My gal pal Sandee and I headed South Friday morning for a quick day of junking. I had to get out of the shop for a day and so did she. U-Haul, Big Gulps and dog in tow- we headed out. Only to return with stuff that was NOT in need of a rented trailer. Live and learn. It seems the dreaded winter months are a bummer for everyone- including dealers. The pickins were slim but we managed to feed our soul by stopping at our favorite haunts.
Above, me with Pearl and Sandee with her usual primitives for Greenwood Mercantile.
We were both in the garden mode, trying to find this and that for Spring. The entire trip was planned because I thought I was picking up some fabulous eBay furniture I bought in November, but due to a lack of communication, the seller was not to be found that day.
A sampling of the goods I found for the store....
Distressed china plates, vintage earrings and necklaces; painted office chair, old keys, cattle tags and tiny license plates for jewelry making; planters and Hungarian spice tags.
Old globes, amateur floral painting, metal candy box, old Valentine box (to save for next February) glass compote and cut glass and Mother of Pearl salt and pepper shakers I am saving for Christmas.
Bird prints in need of new frames.
Turned wood pieces made into candlesticks
Old shutters that went to the car wash this morning!
Garden sheet music, round gilded frame, old pictures.
The fiesta resistance! I flipped when I saw the detail of this corset sold with the wicker mannequin. I am usually not a fan of these dress forms but this is really old and intricate. BUT- the stitching on the corset- the front, the back! AHHH. A new ad for the store may be made with a photo of this item. Well worth the trip.
I got a nasty email from a stranger this week saying, "I don't know why you have a website if you don't sell on it!" I didn't bother to respond to her stupidity (and obviously has never owned a business) but for you I will answer this: To encourage you to stop in the store. So many more goodies are available than what you see here. By the way, I love ABC Carpet in New York, too- but I can't get there often and they don't sell online- but I still go to their website to be inspired and see what's up. I hope you do the same for the Sofa.
29 comments:
Okay, I own a store and currently DON'T sell on-line. The purpose of the website is to entice someone to visit in person. My store, as I am sure yours is too, is as much about the experience and how my customers feel when they visit, that and the treasures they find keep them coming back. It is a spa like outing for most. A website cannot do that. But it can give my hours, phone number, and directions as well as photos of what to expect.
I also received a nasty email from someone recently (is everyone cranky right now?). It was in regards to a word I "misspelled" in my most recent newsletter. In actuality I left the apostrophe in the word Valentines when I was using the word in it's plural form rather than it's possesive form. In my e-mail inbox I received a note explaining my negligence, a brief lesson on the difference, and how it was "so terrible to see it in writing for all to witness". Must be winter's long effect and people need to get out and get happy!
Yes, people are cranky.
I will spare you the nasty emails I have received. Unbelievable what some people will take the time to write about! It's just a blog. Get a life.
Hey deb!
Love the new finds!!! I also have a store and a design line and in over 15 years have never sold on the silly computer! I can't understand why people can truly want to buy all these beautiful treasures off a website? I personally...have to "touchy, feely". By the way....our mutual yaya sista is on her way to visit with me next week..."Elizabeth"! Can't wait to do some junkin with her. Maybe you can come back down with her to "Texas" to do some junkin' with us when we go to Warrenton in March!
Take care and hope to get a chance to fly the "iron eagle" up there for a visit to see your store.
Have a great weekend....deb
You guys are making me laugh. A little pick me up on a grey day like today. And yes I know I spelled grey wrong. Like a British person. Oh well. I currently have the CS website up just for the music. So soothing and lovely...
Great finds Deb - even if it wasn't entirely what you were after... There is a huge lack of big stuff right now. My little shoppe is starting to look very bare and I am thinking of raiding my own house for goods!
Hopefully the sun and the bargains will re-appear soon!
xoxo
Exactly what I do. I love to see what you are up to even if I am never going to see your shop live. Being retired and living in Sweden.
Eva Agnes
If you had a website I would not be able to daydream about a road trip with my best friend Amy,a cup of Starbucks and the anticipation of seeing your store in person for the first time together! We talk often about meeting at your store (she lives in Iowa I live in Oklahoma). This dream of our has a kind of Thelma and Louise feel to it you know leave hubby with the kids and take to the road. I can't wait. Paula
You go girl, I must always laugh at your honesty. You know you can't please everyone, but I think you're doing a great job by enticing us all to come to your shop!! If you're in Texas this Spring for the antiques show, please come and see me at Zapp Hall.
Oh my gosh... What finds!!
I love all of the goodies you found on your excursion...esp. the mannequin dressed in the black corset!! Oh my heart be still....definitely worth the trip just for that amazing piece!!!
If not for your blog I would never have known about your store, never have had the fun of my first recent visit, never have found the perfect throw for my sofa, never enjoyed the anticipation of coming there again. I google menus from famous restaurants to stir my imagination, to give me something to dream about, not because I actually think I can order lunch off the internet!
