Poppy and Ivy

Go Poppy & Ivy!

Today I met my tee-ball team! They brought me a framed group picture, a thank you card & my own hat!

They were SO cute. I remember so clearly my daughter's days in tee-ball and the stories still make us laugh ourselves silly. Was that REALLY 6 or 7 years ago?

I still have the flu and I breathe & talk like a mix of Darth Vader and Elmer Fudd. Now, why don't I have employees again? LOL....

I got more of my "sweet little old lady earrings" out. You might think you have seen these pictures before...approximately 3 weeks ago, but you'd be mistaken. These are MORE of the earrings from The Estate. I can't get enough of them! I put the new ones on top.

Okay...back to fluid intake and PRAYING that a friend stops by so I can run to the market and buy some cold medicine. My head is about to explode.

Oh.....good reads this week.

This book, getting back into this book after a winter lull....and this blog never fails to make me laugh, but her last 10 posts had me in hysterics! I have kept it open all day and every time my nose felt like it might explode off of my face and fly across the room, I'd refer back to this blog. It's like your "focal point" during labor. I can keep my thoughts off of this mind boggling pain if I just keep reading Cathy's blog. I am sure she'd rest easy knowing she was a focal point for me today. That must have been her goal when she woke up today...."keep the crazy Oregonian shop owner lady happy and focused".

Happy Saturday.

May the flu fly far from you.

Now say that five times really fast........

Where am I?

I have the flu.....still not 100% sure how, or why I arrived at the shop, but I DID!

I had 2 chugs of Nyquil at 6:45am and now I am just floaty and not REALLY tracking very well. The hazards of being my only employee!

JOHN might be able to cover for me later in the day but he DOES have a job he needs to tend to! He opened the front door this morning and called out to me...."Here is something to make your day better"......

I knew it wasn't Scarlet Lime time....so I couldn't figure out WHAT else would be on the porch that would make me happy.

It was this....

Sneak peek pages...wait, is that illegal? I want everyone to buy this book...it's AMAZING! My heart skips a beat with every flip from page to page..but my heart might be messed up with the Nyquil and Venti Cinnamon Dolce Latte....who knows.

This book is delicious....written by some of my favorite players..Teresa McFayden, Pamela Garrison, Amy Hanna, Rebecca Sower, Carolyn Peeler & Charlotte Lyons. You can purchase it through their blogs or at LuLu.com. I wish I could spend an hour with this group of women...just an hour to ask questions, listen to them chit chat. I dare you to go to Charlotte Lyons Mother's Day post and not tear up. The memory tree post...ohhh...that one got me last weekend as I played catch blog catch up.

I think today I need to sit my little old stool quietly. We have a BIG weekend. My daughter's big dance recital, softball play-offs, family in town....I have to sit and hydrate. I did fluff a wee bit.

I added to the Father's Day section....

I finished another chalkboard. I have PILES ready to bring in....I just need to add fun knobs. They always fly out the door. Sheessshhhh...... I need an assistant!

Happy Friday!

Memorial Day Weekend & Such

Friday got freakier at the shop (is it a full moon?) then I headed home to my daughter and friends. They are 13 years old. So let's say they were just the freaky icing on my freaky cake.

Speaking of cake, it was one girl's birthday, so we made coconut cupcakes...with pink frosting and brown sprinkles of course. Can I just say DELICIOUS?

Saturday before I headed to the shop, I lounged with my dog Lucy.

Off to the shop, nice SUNNY day, fairly brisk business. We set-up an impromptu BBQ for the evening and it started out great..until the thunder, lightening and flooding. I wish I were kidding. All the kids were lined up in the doorway watching the storm and SCREAMING after every flash of lightening and roll of thunder.

We had to drive some of the folks home. They'd felt good that when they left their homes and it was hot & sunny that they would have a dry walk home! WHO KNEW? Some trees and bushes in our neighborhood fell down. As my Uncle said "You could get the bends in this weather!". Love that....

We all headed up to Mt. Hood and played at our friend's house. Great BBQ, a little craft time, the kids even swam at the community outdoor pool. INSANE...it was freezing!

Back to real life....I am STILL working on getting everything out on the floor. I had two consignors bring more stuff. I had to turn away SO much. Not because I didn't like it, but the store is PACKED. Just packed.

