CHEX TV air date: Friday Oct. 30th 5-6pm Click link to watch this episode online. We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful area of the Country. Close to nature and the ruggedness portrayed in art like the paintings of The Group of Seven. We have a wide variety of items in the shop that reflect this style of art.?From sets of tea cups with designs by Tom Thomson, Lawren Harris and other members of The Group of Seven to wall art and table art. We have wall art with those beautiful rugged pines of the north. ?And more recently we’ve added work by Cathy Mark from Little Britain. ?Her beautiful hand cut and formed trees will be featured in the next episode of The Garden Gate. Tune in to this episode to get a glimpse of the artistic?pieces available at The Avant-Garden Shop.
Artists
Garden Gate: Episode 73-All Fired Up Ceramics
CHEX TV airdate: October 2nd, 2015 Click here to watch this episode online 
?We’ve been carrying a variety of products from All Fired Up for many years. ?They are best known for their beautiful ceramic switch plate covers. ?Located in Milton Ontario, they’ve been creating ceramic art?since 1984. We have a variety of switch plates and can order covers to match your decor! ?The artist makes them in a variety of designs and styles. Single covers, double, triple, receptacle covers even combinations covers. In addition covers are available for the wider decorative switches now seen in many homes. Drop by to have a look at the catalog and we can place an order for you. All Fired Up also make beautiful clocks, little bowls and in the past necklaces. ?For the 2015 Christmas season we’ll also be bringing in some lovely vintage style ornaments.
In addition to the switch plate covers, we also carry small indoor clocks, flower frogs, bird bowls and candle holders.
The clocks are just a perfect size for a guest room, bathroom or on a small table or shelf. ? 
The flower frogs are wonderful little gifts for the gardener in the family. Buy or pick a few flowers and include a flower frog. ?It makes arranging them in a Mason jar easy! ?Smaller flower frogs fit on a baby food jar or Parmesan shaker!
Garden Gate: Episode 72-Colouring books
CHEX TV airdate: Sep. 18th, 5-6pm Click here to watch this episode online 
Remember “Doodle art?” Sharpen your pencil crayons! Colouring books for adults have become extremely popular! ?Stores are selling out faster than they can stock the books! ?One book in particular is back ordered for months! We’re hoping to have it in time for Christmas. On this episode of The Garden Gate, I had two guests helping me out. We had a little colouring party at the shop! ?Fun. ?There was a bit of fighting over pencil crayons….you’ll have to tune in to see how that ends up. Plus we had a contribution from a family member in The Netherlands! People have really taken to this new pastime. Some of my customers are trying to quit 
smoking and find colouring is a great way to keep their hands busy! ?Or if you love to do puzzles but don’t have the space to leave out 1000 pcs for months on end…this is another similar hobby that can be easily packed up and put away. Doctors are telling us it’s a great stress reliever as well. ?Your mind goes off into places it doesn’t go when you’re on the phone, watching TV or surfing the web. Take time to de-stress and feel like a kid again! ?Colouring books are between $10 and $20 on average. ?Great gifts! ?Think ahead to Christmas!!
Garden Gate: Episode 66 – Recycled plastic furniture and carpets
CHEX TV airdate: June 26th, 2015 5-6pm
Click here to watch this episode online.
In 1983 I visited my uncle in Holland. ?At the time he was working for a company that recycled waste into new products. ?He showed me something he was working on in his spare time. ?He handed me this brown piece of plastic and told me that it was made from recycled margarine tubs, plastic bags, ropes etc. ?He didn’t know exactly what it could be used for but suggested poles to place around the harbours to tie the boats to. ?They were very durable and being plastic, waterproof! ?He gave me a little sample to take home which I still have!
Brook Taylor from Taylor’s recycled plastic in Bailieboro was my guest for this episode of The Garden Gate. ?He using sheets of plastic lumber to create wonderful, colourful and very durable furniture! ?I love the idea that you don’t have to paint or stain this furniture EVER! ?If it gets dirty, you can just hose it off! They are also UV protected so won’t fade. ?There are 13 colours to choose from…..I can’t decide which colour….but when I do I will be getting some chairs from him!
We carry another product that is also made from recycled plastic. The outdoor carpet that you’ll see in this episode. ?These carpets are wonderful. ?Durable, UV protected and easy to clean. ?They add interest and colour to your deck or patio. ?We also have customers who use them when camping, going to the beach or for their trailers. ?Keeps the sand out of the tent!
Our Garden Gate segments are just 3 minutes long and are uploaded to our YouTube channel after airing on CHEX TV.
