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by The Backseat Stylers | March 20th, 2013 
Happy first day of spring! Though the temperatures here in Toronto aren’t exactly co-operating, we at The Backseat Stylers are more than ready for all that the new season brings with it, including sunnier days, fresh blooms and, of course, the One of a Kind Spring Show & Sale.
The Show is back in town from March 27-31 at the Direct Energy Centre, and will feature handcrafted designs by 450-plus artisans. It’s full of Canadian-made fashion, art and housewares perfect for a refresh of your wardrobe and home for spring. There’s even a can’t-miss food aisle that’s always the highlight of our visits.
Want in on the #OOAKS13 action? We can help you with that – we’re giving away 10 pairs of tickets to the Show! Contest rules are below. Good luck, and see you there!
xx, T & S
Contest Rules [CLOSED]:
1. To enter, leave us a comment on this blog post and ‘like’ The Backseat Stylers and One of a Kind Show’s Facebook pages here and here.
2. For a bonus entry, follow @backseatstylers and @ooak_toronto on Twitter and tweet the following: “The @backseatstylers are giving away 10 pairs of @ooak_toronto tickets, and I want in! http://bit.ly/16JBIxA #OOAKS13 #giveaway”
3. Contest closes on March 26, 2013 at midnight. Winners will be contacted via email.
4. This giveaway is open to our readers located in the GTA only.
5. There are no prize substitutions.
by The Backseat Stylers | November 20th, 2012 
Now that the holidays are undeniably around the corner (Toronto Eaton Centre‘s Christmas tree lighting ceremony last week makes it official!), we at The Backseat Stylers are ready to dive head first into everything cheerful and festive. And that can only mean one thing: kicking off our holiday season at the One of a Kind Christmas Show & Sale!
The Show is back in town from November 22 to December 2, bringing with it handcrafted designs by 800-plus artisans. It’s chock full of fun stocking stuffers and unique gift ideas for most everyone, and always one of our favourite holiday shopping destinations.
In fact, we love it so much that we want you there shopping alongside us, so we’re giving away 10 pairs of tickets to the Show! Contest rules are below. Good luck, and see you at #OOAKX12!
xx, T & S
Contest Rules [CLOSED]:
1. To enter, leave us a comment on this blog post and ‘like’ The Backseat Stylers and One of a Kind Show’s Facebook pages here and here.
2. For a bonus entry, follow @backseatstylers and @ooak_toronto on Twitter and tweet the following: “The @backseatstylers are giving away 10 pairs of @ooak_toronto tickets, and I want in! http://bit.ly/TVOdhy #OOAKX12 #giveaway”
3. Contest closes on November 21, 2012 at 5pm. Winners will be contacted via email.
4. This giveaway is open to our readers located in the GTA only.
5. There are no prize substitutions.
by The Backseat Stylers | November 27th, 2011 
Enchanted Designs, Booth W-24
Every year for the past few years, I’ve kicked off my Christmas shopping adventures the same way: at The One of a Kind Christmas Show & Sale. Well, as of Nov 24, the show is officially back in town, Toronto, and here until Dec 4 to help make sure that you and I get our holiday shopping done on time (and maybe even early!) for once. I vow not to be running around town looking for last-minute stocking stuffers again this year on Christmas Eve, so I was excited to stop by the Show on opening day for the media breakfast and visits to some of my favourite booths.
Speaking of favourite booths, these 5 are mine.
Biko Jewellery (Booth N-08) – It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of all that Corrine Anestopoulos does. Biko’s booth has traditionally been the most dangerous for me at the OOAK Shows; I’ve never come away from one without having been parted with a good chunk of change. I’ve been wearing my last purchase, the Adoria necklace, non-stop, and I’m just about ready for my next Biko piece. I have a feeling the Astra necklace will be in my possession before the Show ends.
C comme ça (Booth V-47) – Cindy Cantin’s wares never fail to impress. Her booth is always full of briefcases, backpacks and other accessories made of recycled leather and felt, her material of choice. Her eye-catching designs are a great alternative to the usual array of office-ready bags on the market. I currently have my eye on the Macbook wool felt sleeve for my newly-acquired laptop, and a matching briefcase for the Mister. Fashionable and functional.
Dear Betty Designs (Booth X-03) – I thoroughly enjoy the cheeky t-shirts and door hangers at this booth. A few OOAK Shows ago I picked up a “G for Grumpy” t-shirt for the Mister on one of his grumpiest days; it instantly put a smile on his face. So far this week I’ve already bought a “D for Digger” t-shirt for Baby BSS (he’s obsessed with trucks), and am planning to go back for an “S for Swagger” t-shirt for myself. Because I’m hoping the t-shirt will give me some.
Enchanted Designs (Booth W-24) – That lovely recycled fur capelet Chantel is clutching in the above photo was discovered in this booth, which happened to be filled with much more of the same, namely fabulous, eco-friendly pieces. Based in Vancouver, owners Joanne and Bob Hodgson are in the business of refashioned vintage furs and leathers, and they’re clearly very good at what they do.
TOODLEBUNNY (Booth L-09) – I discovered Trudy Wynans’ jewelry line exactly one year ago at the last OOAK Christmas Show, and I’ve been a devotee ever since. Featuring both one-of-a-kind designs from her ECOuture collection and easier-on-the-wallet pieces from the Toodles collection, the TOODLEBUNNY booth is a tempting one to say the least. One stunning statement necklace in particular has already come home with me this week…it was named after me, after all.