I think I have all the Sublime Stitches designs except for Las Vegas and Hawaii. I  their product. I am GOING to have a class where you come and choose a packet, grab a tea towel and sit down and FINISH a towel. Embroidery is so relaxing and you get "instant gratification". They make lovely and (affordable!) gifts. People always say "I haven't dine this since I was a child" or "I forgot the stitch". I HATE feeling like a salesperson....yes, I know that is KIND of my job....but my daughter and I took a class and I left feeling giddy and inspired (and the class wasn't even that great!). You forget how fun and easy it is to stitch. I wanted EVERYBODY to start doing it again! And here is a basic stitch tutorial.

I have so many fun finds to share with you and now the shop is packed. I feel bad ignoring folks. I went to Barnes and Noble last night to pick up the new Somerset Life and "got lost" in the craft/home section! I will share more later!

Happy Wednesday.

 

Freaky Friday

It's been a Friday full of weird weather, surprise orders arriving and odd phone calls. Freaky in a good way...

Lucky Loo Loo arrived! I think I inadvertently called her Lucky LuLu yesterday...so sorry...but it's ALL good. The baubles are here and I've been GIDDY pricing it and putting it out. And two three four pieces are coming home with ME.  I'm in LOVE.

I also have some new LOVELY little birds. I've never seen anything like these guys, but but that really means little...I don't get out much anymore!

And I have an update. I have this much loved, often asked about painting...

 

He opened his website this week. Yeah! He does commissioned pieces too. I know a lady who is having a painting done of her children for her husband as a Father's Day gift....HOW smart is that? Brilliant I do say. Wish I had thought of that!

A couple of other new items trickled in...

Gnome soap & lotion sets. Pretty darling stuff.

Happy Memorial Day weekend to you all!

Time flies....

Monday and Tuesday went by in a flash.

My big Monday plan worked out--a bit. Working out in the hotel gym, then sitting by the pool for 3 hours.... Ahhhhhh... 

I did NOT, however, plan on the maid still being in my room for an additional half an hour while I sat in the elevator lobby reading a book in my swim suit (UGGGGG), then being locked OUT of my room, then having to go back to the elevator banks on my floor to call security to let me in, then having to wait before taking a shower to let engineering come in and fix my door. At this point, the last thing I'd had to consume was a yogurt at 9:45am and it was 4:30pm. I was ready to gnaw off an appendage.

Tuesday we headed into Palo Alto to shop. I LOVE Portland. Love, love, love Portland....but MAN...if I win the lottery after the kids graduate, I think this might be on my top 10 list of Places I'd Love To Live. First off...the trees. It's GREEN! Love that. The houses were yummy. Little cottages behind gates. I couldn't stop spinning my head around. But I'd move there for Nola's alone! Funky art, New Orleans food, drinks to DIE for..

Gotta love THAT sign!

My son noticed the "man part" of the art....of course. He's still giggling. I'd like it noted that I did NOT see that part until AFTER dinner and nearly spewed my jambalaya laughing!

This art is a bit....violent?...but pretty cute in a quirky way!

The outside eating area complete with New Orleans balcony, hanging beads, wrought irons chairs, gates and posts. And Murphy's Law....my batteries died before I got more photos. That was a COMPLETE dining experience. It not only pleased the palette, but the eyes as well!

We rushed to the airport. Happy to get to see th kids, but the time just flew.

Shop time flew today too! My mom was here for the first part of the day and that just helps things so much. When it's slow, 7 hours can feel like 10. All good...love my little environment here, but Wednesdays can be quiet and the time seems to stand still!

We changed our "vote" window to travel....

I got my Jane's Apron out...LOVE it!

I think her goods compliment to store PERFECTLY!

And a little shipment came from a HUGE shipment that I have expecting...since March 15th....

See that cutie patootie on the left? He is a sunglass/eyeglass holder. I LOVE him. So does the cutie on the right...she's giving him "the wink".

Mushroom stir sticks...love that. Little glass mushrooms. I am REALLY tempted to spread them through-out my rockery as garden art.

And I finally got more buttons out. A friend gave me BAGS to sell for her and I love them so much that I just SHUT DOWN when it's time to put them out. I place them out slowly...I try to sew some on cards for better display..some came on cards. I just get little goosebumps when I see piles of buttons. She has them bagged with years on them..just AMAZING stuff.

Happy Wednesday to you!

California...here we are. Consider yourselves warned....

  
First things first...we finally realized that it IS a time saver to get a car with the navigation system. I can't believe how much this thing came in handy today.

