Ta Da!

This is the back of the shop. The sign has been moved to a sign-post out front.

My last post said I would be open on Saturday. Turns out it wasn't clear to me which Saturday!

I went to a summer camp at the end of a l-o-n-g winding road. About mid-way on the camp road there is a sign, "Camp is around the bend." Two more turns in the road and one sees this sign, "Ha ha, we didn't tell you which bend!" And then it's still about half a mile before you finally get to camp!


Me & my sweetie the year we met at summer camp.

I've thought of those signs these past two weeks. Unlike camp's wild & wonderful sense of humor, I never meant to be so incorrect.

I took so many photos of the shop today, I guess I am really proud of myself for pushing through all the stops and opening.

500 hours ago, according to my husband, this is what the shop looked like!

It's not your eyesight, this photo is very out of focus.


This is what the shop looked like today when I opened!


Sewing Collectibles
Before.


I'm really pleased with my sewing collectibles. This is an old gun cabinet a friend gave me. She added the glass shelves and mirror at the bottom. I painted it.


I played with color.


I discovered a group of "new-old" stock and put them all together. The boxes are actually full of non-rusted pins. I'm pretty sure they did not start out life on Cape Cod! I've got lots more sewing stuff. Having such an organized place to put them will make it easier to sort though, I hope.


This nightgown was part of a large "trunk-lot" of linens I got at auction. I think it is from the 1910's or 1920's. It's genius, really, a shift that is 40" wide and about that in length. I believe it was designed to be fitted to the wearer. So nip it at the waist. Leave it wide at the hips and take it in at the bust according to your size. It would also make a great summer shift.


This silk bed jacket is hanging from a hook at the ceiling. As beautiful as it is, it is also very damaged. It looks like a cat clawed it, but that's just the silk deteriorating. I hung it up cuz I love how it looks, but put it high enough so it wouldn't get any more damage from handling.



AND NOW FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS!

An alligator bag from (I think) the 1940's. It was made in Miami and has a small alligator head on the front of the bag. I think you have to have a certain chutzpah to carry one of these!

Side view, with teeth.
The eyes are glass, the rest is all reptile.


People driving by, saw the sign and came in. My friend Lorraine, who has amazing linens in a shop in Chatham, came by too. The rest of the time Azubah (pictured above) kept me company.

It was a nice first shop day.
Hope you all had a great day too.

Shop Pretties

This picture reminds me to find a haven of calm, when life is hectic!

Inner Courtyard, Boston Public Library.

In the past six weeks I have tagged and priced 677 items. I have at least that many more treasures still to tag and price! My records are pretty good and I know about what I paid for things, but it's been a while since I had a shop. I was so delighted when Stephenie agreed to share what she's willing to pay for items. It has been such a useful document. Thanks, Stephenie! I've also wandered into the local shops to get an idea of their prices. I like that kind of market research!

This week I have been working like crazy, here are pictures of some displays and things I have been arranging. btw: These dishes count as 1 item in the tagging arena!

I love this set. There are 100 matching pieces. Each place setting has 8 pieces, 3 plates, 3 bowls and a cup & saucer. Think of all the courses one could serve. Don't think of the dishwashing, because it really has to be done by hand to keep the gold from rubbing off!


The pattern close up.
The colors are so vibrant, I love looking at this set.

This photo is a bit blurry, but you can see all the pieces. I hope some newlywed or engaged person walks in and falls in love with it. It would be such a nice set to start one's married life.

Pretty books and soap on orphan saucers.


These hats were purchased for their millinery flowers, the lace is for a swap and the Bingo cards will be packaged for sale and some kept for altered art projects.

I've shown linens in previous posts, but I have been ironing more. Makes me feel less sloth-like while I watch TV!

I actually had too much stuff in the shop. I tend to make piles on the floor which I avoid no problem, but I notice no one else seems to. I could see the lawsuits as some unsuspecting customer tripped and fell. Or tripped over the stacks of china, broke them and cut themselves to boot! I've moved a lot of extraneous stuff out. I can see what I have and it makes it easier to do displays.

I found some great paper in the piles. This is from a turn of the last century magazine. I also found images that would be lovely framed. Now where did all those empty frames go?

The Royal Sisters
These are two of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert's daughters.


