Poppy and Ivy

JOHN---unplugged

I really cannot think of a single thing to say that hasn't been said or a photo that is "fresh" and wouldn't make you fall asleep in your chair.

So...JOHN took my camera and took photos of the shop and I thought "Hmmmm...that is interesting. What did HE find photo worthy compared to what I would do?". (I was really *busy* playing Path Words on Facebook and could not be bothered by his photography session).

I feel like I fall into a pattern....do the same circle, take the same photos....so this should be funny to see his path and choices.

My head is in Auction Catalog Land for my daughter's school...writing up the catalog is draining me. I feel void of all creativity right now....so the light is on JOHN!

 

Oh! Surprise surprise! His first shot is of the shelves HE built last week. I don't think he's proud or anything :)

 

I love this designer against the shop walls!

 

 

 

The red shelf.

 

A new oil cloth bag...the vintage beach line. I like how he set it up on an old leather suitcase and got the wooden beach sign in back....very nice.

 

Oh.....a great shot of the new cuffs. My favorite is "Snap On Boyfriend" (to the right) and Shut Up (green background). Click on photos to enlarge.

 

 

Oh yes! The new "Saving Up For Plastic Surgery" bank...that line is a funny one.

I am going to continue writing up the school catalog (for the rest of my life......). I hope I don't disappoint....I feel like my mojo is out the window.

Happy Sunday...Monday!... Tuesday!... Wednesday!

Picture-licious

I have NO time.....I have a Mardi Gras party for 20 to plan & cook for (and clean the dog hair out of corners and off of the furniture....I mean...let's be honest)...so it's picture time my dear friends.

A picture speaks a thousand words or SOMETHING like that....so hopefully this does the trick....

Happy Saturday to you all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off I go to make olive tapanade and cut bread up to "stale overnight" for bread pudding. Sounds gross...tastes amazing!

Cheers!

Where have I been?

 Such a greatquestion. It felt like I JUST blogged, but it turns out that is not true.

I cannot remember the last time I made any cards for the shop, made any ART for the shop or did anything that was not PAPER work for the shop.

Paper work as in bills and consignment entry....that is the part I detest. It's hard enough to keep it all in-line (buying, power bills, insurance, phones, orders, estate sales, processing, checking in, placing on the floor, displaying), but then I have to shove papers all day long. This is worse than when I was a Realtor and THAT was more paper than I thought possible. Back then, I had a pin that a friend gave me that read "Save a tree...shoot a realtor".

I had a consignor in OCTOBER. Wrote her a check and lost it in my husband's truck during the snow. I found it in JANUARY with a snow boot mark on it (next to my 2009 huge INSURANCE payment!)....I am that bad. I wish it weren't true....but it is SO true.

And today I got a note from City of Portland (I will bite my tongue here) that says I am facing penalty of the law for not paying my 2007 taxes which is FAR from true...and I had to FIND the paper that we've already faxed in MORE than once and fax it AGAIN. Finding it was test. And we got 3 MORE important "papers" regarding that paper.....and we had to find the three important papers from the LAST threatening note....and then the 2 follow up papers about that threatening note.

Got that? I HATE paper. And City of Portland hates small businesses or something. Each City of Portland letter that comes makes me want to SHUT the doors and walk away.

But I am not bitter.

So, I retrieved my arty mojo and I am working on cards that I have made notes about. Notes along the lines of: I am low on baby cards, wedding and Happy Birthday. Check.

I am low on some of the alphabet for typewriter necklaces. Check.

I am low on bird art, but Canvas Bird Kate is in a land far, far away....so I might have to figure that out on my own. Check.

I am cutting back on the consignors so I can focus on new gift items and estate saling. CHECK baby!

Today I got new Sublime Stitches and a note saying they are going to up the price. I JUST made it. Great new designs came in for boys....skater boy, monsters and ghouls, so we are good to go if you are looking to make some "custom" boy shirts.

