Sunday Morning Thought

I woke up this morning and I was going to bitch...yes bitch, about the weather...5 more inches overnight...blah...blah ...blah.

My thoughts went to the people that lost so much  in Haiti last month and the Chileans yesterday....What a spoiled brat I am. 

It is cold and beautiful  today... and I shall not want!

What Do You Think?

What is my plan for the big 85th this year.. I don't know!    My family was not the type to bring attention to themselves.  Advertising was unheard of ...an act of desparation so they said, back in the day. Fortunately, the store is located at the intersection of 2 main state routes...lots of  commuter traffic...but ask anybody and they  will know exactly where  the store is ..."been there forever"... possiblities are endless!

I am a procrastinating, spur of the moment...let's do this.. then think about it for awhile, kind of person.  I have been wanting to paint the store for about a year. I had totally redone the store in 1995, before that nothing had been changed since 1945.   Tim is color blind and he isn't seeing my vision.  This is what I am thinking:

The walls would stay the same, although, I wouldn't mind a change.  The green on the present shelves would be white with distrssed sanding and stain.

This shelving is on the entire wall 25 feet floor to ceiling.
 Am  I crazy or a genius?  I am tough... be honest!

Am I In Love...Really?

Whata question?    Whata thought ...considering I am happily married?  I was reading Country Business  Magazine, during my morning soak today....  "Don't fall in love with your fixtures"  the article states.  Hmmmm...I want to call it sentimentality.
 I have a HUGE  island of shelves in the  middle of the store.  They have been in the store since the 1940's when my dad bought them from an old grocery store in downtown Cleveland.  They are old maple wood and held alot of  canned food items... I can remember what was displayed on each shelf.. cookies, crackers, pickles, peaches and pears, cake mixes, baby food, dog food, and on and on I could go!   On the very bottom shelf was where I used to hide as a feisty 5 year old  and scare customers by reaching my hand out and touching a leg or  a giggle seemingly coming from nowhere and watch  the puzzled look on their faces.
Today... The shelves are not working  as well as they should be for me ...I'm not sure what I would put in thier place..  a few round oak tables..  a big old farm harvest table... maybe I should  have the old shelves made into other display fixtures?
It's a touchy subject with me and I'm not ready to deal with it right now....Yes, I am In Love With My Fixtures!
Next time:  How to celebrate 85 year in business!

Ming Update!

Ming is home, taking a nap, and doing well!  Thanks for all your good thoughts today.

Think Good Thoughts for Ming Today!

This is Ming!   He is one of our two Bengal Cats.  This morning Ming greeted  me with his usual demanding cry...Feed Me Now!    He turned his tail toward me and there it was .....12 inches of thread hanging out the poop chute.   Blog buds with cats will know that thread can be a deal breaker in a cats life.
 I have tried to be  very careful .  Ming has a fetish for thread. ...especially if it is on a sewing machine.  He will go into a trance when he sees thread and will pursue until he gets to it or will watch to see were I stash the spool.
 Ming is a techy.. I have lost count on the number of thermostats he has dismantled... we have digital ones now.  He has issues with the guy in the answering machine ...and the printers don't get me started .  Ming thinks he was put on this earth to kill what lives the printers.
Well, Ming is at the Vet's office.  When we left he was on the way to x-ray and then the the elimination station... an intimate moment with Dr. Domico, I'm sure.  Then another x-ray.  Ming...Ming... Ming  I am missing him  this afternoon...the house is  too quiet and calm.
As a bengal owner a word of warning... exotics are beautiful and fascinating ..but know fully what you are bring into your home, hopfully, for the next 15 years.  Don't take my words lightly...be fair to yourself,your family and above all  to the magnificent creature.  
My project today is to tighten up my sewing supply security.   I became lax and Ming is paying the price!
Think good thoughts for my Minger-Man!

A Doll orTwo For President's Day!

Just put the finishing touches on two pieces.  George and Blueskin  was a fantastically (?) fun pattern to make . Both are about 20 inches in height.  The Uncle Sam Tames The Hare is just delightful to look at and  a great tool for story-telling .  Both patterns  were designed by Prim and Proper Folk.  Both pieces were requested  for purchase review.

Just a thought!

After a while you learn
the subtle difference
between holding a hand
and chaining a soul,
and you learn
that love doesn't mean leaning
and company doesn't mean security.
And you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of a woman,
not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow's ground is
too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down
in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn
that even sunshine burns if you ask too much.
So you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn
      that you really can endure
           that you really are strong
                and you really do have worth.
And you learn
        and you learn
             with every goodbye
                   you learn.....
                                
                                     -(V.S.)

Sew Little Fingers...Look What You Have Made!

Believe it or not I have been sewing.  I do tend to go on history rants....that's just the way I am.  I hope to have all seasons represented in the store.  Sounds  good in theory... We shall see  as I can never get too far ahead as far as inventory goes.  This fine young cupid to our left has been a great seller for me.  He is certainly a smile maker.  He is a "Nanny Norton" Pattern.  He is fun to make and will melt your heart.  As I said, he is a mainstay in my inventory. Next is "Dill"  She is a plump frog....  lots of "tude".  This is almost too cutesy, country for my liking....still a fun doll to make ....I have already sold one this week. She is made from a"Simply Nantucket's" pattern.

Next, what can I say about Vampire Bunnies...they are heart stealers.

fun to make ...mostly a painting project.. Well worth the time... my peeps are asking for them  even though it's mid -winter.  They came from the beautiful mind  of "Frowning Francis". 

What's  on my work table?  I have several simple  sweet bunnies.

A Queeen Anne Doll...that is looking very anemic tonight...she will have life in a few days.  Her clothes are beautiful and I can't wait to show her to you.  I have a skinny twin to "Dill" the plumb frog...her name is "Pickles"...A long , tall gal for sure.  I just received my glass eyes  today.   I had been looking since Christmas for them....very much worth the wait...they will bring life to an art doll that is way, way different than any pattern I have done before.  And I am going to have to try to create my own pattern for an order request to be completed in March.  I never thought I would be making my own pattern.... a detailed Dragon fly will be a  test for me. 

Love That Pink Dessert!