Last Saturday a new customer was in the shop and she had the best bag slung loosely from her shoulder. When I complimented her on it and that I loved the organic look to it I found out there was much more to this bag then meets the eye. I knew as she was talking that I wanted to run home and share it with all of you.

First some background: Did you know that between 350 and 400 million children around the world still go to bed hungry every night? Hunger and malnutrition kill more people than AIDS, malaria, and TB COMBINED! In fact, every five seconds a child dies because he or she is hungry.

FEED Projects was started in 2006 when acclaimed model and activist Lauren Bush designed a bag to benefit the United Nations World Food Program's (WFP) School Feeding operations. Lauren, a WFP Honorary Spokesperson who has visited several WFP food aid operations around the world, was inspired by the plight of the people she met on her travels. She took a special interest in WFP's School Feeding program, which provides children with a nutritious meal a day and provides incentive for them to get an education. Inspired by the aesthetic of the bags of food distributed by WFP, she created the FEED 1 bag, a reversible burlap and cotton bag stamped with "FEED the children of the world" and the number "1" to signify that each bag feeds one child in school for one year. That bears repeating...the sale of ONE bag feeds one child in school for a full year!

They are big, roomy, reversible, made from 100% organic cotton fabric and sustainable burlap, which is made from raw jute fibers. Natural jute fibers grow without fertilizers or pesticides, are carbon-dioxide neutral and naturally decomposable. Jute can be grown in 4-6 months, making is a rapidly renewable resource. So not only are you feeding a child in another part of our world, you are also choosing a greener alternative to disposable paper and plastic bags.

I am waiting on a response to be able to offer them in the store but do not wait on me...you can purchase them here: FEED bags

Hallelujah, He Is Risen

"And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”
A blessed Easter to all.

The Promise of Spring

As promised...photos from the Garden Party. But first,I must say a HUGE thank you to my mom for helping me pull together all the displays and tying up all the loose ends. She has been helping me with all the open houses and I truly could not do them without her tremendous assistance. She enjoys it immensely (especially the buying trips!) but it is a ton of work and she is quite a trooper. She puts up with my crazy ideas and offers some of her own. Thanks Mom!

Above was the entry, the mossy tree branch, arcing over the vintage wicker sofa, was laden with succulents in mini glass bowls and glorious butterflies that lit onto several branches. The succulents sold out last week so I am bringing in more. Fern balls fill the fantastic antique dough trench.

This crusty old cupboard is one of my favs and has spent some time in my humble abode. I hate to part with it but I accidentally found another that is 9 feet long with no doors on the top, perfect for my ironstone collection. So this beauty found it's way into the shop. I know it will be finding a new home soon. Here it's loaded with artichoke candles and a smattering of ironstone.

Backside of entry, urn, potting table and shutters have all sold.


This potting bench is perfect...lots of compartments and a lift top on the work table area to keep tools, seed catalogs, notebooks and other important items at hand. It's quite a find at only $149!!


Lovely vintage wicker. We almost always have a few pieces to offer. The coffee table and blue trunk sold.

We still have three pairs of these darling Wellies available, sizes 8, 7, 6. Since this weather of late has been fit for a duck, now is the time we need them! Tromp through those flooded roads in style!






As most of you know, Janet fills the back third of the shop with her great furniture finds and mixes it with wonderful new goodies. Below are the photos of her vingettes.









Below are a few of the "before" photos.

A Garden Party Interrupted

Our First Garden Party started out with a bang. Despite the cold devoted customers showed up 10 minutes before opening, staying in their cars for warmth until we unlocked the front door, lit the luminaries down the front steps and welcomed them in to our candle lit garden escape. Just wait till I post pictures! Hands down it was our best flip of the store ever and I mean better than Christmas and Fall too!

But alas, we must have upset Mother Nature by trying to bring Spring on earlier than she has planned and she let us have it. The warnings about the impending storm started early in the week. Undaunted we pushed forward with our plan, hoping it would swing a little farther north, as it usually does, or turn to rain. Wednesday was a little chilly and it was tough to keep the shop toasty with the stream of customers coming through the front door. Thursday we were swamped with everyone thinking ahead and shopping before the flakes began flying.

I expected a day of replenishing goodies still thinking Saturday would be our busiest so I headed off to an auction in the boonies to find some must haves leaving Janet alone at the shop. Of course my cell phone would not get any reception and incoming calls were bounced right to voicemail so by the time I knew how busy she was it was too late to help. But she was a trooper and handled the rush with her usual grace. How does she put up with me? Thankfully she does as I could not be without her! Weekly customers are relaying stories to me of how she has helped them with decisions and purchases, decorating tips and ideas. She scouts out the most fabulous finds from vintage Victorian statuary to sweet, little bird's nest place card holders (which we sold out of in two days!) She is a gem to work with and I am truly thankful to be blessed with her talents.

Friday we both began the day early, fluffing and moving to fill in holes and bring out new. The flakes began early and our first customers told us how slick it was on their way in to the shop. They shopped quickly (one hour :-) and hurried back to Mount Vernon. Janet left to get home before it was horrible and I stayed to wait for a customer from Powell who was picking up furniture purchases from Wednesday night. She arrived, shopped some more, we loaded her van with the library table, several occasional tables, windows and bags of merchandise. She scooted out around 12:30 when the snow really started coming down. At 2 PM I closed up, school was letting out early and it was clear this was going to be a doozy. Blizzard warning started Friday night and the closed sign stayed on the door/answering machine/website for Saturday too. Can we say Garden Party do-over? Hmm...maybe next week? Stay warm everyone!