My Stuff

If your house were on fire, heaven forbid, what's the one item contained within that you would try to take with you? (People, pets and computers not included.)

That's easy, my camera. It would also be easy to escape the burning house quickly with, as it's usually very nearby.

What's the one clothing/fashion item you can't live without?

Hmm, hard to say. I have way too many of those. I'm going to go with my newest favourites though -- my Jeffrey Campbell "Nightwalk" heel-less heels.

What's your favourite knick-knack and why?

I hope these count as knick-knacks: I have a set of Dexter blood slide coasters that are pretty cool.

What's the oldest thing you own?

I have two slightly old items that I love. First off is my hot pink Pantagis dress from the 1980s. The same design was most memorably seen in red, on (actress) Rose McGowan. The second is a rhinestone necklace that was my Grannie's. It's ridiculously sparkly, which makes it awesome.

Describe your most beloved piece of furniture.

An old steamer trunk. I don't have a lot of furniture, but I actually have two of these -- one at home and one at my studio (my second home). They're great for storage. Here, I keep all my mom's old belly dance costumes, and at home, all of my art.

Is there an edible item we'll always find in your pantry or fridge?

Energy drinks.

If your house were on fire, heaven forbid, what’s the one item contained within that you would try to take with you? (People, pets and computers not included.)

Definitely family photo albums — we have hundreds of family photos (the old paper kind) that I couldn’t leave behind. Digital isn’t the same experience for me.

What’s the one clothing/fashion item you can’t live without?

I’m a pearls girl. I have vintage pearl pieces from my mother-in-law, grandma, favourite friends who have passed on and a favourite bracelet from my husband. Pearls go with anything and I wear them often.

What’s your favourite knick-knack and why?

I keep this little clay penguin that my daughter made for Mother’s Day when she was in kindergarten by my desk. It reminds me of her and makes me smile when I’m stressed.

What’s the oldest thing you own?

We live in a 100-year-old house — everything is old — but I have an old silver tea set of my great-grandmother’s that is probably the oldest.

Describe your most beloved piece of furniture.

On my first anniversary, my husband, who is an antiques collector, gave me this beautiful old spindle-leg mohagany rocking chair to symbolize our growing old together. I love that chair!

Is there an edible item we’ll always find in your pantry or fridge?

Turkish Delight, my fave! And my family hates it, so it’s always there when I’m looking for it.

If your house were on fire, heaven forbid, what's the one item contained within that you would try to take with you? (People, pets and computers not included.)

I'm not that really that tied to material things, but I would try to drag out an old trunk with all our family photos, albums and nostalgic pictures (like my Grade 11 school photo where I look a bit like hip-hop artist Kid 'n Play). I would also likely run through fire and flame to collect my Olympus DS-2 Digital Voice Recorder with all our band rehearsal and songwriting files on it.

What's the one clothing/fashion item you can't live without?

It's a tie: Lipstick or lip gloss (the redder the better) and blue jeans (the bluer the better). Bluenotes jeans seem to fit very well.

What's your favourite knick-knack and why?

I don't really own any knick-knacks, but we do have handmade art and photos everywhere. My favourite piece is called Prickly Pear Cacti in Etched & Lacquered Brass, by my grandfather, retired B.C. metal works artist Ronald L. Saunders.

What's the oldest thing you own?

A Sakata cultured pearls necklace-and-earrings set given to me by my late grandmother, Geraldine Anderson. It makes me smile every time I open the box.

Describe your most beloved piece of furniture.

Without a doubt, a Sealy Posturpedic king-size mattress, and a pedestal bed frame purchased from the former Fabulous Futon Factory in the Exchange. Usually inhabited by two parents, a 70-pound Labrador retriever and occasionally, a young child (or two) looking for comfort.

Is there an edible item we'll always find in your pantry or fridge?

It's more like "What won't you find"! We're the "do drop in" place for relatives, musicians and other friends. Must haves: red Zinfandel wine, teas from Exquisite Taste loose-leaf tea/coffee shop, International Delight coffee creamer (even though it's insanely trans fatty). My family has been using International Delight since the days when it only came in a powder-filled tin.

If your house were on fire, heaven forbid, what's the one item contained within that you would try to take with you? (People, pets and computers not included.)

I think it is between my old Martin HD 28 guitar and my open-backed banjo. One in each hand as I'm running out the door.

What's the one clothing/fashion item you can't live without?

My tuque and scarf, each vibrantly coloured.

What's your favourite knick-knack and why?

