The shop is in full bloom!

The shop is full of tons of new accessories for the home and yourself!

Pins, pins and more pins... 

Floral coin purses, clutches and totes!

Great tops and dresses just arrived!

These candles smell just as beautiful as they look!

One of my favorite cabinets!

(cabinet sold)

XO Traci

My story...

I get a ton of customers and emails asking how and why I started my business.  Had I always known I wanted a shop?   What is it like to own a shop?  Have I always had a knack for decorating?  How is the shop doing?  I don't usually get really "personal" on my blog - I like to keep it more geared towards all the great things going on around the shop.  I have come across so many amazing blogs and shop owners, who have inspired me, that I thought I would try to do the same for those thinking of becoming an entrepreneur - not just in home decor, but anything. 
Had I always known...?
When I look back at my childhood I guess I would say, "Yes, I've always known."  Could it have been that Barbies were my favorite toy - not Barbie or Ken though - the dream house!  I absolutely loved my barbie dream house and all the furniture (I still have it btw).  While most kids my age were playing; my friend, Michelle, and I were selling something or thinking of selling something!  Cherry tomatoes, lemonade, yard sales, hosting dance recitals - anything to be creative and inventive! 

I came across this journal that I wrote in high school - take a look at number 3!  When I found this I was REALLY shocked - I really hadn't remembered writing this!  (Excuse all spelling errors, hehe)

In high school,when most of my peers wanted to be like the spice girls or other singers/actresses, I was obsessed with Martha Stewart! This explains number 1,2,4,5 and 6!  Should I be embarrassed that these were my goals??  Let me clarify, since this list I have added many new goals- hehe! 

All of the shopping trips to antique malls and little boutiques, with both my parents, could have had a great deal to do with my love for everything vintage and creative!  At the time I HATED going to these stores!  My dad would slam his brakes when he would see a sign for antiques, yard sales, thrift stores or any crafty boutiques!  He still does this btw! I didn't have an appreciation for these shops at the time.  Now I am just as guilty!  I've thought about getting a sign for my car that says, "may make sudden stops for vintage goods!"  Have you ever created a list of things you've wanted to accomplish? 

I've added some great new etsy items, take a look!!

Thanks for stopping!

XOXO Traci

 

Reign Magazine

Reign Magazine just featured my paper flowers in a recent article! 

Take a peek here!

 

Kane County

Thanks to all of our customers who braved the cold to shop the market!  Mark and I were really busy despite the freezing weather! Here are a few pictures!

Have a great week!

XO Traci

Spring is near

I've totally been in the mood for spring - the shop is beginning to look as though spring is already here!  I have tons of new merchandise out and tons coming in each day!

I love all of the faux foliage that I have this year!  They look so real.

I always order sooo many nests - but I just can't stop.

We have over ten different types of nests around the shop!

Isn't this vintage cage so cute!?!

This lavender looks so pretty with the gray items around the shop!

More nests!

I have several vintage birdcages - isn't this three story cage amazing.

**cage sold**

These are great to fill jars, scatter on a table or use in your spring projects!

More nests!

Have a great week!

XO Tarci

Happy Birthday Renee

I was thrilled when Renee's sister, Wendy, asked me to help surprise her sister for her 50th birthday.  It was definitely a day full of surprises...

Renee thought she was going to an amazing estate sale with her neighbor Deb (they knew if they didn't have a really good cover she wasn't getting out of bed)! Once she got to Deb's -----Surprise, four friend's and a cardboard cutout were waiting to take her on a road trip to Morris!!  Wendy didn't want Renee to know that she would be joining them once they got to Morris, so she had a lifesize cardboard cutout of herself made to really throw Renee off!

Once the group made it all the way from St. Louis Renee was soooo surprised to see Wendy...

I love this picture - can you tell how shocked Renee is!?!

Here's everyone (including the cardboard Wendy)!

They started the day off at my shop with cake pops and gelato champagne!

After shopping for a bit they headed over to Letty Mae's Tea Room

for a surprise lunch!   

As a thank you, for traveling all the way to Morris to visit, I made each guest a little candle.

How adorable is this picture of Renee as a child!!!

I filled this vintage teapot with spray roses, seeded eucalyptus and dried moss!

After an incredible lunch (as always) we had

the best cake ever!!!

Chocolate layer cake with Marshmallow fondant ruffles!

Letty Mae's did an incredible job!

The surprises kept coming...

Elizabeth from, http://elizabethhousestlouis.blogspot.com/, made the most amazing cuff corsage for Renee - it is absolutely gorgeous! 

I was so happy to be a part of Renee's special day and to have met such sweet friends!

I am looking forward to their next road trip!!

Happy 50th Birthday Renee!

XO Traci

Everything is coming up roses

The shop is beginning to burst with all of the new merchandise we've been adding!  Shipments have been coming in daily and we've been working on some great handcrafted items!

We found these really unique heart chairs at an auction(not in this condition of course)!

Wouldn't they be perfect for a bride and groom!?!

 

New handmade ruffle and rose pillows!

These rose candles just arrived - they make our entire shop smell like we are in a garden of roses!

Cute new clothing - I love the flowers on this dress!

One of my favorite new frames!

Paper roses

Flower pillows in a beautiful grey!

I absolutely love this lamp!!  I like the look of the distressed metal with the crystals.

We also have this in cream.

Have a great week! XO Traci