Friday, November 6, 2009

Just in the nick of time...

Look what came to the shop yesterday...

New Anna Maria Horner oilcoth!

(Also known as laminates...)
























(That was a nice surprise...)



And some new Kaffes!































(Also a nice surprise.)

These weren't supposed to arrive until December, but I'll take 'em.

Both are up and at 'em in the shop, just in time for the Late Riser's Sale.



In other news, my poor little sister Johanna got the Swine Flu.

BUT...

I am happy to report that she has already made a full recovery.

It was very scary, though, and my heart goes out to all those children who are not bouncing back as easily as she did.

I am so thankful that she is okay.


And today is my brother Jesse's birthday.

He is 28.

If you see him, give him a birthday smack from me.

For anyone out there keeping count, I have one sister (age 11) and at last count I had four brothers (ages 28, 15, 14 and 8... I think).

There will be sewing lounge tonight and I am looking forward to it, but I am kicking everybody out at 8:30 on the DOT so I can go home and catch a few winks before the Early Bird Sale.

It snowed again this morning which reminds me I need to get snow tires put on my car.

OH, and by the way...

About this Fine as Kind/ Finest Kind debate which was much more heated than I had anticipated...

I am sticking to my guns.

Here's why:

While I concede that one may say "Fin-est Kind," I know for a fact that some Mainers say "Fine as Kind."

A lobstermen told me it was "Fine as Kind" many moons ago.

It was Mark Libby, for any of you super-locals out there.

I wouldn't argue with him.

Also I have been to at least one cottage on the lake that had a carved wooden "Fine as Kind" sign.

I am also pretty sure that there is a restaurant in Maine named "Fine as Kind," but I am unable to prove it with a website, although I did find one guy with a "Fine as Kind" MySpace page.

So will you compromise with me and agree that one may say either/or, depending on regional preference?

(I know there are "Fine as Kind" supporters lurking out there, come on, speak up!)

I guess that is all for today.

Hopefully I will see a few of you tomorrow and hear from a few of you on Sunday!

Have a great weekend!

XO,

Rhea

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Little Halloween Bodkins

Hello!

It is snowing here this morning (much to my delight).

I thought you all might like to see some of the little ones who visited us on Saturday...

Here's Scotty and Izzy:























(I was informed by Scotty that he is not holding a pitchfork: Devils and Farmers use picthforks. He is holding a trident, because Poseidon and Gladiators use tridents. I told him Thank You for clearing that up.)

And here's another shot of Izzy with her pink bow:
























(Because all little Mummies need a big pink bow)


And here's Blake the French-Canadian Lumberjack:
























Don't cut down my barrel, Blakey!!!


Here's my cutie-patootie next-door neighbor Olive the Octopus

























(Aren't I lucky to have a real, live octopus living next door?)


And I'm so glad that these two could put aside their differences long enough for a photo shoot:























(I thought that deserved some candy.)


And here's my little Lauren the Pumpkin and Sarah Mae the Witch:



















(Aaaawww...)



We also had a visit from Patches the Clown:

























(Normally this is the kind of thing that would scare the bejesus out of me, but luckily there was a Power Ranger nearby to protect us.)

And, I got a surprise cupcake visit from my good friends Shawny and Erin.


















Don't you love surprise cupcake visits?

(Sadly, most of these were accidentally eaten by Reuben, but he said he enjoyed them very, very much.)


Don't you think I had a nice Halloween?


(I do.)


How was yours???


XO,

Rhea

PS...

Don't forget: Late Riser's Sale this weekend for locals and non-locals alike!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Post Halloween check-in

You know Halloween is over when:

None of the customers are asking for gold lame or black tulle or fake fur anymore.

There is a BIG ol' bowl of leftover candy on the counter.

The bathroom sink is littered with white cream face paint and fake eyelashes.

You start getting ready for the Early Bird/Late Riser's Sale.

I wanna go shopping at the Early Bird (especially at Darling&Delisle... I guess you probably aren't supposed to shop for yourself at the Early Bird Sale, but I feel a new scarf coming on!).

And I can't wait to bust out the scissors at the Late Riser's Sale.

Will I be seeing you there?

XO,

Rhea

PS
I promise an update on the Oliver+S School Days Jacket and Coat... as soon as I figure out how to clone myself.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Happy Halloween!!!























Have a safe and happy Halloween!

XO,

Rhea

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

"Fine as Kind," or, new fabric, candy, a sale, a good deed and a pedicure!!!

Have you ever heard that expression, "Fine as Kind?"

It's a total "Maine" expression, I believe.

I've always thought it meant "hunky dory," which I'm realizing may be another "Maine" expression.

It means everything is great.

Which is a very appropriate title for this post because there is so much good stuff going on at the shop right now:

















• French General has arrived and will be up on the website for your viewing and purchasing pleasure tomorrow morning. The pre-cuts on these (charm packs, jelly rolls, layer cakes, etc) have sold reeeaaallly quickly and we most likely cannot reorder these fabrics (MODA is funny like that) so if you want some may I suggest pouncing? A lot of people (including myself) have been waiting for these to arrive. (P.S.... It is lovely.)



















