Poppy and Ivy

I Love All Things Old...Ahhhhhh

My camera is going to start burning up and melting on this trip. We left Canada and hit Vermont yesterday. I have perfected the "point and shoot while going 70 mph"...I am The Photo Master.

Here we go..join me as we take a photo adventure in Vermont!

 

 

I love old cemeteries. We wander about and make up stories about the people. Nice stories.. 

My kids....they are not old...but I still like them.

 

Mu husband and I...were kind of old. Above is our room, a FANTASTIC pink typewriter and the B&B we stayed at.

 

Our rental car is not vintage or even that old, but I love the license plate and the fact that when we park everyone whispers"Ohhhhh.....they are from Quebec". I feel like an imposter! I try not to speak...my voice would give me away, but I AM tempted to start saying "Oat and Aboat" and "Soar-E" and "cheers, eh".

Ahhh.....love the history of everything we saw on today's ride. Stained glass, church doors that are 15-25 feet tall, historic markers in Portsmouth in the middle of "Twin Lobster" stands, covered bridges, homes built in the early 1800's....I just can't stop taking it all in!

Now we're in Boston and the kids are IN LOVE wth the skyline. WAIT until they experience the actual CITY! Cheers!

Toronto Fun..Castles & Funny Food

We are having SO much fun! Toronto is definitely worth the trip! So much to do and look at!

We visited Casa Loma Castle in Toronto.

 

 

 

 

 

I cannot tell you how much I LOVE going to the market here.....I LOVE the names! I think La Vache qui rit is SO much cuter than the Laughing Cow....and I thought Laughing Cow was pretty freakin' cute.

 

 

 

 

Giant Okeydoke?

 

BBQ Ringolos...love the name.

Oh....so much to see, do, experience, etc.....what an adventure we're taking!

Happy Sunday! Tomorrow morning we push off to Vermont bright and early. More to come...and Flea Market photos to post tomorrow once we "land" on US soil again..

Look and Weep......Day Two in Toronto

I found the store I want to be when I grow up. I just wanted to MOVE in. Sadly...I don't know the name because the kids and busbands were HUNGRY and ready to rock and roll. I could find no business card and the gal never said "Hello"....so I was lost. I guess it's 2 stores. I think one is called Nesting? The Nesting? It's on Queens Street in The Beach area of Toronto. I AM going back for the metal birds tomorrow... I just MUST. (Last two photos at the bottom of this post). I want to try to solder or string together to make garden art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOH!!!! I can see a website in this photo! I will go investigate tomorrow as to be sure to give her credit for a lovely store!

 

Happy Thursday!

Planes, Engines and Toronto Views

First flight to Atlanta was dreamy. The views were amazing. I saw the movie 17 Again which was QUITE a surprise! I really liked it. Then I found Bejeweled Blitz game and I kind of forgot I was flying. When we did hit turbulence I didn't even notice...just thought the lady in front of me was TRYING to irritate me by wiggling!

We are here:

 

Mom is here:

 

 

Then we were here:

That went off without a hitch and then for the next flight, the crew was an hour late, we boarded 90 minutes late and then they said "We're having trouble starting the motor, so we're having a MSD (motor starting device) wheeled out". What the???????? Ummmm.....is a Motor Keeper On-er Device accompanying us on the flight as well? The kids kept it together well, then my daughter said "Yeah...I am going on a different flight and stood up"...so there was some calming that had to take palce.

We made it...all good...but MAN...in my head, I made promises to all the angels I know and a few others I don't.

Now...we're staying here...we have family friends up here for a work project and they were SO very gracious to let us stay with them. It's is fantastic. We couldn't have a more amazing view or accommodations.

 

Our view!

 

 

And we were here.....

 

And there....

 

I am headed back out to watch the tail end of QUITE a storm dance on the lake. So far....we are pretty enamored with Toronto!

Tomorrow I will post photos of one AMAZING vintage store. GASP...and I am told there are more quite like it. Hold me back......

Happy Wednesday!

Bon Voyage

Poppy and Ivy bid you Adieu....

Yes...we're only going to Toronto....not Montreal...but we can still bid you Adieu.

People told me I can do that.

Really important people.

 

Safe voyages for us all......photos to follow.

