Sneak preview of White Christmas at Just A Second

Black and silver print with touch of burgundy

Giving you a sneak peek at Just A Second's Christmas finery.

No Open House event planned, but every Saturday there will be goodies and hot coffee, tea, or cider. 

From cottage to primitive, child to adult, we have a bit of everything. Hope to have special additions from Tina soon.  We'll get the word out as soon as we do.

Child's table and china, and shell art

And remember, anytime you hear someone say, "just a second", think of all the visual delights waiting for you on Main Street at Just A Second.

Official welcome display as you enter Just A Second.

Look what we found

Amish dolls, print and simple pottery

Sometimes being on the hunt amazes me.  You don't set out to find anything special, but certain items become "just what you were looking for". For example, the little stuffed amish dolls in the photo:  we already had the framed amish print, and then we happened upon the dolls.  At the same time the pottery has the colors and feel of the the painting, so then we have a vignette—love it!

Silverplate tiered tray with lavender sachets

Need to refill this pretty silverplate tiered tray with Tina's popular lavender sachets.  The lavender is in tiny fabric "pillows" stamped with stripes and birds — makes a lovely little hostess gift in packets of 3's tied together with ribbon — perfect for Thanksgiving.

Found this somewhat chippy painted large hutch top which fits perfectly on a 1955 (made in Rockford) modern buffet with porcelain insets on the top. The buffet features large white porcelain knobs on the dovetailed drawers.  I am not usually drawn to mid century furniture, but the porcelain knobs are my downfall.  Couldn't resist.  And the fact that the hutch top fit as though it was made to order clinched the deal.  Love the blue and white with it.

Back in Business

After 10 days in Pittsburgh helping Elaina with new beautiful baby Matthew Robert and handsome 2 year old Andrew John, I'm back with a vengeance.  

Yesterday, friend, Lana came in with more goodies, and we decided on the spur of the moment to remove a whole bank of "attached to the wall" shelves.  They were driving me crazy because they limited options to rearrange room and because I think those goodies get buried below and behind and don't look their best.  



         Brought wrought iron table in from

         patio and did a silver and black

         tablescape. Looks like black

         and white photo but is not.

        Three tier painted wood table

         with silver and white accessories

        (Again photo appears to be

         black and white)



Being impulsive is not always very smart especially on a Friday afternoon when the store is open. Not only was much of the merchandise boxed up after being moved, but the room was a mess, and apologies were necessary.  Fortunately, Just A Second customers are nice. They just laughed and shopped and found something anyway.

Beautiful Ainsley Tole Lamp

on wonderful wood child's chair

with framed teddy bear print

Thanks to Tina, we advertised in the paper

Our business card size ad generated quite a bit of traffic

Our sales, both of Tina's beautiful felted wool pumpkins and other store items, were significantly  higher this past weekend.  I guess it does pay to get the word out.  I even had to open the store on Sunday for some out of town visitors who found all kinds of goodies. They got the word from the Visitor and Convention bureau.  

Then yesterday we were out on a decorating consulting call (a space lift).  Love to have the chance to work in someone's home and see and relay the possibilities. Plus, we can fill in the gaps with some purchased items, if we cannot find something suitable in the home. Gives us a chance to see what's out there so we can store up ideas for another job.

If you have any challenges, post it here, and we'll give it a sight unseen shot.

Playing Hooky

Will be closed on Wednesday to attend a one day conference.  

Tapestry fringed pillow

Have some new old things...lots of fall plus tapestry items and an enamel top table in great condition.  tempted to keep it as a plant table at home in our sun room.  It would make sense if I didn't kill most of my plants. We'll see. Right now it's at the store, so check us out on Thursday.  Hope the flood waters recede.  I'm anticipating a moat on the sidewalk to the shop.

We have felted wool pumpkins!

 Pumpkin displayed on primitive leather-latched pine box

Tina Rippy adds wonderful hand crafted items to our shop.  From Burlap and fabric rosettes to hand printed lavender sachets to tea infuser potpourri.  Her latest additions are rich, fall colored, felted pumpkins.  From selecting the yarns, to felting the wool, to designing and assembling the finished product, all are in Tina's capable and creative hands. Each is a work of art.

Felted wool pumpkins on vintage green ladder

Did I say we have felted wool pumpkins? a bushel basket full, and don't you love how they look on this small, paint-spattered vintage step ladder. They really complement each other.

doll cradle with felted pumpkins

We have a hand crafted doll cradle full of felted wool pumpkins.  If made in the USA and hand crafted and natural are important to you, Tina's lovingly crafted items at Just A Second are just what you are looking for.

the party's over

Just have to fill mini wire wheelbarrows with candy corn & pumpkins

Busy day yesterday, shopping, cooking, last minute straightening and cleaning, and finishing up the details.

It was so much fun -- laughing together, crying together, sharing stories, and thoroughly enjoying each other's company.

I mentioned how grateful I am for the Dollar Superstore-- for the bandanas (napkins and valances), the tags and raffia ties for napkin rings, and the scarecrows. Really sets the theme. 

After everyone left, husband John and I were returning table to normal position, got part way there, and John said he liked it that way.  So, for now, we are leaving the table at a diagonal--makes the area seem more open.  We'll see how long it lasts.