From the airport, off to Berkeley. We'd never been there and we figured....why not today? We drove by some flea markets that were mentioned, but they looked more like swap meets than anything else.

And WHO KNEW it was graduation at Berkeley? LOL.....Parking was NOT easy!

 

 

Off to lunch. We tried to get into a Cafe a friend recommended, but it was FILLED with a graduation party, so we went across the street to an outdoor Thai restaurant. Sun, fresh rolls, shrimp wraps and a curry dish. Life felt pretty nice, but the outdoor garden and hidden treasures were even MORE fun. My eyes kept darting all over the place.


 

 
 
 
After lunch we strolled up and down the main drag and then I saw this....
 
And bought this....
 
The LAST coconut cupcake at this little boutique bakery.

We have about 5 really popular cupcake joints in Portland and I have been to NONE of them. I think it's best that should I fall in love with one.... it's located 600 miles from home. This cupcake was AMAZING.

Tomorrow's agenda is coffee, pool, workout, pool and a nap.

I'm not even kidding.

I'm so excited I could cry.

Happy Almost Monday to you!

Saturday Silliness

Okay....we (I) whined for some sunshine, but it went from a daily average of 54 degrees to two days of upper 90's! People don't tend to walk about the neighborhood until dinner time...so I have the place to myself...fluffing, cleaning, etc.

JOHN and I fly to California tomorrow morning. Total spur of the moment. LOVE that. He said Thursday night "Would you want to go to California with me Sunday? They booked me into a Four Seasons".

I said "Is that really a question?".

We are landing fairly early, hitting some Bay Area flea markets I have read about and then we have some restaurants mapped out. I am drooling thinking about some of them! Looks like where we are actually STAYING is hot...so we might stick close to any water areas we find!

So, I am cleaning the shop so the gal covering tomorrow doesn't think I am too scary. Thank god she was involved in The Estate Finds....so she KNOWS why I am up to my eyeballs in glass and jewelry. The very things that take so long to clean, fix and process!

 
My handy dandy typewriter for making tags in the shop...

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great weekend!

FAQ, Photos & Things That Make Me Happy....

FAQ #1: Amy Butler craft bags as seen below...
 
I only ordered two and they blew out of there in 24 hours. I will order more. The print is deeeeeee-licious!

FAQ #2: I WILL make more goody bags. I sat on about 20 of them, so I sold them to maria at collage and THEN all of sudden people wanted them. I can't keep up! But I will work diligently during Dr. McDreamy tonight:)

FAQ #3: About 75% of the "Great Estate" is out and on the floor. Locals keep calling & writing saying "Is it all out yet?". I now see the light....it cannot FIT on the floor right now. But here is the good part....I am adding to the sale table DAILY to make room for these new finds! SOMETHING had to give....and clearance was just SO easy!

Now for the photo portion of this segment.....

 

Fun Little Things. Tennis rackets, switchblades, thimbles, bones, hangers....so many weird little shapes.

 

 

 


New wooden signs came in yesterday. A few of them are special orders for Father's Day gifts. I feel fairly certain those men don't read my blog, so we are safe...no "spoiled surprises" so to say. They do make really good gifts. And to answer another question..."No....they don't have one for urologists". 

 
I changed out my windows today and yesterday. One window is all pink, the other is all red, white & blue for election time. VOTE! Are you an Oregonian waiting to mail in your ballot? Remember to add the one cent stamp!
 

Things that make me happy....

1) It's been busy

2) My air conditioning came on for the first time today and it felt heavenly. It dropped the temperature 10 degrees in ABOUT 10 minutes! 

3) I forgot to pack lunch and I found a banana that I was too busy to eat yesterday. Might sound lame to YOU...but my blood sugar was dropping and I was HUNGRY. I don't really have restaurants around me! I have two that open at 5:00...but that wasn't helping me at 3:45 when I was ready to gnaw my own leg off....

4) This gal has agreed to design a blog header for me. THANK GOD. How many MONTHS have I kept saying I would do that? I will use hers (forever and forever and forever)...but it might inspire me to design my own here and there. It's not like I don't know what I am doing on the design end. The "techie" end throws me...but I follow directions/instructions well. 

