Miss Mustard Seed and Wendy from Front Porch Mercantile
|

Toronto Home Show Recap

A little late posting about my super fun trip to the Toronto Fall Home Show, we have been SUPER busy with workshops and restocking the shop so life got in the way, but many of you have asked about it (thank you) so I thought I would share some of the pictures and fun. Oh…

Share

A little late posting about my super fun trip to the Toronto Fall Home Show, we have been SUPER busy with workshops and restocking the shop so life got in the way, but many of you have asked about it (thank you) so I thought I would share some of the pictures and fun. Oh my, it was so fun! Sometimes I have to pinch myself that this is my new job!

Miss Mustard Seed was asked to be a speaker at the Toronto Home Show, her Canadian debut! Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint is Made in Canada at Homestead House, but she had never been here, you can read all of Marian’s (aka as Miss Mustard Seed) recap of her first Canadian visit here.

Miss Mustard Seed Booth at the Toronto Home Show

I spent my first day in Toronto at Homestead House training with Fusion Mineral Paint, here is that recap

Homestead House Paint Company makes both Fusion™ Mineral Paint and Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint, they are a wonderful family run company that I am so happy to part of.

There are some pretty fabulous people working with Miss Mustard Seed and Homestead House, they all pitched in to get the beautiful booth completed. Love these folks! Laura and her hubby Derek from The Ironstone Nest, Jennylyn Pringle President of Homestead House, Miss Mustard Seed and the fabulous Marti from The Bayou Bungalow. Happy to call all these folks good friends and they are so creative and inspiring. (photo from Miss Mustard Seed)

Toronto Home Show Miss Mustard Seed's Booth

The Miss Mustard Seed Booth at the Toronto Fall Home Show was amazing. Everything EVERYTHING in the booth was painted with milk paint. Walls including the chalkboard wall, beams and flooring along with all the furniture of course.  The booth really stood out at the show, getting lots of positive attention. I didn’t get any pictures of the booth, but Miss Mustard Seed did (her post is  here.)

Love this chalkboard wall, and check out the floors and walls, all MILK PAINTED (yes really!)

TOHOMESHOWchalkboardwall

Saturday we spent time working the booth, then Marian was on The Main Stage for an hour to talk about renovating and re-loving your home, tips and tricks on how to do it on a budget. There was a large crowd and it was a great session.

Toronto Home Show, Miss Mustard Seed on stage

After her appearance everyone, and I mean EVERYONE came back to the booth to talk to her and get autographs. We had a corner booth, but it was still very crowded! She is like a rock star.  Awesome, right? Miss Mustard Seed's booth at the Toronto Home Show

We spent the biggest part of Saturday with fellow Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint retailers. There were retailers from all over North America, Canada and even Australia! It was wonderful to spend the day with so many like minded and creative people.

MMS retailers conference

Was great to reconnect with fellow retailers that I met at Haven and spend some time with them. Here is my good friend the lovely Maureen from Signature Finishes. She is just awesome.

Front Porch Mercantile at the Toronto Home Show

With Miss Mustard Seed and my roomie Nichole from Cedar Lane Home and Garden

Wendy, Miss Mustard Seed and Nichole

There is a really funny and embarrassing story that happened right before this picture was taken. You will have to come in the shop and ask me sometime, cuz it’s embarrassing.

Moving on..

We were privileged to get to see the new colours being released for the European line in January. They will be available in limited quantities for us, and I can’t wait to get my hands on them! My poor photography skills are not showing the gorgeousness of these colours. You will love them!

New European Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint colours being released January 2015

Marian brought her famous dining room chairs to use in the booth. I had to get a picture. I just love these chairs!

Toronto Home Show - Front Porch Mercantile

These two great ladies worked day and night to get the booth and all the events that took place ready – thank you Jennylyn and Megan from Homestead House (look at those smiles, they are both so sweet)

Toronto Home Show

After a long day at the show and in conference we were invited by Homestead House owners to their home for a bbq and get together. Probably one of my favourite parts of the weekend. We were treated like gold, amazing food, lots of time to chat with everyone and get to know all the retailers. There are some pretty spectacular people selling Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint. I wish I had gotten lots of pictures, but again with my iPhone I only have sad looking ones. It was a wonderful evening to sit and talk to Marian, and the whole Homestead House family.

Toronto Home Show weekend

A true “family” business, Miss Mustard Seed and her mom, the owners of Homestead House – Lauri and Scott, and daughter (President) Jennylyn Pringle. Just a great evening!

Family business, Homestead House

Sunday we spent all day at the booth, chatting with lots of people about Milk Paint, there was also a public Step Stool workshop which was super fun. Here are the stools they painted! (Front Porch Mercantile offers Milk Paint Step Stool Workshops also, check out our upcoming schedule here)

Workshop Toronto Home Show

Marian painted a chair to demo how milk paint is used, she had lost her voice by this time and I was helping to answer questions and explain what she was doing. You know, just another day…speaking for Miss Mustard Seed and watching her amazing work…yup, do it all the time

Wendy from Front Porch Mercantile and Miss Mustard Seed at the Toronto Home Show

It was a long but rewarding weekend. Reconnecting with Miss Mustard Seed (who is so genuine and sweet) and fellow retailers and meeting lots of new people. Very inspiring.  We were pretty tired by the end of the day!

Miss Mustard Seed and Wendy from Front Porch Mercantile

We tore down and put away the booth, loaded Marians van, lugged a few things out, had a great supper out with fellow retailers and headed home. I may or may not have slept all the way home on the plane! Exhausting and awesome weekend!

Have you ever done a home show or trade show? Wow, they are pretty tiring :)

Thanks for dropping in – long winded again, I know , that me ha ha

Cheers,

Wendy

 

Share

Similar Posts

One Comment

Comments are closed.