Pictus Goods
Pictus Goods is a flower shop specializing in gifts made exclusively by women in Canada, and floral foam-free arrangements.
It's pretty goods galore at this stylish store, where jewellery, ceramics, greeting cards, and candles are sold alongside bouquets of flowers that beat the bunches you'll find at big-box grocery stores.
Owner Jazmin Burri, who'd been working as a florist for several years before setting up shop, started off by selling her own brand of salt soaks and masks online. You'll find the Pictus brand of clay masks ($20 each), salt soaks, and soy candles ($16 for a small, $30 for a large) in scents like palo santo, peppermint and patchouli, or cedar and sage.
It all adds up to an overall very fragrant store, especially with the selection of fresh and dried flower arrangements which start at around $15. Fresh custom bouquets start at around $30.
The most notable thing about the flower shop is the fact Burri uses chicken wire instead of floral foam to hold her arrangements together, which, while still a harsh material, can be reused in many more ways than non-biodegradable, formaldehyde-containing foam.
You can also get your flowers in handmade or vintage vessels, which Burri hunts down herself and sells starting at $2 and upwards, depending on the holder.
There are usually around 25 different types of flowers to pick from like roses, thistle, and rununculus. In the summer, all flowers are sourced locally. If you're a bouquet lover, there are also monthly flower subscriptions available.
My favourite part is the selection of dried flowers scattered around the store, including the permanent stock of eucalyptus and lavender.
According to Burri, dried flowers are having a moment right now, so I can't help but grab some lunaria for myself, which you can buy by the stem, and tall stalks of faux pampas grass.
Next to the incredible pink bromeliad, which happens to be in full bloom when we arrive, is a wall of greeting cards designed by women.
You'll find jewellery from Toronto-based Maria Trimble, or Carly Fedeck, who makes clay earrings.
For skincare, the popular all-natural Toronto brand Wildcraft, Niu Body, and Harlow Skin Co. make up most of the stock.
There are cups from Atelier for $35. LEKKO Life Goods delivers with hand-painted line pieces coloured with natural dyes in Hamilton.
An airy backspace will be used as a gallery and space for future workshops on how to make bath salt soaks and terrarium planters.
Fareen Karim