say it isn't so

Just two-weeks after installing a new publisher in a last-ditch effort to save the magzaine, Conde Nast informed staffers Wednesday morning that the beloved shelter title Domino will fold.

Huffington Press Jan. 28,2009

my tiny greenhouse

Over the weekend my husband and son poured the footings for my new (old) greenhouse in the garden.  I found the roof in Statesboro, GA.  It is a recycled sky light from an old building so the dimensions are quite small but just enough for our little courtyard.  We needed a place to store garden tools and plants when it gets cold (yes, on occasion it gets that cold).  Our house is on tour in May and this is one of many little projects we are working on to get it spiffy in time.  

another one bites the dust

HC announced that their December issue was their last.  I hope this all ends soon.  It is getting really depressing.  

amazing

getty images ap

HELLO HANDSOME

photo courtesy of Essence Magazine

goodbye country home

After a long day buying for the store at the Atlanta Gift Show I was checking my emails when I read in the subject line of one "Country Home Folds." The email was from a fellow freelancer letting me know that Country Home magazine was closing it's doors after 30 years. It all came as a big surprise to me and the staff. I had just received my field editor's newsletter. I was gearing up for a new year of projects and house scouting. At first I was in shock. I had been a reader of this magazine for close to 20 years myself so as a fan I was devastated. As a friend and colleague of some many at Meredith Publishing I was heart broken. What would all these people do? There were 40 people laid off at Country Home and an additional 210 throughout Meredith Publishing. The publishing world has taken quite a hit during these slow economic times. Cottage Living folded last month and Country Living is being re-organized so I don't think we have seen the last of it.

And what of the void in my life? I had the good forturne to have projects published in Country Home and they photographed my home last year for a feature. I can only hope it will end up in another Meredith publication. I will hold on to the contacts I still have at in the hope that some work may come my way this year.

It is a sad day for those of us that were faithful followers of the magazine. I looked to it for constant inspiration and ideas for my home and shop. Matthew Mead, stylist supreme, was a source of delight for me in each issue. Maybe when all the dust settles and the economy makes a turn for the better we will see some new comers to the publishing world. I can only hope to see some familiar faces when it does.

serious business card envy

As I was getting caught up on recent posts on the Farm Chicks blog I was overcome with envy. A few photos down I noticed their unbelievably clever business cards.  As you can tell from the picture above, they are perforated and when assembled stand up like a vintage game piece.  YUM, YUM, YUM.  

to market, to market

Even though the financial forecast for 2009 does not look much better than the latter part of 2008, I am trying to be optimistic about the coming year. Catalogs and postcards for new product came flooding in to the store as the holidays were coming to a close. I reviewed each one with a discerning eye and wrote many notes. My goal? Focus on the products and categories that keep my customers coming in time after time. Stick to the origins of the shop - a mix of hand selected vintage goods and new products that compliment those vintage goods. It has been a winning combination for almost 9 years now so hopefully our special equation will set us apart from the big box stores.

With computer print outs, notes and wish lists in hand I am off to market later in the week to order items for spring and fall of this year. I expect our spring orders from the July market to start shipping in a couple of weeks so I am looking for any additional items that complete the overall look. Call me crazy, I am really looking forward to seeing the new Christmas goodies for 2009. You would think I would be over the whole season right about now, but if you know me well you know how much I love it. Wish me luck.

The bags above are part of our spring tote collection. They are our new feel-good, do-good totes. The manufacturer purchased 265,750 meals for hungry children in India through the United Nations World Food Program with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these bags. So if you make one a part of your life your contribution will be a part of the cycle.

Sale

We are having a 50% off sale on all our holiday decorations & 25% of our vintage ornaments. Hope you can stop by.

Savannah Magazine Feature

For my far away friends...here is the feature I did for Savannah Magazine. If you click on each page it will blow up really big and you can read the copy. I hope you all like it.

On News Stands Now

Last month I was approached by the style editor of Savannah Magazine about my collection of vintage Christmas decorations.  To my delight they wanted to do a feature about the way I decorate for the holidays and they wanted me to style it as well.  It came out today and I got the cover!  Quite an honor.  I hope you pick up your own copy when you see it on news stands.    