My husband guesses there will be 40 photos at the airport alone. I chose to not take that as an insult. (Is he NEW here?)

Hmmmmm....I HATE to dissapoint, so there JUST may be that many.

My daughter wants me to take photos of the parmesean garlic fries she wants for breakfast. (Portland Airport has really yummy restaurants!) and I said "Really? 8 hours of close seating & air travel and you're choosing GARLIC fries? You're sitting next to Daddy...I get The Boy".

Sheesh.

Happy Tuesday!

The Stars Have Spoken

"In your subconscious mind, it will always awaken the expectation that the next chapter of your life is about to begin".......

How is THAT for a horoscope at the start of a vacation?

I love it!

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you all who came to the shop to wish us safe travels today.....so very kind and aprreciated!

Happy Monday!

Packing Bags & Having Sales

I am packing like a mad woman at home and cleaning as well because I am very superstitious...I am sure the plane travel will be safe as long as my house is clean. Don't judge me. I have shared my fear of flying with you before! I can't believe our piles of luggage so far....we might need to do some editing on the kids' bags!

But with the shop and being gone for so long, I am cleaning BOTH places like a mad woman. I want to come back to a clean store as well as a clean home. I feel bad leaving Poppy & Ivy all empty and alone for so many days.. I am almost 100% certain I'll want to run in one more time and check on her on the way to the airport. A store IS like another child!

I WILL be open July 31 and August 1....the neighborhood go-to girl that ALL the shop neighbors use offered to cover those two days! I'll TAKE it! She knows me, the store, the neighborhood AND she has a killer accent.  So come visit Saoirse while I am away. I should offer a discount to the person who can actually pronounce that!

I have cleaned, found more stuff (funny how that always seems to happen when I CLEAN), rearranged displays and I am working on a new window so the shop neighbors don't egg me while I am gone. I am sure they are tired of my cream/bride window!

 

 

I am having 25% off all jewelry and glassware....so you locals should come on down, partake in my air conditioning and save a little cash! Just a suggestion! I am a problem solver.

 

I always like to mix up my glassware...shake it up a little bit. Seems to be the trend of local restaurants too. "The Estate Feel".

 

These earrings by Lucky Loo Loo are a continual favorite of mine, made by the snazziest mom lady you ever-did-see. She rocks at the market. She was at the grocery store ahead of me one day pushing her son in the cart....edgy haircut, pinup girl red lips, peep toe shoes...FANTASTIC! I was behind her wondering if I had remembered to put on deodorant that morning, with my paint pants on and no make-up. Some people just have it together....some people don't.

Tra La La...I am off to continue packing for The Big Adventure. I look forward to gathering treasures in Toronto at the "Belonging Sales" and on the East Coast at country "tag sales".

Happy Saturday!

Slowly Coming Around

THAT was one insane event.

Our Summer Fest was good on Friday, slightly slower than expected on Saturday...but I was exhausted all the same. By Sunday I was a cross eyed idiot.

I met GREAT people! And I OF COURSE I left their blog/moo/business cards at the shop....but links WILL follow. I met supportive people who "get it" right now....people who cheered me on..people who gave me great advice and I need to take it ALL in.

I also had TONS of vendors approach me who had worked at the Mississippi Street Fair up the street and I also approached some the Fremont vendors and ended up with few nice additions.

I met Little Lilly on Saturday and brought some of her pendants into the shop. She has a great eye. I love her colors, design and how clean they all appear.

 

 

I met Cyn Moore from Seattle the next day and she was selling some necklaces that I have heard about and I have been Googling forever! I LOVE the door-to-door service!

 

Location, Location, Location......Cyn does soldered map pendants. You name the city, state or country...she WILL have it. I have had a few neighborhood customers go to Paris and London this last month...so those were the first pendants that came to mind. I also got Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Manzanita (is it a sign????) and Cannon Beach.

My head is in the CLOUDS trying to get ready for the big vacation...I have house sitter charts, dog walking charts, shop notes...I am getting giddy! I also seem to have some weird little bug. I am very tired, a headache, achey...I am  wondering if something is making the rounds????? I am sucking up Emergen-C because we leave in seven days!

So, back to those notes for now....but planning some fun sales for while I am gone! We will be open weekends only while I am gone. I have had so many friends that had to go back to work due to the economy....so I lost my Shop Peeps! So I have a gal I am talking to tomorrow.....fingers crossed.

