Preparing for the Fall Season

This is the time of year when I start making decisions about the Fall colors and themes for the shop. The New York gift show is just around the corner and if I'm not careful the show will dictate the look of the store rather than me. The New York trade show presents thousands of vendors selling their goods to retailers. For years I have been making the trip to N.Y. in the middle of August and in late January to buy for HiHo. I have learned from these biyearly pilgrimages that just because a color is featured throughout the show does not mean it's a match for us. A perfect example of this was the year everything at the show was light blue and brown...we had done those colors the season before. The show can easily overwhelm me if I don't prepare with lists of items we are hunting and possible themes for each room. This past Fall season we had apples for the theme throughout the main room, "Headliner". The center hutch is always fun to set furniture in, here is a shot featuring some great red quilted throws. The Hudson Valley and Gardiner have a relaxed feel that we try to reinforce in the home decor chosen for the shop. We try not to give away the upcoming color themes, so your sure to stop in. However the bedroom and kitchen area already have new featured colors for Fall. Orange and turquoise make a fun pair in this April Cornell quilt, our inspiration piece for the room. Notice Humphrey in the vintage basin on the bed, his coloring matches perfectly.

This picture was taken a week and a half ago, so additional textiles have been added to the room over the past few days.

If you have an idea for a themed room at HiHo we would love to hear about it. The staff and I brain storm ideas all the time, it might be fun to pool ideas from our customers...drop me a email, who knows we might just use your idea! Remember I need ideas before the middle of August so I can add your idea to my lists for the show. Look forward to hearing from you.

SALE...THIS WEEKEND!

HIHO HAS ONLY ONE SALE EACH YEAR, OUR "CHRISTMAS IN JULY SALE". Many items throughout the shop are discounted, to make room for incoming fall merchandise. We look forward to touring the shop with you and highlighting the bargains on furniture, textiles and just plain good stuff. Sale starts Saturday at 10:00, see you then!!

New Goods

We have been very busy here at HiHo, purchasing new items to fill the shop. This dresser, dressing table set even has a matching mirror. In wonderful condition!

This pair of cream chairs are like new...the orange chair is one of a pair also.

This pretty mirrored dressing table and bench have been painted cream. They have been rubbed for a vintage "shabby" look, perfect for a cottage decor. The little table would be a great addition to any room.

Dressing table SOLD Floral arrangment SOLD

We enjoy finding treasures for you and hope you enjoy finding treasures here at HiHo. Stop in and see us, remember... the furniture sells fast!!

Little Treats

The pictures on the post are all items for sale at HiHo at this time, give us a call if you would like information on any of the pieces. Anyone that spends time Antiquing knows the "stuff" is endless, china, glassware, jewelry, hankies, books, tools, on, and on. These things are all referred to as "smalls"in the trade. It's the shopper that ranks the level of importance to the clutter they prefer. I love Hull pottery and I could part with half of my collection and still have too many pieces. I enjoy living with the collection and continuing the hunt for new additions to the collection. Very often when customers arrive at the shop we approach and inquire if they are "hunting for anything in particular". More often than not they reply, "just looking". The store is full of treasures, not really things you have to have, things you want to have. A couple was in the store the first year we were open and his wife told him she really needed an item we had for sale and his response was, " this is not an I need store, it's a I want store". That stayed with me all this time because it's so true, at least it made since when he said it. Two days later the wife came back and bought what she referred to as a "little treat". HiHo is filled with lots of little treats, some even come home with me from time to time. Treats make us feel good, help to refresh a room, even add some of our own personality to our homes. Seems to me that purchasing little treats for ourselves and our homes qualify as a necessity, when thought of in this way. Maybe when we ask if you're hunting, the real reply should be "I'm looking for a little treat". I know the news keeps telling us to save for a long winter of rising fuel costs, but what about the small pleasure one gets from the hunt and the treat. I will be holding back on long trips, new clothes, dining out and movies at the theater, but my hunting trips even if I only do it locally, will not be cut from my budget. Whatever your prefer, golfing, tennis, dining, theater, don't let the fear of unknown fuel costs deny you of your right for a "little treat". flamingos- SOLD

Red, White And Blue

The shop has out the colors, it's the 4th of July. Town was buzzing with activity today as people were arriving for the holiday weekend. I enjoy the town filled with weekenders, tourist and locals the mix is fun. Chatting with customers today I realized I'm not the only one who noticed the number of people walking about. A gentleman mentioned that he never remembered so many people being in town on a week day. For what ever reason I was very happy to have the business and would like to believe the red, white and blue buntings on the building had some small part in attracting visitors to linger. To celebrate the holiday all red ,white and blue textiles will be an extra 10% off this weekend. Happy Fourth!!

Mix and Match

I purchased this charming piece of furniture a few days ago. It' a marriage of two like pieces of furniture, a mix and match, making one truly creative, cottage style hutch that really has a HiHo look. When I purchased the piece I was told that the owners Grandmother painted the flowers on the sides and doors. It makes me wonder how it came to be...did a leg get damaged on the china cabinet? Did someone need more room , so they put the two together to have more space? Was it just a love of projects and the wish for a new look? I am sure the true story is wonderful, but we will never know. We have another piece for sale in the shop that I wish could talk and tell us it's story. A few months ago Claudia and I took a trip to one of our favorite hunting grounds, where we found a treasure. A large baby doll, she has beautiful eyes, pretty clothes, is in good condition, but best of all...she is a misfit toy. We decided to purchase her and when we brought her up to check out, the sales woman asked us if we were sure we wanted her, because she has two left feet. We were delighted, how could we leave her behind now, at that point she was a must have. We have her featured in the Highchairs and Hiccups room and we priced her so only someone in love with her will be taking her home. Many people have commented on how pretty she is, but one customer ( a toy collector) shared her thoughts on what possibly could be the dolls story. She said often dolls from large families have a number of mix and match parts. She explained older siblings would pass down toys to younger siblings. Often dolls have replacement parts from a number of hand me down toys, making a new, mix and match toy for the younger child. HiHo has a number of mix and match fixtures in the shop. Our candy cane counter has a base built from two old doors while the top is all new lumber. I even have a book case in my home that began as two small cases and now fills the upstairs hall standing well over five feet high. I'm sure in this age of "green" these items would all be considered ,reused, recycled, re purposed or some other trendy "re" word. However so many of these wonderful pieces were put together, "married" long before the "green" movement. So when a friend saw the charming country hutch made from two pieces of furniture and she said " a match made in heaven" I laughed. But now a few days have gone by and it doesn't seem so silly to call attention to the perfect match. Someone took the time to thoughtfully paint the flowers, piece together two left feet, stack and bolt two cases together, maybe all these things were destined to spend a life time together. I encourage you to try your hand at match making, you may just be part of a match made in heaven.

DELICIOUS!

Here at HiHo we carry a number of yummy treats...our signature label pantry items are always in stock. We have an assortment to choose from....

Our Roasted Red Pepper RELISH IS IRRESISTIBLE OVER CREAM CHEESE. Super for surprise company and a fun snack.

The Olive Medley & Chardonnay, the Artichoke Parmesan Tapennade and the Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Bruschetta are outstanding. For the customer with a sweet tooth the Chocolate Raspberry Liqueur Sauce is to die for. Stop by HiHo for a taste and pick your favorite, you will be sure to make a hit at your next gathering.