 

 

And then my new oil cloth goods came in that I have been so excited about! I am going against my basement rule. I hate the lighting down here for photos...but the new oil cloth is SO great! I will unpack more items and take better photos first thing tomorrow, but again...I could NOT wait. New tin banks came in too....saving up for Plastic Surgery, a New Life and to Quit my Job arrived....such fun.

 

 

 

This bag is called Floatsam and Jetsom....it will look FANTASTIC in shop light tomorrow. It's like my favorite my favorite  Klimt painting!

 

Okay...I've got to run and use that crafty mojo I am feeling before it escapes!

Happy Almost Friday!

Dude......Where are the dudes?

I love Valentine's for so many reasons...I cannot begin to name them all.

My mom made it such a fun day for me when I was kid. I think she liked it better than Christmas...I know I do!

I love red. I love pink. I love sparkly things. I am a hopeless romantic. I love flowers. I am a fool for love songs and WILL cry when they play. I love heart shaped boxes of chocolate although I am rarely a fan of the cheap chocolate inside. I love kisses. I love hugs. I love hearts. I love glitter. I love getting notes.....Valentine's Day and the bag bursting with cards was almost too much for me to handle in grade school. I would search through for my favorite people's cards, then rush home after school to read them all. I STILL have most of them! I love dressing up. I love jewelry. I love making my kids heart shaped food and pink chocolate milk. I loved tying big red bows in my daughter's piggy tales when she was little. I love cutting out hearts and putting them in my windows. And now that I am the mommy....I love helping stuff the goody bags for classes. But sadly, last night was probably my last night for that. So sad. My son is 5th grade and I am not so certain they do that after this! It was very bittersweet laying out all the goods and preparing to fill bags. <Deep Sigh>.

I am a sap. THIS I know it true.

But now that I own a retail store, watching the guy walk in with deer in the headlight eyes MAKES my year...particularly from February 12th-14th. I am NOT making fun of them. I really am not. I work well with them and don't talk down to them....but I enjoy them thoroughly. Yesterday was a young boy who works at the barber shop next door. He came in quiet, but 7 minutes into it he SPILLED. He'd been friends with this gal for 2 months...he wanted a gift that didn't say "commitment" (they start SO young), and didn't want to scare her. And he wanted a card that didn't say "love" anywhere on it. I wanted to wrap this kid up and put him in my back pocket. Oh he was adorable. I set him up and sent him off.

Then there is the guy that just KNOWS. He comes in and knows his sweetheart...he's the Ding, Dang, Dong Guy. And nine times out of ten...that style shopper is the boyfriend...not the husband. Not to paint everyone with the same brush.....but I find that interesting!

So tonight I didn't get many of my scared men....but I hope to get some more tomorrow. I have stuff....

 

I had Deborah Funches (Jewelry) come in and do a trunk show, but it was slow. I bought some stuff for moi! Happy Valentine's to ME!!!!  I was a happy camper. After she packed and left, I thought..."Why didn't I just buy jewelry of hers for the store to sell?"....that was silly....For those of you who came in and visited with us...thank you! I hope you got to chit chat with Deb....she is just good times!

I entered this morning to find the shelves done. Mr. Hollands AMAZED me. Finished and lovely. HUGE still...but not half a scary looking...this Dude can build anything..he's amazing. He needs some Valentine's Day kisses!

 

 

I placed a lovely Blue Q order full of the oil cloth shopper bags, the new zipper pouches, water bottles, wrist cuffs....it should look great on the back wall. I threw all my baby stuff back there for now, but I have a plan. Gotta have a plan.

Happy Friday.....or oh...Saturday?.....It was a LONG day.

Hugs and kisses on this lovely Valentine's Day! Go kiss someone! Make it GOOD.

It's A Whole New Wooooorld........

Excuse my Little Mermaid moment.....

JOHN dragged me to an appointment with the tax lady and I said "Why am I going? So I can SEE her hand me the pile of homework?" and he said "I will reward you with a yummy breakfast out...come with me...she might have good news". (And yes....I do work well with food bribes, but mainly so I don't have to cook OR do the dishes).

