Poppy and Ivy

Prepping & surviving Black Friday

Whewwwwwwwwwwwwwww. We came out the other end of this Black Friday. And all I could hear was Sally Field's voice reverberating in my head "You like me....you really like me!". WHAT a day! I think I made one of my favorite windows yesterday....only to have almost all of it sell OUT of the window by 4:00pm. I'll admit I was near panic a couple of times. Um....I don't HAVE 6 more Santa face mugs. I don't HAVE 2 more white feather trees. There are NO tablecloth and 4 napkin sets hiding in the back room folks...this is all I've got!

Then I remembered...this is the POINT. To SELL the items. And other displays will come around. It will be ALL GOOD.  I can roll with the punches and make a NEW window with NEW colors. I can. And I will.

Yesterday started with an invigorating Jazzercise class--also known as "Damage Control"...and then the cooking began. I made my favorite stuffing EVER. I roasted my own chestnuts (EASY!), cut all the veggies the night before and was just on a ROLL Thursday afternoon. Then, off the family went to the shop to prepare for Friday. JOHN cut back branches, blew all the leaves, made the entire Lower Fremont stretch look fresh & pretty. (Is it too bold to ask my landlord for a $100 credit? JOHN worked it! He did what a team of 4 guys do once every 2 months and he did it in ABOUT the same time!!!).

Lots of fun little displays were created and Cole & my mom managed to keep breakage down to only one ornament...and luckily..not one of much monetary value. That's what I was giving Thanks for yesterday.

Today started with some kids stealing one of my oil cloth bags from the front of my shop and me going POSTAL. Seriously. I wasn't even open yet, but John had set some items outside and I was busy filling the hot water kettle for spiced cider. I glanced outside and thought I saw some suspicious behavior and when I finally got John's attention...we went outside and saw that a bag was missing. So.....I followed the kidsthe direction they had just headed off in. And I FOUND them. And I said "Do you have that bag from the tree? The bag that was outside my shop?" and the one I KNOW did it looked COOL as a cucumber and my heart was POUNDING in my ears, throat, chest, eye balls...you name it...blood was flowing and veins were popping. I started to doubt myself then saw the other kid looked like he was ready to wet himself with fear. I just work SO darn hard...I put in so many hours. In my two years I have gotten blindsided often, I get charged hidden fees on bank card machines, I have taken crap from customers, passer-bys, homeless people, delusional window washers, drunk patrons from neighboring bars (mostly at the old place...so much better now), etc.....it ALL just WASHED over me and I lost it.

Karma came and played a kind hand with a lovely day at the shop. Really...thank goodness. Thank you Gods of Going Postal for blessing me with kind, supportive shoppers and loyal customers the rest of the day....but it was a ROUGH start this morning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was busy, busy, busy today except for a little 2 hour stint where I got to enjoy a lovely visit with Pam from One Gal's Trash. We talked blogging, business, our obsessions with other bloggers who do not us from Adam and giggled over comments people have left us....people who are angry and bitter but yet...they entertain us. That was fun...thank you Pam for coming by to play with me and bringing me one YUMMY coffee drink!!!!

Happy Friday, almost Saturday to you all! I am off to go pack up for the OSU Beavers vs. Oregon Ducks football game...this will be a nail biter. The behavior and "Ducks vs. Beavers" comments made this week in our neighborhood has made the presidential election look like NOTHING! College football flags are a' flying and jabs are being made.....fingers crossed that we are headed to Pasadena next month! Go BEAVS!!!!!!

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can......

200 sale/event fliers have been designed and gone out to local homes (thanks kids!!!), the e-mail has been designed, approved and delivered, miniature churches have been glittered, linens have been ironed and priced,banners have been cut out and strung on ric-rac, the window display has been glittered, MOST of the new deliveries have arrived...still waiting on Wu & Wu and yes...that really is the name of the company. I really wanted that the MOST for the Friday after Thanksgiving. Isn't that always the case? I did get a few other favorites in...I will be thankful for that!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also in JUST today...24 of the ever famous air fresheners with the dirty word. I can't take a picture because I don't know how to "blur" words in photos. It's the "You say tomato, I say _____you" air freshener. People hardly EVER buy just one...and I KNOW when they find it (I kind of hide them so wee little eyes can't see them) but I can tell from my place behind the counter when they see it!