I’ll definitely be making a return visit to the Show before it closes on Dec 4. See you there? Tickets are $12 each online here.
TOODLEBUNNY Designs, Booth L-09
C comme CA, Booth V-47
Biko Jewellery, Booth N-08
Dear Betty Designs, Booth X-03
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | December 5th, 2010 
Last week, I professed my newfound love for TOODLEBUNNY Designs, a Vancouver-based jewelry line I’d just discovered at this year’s One of a Kind Christmas Show & Sale. On my first visit, I snagged a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind charm necklace, but I knew I wanted more. When I returned to the show for round #2 yesterday with my OOAK pals P and A in tow, I was on an official hunt for my second TOODLEBUNNY piece. Despite all the wonderful offerings in that booth, it didn’t take long for me to decide, because I’d already been eyeing this stunning cameo brooch the week before and had been daydreaming about it all week. Having left it behind once, I wasn’t about to make the same mistake again. I’m dying to give new life to a basic black blazer with this beautiful piece!
If you haven’t paid the OOAK show a visit yet this year, today is your last chance! Get your Christmas shopping done while supporting Canadian artisans – show info can be found here.
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | November 27th, 2010 
Yesterday I officially kicked off the holiday season with a visit to the One of a Kind Show! After having been to a few of these already over the last few years (see here for my last visit), I’ve become accustomed to seeing the same vendors over and over again, especially since they all seem to hit all the stops on the craft show circuit here in Toronto. While I’m always happy to see my favourite artisans again, the booths and their offerings can get rather repetitive, so when a new vendor shows up in town with a fresh product, I’m easily reeled in. Thus was the case with TOODLEBUNNY Designs.
Continue reading →
by The Backseat Stylers | April 15th, 2010 The younger Backseat Styler and I went to the One of a Kind Show over the Easter holiday with S, M and A. The semi-annual show is one of my most favourite Toronto events; it’s always a full afternoon of fun without costing very much. That is, if you manage to resist temptation and not walk out of the show with armfuls of bags. I was determined to be good this time around, and for the most part I stuck to my guns.
The first love-at-first-sight moment of the show was when I laid eyes on this rabbit fur and lambskin trapper hat. It was a perfect fit, but it seemed silly to be buying a trapper hat at the end of winter, so I passed on it…until the next show!
One of my favourite vendors at the One of a Kind Show is Ophelie Hats, a milliner based in Montreal. They always carry the cutest hats and headbands. The only thing stopping me from buying this peacock feather headband was the whimsical red flower headband I bought 2 shows ago and have never worn. In fact, I have no idea where it is. No more headbands for me until I figure out how to wear them!
Toronto-based Biko Designs is my other favourite Show vendor. Designer Corrine Anestopoulos’ pieces all have a vintage feel that adds character to any ol’ outfit. I’ve been eyeing this gold bow chain necklace for a while now and finally took the plunge. It certainly helped that it went perfectly with my outfit that day!
While I was busy trying on accessories, T was admiring the truly one of a kind crafts at the Show. T seems to be drawn to all things mini.
Time flew by at the show and next thing we knew it was time to go…but not before picking up a new friend for Mr. and Baby Backseat Styler. Say hello to Victor everyone!
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | November 25th, 2009 
This past May I had the joy of discovering the One of a Kind Show for the first time and I had so much fun I’ve been looking forward to the Christmas Show and Sale for the past six months. Well, it’s finally here and I’m looking forward to picking up some unique jewelry, baby gear and Christmas gifts. My hosts from the Spring outing are sadly unavailable this time around, but I might just be able to convince the younger Backseat Styler to accompany me. xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | April 8th, 2009 This past Saturday afternoon I found my new favourite place in Toronto and I have SG, PK and AY to thank! As soon as I stepped foot into the One of a Kind Show I knew I was in shopping heaven; the challenge, of course, was not allowing my pocketbook to go to hell. These show standouts threatened to leave me without house or husband:
‘District’ clutch by klutch
Gorgeous texture with stunning peacock feather detail makes this clutch absolutely TDF.
Three-tiered filigree heart necklace by biko designs
Oh, the drama of it all. Truly a stunning piece for day to night.
Bouquet necklace by Foxy Originals
Surprisingly my first Foxy piece and definitely won’t be the last.
Feather trim headband by Ophelie Hats
It was next to impossible to choose just one favourite from Ophelie. I want – nix that, need – to get my hands on their Fall 2009 collection asap!
Autumn necklace with genuine leaves, bark and stones from Lubie Studios’ Nature collection
A jewelry collection for every season, each as stunning as the last.
Numerous booths and countless squeals of delight later, SG and I had outlasted even many of the exhibitors and our wallets were still intact…but only due to restraint I did not know I had. Armed with my spoils of war – the Vierti top in navy and yellow from Nakele (unintentionally perfect for my pregnant belly), a silver anchor necklace from biko designs and the Bouquet necklace from Foxy Originals - I left the show vowing to be first in line for the One of a Kind Christmas Show.
xx, S
Annex: I love the bouquet necklace from Foxy Originals! Its prettiness makes me googly-eyed.
xx, T
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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