We walked in, the accountant said "There you kids are" and opened a book with our PREPARED TAXES. We got to sign! I did it! It's OVER. As I danced over to sign the taxes, she said "Wait a minute....don't you want to know if you owe or if you get money back?".

I didn't pause...."Not really...they're DONE".

I get the feeling she doesn't really understand how I tick.

I arrived back to the shop scared silly to see how large the new HUGE shelves were. Violet and Misha have both mentioned that they are HUGE....and I saw one quick photo from John's camera and they looked HUGE ....and u-g-l-y. I have been so busy freaking out about taxes that I couldn't put my FULL attention into freaking about the shelves.

I came in and YES...they are HUGE. It kind of was a sucker punch to see Violet's things not there and yes....the shelves ARE huge. (Did I mention that already?) But I can see his vision now....I am not HALF as scared as I was.....

 

I can see where it's going and I like it!

So, taxes are DONE and Violet's wall is not the empty abyss I feared it would be for months and months to come. Wheewwwwwww.......it IS a whole new world.

I am gearing up for 2nd Friday. Champagne and truffles purchased. I am gathering the jewelry together for the sale. (25% off Poppy & Ivy jewelry!) ...it's all coming together!

Here are some peeks....

 

A new chair for Becky to sit in! Since I sold Big Red (the best velvet chair ever) Becky never visits me anymore:)

 

 

 

 

The party clown is back and filled with Valentine's treats. This dude scares my husband silly. He really hates this clown and THAT makes me laugh because I am the Clown Hater in the family.

 

 

So I will attend to fluffing and processing and placing a few orders. Because that is a BALANCED thing to do rather than play Path Words on Facebook for 2 more hours....Happy Wednesday!

Where DO the days go?

I was SO on top of 2009 Will Be Divine.....working out regularly, eating right, pacing myself, then it all took a crazy turn and I feel all upside again!

I caught up with some of the chores I passed up on to prepare taxes. I haven't heard from the tax lady yet...but the more time that goes by, I feel like maybe we did it all right and she'll call us to sign soon. Can you FEEL my anxiety in that statement? I NEVER want to see that 2008 Taxes Screen one more time, I don't want to touch one more receipt and I don't want to add any numbers. I am just saying........

I have some Etsy items to ship off tomorrow (yeahhhh!!!!) and I have some more to place. My Etsy is on fire.....I love it! Maybe Oregon economy is sluggish...but overseas they are BUYING! LOL......

Here are some new, fun finds....

 

 

 

I had a great few weeks with sales. John's been watching the shop so I can get out....but I prefer going withhim because he's tall and people move for me! And he carries the big stuff! Now, THAT'S good times. I have still been doing just fine on my own and he's not AS frustrated with me now about buying the HUGE white built in cupboards at a local estate...in a tiny basement...with steep stairs...and and old lady putting her hand down his friend's pants to "make sure he didn't fall". Yeah. They are over that now...but it made a FANTASTIC story on Saturday night let me tell you! 

Calling all local artists! Contact me if you are interested in showcasing your goods at Lower Fremont's Bubbles & Baubles for this 2nd Friday event. We need another artist at Caffe Destino. You will be inside and cozy and collecting your own money. We are advertising several places, and the info went out in several group e-mails.  

Here is my featured guest. Her name is Deb Funches and I have purchased her pieces over the years at several local boutiques. Her pieces are SO beautifully crafted and her eye is AMAZING. She will be with me in the shop from 5:00-9:00, this Friday night. Check her out....

 

 

 

Are they not GORGEOUS? And she will bring her craft along with her...you chose from her show case and she will build a custom piece right there for you. I am stashing some money away for this Friday night! I might need buy my own little Valentine present...wink, wink. Not that I am at ALL famous for that one in our house....

Okay...off for crepes and mimosa with my favorite rep. Now, how it that for a day off? Happy Tuesday!