Happy Tuesday to you!

Ready, Set...Bring It On!

 Charts have been made (I did not do that). Vendors are set up (I didn't do that either). Posters are up. (I had a hand in that!). Postcards are out. (That was my children.) E-mail blast have been sent out. Wait...I didn't do that either.....WHY am I SO dang tired!!!!!!

It's all good.

Come on 2nd Friday....Bring It On! Our event is planned, the ball is beyond rolling.

And on top of all of the stuff above (that I didn't do), I am going to tell you it's HARD being the mother of a Debut Artist. Cole is getting edgy about 2nd Friday. I have to keep reminding him he needs to make more art, that it's a TWO day sale and now we're at the point of pricing his items. He has NO concept of money (he's just a kid!) so it's a struggle. I will say "2.00 for that" and he'll say "I was thinking 8.00". Really? Then he'll say "3.00 for this" and I will say "That is more of a 10.00 items" and he'll say "Are you nuts?"

You DO see why my days have felt so long...right?

I took him to SCRAP(again) to get the juices flowing...he's on FIRE with these tiles he is making. And they are FUNNY. He scored some paint, more Photo shop books and I scored old music sheets for crafts. That never gets old. I will be buried with dictionaries and sheet music 50 years from now...the kids shaking their heads and shrugging the entire time...

Check out the loot he scored!

 

Big tiles, little tiles and he now has 10 big tiles finished as well as5 medium and 8 tiny tiles. Dude is workin' hard! He is earning those Slurpees!

He has some adorable crow art he's working on....I might buy this stuff! But don't tell him that....

On the Poppy & Ivy front (oh yeah....we have a shop....) I received my Old Wood Sign order JUST in time! This companyis fantastic. Family owned and the BEST to work with. I have done 5 orders with them and every one has been great. It's a company I enjoy signing a Visa with VERY much. They refuse to sell their signs for more or less than you do and they ask the same in return. They personalize signs...for example the signs I ordered said "Vermont Shores" or "Atlantic Ocean" in the catalog...but I can make it say anything. (I am magic!) I did a few Oregon Coast, Portland waterfront and Oregon golfing signs. One Maui thrown in for good measure!

 

Back to 2nd Friday chart making. Actually....I just stand behind John and watch...he's the graphics whiz. I say "I like that"..."Oh....don't like that". Planning a 2nd Friday is JUST like marriage.

Happy Thursday night!

2nd Friday & Summerfest...wait..did I already mention that?

I am a crazy running FOOL today. I am trying to process ALL I can to fill the shop with new goodies in time for Friday's Summerfest.

My old wood signs MIGHT make it in time....I got a bunch of Oregon Coast and Maui signs. Fingers crossed on THAT one!

I FORGOT to place my Blue Q order. The saddest part of that story is I thought I sent it to my rep...but I found it saved in drafts on my laptop....so that will be for August's 2nd Friday. Drat. I remember the days that I could keep it all lined up in my head...ding, dang, dong. Those days are LONG gone. Now we won't have "Morning Sucks" soap....Deep sigh.

No worries....I will get it in here soon.

I have kept my thumb on our Artist in residence One Funky Chicken. He is like a flea on a griddle....I keep finding him playing Facebook games, jumping on the trampoline...I keep dragging him in to "Make Art!". I am the meanest Mom EVER. I want the kid to earn his Toronto money! I mean....rumor has it there is a candy store just a few blocks away from where we're staying!

 

 

And I found a HUGE pile in the back of our garage of estate sale finds from when JOHN decided to move all my stuff without telling me and annoying me to the high heavens clean the garage. I guess he forgot to mention that! My annoyance is YOUR gain!

 

I would love, love, love to sell the letters individually, but they have pins on the back....I am afraid someone will hurt themselves digging around for a letter. Or do I just open the box (as shown) and sell them individually? Love this set! I am an alphabet FOOL.

I am going back downstairs to iron, iron, iron. I found piles of dishtowels, aprons and pillowcases! John's clean freakishness paid off. Maybe later I will go into HIS closet and move things around......

All this running around we're all doing is REALLY stressing out my Oliver Kitty. Poor guy.

 

Happy Tuesday!