The bustle of holiday shopping is over, and now it’s time to start working on getting some production underway.
We’ve been talking all weekend about our second project with Luca Nichetto and Lera Moiseeva, a teapot called Aureola.

Here are some images taken recently by Blaise Misiek of our first round of prototypes.

We’re so happy to announce of 5 year anniversary. It was actually Monday of last week but unfortunately we weren’t in the most celebratory mood, so we are celebrating today!
In some ways it feels like we haven’t been open very long, and in others it feels like we have been open a lifetime. The whole retail scope has completely changed from when we first opened, peoples shopping habits have changed, stores have become vastly more sophisticated visually all in a very short period of time.

It makes it even more important to continue to develop products with the designers we admire and respect like the CEREMONY collection by Claesson Koivisto Rune, Sucabaruca and Aureola by Luca Nichetto, and a new collection by Anderssen & Voll launching next month. We plan to  host more exhibitions with an even wider range of artists, designers and artisans and expand our mjolk books. These things are an extension of Mjolk and a result of all of the experiences we have had since we opened.

In celebration of these new projects we thought it would be fitting to give away Sucabaruca cookies, and even a Luca Nichetto cookie made by our friend Lindsey Gazel to celebrate the limited edition collection of Sucabaruca coffee sets which are made right here in Toronto.

We look forward to another 5 years at Mjolk, with all of us still here at our home and store in Toronto.

There are too many people to thank for the last 5 years, but we will try to thank you in person whenever we get the chance.

A little late to the game, but we wanted to use this opportunity to share some new products that we have in the shop, while providing some unique gift ideas for those folks you may he humming and hawing over.

Some of these items have just arrived to us, and are not uploaded to our webstore yet. If you would like to place an order right away, please just send your list along with your address to our Mjolk email.

Also a reminder of holiday shipping guidelines, as per Canada Post.

From Left:

Patina Copper Lantern (mini) - $160

Bamboo Charcoal Incense Sticks (NEW) – $20

Celadon Incense Holder by Renaud Sauve (NEW, one only) - $600

Match Box, with matches (large – NEW) – $35

Candle Snuff by Renaud Sauve (NEW) – $220

Float Candleholder by Anderssen Voll (NEW) – $59

Match Box, with matches (NEW, small, brass. Also comes in small, black) – $45 in brass / $25 black

From left:

Unique vase by Studio Prepa – $190

Tajika Copper Scissors – $95 ($85 for small)

Ume (Japanese Cherry) plate by Ryuji Mitani - $200

Hand Broom with Cedar Dustpan (NEW) – $135

Unique Coral chopstick rests, selected by Jurgen Lehl (limited availability) – $120

Timeline Bowl by Luca Nichetto – $120

Groove Marble Trivet by Hallgeir Homstvedt (NEW, large size pictured) – $65/79

Ihada Muddler/Jam Spoon by Oji Masanori (silver & sandcast brass)- $70

Ihada Butter Knife by Oji Masanori (silver & sandcast brass) – $85

Ihada Spice /Tea Powder Spoon by Oji Masanori (silver & sandcast brass) – $50

From Left:

Cast Iron Fry Pan by Nobuho Miya (NEW) – $200

Carved wooden spoon (NEW) – $35

Hinoki rice scoop (NEW) – $27

Olive Oil (NEW) – $35

Handwoven Copper Netted Tray (NEW) – good as a cooling rack for fried or baked foods – $150

Copper Deep Fry or Tofu Server (NEW) – $80

Hand Hammered Pot – $360

From left:

Wood Kami mug by Oji Masanori – $75

Jicon mug by Oji Masanori – $50

Three types of tea by Jurgen Lehl (NEW) – Hojicha Roasted Green Tea currently available online, all available in store – $15

Copper Tea Leaf Container (NEW, medium size shown, also come in a small size) – $85/$110

Wood lidded thermos (NEW, comes in three sizes) – $157 / $170 / $175

Handmade Bamboo Tea whisk (NEW) – $50

Copper tea strainer (NEW) – $85

Push Coffee Press by Mette Duedahl (NEW) – $159

Cross wood trivet by Ryuji Mitani – $120

Jurgen Lehl Ethiopian Forest Honey (NEW) – $25

From left:

Jurgen Lehl Jatamansi Soap – $20

Jurgen Lehl Jatamansi Shampoo – $35

Jurgen Lehl Jatamansi Rinse – $35

Jurgen Lehl Lip balm scented with Jatamansi extract – $22

Goat Hair Face Brush – $22

Jurgen Lehl Bamboo Charcoal Soap - $35

Jurgen Lehl Shea Butter – $40

Hudsalve – $12

Jurgen Lehl White Bath Towel – $85

Hinoki bath stool – $170

Hinoki Bath Bowl – $120

From left:

Vase by Matthias Kaiser (NEW) – $325

Tetu Iron Door Stop – $75

Porcelain Wave Brush Holder by Renaud Sauve – $200

Porcelain Paint Palette by Renaud Sauve (large) – $220 ($190 for small)

Porcelain Calligraphy Water Dropper Suiteki by Renaud Sauve - $220

Red Lacquer Box (NEW) – $275

Ihada Brass Tool Holder (small) by Oji Masanori – $200

Ihada Brass Tape Dispenser by Oji Masanori – $240

CEREMONY tray/trivet, milk and sugar set by Claesson Koivisto Rune now available online and in store.

Swedish life in general is rather informal. Society has done away with most old fashioned rituals and form of address. But we do drink a lot of coffee. In fact, Sweden ranks as the world’s top consumer of it. In business and in private it is customary to serve coffee or ’fika’ whenever we meet. And it’s always very casually offered, but in its practice fika is in fact a kind of modern ceremony. Up to five or eight times a day.

Welcome to our fika. Or, if that’s not your cup of tea, the pitcher works equally well for maple syrup.

- Cleasson Koivisto Rune

Last night we said goodbye to our beautiful friend Isha. She was 18 years old and her kidneys and other ailments had caught up to her age.

We found her (and handsome Grover) at the Toronto Humane Society. If you’re ever looking to adopt, please don’t pass these older cats up – they still have so much love to give and receive.

Last week we visited Black Creek Pioneer Village for the first time. It’s an open air museum located just a short drive north from us. We go all in for this sort of thing, and it being close to Christmas I figured it’d be extra nice with the holiday decorations.

Broom making house. Love the paint colour and shaker style rails.

Again with the lovely paint colour, and benches.

Chasing light in the town hall.

Afternoon winter light in the bedroom.

She really just wanted to see “the animals”.

Seeing the loom was of interest, as we have been reading Pelle’s New Suit (thank you to the customer who gifted it).

They actually sell all the things that are made in the various building, like weaving, tin lanterns and decorations, children’s bonnets, etc. Kind of clever as they teach while making.

In the doctor’s waiting room, waiting for us to stop taking photos.

The one benefit to having our weekends during the week is avoiding crowds.

The horse happily trotted over to say hi, and upon discovering we didn’t have any treats, proceeded to give us some shade.

Spoons hanging by the fireplace.

One day we’d like to do a tour of Shaker museums in the US. This will have to do for now!

Has anyone ever toured the Shaker museums in the American NE? Would love recommendations…