The Crows Nest

Boy I tell you, it's a whole lot more fun opening a shop than closing one.  I swear the stuff multiplies in the night while we're gone.  I've pulled an astounding amount of stuff out of that building  Every time I think I've got it down to one more truckload, I turn around and there's 2 more waiting in the wings.

My barn is stuffed.  My house is stuffed.  The potting shed is bulging. And surprise!!  There's another truckload waiting my arrival tomorrow.  I'm seriously thinking about wrapping every single thing in a condom before I leave it alone in the building.

And, like I need an excuse to avoid loading and unloading the truck - one of our vendors told me I needed to check out pinterest.  Oh, jeeze.  Like a kid in a candy store.  http://pinterest.com/antiqueish/  I've only had a couple hours to mess with it, but I'm already intrigued with the possibilities.  I can see this being an issue with my blog crawling habit.  One more reason to check out another blog.  ~OY~  Make me back away from the computer!

Oh well, I can still walk thru the teensy little aisle in the barn to my studio space.  Granted, it's full, but this too shall pass when the snow melts.  The first 2012 sale promises to be a doozy, because 7/8ths of this stuff has got to move along.  I even have some of my hoarded goodies private stash earmarked to find a new home.

I'll leave you with this little bit of beauty.  (I'd be happy to give credit for this bit of wonderfulness if I knew where it came from.)  This is my view right now.  I'm at a crossroads.  So many possibilities.  The next step is huge.  Cross your fingers for me that I take the right path.

...nicely, in fact.

I finally got the stars, moons and men in my life aligned.  The cabinet of my dreams is now sitting in my studio, 44 drawers waiting to be filled with all manner of art goodness as soon as we get a thaw.

Everything in my current studio area will be transferred to the "barn" as soon as I can be sure I won't break any of my hoarded supplies, um stash my neck slipping down the stairs.  Then, to get the heat issue figured out - after which - I can have art parties, workshops and classes in the new space. 

If you follow the Creative Kharma blog, you may have already read that we are closing the shop December 31st.  The shop has been a fabulous experience, we've made some really great friends and fulfilled a dream.  Dee, Paulette and I will miss playing house, alot.   We will miss vendors, visitors and even the chaos of resets.  Well, the end results of resets, anyway.  *grin*

But, change is inevitable.  And we'll still be around.  I'm looking now to find the right place to consign some of my art and jewelry.  Several of our vendors have found new homes for their goodies, and with any luck those who have been involved with Crows Nest will continue.

As far as Crows Nest goes, next season will be a little different in that we will carry more artisan crafted goods, fairy garden delights (think fairy, gnome, and hobbit doors - fairy houses - fairy house furnishings - and everything you need to add a little magic to your garden) and hopefully a garden center of sorts added to our wonderful mix of primitives, antiques and just plain cool decor stuffs. 

And, since I doubt I'll sit down again til after the big day, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! from all of us at the Crows Nest.  May you and those you care about enjoy the peace and goodness of the season.

Let It Snow!!

I promised myself that I would, before 2012, have an actual "studio".  Not a space carved out in a nook, not a speck of space that is much needed in my home, but an real honest to goodness studio.

Part of the reason for this is that I believe that to create the way I create - takes room.  Mixed media artists need an incredible amount of stuff.  Not want - need.  We're always looking for the right bit or bauble for that future piece.  Interesting junk becomes art with the addition of time and space to create.

So, much to the chagrin of more than one person, I am co-opting half of the big building.  I started today.  I am exhausted, but excited about having elbow room.  As soon as I get sale stuff removed I'll post pics.  I hope you'll comment, if for no other reason than to keep me motivated.  :-)

In return, I'll add a little ephemera or art bits from time to time that you can use in your art or craft projects.  Like this beauty.  I have no idea where I found the image, but I've used it in backgrounds for pendants and in several collages.  (If anyone knows where it came from, please remind me so I can give credit.)

It's charming - seems to be a child writing home for money, or to complain about the exchange rate.  Oh, Why didn't I take French in High School?!?

Well, we survived the weekend.  I say that partially tongue in cheek because there was a minute or two I wondered if we'd all freeze solid!  (But of course, in true Oregon fashion, it was sunny and warm today.) 

The show was fantastic, with almost everyone who came finding treasures they had been looking for.  The Heywood-Wakefield desk finally found a good home and for that I am more than grateful.  I worried that it would never be brought back to it's glory days because a restorer I am not.  The Longview dealer who bought it will strip the oak top and shelf and reveal the beauty hidden for decades under many layers of paint.

