Look down...

for inspiration!
While walking ICFF last week we spotted these wonderful carpets that have become inspiration for a fall buy. I love the muted, distressed and yet colorful look. Now I just have to source the goodies to bring my inspiration to life!

Look what has flow...

into the shop.
Well it's not there yet but this wonderful Murano Dove has just arrived from my very first win!
I am so excited to be adding wonderful vintage glass objet into the mix at our ABC location.
I caught the vintage bug a few weeks ago at Brimfield and just can't stop myself. You know what they say about birds of a feather!

Alice is...

back!

Alice Park card cases and key straps have arrived at both shops. For those of you who may not be familiar with this line it is so beautiful in its simplicity. The card cases gently fold onto themselves and are then stitched in contrasting thread. Alice is an architect by trade and you can tell by her line, it's clean, simple and wonderfully graphic in it's construction. It's like a house I'd live in!

Furry and scary.....

just the way I like it.
This little guy is the newest addition to Black Bird Letterpress's range of HUG cards. I love, love, love the idea of opening a sweet letter and surprise look who is delivering your cash... or as they had displayed with a picture of a child... I laughed out loud at the idea of a Dingos' stole my baby, or as it were a rabid raccoons' got my baby. Anyway, these little critters will be making me laugh in person in just a few weeks.

Hammer time...

and it was!
The Stationery Show is a once a year marathon that can be exhausting but this year I simplified my plan and finished in record time. That's not to say that I didn't find wonderful new collections.
These fellas will be at GCT soon along with 10 more of their friends.

Day one...

and what a find!
I am so proud to have been the very first shop to pick up this wonderful new line. I have had the privilege to be the fist account to support a great new talent a few times in my career but this one some how seems extra special! Everything about the line is spot on, the paper, the color, the thoughtfully executed design and most of all the wonderful woman who created the line.
I am not  a selfish person, so please everyone support her, write big orders and be kind!
The company is Moglea and the owner is Meg!

You are invited....

The invitations are pouring in for the Stationery Show.
It's the one time a year when my total focus is on paper. I somehow have to think about Holiday cards, even though it's full on Sumer here. But if these invitations are any indication the show should be full of wonderful new collections form new vendors and old faithfuls. Stay tuned for sneak peaks to come.

I need a drink...

This post is related to the last.
I experienced a very unsettling customer interaction on Friday and of course it made it's way onto Yelp. As you would expect it's one sided and vivid but I refuse to let the internet define who I am or what my shops stand for. So, if you choose, yelp us and see for yourself.
I am having a drink, well not at this exact moment but later for sure. Cheers!

Yelp...

What's that about?

I am not the biggest web person on earth so it might not surprise you or it might but I just went on Yelp to see what they have to say about us. Well, the good news is that we have a hight star rating but the bad news is that we received a 1 star from a very disappointed client. I must say the scathing review threw me so I decided to snoop a little and see what other shops have been reviewed at. Oh my, what a bunch of crazy people there are in this world. Every shop I snooped on had the same kind of mood swing, either the 5 star ( and gush how wonderful it is ) or they 1 star ( and head into crazy town over, well anything ).
I am not saying that when you deal with the public you don't have a responsibility to your clients but it seems a little nuts to me to complain about pricing, display and other very person decisions made by the owner. Get a clue peeps, you can't expect to pay the same price in a high rent urban shop as you did at a Flea Market or your home town gift shop ( actual comments). IT"S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.
The belittling comments and referencing other shops seems like a episode of Mean Girls!
Like my Mother said "if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all".
I feel like this lion today!