Crazy crazy weekend. Threw my back out while working my booth at STARS. Had to leave it an awful mess...and empty! I got it all cleaned up, then reorganized, then was ready to put new stuff in when WHAM!!!! My back was having spasms and I wanted to cry! It must be all of the purging and cleaning and staging of my house, seeing as we are getting ready to put our house on the market this week. And I still have two more rooms to go!!! EEK!!!!
Anyway, it is late Saturday night, the realtor is coming tomorrow to take photos of our house, and I am not ready. BUT... my back is a little better and I might be able to work some miracles tomorrow!
The store... my wonderful son worked today- and had a good day! However, I can't understand why this adorable dresser hasn't sold. Of course, it has only been in there a few days, but I think that it is wonderful!
Here's hoping this week is great, and that our house sells soon!!!

so sad

Some days it is hard to let some of the pretty things go...the oil painting of the roses, with the shabby chic green frame (pictured a few blogs ago!), sold today. It was so pretty up on my wall, and now it is on its way to Canada to grace someone else's wall. Ah...the letting go is so hard- I just loved that piece! Well, will just have to find more art to get up on the walls. Brought in so many new things this weekend, and forgot my camera. Will take pics soon and get them posted.
Is it really almost September?

Bill's fused glass!!

I did get some pictures of my brother-in-laws' fabulous fused glass art! He created the glass flowers, the beautiful plates, and serving platters, coasters, and hot plates. He also created the fence flowers that are hanging next to the vintage girl with the watering can. They are a mixture of glass and metal, and when hanging on a wire fence, the sun shines through! They are just great fun as yard art!!!
He is so very creative and talented, and we love having his art at the store!
THANKS BILL!

August days

Really feeling like summer is slipping away. Thought I would post a few more pics of the store taken last week. I feel a bit like the gnome, just want to laze away rather than work in the workshop!

Marsha's cards

I am so very lucky! One of my consignors creates the most beautiful cards! She does photography and watercolors, then turns the pictures in to the most amazing cards. They are blank inside so they can be for any occasion.
My photos of the cards do not do them justice, they are way more gorgeous in your hand. They retail for around
$ 3, a true bargain for the beauty! Thanks, Marsha, for sharing your art with my customers and me!

100 degree weekend

Glad that our heat wave is over! Here in lovely Portland, we had this amazing 3 days of excruciating heat. Yes, I am not a heat lover. However, I did have some customers in the store that LOVED the heat. Thank goodness for the Arizonians that came in, since some of my regular customers stayed away during this heat wave (and yes, I don't blame you!).
SO... I have decided that the next time we have a heat wave, and the thermometer hits over 90 degrees, that I will have everything in the store 10 Percent off!!! (thanks for the idea, Alan and Gail!).
REMEMBER---- THE STORE IS AIR CONDITIONED!!!
I did get a lot done this weekend. I loaded up the store with new items, furniture, bits and bobbles. So...enjoy the new pics, and hope to see you all soon!
melanie

Little Beach Designs

Ok, and my bestest friend in the whole world is Gail. She is the owner/artist behind Little Beach Designs. She creates her art out of Eugene, Oregon, then transports her treasured art to the store. She uses found objects, vintage wallpaper, and bits and bobbles to transform one of a kind journals, carriers, hangers, hat boxes, and so much more!!! I absolutely love her art, and so do our customers. We have already sold out of her journals, and just got more in stock. And her hanging collages are just the cutest pictures!!! Gail has a blog at littlebeachdesigns.blogspot.com so check her out, too. If you are like me, and my customers, you will flock to her art!!!

I am so lucky to be surrounded by artists. First there is my niece, Noelle, that makes the fabulous fused glass bugs. They have sold out at the store, and we have only been open 2 months! Just got more in, and they are fabulous!! These are just a few of my favorites, the lady bug is $10 and the yellow ones are $ 15, and the huge (my personal fave) blue one is $ 20. These are perfect in the garden, in the center of the table, or just scattered everywhere!!! These 4 are just a few of the many to choose from!

Vintage watering can tower

I have this fun collection of vintage watering cans- all well loved and ready to be used in the garden.
And on a very large wrought iron plantstand!

it is the coziest red velvet chair
and there are 2 of them!!!

My first blog

WOW! I am actually blogging. It is amazing to me that so many people can read this, well, and so few.
My goals are to invite people in, to see my store, ALL MY FAVORITE THINGS, in Portland Oregon, and to share my dream of owning my own store.
I would also hope to inspire others to follow their dream of opening a store.
And, to showcase some of the fabulous local artists that consign their work in my store.
Of course, this is all so new to me. Not even sure how to upload photos yet, but will strive hard to accomplish this feat!!!