And now that the season is officially over for Crows Nest, we can begin scheming and dreaming of next season.  If the Universe allows, we will be back up and running for 4 events next year beginning just before Mothers Day.  Keep checking the blog though, as we begin another new venture with a studio where I will offer workshops on all the eclectic art I dabble in, from stained glass mosaic, resin, soldering, and beeswax collage to metalwork, pyrography, fabric collage, found object jewelry and mixed media collage techniques.  (And a bunch of other stuff! *grins*)

All that said - I really feel that we owe an apology to those who waited until 10 to arrive.  We left the barrickade down for vendors to unload last minute items (before 9), turned around for 2 seconds and *POOF* the driveway filled with shoppers.  Another lesson learned.   While I'm thankful that people are enthusiastic about our sales, and truly appreciate the fantastic support, fairness dictates that we are firm in our no pre-sales policy.  (We even discourage vendor to vendor pre-sales.)  That way everyone has an even opportunity to get the "cream" of the sale.  I hope that next season, those that showed up at 10 to see the best of the best leaving the drive will forgive us and return knowing that we really do work very hard to offer a fair sale.

From all of us to all of you - Thank you for the fantastic show of support for small local venues!  We appreciate it more than you know!

Kevan & Elizabeth, Barb, Cilla, Teresa, Dee & Gail, Helen, Joe & Debbie, and Creative Kharma

Thank goodness a picture is worth a thousand words because I worked my fingers to the bone - and who can type with boney fingers?  *grin*

18 thousand words worth, coming up:

We are pleased to announce that our one and only 2011 sale will be held next weekend, October 15th & 16th. 10am to 6pm, as usual. Come grab a cup of coffee on us and peruse the bargains that will be offered by our vendors.

The weather has inhibited our setup, so pictures will follow as things start falling together. Hope to see you there!

...that the Northwests weather should be treated for bipolar disorder.  Last week we were panting for relief from the temperatures and today I sit with a coat and gloves, wishing I had a lap blanket.

Huge party/openhouse yesterday, and it was chilly in the evening, but the day was fabulous!  Woke up this morning wishing we'd pulled in the deck furniture because lo and behold.  Surprise, surprise!  It poured rain.  :-\

The good news is, nothing critical got wet - the garden got a much needed drink and we had a really good time closing out the season with family, friends, newfound friends and baby karaoke.  Yup.  I said it.  Baby Karaoke.  Watching little bitties sing karaoke is WAY more fun than watching a kitten with a ball of string.  They were good sports, too.  They let the big people sing occasionally.  *grins*

There were 9 kids, ranging in age from 2 1/2 to 7.  Several of them sang some "Justin Beaver" for us...and Miss Sweetness & Light herself (4 1/2) sang us some Jason Mraz.    The 2 1/2 yr. old sang the Itsy Bitsy Spider to a lovely jazz tune.  They laughed, they danced, we laughed, we danced.  Then, we stuffed all the little dearlings with sugar and sent them home with their respective grand/parents.  A good time was had by all.  I'd post some candids, but they're (kids) not all "mine" and I didn't think to ask.

Maybe next time.  I'm off like a herd of turtles.   Have a fantastic weekend!

The past few days have been amazing at the shop, so I'm feeling a bit of energy moving me towards the sale.  Got "the next project" in my sights.  This is good.  Cuz a few short days ago I was NOT feelin' it.

Cross your fingers for me and send some positive thoughts out into the ether.

My posts have been boring with a capital B, but I'm slowly working my way to a new normal.  Hopefully it'll be as good as my old normal. 

I'll leave you with this:

I admit freely that I am a Blogger Impaired blogger.  I have no earthly idea how to beat that send a message thing into submission.  None.  I click it and it asks me to follow myself.  Well, my blog, but same same.  And, since I'm also geographically impaired, I can see no good coming of that!

I'd like to welcome each new follower, but I'm dense, so I'm using this post to say, Welcome.  And thank you.  Possibly one day I'll figure this blasted thing out, but until then, again, bear with me.

....How about late September, early October?

My family urgency has taken the wind from my sails.  Cross country straight thru drives are not the purview of old ladies.  I am officially exhausted, to the bone, and one of the few things I have control over right now is a sale date.  Many thanks to everyone who has been supportive during this difficult time for our family.  You will never know how much we've appreciated your kind words.

So....as disappointing as I know it is that I keep putting it off, I hope everyone can see the wisdom in not throwing together "something" simply to have a sale.  I'd rather wait, and do it right.  Hopefully, my energy level will magically reappear. 

As always, you'll find Crows Nest goodies at Creative Kharma - along with many of our other dealers from the sales, including Purely Primitives, Altered Edge, Cillas Stuff, Teresas Treasures (now Rusty Finds), Dee, Misty Mountain and more.

I hesitate to name a sale date for fear I'l have to postpone again, so bear with me.  I'll have to take the plunge soon enough! 

.
I know this follows closely on the heels of the announcement that we were doing a sale in a few weeks, but due to a family urgency we will be postponing the Crows Nest Show until sometime in August or early September. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause our sellers.  I will be leaving early next week and will be gone for at least 10 days.  I will call each of you when I return to arrange a meeting to pick the date of the show. 

Thank you for your understanding and well wishes.

Elizabeth

So, they say time flies when you're having fun.  I'm here to confirm that it flies whether you're having fun or not.  And it flies faster with every passing year. 