After all the productivity, one could only assume this was next.......

Today I watched the SAME You Tube video ABOUT 14 times. I also LAUGHED each time...maybe HARDER than the first time. I can only find it on Dlisted now. (I have to give him credit--he's naughty, but I get my daily giggles from this guy)...but I swear to god....this one talked to me. BOTH of my kids have had to undergo several oral surgeries and I have HAD this conversation with them each time...I just wasn't brilliant enough to FILM it because my heart was pounding in my chest and I was sure someone would throw up on me before we ever got home.

When this little guys eyes get big and he says "You have four eyes..."...I am a G-O-N-E-R. I made every person who came to visit me today watch this video. I loved it that much!!!

I also found out (where have I been????) that my favorite magazine ON EARTH has stopped production. Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion was my little piece of heaven. When it came...the kids KNEW...Mama needs a minute to contain herself. I always did the QUICK FLIP through...then I sat down and devoured it. Now....if you think Mary was all cherries and black and white checks...you are mistaken. She showcased contemporary homes, artists showrooms and work areas (always a  favorite), scrapbookers, paper artists, fabric designers, ...you name it. The last two issues were some favorites....featuring Heather Bailey (summer 2008) and Amy Butler (Holiday 2008). Those two gals are my GURUS. I feel like a lost a friend the rest of the day.

And did I sew ONE darn feather onto my bluebird outfits? Oh no I did not....

Did I clean and put out ONE of my new estate sale finds? Oh no....I really did not.

I chit chatted with neighbors, stood out in the sun (SUN!!!) and watched  You Tube.

I DID get some middle school auction items finished, so I am not a total loser....

So, for those of you who made a comment about how I was "amazing" for painting and doing taxes....please don't be fooled....for every day that is AMAZING.....there is a day I watch dumb videos and laugh from 11am until 6pm....because, well.... 2009 is all about BALANCE:)

Happy Almost Thursday! I hope to be productivetomorrow! LOL......

And she's BACK

I have been one productive human being. I have not been good at blogging, but you should see my house....no dog hair in the corners, steam cleaned carpets (ummmmm......YUCK.....I was ready to just post a "For Sale" and start over by the third bucket of BROWN, hairy water!!!), one painted wall in my son's room, dinners were MADE from scratch, Martha Stewart was watched at 11:00 for TWO days straight, the aerobics instructor DID call me stranger...whatever....I was ON FIRE.

A little history here...when I am facing any decision (how do I fill the shop with Violet being gone???) or have a big job (taxes!!!)....I clean and paint. I have done it for 20 years...like clockwork. When our first daughter was ill, you could have eaten off my floors and I made 4 sets of full curtains/or swags (hey...it was early 90's) and painted my dining room TWICE. I think I made every present for every birthday and Christmas too that year. Can you say 'nervous energy'?

So here was what the last 2 "days off" looked like this week......

 

Enter important data, decide to get more coffee, get upstairs and find......

 

A really "fluffy" cat waiting for food. Cat food bin is empty, so I make us both some turkey breakfast sausages and dig through his stocking stash in case Santa brought him something fantastic that I missed. SCORE!!! There was a Fancy Feast pouch! Thank god...now, he won't waste away.

 

Come back DOWN stairs...crap...I forgot my coffee..go back upstairs....OH! I will paint Cole's room!!! I toss on a wool coat over my pajamas workout clothes and go to Fred Meyer for paint.

 

 

This is NOT a potty chair like some people thought....this is a PAINT can filled with Sun burnt. (Shouldn't that be PINK and say "ouch" when you open the can? LOL.......)

 

Double crap....maybe I SHOULD have used primer after all. I will go down and find primer.

OH! I forgot about these sconces I found at an estate sale....I will prime these too! The garage is the perfect temperature! I mean...I am RIGHT here...with primer in hand.