Garden Gate: Episode 65 – Father’s Day gift ideas
CHEX TV airdate: June 12th 5-6pm Click link to watch this episode online. ? Men can be difficult to buy gifts for! ?But they work hard and deserve a little something on Father’s Day. ?On this episode of The Garden Gate, I do a quick run through of items that we have found to be popular in the shop. 
Tilley hats, thermometers, Rain Gauges, fun 
Beer glasses or Beer soap! If he has a vegetable garden, our Telescoping weeder is perfect. ?Throw in a pair of gloves and you’re set! 
Or if he’d rather have something fun to place in the garden, we have some metal Moose, Beavers and Bears! ?These pre-rusted pieces are made in BC and add fun and humour to the garden. Our Garden Gate segments are just 3 minutes long and are uploaded to our YouTube channel after airing on CHEX TV.
Garden Gate: Episode 63 – Providing water for the birds and butterfly’s
CHEX TV airdate: May 15th, 2015
Click link to watch this 3 minute video online.
Bi
rds and Butterfly’s both need water either for drinking or for bathing. ?On this episode of The Garden Gate I show you a few options available, from bird baths, bird waterers and also butterfly feeders and baths.
We especially love the hand made pottery bird baths made by Quebec artist Marie-Joel Turgeon. ?Th
ese stunning works of art will look great either in your garden, on the lawn or in a large container garden.
The birds love them because they aren’t too deep as many other baths can be. Also very easy to clean.
The bird waterer is also a popular item. It can be hung on a shepherds hook, set on a stump or table or affixed to a 4X4 post.
Birds can either drink from the cups or jump right in and have a bath. ?It automatically refills from the blue coloured container to keep the cups full. The blue colour also helps to reduce algae growth. Customers (and birds) love this item!
Then we also have a few special items for the butterfly’s. ?We rarely have puddles in our yards for the butterfly’s anymore, so we need to find ways to provide water for them as well. We have butterfly drinkers, feeders and also houses!
Garden Gate: Episode 62 – Wind chimes
CHEX TV airdate: May 1st, 2015 Click link to watch this episode online. We carry some wonderful wind chimes from Woodstock Wind chimes. The owner of Woodstock chimes, Gary Kvistad is a highly trained musician with a number of music degrees. ?Read more about Gary on the Woodstock chimes website. ?These chimes are tuned by … Read more
Garden Gate: Episode 61 – Copper and other metals in the garden
CHEX TV airdate, April 17th, 2015 Click link to watch this video online. When you’re choosing art to put in your garden, it’s important to be aware of the quality and the material that is used to create the piece. ?Cheaper metals, cast iron etc. often rust or don’t last. It’s always worth investing a little more to start, so you are not disappointed later. In addition, you can see the difference in a quality item. The artist will take more time to form nicer images. Eyes won’t be cockeyed or strange colours, and edges will be smooth and have a finished look to them. We feel it is better to have fewer items in your garden that are higher quality. ?Too many pieces can often become “junky” looking and distract from the beauty of a garden. In this episode of The Garden Gate I show you a few options. I love copper, so I focus a bit more on why copper is great outdoors. In the spring and summer we tend to have our best selection of outdoor art, so be sure to drop by soon.
Garden Gate: Episode 59 -Goat’s Milk Soap
CHEX TV airdate: March 20th, 2015 5-6pm Click link to watch this episode. 
Goat’s milk soap is a customer favourite! For this episode of The Garden Gate I was joined by Jessica from Cross Wind farms in Keene to talk about their soaps and creams. ? They recently started offering their products across the Country! ?I was very happy to be able to add their soap to our offerings here at The Avant-Garden Shop. ?How much more local can you get than Keene!? Available in a wide variety of scents there is sure to be a “flavour” for you. So far it seems that the Apple Blossom is the favourite. They also have goat’s milk cheese which is often used at The Electric City Bread Company next to our shop on Sherbrooke st. Yum!
Garden Gate: Episode 54 – Northern Smittens
CHEX TV airdate: Friday January 9th between 5 and 6pm Click link to watch video here. On her way back from the One of a Kind Show, Josee Huard, maker of wonderful Northern Smittens dropped in to talk with me about her work. Northern Smittens are one of a kind felted wool mittens handcrafted from recycled wool sweaters found in thrift stores. These sweaters are often stained, shrunk or damaged making them unwearable. ?They often find their way into landfills or are sent by large shipping boats to third-world countries. By working around these problems, the artist is able to take these previously loved sweaters, cut them up and give them new life as beautiful pieces of art for your hands. 
All sweaters are at least 80% wool. ?The sweaters are processed in hot water so their fibers felt together making them thick and soft. ?This felting process creates a mitten that is incredibly warm and naturally water and wind resistant. ?The mitten lining is made from new polar fleece to ensure warmth and comfort. So warm and comfy!