The Twelve Days of Muskoka - Christmas & Holiday Local Gift Guide :: Day 4

We really dig living in Muskoka. The area is home to many beautiful iconic features and creatures that have come to help symbolize Ontario and Canada as we know it. But one of features that we like the most is how inspiring it is to live amongst the many artisans and crafters - that have made this land of rock and water their home - as well the smaller businesses that have come to be part of the personality and character of the Muskoka we have come to know and love. Thus Twelve Days of Muskoka, inspired by Suburban Tourist's Twelve Days of Holiday Gift Giving, is meant to celebrate these people and their businesses as well as introduce you to some new gift giving ideas and remind you of some old favourites.

The Fourth Day of Muskoka Christmas & Holiday Gift Giving Guide

Screen shot of the Shutterbug homepage.

Shutterbug Gallery

Kelly Holinshead

Kelly Holinshead is a professional photographer and the owner of The Shutterbug Gallery.  Her gallery showcases brilliant examples of her truly exceptional photography. She is one of Muskoka’s leading photographers with a strong reputation for excellence in fine art, wedding, portraiture, and commercial photography.

As described on the Shutterbug Gallery website: "Kelly’s signature fine art images incorporate a technique where she overlays various photographs of similar or varying subject matters, creating interesting and unusual textures and colors.   By implementing various photographic techniques, and shooting from unusual perspectives and angles, Kelly continually offers her viewers fresh views of iconic images."

Kelly photographs Mike in one of the Badger Shops

In all honesty, her artwork is enough to take anyone's breath away and make for excellent gifts for those on your list who are appreciative of fine art or photography.  Her line of "Shutterduds" clothing would fit the bill for many too. And her photography services would make for an excellent gift idea as well. We can personally vouch for her amazing abilities. Kelly was the photographer for the Muskoka Magazine feature done on our family business this past summer.

For those of you who do not know, our son Makobe has severe autism and it is hard to get a nice photo of his handsome face as he has a hard time posing naturally for the camera. He is also usually quite uncomfortable around strangers. But Kelly immediately put us all at ease with her lovely nature and personable manner. She took such wonderful photos of Makobe and our family, that we were quite (pleasantly) surprised. {See thumbnails of the pages of the magazine feature about Badger Paddles above} Kelly also made the experience so fun and positive that we will be sure to cherish the memories forever. Truly, when you thing about it, what better gift can you give than cherished memories?

Save Wolf Lake - Save Yourself

www.savewolflake.org

Wolf Lake from Rob Nelson on Vimeo.

www.savewolflake.org

Just north of Sudbury (Ontario, Canada) and unbeknownst to most, lies the world's largest remaining old-growth red pine forest. Both Temagami area canoe route and environmental treasure, it's a place that belongs to ALL of us - not just man. It is also a place of great beauty and unimaginable ecological importance. A place that is under threat of being opened up to industry, (i.e. mining and even possibly LOGGING!) by the current Ontario government. With the change of just two words, it's designation will go from 'forest reserve' to 'general use', thus basically putting this old growth forest and it's resources up for sale.

But YOU can help SAVE WOLF LAKE with only a few "clicks". Send a message to this government, and help to ensure the future of Wolf Lake's protections by signing the online petition, and then faxing the Premier of Ontario via Earthroots Action Fax online . Now is a time to stand up for our planet. Not everything can be for sale in this world. This is one of those things. Our planet needs your voice. Wolf Lake needs your voice. You need your voice. Your children need your voice. Your grandchildren and great grandchildren will thank you for speaking up when you had the chance. And mine will too.

Visit (and share) the website www.savewolflake.org/ for more information and to take action now!

Canoeing the Petawawa River à la Sub(urban) Tourist

The following article was written by sometime paddler and new Badger friend, Margaret Antkowski of The (Sub)Urban Tourist. It is entitled: CANOEING THE PETAWAWA RIVER, EARLY IN THE MORNING... where Margaret delights us with her beautiful photos and short journal of her paddling adventure one morning on the Petawawa with her man, Frank. Margaret has graciously allowed us to publish the following article, and thankfully accepted our invitation to be one of the first guest bloggers on Badger's Blog, as well as guest photographer!


