Bubble Face 926 College, 416-535-8506, www.bubbleface.com Rating: NNNNN
Bubble Face kids’ boutique owner Sylvie Monge was blessed with a sleep-loving baby. When her son Maxim was born, an unexpected abundance of free time kick-started her toddler tog sewing career. She toured craft fairs around town with her darling and well-detailed baby duds before settling into her current College-and-Dovercourt store three years ago.
“They’re just cute,” is her criterion for selecting wooden toys, felt puppets and miniature biplane mobiles that hang next to embroidered Ts, organic cotton jumpers and cutie booties from France, Vancouver and Toronto’s own creative kidswear labels.
Colourful foam animal masks and mini-wicker-basket tea sets take the place of the usual preschool stock of beeping electronic games, so moms and dads never need to worry about obsolete technology or vegetable brains.
Bubble Face picks: A Bubble Face turquoise-and-blue-striped apron dress means your little girl will look pretty but never prissy, $41.40 Samii makes adorable felt flower-faced puppets, but we extra-dig the line’s woolly sheep purse, $39.50 a wooden Viking ship toy set to sail, $48.
Look for: New boy-blue-and-girl-pink-free clothing is always arriving on the rack. Monge, inspired by her bold print fabric discoveries, regularly stitches fresh stock in the in-store studio.
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 11:30 am to 6 pm, Friday noon to 7 pm, Saturday 10 am to 5:30 pm.
