My Trip to NYC

I got home from NYC Tuesday evening. It's always nice to come home. Nothing like a few days away to make one appreciate what they have.

The show was, huge. I visited with all my favorite vendors. Isabella spent much of Sunday with me, we really (she really) enjoyed the food booth samples. I am working on a theme for the summer that would have us selling lots of nostalgic candies. So that meant we had to taste the sweets to be sure of the quality, (wink, wink). I spent Monday on my own, looking at trends in home decor and color palettes for next season. I attended a seminar featuring editors from two retail trade magazines that I love. I ended the day with a Mardi Gras party in the permanent showrooms across from the Empire State building. (Often the show uses food and drink to entice attendees to spend.)

PARIS BORED WITH MY RESEARCH

After two days of none stop walking it was time to put my feet up. MY SWOLLEN FEET

I was blessed to have keys to a friends place on the East side. PARIS

I stayed with Paris the cat, both nights.....don't tell Humphrey.
Tuesday was a full day as well. Carol, friend and one of the resident dealers at HiHo joined me first thing in the morning. It was a day of return visits to booths that got my attention on the first two days. It will take me weeks to digest all the products and ideas I have absorbed from my outing to the show, but as always, I'm sure good things will happen at HiHo as a result of making the trip.

I'm Off to New York

For the first time in the history of HiHo we will be closed on a Monday. With two employees away and Whitney at college I don't have anyone to keep shop this Monday the 26th of January. I will be at the New York International Gift Fair seeking great new things for the shop. Remember we are always closed on Tuesday's, see you Wednesday...

TRUE BLUE

I have been gathering my lists, finishing up with loose ends around the shop, because I'm preparing to leave Sunday for The New York International Gift Show in NY City. Making the windows a top priority. Blue seemed the best bet. Everybody seems to have some blue in their homes. It's a color that represents every season, making blue a great transition color for inbetween seasons. I have written about the challenges of the shop's windows before. I won't bore you with the a replay of the task. However I will state once again how I would LOVE to have a grand picture window or two, to showcase all of HiHo's best. I chose to mix an assortment of blue hues in each window. I think it makes for a more inspiring display. I think it's always a good idea to mix things up! On the second floor of the shop we have our year round Christmas shop and six Antique dealers. Having the dealers represented in the building adds to the mix of merchandise. Carol is the dealer who has the pretty front room on the Post Office side of the building. She stops in regularly to refresh her room.She brings in new items and shows off her finds in sweet artistic groupings. She too went blue....

Mark the Date

A date has been chosen...cake will be served all day,

Saturday January 31st.

Be sure to keep watching for more details of Humphrey's Birthday Celebration. He has yet to select shop specials or announce his special guests.

Sneak Peek

Party favors, cupcakes, streamers and noise makers. Yup we are all dolled up with Humphrey's Birthday just around the corner...we will be serving up some cake for the six year old and lots of friends. You will be sure to be invited. I'm a busy Mom and still need to firm up a date. Stay posted!!!

It Is Heavy

A few weeks ago I mentioned to a fellow antique dealer and friend, Charlie, that I was hunting all things black and white for the shop. To my surprise he offered to sell me this amazing granite top table. Snow had delayed it's arrival to the shop, but yesterday Charlie and I slowly moved it in. I am so happy with the quality of this table. It has a drawer at one end and it's simplicity is timeless. It can easily seat six.

Thank you so much Charlie.

A Treasure

Sweet, charming, petite, unique, delightful, all words to describe this phone table and chair set. It is just one of the treats I purchased during my Auction marathon. Who knows what I'll come up with this week? SOLD The legs of the chair share the same detailed carving as the table and the fabric is in perfect condition. The arched door opens to hide your phone and the back of the cupboard has a cord slot. The drawer is large enough for even a Manhattan phonebook. This small set would work anywhere in your home.