Respect The Turkey

 

Cannot believe my vacation is over.

Cannot believe the weekend is over too.

It was a very slow weekend at the store.

I think it being such a nice weekend,

folks had other plans other than shopping.

Glad I brought something to do.

Crocheted more acorns.

So today I wanted to show you the one table

of turkey and Thanksgiving related items

that I have in the store.

Last week several items already sold.

These blocks I thought would be perfect for

a small display inside a cabinet or on a table.

The set of three polka dot plates are so cute!

These turkey pumpkins are just adorable.

In my opinion anyway. Te He

Always be blessed, thankful and grateful.

Only have one of these huge turkeys left already.

Just two of these too.

Same with the turkey pitchers.

It seems folks do want to purchase

Thanksgiving related items.

I forgot to take a picture of the grateful runner.

Only have one of these left too.

In other news I walked in the bedroom to find this.

Quickly went out to grab my phone to take a pic.

Tundra has been with us for two years now.

This is the closest Shadow has let him get up to him.

It did not last long.

Shadow jumped off the bed, and Tundra raced after him.

Glad I have the pic for proof.

So with my free time on Sunday 

waiting for customers, I decided to jot down

some Christmas displays I would like to do at home.

When I got home while dinner was in the oven,

I put a Christmas display together in the spare bedroom.

No one other than me knows its in there now. 

Well you all do now. LOL

I have the itch now since the store is a

Winter Wonderland.

I actually had one customer come in yesterday

and said the store looked like a mini Bronner's.

For those who do not know what Bronner's is;

it is 27 acres of Christmas everything.

Located in Frankenmuth Michigan,

they promote themselves as the largest

Christmas store in the world.

The store opened in 1945.

Hope everyone has a great Monday!

Respecting the Turkey Blessings To All!

Janice

A Bit More Halloween

As Halloween approaches,

Her is a bit more of the witches that were in front

this year at the store. 

I created another set of Salem blocks and again

they sold. 

More folks are looking for handmade items.

Looks like I will be busy again for next year.

This year this fine lady greeted customers

at the front door.

Folks tried her out so much,

her batteries died.

 

I also sold ghoulish Halloween scarves

this year and they were a hit.

They came in either a white or black background.

Well thats a wrap for the store displays for 

Halloween this year.

I am off to price more Christmas and work the store

today. I ran out of price tags and had to have

more overnighted. UGH.

Yesterday was the first day of Christmas 

at the store and things are selling.

This is a good thing as I have way more

Christmas merchandise this year than last.

Wish me luck.

At least it is not raining right now.

Been doing that for the past 3 days now.

However Tundra is loving the cold weather now.

Almost Halloween Blessings To All!

Janice

Seems Like Yesterday

Hello my friends!

I hope today finds you healthy, wealthy and wise.

Do you remember that saying.

It as part of Early To Bed, Early To Rise.

Makes A Man Healthy, Wealthy And Wise.

The other day working the store

our doggie sitter came in to look

at my Halloween room one last time.

He was so amazed at my talent for putting

together this room for all of the holidays.

He made me feel really good,

saying it takes great talent to do this.

He knows I was an art major,

who changed my degree into a business one. 

It got me thinking at the past three years

of my Halloween mantel displays,

and how each year turned out.

Behind the scenes mistakes will be told here now too.

Yes there were mistakes. LOL

Year 2020

We had opened our gift shop in March.

Two weeks later we ended up closing

for a few months due to the pandemic.

We were wondering then, what were we thinking

starting another business.

For these bats I had cut each one using cardstock.

I purchased this so called double sided tape

from Amazon to hang the bats.

Little did I know when removing them,

it also removed the paint from the walls.

Thankful for Bob for the touch up.

If not for him, we would have polka dot walls. LOL

2021

Last year I decided to do a

witch and witchcraft themed mantel.

I created the fire by adding real logs

like I was building a bonfire.

Then I added gold lights with a white

netting on top.

Skeleton heads were in the kettle.

In person it looked pretty realistic.

I did so well on the fire, that I had no idea

what to place on the mantel,

not to mention on the wall.

Bob had this wood frame at the other store

and brought it over.

He suggested adding the black silhouette 

witch on top. 

However then the galvanized witches

 got lost against the gray walls.

Adding the green lights above added the perfect touch.

The black netting was also an after thought.

Along with the wood star I put together on the fly.

2022

Well this year I went all out.

The man in the middle was very terrifying.

So much so I never turned him on.

Figured it would scare our customers too much.

As part of my Haunted Hotel theme.

I purchased skeleton lace from Joann's

to mimic wallpaper.

The velvet drape was supposed to go above

the man, however dufuss me cut the fabric

in the wrong direction...

I was not going to go out and buy more velvet fabric.

I decided to hand sew the 2 pieces back together,

and re-cut the correct way...

which caused a redo in my plan.

 I had to hide my seam behind the man.

No one other Bob and I knew of my mistake.

Bob also helped me with this scene with his

concierge desk...which he built before his stroke.

There you have it.

My blunders...bloopers revealed.

Which mantel display is your favorite?

Pretty sure Robin will say she liked the Salem blocks.

 I created those and and were sold already.

I have no clue yet what my theme will be for next year.

Unfortunately I need to decide pretty quick

if I want the inventory to come in on time.