Part One of the shop done.....only 2 more hours until I get home and start food prep. If I have to go back to the market ONE more time I will scream. I have forgotten at least one major ingredient for each dish. I DID get the turkey (whew) but forgot stuffing. I then forgot pecans for the pecan pie and cauliflower for the cauliflower gratin. Really. That is how I shopped this year. I might hold off and go to Safeway at 2:00am. Dangerous...possibly. Less crowded. Maybe.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Barns, Turkeys and Fun, Fun, Fun

Turns out barns aren't that easy to come by in the city. I suppose I should have seen that one coming.

No really...I tossed that barn thing out at JOHN one night and now I can't get it out of my head. Barn Sales. It just SOUNDS sexy. I am not delusional (well...not completely). I know it would be so much work and hauling. But the mere idea of having 3 big events a year verses day in-day out work thrills me. Total pipe dream. I remember thinking being in an antique mall was tricky and I'd say "If I only had a shop...it would be so much easier". And I am the QUEEN of events. They don't scare me...I LOVE them...but now I am so beat everyday that events overwhelm me. Didn't see that one coming either!

Look how good the Barn Boys , Farm Chicks and Willow's Nest make it look.....their blogs are delicious. This shot is from Willow Nest before she moved far, far away. Booohoooooo..

 

And seriously.....I think those guys do NOT refer to themselves as the Barn Boys...but I do. It's how I remember them....they actually have classy names and titles as you will see on the blog! And a pretty wicked sense of humor to boot!

HEY! Speaking of funny...Saturday I met Colleen Allison of Fresh Vintage. Her family stopped by on the way up North and they were a DELIGHT! I couldn't really gush about her Peter Heater blog entry (a personal favorite)...that would be awkward with small children around...and I wanted to ask her score on Facebook Word Challenge because she says she loves it too. I wonder if she means "I play it WAY too much and I might need a 12 Step Program". That's the way I love Word Challenge! Be sure to check out her blog tips...it's in the left hand column of her blog (Fresh Blog Tips) and it's something I have passed on to several area businesses with blogs.

Let's talk turkey. What the heck? JOHN flew out of town for work and on the way out the door he said "Remember to get the turkey" and I presummed he meant "Don't forget to pick our son up at his play date". He didn't mean The Boy. He meant FOOD.

THANKSGIVING TURKEY? Really???? How BAD is this fog that I have been in? I am in denial that I am feeding people at my home in 3 (and a half!) short days. So...if I don't get my fanny down to the store TONIGHT....I am looking at either an 8 pound turkey or a 32 pounder. Or...a frozen turkey that will not defrost. Beleive me...one year I ALMOST ran one through the dishwasher to thaw....wouldn't that work? Don't you think? I had to go to work and I couldn't be home to babysit the rock hard turkey and change it's "cool bath water". I'd put the sucker in the tub and the water was icy 5 mintues later. And I worked for someone who had us work Wednesday nights until like...midnight...the day before Thanksgiving. Yeah....I will venture the guess she DIDN'T have to prepare food the next day! See how that dishwasher was looking SO easy????

So...I am currently preparing to have apple cider, breakfast treats and special sales on Friday. I am trying to get the store flipped around a bit now so we can decorate Thursday. Good stuff folks....good times. I have PILES of ornaments and banners that I have been working on and cream stuff...I'm outta control with cream spray paint and my favorite "Vital Spark" canned paint.

I have emptied almost every surface in the shop and re-set it...and it feels so GOOD!

 

DOH! I emptied the cream desk and my camera batteries died! DRAT....it looks so cute now.

Oh well....more eye candy for tomorrow! Happy Monday before Thanksgiving....GULP.

It's not feeling anything like Christmas....HELP ME!