Guest Badger Blogger, Margaret Antkowski,
The (Sub)Urban Tourist (Mississauga, Canada)

Margaret Antkowski, the founder of the popular and very creative The (Sub)urban Tourist blog, is a Toronto-based PR professional by day and outdoor explorer on the weekend. She has been described as a Renaissance woman with many interests. A few that stand out are a love of good food and dining, travel, history, the outdoors and Latin dance. When not getting hot on the dancefloor with salsa dancing or communing with nature, Margaret is learning to take pretty pictures with her DSLR. She lives with her family and dog in Mississauga, Ontario.

Canoeing the Petawawa River,

Early In The Morning...

"Petawawa River early in the morning - mist"

There’s always somebody who has to be steering the ship, and in some cases, the canoe. 


I’m not much of a paddler, but I do enjoy getting out on a lake or river in a canoe, particularly in the early morning or late evening. 

"Frank in the morning sunlight"

Last year I had the opportunity to enjoy an early morning sunrise on the Petawawa River, where my boyfriend’s family has a cottage.  We rose early thinking that we would perhaps go for a walk, with my camera in hand. Instead we were politely but firmly told by Frank’s cousin-in-law that the best sights were seen from the river itself. 

The sun was just rising, and there was a slight mist coming off the river. The air was almost still, giving the water just a small ripple. With my camera slung over my neck, and paddle in hand, my boyfriend Frank and I started out, exploring the river.  


After a little while, I eager to take photos and had to stop paddling. Frank took over, keeping us moving along the length of the river. The one thing I quickly learned is that it’s not easy to take photos while a canoe is in motion. Even a slight bob in the water can affect the steadiness of your hand when trying to snap a photo in low light.

"Reflections Petawawa River"

"Still Waters"

Although it was a challenge, I did manage to get great photos of the sun rising over the Petawawa River, all thanks to the man steering the canoe – Frank. 

Written by Margaret Antkowski [of The (Sub)urban Tourist] for Badger's Blog, July 2011.

_______________________________________

Thank you, Margaret, for being a
guest writer for Badger's Blog!

Thanks to Frank, the man in the stern, for keeping the canoe steady so Margaret could take so many great photos! And thanks to Margaret for sharing with us, her photo journal of amazing adventures and places to go, this paddle down the Petawawa River being only one of many similarly detailed on her illuminating blog, The (Sub)urban Tourist. One of our favourite blogs to follow and read, it is virtual travel-to-go with many beautifully magical pictures to entice you into any one of Margaret's adventures and chosen destinations. Her's is a blog that it is definitely worth the click! You can also follow Margaret (@OutdoorMaggie) on Twitter or find The (Sub)urban Tourist on Facebook. We know you will enjoy her and Frank's (Sub)urban escapades as much as we do!

Note: Comments and opinions of our guest bloggers do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Badger Paddles and are the expressed writings of the "guest" only. All content has been published on Badger's Blog with permission of it's author and is original to the guest writer. All copyright inquiries should be directed to the guest writer/blogger where necessary.

Toronto Boat Show Booth Pictures

We have been posting these photos on our Facebook Fan Page but we thought it would be nice to share them with those who aren't on the popular social network.  The following pictures were taken with Mike's Blackberry (cell phone camera) and aren't the best of quality but we just think it's awesome to get some action shots while the 2010 Toronto Boat Show (TBS) is actually going on!

Setting up the booth space.

The booth looks amazing!

The Swift Crew - the evening before the TBS opening.

Dan explains the quality features of a Badger Canoe Paddle to some TBS show-goers.

People just can't stop feeling our  canoe paddles.  It's a tactile experience!

Two happy TBS show-goers pose for Mike's cell phone camera.  Thanks for the really great picture ladies!

This little "cub" puts a Cub WaterColour to the test.  Kids really gravitate towards our colourful paddles!

After careful consideration, the decision is made.  Green is definitely out and Pink is in - for this little lady!

While this little guy decides the green Cub WaterColour is his perfect choice!

These photos were all shot within proximity of or in the Swift Canoe & Kayak Booth.  Sure looks like fun doesn't it?!!

Go check it out...

The show doesn't end until January 17th!