Just wanted to keep you all updated that our next event is our annual warehouse/garage sale.  There’s lot of stuff and great prices.  Everything in the warehouse/garage will be 50% off of the lowest marked price.  And of course, the store will be open with lots of little specials in there also.  Here are the dates we’ll be open for the warehouse sale:

July 18, 19, and 20
Thursday, 10 to 6
Friday, 10 to 5
Saturday 10 to 2.

Please mark your calendars for the event and bring your friends.  Hope we see you!

~ Debbie

Just a little reminder that our “Secret Sale” begins tomorrow, June 7, from 10 to 5 and Saturday, June 8, from 10 to 3.  Every thing in the store is 25% off.  Your discount will be taken off at the time of purchase.  And please remember, that this discount only applies to what is in the store.  Not good on special orders.

Hope we get to see you all and that you find lots of great deals to perk up your summer decorating. And remember this sale is “secret”.  But if you want to bring all your friends and they want to sign up for our emails—they’ll get this wonderful discount, also.  Looking forward to seeing you!

Here’s a map to our shop.

- Debbie

What says summer more than a white purse? This orange and white blouse is cool and flows nicely in the breeze. With the discount, it’s only $20.21. Now, that’s a deal!

Another blouse that’s fun for summer is this black and white zebra print. It’s back hem is slightly lower than the front and looks great with almost any color of jeans. (even the yellow ones!)

These are two of my favorites. Both are real statement pieces that everyone will want to know where you purchased them. And, remember, they are on sale.

And just in case you didn’t realize that “everything on sale” included belts and jewelry, let me assure you that it does.

So, come on out and find your “secrets” during our sale. We are open Friday, 10-5pm and Saturday 10-3pm.

 - April

Just wanted to keep you up to speed on a few things.  First in my last update I made a mistake at the end of the email about our “Secret Sale”.  It was correct at the top, but at the end I put the wrong dates.  It should be Friday, June 7; and Saturday, June 8.  So thanks for pointing it out so I could correct it.  I wouldn’t want any of you to miss out.

And I wanted to let you peek at my new redo.

As most of you know, I love fixtures.  I had always wanted this type of chandelier in this picture somewhere in my house.  I already have a gorgeous one in my formal dining room.  So, it’s not that I really need another one.  It’s that I wanted to do something a “little edgy” in a bathroom that has needed to be decorated for the last twenty years.  No one ever sees it, so it is at the bottom of the “to do” list of decorating projects.  So I guess you could say that the chandelier was my inspiration piece.

Well—-I couldn’t just put up a new chandelier and paint the walls and be done with it.  So I looked for the perfect wallpaper for me (took 6 months to find it.)

I didn’t want it to be too flowery, yet I did want it to be a little feminine.  This wallpaper is from the book “Modern Gentlemen.”  I can tell you my son did not appreciate the wallpaper at all.  He told me he wanted cowboys and ropes in the room since he uses that room to get ready in.  I won that argument.  We brought the wallpaper down from the ceiling 17 inches above the bath and around.  But the vanity area got the whole works.  I am going to paint the vanity—red.  Please don’t tell me you don’t like that idea, because I’m going to do it anyway.  I’ve always wanted a red cabinet.  Besides what else do you do when your oak cabinets start to look orange????

This white area (I hope you can tell from the picture) is bead board wallpaper.  It’s paintable and so easy to hang.  It’s so much easier than the real thing and most people can not tell the difference. My husband used 5 inch molding as I thought any narrower might make it look cheap.

These are the embarrassing pictures.  This is the before we started.  Like I said, no one ever saw the area so it just wasn’t a priority.

Now when my grandchildren from Colorado Springs come to visit me, they tell me “You’re the grandmother with the fancy house.” They loved the chandelier and the bright colors.   Of course their other grandmother has a over a million dollar home in a beautiful forest.  But, I’m the one with the fancy house – go figure.  Aren’t grandkids wonderful?

Enough of that…….Don’t forget our “Secret Sale”  Friday, June 7, 10 to 5 and Saturday June 8, 10 to 3.  Watch for our next email where we announce the percentage off the whole store.  We can’t wait to see you.

- Debbie

Announcing, Announcing, Announcing our Secret Sale is in June.  To be exact it is June 7 and 8.  Many of you have begged us to be open more, so we are extending our sale an extra day.  Yes, in the past, we have only had a one day event.  But, many have you have told us that you would like our secret sale to be more than a one day event—so here goes.  In the upcoming weeks, we’ll tell you what percentage you can take off your total sale.  You’re gonna love it.

