A Busy Week...

Whew, it has been a busy week! We have been working on a sales, leasing, conference and amenity center down in South Georgia (and oh my was it HOT down there!). I have included a few photos for you to see (they are from my phone, I'll post some better photos later).

Don't you love this mirror? I think it looks great with my favorite BCL Jenny Lind Lamps!

As always thank you Becky and Brenda for keeping things together this weekend! We received a ton of new merchandise in this week so go in and visit them. (Our A/C works well and it will be nice and cool!) HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

New Arrivals From Market...Already?!

It is no secret that Shawn and I are immediate gratification folks so we are so excited that we already have items arriving from the Atlanta market that we attended last week. Above are great things from one of our favorite and exclusive lines! A couple are re-orders that we quickly sold-out of: the wire mail basket and the wire garden tea-light stakes...you asked so we brought them back. We ordered the metal numbers about three weeks ago and sold out the the first weekend we put them out so we brought those back too! Something new is the vintage look metal French wall signs...Parlez-vous Francais? (do you speak French?)...Nope? Neither do we. So I'll tell you what they told us they say..."Idleness is the mother of all evil". Don't you just love that?!

When we opened in our new location we brought in Archipeligo, and it seems like you love it as much as we do!

Boticario de Havana the first scent we brought in is described this way. "In the 1940's the world flocked to Havana; they came for the nightlife, but left with the secrets of the "boticarias" - the small apothecaries that dotted the side streets and specialized in natural skin care remedies made from local plant materials. Coffee bean, tobacco flower with pure essences and extracts of orange, sugar cane and sweet pineapple were used to promote beautiful, soft and healthy looking skin. Today we know these ingredients contain the alpha hydroxy acids, antioxidants and other agents that actively moisturize, hydrate and reduce redness associated with rough, dry skin." We originally brought in the perfume, body lotion, body wash and bath salts...they have been a big hit. The new items from this market are the candle (it's wonderful!!), shampoo, and conditioner!

Our rep gave us samples of their Milk line to try and both Shawn and I thought it was marvelous! A pure and simple additive for the bath and body dried milk solids with natural soy and oat proteins combine to gently nurture and sooth the skin. Soy Milk products are blended with proteins, amino acids and lipids- allowing for rapid hydration and cell regeneration. Oat Milk products are blended with oat grain to soothe the skin. We have the body lotion, body wash, hand wash, and the best stuff of all...the unbelievably rich bubble bath.

Table Topics have been so popular and one of the newest versions sounds great (and the timing is perfect for all of those kids getting ready to head off to college!) They can spark fun conversations that take them beyond the oh-so-boring "what's your major?" and lead them to questions that they just wouldn't think to ask on their own. They'll talk about everything from the best cheap food near campus to the best parties to the three causes they care about most. This college-life inspired set of conversation starters makes meeting new people and making new friends way more fun. But, we have to warn you, these questions might be the start of an all-nighter. Heck, you can't study ALL the time!

This is only a sampling of our new arrivals this week so please come in this weekend and check out some of our new stuff! See you soon!!

SUMMER MARKET TIME!!!

It's Market time again in Atlanta! Thanks to you for a great second quarter, we have sold a lot of things and we have made room for some more fabulous GH finds! We are searching for some great new things for you. This is always one of our favorite shows and this one has exceeded our expectations. Not only have several of our regular vendors had some fantastic new items but we have already ordered three new lines that we are very excited to bring to Blue Ridge.

How about two new scents of potpourri? You will love the new candle line from Paddywax and some great new holidays items from Caldrea, Votivo and Cucina. We are so thrilled that there are new books from Ralph Kylloe (two new titles) and Bunny Williams. Great new jewelry pieces from Lenny & Eva, Waxing Poetic, Pure Sanctuary and Four Seasons. I've only scratched the surface...Stay tuned for more details. Have a great weekend go in and see Becky and Brenda!!

Happy 4th of July!!

