Poppy and Ivy

Winterfest...Part Two

I know I said I was ready yesterday....but now I am really, really, really ready.

I checked in, priced and out out the new baubles...

 

 

New books,cards and notepads are out on the floor.

 

 

 

 

We have candy canes, champagne, plastic glasses and extensions cords packed...always thinking. We are like the MacGyver's of the Event World.

We have Kerri Denner of Princess Charming lined up to come in tomorrow night. Long before I knew just HOW big this was going to be, she agreed to this...so I hope she does some GREAT business tomorrow night! She's your gal for adorable jewelry made with vintage resin, plastic and various vintage buttons. You know...she makes the type of stuff you line up and can't make any decisions so you buy it all and hide them from significant others for awhile. The first time you wear it you pull the "Oh...this old thing?...Had it forever". Not that I have EVER tried that trick.......n-e-v-e-r.

 

 

These pieces are great. They are designed to be either worn as a pin or as a necklace. Oh....I just happen to own the bottom one. Imagine that.....

So off to bed I go. I'd love to get at least 7 hours of sleep before the big event! I deal so much better when I am rested. I keep chanting that to myself this evening...a little mantra playing over and over in my head!

Happy Saturday!

It's Winterfest Time Baby!!!!

Meetings have been had....posters have been printed, A-frames have been pulled out of dumpsters (don't ask)...we are prepared.

Turns out roasted chestnuts are hard to come by....who knew? Darn food handler permits. These silly guidelines....

So tomorrow... I check in a few new items, bring in some "new" vintage Christmas and get all pretty for Friday and Saturday's Winterfest on Lower Fremont.

Check us out.....

 

I am ready and waiting for you local Portlanders!

And let's bring on the snow! It will make it feel SO official! Happy Wednesday...

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!

Are you ready? 'Cause I am!

I am ready for a grand opening!!!

 

The skies are flirting with me...they are white. The air is crisp. The humidity is high....grrrrrrrrr. Stay back snow...STAY BACK! You may leave a sweet dusting that will stop Portland dead in it's tracks at about...oh, let's say.....3:00? Then go ahead. Do your thing!

Make some kids happy...whatever. 

Champagne........check

Orange juice......check

Kids sparking juice......check

New Lucite vintage jewelry EXCLUSIVE to me! ......DOUBLE check.

Sweet Angela FELL into my lap last night. She came in with a friend, brought me some vintage baubles to look at, went home and made cards, pricing for them and brought them back at 7:00...as I unplugged my little iron and turned off the lights!

I could KICK myself I didn't bring her card home to link you her website..but I WILL! She was a top seller at a local boutique and they are cutting back on jewelry. That means lucky me... and lucky you!

So, if you are local COME ON DOWN!

Oh...and the best part? Some varmint crawled into my lungs so I have a really sexy cough, watery, red rimmed eyes (not because of lack of sleep...for once) and um....no voice. Yep.

Nada, zip, zilch.

At about midnight last night my voice had a Brenda Vaccaro thing going on....but now....I've got a squeak if I am lucky. And apparently....tiny fairies jumped down my throat and put cigarettes out on my tonsils. Naughty fairies.

I will JOHN do all the talking.

Happy Saturday!

* Update. Looking out the window it looks like "frreezing drizzle". This term was in a local weather report this week. Freezing drizzle.  I think this is a newly coined phrase personally. I mean...I am 37 and have never heard that. In fact, I told my kids "I am going to call people that at 4 way stops from now on.  "Come ON...you freezing drizzle, just GO already!!!"

I hate freezing drizzle.

It's all about the bash my friends.....

Ohhh...so Saturday is the Big Day. Our Grand Opening. And once again...JOHN is really into it and I am slightly checked out. It took so much work on my part to get it "all ready".

So...."all ready" is not "as ready" as I would like it, but sadly...I got my Internet connection today and played on-line all day. Oh yes I did.

I caught up on all my favorite blogs, e-mailed all my buddies, did way too much auction business and was basically the worst employee ever. Thank god I am a free employee. :))))

My Portland Picks ad just came out...wahoooo.....

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Poppy & Ivy is Moving—and Celebrating

Celebrate a brand new locale for Poppy & Ivy with a Grand Opening Bash!  You love them for their amazing vintage finds and treasures that change daily, from vintage keys to scrumptious candles.  Join the fun for bubbly, trunk shows by local artists, an introduction to their favorite skincare line and a balloon bust sale!

What: Grand Opening Bash at Poppy & Ivy
When: Saturday, Jan. 26, 11 am-6 pm
Where:  1315 NE Fremont St.
Call: 503.284.4804
Visit: www.amyhollands.typepad.com

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So Friday is all about buying bubbly, making sale tickets for balloons, getting a bunch more vintage clothing out (I am so behind!) and staying OFF the Internet! LOL....

Darn blogs.....

Have a great weekend!

Saturday Shoppers or Snow Flurries?

So we have our "event" tomorrow night at the store. The one I wasn't aware of even though I saw the ad 15 times before it went to press.  I DID find someone to watch the store the last 2 hours...so we are good to go there. Whew....but Portland is flirting with snow.

Anywhere else, "chance of snow" would be no biggie. In Portland, we have Doppler 2000, Storm Tracker 2007 and Storm Alert on the local major TV stations. They have breaking news "There have been sightings of approximately 14 snow flakes on the Sylvan Hill overpass...looking behind us on Highway 26  <dramatic Vanna White wave of arm behind the newscaster...camera pans to the highway> we wonder...WILL these drivers make it home before it's too late?"

