Whirlwind Week

Whew….what a week this just was! Lots of exciting things happening, like the California Gift Show, the Chamber of Commerce Installation dinner approaching (did I tell you I got elected to the Board?) and getting new stuff into the store! Wasn’t it just Monday?

We kicked off the week on a sour note….we lost our newest crew member, Trish, who decided that the commute from where she moved to was too long. WFS wishes her the well in whatever she does next. That means we’ll be looking for someone who is a people person and detail oriented, responsible and available nights and weekends. If you know someone who doesn’t mind hard work and is a team player, please forward him or her our way.

The rest of the week was a fabulous blur of seeing, and sometimes ordering, wonderful new products for the store. It can get overwhelming at market and that’s when those trends that we discussed last week come into play. Going to the gift show might seem like a lot of fun (it is!) but it’s also hard work. We attempt to see into the near future and buy what we think is something that you might be looking for, staying somewhat within the parameters set by the fashion pundits.

That’s why it’s a good idea to not take all the predictions too seriously! I like to distill that trendy stuff down and take a good hard look at what my favorite designers and decorators are doing. Then we add our own flavor into it and we buy accordingly.

My designer of choice has been Mary Carol Garrity (of Nell Hills’ fame) for quite awhile. I love her use of scale and her eye for using natural elements in her decor mirrors my own. Her favorite trends of 2010, in her own words, are:

“Woodland themes: a classic look with hunt club fabrics in red, green and navy and animal-inspired accents, like antler-shaped candle holders.

Reinvented country: now less cutesy and more home-spun. This season’s rustic trims, like burlap ribbon, twine & wool plaids.

Gold: once out of favor, gold, and its cousins bronze & copper, are back in a big way this year. The most exciting look today is combining both gold and silver together.”

Whatever your style is, come in and experience ours! There’s lots to see - I think we’ll be able to give you a little inspiration, a little whimsy, a smile and some helpful advice, if needed. Don’t forget to check our website, Twitter and Facebook pages for product updates and social happenings - just click on this post's title to get to our site. Valentine’s Day is looming and we’re all decked out for it – hope we see you soon!