5) Dinner group last night was fun. I worried the dining room would be too hot, that I was not prepared, that we'd be too hot in the kitchen...I was just a wreck and all was FINE. The best part was that the theme was "Things You Craved When You were Pregnant" to honor our pregnant member who is due soon and is leaving the group as well. Then she called in sick...a horrible migraine. (That does NOT make me happy). She even had to go get a shot of morphine...Poor thing. But we all enjoyed our ribs, spinach pie, baby garlic pickles, salads, artichoke dip, French Onion dip and Ruffles, chocolate mint ice cream and sweet & salty cake. Good GOD we enjoyed it all! Next month is Indian. THAT makes me super happy...except I just realized I might be in Alaska. Hmmmmm......

6) Two of us from our walking group joined Jazzercise which made us laugh our HEADS off the first 40 minutes...then we hit the ab portion of the class and we weren't really laughing anymore. I can barely WALK today! We figured we're walking 40 miles a week and things aren't falling off like they should...so we need to SHAKE THINGS UP! That we did. (I am sure the ladies in back rows saw WAY more shaking than they wanted to). But this is a GOOD pain. Like we found a muscle muscles that were hiding from us...and worked them!

Happy Thursday!   

 

When estate shopping becomes a problem......

Okay...so I have been unpacking the boxes from the estate sale...from the FINAL shopping spree.
And really ....the thoughts going through my head go something like this....

"Is this mine?"
"Did I choose this?"
and
"WHY?"

All good stuff, but I can see how frantic I was becoming at the end. I made some "big ticket" purchases that seem to have paid off. Some rare McCoy pieces and I thought that MAYBE 7 cake plates was possibly overload --but I sold 2 over the weekend!

Here we go....check out this sweet goodness:
 
Depression glass with cherry imprints. Mama doesn't pass up ANY cherries....

 
 
 

 
McCoy "Quail Family" piece
 

 

  

Did I mention I have TONS of pink glass? I was very relieved to see it highlighted this week in one of my new magazines..maybe Romantic Home? I think I will cut it out and frame it. In a pink glass frame of course. I am about 85% sure I mighthave one of those in some of these boxes. Above there are two pink vases, a pink cake plate, pink glass knobs, pink creamer and sugar and some more pink pedestal bowls that didn't fit on the desk at the time this photo was taken. But I will MAKE them fit when I return to work tomorrow. I will. Darn it....

Back to Dancing with the Stars & laundry. Man...my life gets sexier every year. Hope your Mother's Day weekend was amazing.

 
 

Goody, goody gumdrops...

 I went to the estate yesterday after work and when I got there the owner told me the bad news....the estate had been purchased by a gal and this was my last run-through. So, I did what any self-respecting lady would do....hunkered down, got REAL dirty and bought stuff I would normally NEVER buy! 5 pieces of McCoy, tons of sandwich glass, cut glass ...not my favorite although I like the looks. I just never use it myself. I packed away quickly and took it straight to the store, I will take pictures through out the day.

Then we had dinner at a local burrito restaurant...I was FAMISHED! My daughter had a friend over, such a  nice girl, and everybody seemed to be behaving and excited. WEIRD for the family with a 13-year-old girl involved. I should have seen the weirdness, but I was BUBBLING with estate sale happiness.

We got home and my son took me to the backyard where he had "made me a Mother's Day surprise".

 



 
The sweetest poem ever done in cursive (he was proud!). Our tent (yes...my son pitched a tent in the backyard all by himself...don't ask) had a bench filled with my favorite garden stuff and twinkle lights. Could these pictures BE any darker? I swear...they looked better in thumbnail! They still make my heart swoon.

And my husband and I got married when we were about 12. Okay....we were 21, but the DAY he gave me my ring, I never liked it. Yep. Kind of hatedit a bit. It was gold and I look ill in gold. And he keeps trying to get me a new one and I say "Hunks of diamonds are lovely....but I want something small..platinum and small. I really do. A band". And he points out these things at the jewelry store windows downtown that look like they need to be on a NBA wife and I say "Ummmm....that's NICE, but I'd like to keep our house and NOT spend 8,000 on a ring at this point of our lives...I want a simple band". REALLY? That guy should be doing a dance that I want a TINY band!

I have said this for 7 years. I have not worn a ring for 7 years.

Those days are gone...

Look at those hands! Ug.....Too many hours doing dishes this week....Dishpan hands. Madge would be sad. Anyway....now I know why the kids were SO good at dinner. They were so excited. They have been rallying for me for years!

So, off I go to dig out my new treasures! Happy Mother's Day weekend to you all...