1.Fairy Town in an itty bitty teacup 2. The Flycatcher  3.Original Mixed Media Altered Art Brooch  4. Original Art  5. A Fairy Wedding Cake

I think every ruralist has a little bit of whimsy in their heart. Surrounded by lush fields and forests it’s hard not to be captured by the magic of the land. Perhaps that’s why Pixie Hill artist Nichola Battilana’s work resonates with me. Nichola has captured what my whimsical heart wants to see, the possibility that magic really is all around us. Pixie Hill is located on a rustic farm surrounded by enchanted forests in Brighton, Ontario, in the heart of Northumberland County.

Wanting to get a peek behind the scenes, I asked Nichola to tell me more about Pixie Hill and what inspires her to create her charming and delightful work. Here is what I learned:

Tell us a little about Pixie Hill, how do you describe your work?

My business cards says I’m a maker of messes and believer in fairies and I think that sums up what I do nicely. I’m an artist and designer and operate a studio dubbed “Pixie Hill” in Brighton, Ontario. The things I make range from miniature houses, transforming old photographs, tiny gardens in thimbles, paper crafts and even a bit of painting. It may sound a little scatterbrained but my work has a running theme of magic, joy and whimsicality.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Just one thing? Impossible! I love the actual making and creating. If I don’t create on a daily basis I get very grumpy. I never get tired of it. Making a mess in the studio keeps me sane. Also, I’m fairly awkward socially, so my work speaks for me. When I show my work an amazing connection takes place. There is a this look that some people get when they look at my work. They revert to being 10 years old, then sigh and gush. Seeing that reaction is one of the best things in life.

Each one of your pieces is so unique and individual, what inspires your creativity?

My biggest inspiration is this place. I can walk our property every single day and find a new little treasure. It is a constant source of amazement. I walk out my back door to blankets of moss, trails of toadstools and swarms of fireflies. Last summer, just as the sun was setting, you could see the silouettes hundreds of huge dragonflies zooming this way and that way in front of a sky the colour of mango sorbet. How could you not be inspired by that? Truthfully, and this may sound silly, almost everything inspires me in some way. It’s the way you look at the things that are right in front of you, and recognizing their worth (real or imagined). Lost buttons and smooth pebbles can have a great deal to say if you don’t take them for granted.

How did Pixie Hill get started?

Pixie Hill took seed the day we moved into this old house. We had endured a very difficult year and this place immediately became our sanctuary. I soon took notice of magical things happening all around. Seeing stars actually twinkle at night, frogs peeking into second story windows to listen to bedtime stories, the end of the rainbow appearing on our front lawn, pumpkins sprouting where none had been planted, all of these things swept me away. For a girl from the city these things were a wonder and absolute inspiration. My work began to reflect the enchantment of this place, the goodness it made me feel toward the world, and Pixie Hill was born.

Have you always been an artist?

I have foundation fine arts training and am a graduate of the Sheridan Collage graphic design program. Living in the city, I worked two jobs: production coordinator for a weekly entertainment publication and graphic designer for a non-profit media arts organization. It was a strange mix. Designing for musicians, bars and escorts one day, then curating an exhibit of photography by street youth, and designing annual reports for charitable organizations the next. I was a much different person then, tense and usually rushing for something. There’s a wonderful calm, a slower pace that comes with living in a rural area. It’s not for everyone, and it does take getting used to, but I can’t imagine living any other way now.

Any special things happening at Pixie Hill this summer?

My studio has always been available for visitors by appointment, but beginning in May the doors will be open for snooping every Friday. The biggest thing I’m working on is “The Fairy Tour”. Last year I created several vinettes (including a troll hole, a hobbit door and a fairy houses) for visitors to discover while wandering about the property. It was great fun and this year I’m expanding, adding more stops, and including creative thinking workshops to co-inside with the exhibit. The installation will run at Pixie Hill from June 22nd through July, before it migrating to our local arts centre, The Gates, in August.

What do you wish people knew about Pixie Hill?

I think it is important to know that Pixie Hill didn’t just spout out of a brainstorming session. It has grown organically. The stories are 100% true, and not just imaginative marketing. I don’t think that many people realize that I do everything for Pixie Hill. I make the items, do the photography, design and maintain the website, design all of the print materials. My whole heart is in it.