Sometimes I forget how much I love Blue Ridge! Years ago when we bought our place up here I told Shawn that I'd never take our beautiful long range mountain view for granted...Well I think I may have to some degree. Recently, we worked on a project in South Georgia, I have also been busy in Atlanta so I really haven't been up here for a few weeks. I have to tell you when I arrived this evening it just felt so good to be here and I took a look at our view and thought to myself, wow I have really missed my mountain home.

I'm also pretty patriotic, and with all of our concerns I still consider myself so fortunate to be be an American, living in this wonderful country of ours. I think Fourth of July in our north Georgia town is a really fun and special time. Americana at it's best.

Get up early Saturday and go downtown to our wonderful Blue Ridge Farmers Market in the park, oh the local goodies that you will find!! Then head over to L&L Beanery Cafe and have their delicious breakfast Casserole! By now it should be close to 10AM and time for the Annual Fourth of July Parade so head over to the park near East Main. This year the bands are awesome so ENJOY!! Go into Love Dogs & Cats Too and see Larry and Ricki and pick up some treats for that lucky cat or dog. Pop into the Little Shop and stock up on those wonderful Hallmark cards. If you haven't been in the new location of The Multitude Gallery just next door, you will be stunned at how beautiful and spacious it is. David has some beautiful new items! Now you need to make your way over to see us at Gatewood Hall. Come in and say hi and check out some of our new arrivals...Now you can go visit Just Judy, Kristina Lee's and the Gnarley Bear. I bet you will be getting hungry so now you can go visit Pat and Polina at the fabulous Blue Ridge Brewery (I am sooo craving their summer gazpacho and house burger!!) for some great lunch and a glass of wine or special beer. When you are finished you will be primed to head over to see Sarah at Out of the Blue...Oh the wonderful things to try and buy...(not just my favorite girl that Sarah, but one of my favorite shops!!) How about some delicious fudge from Three Sisters Fudge, just across the street from Sarah's. You still need to go see Bradley and Candel at Fezziwig's and make your way into ssShiney Baubles for that special piece of "bling". There is still just so much to do in our beautiful downtown Blue Ridge we've only scratched the surface.

Tonight don't miss the fireworks over Lake Blue Ridge! Have a great and safe Fourth of July!! See you downtown!

Below are some photos of our recent model project we completed in South Georgia!

i

Hot Fun In The Summertime!!!

Is it hot enough for you?? The days of summer are upon us, but that's o.k. because there is so much fun stuff to do in the North Georgia Mountains!

First of all you can always come shop at Gatewood Hall, our AC is on and we have lots of new stuff to show you! This week we received some new rustic crosses from True Riches they created a new smaller size that we love (we asked them to create this new size for us and they did! Thank you Steve & Jill!!) We also received some new crosses that are made out of recycled Coke bottles they are so neat, that last time we got them in they never made it on the floor because one of our customers saw them as we were getting ready to put them out and she bought all of them! We also have a new line of glasses that are so beautiful! These colorful glasses have a brocade design and look great to mix and match; they are available in high ball and rocks sizes.

With Independence day coming next weekend there will be concerts in the park Friday night! Saturday July 3rd is the Annual Parade in downtown. The fun starts at 10AM so come get your spot early. After the parade come over to our back parking lot because we are told that the Amazing Seed and Feed Marching Abominable Band from Atlanta will be playing for your pleasure. Saturday night head out to lake Blue Ridge for the fabulous fireworks display!! It is sure to be a wonderful weekend and we can't wait to see you!! (Be sure to check out our Summertime Playlist below...some of our summer favorites!! Let me know what you think.)

Surf's Up Blue Ridge!

You have probably read about Stand Up Paddling in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal or even this months Southern Living magazine but, you might not have known that this fun and fast-growing activity is available right here in Blue Ridge. Thanks to Chris Tilghman and his company Surf Blue Ridge you can catch this new wave in water sports. This sport provides core strengthening, endurance, balance and oneness with the water and nature. With roots in Hawaii, SUP has expanded into mainstream surfing culture globally.