Tomorrow I work on the shop all day. No lunch out, no spider solitaire. I might even leave my computer off (oh no, can I exist without checking email and the pretty blogs?)

Saturday I open the shop.
I won't be ready. Everything won't be priced or cleaned or ironed. The outside garden won't be weeded. But I will open anyway. I've always rather liked Nike's slogan -- "Just do it!"

Congrats to the Graduates

Every year in the middle of June, parents and friends put out these banners of congratulations in my town. There's something so sweet and endearing about them and I wanted to share. We did this for our son when he graduated and seeing these each year is a wonderful reminder of the support the local kids get!

We have seen some professionally made signs, but the handmade signs are the best as far as I am concerned. You might think the kids would be embarrassed, but I have never heard that they are anything but pleased with this acknowledgment!

Thanks to my son for taking these photos for me.

Here's a card from 100 years ago for a school class day.
It probably honored the graduates too!

Summer Camp

It's summer.
Time for campfires, arts & crafts and swim lessons.

I'm off to deliver my daughter to summer camp.
It has been a yearly destination since she was 6 and her big brother was 9.

Now she's the waterfront director and this is her view most of the day!

She and the head lifeguard met at this camp when they were 9. They attended high school together. Her friend's not going to camp this summer. It's going to be different this year!


While my girl is administering swim tests. I'm gonna stay in the area and antique. For the past 3 years, she's gotten herself to camp, so I haven't driven down. But this summer I'm looking forward to seeing some favorite shops and finding new ones. It's an adventure. And I do so love a road trip!

A Mother's Year

As much as I want the shop to be open tomorrow, it just won't happen! I spent all day today pricing and cleaning. There's still so much more to do, but I am not letting it discourage me! On the plus side I have discovered some wonderful treasures, which I will share this week.

This wonderful book, published in 1905, was lurking in a dark spot. It is now dusted and priced and placed in a section with all things vintage childhood.


Each month has a slightly different chapter illustration and for each day there is a quotation.

June Ninth

But never, in her varied sphere
Is woman to the heart more dear
Than when her homely task she plies,
With cheerful duty in her eyes;
And, every lowly path well trod,
Looks meekly upward to her God.
~ Caroline Gilman.

For all the hard working moms out there!
Enjoy your evening.

Obsessions

I have never thought of myself as obsessive. Tho if you were to ask my best friends or my husband, I imagine you would get a different answer. My husband would say it in such a sweet and gentle way, as tho being obsessive was the most endearing quality I have. He's nice that way!

Baby Pillows

I claimed to have no cravings while pregnant. My husband suggested, in the kindest way possible that perhaps, just maybe, eating an entire jar of Vlasic Kosher Dill pickles - at one sitting - possibly, might constitute a craving. As I said, he's nice that way. But I digress.


I have just moved boxes and tubs of linens out of the shop. They need to be cleaned and/or ironed and are in the way. Sadly, the ones in the shop are only about a tenth of the whole!



It was this moving experience which prompted me to muse on the topic of obsessions. Because, no matter how you look at it, the number of linens I have amassed over the last 10 years constitutes an obsession! I can no longer just make the comment, "I like linens." Yes, I do like linens, but I think it has gone beyond just liking them! Today I considered the obsessive element to my collecting!




Luckily this obsession does not include hoarding! I am happily anticipating selling every one. Not so happily anticipating washing, line drying, ironing and pricing them all. But then I think I might just be a bit lazy! And it's a really big job!

"It was 20 years ago today" +5

Today is our son's 25th birthday.

25 years ago I was a college librarian with faculty status.

The day before he was born, my husband and I participated in graduation, we saw a movie, looked at changing tables, and . . .

The next day I was a mom!
It has been the best "job" I ever had!


Little hands and fingers loved grabbing my long hair, so
within 6 months my hair was as short as it's ever been!


We have a long family tradition of miniature golf.
Here is my husband with our son, age 3 months. As I remember, the baby did not constitute a handicap!

When our son said he'd like to play mini-golf on his birthday, here's where we went.

Feeding the koi at the 18th hole.

Commemorating the day with mom & dad.
Since he's holding the camera out at arm's length and can't see the view finder, I think he's wondering if we are even in the shot.

I'm really glad we got to spend time together today!