What are some other unique aspects of what you do?

I think the emotional response that people have to my work is quite unique. Beyond being pretty little things, my work can stir up childhood memories and revive real sense of wonder. I don’t really have a demographic either. My customers range from cheeky children and fabulous old ladies, to fellow creative types and high profile CEO’s. I cannot place an age, education or income range on my customer base. There’s a sweet inner quality that my visitors possess that goes beyond demographics. I can never ever tell who my next customer is going to be.

How do you like to spend your free time?

My husband is a winemaker in Prince Edward County, but a hobby farmer at heart. My 10 year old son is a budding photographer. There’s also our dog, Padfoot, and several laying hens. We’re a foodie family so a great deal of time is spent in the kitchen or garden. In three short years we’ve gone from a small plot in the city to growing almost all of our own vegetables, raising our own chickens, collecting fresh eggs from our hens, and preparing and preserving much of our food from scratch. It’s a dream.

What other local businesses in the Brighton area do you recommend?

End of the Thread Café is brilliant! It’s this really eclectic café and antique shop… a wonderful, quirky place to be.

The Gates is Brighton’s new art centre, operated by the Brighton Arts Council. Years ago, it was a driving range so it sits on this amazing 8 acre property. There’s an overgrown mini-put course with unbelievable mossy carpets, which will be home to some of my fairy houses come this August.

Dragonfly is a fantastic clothing and accessory store. They carry some exceptional not-so-ordinary items.

Impresario Artisan Market – An amazing hip shop filled with handmade treasures. Rebecca showcases loads of local talent. It’s located in the heart of Cobourg which is a great place to walk about.

–Erin

All photos by Sandra Regier, except profile photo
(by Erin Samuell of A Simple Photograph) and MacNaughton photo (by me).

Sandra Regier is a photographer and ruralist who lives in a historic home on a country road in Huron County. She is a wife, mom of five, active in her community, and excited about the great things in rural Ontario, just like we are! Sandra has proven to be an enthusiastic ally for us Ruralistas, willing to get involved when and where she can, share her expertise and network, and help us work to show you the best things around us.

At the shoot where she took the photos we used in our {Get} Make a Fall Container Garden at Huron Ridge Acres post, we asked Sandra to tell us about her five favourite things about rural Ontario. Above is the list she gave us. To find out more about each one, here are some links:

1. MacNaughton-Morrison Trail, Exeter
2. Stratford Festival
3. The Black Dog Village Pub, Bayfield; Historical Bayfield Town Hall, Bayfield
4. Pianovations, Blyth
5. Hessenland Country Inn, St. Joseph

To see the rest of the Bayfield shoot I borrowed Sandra’s Black Dog picture from, as featured on Style Me Pretty, click here. To see more of Hessenland and the shoot I borrowed the corresponding image from, click here. Enjoy her frequent Instagram posts, or, to chat with Sandra about photography or rural Ontario living or more, follow her on Twitter: @SandraRegier.

–Sarah

Introducing Renee Laurin

You may have noticed a new face on the sidebar of Ruralist. Click it and you’ll be directed to the talented photographer Renee Laurin’s website. Renee has been generous in working with us on Ruralist this past year, so we thought it was time to give her a formal introduction. You will recognize Renee’s work from our Bayfield Fall Fashion and Bayfield Style by Luxe fashion stories. I met up with Renee at The Black Dog where we chatted about design inspiration and all things rural; and noshed on a delicious lunch of beet salad and brie and mushrooms on toast. It was a treat to spend time with Renee on this side of her camera, plus, as two busy moms of two, we both enjoy a nice lunch out!

Working with Renee was fun and relaxed. I enjoy her easy-going approach and how she casually blends into the background when she shoots, letting the models feel less conspicuous while they take centre stage. After lunch, on our way out the door, I snapped a few fun shots of Renee. Her carefree spirit is infectious and she’s always game to try anything. I hope we will get a chance to work with Renee again soon.