I am trying. I really am. But Oregon was goofy this year--sunny, happy and warm until WAY too late in the year!--- and I was in California recently, so I think my system is putting the ka-bosh on Christmas.

I have tried! I am in retail for God's sake! I need to be promoting Christmas like a crazy lady...yet...I am STUCK. I keep getting e-mails and postcards for other local stores and I think "Whhaaaaaaatttt????? What IS this?...Christmas ads ALREADY?".

Oh dear...not good.

So...today...baby steps. I pulled out  some of my bottle bush trees and cream holiday and got all nutty with it. I also drew a new little floor plan (okay..about 10 of them) for this next week. The family usually comes with me and helps me do The Big Switch to Holiday. We blast Christmas music and go for it. My mom rocks back and forth slowly to soothe herself and wonders WHERE on Earth I came from. She cannot believe I am hers at these moments (and many other moments as well).

Teeheeheehee....I am all hers. Sorry Mom.

She must have done something REALLY bad in a past life.

 

 

 

And Tawny came to the rescue AS USUAL. She flat out said "You do not have enough Christmas"...(she knows NOTHING about The Scary Blue Tub FULL of Christmas out in my garage)...but I was game. It was a quiet day...so I took a peek at her Holiday Items of Beauty. She never fails to impress me....

 

You don't even know WHAT you are looking at in the picture above...do you? Neither do Tawny and I...but we know it has "wow" written all over it.

Our call...home made nativity scene...heavy on the plaster of Paris and fish tank accessories.

Hey...don't judge us.

 

The Pile before it goes out on the floor. She tried to sneak in some bears dressed up in various types of holiday clothing. I said "Whoa lady...you know the rules...no dressed up bears or bunnies. Monkeys...yes. Bears and bunnies...no freakin' way".

Other fun items....

 

 

I am in another "Paint It Cream" phase. I have two night stands, one desk and a kiddie chair that I am painting right now. (Seriously...RIGHT NOW...as the photos download).  I also have about 4 frames. I LOVE frames. Hold me back at any estate sale with frames.

Okay...back to the paint. There are more items to primer. And primering is the MOST important step according to JOHN. He gets all weird if he sees me skimping on primer. Sometimes...I just skimp to mess with him.

I am funny that way.

But he doesn't laugh.

Whatever.

Happy Saturday to you all!

My shop...my mullet...

I believe I've told you this story before. When we moved all the furniture to the new space, John kept asking (gently) "do you have a floor plan?" and I know I was just a deer in the headlights. Floor PLAN? By plan....did he mean a clue? A fresh idea? Some witty plan?

Yeah...I had nothing. Nada. Nope. Zilch.

Then it hit me...I said "The shop is like a mullet....business in the front...party in the back". So when you enter the shop you see candles, estate sale finds, cards, local artist's work, chandeliers, reproduction wooden advertising signs, lovely linens...then you turn the corner and you find this.....

 

 

Bacon is our friend. It's proof that someone, somewhere...a higher being of some sort...loves us SO much.  Bacon is a big old HUG to humans from little pink pigs. (I HEART animals......but BACON...it is just good stuff). But....it also is something that many gentlemen in NE Portland really enjoy. I have men walk in...looking like they are praying I don't notice them..and when I finally say "Holler if you need any help" they say quickly "Do you have bacon mints?" or "Do you carry bacon wallets?".

People.....I can't make this stuff up.

I love pretty things so much. Bring me McCoy vases, velvet spools of ribbon, lovely botanical candles, sparkly baubles, local art pieces all day long...but BACON FLOSS? I HAVE to carry that....don't force me to make choices between pirate gum, Cat-a-Pults and candy cigarettes verses pretty things. My heart would break. 

And I have been an ordering FOOL for all of you. Yes. I do it for YOU. I am just that way.

Hey...here is some fun. On Tuesday night, we ran up to Mount Hood as a surprise for my daughter's 14th birthday. We let her skip school (GASP!) and we stayed up late playing Yahtzee & Scattergories. My daughter said more than once "This is the best birthday of my life". What mother of a TEENAGER doesn't love THAT comment after a family night of game playing??? We stayed at our friend's mountain house and here was the true test of how much fun we had.....CRYING came from the backseat as we backed away from their drive-way when it was time to go. That IS sad...but a SURE sign of a successful family get-away!

