Sunday. Again?

I love great packaging. I have purchased something (many somethings) strictly because of it. It's sick really...

Today, for an example. I was "expecting more and paying less" and this caught my eye. The "aholic" part of this purchase is that I don't particularly like the scent of lavender. But boy, is the label fantastic. (And it looks so chic sitting on my bathroom counter.) See? It's a sickness.

I have a whole Google reader folder devoted to lovely packaging. I also have one filled with DIY projects for me to do in my spare time. I felt compelled to share one that uses both---diy and great packaging.

Amy, at Eat, Drink, Chic is one talented Aussie. She created this label (oh, there goes my pulse again) for a great DIY present. Instructions, the labels, and where to find the supplies are included in this post. I would love to receive this as much as I'd love to make it.

On the Urban Market front, I have been replenishing inventory (it really is a never ending search for the holy grail), I'll share some in my next newsletter. Oh, you don't get the newsletter? Shoot me an email and I'll add you to the list. It includes the Market's hours, a sneak peek at new products, a diy project, and whatever else strikes my mood--only for Market vip's, of course.

One of the challenges of being an occassional sale shop, as you would guess, is getting people to A.) know you even exist and B.) know when you're open.

I googled and googled to find cheap (I mean, affordable) yard signs and couldn't find anywhere that didn't make you order a mongo quantity of them. So, I settled on Vista Print to help me communicate when the Market was open. I was pleased with my artwork, I hope they look this good in real life. More importantly, I hope they catch your eye when you are driving. No accidents please, but a "Hmmm, I need to check this place out."

Oh, I also updated the "Shop Online" part of the website. I decided I would test it out and use Big Cartel for now-it's a shopping cart program. I'll list a representative of 5 items each month and see how it goes.

The Urban Market's next open dates are 8/6-8/8--if you are in the area, look for the new signs, tell me what you think. If you're not, you can visit the Market online.

Have a great week!

Pink, Gaudy, and Greasy.

Dressing windows is one of my favorite parts of being a shop owner. I've yet to create a spectacular window but one day..one day, it will be fabulous.

The fair is in town the next weekend I am open so I thought my window should use this as it's theme. Flickr is one of the best places to find inspiration. I searched several terms and created this mosaic of all the images that the word "fair" conjures up. Perhaps this will help when it comes time to pretty up my bare window.

I love the candy colors, the smell of burnt sugar, the neon lights, a warm summer night.

1. Carousel Head, 2. Lollipop(s)!, 3. Luna Park and Surf Avenue, Coney Island, 4. Blue Carnival Car, 5. Vintage Carnival Prizes, 6. Vintage Carnival Fabric, 7. ATC - Vintage Carnival Pierrot ~Traded~, 8. R.I.P. Fun House, 9. best ice cream in town., 10. Fried Cheese Curds, 11. cotton candy machine, 12. Candy cotton seller, 13. Cotton Candy Princess!, 14. Fresh Popcorn, 15. candy popcorn, 16. Dreamy Pink Balloons, 17. Claudette, The Carnival Wizard, 18. Huntingdon County Fair – Day 4, 19. County Fair Ride, 20. Cleveland County Fair - MerryGoRound - 3, 21. Lake County Illinois Fair 2005, 22. Huntingdon County Fair – Day 1, 23. alameda county fair 1985, 24. Boone County Fair 7.18.2005, 25. County Fair!

A Little White Tea & Linen

In this little town where I live, there is a little store, open just a little each week. (Here's another shameless plug for another occassional store-a retail model that is near and dear to my heart.)

I've visited this little store a few times since it has opened mainly because I love the owner. She's cheery and bright-nothing little about her personality.

The shop's wares are a bit country for my taste. However, I stopped dead in my tracks when I smelled this little honey.

This particular scent is fantastic and I burnt the thing for 6 hours and you can't even tell. The wax is still level at the top and you can smell the scent in my living room which is farther away than the stovetop. (the normal scent radius for an inexpensivce candle);

The little store sells them for $6.94. What? If that's not a deal, you buy 10 of these little lovelies and you earn a free one.

If you're in this neck of the woods on a Thursday or a Saturday, you must stop. If you're across the world, I'll forgive you but you can buy one right here. You won't get the benefits of this little town but your house will smell divine.

The Doubter Chronicles

The beauty of having older children is that in my free time, I can actually finish a book with minimal interruptions. I just finished this. I thoroughly enjoyed it-Susan's voice reminds me of my own. I felt like I knew this crazy chick with her abundance of the f-word and self-deprication. If I had an inspiration page of authors, Susan Gilman, would be right under Judy Blume.

I usually don't chronicle my book consumption. Most aren't worth mentioning, many are just devoured and shortly forgotten. Much like a drug addict, books to me seem to fall under the quantity versus quality rule.

But, on the second to the last page, a relevant paragraph struck a chord.

On Thursday, I received an email from Mrs. Possibility. Entreprenuer of the year, embodiment of passion for her business--the "do-er" in our friendship vs. me, "the dreamer".

She wrote, "Is it strange that I don't feel like doing this anymore?"

Well, hell, Miss "enjoy the journey", "everything is gonna be all right", "beacon of light at the end of the tunnel", if you, too, feel some doubt then I can accept that doubt has nothing to do with failing.

When I walk into the Market, I love the place. I love that between those 4 walls my imagination is real.

I don't love giving up my weekends or worrying about how I'm going to pay my rent. There are days when I have said, "This is your dream?? Are you kidding?" I was warned that once something becomes a job, it is no longer fun.

However, I was exempt from that--I knew what I was getting myself into.

Right. (insert sarcasm here.)

I'll get back to the second to the last page of the book:

"Moments of pure bliss were often accidental. Getting something you'd consciously worked toward, on the other hand, was often far more emotionally complicated. Fulfilling an ambition was an experience that could oscillate wildly between terror and exhilaration, helplesness and fulfillment, anxiety and mind-numbing boredom."

See, we all get it.

Right there in black and white, those of us who dare (and we all do to some extent), it's normal. I know that even though I hate giving up a sunny, summer, Saturday morning on the deck, I must keep going.

I also know there are at least two people in this world that can relate.

Sunday, the 5th. When did July appear??

I hope you all got to relax a bit this holiday weekend--and unlike me, I hope the pall of Monday is not ruining the last few hours of sunlight on an otherwise perfect day.

One day, I promise I will appreciate any new day given to me (even a Monday)--I think I need to reread "A New Earth" and put life into perspective again.


I did do handstands in the lake with little mister (whom I swear has grown 3" this summer), went on a road trip with little miss to scope out the occassional shops in Buffalo, went to "The Proposal" and laughed while big mister did not, did laundry a little, and got a little too much sun.

I also painted a little:



and sewed a little:

These are vintage feed sacks that I found at an antique shop in Eden Valley (where?). I love the colors, the stains, the holes, and the patina of these old things.

I also unpacked a new shipment of goods for the Market-I'm in love-again. I wish I could link you to some smell-o-meter. These babies are divine and the packaging well, the graphic whore in me is sated. This one happens to be my favorite. Tokyomilk Perfume---read about it here or buy it at the Urban Market-we're open this weekend.! See you there!

Hours:
Thursday 7/9..............5-8p.m.
Friday 7/10.................Noon-8p.m.
Saturday 7/11.............9-5p.m.