A career in creativity

Renee started her career 13 years ago as a graphic artist. While always interested in photography she began to pursue it as more than a hobby six years ago, after moving to the Huron County area. Renee leans towards stylized sessions as her favourite type of photography. Her style is about manipulating the scenes and people in ;ways that bring out a glamorized and unique perspective. While there are several great fine art portrait photographers that inspire her, one that particularly stands out is Kirsty Mitchell and her amazing Wonderland series. Renee and her husband Mark are both passionate about photography Renee is one of Mark’s favourite subjects. Several of the images above were taken by him.

Passionate about rural living

I asked Renee what she loves most about living in rural Ontario and she was very quick to respond. Clearly a rural lifestyle is an aspect of her life that she truly values. Renee explained, “Aside from the obviously cleaner air and being able to walk from one side of town to other in less than half an hour, there are amazing sunsets, wide open fields, great trails and quaint main streets to explore. Frankly, it’s a photographer’s paradise!”

Renee also shared that she loves knowing, or knowing of, the people in her community. “Familiarity is another big one for me,” she explained. “The longer I live here the greater the chance I have of running into someone I know on my errands or discovering that someone I didn’t know has a connection to someone I know that I wasn’t aware of! I’ve found that living here, you don’t need to know each and every person to receive a warm greeting or friendly wave. I love the feeling of comfort you find in a small town; it truly is hard to find anything like that in the city. Having had the experience of both city and rural life, I’ve had many people ask me if I would ever go back. I can truthfully answer that I wouldn’t want to live or work anywhere else!”

–Erin

Ben Gingerich is the owner of Coastal Coffee Company. He is in the process of setting up a storefront in Zurich, Ontario, but you can find his beans at many stores across Southwestern Ontario.

You can also read about Coastal Coffee Co. elsewhere on Ruralist by clicking here.

Find out more about Ben’s Five Faves:

1. Ausable River Soap Co., Lucan
2. The Music Box, Zurich
3. Pinery Provincial Park, Grand Bend
4. The Huron Good Food Box
5. Gestalt, Bayfield

–Sarah

Inspired by Rural Ontario
It’s possible no one guessed that Meaghan Smith would win Best Pop Recording of the Year at the 2011 East Coast Music Awards, as well as the 2011 Juno Award for Best New Artist for her album titled The Cricket’s Orchestra. But, knowing now how Meaghan has been inspired by rural Ontario, the title of her album seems almost destined. Having grown up in London, Ontario, with imagination and creativity as her guide, Meaghan finds inspiration in the most delightful places. Her list of things she loves most about rural Ontario captures the essence and charm of life in rural Ontario.

It Snowed – See An Intimate Performance in Rural Ontario
Coming off her Juno win, Meaghan wasn’t content to rest on her laurels. She began production of her new album It Snowed soon afterwards. This album was inspired by Meaghan’s love of the holidays. It Snowed is an eclectic collection of holiday songs that includes some originals and some standard favourites. The title track continues Meaghan’s unique modern/vintage vibe, featuring antique-sounding samples beneath Meaghan’s pop melody. In her own words,

“There’s something about long dark winter nights contrasted with brilliantly sparkling snowy days, or freezing winter air and the comforting heat of an inviting fire. People are thinking of each other, buying gifts for one another or just getting together. It’s the traditions, the food, the friends, the family, the lights and the music that I love. I want to be a part of the joy in people’s holidays.”

You can see Meaghan in concert at select locations across Canada, but if a small, intimate venue is what you prefer then get your tickets for the upcoming shows: Dec. 6 in Bayfield, Dec. 7 in Highgate and Dec. 8 in Aylmer. In the meantime, enjoy Meaghan’s version of one of my personal favourite holiday songs, “Silver Bells”.

–Erin

Bookmark These Blogs!
Buying and preparing local food has never been easier, thanks to these six fantastic Ontario food bloggers. My appetite for quality local food has grown dramatically since discovering them. Because of their passion and commitment to sharing recipes and advice on all aspects of enjoying food, I find myself more enthusiastic about shopping and preparing my meals. The honesty of these women is tangible in their writing. I encourage you to bookmark each of them and start exploring. You’ll discover everything from where to find the best artisanal cheeses to baking a showstopper birthday cake to learning to garden with heirloom vegetables. Bon Appetit!

