The Christmas Season is in full swing!

Stop by and see our Christmas decor!

Sale on Halloween and Fall Decor

What's left of the Halloween decor is now 40% off, and all Fall Decor is 25% off. Hurry in while it lasts!

Scarecrows & Mums

Scarecrows & Mums... just two of the reasons why Fall decorating is so fun! The mums are finally completely blooming and are at their peak. I love this painted scarecrow. I've got mine dressed in overalls and a flannel shirt with a red bandana. He was fatter before, but all his stuffing has settled, so now he's "bottom-heavy". Sounds like he could be related to me! I have sold all but one of these scarecrows, so come get the last one and give him a home.

Grungy Tapers

Just got these great primitive grungy tapers in five different scents. They smell so good! I have some of them at the counter, but smelling them is making me hungry so I may have to move them. They've been selling pretty well, so I think I'll order more in other colors and scents.

Happy Labor Day

This has been such a quiet weekend. I think everyone is at the beach but me. I did get some new items in though, and just wanted to show them off. I found a great old shutter and an old gate, both with a hand painted rooster on them. I love them! I also got a couple large birdhouses made from old salvaged wood. The last picture is of some hanging birdhouses in really cute colors that are made from old sap buckets and salvage tin.

Fall Decor

Even though the weather is still so hot (it's beyond hot!) the Fall decor has actually been selling pretty well. I guess a lot of people really do think ahead into the next season (not me). I've even started putting some of the Christmas stuff I've started receiving out and have sold some of it! I thought I should snap a few pictures before it is any more picked over, so here they are.

A New Project

Here is a cabinet that I recently bought at an auction for $10! It looks pretty rough... the paint is about as "chippy" as can get. If you just brush against it, the paint falls right off so I need to do something to it soon. There is no back on the cabinet, but other than that it is structurally in good shape...very sturdy. A good buy, I think. Now, what color to paint it?

Not ready for Fall

Here's a picture of what my shop looks like right now. Boxes everywhere! Not exactly the image I'm going for. With only five days before I leave for vacation, I already have too much to do, and now I've got boxes arriving faster than I can open them. And with no storage space, this really creates a problem! Since all of the stuff arriving is for Fall, I don't even want to put it out. I know that all the big box stores already have their Fall and Halloween decor out, but I just don't think anybody wants to look at it when it's 90 degrees outside. I sure don't! Guess I will haul it home to the garage.

Young, talented, & very special...

........................................................those are just a few words that describe Amy Keith. I've been acquainted with Amy since she was a pre-teen and I don't think I have ever seen her when she wasn't smiling and in great spirits. She is now a young wife, career-woman, and artist, and I am just amazed at how wonderful a person she is. It is thanks to her that I have recently discovered the blog world and have made new friends, received valuable business advice, and been inspired by all the talented people that are out there. Here are a couple examples of Amy's beautiful artwork, and a link to her etsy shop and blog: http://www.aekeith.etsy.com/ http://www.amykeith.blogspot.com/

Counting Down the Days!

Well, my head is really in the clouds these days. My vacation is coming up soon (July 21) and it's all I can think about! My small family (husband & kids) has been taking essentially the same vacation for the last 12 years or so... to one of the NC beaches in Brunswick County (Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Long Beach, etc.). But four years ago my extended family (parents, sisters, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) started going as well. It is the best time! I Love It! For me, one of the greatest things is that I get to spend an entire week with my family from northern Indiana. This will be our 5th annual "Hoosier Daddy" reunion. Prior to starting this annual get-together I would sometimes go three or four years without seeing everybody.... which there is really no excuse for.... but since we have been vacationing together I have really gotten to know them all so much better and I love spending time with them. For me, there is nothing like family. I can really let my hair down, relax, and just be myself because I know they have to love me in spite of all my faults! So, from July 21 to July 28 I'll be living it up, lying around all day on the beach or by the pool, then spending the evenings in one of those rocking chairs on the back deck listening to the waves, some good "oldies" music, and great conversation with some of the greatest people I know! What could be better?! I can already picture myself in one of those lounge chairs! 24 days and counting!

Enjoy the Blooms

This is the time of year when outdoor decorating is so much fun. Everything is so colorful.

Happy Memorial Day

I love this holiday because it's the "kickoff to Summer"! This is probably the first Memorial Day weekend in years that I did not celebrate at the beach. I guess that's just part of working in retail, as I told my husband as he left for the beach Friday morning without me! Oh well, it's my dream, not his. I guess "being supportive" only covers so much. Not that I'm complaining... I'm certainly willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make this business work.

The Power of Blogs

Wow! I had a very pleasant experience earlier today. I got to meet someone from the "blog world" in person! Carol (http://ourreddoor.blogspot.com) and her husband were traveling from Georgia to NC for the weekend, and having seen my blog just last week, recognized the store when they were driving by. Fortunately they were not on a tight schedule and were able to stop and visit for a little while. It really blew me away when she told me that she had seen my blog, especially since she lives in Georgia. I would expect that local people might see it and stop by, but she lives seven hours away! So that really goes to show how powerful and far-reaching this thing is. It turns out that two of Carol's three children graduated from the same college as me...Georgia Southern University...and Carol currently has a retail space in Georgia, and used to operate her own storefront. What a small world, and how wonderful to be able to connect to it this way! Thank goodness for technology! I should have taken Carol's picture to post, but I wasn't thinking of it at the time. So instead, here are pictures of my favorite "arrivals" this week.

Where are all the shoppers?

What a slow week! My husband thinks that the slow sales are because we have a 3 day holiday weekend coming up. I'd like to hear some views on that, because I just can't make the connection. Any thoughts?

Just Thinking....

As a new business, I don't have the money (or even the need most of the time) to hire anyone to help me in the shop, so most of the time I am here all by myself. Up until about six months ago, I worked in an office with lots of other people, and there are days when I miss that. But I am thankful that I get to be here in this quaint old building surrounded by all this great stuff, listening to great old music, meeting people from all over (yesterday someone from Connecticut was in the shop). Yes... this is good. A little quiet right now, but good. I have time to take more pictures.

More pictures from around the shop. No telling how long I'll have these things, so I like to take pictures of some of the stuff that I really like.

My husband keeps asking me to cover up this dress form because of the stains on it. I think it looks fine... just shows its age, like the rest of us!

Just Some More Photos......

Here are some recent additions to our inventory... the Vera Bradley Home products that several people have been asking about, windchimes, some new frangrances from Bridgewater Candle, and some monogrammed beach towels! The windchimes have been a big hit!