Out with the old, in with the new!

"There is always time for gratitude and new beginnings."-J. Robert Moskin

I came across the quote the other day and thought it fitting for the new adventure. While I am sad that Gratitudesllc is closed, I am very excited to be a part of With Gratitude-gifts to celebrate and inspire. The task is huge to get everything done while still closing out the old, but when has a challenge ever gotten me down? I look forward to helping create a new space from the old with fresh ideas, new energy, and continued enthusiasm for shopping! I am grateful for all the positive comments I received last week while going through the liquidation. The shop did make a difference, customers remembered kindnesses, and the outpouring of affection kept me going through a difficult task. So I will continue to blog about the new shop and let you know how things are progressing. Thanks for coming along with me.

Grazie!

Happy New Year! What a decade. It is time to think of the many blessings that have occurred. All my daughters graduated from high school! Dan's business took him to Costa Rica which has opened a whole new world for us. I said good bye to an old friend (BMWS) but took many memories and much love with me. I began my own business which still continues despite the tragedy of the economy. The next generation of the family was born--my great niece. And while that was a celebration, there were many good-byes that came too soon. My first hero, my Dad. My Uncles Johnny and Lenny. And my beloved Aunt Nina. And while they have moved on, they will always live in my heart and helped shape the person I am.

So what will the future bring? The roller coaster of life! Hold on, I feel a sharp turn coming up!

Georg Jensen

The Christmas season has been keeping me busy and I have been neligent in writing. I was sitting here in the shop thinking about a good topic. I looked up and there are the new ornaments from Danish Design. They make me happy because they remind me of my youth growing up in New York and traveling into Manhattan. One of my first stops was to St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. I never understood my fascination with it. I wasn't raised Catholic but somehow I always felt a "presence" and being a small part of a much larger picture in life. It was peaceful sitting in the pew and just thinking and having a quiet moment. It was such a haven from the hustle and bustle outside.

The second stop was to the Georg Jensen store. I was drawn to the simplicity of the Danish style. My favorite china has always been Royal Copenhagen. Unfortunately when I married, there was no one in Baltimore who carried the line. Orrefors crystal was my choice for fine crystal. Once again, a line not carried in Charm City when I married! Whenever I see the patterns now, it takes me back to the girl that I was and the dreams that I had. And while some dreams never came true, when you get to this point in life, one realizes that some dreams just morph into other realities. And wouldn't life be boring if all our dreams came true on command! Just keep riding the roller coaster of life and hold on!

mad men

While most of my musings have been about shopping, I needed to take a break. Christmas in the shop and shopping for Spring and Easter have calmed my urges for shopping(for about a half minute!). So this post will be about my new obsession, the television show, "Mad Men". For 2 years I wondered what all the hype and awards were about concerning this show. Well, I found out this season! Not only am I lured in every Sunday night at 10 on AMC but then I read all the blogs posted about the show on Monday. I feel as though I have smoked a cigarette after watching the show! I also feel like I have revisited my youth since I confess that I grew up in this time period. The show has nailed the settings, clothes, attitudes, etc. And while some of the blogs this season were concerned that it was moving too slowly, last night's season finale put all those fears to rest. It is not very often that one wants to arm pump after watching a TV show. But last night it was a spectacular finish. Now I have to wait how many months to see what happens?! During the winter, I suggest everyone watch the show--from season 1 to season 3! you won't be sorry!

Traveling

What a week! Last weekend was spent in Charleston, South Carolina with Carly for Parent's Weekend. Our version of Parent's Weekend is attending one function and then eating our way through the South. There was a great billboard on 95--Put some South in your mouth! It was referencing Moon Pies, RC Cola, etc. We definitely took advantage of the sweet tea, grits, Barbeque, hush puppies,banana pudding, oysters at Folly Beach, and a visit to Charleston kitchens for some Pralines to take home.

Today we traveled 95 North to Wesley College in Delaware to visit Quinn and check out Wesley Football. It has been a long time since I have cheered a college football team. And we were not disappointed. Wesley kept their undefeated streak going by winning against Salisbury!

Tomorrow I become an elf and decorate the shop for the holidays. I am still in my creating mode and Dan has reserved a chainsaw at Home Depot to help. I will keep you in suspense until the decorating has been done and the pictures are posted. I will need that extra hour tomorrow!

Blogs are amazing vehicles. One can read, shop, and create all in one sitting. It is like having a thousand magazines available at your fingertips. Not a good thing for me because I have spent the past couple of days getting lost in the world of blogs. However, I wanted to share 2 new discoveries with you. I have already confessed about my passion for magazines. This past year has been hard on the shelter magazine business. Three of my favorites folded: Country Home, Domino, and Cottage Style. All three were places I found ideas, inspiration and product.

I am happy to report that these old friends are being resurrected but in different formats. Somer of the creative geniuses of Country Home are morphing into Flea Market Style which will be hitting the shelves in the Spring of 2010. As for Domino, it has surfaced as an online magazine, http://www.lonnymag.com/. I was so excited that I had to share this with you all. I will keep sleuthing for more finds.

Fishs Eddy

Since I do not attend gift shows ( too overwhelming and exhausting), everyone always asks where I find new product and ideas. Simple. I subscibe to every design magazine known to man. Well, actually, not every one but close to it! In the back of each magazine is a resource page. I read these closely and write down every shop, website, and product that I am not familiar with or know. Then once again, I sit with the computer and check out each and every website. It is amazing what one can find!

During one of these marathons, I discovered Fishs Eddy, a shop in New York. Quirky, unusual, different. It has become a go-to store for me at Christmas in shopping for my girls. Kerry has received a Brooklyn mug, Morgan opened a hula girl glass set, Carly found an owl plate to commemorate her sorority, and Quinn found a glass with Milk on it. Little finds that don't break the bank and the girls look forward to opening.

So you ask, why don't I carry these products? Well, I don't have the capital to have my own ceramics factory in China. But I have some great local artists who are open to my suggestions and ideas. And http://www.etsy.com/ is a wonderful resource for finding new talent to carry in the shop. Just yesterday, a new shipment of handbags arrived from Frederick, Maryland from someone I found on etsy and inquired. There is a huge world out there and I am ready to shop!

And you can also visit http://www.fishseddy.com/ as well!