• Amy Butler's 2 new patterns have arrived. The Sweet Harmony Handbag & Tote and the Liverpool Dress. They are up on the website and ready to be taken home. The Liverpool Dress is so my favorite. I can't wait to make it but I have a few other irons in the fire, so the Liverpool may have to get put on the back burner. Or I could burn rubber and finish my other projects up quickly. Or I will have to stay up late and burn the midnight oil. Something will have to burn in order for me to make this.

• You can bring your kids by this Saturday for some good old-fashioned trick-or-treating. If there's anything we love it's giving other people's kids lots and lots of sugar. We want to see all those ghosties and goblins in their Halloween finest (Hilary Petersen, if you are out there reading this, I have my camera this time and this means YOU!!!). In years past we have stayed open Halloween night, but this year we will just be open during the day. At night I will be party-ing it up at Miss Jessie's house. In case you are wondering I'm dressing as a Geisha. Ollie is dressing as a Game Warden Zombie. (How hot is that?)

• Saturday, November 7th is our annual Late Riser's Sale and Food Drive. In conjunction with Damariscotta's annual Early Bird Sale (where the whole town gets up at un-Godly hours and wears PJ's to go shopping and get great deals) we will be discounting all in-stock merchandise by 20%. The store will be open from 9:00 to 5:00 that day and we will be serving hot cider and goodies. Class fees and gift certificates will also be 20% off. In addition to the sale, November 7th is the official kick-off to our Holiday Food Drive. Anyone who brings in a non-perishable food item will receive a special free gift and a good healthy dose of the Holiday Spirit. The Food Drive is a cause that's very important to us: Food Shelters are always low at this time of year, but because of the tough economy they are particularly low this year. So, please bring a food item, your wallet and a smile and we promise to keep the lines as short as possible!

• The Late Riser's Sale is also being offered to our internet customers! (We wouldn't leave you guys out!!! We love you!!!) Enough people have asked for an internet sale and we listened. All orders placed on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 will be discounted 20%. The discount applies to all in stock merchandise while it lasts. You will need to use the code "Late Riser" at checkout to receive the discount and only orders received on the 8th will be discounted.

• In anticipation of our sale, the store is extremely well-stocked right now. Lots of the latest books, patterns, and notions arrived at our door just yesterday morning. And, in one of my more brilliant moves (though I say it myself), we now carry Pom-Pom fringe and giant Rick Rack by the yard at the shop! They are not available online (yet) but they will be soon. For those of you who are local, you must see the Pom Pom fringe and giant Rick Rack in person: they are the Bee's Knees.


In other news I went for a mani/pedi last night at Nail World in Brunswick. Nail World is owned by the cutest Vietnamese girl named Lily. I love young ladies who own their own businesses and the service was great. The staff had us in stitches the whole time we were there and we all left feeling very pampered. They also gave me a glass of wine while I was in that jacuzzi-chair thing, with the vibrator and the roller-back going, so that probably helped. Oh, and in case you are wondering the name of my nail color is "Turn of the cent-Cherry" on my toes and "Lincoln Park after dark" on my fingers.

That is all for now!

Hope you're day is "Fine as Kind," too!

XO,

Rhea

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Vintage Goodies from the Netherlands

Hello and good morning to you!


A few weeks ago I signed up for an online Vintage Swap.

I was partnered up with the lovely Kay of Kay Loves Vintage.

Kay is from the Netherlands (which I was secretly THRILLED about because what's better than vintage goodness? European vintage goodness!).

I sent her a parcel a few days ago.

Yesterday in my mailbox I found a parcel of my own!

(Don't you love the word Parcel?)

And anyways, here is what Kay sent me:























The coolest, cutest tin ever... each side has a different illustration of children underneath an umbrella being rained on by chocolate sprinkles ("Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs", eat your heart out!).



Oh, wait a minute, excuse me, THIS is the coolest, cutest tin ever...
























...along with a blue glass candle-holder and a Royco tea cup and saucer!

(*Love*)




Aaand, as if that weren't enough, I also got these:


















Stroopwafels (delicious waffle-y cookie/biscuits that are oh-so good with your morning tea as evidenced by the already opened package), bird napkins, a bird applique patch and a postcard from Amsterdam!

Did I completely luck out with my partner or what?

The answer is yes.

It's like Kay has known me for years and not someone I met a few weeks ago on the internet.

I can't wait for Kay to receive her package from me (she was very fun to shop for) and then I will tell you all about what was sent to her.

In the meantime, go visit Kay's blog.

You will love it and tell her Hi from me.

Her little girl Nila is in the hospital for (scheduled) surgery so I bet she would love all the well-wishes she can get.

I've been a little girl who had surgery and missed a lot of school myself, so I know how Nila feels.

Now that I am older I understand how Kay must feel as well.

(Hopefully looking forward to a vintage parcel from Maine will help to pass the time!)

Thanks so much , Kay, for all of my goodies.

They make me smile and bring a little bit of the Netherlands (and you!) into my home.

XO,

Rhea


PS ... BIG thanks go out to Heather for setting up the Vintage Swap... Best. Idea. Ever.

Keep your eye out for the next Swap and you can get in on the action, too!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Checking In... W Style!

Watching: Say Yes to the Dress

Waiting: for Ollie to get home

Wearing: Sweats

Winding: Down from Sewing Lounge

Wishing: I had the energy to do a load of laundry

Wedding: at the Jordan Pond House exactly one year from today

(Yay.)


XO,

Rhea