Just think...that nasty comment inspired all of us to say something nice so think of it as something positve. I love your website and visit you on a regular basis and haven't commented. I love your creativity, honesty, design sense, and someday hope to visit your store. The blog helps keep dreams alive.
My daughter is an editor for a magazine. It is amazing what people feel free to say. Wouldn't it be a better world if we stuck with the adage, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
I hope all these nice comments can counteract that one negative comment. But unfortunately, I know it won't. (I also now have a complex about spelling and grammer. Oh well, as my friend always stitches..."I done my best.")
I've wanted to visit your store ever since I first saw it/you featured in Country Living! I'm intrigued. And, I was happy to see you had a blog.
Phooey on cranky people. ;) Remember, you have tons more that support you and enjoy your blog, and the taste of the store we get from this end!
I am THRILLED you have a website and a blog! BECAUSE I get many ideas for MY HOME through your blog and WEBSITE! So I, for one THANK YOU for not only being a wonderful store owner...BUT also and most IMPORANT to me...A GREAT TEACHER! A teacher of how to follow your dreams and let your creativity shine through..and for people to realize...for the love of gawd, not everything has to be SHABBY CHIC! You, my dear..are a GEM!
Thank You,
Geneen in Calif.
Great stuff... I love just looking a twhat you get.. I have a booth and don't sell on-line either, but I do post pics of my stuff.....some people are ignorant..Those are great finds. I never have a trailer when I need one!
Jen R
Fabulous finds...you are such an inspiration to others...thanks for all you do!
Have a blessed and wonderful day!
smiles, kari & kijsa
Debbie
I love your idea of taking the old shutters thru the car wash. Would love for you to come to Louisville sometime when your out and about.
And I'm with you on the website!
What wonderful finds!!
I love all of the goodies you found on your excursion... it sounded like a lot of fun.
Happy day to you!
Cielo
Love the spice tags and the globes. My cousin, a decorator, turned shutters like those into a fireplace surround--awesome look for that living room. Looks like it was worth the trip.
FYI I just found your blog today. Great title!
I love to come to your website for inspiration. In fact, most of the websites and blogs I regularly peruse don't have an online shop. As for the cranky people, maybe they live in sun-deprived climates!
Deb,
Love the cattle tags. As you may know, I had a ton of them, strung them with thin black leather and sold them on my BLOGSHOP. They make a cool necklace for guys & gals.
Peace & Love,
Chris
wonderful finds!! love your blog and i know i would love your store even better! there is something to being there in person, i'm sure. it is only 5 hours from me...is that too long of road trip just for one store? i don't think so!
Emma, I have closed a magazine and ordered a plane ticket before to see a certain shop! Five hours is a stretch but I will post soon a certain event worth the drive...
(and we always recommend many other places to see). Deb
What wonderful finds. I recently saw your home in Country Living, and I, along with half the women in this country, was thrilled! Your home and style is gorgeous, just wanted to let you know.
Debbie - regarding the nasty email, am I missing something? It seems like most of your posts are snapshots of your beautiful store of things for sale. You recently posted jewelry for sale, sofas for sale and I can't imagine that if someone admired something from your store shots and called with a credit card --- that you wouldn't sell it to them! Of course, we all want to visit the store in person & shop because your emails entice us. And of course your photos are much more than "for sale" shots. But, I can't imagine you wouldn't sell anything that is available to someone responding to your blog.
Dionne, The rude emails are not about my store or products but about my candid commentary on other things. But yes, one person wanted a full-on catalog to browse through. Maybe someday....
My husband and I visited your store in June after reading the March Country Living mag. article. I just thought it would be fun to send a quick email thank you for such a great store. I read your blog note about someone being upset that you don't sell online...although it is disappointing, there is NOTHING like going to your store in person! I hope to get back this spring for the art event. So in a nutshell, thanks for offering such great stuff and wonderful inspiration...especially for this mama of two that needed a quick decorator fix this late at night!! LOL. Take care, Toni
ignore those nasty emails! i love your site - seeing what's new even though i live in OP....another blog i frequent is http://cursivenewyork.blogspot.com/ for the same reason - although i've never been there - i just enjoy seeing what inspires them on any given day...
uh,hello! don'tcha have a button where bloggers have to press 'yes' or 'no' to reply to 'are you mean?' I ADORE your blog! you inspire me! i love your sense of style and we NEED YOU! i hope someday to visit-but,first gotta get kids thru school(oh,shoot! i misspelled!now i will start a whole new rash of nasty emails!!;) have an awesome day!
Oh my goodness, just found your blog and just had to say that I love everything in this post! Fab finds!
People can be so mean spirited. I wonder if she'd have been so bold if she had been face to face with you? It's easy to bully behind a keyboard! Oh well... I do sell online. I'm just a little artist and have few things available. When they come available sometimes they go quickly. One lady sent me a nasty email because she uses dial up and someone else bought what she wanted before she could. You can't please everyone, can you? Oh well. I DO come to your blog and site to be inspired!
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