Portland shuts down with snow and I personally find it rather endearing. When we went to Boston & Vermont (my only trip back East) I was just shocked that it was snowing and we were going a steady 45-50 on the freeways. I kept tensing up....I kept looking outside from the hotel...I kept saying to my husband "Why aren't they reporting this on the local news?". I think he might have laughed.

I find it endearing except for the fact that it's hard to plan on anything for the store! Should I buy snacks...or not? And quite honestly, if there's snow...I wanna play in it with the kids! I'll admit that. We don't get it enough here. MAYBE once a year. I want to enjoy it and be the "hot cocoa while you put your rotating pair of gloves, pants and jacket in the dryer" mom. And I'll admit this too...a tiny part of me likes to nail my kids with snowballs. Below the face...of course. You have to have rules.

So...a couple of orders came in. I heart the FedEx man.

Cigar box matches....good man gift!

I sold out of these the first time around. They are different on both sides. So cute.

I received these sweet nests with little "quail" eggs. They have chipped up outer shells. Very realistic looking. I had to put my thumb nail into it to check things out. I think it's some form of rubber inside. I don't think it's real. Whew.

I am happy with my bird tree now. It's pretty cute in person. I cannot seem to capture the right light. Sadly, I had to take these photos in the early evening...just as soon as the nasty fluorescents kicked in. I hate those lights. I see "yellow" for the next 2 hours after I get home!

I messed with the shop SOME MORE. I was getting panicky. I still have three orders coming and I am OUT of room.

Love the hangers this card is on. I need to order about 25 more. These are useful for craft projects too. I used to always see Jenni Bowlin use them and could NEVER find them! Love her ideas so much!

Okay. Off to make 4 cards and then go to bed. I went to the gym tonight and had my daughter added to the account. I have another work out buddy!! She brought one of her good friends and I SWEAR...they were entertainment. They were racing on the stair masters (if only I had a quarter of that stamina) and using machines for 14 seconds and then walking away. It was like watching ferrets on crack. They had NO focus. I finally got them settled on treadmills on either side of me. I almost fell off laughing at them. They were funny little buggers.....but now this Mama hurts a bit! I cannot keep up with two 13 years olds QUITE yet.

Happy Weekend to you! I have 2 estate sales marked, but we are down a car this week. It's not looking good for me to break away from the store. My husband's truck overheated this week....on a 27 degree day. NOT good. Merry Christmas to us!! Murphy's Law.....

Event!

Funny thing is....we have a birthday party to attend at 7:00pm. I wasn't paying attention that Poppy & Ivy was supposed to be open late!

Oooops.

Art Hop

This weekend is the Alberta Art Hop! All of us are busy stocking, shopping, fluffing & preparing for it...getting our parade information set. Yes...a parade! I love a parade!

Okay...not really.

I'm not good at parades.

If I am watching them....I get antsy and if I am IN them....I am not sure where to wave, when to stop, if I should smile...look serious. Too much going on. Too many decisions.

But this next weekend....I get a feather boa, big sunglasses and a Hawaiian dress. Like a big ol' disguise......

I have some friends helping me because I am just not sure how else to get "parade walkers". Can't find THAT category at the Kelly Girl Service site. Even in Portland.

So.......The low down is this...Art Hop is food, entertainment, TONS of artists set-up on the street, vendors galore....pure FUN.

FAMILY fun. 

I am excited. I am also doing the "Lovely Weather All Day Long Dance & Chant" starting now. I am scared to even look at the 10 day trend.  This is such a big day for shop owners too.  We get to meet folks we've never met, people who travel over the river to see "The Crazy Alberta" neighborhood.

Hope The Clowns up the street are in rare form. Those visiting folks won't know if they love us or hate us after that!!!!

Last Thursday

Tomorrow night is Last Thursday.  A FUN event....if it's not pouring rain. Which might be happening. Which is a crying shame. I'm telling you that right now.

I have my new shipment of candy cigarettes. And old time stick-on western mustaches. And Hairy Gary...remember that magnetic guy that you could move hair around him and make mullets, foo-man-choo faces and sideburns? Loved that guy.....

And....I have a Donkey Cigarette dispenser. I'm not even a SMOKER....and I LOVE that thing so much.

AND.....I should have the nine million new candles tomorrow...so life is good. So good.

I think it's so good because I leave for vacation next Wednesday. Next week at this time...I'm OUTTA here.  I'm headed to Vegas with my husband for business.  Next week, it's about P. Diddy & Paris Hilton.

Okay....I'm just kidding because chances are I will sleep and drink coffee...sleep....enjoy coffee.  SLEEP more than anything!! (Okay....and play penny slots because I am such a  sucker for the ding, ding, ding noises). And I can pretty much bet I will NEVER be invited to the same venues as P. Diddy and Paris. And you know...that's okay too.

My mom got her Country Living before me and told me about this great spinner. Okay...but here's the kind of funny part...when I just went over to get the link for you, it turns out it's on sale...since I ordered on SUNDAY. Welcome to my world of luck! LOL......So...YOU will get a deal!

It was featured in the "Create Your Space" type area of the magazine. Really brilliant. Not so much for photos....but a card display for me. I'm excited....and glad it's a tax write off!!!!

I'll take pictures tomorrow. I am hoping the rain will hide from 6-9 tomorrow night. It is a fun night to get to know my neighbors! I meet the most wild folks on Last Thursday! The most amazing couples and some very funny tails of youth. It's a long day, but fun. And long days pay the bills. :)

Off to make dolls. I visited my new favorite Happy Place. I had seen the windows. I had seen the choices. I KNEW it would be danger. I was correct. I found polka dot material, Amy Butler material, wool felt, cherry buttons...my life is perfect. A have a happy pile of glee downstairs just CALLING my name!

"Amy, Amy...come down and make little dolls until 4:00am...it will be fun".

Did you hear that too?