 

Oh...tax guilt hits. More taxes. I enter a few more columns, return some phone calls, place some calls and messages. I am HUNGRY! Back upstairs. (I DID find my daughter's OSU Beaver hair clips in my receipts....good, but weird).

REALLY? Does he EVER leave that spot???? This cat is RELENTLESS.....

The cat and I had hummus and carrots. He hates carrots. He just had hummus and some string cheese. I don't know WHY he's so big. Oh.....just remembered to claim my new camera on taxes...back downstairs.

 

Fill out more columns. Remember that my daughter and I both got new cell phones, that I got a wireless mouse and that I have a pile of light bulb receipts. WHAT category does that go under? Office? Why can't I be rich? I need a weekly accountant to take care of this stuff. Sheesh. OH NO...paint is drying on the brush upstairs! Brand new brush and it was NICE.

So I paint, paint, paint, hem curtains, re-hang Cole's twinkle lights and I have ONE wall done. I told him he needs PATIENCE....one wall at a time....

 

LOVE how this orange turned out...and I will NEVER tell JOHN that I didn't use primer. (Okay....I actually forgot to bring the primer UPSTAIRS...but the sconces looked SO good, then I got hungry, then the cat thing.......) I will hear about that the rest of my days.

So, now you know how a day in the life of a small business owner with children and a husband really works. It is possible I have adult A.D.D....but I like to think that I have lots of IDEAS.

The taxes have been handed over....I am sure we'll have homework, but the nasty part is OVER. Now to go sew feathers on 2 blue bird outfits for the elementary school and get three middle school auction procurement forms filled out.  

Think I am kidding?

Happy Wednesday to you!

Ch-Ch-Changes.....

Today was a weird day.

As of today, no more Violet. And it hit me that in a mere 5 months I came to rely on her input. I started to change out her window and I felt like I had just killed someone's puppy. I felt HORRIBLE taking out those little baby bodies with those darling clothes.

So, the CPSIA law was put ON HOLD. Whewww....but now that Violet has made the decision, my read is that she needs to follow through and get life all lined up, ideas written down, firm up Life In General. In the five months she was inPoppy & Ivy she started a retail boutique, flew to Kansas to help a sick father, then lost her father soon after, stopped in mid-fashion season with a really screwed up law and finally made a decision to pull out and take a breath. It makes me tired to just type it....I can't imagine living it. So...... to answer my 318 e-mails about if Violet will stay now that the law is on hold....it's not looking good. She's got a plan.

Remember Poppy & Ivy preparing taxes 2007? Well...they took a whole new twist this year. We are going in way earlier for so many reasons. Like we are maturing and stuff. But JOHN was SO sweet to wait until last Sunday night to tell me that we needed the taxes done by the following Sunday. (He didn't want me stressed during the Poppy & Ivy Party...what a guy). So done... by today. And he told me 6 days ago. Did I mention that? And 2007 taxes took 3 weeks. So I had 6 days....to get 3 weeks work done. Got that?

So I stayed pretty calm through-out the week, but I stayed up last night until 4:00am. My eyes were crossed...my legs, my fingers, the veins to my heart....all crossed. But I finally put in the last data, e-mailed my husband (who was FAST asleep) a few things I need from him and climbed into bed. When I woke up, John was still here....not at the tax gal's. I said "Why aren't you going? You fly out of town soon". And he said (ahem...) "Oh...we don't meet her until Wednesday....I just wanted them DONE by today". WHAT?

JOHN should be very thankful for airplanes. This was a perfect time for him to fly far away.

But...they are close to done, so I will be thankful. Right? (JOHN did hand me a huge packet of receipts that he had "kind of forgotten about")

And the CPSIA law is on hold...so I will be thankful. Right?

And I have a Plan for 2009.....that is cool. Right?

I am in the "gotta be thankful for what we have" stage and that is just fine.

And I have to change my hours (for the worse) with the end of Violet....but I keeping my chin up...I will figure SOMETHING out!!

Happy Almost Monday to you....It's ALL good. SMILE!