a nose for news

I am so excited to announce the creation of our e-mail newsletter! Want the inside track to tips and tricks, special events, coupons, new arrivals, and overall announcements? Then you'll want to be sure to enter your e-mail in the lovely white box to the right. (It would look a bit prettier if I could figure out the HTML code, but after staring at it all morning, I'm still baffled.)

The service we are using requires you to verify that you are signing yourself up and gives you the ability to permanently unsubscribe if you wish at some point in the future. But I promise to keep the e-mails to an appropriate limit. Once it is up and running, you will be able to select the specific topics you are interested in being informed about.

Now, for the good stuff....

the first 100 people to sign up for the newsletter

will be entered into a drawing for a

$25.00 gift certificate!

Yes, it's a win-win situation all around -- the latest juicy tidbits from Alice Adair and a prize. The winner will be announced on the blog (and in the newsletter) once the 100 sign-ups are received.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend -- I think I'm going to take a little jaunt and see if I can come up with some new goodies for the shop. Will post some more pictures on Monday!

collage wonders

We held our first collage class in March and it was a huge success. Another one will soon be scheduled for a Saturday afternoon in the month of May. Don't want to wait? We will gladly schedule a private class as long as there are four people per class session. For time constraints and attention, class size is limited to no more than six. So grab some friends and be creative. You'll have an afternoon of laughter and a self-created wonder that will add personality to any room of your home.

the details

Cost: $15 (pricing includes class, adhesives, and cut-to-size board)

Time: Approx. 2 hours

Suggestions for ephemera and elements: Vintage flowers, photos, pages from antique books, engravings, smaller frames, jewelry, bird nests, twigs, trading cards, lace, buttons, letters, german glass glitter, unusual bits, postcards, feathers, ribbon, pressed flowers, and sheet music.

There are countless theme ideas if you want to center your project on something specific -- or perhaps fill it up with things that inspire and make you giggle. Since it's all about you, you get to make up the rules.

Participants are encouraged to bring a frame or shadowbox and any pieces they wish to work into their collage. If in need of a frame, please let me know so that there will be suitable options available for purchase. I will gladly look for specific sizes and within a budget if you wish.

All collage ephemera and elements purchased during the class will be given a 15 % discount.

Some things to note: With items of high sentimental value, such as a rare family photograph, I encourage you to have a digital copy made at the local photo shop. I would hate for you to regret using the original at some time in the future. Reproducing the images is not limited to sentimental, irreplaceable items either. It is a great way to resize or recolor those images that "speak to you", whether you are actually related to the subject or not. (For those of you who might not know, I've been "adopting" discard photographs for several years. But I'll save the reason why for another post entirely.)

Now I know some of you are thinking, "I don't have the (fill-in-the-blank) to be able to do something like that but I would LOVE to have one." Don't be alarmed! We will gladly create a collage for you! All it takes is a brief little chit-chat about what you like and what your goal is for the project and then we'll get to work. You'll still be able to provide any materials you would like incorporated and any additional goodies added will be given the 15% discount. And if you need instant gratification, there are even collages in the shop for sale! Some on display have already been spoken for (pesky co-workers), but fear not -- more are coming!

Here are some pictures to get your inspiration bubbling!

promised pictures

For those of you who are still digging out from snow and ice, or who live too far and wide to come for a visit just yet, I've tried to snap some pictures to give you a feel for the shop. That is, until I get the urge to start mixing it up again and before more springtime goodies arrive next week.

And if I can find the time, I'll try to post some more in the next couple days. Enjoy!

a gigantic thank you...

... to Tami. Sister-friend, I could not have imagined anyone else to be my partner in this venture. You are inspiration itself and being around you continually pushes me to get my brain outside the box. God has blessed you with talents galore and I am so thrilled that you share them with me. I shall be eternally grateful for your friendship and my new affection for twigs and sticks.

... to Darlyn and June, the best mother and aunt a girl like me could have. Even though I'm not "twenty" any longer, thanks for trusting me with a vision of my own and giving me the space in which to make it a reality. Thirteen years of your time and patience have made me who I am, and if there were ever two women with a heart for others and for retail, I could not have had two better to learn from. I love you both with all my heart.

... to Robyn, graphic designer extrordinaire, for always taking my not-so-concise ideas and crafting them into the perfect culmination of what I so poorly tried to communicate. For fitting my projects in to your schedule even when I'm in a time-crunch. You were my catalyst into blog-land and I hope this blog is lucky enough to even be half as wonderful as yours.

... to my friends and family. I could try and list you all but this blog would then be forever long. Thanks for asking, laughing, cheering, encouraging, supporting and loving me and for understanding when I disappear for weeks in full shop-mode. For taking me on shopping excursions and to my first auction, for girls' nights and e-mails, and for conversations that come just when I need them most.

And finally... to all the wonderful people who have braved the never-ending snow and cold weather to stop in this week and see the shop in person. I've been blessed by your comments and compliments and it has been a pleasure to get to know you.

It's been said that every journey begins with a single step (or in this case a leap of faith). Each of you have made this so wonderful that I can hardly wait to see were it goes from here.

happy birthday, baby.

The beginning is the most important part of the work. ~ Plato

It had not been my intention to start off the premier post with a quote from a lofty Roman. But the sentiments fit so perfectly I could not look past them. Beginnings are so much work. I keep repeating that to myself as I keep making to-do lists that have downgraded from must-absolutely-get-done to bare-necessities. There are times when being a perfectionist, or as my friend Tami says "having a storm in your brain", is nerve-wracking deluxe. Proudly crossing off yet another necessity, I cheer myself with the idea that there really is only so much preparation that can happen in life, but even more so in retail. You have ideas and these grand mental images of what you want, but once you're hands on in the middle of it, anything is liable to happen. Regardless of how it goes off, whether exactly as imagined or with on-the-spot improvisation, there is work and lots of it.

Today is the beginning of Alice Adair. In fact, someone at church asked me the other day if the beginning wasn't in November when the boutique previewed at 2nd Street Interiors' Holiday Soiree. I had to pause for a minute to think of how to properly explain it. Logically, the answer would seem to be "yes". And then it dawned on me -- it was a baby shower. A party to let everyone know that a new arrival to our little corner of the world would soon make it's scheduled entrance. So for months I've been telling friends, family, customers... even total strangers the "due date" - February 26th. There were times when it felt it couldn't get here fast enough and others when I wondered if it wasn't a bit premature (especially this week of "labor" pulling in all the loose ends). But somehow, some miraculous way, all of us are proud to announce an incredible "birthday" and the party to celebrate it!

The shop is brimming with garden, silver, jewelry, linens, ephemera [paper], books, pictures, and other one-of-a-kind finds. Spring is blossoming even if there is snow on the ground! There's even a great line of iron benches and planters guaranteed to get you dreaming of the flower-filled months that are on their way (just not soon enough!). And as if the goodies and delights weren't going to tempt you to brave the weather, there will be refreshments and party favors for all! We'll be serving the most delectable cupcakes and tarts from DaVinci Desserts with plenty of coffee and tea to warm you right up.

Grand Opening
Tuesday Evening: 5:00 ~ 9:00 pm
Wednesday through Saturday: 10:00 am ~ 5:00 pm

130 west second street, dover, ohio
330.343.7776