Seems like yesterday that I was getting geared up for the coming season, thinking about all the sales and themes that were possible.  Today, however, I'm thinking more and more about ways to simplify my life.  One of the most important ways was shown to me by other junkers.  Do less, but in a more impactful way.  Seems to me to be the answer to many of lifes challenges. 

To that end, and following the example set by several other hosts of occasional sales - Crows Nest will be hosting only one show this year.  It was a difficult decision, made a few short days ago.  I can't decide if I'm excited about simplifying our lives or bummed by lost opportunities to "play house" with my friends.  I think I'm okay with it, but I'm totally known for changing my mind at the last minute.  :-)

We MAY do a Christmas show.  Right now I'm up in the air because Creative Kharma will be hosting an art showing in late November and there is Sooooo much involved in the prep for that.  But, if we're not all wiped out in the aftermath of the shop reset & the showing, we might have some amazing things to offer for Holiday decor at the Crows Nest.  But, if not, and as always, you will be able to find the same caliber of unique goods year round at Creative Kharma.

All that said, we'd like to announce our Summer Show at Crows Nest.  10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday, July 23rd & 24th.  (I will post the flyer when it's ready for mailing, and photos of the goodies as they arrive.)  Several of our sellers will be blowing out their reserve stock at this show, and there will be items from our personal collections available as well.  This will be a laid back show, think lazy days of Summer and all the randomness that the saying implies.

Come join us, have some sweet tea and while away an afternoon in the deep shade. There's always a breeze and a comfy seat at the Crows Nest!

I hope you are all having a good, low stress holiday season.  We're alive and kicking.  Thank you to those who inquired when I hadn't posted for a while.

Busy is the name of the retail game this time of year.  We've got a newer blog for the shop, (http://www.creativekharma.blogspot.com/) started workshops in November in our new studio space at Creative Kharma.  (Well, our old kitchen/garden area space got
co-opted!  :-})  I totally know how the chicken feels right after the beheading. 

When I logged in I felt this wave of guilt that I know many bloggers feel.  I thought I should make my apologies, but if I start that you'll all come to know me as a whining apologist, because my life is not conducive to posting 3 times a week, or even once a week most times!  lol

I won't bore you with a "post to be posting".  I'll work on coming up with some actual content before the next time.  Just wanted to send out my brightest and best wishes for all of you, your families and loved ones.  Hope you have the Holiday you dream!




A Christmas smile.



.
I am feeling incredibly blessed today and wanted to share. 

My amazing husband.  Grandbaby Kisses.  Children who are the best kind of humans. 

I am grateful to the Universe for providing us with everything that we need.  And I am thankful for the blessings received by my loved ones. 

This post was prompted by my husbands generosity of spirit.  Things have been tight, but when he saw the food drive tent, he immediately went into the store and bought several bags of Thanksgiving dinner fixings for the drive.   I am so proud to call him my husband.  He's the guy who never passes the bell ringer, donating both ways thru the door.   The guy who shares whatever he has, large or small.   All my other blessings are due to the fact that he loves me.  I am most grateful to the Universe for that beginning because it allowed all the others to follow.




.
I've received such positive feedback about Crows Nest from the community.  I want to thank everyone who told others about the sales.  I want to thank everyone who brought a friend.  I want to thank everyone who came to me and said wonderful things.  I feel blessed that the efforts of the Crows Nest family have been so well received.

To the woman who said, "I can't believe you do all this for only two days."  Thank you.  (We really do it for the looks on all the faces.  It makes us happy to delight others.)

To the group of women who came to the shop after attending a sale and paid us this compliment, "Are you guys Crows Nest? OMG you guys make everything you touch cute!"  Thank you.  (We have to smile, because in all actuality, Creative Kharma is the font of all things cute in our lives - the mother of Crows Nest. And after we smile, we must buy larger hats.  *grin*)

To the many men who brought their wives/girlfriends to the shop because they knew from accidentally finding the sale that the women in their lives would love it....(And yes, we deliberately put chairs around so you can find a place to sit while she shops.)  Thank you all.

To my cousins business partners, thank you for your support in our seemingly crazy endeavor.  Thanks for participating on every level.  Thank you for allowing me extra days off, and listening to me whine and worry when thats what I needed to do.  Thank you for reminding me to eat, sleep, etc.  Thank you for reminding me that my husband really is perfect when I forgot in the hustle and bustle and crabbiness.   Thank you for always having my back, helping me up off the floor, holding the ladder, grabbing the other side, being my eyeballer when I couldn't find "level", letting me bounce ideas off of you even when they were really dumb, being excited with me when I had a genius level idea *grin*, (as few and far between as they are.)  Thank you for being you.  I love you both.

And now, the sandman knocks, and I have to sleep.  The shop is in mid-reset, and 12 hour days were MUCH easier when I was young.  I haven't forgotten that I promised more pictures from the sale.  They will come.  Life has simply gotten in the way of sitting, as usual. 

Hope the rest of your week is everything you dream.