The sport has flowed inland from the oceans to our beautiful lakes and rivers. No surfing experience is needed. Whether you seek the peaceful enjoyment of nature, power paddling or a downriver rush, we are told that SUP is an activity for everyone of all ages!

Inspired by a lifetime of water sports, Chris Tilghman brings the first stand up paddle company to the North Georgia Mountains. Chris has over twenty years experience surfing some of the world’s best waves in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Cape Hatteras, California and Hawaii. He spent five years living on Kauai’s North Shore with his wife Rhonda and honed his skills on 15-20 feet high waves.

In 2006, our friends Chris and Rhonda made their home in Ellijay (and we are thrilled because they are great people!!). Wanting to provide a unique experience for enjoying the local waters, Chris is excited to introduce Stand Up Paddling with the Hawaiian spirit of aloha and surfing.

Stop by their cool, new store front on East Main Street in downtown Blue Ridge (near the train depot, beside Twigs to Furniture, The Real Estate Connection and Three Sisters Fudge). You can also call them at 706-889-9747 or check out the website at http://www.surfblueridge-sup.com/. You are going to love Chris and Rhonda be sure and tell them that we sent you!

Let's Celebrate Springtime in the South!

Is it just me or is this one of the prettiest spring seasons we've had in a long time? Shawn and I love the south in the springtime (hence the Indigo Girls song "Southland in the Springtime" on our blog play list). I love old southern Hydrangeas, Magnolias and Gardenias and it just seems that as I have been out and about I've noticed that the Hydrangeas this year are some of the deepest blues and purples that I can remember, and my Gardenias and Magnolias are going crazy at my home in Marietta. I take full advantage of this bounty and have bouquets throughout my home... I even haul them to our mountain house!

I moved to North Carolina in early May of 1973, I was only an infant (o.k. I'm lying but, I was pretty young). When I left Topeka, Kansas it was not great weather and things were still pretty brown, as our plane landed in N.C. I was overwhelmed by all of the green trees and quickly thought to myself this must be why they call it Greensboro.

We moved into an old neighborhood with huge trees, gigantic Magnolias, and enormous Gardenia and Hydrangea bushes. One of our neighbors introduced us to these wonderful unfamiliar flowers. To this day I can remember going into the Kale's old home (it seemed very large to me back then) with the attic fan running (yep, they had no AC!!) and the smell of these powerful flowers wafting throughout every room in the house...I have dearly loved the south ever since!

I remember telling Shawn's late grandmother Margie Hall about those Gardenias, they seemed almost elusive to me now because while I found those little "greenhouse" varieties I missed those big "rose-like" blooms found on the old fashioned, overgrown, southern kind. Margie had a green thumb (we know where Shawn gets it!) and she promised to "root" me some down at her little "getaway" place she had kept at the beach. She described a few different ways to do this and she made it sound very easy. Shortly thereafter she sent Shawn home with a few plastic gallon-milk jugs full of "rooted" Gardenias direct from the coast of North Carolina! Shawn planted them not knowing that a few weeks later we'd get a wild hair to sell our house and build another (same exact floor plan just a little bigger and with a basement, and a few upgrades we decided that we couldn't live without, literally only a few blocks away...it's a long story about loving your home that I'll share at a later time...) Anyway Shawn dug those little Gardenia bushes up and planted them at our new home, and they have flourished...actually almost overtaking one of our entrance gates to our backyard. We may end up selling that house but I pray that we can take some of those fabulous plants with us! We enjoy them so much, and they are such a wonderful reminder and celebration of Shawn's very special Grandma, Margie Hall!

So- to get to the point (thank you for letting me share my happy spring memories!), let's continue to celebrate spring! Come out and enjoy a lovely spring evening in downtown Blue Ridge. Please join us at for our second "West Side Block Party" this Saturday June 12, 2010. Hopefully the weather will cooperate but, we are going to have it come rain or shine! We look forward to seeing you there! Happy Spring!!