And just for fun, I just wanted to show you what April and I have been up to.  As most of you know, we like to try new things.  So rather than staying in our comfort zone in the upholstery part of the business we decided to venture out and try something a bit more challenging.  We’ve done many pieces that you would call “light upholstery”.  We love painting the furniture and then adding that great piece of fabric to the cushions or even making our own cushions.

But this one—well, what shall I say–was a great lesson in why having a chair reupholstered costs a lot of money.  We had a ball doing it, it just wasn’t the piece of cake we thought it might be.  Especially when there were three different checks in this fabric’s pattern that we had to match.  And, just for the record, I am very pleased with the way it turned out.  However, it does have some imperfections that we would not have allowed had we been doing it for a client. One of the most important things we learned as we did the chair is—-that we learned more from taking it apart than doing anything else.

You remember my mauve chair?  Well, most of you won’t because we had a slip floral slipcover over it.  Well, it was a nice chair.  The brand was “Flexsteel” and it had great bones and showed no wear.  That’s what you get when you buy a quality piece of furniture. (Or if you never sit on it.)  I couldn’t send it to another home or some orphanage for furniture.  This piece of furniture had been in such a happy home, I couldn’t bear to put her in foster care.

And then to take it’s back off and find toys that my 20 year old daughter had played with when she was a child, I don’t know that I could bear to part with any part of this chair, including the mauve fabric.  But I sucked it up, and April and I removed  the rest of the fabric.  And, I can honestly say, I don’t miss the mauve fabric at all.

This was the scary part for me. With the back and cushion now gone, I felt like I would never see my child (I mean chair) again.  But I knew it had to be done–for it’s own good, of course.  April was the brave one here, as I couldn’t bear to perform this surgery on my on child.  I mean chair.

We bravely journeyed on in our adventure and to my surprise it started coming together.  I am sure the chair must have felt like I would have if I had just had a facelift or Botox. New life had been breathed into this chair and all of a sudden, I know she (the chair) must have felt young again.

As I finished up some of the last details, I felt good about this project and dreamed about the next pieces we were going to do.

And there she is.  What a joy to have her finished and in her new spot.  This one’s not for sale, but rest assured you’ll find some new furniture we’ve reupholstered coming in this Fall.  Plus, we’ll have new furniture from different vendors coming in the Fall..

Please mark your calendars for our “Secret Sale” in June.  Friday, June 7, 9 to 5, and Saturday, June 8, 9 to 3.

Just a little reminder–We’ve got lots of little specials and surprises for you this event.  Remember only two days this time, but wonderful specials.  Come celebrate a mother with us.  Daughters who are not mothers, celebrate the mother within.  Every day is a day to celebrate your life or the lives of people who’ve touched your life.

Click here for a map to our shop!

This is “Happy Mother’s Day” week!!!!!  Don’t you celebrate Mother’s Day all week?  Go for it girls; even if you’re not a mother.  Celebrate your mother; or if she’s not with you any longer, celebrate the wonderful times she’s given you.

And what better way to celebrate than to take a lovely drive in the country and drop by our store on Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11.  Just “chill out” like these little frogs and treat yourself like a queen.  We’ve got lots of little surprises and treats for you this Mother’s Day weekend.  April and I will have beautiful chocolate covered strawberries for you to sample.  I can’t wait to make them for you all.

And don’t forget–all wall art, florals on the wall, shelves—-anything that is hanging on the wall from a screw or nail is 20% off. Yes, that’s the wreaths and any other floral on the wall.   Remember–it’s only the florals on the wall.

Just a suggestion—this little lamp for your mom or for yourself has been a wonderful seller.  I’ve reordered these twice.

And here’s April modeling a piece of clothing.  This top has been a real winner.  But check out the red purse.  As a special promotion–all purses are 20% off.

Hope we will see you all.  And remember-only two days this event.  Friday May 10th, 10 to 5, and Saturday May 11th, 10 to 3.  Look for our special mother’s day sale on other products in the store, also.  Here’s a map to our store!

- Debbie

It’s truly spring and we want to celebrate at our next event.  Not only do we want to celebrate the beautiful colors of spring, but we want to celebrate mothers.  And what better way than to have some specials going on for our Mother’s Day Event, May 10 and 11.  Yes, just two days this time, but we are making those two days count.  

