The shop is beginning to take on a cheery holiday look. This is a picture of my shop mantle. You may not know what the brown spindle twin pieces are. Do you? The two pieces combined create the cutest little children's bed. I found the darling walnut bed at recent antique show that Julie and I attended. I'll show it to you when it's set up, darling! I need to make a mattress for it. It's pretty long. Probably long enough for a small adult to comfortably lay in. I fell in love with it and had no idea that I was going to use it for merchandising at the shop until yesterday. I kind of like the idea of a bed not set up, with stockings, cedar clippings and hanging pine cones. What do you think? No cost decorating pretty much. I picked up the bed at a fantastic price.
I've also been into finding vintage suit cases. A certain vintage kind though. Ones that are extremely old, probably 1920, 30 era. They're kind of cool. Usually made with wicker, wood, muted colors, unique handles, etc. A bit pricey compared to suitcases above that date and time, but worth the extra dollar if you're collecting.
I dug into the storage and pulled out the faded cream colored Christmas tree. I thought it would be nice to have a little lit tree in the window at the shop. I strung white lights and placed my favorite winter bird on top.
I decorated the window bench in vintage wicker and white. Love the wood mixed in to create a multi texture look. Rose-hips, Seeded Eucalyptus and cotton here and there. My latest color combination, tan and gray. How do I love thee, let me count the ways!
Chocolate wrapped in pretty foil paper awaits my quests during this special time of year. It's a glorious time, I believe. Special moments will help to create sweet holiday memories. Caring and Sharing oppurtunities appear each and every day.
New aromatic candle line at the shop. Putting together some holiday packages.
Silver pumpkins, candy apples, black witch hats,and spooky goings on. A Halloween party that mimicked Hollywood and soon, October's end. We're having an unseasonably warm, Indian Summer type fall. Blooms are still blooming, but soon without a doubt the days will be shorter and air will turn crisp.
It happens overnight the transformation, it seems. The other morning while walking through the neighborhood the maple trees were dropping their leaves. I drug my feet while walking through them as to make a path and pondering thoughts that the person who traces my steps would know someone was ahead of them.
Our friends hosted the best ever Hollows Eve party last night. The costumes were amazing!
I hope you're having a happy autumn. It comes and goes ever so quickly.
I'll be prepping the shop this week for the next holiday, the big one! My favorite...
I love this lacy burlap. It mingles nicely with the small gourds, pumpkins. Soon the shop will be dressed in holiday magic. I generally don't do an enormous amount of holiday decorating at the shop. Generally, no trees, just greenery. This year however, I'm pondering thoughts of a white tree sitting in the window seat with little white lights.
I ordered new cotton holiday ribbon. I'm partial to cotton ribbon nowadays. The flat bottom sacks made from a favorite holiday print. I discovered the fabric last year while on a trip to Washington. My friend Clarice escorted me to her favorite yarn and fabric shop. I purchased a yard or so then. When I returned home, I located the textile on-line and ordered more knowing I wanted to make the holiday sacks. Love the tiny red birds. I'm usually not into Christmas motif fabric, but birds, especially tiny red one's that's different.
Holiday Soap no. 1 has arrived, but flying out the door! I introduced the new soap early as I always do. It's my favorite too! Although, Wild Pine might possibly be runner up.
Fluffy cotton! Need I say more? Entering the holiday decorating scheme of things.
Oh yeah candles! I've been wanting to carry an exclusive line of candles for awhile. I finally found, through a friend, a line that uses the same manufacturing scents that Bittersweet uses, Sweet! The candles will be private label, and I'm envisioning a big B on the round label. Pretty glass containers with cool lids and, I'm excited! Looking forward to developing a long selling relationship with the folks that make the candles.
The last Crawford House Market of the year is coming this weekend. The Jill & Jules Show will air on Friday, same day as the market kicks off. The holiday soaps are brewing and the Royals are winning! What a month it's been and God willing will continue to be. The future looks bright regardless of the horrible virus that seems to fresh on our minds. I'd be lying if I said that I'm not concerned. I am seriously concerned and praying for the nurse that somehow has contracted this deadly Ebola. Stay safe out there! I've gathered some new idees and spreading them out this weekend at the market show. I listed the first of the seasonal soaps on the web site. Planning on having a handfull 1/2 of new holiday soaps this season. What we need is lots of holiday soap!
