Fall in July

It is almost the end of July, still summer, and here I am already setting the store for Fall. I never have wanted to be someone who rushes the seasons, but when you are in retail, it is what you do. I love Fall. I love to look around and use what I have that brings in a Fall feel. There will still be white cottage furniture and accents but I am accenting it with different colors. I love white year round, but like to warm it up a bit, probably with orange instead of pink in the Fall, and then, of course, red and green at Christmas. Talk about rushing the season! I'll post some new photos soon, so you can see the autumn look at Just A Second.

Outside of Shop

This is the outside of my little shop. You get some indication of the building and the way I love bright colors, especially for summer. I am featuring bright colored chandeliers as seen here.

The Store is Open!!!

The store is open, and the sign is up. I am located in the same building as my husband's and my publishing company. We are now trying to get the word out and create word of mouth advertising. The store is good in that it provides accessories and furnishings for our staging and redesign business, a space lift. Now we can shop in our own store -- not that our space lift clients will be limited to our selection. We shop anywhere, and within our clients' budget.

Store opening soon

There's light at the end of the tunnel. I'm actually hoping to open by the First Thursday in May. First Thursday is a promotional program for our little business district, and even though our building is a couple of blocks from the main business district, I figure if I offer the right refreshments and get the word out, I'll get some visitors. I just have to make sure I'm ready. As my husband and daughter have both told me (as if I didn't already know), "You only have one chance to make a first impression. The shop is small, but I have managed to acquire some great finds. I'll post some photos when I am really happy with how it looks.

Haven't blogged for a while. Went out hunting for goodies today, and was a bit frustrated when I spent quite a bit of time and came up with three things to buy and then found out they didn't take debit or credit cards or checks, so I had to leave the stuff there. I have to remember to always take cash. i am trying to clear space to open Just a Second in the building our little publishing company is in, but have a lot to do — so much to clear out and move and get rid of. It will be a while, but I keep getting more ideas, so it'll all come together when it is supposed to. In the mean time I need to increase and store inventory. I hate the idea of getting everything displayed and then selling a big part of it and having to redo something that looked the way I want it to. So, remind me, that's what the business is for - to sell things.
I'll get over it. It will be a good problem to have. The above photo was from a display I did at La Di da, an antique and gift store where I had a booth. I love doing displays.

What a kick in the stomach - no more Country Home®

I cannot believe how I reacted to the announcement on the Country Home wrapper that this is the last issue of one of or,lately, my favorite magazine. I started subscribing to Country Home® when I was newly married and really just discovering my decorating style. I was one of those who started with "early American", but never liked the ruffled lamp shades and the rooster lamp bases. I wanted a more simple, yet warm, look. Then through a friend or a few friends, I discovered "primitives", and they became my passion. When we had a child old enough to babysit for a few hours on a Saturday, my husband and I would go to breakfast and then haunt the antique stores — he for good books (he's a writer, www.johngile.com ) and me for a few primitive pieces of furniture and accessories which went with them. The primitives were so practical for us, because we had several children, and it didn't matter if something got nicked up a bit. And back then, they were not very expensive.

Lately, as Country Living® seems to have gotten more high end and contemporary, Country Home® has gone to a simpler, cleaner look while still featuring the primitive and painted furniture I love. I lay down with the magazine yesterday, as I love to do when I get one of my decorating magazines in the mail, and felt how thin it was, and how so few ads there were, and realized more than any time prior, how the economy has affected us. I was describing my reaction to my husband, and I got tears in my eyes. Who would have thought a magazine could evoke such emotion? It symbolized our home, our family, our times alone together, and the welcome reprieve from the daily struggles and commitments of our lives. Country Home® I mourn your passing.

A Special Gift

Sometimes it is so gratifying to hear from someone who has bought something from your store. (justasecond.biz). Yesterday was such a day. A woman bought a vintage advertising cereal bowl and was so excited to know it was going to be shipped. It was a bowl that her husband had used as a young child, and she was buying it for him as a birthday gift. He will soon be 80. Such a special gift. As we age, material things don't mean as much to us.
We know that everything gets "old", but the thought behind that gift will live forever.

Can Spring be far behind?

We are getting a hint of Spring. Time to add the lighter accessories. Bring in some Valentine touches. I decided to add all the children's wedding photos to my mantel along with the Elvis candy boxes, small hearts, and touches of red. We're having a get together on Valentine weekend, and I think they and their children will enjoy the display.

tough hunting this time of year

I am finally going to announce my new site, justasecond.biz . I was hesitant to announce it because I don't have a very big store at this point, but, as they say, nothing ventured-nothing gained. I will say it is not an easy time to hunt for treasures. It is very cold here in northern Illinois, so there are few venues for finding goodies. I will continue to work at it and try to post my new finds on Fridays and through the weekend. Happy treasure hunting.

It's so sunny that it doesn't look all that different. We removed the garden tea cart and floral rug and seat cushions, replacing them with wood tones, braided rug, plaid pillows and wool blanket thus adding a warmer touch. Since the room is intrinsically a sun room the basic furnishings are of the lighter, more summery variety to suit the summertime screened porch use.

Visit http://www.aspacelift.com to see more staging examples.

In another vein, today was a heartwarming day taking place at a typically sad event - a funeral. By chance, I noticed the obituary of the mother of a long lost old friend (she had been in our wedding party), but we had lost touch for more than 30 years. It took us a moment, but we recognized each other and hugged and cried and caught up and, hopefully, are renewing a wonderful friendship. Life is full and good.

Renie

Talk about cold! Looks like I am going to find a stay-at-home project, so I don't have to go outside. I need to finish my website:justasecond.biz. How do I put a shipping calculator on my site? I am sure I will figure it out or find someone who can help.

I dug up a photo of my summer look office/sunroom. It makes me long for those warm, sunny days of summer. This was a room which had to be changed drastically to look more warm and cozy for winter. Maybe, tomorrow, I'll post the transformation. Hint: there are a lot of plaids in it! Again stay tuned and stay warm.
Renie

Just A Second Buzz

Brrr. It’s cold, and so how do you decorate for January? Magazines tell us to simplify, use blue, silver, snowman, etc. Doesn’t do much to warm up a room, does it?

This year I’m thinking patriotic - red (retains some of that Christmas warmth) President-elect Obama being inaugurated - flags, patriotic, similar to 4th of July (now that’s warm!) - I’ve got some wonderful trays for your inauguration party. (see justasecond.biz). And....they are just $3.00 each.

As soon as that is over, we’re ready for Valentine’s Day. Already doing some of that with my musical Elvis Valentine candy boxes. Yes, I was a really big Elvis fan.

Keep warm

Renie