 

We look slightly pained...but the wind was relentless!!!

 

They CLAIM the mountian will be ready for skiing by Next Friday...I wonder...but I will trust them! Timberline Lodge was HUMMING with staff. Not many visitors, but lots of deliveries. I would really recommend a visit there if you are in Oregon for the Holidays. I forget how LUCKY we are...this is practically in my BACKYARD. I took the time to read all the plaques, look at old photos, really TAKE it all in.....This building is AMAZING and it was built in ONE year! 1936-1937. It has been visited by more than one president, but I believe it was F.D.R. that was the most celebrated/noted. (Mom...correct me if I am wrong..you read that plaque). It was a filming home of The Shining (Here's Johnny) and featured on several ski magazine covers, U.S. Stamps, vintage travel postcards, etc.

Before we took off for home, I had to show my mom (her visit was one of my daughter's presents!) the gorgeous riverside walk only 1/2 mile away from our friend's home. It is so relaxing, but we've always loved that people make rock formation art all along the banks of the Sandy River. I have seen very few people actually DOING it....it's usually just..there. A little mystery. A safe surprise!

 

See the little piles of rocks all about? Love it...

 

My daughter called this one "The Gnome". Inventive.....

Happy Almost Friday to you. I hope you have a weekend full of fun finds. I NEED to hit some estate sales...I have been relying on eBay WAY too much.

Sunny Days, the ICU and pretty jewelry

How do those subject marry? They just DO.....

Portland, Oregon has been spoiled with some lovely days. I get excited and then it hits me...Global Warming. They aren't making this stuff up folks. I have lived in this area for 31 of my 38 years and I don't recall such a lovely fall. Sun, red trees, very little rain.....did I mention the sun?

So....today I couldn't take it anymore. My good friend has been up at the ICU with her mother for 10 days. I have stayed away thinking she would TELL me if she wanted me up there, I have called each night and I have given my good wishes, but each day the news gets more and more ominous. So, I forwarded the last e-mail update that she sent to me over to JOHN at work and he called  minutes later and said "I am covering the store....YOU go be with your friend".

Did I mention he is the best?

I drove on up to the hospital...magazines and a big old coffee in hand.  Updates were all over the place. Every doctor has a different opinion, how my friend's nerves are not SHOT is beyond me...she is quite the advocate for her mother and I hope her mother is as proud of her as all of her friends are....we are in awe of her strength. If she didn't have her "sister" Lori...MY nerves would be shot.

You just leave an ICU with a whole new outlook on life!

Look at the views.....the news might not be golden...but the view is something of beauty. A nice distraction from the ugliness and sadness all around..

 

 

I came home, hugged my babies and started dinner.....after buying 3 more fish for the kid's fishtank to counteract the Fish Carnage of 2008 from last Tuesday. I have never flushed a toilet as much as I did last Tuesday. Turns out that when you change a fish tank...they are NOT joking about that water conditioner. Those otherwise healthy fish just popped to the top, belly up, amazingly quickly. The new frog, neon tetras and puffer fish have changed our lives. I wish I were kidding.

We later sat down to plan for my daughter's 14th birthday tomorrow. HOW am I the mother of a 14 year old when I feel 28? HOW? I am NOT 28. I am not NEAR 28. I am very, very FAR from 28. Ugggggg...

What a night..never a slow moment!

And, I have finally finished placing much thought out holiday orders. I have so many new items coming in just in time for the Holidays. All new Curly Girl including gift ideas....notepads, magnets, and boxed cards. I have new Asian inspired advertising items coming in from Wu and Wu....

Just in Friday night...more Lucky LuLu jewelry....

 

 

 

And did I mention the lovely weather? Hahahha....think I did...check out our weekend football game. A PERFECT win ( perfect being that we were holding our breath the entire time....it was WAY too close!) and lots of friends and family. I LOVE the games for THAT alone!