In other news,

look what finally bloomed.

Well just one flower.

I planted these sky blue Morning Glory seeds

early this Spring.

They grew like a weeds with no flowers,

even though I did plant in full sun.

Bob's MRI report came back.

He still has blood in his brain

which has not fully dissipated yet.

The neurologist is now saying 3 to 6 more months.

He now has to take a baby aspirin per day.

Also he now has his glasses.

These are suppose to help with his 

peripheral vision loss. He now has to wear them

while watching tv and reading so as not to

strain his eyes. We also hope this helps.

Yesterday was the first day I worked after

setting up the back room for my Nordic Christmas.

I have already had many compliments,

and things are already selling.

Will set up the remaining Christmas starting

after I close today.

Am sure it will take me days and I am on

vacation now so that will help.

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of your weekend.

Seems Like Yesterday Blessings To All!

Janice

 

   

 

All The Pics

 Happy Hump Day All!

Here are the remaining pics of the

halloween haunted hotel.

Plus these I showed before.

Well thats it for another Halloween room.

Spent a total of 15 hours with Bob's help

getting the room transformed into 

a Nordic Christmas now.

I moved the remainder of the Halloween

towards the front of the store for one more week.

Vacation next week will find me

 transforming the rest into Christmas.

It is getting a bit chilly outside now.

Not sure if we are allowed to say Indian Summer

anymore, but we did have some mild weather.

Well back to work from my lunch break.

Hope you are all enjoying your week thus far!

So enjoy reading and seeing everyone's

Autumn news.

Also appreciate everyone's comments on my blog.

Just done seem to find the time to answer everyone.

So sorry.

All The Pic Blessings To All!

Janice

Snippets Of Fall

WOOHOO 

The weekend is finally here.

In a bit we are off to our family reunion 

on my mom's side.

First time back doing it since covid.

Looking forward to seeing my cousins!

Well this week I had to turn on the furnace

for my baby (Bob)

He was freezing, while I was fine.

It is on, but I refuse to go over 67 right now.

Its not that cold out yet.

 

Today's post will be my only one of Fall decor.

I usually do the entire house...but not this year.

Above pic is my kitchen shelves.

Bath

Cabinet shelves in bath.

One of these days am going to hook these

acorns to sell.

A prim doll I made years ago.

Living room.

My mom sold these fun scarecrows 

at craft shows in the 1980's.

I kept one and still love it. 

Underneath cannot have a scarecrow without a crow.

I actually have two of these crows.

Their beaks are a bit chipped so I did not want

to sell them.

Don't worry, I do get my money back if something 

is damaged.

Hall

My large pumpkin man

was purchased by Jane

(Old Mother Hubbard)

many years ago.

For those who subscribed to a Simple Life magazine,

her house was featured in one of the last editions.

It was an all white farmhouse look.

This bunny pillow is actually stitched from

plastic canvas.

One of my horses decked out.

Another one in the kitchen.

Well off to get ready for the reunion.

What will you be doing this weekend?

I have Monday and Tuesday off,

so after I close the store on Sunday,

will be setting up for Christmas.

You may think this is early, but in retail

you have to start early.

Fall Snippet Blessings To All!

Janice 

Fall Is Here

Although the leaves have not turned yet,

Fall is in full swing here in Michigan.

The air is crisp on the morning,

and by afternoon it warms up a bit.

The foreign freighters are in the river.

Heading up to Duluth for their grain cargoes. 

I think the herons and egrets left already,

as I dont see them anymore.

Am loving all of the spooky Halloween shows.

Svengoolie, Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters.

We even watched Hocus Pocus 2 on Friday.

Then there are the food Halloween shows

on Food Network.

Am loving the Michigan apples and cider.

 

More Fall in the store.

I just got these hand blown vases in a few weeks ago.

You can add a flameless candle inside 

or a flower arrangement.

If these do not sell by the time I set up

for Christmas, I have a plan for them then too.

Love the orange in the blue cabinet.

Gives the display a pop.

Fun things for display.

I only have one of these pillows left.

A big hit.

These are a few of the crocheted pumpkins I created.

The blue, white and gray ones all sold out.

This sheep and wheelbarrow block

just came in to.

These orange slits smell wonderful!

Another fine display in shades of yellow.

These pumpkin tins just arrived last week.

So did the owls.

I also have squirrels, but forgot to take  pic.

Love the plaid throw and it is so very soft.

The pumpkin tins are almost gone.

Every weekend I keep re-arranging things.

Filling in gaps where things sold.

Even the front Halloween window gets

changed up weekly.

My room is getting empty.

Customers are now asking when I will be

bringing out Christmas.

Well that will begin on Sunday night

after I close.

Yep you heard me right.

Most folks will have there

Fall and Halloween decor up by then.

I will start in the back room and move forward.

What's left will be packed away. 

I dont have sales.

Our philosophy was from the beginning

not to mark things very high

and just mark like we are having 

a sale every day. 

I still make a little money, 

while the customers can purchase affordable items.

Its the reason why I dont have to pack up 

much for each season.

Also dont keep inventory which 

if you know business is not good for the bottom line.

Well off to work.

Then to the store after dinner.

More Christmas inventory came in.

Fall Is Here Blessings To All!

Janice