Not sure if this classifies as a knick-knack, but I have a set of glow-in-the-dark rosary beads that were given to me by a crazy old Catholic nun from small-town Saskatchewan. When she gave them to me, she held them and said, "Look what you can do!" and started swinging it around and yelled, "Hang on, Jesus!" I almost fell over laughing. Pretty great memory.

What's the oldest thing you own?

I have no idea! Eek! Some of my furniture is relatively old (turn of the 20th century), and I have some great old vinyl records (folk records) and old books. If I was to go with something that had sentimental value and was older than me, it would be a very '60s-era patchwork quilt my grandmother made that still smells like my grandfather's cigars.

Describe your most beloved piece of furniture.

I have a great purple velour chair with matching ottoman.

Is there an edible item we'll always find in your pantry or fridge?

Almond butter.

(cross between St. Nicholas and Santa Claus)

If your house were on fire, heaven forbid, what's the one item contained within that you would try to take with you? (People, pets and computers not included.)

I would grab my accordion. It's called a Magic Box because it makes all the children sing Christmas songs. Even the grownups sing along. I've had it forever and it means so much to me.

What's the one clothing/fashion item you can't live without?

I certainly can't live without my red suit. It identifies me as the jolly ol' fella I am! HO HO HO! I'm so happy today!

What's your favourite knick-knack and why?

It must be my sleighbells. They guide my reindeer all over the world and let people know when I'm arriving or passing by. Rudolph and the other reindeer won't fly anywhere without them. I also love the painting Norman Rockwell did of me way back when Pepsi tried to use me in their ads. My friends at Coke were not impressed. HO, HO, HO! There's plenty of me to go around, though! HO, HO, HO!

What's the oldest thing you own?

The oldest thing I own has to be my wife (chuckle, chuckle). Just kidding. It must be my pants. I've had them hemmed and altered so many times I've lost count. I always tend to put on some extra weight in the Christmas season, with all the treats the little boys and girls leave me. HO, HO, HO! Then I have to loosen my belt just to get into them. I've had them for over a hundred years now.

Describe your most beloved piece of furniture.

My recliner. After a night like Christmas Eve, it's nice to sit back, take my boots off and relax with a nice fire burning and just feel good about all the presents I brought to all the boys and girls around the world. HO, HO, HO! It's going to be a long night tonight!

Is there an edible item we'll always find in your pantry or fridge?

Oh, there's more than one food I always have in my fridge. You'll always find chocolate-covered jujubes, chocolate chip cookies, milk, of course, and carrots for the reindeer. I have a bit of a sweet tooth. I'm getting ready for some snacks right now. Yummy!

Merry Christmas, everyone and see you soon! HO HO HO!

If your house were on fire, heaven forbid, what's the one item contained within that you would try to take with you? (People, pets and computers not included.)

An old photograph of my young mother emerging out of the lake in her bathing suit. She looked so beautiful and it is the only picture I have of my camera-shy mother.

What's the one clothing/fashion item you can't live without?

Superman had his cape, Batman had his Batmobile and I have my trademark painting pants. I wear them everywhere -- even to bed. I feel naked without them.

What's your favourite knick-knack and why?

My puppets -- too many too count, but I love each and every one of them equally.

What's the oldest thing you own?

My musical toy turtle. She has a pink bonnet and plays a lullaby when you pull her tail. She's an old gal, but in great shape. It is my only physical connection to my childhood.

Describe your most beloved piece of furniture.

Now any woman worth her obsession with her wardrobe can relate that a decent place to house her most cherished accessories is paramount, so I would have to say my treasure chest, which I have entrusted with my collection of shoes. They were old and dusty treasure chests I came across at a Goodwill Store ages ago and inside still had a map and a travel journal of a couple on their honeymoon in France. The year was 1912 -- very cool.

Is there an edible item we'll always find in your pantry or fridge?

Cheese. I can't live without it. Anyone who knows me will agree. I am a mouse trapped in a woman's body. I love, love, love Esrom, or Danish Port Saut cheese. It has a pungent aroma, much like a dead corpse, but a sweet flavour that is simply irresistible to me and it goes great with wine. Keeps me jolly.

If your house were on fire, heaven forbid, what's the one item contained within that you would try to take with you? (People, pets and computers not included.)

A big box full of my deceased sister's writings. She kept a diary for over 30 years so you can imagine the value in those pages, the history, the beauty, the pain, the life.

What's the one clothing/fashion item you can't live without?

There are two actually, and they go together so nicely, for me anyway. A pair of old faded jeans and a black t-shirt. Been my favorite since my teenage years and have been through countless of each.

What's your favourite knick-knack and why?