Every purse in the store and anything that is hanging on the wall is 20% off .  Yes, that means all wall art, metal art, florals, shelves – if it’s on the wall, it’s 20% off.

And if you’re a mother, or have had a mother, we’re making chocolate covered strawberries for you.

Remember–May 10, Friday, 10 to 5 and May 11, 10 to 3.  We look so forward to seeing all of you.  Thanks to all for the way you have been such loyal and always decorating and redecorating customers.  We so appreciate your business.

- Debbie

Hi, everyone!  I just wanted to remind you to put us on your calendar, if possible, to visit the store during our open house–April 17 to 20.  I’ve reordered the products you’ve loved and new items and most of them are in for this event.

And what would spring be without yellow and carry it on into Summer.  What a happy feeling it gives to my home.  Even on gloomy days. I also added lighted branches.  They are in, too!!!

I know you loved these, just like I did.  Those playful bunnies with an attitude.  What is about the attitude that I love??  Reminds me of some of my kids, and even though they had it, they turned out great.!!!!!

And speaking of being a mom and having great kids—-Take a look at these!  How fun to add that whimsy to your home.  Sometimes we can be a bit too serious, huh?  I love to laugh even in my formal dining room.  Many other new items are in.

And- last by not least, I got more of the three glass vase holder.  So many of you were disappointed that I had sold out of these at the last event, so it took a little doing, but we got these in for this event.  There is a limited quantity of these, but I got what I could.  Hope you enjoy them!

We hope to see you–April 17, Wednesday, 10 to 6, Thursday, April 18, 10 to 6, Friday, April 19, 10 to 5, and Saturday, April 20, 10 to 3.  Here’s a map to our place if you need it!

~Debbie

Our next spring event is April 17 to 20, so if you missed our last event or just want to come back and purchase the items you wanted last time – it’s time!

And, yes, we have new items in.  The angel you’re looking at was so popular that I ordered lots more.  This is called a Garden Angel, but think of how you can use these at Christmas time.  My imagination is running wild.  Calm down, imagination.

I also wanted to share some pictures of the home in the Parade of Homes that I had a part in.  Leewood Homes has such wonderful taste.  I love working with them.  They kind of turn me loose in the floral design area.

The home is located at 1550 Terhune, Andover, in Stonebridge Estates.  It’s between 143rd and 159th on 13th Street. You’ll see it on the North side of the road.  Turn in the drive and veer right the whole time until you come to almost the end of the street on Terhune.  Just look for the sign that says Leewood Homes, Inc.  You’re gonna love it!

This picture is the formal dining room–one of my favorite spots in the house.  It’s really a favorite spot for me in all houses.  I think of the holidays we celebrate in my own, and I want a grand one for all the grand guests we have.

I have a friend who tells me that I am in love with fixtures.  I hate to admit it, but she is right.  Love the wall sconces, chandelier and all the accessories that go with this room.  Imagine that!!!  Me?  Love accessories?  Go figure.

Many of you will recognize the console in this room.  I’ve had this one in my shop.  I’d be glad to order one for you if you’d like.

Next, the formal living room.  Well, it’s not so formal that you feel stuffy in it.  That’s what I love about Cheri and Alice Mcbride’s look.  Never stuffy.  Always warm and inviting.

And the stacked stone fireplace—I love it!  Look at the wall art above the mantel.  I can order one of those for you, too.

The vase—-nothing more needs to be said.  What a statement.

And look at the warmth of this floor.  Not too dark–just right!

And this bath—the wall treatment is a faux finish.  I love it.  It is incredible.

The master bedroom.  What words can describe how I feel about this room?  How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.  I love the headboard, the windows, the bed dressings on and on and on.

But, oh the tray ceiling.  Look at the faux treatment.  How would you like to stare at this on those nights when you can’t sleep.  I think it would feel like looking at the stars and being grateful to the one who has given us so many wonderful marvels to enjoy.  Love, love, love it!!!

Visit this home through the Parade of Homes weekend.  Better yet, your husband just might want to buy it for you.

And don’t forget that we are having our spring event next week!  We will be open the following days and times:

Wednesday, April 17, 10 to 6
Thursday, April 18, 10 to 6
Friday, April 19, 10 to 5
Saturday, April 20, 10 to 3

Hope we see you!  Here is a map to our shop.

- Debbie