 

 

 

Off to bed. Tomorrow is my day off, but I plan to listabout 4-5 new Etsy items before I start the Great Birthday Chase for my daughter. She has mentioned about 78 "perfect items" for her birthday. Coats, tights, ballet flats, books, CD's, earrings, donations to charities...you name it. JOHN and I are going out tomorrow morning to get the goods. We have a plan. Fingers crossed.....

Happy almost Tuesday!

Check out that Dow shoppers.....

Yes. I am still addicted to my hourly CNN updates. Some may have swept the election aside and stopped watching CNN, but I am still using CNN as my retail barometer. And yes....I know I should look away. Just live the day. Enjoy. All that good stuff.

But in reality...shops around here are closing up. And it's hard to ignore 50% off and "Huge Liquidation!!!" signs all over the streets. And I don't even get OUT that much anymore! I am always here!

So....I have done my part to support our economy. Thank you...<bow>...thank you very much.

First off....Lower Fremont was featured in the newspaper today and I was even quoted. Yes sir, I was. Okay...that was nothing that I did to support the economy. It was just exciting.

Violet forwarded this old beauty that was available on Craigslist over the weekend and John ran out and got it for us...because he's Mr. Craigslist. He hasn't fed his addiction for awhile...so I think this secretly made his day.

 

It really works, but it took a lesson from JOHN. (Okay...I only half listened to him and kind of self trained myself, but I picked up a FEW key points from him). I really just use the box for cash...the rest just looks sharp. Not as absolutely STUNNING as Sofia's next door...but really cool all the same.

Diana of In Small Packages was down from Spokane today. I picked up a few more trinkets from her. She's been one busy lady!

 

 

I'll get them on chains and on the floor by tomorrow for 2nd Friday. Kjell of Splurge did not make official posters and felt like lots of artists would be at other local bazaars, but I am bringing in Kerrie of Princess Charming for tomorrow night and we are open late on Fridays until Christmas. Kerrie creates great vintage jewelry and does darling cards. We used to work at a scrapbook shop together and our "on-hold" piles were always similar.... As were our youngest son's sleeping patterns (and lack there of.....). Now our young sons are nearly our height and still forward we go making things and loving every minute of it. Holy smokes...that was all nearly 10 years! Time flies....

 

Ouch...check out these bad boys. Man...you KNOW there were kids screaming all over when they saw this thing came out. I think you'd do better to have your mom chew your hair off your head. You know the noise coming out of the boy on the far left is a high pitched, nervous squeal. "Nooooooooooo!!!".

 

Now...don't judge me...but this how I have been feeling all day. I smile, but inside I am well done. Last night I only got three hours of sleep. I tossed and turned for NO reason. I thought of things like "If I didn'thave the shop, I could do barn sales" but it turns out we don't HAVE a barn. And we don't know anybody with a barn. So scratch that. And I thought if we had a million dollars, I could be in Maui...but it turns out we don't have a million dollars. So, no Maui this week. I know this too shall pass....but every once in awhile, a shop owner gets tired.

So...go to your local shop and smile at the shop owner. And say "hang in there babe". I feel certain you will get a smile. ...even if inside she thinks "Bite me".

Happy Thursday! No really....I mean that. REALLY!

Grand Opening Hang Over

My face hurts from smiling all weekend. No....I really mean it. I think I said "Hello...how you doing today?" in my SLEEP Friday and Saturday night. And I will dream of Mimosas and cupcakes for awhile longer. And BOY howdy...let me tell you about kids and cupcakes. I found wrappers in some really peculiar places.

I felt this way yesterday, but there was still a lot of cleaning champagne glasses, straightening, finding hidden cupcake liners to be done...and just general "After The Event" fluffing taking place. Today however, only much internet word game playing is taking place:)

So...Violet's was a hit. Kids all over Portland will be seen sporting her Santa Baby and Argyle lines, as well as a bit of the Parfait and Starry. Looking good kids...looking good. Keep Portland looking hip my little friends.