My Buddha incense holder is my favourite for two reasons. Because a dear friend gave it to me, but also because in that holder, I have burned thousands of incense sticks over the years during some of the most meaningful times of life, joyous times, sad times and all the other times too.

What's the oldest thing you own?

I recently inherited an old family trunk which was around even before I was a baby, so I guess that's pretty old. I'm still trying to figure out how best to put it to good use. Ideas? Please send them my way.

Describe your most beloved piece of furniture.

I'm not a big fan of furniture, really. I prefer to sit and even sleep on the floor, but I do love the cat tree, because my Annabelle and Karma spend so much time there, observing the world, playing, fighting, play-fighting, self-cleaning and, of course, napping.

Is there an edible item we'll always find in your pantry or fridge?

In the fridge, organic tofu, although I realize that to some, that doesn't qualify as an edible item. (Insert hearty laugh here). In the pantry, seeds and nuts. Can't live without them. They're good for the heart.

George Toles

Guy Maddin collaborator, University of Manitoba professor of film studies

If your house were on fire, heaven forbid, what's the one item contained within that you would try to take with you? (People, pets and computers not included.)

My library -- every last one of my 5,000 books; they're a single entity, in my mind.

What's the one clothing/fashion item you can't live without?

An old-fashioned pocket watch that my daughter, Rachel, gave me as a present.

What's your favourite knick-knack and why?

A green ceramic frog, belonging to my mother. It looks both serene and stunned. Burl Ives might have sung about him.

What's the oldest thing you own?

My father's gold high school ring. From South Park High in Buffalo.

Describe your most beloved piece of furniture.

My father's oak writing desk, with long pull-out drawers on both sides. It used to be on the third floor of our family home. My father had his office up there throughout my childhood.

Is there an edible item we'll always find in your pantry or fridge?

A bag of Rold Gold pretzels.

If your house were on fire, heaven forbid, what's the one item contained within that you would try to take with you? (People, pets and computers not included.)

The St. Christopher medal my great-grandfather passed down through our family. He had it when he immigrated to Canada from Norway.

What's the one clothing/fashion item you can't live without?

It has to be my sweatshirts that I wear on weekends around the house or in the yard. They are old and ratty and my wife hates them but they are comfortable. I tend to dress down -- very down -- away from work.

What's your favourite knick-knack and why?

I'm a collector of old automotive things. Old porcelain advertising signs are my favourite. I have a number covering my garage walls. Most of the signs come from all over Manitoba. I just love the history behind the pieces.

I have a Esso dealership sign dating back to 1927, and other signs from the '30s, '40s, '50s and '60s. I love spending time in the garage as well as searching for them.

I really look for anything pre-1940. I have a licence-plate collection dating back to 1914 -- yeah, I'm very much an automotive geek. I enjoy flea markets and auctions. They have been the best way to connect with other collectors and sellers.

What's the oldest thing you own?

A 1914 porcelain licence plate; I need four more plates to complete a collection and I am always looking.

Describe your most beloved piece of furniture.

No question, it is my big cosy recliner. It was given to me as a gift on my 40th birthday from my family and friends. If I'm not working around the yard or garage, that is where you will find me.

Is there an edible item we'll always find in your pantry or fridge?

I tend to try to eat healthy but... Froot Loops are my weakness.

If your house were on fire, heaven forbid, what's the one item contained within that you would try to take with you? (People, pets and computers not included.)

My geek stick with all my saved files would be number one on the grab'n'run list, but as that's too closely related to a computer, forbidden above, I would go for my wallet. Not for sentimental reasons. I'd just hate having to renew all my credit and identity cards. And the cash might come in handy, what with me having lost all my worldly goods to the flames.

What's the one clothing/fashion item you can't live without?

My gentlemen's undergarments made by Mr. Klein, of New York.

What's your favourite knick-knack and why?

A souvenir Empire State Building thermometer my sister brought back from a New York adventure many years ago. It's delightfully tacky, keeps indifferent record of the temperature, but with a little cotton batting attached to the tip, it makes a useful Q-tip.

What's the oldest thing you own?

It might be my gentlemen's undergarments, made by Mr. Klein, of New York, but I think the set of turn-of-the-last-century pressed-glass butter dish, sugar bowl and creamer that belonged to my great-grandmother is older. When my sister and I were very small, we would wear the lids on our heads because they looked like crowns.

Describe your most beloved piece of furniture.

My grandmother's 1930s radio cabinet, which served her as a china cabinet when I was a child, and, in my possession, has served as a sweater garage, as an audio entertainment centre, and now, once again, as a china cabinet.

Is there an edible item we'll always find in your pantry or fridge?

Cottage cheese. I like white food. It's so minimalist.