Eating Niagara – Tiffany Mayer is a prolific writer who spent eight years as a daily news reporter, and most of that time devoted to covering agriculture. Tiffany’s goal with Eating Niagara is to tell the stories of the people growing and making food in the Niagara area. A dedicated taster herself, Tiffany’s stories cover all the ways that someone could eat Niagara — at the farm stand or market, in a CSA or grocery store, foraging, trying their hand at growing their own food, or in restaurants or their own kitchen. Says Tiffany, “Niagara is one of the most beautiful regions in the world. There are so many stories to tell, so many meals to eat that my site barely scratches the surface. Still, I hope it gives you a taste for everything Niagara has to offer.” What I love about Tiffany is that her passion and honesty is matched only by her curiosity. There seems to be no corner of Niagara unturned in her quest to discover the region’s diverse food offerings. My first encounter with Eating Niagara left a strong impression. You can read more about that here.  Recently I came across a post describing an unexpected way to prepare spaghetti squash that I would really like to try!

Cubit’s Organic Living – Cubit’s Organic Living is an extension of Cubit’s Organics, an organic seed company that specializes in high-quality organic, rare and heirloom seeds. Owned and operated by Laura Watt and her husband Ryan, Cubit’s Organic Living is dedicated to sharing the experience of organic farming and harvesting. Laura believes passionately that eating organic produce is one of the best things you can do for yourself and the environment. Updates on Cubit’s Organic Living are accompanied by stunning photography that showcases life on the farm where their organic seed is grown. Follow Laura and you’ll find plenty of recipes and how-to instructions for cooking and gardening, along with the occasional parenting anecdote sprinkled throughout. Last year Laura posted about how to make Roasted Carrots and Beets with Mint and Feta and it still makes my mouth water just looking at it!

Sweetapolita – Bowmanville-based blogger Rosie Alyea’s visually stunning baking site will make you swoon! When I first saw her fondant asparagus cake I was completely hooked! Sweetapolita’s artfully decorated sweets and top notch photography have inspired my baking to new heights. Rosie’s video tutorials and how-to tips have introduced me to new techniques and recipes that I otherwise never would have tried. For instance, I learned the technique for making this gorgeous pastel swirl cake. I’m looking forward to trying more of Sweetapolita’s goodies–it’s one food experiment my kids always encourage!

Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance – Rebecca LeHeup, Executive Director of the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance, doesn’t own a freezer! She takes her mission for discovering fresh Ontario food that seriously. A Prince Edward County resident, Rebecca has a passion for fresh food that takes her far and wide across Ontario; she has discovered food growers and producers in every corner of the province. The OCTA promotes the growth of culinary tourism by developing strong relationships between consumers, growers, and tourism and industry organizations. I enjoy living vicariously through Rebecca and the OCTA blog, where her incredible food finds, events and amazing recipes are shared. Here’s an OCTA Taste-Tested recipe for Apple Streusel Cake that looks divine.  This site has so many dimensions–just go see it and start exploring!

Ontario Table – Lynn Ogryzlo is a culinary activist and award-winning cookbook author. The Ontario Table blog is the meeting place for her passion for locally produced food and the $10 challenge she has issued to Ontarians. I have had the good fortune to meet Lynn personally and I can tell you she is every bit as passionate as her food photography is beautiful! She eats, sleeps and breathes local food like no one else I know. This blog is no end of inspiration. Lynn has organized all of the best places in Ontario to buy locally grown food, as well as linked digital versions of her lovely $10 Challenge magazine. Lynn’s recipes cover a broad range of food styles and use local ingredients in innovative and exciting ways. Her recent feature on pumpkin introduced me to a whoopee pie recipe that I know will be a hit!

Ontario Seasonal Food – For the past six years Jennifer Sanders, aka Ferdzy, has been generously sharing her favourite seasonal recipes. With a bias toward the organic, her blog features beautifully photographed local seasonal food. What I love about Ontario Seasonal Food, other than the wealth of great recipes, is the wonderful way they are organized! You can search by ingredient or by month. Going to this site is like opening up a recipe book made by a friend. Based in Meaford, Jennifer describes her recipes in detail, making the cooking process easier and success more assured. This recipe for Cheesy Pasta Casserole with Squash and Kale is next on my list of new comfort foods to try.

