away ... oh how I hate that I just said that! And the one person that is always so understanding....is Mom. I miss her very much.

Here is a picture of my Mom and I on her 65th birthday last summer.