Sunday, May 23, 2010

Ready, Set, Wait

Chomping at the bit to open the screen porch....arrange the furniture bring out the indoor plants and take in the view of the yard from my favorite vantage point.....
The pollen here in upstate NY is coating everything this week. This time each year I'm sure it's the worst season for allergies ever. We have huge, HUGE pine trees surrounding our home and clouds of pollen swirl in the wind and coat our cars and force us to keep windows closed :( It also keeps us from opening our screen porch, we wait until the trees have bloomed, so the green coating of dust doesn't have to be reckoned with in our indoor/outdoor space. Maybe next week ;)
We don't wait at the shop, we have made everything summer there. Bright colors, great furnishings for indoor/outdoor spaces and plenty of Salt Water Taffy.

Now is the time to buy some treats for your outdoor space....before everyone else starts grabbing up the goodies, and the green dust settles ;)

Friday, May 21, 2010

CAMPY?

-something so outrageously artificial, affected, inappropriate, or out-of-date as to be considered amusing - a style or mode of personal or creative expression that is absurdly exaggerated and often fuses elements of high and popular culture. REALLY? I thought it just meant that something was sooo tacky it was great, hmmm. Like plastic Christmas wreaths from the 50's or color palates of the 70's. The word *campy* popped into my head while I was installing new window displays this week....a camping theme, of course.
From the inside looking out, this window sets the mood for a fun weekend of camping. The large Ralph Lauren tray, has the classic vintage look of a old tavern advertising tray. A couple of broken cinder blocks, rocks and sticks from the parking lot, found their way into these windows.....works when camping ;)

In the mood for a smore yet??

Sunday, May 2, 2010

A Completed Project


HOORAY!! Isn't grand when you complete a project and you can move on? I was reminded recently by a Face-book fan, that I never posted finished photos of the Tuesday's Project Post. The jewelry display area is done...

NEXT!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Ideas,Deadlines & Plans...Oh My

The days seem long and then stop short, the days run into each other and then the week arrives at Friday.....how does this happen? Over and over I am always running behind, never enough time to execute the the ideas, plans and displays in my head. Oh yeah, the drawings are on scrap sheets of paper, small notebooks, in my bag, tucked under the counter, even on the backs of auction bid numbers. It seems like it has been weeks since I have had order to the creative process. Maybe there has been and I'm over looking it?
My friend Isabella says, if you plant the seed, water it , take care of it and love it, the only thing it can do is grow.
She is a fellow retailer and this is her way of referring to our businesses. It has made me realize I'm still watering and loving my business, and probably always will. If I look at each potential project that I'm mulling over in my head, in this manner, completing anyone of them seems unobtainable.
For example; sure I have plans to create *fabulousness* for the Gardiner Cupcake Festival, will it be the way it is in my head? No, but I'm planting the seed, I have even watered it a lot, it's growing....however, in directions I haven't planned for. Unforeseen changes, new inspirations and time restraints have me feeling the days slipping away and now the realization of time running out. The dead line is less than a week away. The reality check please.
Time to edit the scraps of drawings done by a dreamer into the work of a shop owner. Yes, onto the transition from tidbits of ideas to a finished project. The challenge, convincing myself it's a creative process and not work.
Unobtainable, not really, just busy growing...Ah, HA, love it and it will grow, thanks, Izzi...