Lennis is feeling under the weather and I'm preparing homemade chicken noodle soap. I picked up a small chicken, celery and carrots at the grocery store. I love homemade chicken noodle soap even when I'm not sick. Don't you? I'll be making my great grandmothers homemade noodles. So easy to make. Flour, egg, salt, cream. Gotta love it! The recipe is in my cookbook!
A new radio show logo. Do you like? Love the cobalt blue used in the Crawford House Advertising. I'm kind of into that color at the moment.
Soap, soap and more soap mixed in with Gone Girl and Radio Shows & Markets and Hand Made Shops...It's sure to be fun packed week!
Headed to the matinee to see Gone Girl with some friends this afternoon. I'm kind of glad that I didn't read the book now that the movie is out. Fresh new movie!
A bundle of organic cotton washing mitts pictured above in the collage. Handy, practical, and oh so soft!
Small Business Saturday coming in November! Hoping to exceed last years attendance at the hand made shop.
New fabric will be arriving next week. I'm going to make a few Christmas aprons to hang on the dress forms at the shoppe.
This Friday and Saturday, the last market of the year! I've decided to celebrate with an early peek into 2014 holiday collection! I also have some really cool vintage pieces to share. Grab some inspiration at the next Crawford House Market!
Jill & Jules Show... When the new recording equipment arrives and I fiddle around with it and hopefully get a feel for being plug in ready for the next show. All of these new terms, none of which are official radio talk I'm sure. I simply create these made up names. Possibly if I'm describing them I'd be the only one that knew what they were! Possibly...
It's a rainy fall like day. The other day while on a walk my nose picked up a familiar scent. The crispy, damp, brown aroma of autumn leaves. I know you're familiar with the scent. I love that smell! I've been feeling like an autumn squirrel. I'm in gather mode. Gathering new idees. I'm not hiding the idees though, I'll be sharing.
I've posted and shared the lavender perfume lockets before. The golden locket is filled with lavender perfume! Refills are available and if you wish you can place a keepsake picture inside after you indulge in the pure lavender aroma.
The shop kitties, Aggie and Dreamer. I captured this right after Dreamer jumped next to Aggie on the stone window sill. Notice Aggie's ears? She did not wish to share her spot with Dreamer. Don't you think?
Apple, pumpkin, vanilla, musk and cranberry soaps appearing at the soap shoppe. It's turned chilly and we made a big pot of white chili and pumpkin cake. I haven't iced the cake yet.
Next week marks the final market for 2014 and our radio show is on Friday! I am learning a considerable number of things about creating a radio show particularly learning about the latest gizmo's available and the vast number of electronic equipment to help aid a novice radio show host such as myself. Amazing stuff! Several interviews and some final prepping before the big day, needed still. Oh how I love this radio life!
Julie and I drove through the country to our favorite pumpkin patch. We gathered up gourds and white pumpkins along with some small pie pumpkins for cooking.
It was super windy that day! Isn't it more windy in the country? It seems so.
The night before our first radio show Julie and I were asked to be guests at a local wedding venue. I'm fortunate to live in a town that houses a handful of unique historic homes, buildings, museums. I've always loved visiting museums! Hang on, I'm getting off the subject, again.
The Wynbrick Inn as I have known it over the years has a new name, The Wynbrick. I've always been fond of the breezy climate and this place puffs great atmosphere! Maybe I'm a bit bias since this is the official location Lennis and I first met. Well, long story.... He was building the condo's that surround The Wynbrick and I was working for the city of Liberty. One of these days, if you're interested, and it is kind of a crazy story.
Back to The Wynbrick...
The owners of The Wynbrick are great folks. Amy had come in my shop and introduced herself awhile back and then we met the rest of the family the evening of the event.
The kind folks of The Wynbrick prepared lovely round tables for each of the vendors and each table had a darling hand made name plate with each business listed .
Julie and I met Adrianne. You can see more of her lovely work here. She's a jewell!
Julie prepared a vintage wedding display that really popped. I have been telling her for a long time how she needs to offer a vintage rental program with her unique vintage wedding items. Spring will be a good time to help her with that.
Soap, soap, and more soap! The holiday production is full speed ahead and mounds of hand made aromatic soaps are filling the apothecary cabinets.
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