For Cynthia

For Every Season there is a Sale

In retail display land--as the calender changes-- so does the focus of our "prime real estate" table. Located dead center as you enter my store, it's always the merchandise display I lead with & it also sets the tone for the whole place.

Juliska made a lovely Valentine, but time to re-group and start fresh. My boss is awesome-- when I scurried out the door, throwing out over my shoulder that I was headed to Hobby Lobby for feathers, she braced herself mentally and took a deep breath. My boss does not like feathers, or shiny satin --but she lets me run amuck and it usually works out OK.

This table did the trick--I even found a glass  vase from Hobby Lobby that mimicked the Juliska swirled glass stemware. And let's face it--Valentine is a pretty flashy holiday (hence the feathers and satin) So off with the hearts & bring on the pastel colors and bunnies!

New table, new picture in my head--I prefer to start with a  blank surface. Sometimes you can add or remove merchandise and get a new look, but I found when a display has the same bones of another one--it's boring.

I'm showcasing Italian pewter by Match & Arte Italica for this display,  plus I needed to insert a little Easter merchandise.

The texture and elegance of the pewter will balance out the pastel bunnies nicely.

I built a tall foliage centerpiece  which will anchor all the other elements. The yellow in the flowers will be the running color thread through the display to tie it together. I bought some some huge decorative flowers to hang over the table (--which are basically a wire frame with colored panty hose stretched over it--again with the Hobby Lobby).  I'm starting to notice allot of circle shapes in my display and start looking around the store for some square elements to balance it out.

May the Easter Bunny bring you Italian Pewter

ARTnewsmag — How Much is the Doggie in the Window? Martin...

ARTnewsmag — How Much is the Doggie in the Window? Martin...: "Martin Usborne, Prospero 2, archival giclee print. From the series “Mute: The Silence of Dogs in Cars,” at FrankPicturesGallery.com.

I Love Art Supplies

Folk Art Heaven

     We had the good fortune to do a staging job for a client who had a collection of amazing folk art. Our very busy client was preparing for some re-modeling in her home and needed a retreat while the work was being completed. We got to turn a one room detached building into a mini studio/guesthouse work space.

Lucky me with my brilliant partner who is organized to the moon and back. Details, details and more details. Namely a huge library of amazing books--which was transformed into a fantastic library in true Dewey Decimal style. We played with a furniture moving website for placement options-- http://v3.planningwiz.com 

     Some design highlights for us was installing caster wheels  on her mission style desk for move ability, -- for a dressing area we found an awesome bamboo flexible screen that could be morphed into any shape--in a fantastic celery green. And showcasing a pair of treasured folk art rag dolls in a vintage french glass display case. It was blissful to have so much great art to play with. We loved the results, the client seemed happy -- pretty fun project.

Who's Style is it Any Way?

I manage a retail home decor store, and I can spot 'em coming in the door.

The furrowed brow, the tight grip on the old handbag. They avoid eye contact, as they plow up and down the aisles looking for what --
they do not know.

It must be here somewhere, after all--
good taste is all over the place. Running down the walls, wafting from the diffusers, arranged on the shelves like ads in those design magazines.

But what to choose--what is that "one thing" that can be purchased,
taken home, unwrapped, displayed--and will instantly transform their home into a place for all to see that this woman's style is clear and livin' large.

I approach sofly, as to not confront their confusion.  They mumble that they are not looking for anything in particular, just something to go on that certain table, by that particular chair, etc, etc.
I take a breath and with as much compassion as I can muster, I speak the dreaded words--
"What would you say your style is?"

There, I did it--now they have to say it out loud.

A...well...kind of...maybe like....I'm not sure...(and here it comes--It always does) .....Eclectic.

I had a lady tell me the other day. "I would love to mix up my dishes like you do --and it looks great when YOU do it--but everyone would think I've lost my mind." We laughed and I joked that after all SHE was cooking dinner!

But I saw a woman who really wanted to adjust her style.
Switch it up a bit, throw caution to the wind and get FUNKY-- except for the fact that in her mind, she was still living in her mother's house.

Our style is what we say it is. It changes when we change.
It defines us and should please us --
because it tells those who enter our world that they are welcome.

So come over & hang out if you want, if not--go see your mom.