My camera is feeling ill I fear. So I never took any pictures. I saw Violet snapping away...so maybe you can catch photos at her place.

I replaced the batteries today and it rallied a bit, but I think it's time to replace my camera yet again. I get some okay shots, but it's kind of hit and miss and pretty blurry. And I go to electronic shops with such trepidation. I always put it off because once I get in there I run into trouble. I suddenly feel the need to get a wireless mouse, a cherry red coffee maker and a 485.00 point of sale program. And when JOHN says "Do you REALLY need that?" and I admit that No, in fact I don't need that at all.....it ruins my day and I forget to be happy about the item I DID come to purchase.

It's all so complicated.

Here we go....looks like there were some good pictures in the bunch.

 

 

I processed a little bit more Christmas. These snowman and soldier light covers are too sweet for words....

 

   

I popped out some goodies...little hair pins.  

 

 

 

Ohhhh...that didn't kill nearly as much time as I would have liked it to! This has been QUITE an exciting weekend and I have visions of going home to my yoga pants, furry boots, and a few cans of spray paint tonight. I have SO many fun items to process and a desk that my husband is giving me the squint eye about. It's like now that it's getting chilly out, he wants to PARK the car in the garage. How rude. The garage is my home away from home that's in my home. Got that? 

Happy Monday to you all... 

Grand Opening & Violet is an animal

So Violet has done a window, about 300 pieces of clothing & bibs, built 16 feet of shelves and MUST have inhaled two cans of spray paint fumes.

I, on the other hand, swept the floor and put out new cards. Seriously...I am not that far off.

I did pull out a  bit more of the Holiday Arsenal...but not the WHOLE shabang yet. And it's still tucked away...not all "front and center". I don't want to scare y'all. And I am CERTAINLY not ready for it myself. I heard "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" at Macy's last night and almost fainted. I asked the gal rining me up "So...How is that music working out for you?". She laughed. We barely took the pumpkins off the porch!

Check this out....Violet's on fire. I LOVE the new red line. I HEART red. LOVE it. And I love that you can see our windows from I-5 now!

 

 

 

 

 

She built those shelves.

I mentioned my sweeping abilities....right? You could eat off that floor.

Okay...Typepad is shutting down on me AGAIN. Has this been happening to other Typepad folks? Deep sigh........

I'll go check out my dust-bunny-free-floors again....I amazed myself.

Happy Thursday night!

 

Ahhhhhh.....

Still so many more errands to run and things to accomplish on my day off...but I feel a sense of relief with the election hub-bub over. I have worked retail for many an election and I forget how it just SHUTS shoppers down. So...I am glad to be seeing some hustle and bustle.

Tomorrow I have to be BUSY. Violet's big grand opening starts Friday and I barely got Halloween down, some items flipped and orders placed....still have some empty spots and furniture to move to give it some new life. Cannot believe that when Violet gave me a grand opening date of November 6+7 that it seemed SO far away!

I brought in some paper goods yesterday and saw that Violet had brought in some of the new items. Oh...they make my uterus flip. Teeheeheehee....a tiny pink onesie with an owl appliqued on the front that knocked my socks off...a fuzzy pink & brown coat, ruffled pants....ohhhh.....my almost 14 year old daughter (who happens to be taller than me) would look REALLY silly in that. She could possibly rebel.

I have more to do, YET, I am sitting here reading over Facebook, finding NEW blogs and catching up on Canada Kate's family blog --and a really odd hair-doo they gave her last week (all of you folks that said if the election didn't turn-out the way you wanted were going to move to Canada....you wouldn't do that if you saw what they did to Kate's perfectly normal hair. She looked like the Queen Mother).

Check THESE out.....I am drooling.

Happy Loves Rosie I want to fly over, hang with her and be her new best friend

Vintage, Pretty & Shabby her use of the word "cheeky" makes me so jealous!

Vintage Heaven again...things just look different overseas...

Kitschen Pink She played the mummy game we played at Halloween, but called it loo paper. LOVe it!

Off I go to actually....um...work. Cheers.