 –Erin

Learn more about Em’s favourites:

1. Slegers Greenhouses, Strathroy
2. Little Brown Farm, Ilderton
3. Dolway Organic Garden, Thames River Valley
4. McSmith’s Organic Farm, St. Thomas

– Sarah

Photo Credit: Renee Laurin

Pete Meades is a small-town guy with major Canadian music connections. With his production company, Meades Bros. Productions, as the engine behind the popular Bayfield Concert Series, Pete has brought class acts like Colin James, Melissa McLelland, Danny Michel, Dave Bidini, the Good Lovelies, Ill Scarlett, Andy Kim, Emm Gryner, and Joel Plaskett to the village of Bayfield.

Established in 2009, the Bayfield Concert Series helps showcase Canadian musical talent. Bayfield is one of those small towns that has a very vibrant music scene, and some of Canada’s best artists have eagerly performed in Bayfield, and returned time and again.

Each series includes three or four concerts, often with local opening acts. The shows happen at the quaint Bayfield Town Hall, which holds about 100 people: the perfect size for an intimate concert where you can truly enjoy the music and the performer, and interact with both.

Still to come this fall and winter are gifted headliners Basia Bulat (Oct 18), Juno award winner Meaghan Smith (Dec 5), and Sarah Slean (Feb 15). Here is one of my favourite Basia Bulat songs, The Shore, from her newest album, Heart of My Own.

I asked Pete to share five of his favourite things about rural Ontario, and this is his list:

1. Fall in Huron County–it’s so beautiful!
2. Small communities where kids can grow up without the problems of large cities.
3. The music that small communities produce and support. In my opinion, Huron County has the most amazing musicians per capita!
4. The sense of community where everyone gets involved and supports important projects.
5. Most of all, I love that droves of people flock to spots they call home, like Bayfield. It really makes you appreciate where we are and what we have.

Get your tickets for one of these upcoming shows at ticketscene.ca, or contact Pete through the Bayfield Concert Series Facebook page to get more information.

–Sarah

On Growing Up with Local Food

“I am a mother first,” explains Lynn Ogryzlo. “ I need to be able to provide good food for my children.” Since her childhood in the village of Thorold, Ontario, Lynn Ogryzlo’s relationship with local food has developed into both her passion and her life’s work. Perhaps it was those early experiences growing her own food, or perhaps it was knowing who grew the food that sowed the seeds of inspiration for Lynn. Those seeds have flourished, growing into Lynn’s successful writing, cooking and culinary activism career.

Who knew that the sight of the local Italian ladies, legs dangling over the tailgates of pick-up trucks, on their way to harvest fresh produce, would become an iconic symbol? For Lynn, these women represented the importance of connecting community and food. As Lynn explains, “Growing up, food built our community and our community built our food.”  Lynn’s mission now is to share her passion and uncover the fresh, top-quality food that can be found in farming communities across Ontario, where local is the main ingredient in every dish. 

“If every household in Ontario spent $10 a week on local food, we’d have an additional $2.4 billion in our local economy at the end of the year.”

On Cookbooks and Culinary Activism

Building community through food is at the heart of Lynn’s mission as a culinary activist. In the effort to bring good food to her children, Lynn connected consumers to local food producers via the Niagara Culinary Trail. Going door-to door to meet farmers and ask for their support kick-started what would become a larger movement to bring attention to local agriculture.

“If every household in Ontario spent $10 a week on local food, we’d have an additional $2.4 billion in our local economy at the end of the year. Keeping our money circulating grows those dollars to $3.6 billion and creates 10,000 new jobs.” It’s a simple message but one that has the ability to empower us all. Changing the local food world one household at a time with her $10 message, Lynn Ogryzlo’s cookbooks are international award-winning best-sellers.

Her first, Niagara Cooks: from farm to table won the Best Local Food Cookbook in Canada by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards and then went on to win Silver for Best Local Food Cookbook in the World. All of Lynn’s books are about being reconnected with our most trusted, safest, freshest, best quality and most dependable source of food – that which grows in our own back yard.