Holiday Open House

Your are invited to celebrate the season @home Thursday, 

December 11 at 6 o'clock.  If you are on our mailing list, check your mail boxes later this week for our postcard.  There is a special discount for those of you that bring in your postcard the night of the party.  We will be serving our popular punch, homemade goodies and yummies from Back in the Day Bakery.  

See you there.

chubby snowmen & women

I finally finished my Christmas windows and had planned to post some of my own pictures when I got an email from the talented photographer Juliet from Charleston.  She visited my shop last week and shared some pictures she had taken while here.  I was so pleased because I have the hardest time capturing good photos of the windows.  I guess that is why she is the pro. Visit her site www.julietelizabeth.com to see her work.  If you want to see the rest of the pictures she took of my shop visit www.julietelizabeth.blogspot.com 

I do

Halligan and Adam are gettin hitched.  Many of you remember Halli as one of my long time shop girls.  She broke my heart when she moved to Philly a little over a year ago to pursue a career and live near her long time bo, Adam.  I love all my girls so much it is hard to let them go and be grown ups. The news of Halli's engagement is so wonderful I wanted to share it with the world.  I am so honored that she has asked me to help her mother with some of the planning.  I got her inspiration board yesterday and it is going to be magical.  I think you can see from the picture this duo is quite creative.  

photos by Josh Goleman

Holiday Sampler

I know I promised lots pictures when I got my new mac-daddy camera but I had no idea how much I would have to learn before I actually got pictures loaded on the laptop.  So, here is the first batch of the store for the holidays.  More to come later in the week, including pictures of my super cute chubby snowmen I made for the store window display.  

40 something

Today is my 40th birthday. Where did the time go. I don't feel 40. But what exactly is 40 supposed to feel like? I have never really been rattled by birthdays. It is just a number after all. I feel older when my child has a birthday not me.

This one... comes with a little sentimentality. I am sad to be leaving my 30s. So many good things happened in the last ten years that I worry about the next 10 not being as exciting. In my 30s I graduated from college, bought & restored an old house, opened a store, got married, expanded the store, had a child, started a magazine career, expanded the store again, made some incredible friends and loved every bit of it.

When I was in high school I would watch the tv show Thirty Something and they all seemed so old to me. They had grown up problems: relationships, kids, businesses etc. It seemed so far off and definitely not "real." It couldn't be. I thought for sure that would never be me. Well it was (is) me. I totally relate to all they were going through. I on the other hand I look back in wonder at all that was accomplished in spite of the struggle. You are no longer young enough to be excused for silly mistakes and not old enough to appreciate that, in time, you could work through it.

So to all of you 20 and 30 somethings, enjoy...and to you 40 somethings here I come.

The Farm Chicks

I had the great pleasure of meeting 1/2 of The Farm Chicks franchise. Teri Edwards and her husband were visiting Savannah and popped in the store yesterday.  It was a real treat for me.  I have been a fan of the Farm Chicks for a while now and I certainly share their mantra:

Country Home loves Liz Koomler

I just got news that my friend and shop girl Liz Koomler was included in the Country Home website "Things we Love" section.  We were expecting to see it on the pages of the magazine this month but alas the editorial staff had other plans.  Either way it is a nice endorsement of Liz's talent.  

web feature

We were splashed all over Apartment Therapy D.C. today.  YIPPEE!

Check it out > Apartment Therapy D.C. 

Thank you Colleen.

back in business

Many of you may have noticed that my posts lately have not included any photos that I have taken. I managed to break my second little (but adequate) point and shoot camera a month ago. After a bunch of research and advice from fancy photographers I found the next generation camera for me. I wanted something more advanced than the old ones but not so advanced that I couldn't figure it out. The result...my new Canon G10.  So I will be experimenting around the store today and hopefully get some pictures up soon.  We rearranged the entire store 3 weeks ago and we have lots of new merchandise which means I have a lot to share.