This question comes up a lot.  And to be honest, when the idea of adding what we call “creative products” first came up, I wondered if I was crazy. I am sure John. my husband and partner, probably thought I had flipped a bit!!!  However, as we explored the idea more we realized that our store is all about creating home. We all do that in different ways: through what we cook, through celebrating our culture and those of others and through how we decorate our homes.  Home is what we are passionate about. So why not offer products to help people make their homes beautiful?!

“Enjoy Your Food” in Dutch and Taiwanese by Jacqui Eisen

On a personal level, I love creating. If you check out my blog posts about our kitchen renovation you will know that I have the DIY bug pretty bad.  I also have a strong art background. When I graduated from high school I intended to become an art teacher. After college, I ended up going into social work instead but art has remained a passion. When people come into the store needing help with a project, it puts a smile on my face and I get a lot of vicarious pleasure from following along their process.

It has been two years since we opened up our first boxes of paint. The creative adventure that started then has significantly reshaped our concept of what The European Pantry has to offer Welland.  We are here to help you create home through food, culture and artistry. As you wander through the pages of our new and improved website, you will see that it has also shaped our online presence. I am excitedly looking forward to the dialogue we will be able to have on these pages. Send me your questions and I will be honoured to give them my best answers.