Lynn has issued the $10 Challenge to Ontario: “with each dollar you spend you are voting for the kind of culinary culture you want. Collectively we can change our world – one dollar at a time.”

“I know first-hand that Ontario has incredible rural destinations that would enchant the most seasoned of globe-trotters.”

On Writing the Ontario Table

In her newest book The Ontario Table, Lynn features the best food from around the province. With brilliant color photography and tantalizing recipes, The Ontario Table inspires readers to start shopping and cooking local. In the creating of this latest book, Lynn literally travelled from farm gate to farm gate, meeting people and animals alike: “I met pigs with personality, cows with attitude and chickens that lay eggs to classical music,” says Lynn. “I know first-hand that Ontario has incredible rural destinations that would enchant the most seasoned of globe-trotters.”

What makes The Ontario Table so delightful is the innovative way that Lynn combines local stories and photographs with unique recipes and fresh Ontario ingredients. Lynn’s recipe for Apple Terrine is so beautiful and incredibly flavourful, it’s hard to believe this gorgeous “cake” is only made with apples and spices! Lynn has graciously shared her recipe below to get you started.

Pick up a copy of The Ontario Table from your local independent bookseller and treat yourself to a journey across Ontario that you may find leads right back into your own kitchen.

–Erin

That Perfect Piece in Shakespeare Ontario is one of my favourite places to hunt for one-of-a-kind vintage treasures. But today I wasn’t there to shop (although I did come home with a brand “new” circa 1960′s desk for my husband’s office). I was there, camera in hand, to chat with Lorraine, the shop proprietor.

Lorraine greeted me with a smile and offered me a coffee as she apologized for not having had a chance to dust her (perfectly spotless dust-free) shop. As I pulled out my gear, Lorraine went to assist a customer who was admiring a vanity. Eavesdropping on their conversation, I heard one of the shoppers, were giddy with excitement, exclaim, “I really did find the perfect piece!”

Not only did they purchase the vanity, but they picked up a few smaller items as well. I couldn’t help notice how happy the ladies were with their “finds” and wondered; would they be as excited about a big box store purchase? There’s something different here. Something better. Lorraine was happy that they were happy and was obviously glad to see her vanity had found such a nice home.

Between customers, Lorraine took the time to tell me how That Perfect Piece came to be. After a battle with breast cancer, Lorraine felt that her life needed a few changes.  It was important to her that she embrace her passions, and she was determined to be more environmentally responsible and create a healthier Ontario for us all. Lucky us, right? And, Lorraine accomplishes this in such a wonderful and fashionable way!

That Perfect Piece not only sells vintage treasures but it also stocks new items made from reclaimed materials, old items restored lovingly to new condition, locally sourced items from artists, and Canadian-made products.

I asked Lorraine how she sources her inventory, and as if on cue a gentleman opened the door and called out to Lorraine that he “had a truckful today” and did she want to see? Lorraine looked at me and smiled, “sometimes the stuff finds me!” I followed her out and snapped as she selected three items from the truck, all of which were in need of “a little love” before they would be put out on display with the rest of the up-cycled items.

Lorraine’s husband, John Nolan, is the man behind the scenes. John does a lot of the restoration work himself. Lorraine proudly pointed out a hutch that John had ingeniously created out of some unwanted kitchen cupboards. It was an item that I had my eye on when I first walked in. The idea that purchasing this piece would not only mean I had a stunning one-of-a-kind piece of furniture, but that I had prevented something from going to a landfill had me reaching for my wallet, but I remembered my truck would be full with the desk I had already purchased (so it’s still there if you want it!).

John came out to help me get my desk in the truck, Lorraine gave me a hug and some potted pansies, and I was off, but not for long. I might race you back for that hutch!

That Perfect Piece is located twenty minutes outside of Waterloo.  If you’re coming, don’t forget to stop at Herrle’s Country Market and The Best Little Pork Shoppe on the way. If you don’t see what you’re looking for in the shop, just ask: there’s a store room plus a workshop full of great finds and what they don’t carry they will make or source for you!

That Perfect Piece
Reclaimed. Restored. Recycled. Retro.
10 Huron Road West (Highway 7/8), Shakespeare, Ontario
519.902.4161
facebook.com/thatperfectpiece
Feel good about what you buy!