YZZA

No, it’s not a typo and don’t ask me how to pronounce it. YZZA is a new division of Liz Claiborne. Their mandate is to carry good quality clothing made of cotton (or mostly cotton) and nothing in the store is priced at over $100. Right now they are offering 30% off already reduced summer merchandise.
While not impressed when I first saw the store, once inside I ended up with armfuls of items I wanted to try on. LOVED the fact their XL size actually looks and fits like an extra large. The sizing runs XS-XL or 4-18, so women of all shapes and sizes can find something that will fit them. They carry t-shirts, shells, blouses, pants, skirts and dresses as well as some accessories such as earrings, necklaces and handbags.
The dressing rooms aren’t big, but they are very clean, have a sufficient number of hooks and a mirror inside. Imagine that, you actually don’t have to leave the dressing room to admire your reflection, in front of a bunch of strangers!
YZZA offers a loyalty program. A salesperson will sign you up on the spot, if you wish, and give you a ‘Y Card’ right away. Every time you make a purchase at YZZA you present your card and collect 1 point for every dollar spent before taxes. Once you have accumulated 300 points, they mail you a $15 gift certificate. The card can also be used for 10% of any purchase during the week of your birthday (you must present your Y Card and proof of birth).
I did purchase a lace cotton blouse in a beautiful turquoise colour and a white t-shirt covered in a silver metallic floral print. I will definitely be making many return visits to check out new stock, to see if some of the items I tried on get marked down even further and to keep my eye on a really great top that I’m not quite convinced to pay full price for, but it did show “the girls” off really well. My only complaint is their website needs a lot of work. It doesn’t really show much in the way of the clothing they carry.

Marlborough's Stationery Inc.

Marlborough’s is a stationery store and more. When you first walk in, there is a small selection of children’s toys. My favourites are the brightly coloured Stephen Joseph rubber coin holders with animal faces on them for $2.79 and the hand painted wooden puzzles by Melissa & Doug. Their Fresh Start Peg Puzzles are on sale for $5.99.
The stationery part of the store contains such things as cards, good quality pens (the type that come in their own case and are kept locked behind glass), notebooks, daytimers and some craft supplies. Check out the Stabilo high-lighters in the funky Swing Cool Pacific line. They have some party supplies and their dinner and cocktail napkins, in a range of colours and sizes, are on sale for $2.99 - $3.99.

HATS (& bags)

KC's Hats is located at St. Lawrence Market in the south building; right inside the Jarvis St. entrance. All of these great hats are hand made by milliner David Dunkley. He also makes bags that are the perfect size for carrying your things to work or toting items to the beach. You can have a tote made to match your hat if you so desire. Custom hats can be made for those who are hard to fit or have a special occasion to attend. David also creates customized head wear for brides looking to wear something other than the usual tiara or veil on their special day. Make sure to check out his fabulous line of cocktail hats while you're there. KC's fall/winter 2007 collection is now available. You must check out the cloche hats with silver work and ribbon flowers.
A hat created by David Dunkley and Margret Donnelly for graduating Ryerson University fashion student designers Natasha Ferro and Diana Peters' was featured in the "...coveted position of [Holt Renfrew's] main entrance area" on Bloor Street!
St. Lawrence Market, 92 Front St E, lower level

Time for Tea

I am not a coffee drinker. I can’t stand the smell of freshly brewed coffee, especially first thing in the morning. I don’t like anything coffee flavoured, OK, I do like Coffee Crisp. When I say I don’t drink coffee people assume that it’s because of the caffeine and then they start to ramble on about how tea has way more caffeine than coffee. As soon as I tell them I don’t like either the taste or the smell, they immediately clam up.
I’m a tea drinker. I take it strong, hot and with a decent amount of skim milk in it. I enjoy different varieties of tea, but not herbal ones. Green tea is fine from time to time and I have to be in the mood for Earl Grey.
Say Tea has something to make any and all tea drinkers happy. Most of the tea they sell (their own brand) is loose leaf, but they do offer some bagged tea. Most recently they have been offering ‘Tea to Go’, which just means you can buy a single cup of tea to enjoy during or after your visit.
I try to visit their Bloor Street West location at least 3-4 times a year to stock up. On my most recent visit their front window was decorated in a Teddy Bear’s Picnic theme with two huge stuffed bears sitting at a picnic table “having tea”.
Of course, any store that sells tea usually sells tea accessories/accompaniments and Say Tea has a great selection of these. Amongst the tea pots, tea cups, mugs, tea strainers, miniature tea sets and tea cosies you will also find preserves, gourmet cookies, fancy sugar cubes, chocolate covered caramels, greeting cards from Warm Fuzz Cards, and teddy bears. They also had a few items I'd never seen before. Check out the Bodum cosies and cup wraps by Honeysuckle Cottage Sales (and their travel tags).
I like that you are able to buy sample packages so you can try a few teas out without having to invest a lot of money and then find out you don’t like them. Say Tea has their own brand of bagged tea in sample packs - 5 bags for $1.50 or you can get 10 bags of Taylors of Harrogate tea for $3.50. They also carry boxes of bagged tea by Barry’s and T of H’s Yorkshire Gold (my fave!) They also have a lovely selection of Rooibos teas you should try.
Oh yeah, as I was paying for my purchase I noticed they are now selling coffee. Let's hope it doesn't take over.
located at 2362 Bloor St W and 2496 Yonge St

Jolanta Interiors

You will find gourmet kitchen wares, unique glassware and contemporary home accents in this small but well stocked store with a European flare. Jolant Interiors is an authorized Alessi dealer, carries Lampe Berger and is the sole distributor of Universal Stone. They have a great selection of amber rings and their silver jewellery is 20% off right now. Before you get to the jewellery though, you have to make it past the wall of kitchen gadgets such as olive spoons, seafood forks, ladels, peelers, pitters and the item that caught my eye - the tea bag squeezer.
The colourful aprons with matching oven mitts and pot holders would make excellent house warming gifts. Their bakeware section is small but well stocked. Their pineapple upsidedown cake pans are on sale for $29.95 (regular $45.95) and they turn out six mini pineapple-shaped cakes. There's a lot to look at in this quaint store, but if you take your time you'll find little gems like the glass frog and butterfly magnets for $0.75.
located at 2368 Bloor Street West (www.jolantainteriors.ca coming soon)

Quipus Crafts

Jewellery, Home Accents, Pottery, Furniture is what it says on the Quipus Crafts sign, but they sell much more than that. The silver jewellery is beautiful and so are the amber earrings. This is a great store to pick up unique or whimsical gift items. Some of the itmes that would make great gifts are lamps, hooks and necklace holders with dress and purse themes, business card cases, wind chimes, placemats and napkin holders, and my favourite - GelGems. While gift shopping, make sure to treat yourself to a colourful, hand crafted tote bag or purse.
Don't forget to check out their patio in the back for cute garden itmes.
located at 2414 Bloor Street West

Old Fashion Fun

Polka Dot Kids carries toys of a different kind for infants and toddlers. Nothing you purchase from this store will require batteries. What will you find? Arts and crafts style mobiles, toy food made from colourful fabrics (such as pancakes & doughnuts with sprinkles), animal stamps and ink pads, a small selection of books and wooden toys. They do have a small rack of clothing as well as bibs, booties and bags. Little ones will love the cute, plush animal rattles and musical animals by Trousselier Paris (after clicking on the link, scroll down to the giraffe rattle). But my favourite items were the bumble bee and cow by Wheelybug.com. What could be more fun then riding around on your own little bug mobile?!
917 Queen St West