WHOLE PEAS & PEPPERS...

....make for a great vegi sundae.

We have gone green. Using canned vegetables as the theme and backdrop for fun in the kitchen.

I decided I wouldn't share wide shots of the room, this way leaving a little mystery. Hopefully this will prompt a visit from you soon, to view all the Fall changes....

(For those of you who can't visit, don't worry I'll post the full room after the weekend, I'm not a meanie.)

The Golden Fall Colors Arrive

Spent a full day in the shop on Tuesday, (my day off). I should just say the day the shop is closed to the public.....because it always seems to be open for me to work. ANYWAY.... I continued working on the transformation of the shop from Summer to Fall.We moved our food line upfront and used this great vintage fixture to showcase the relishes. These prints SOLD are not real old , but they are really cool. The burgundy desk is a nice size for a student. Lots more changes to come, so stay tuned.

Mixing & Shaking It Up!

Pushed forward with starting the Fall displays today. I'm really late in doing so, even the weather has been trying to remind me that Fall is on the way. With so much going on, Whitney leaving for school, Everett's birthday tomorrow (which is really today now), throwing myself into the world of social networking, auctions, and gearing up for HiHo's Fifth Annual Tent Event it's not a surprise that I looked around and it's September, or is it?? These are shots of my first attempts of Fall 2009. They were all taken in the main room/Headliner of HiHo. I decided to go with a honey theme in this room, using yellows and rich golds mixed with pops of black. I'm still waiting for knit throws in shades of oatmeal, ceramic kitty's and oodles of fun home accessories to arrive.

But I will be ready to unpack them and put them out in our fresh Fall displays when they arrive.....even if I have to do and all nighter next week.

I'm just so excited about this years Tent Event, I want the shop to look better than ever!

Sitting Pretty

Tuesday, my friend Claudia and I traveled to visit my older daughter Whitney at school. A pilgrimage to give our seal of approval, on her room decor, (at her request).
In brutal heat and humidity we potted plants and trimmed curtains. It was HOT.She has her own room this year and spent months gathering just the right decor and furniture for the first place she calls her own. I did what was expected of a parent visiting school....lunch and goodies for the fridge. She is very pleased with the results and yes, Claudia and I did give it our seal of approval. This is a shot of her Ikea rug and a trunk she painted and collaged.
We all had a great day, we will remember it for a very long time....a day that ended with a good hug and a dash to the car air conditioner.

Cashing in at the Bank

The month of August is HiHo Home Market month at our local bank. What does that mean??? We get to have a table on display featuring items from the business. This is a shot of all the things I gathered for the display. Yup, Fall is on the way....you can stop by the Gardiner branch of Walden Savings Bank and take a look.

Country Business Included HiHo

Country Business Magazine included HiHo in an online spread named Dynamic Displays, and they said....

The ability to create eye-catching displays is one of the most important skills of successful retailers. From vintage baby-themed displays to light and bright bedrooms, our readers have a knack for putting together unique and inspiring displays. Here are some of the favorites from gift and home decor retailers across the country.

To see the site go to,

http://www.country-business.com/giftindustry/share/displayshare.aspx?id=8210

This is the shot they featured.

I'm grateful for the mention and was very excited tonight when I came across the article. Thanks to Susan Wagner and her staff.

A Book Signing At HiHo

On Sept. 12th and 13th, author Anna Jane Grossman will be joining in the fun at HiHo's Fifth Annual Tent Event. She will be signing first editions of Obsolete, her new book.

Obsolete is a wonderful collection of things gone by. Like many of the items we sell at HiHo, items that have lots of personality and make us smile. Anna Jane is not only an author, she is also the daughter of a friend, a part time Gardiner local, a customer and now part of the extended HiHo family. The publishers description:
Contains essays and entries on more than 100 alphabetized fading subjects, including Blind Dates, Mix Tapes, Getting Lost, Porn Magazines, Looking Old, Operators, Camera Film, Hitchhiking, Body Hair, Writing Letters, Basketball Players in Short Shorts, Privacy, Cash, and, yes, Books. This ode to obsolescence also includes 25 quirky pen-and-ink line illustrations to further help us remember exactly what we’re missing.

Bla, Bla, Bla...I don't know how they made this little treasure of a book sound so dry. I think it's light, smart, funny and I even laughed out load when sharing it with family. Be sure to stop by anytime to take a peek at the book, it's fresh off the press and we have copies. For signed copies be sure to visit Anna Jane the weekend of Sept. 12th &13th here at HiHo.