Wardrobe anyone?

I spent the afternoon working at the shop today, Bettina worked in the morning but on the crossover we ended up catching up on shop/home stuff.  After grabbing a sandwich, we decided we may as well use the time productively and decide on a plan of action for the coming weeks leading up to Christmas.  This  always ends up with us making lists so we don't forget what we've discussed.  It's a very simple but effective way of making sure we try and accomplish all we have discussed.  Anyway, having covered what we needed to cover, Bettina made her way home.  Two minutes later she calls on the shop phone to tell me that there is a small wardrobe on the street. 

I tell her to wait by the wardrobe as I have customers but as soon as they leave, I lock up and scurry down the road to see it.

Someone has put it outside their house as they don't need/want it in the hope that someone will take it away.  That someone was us.  It's a small dark wood wardobe with loads of character, probably 100 years old, but painted white it could look perfect in the shop. When we first opened,  I had a vision of wardrobes with no doors, housing the clothes and shelves full of toys.  It never came about and we ended up going with conventional shelves and rails.

Anyway, try as we might, the wardrobe didn't seem to work in the shop.  It's such a contrast to the shelves we have.  I'm usually all for contrasts, but this just didn't look right.  The only place it would look nice is on the back wall but that would mean moving the till and cables around...

We decided we'd sleep on it and decide over the weekend.  Will keep you posted on what we decide!

So Sweet...

We have just had the cutest delivery of babywear by Petra Boase.  Babysuits, vests and bibs, all in vintage style prints on organic cotton.  We've seen her designs at various trade fairs and always admired but never got around to ordering anything until now.

Off course we also have an amazing array of nearly new clothes for children 0-6 years as well.  A cord Tommy Hilfiger boys blazer is my favourite item at the moment.  It's age 3 years, so unfortunately not the right size for my boy.  Toys are also a big seller, especially this time of year.  Our micro scooters are proving very popular. 

Our shop is always worth a visit, whether you just want to browse, recycle in style or buy something new!

Cute Kids

Had some cute kids in the shop today.  Two little girls aged 2 and nearly 4 and so sweet.  The way they spoke and interacted with eachother.  Little girls have a lovely way of speaking so matter of factly and knowing.  They were with a lady who was mum to one of them and looking after the other.  The mum was looking for a swimsuit for her daughter and the other little girl was telling the lady that she really should buy her a swimsuit too as she may want to go swimmimg one day.  It was all in the tone, very confident!

Had a new delivery of farm animal wind up torches.  These are always popular and sell out fast.  Think it's the cute faces on them myself.

Gearing Up for Christmas

Spent a lovely morning in the shop today.  Even though it was dark and grey outside, somehow inside the shop with it's beautiful heart light in the window, everything looks cosy.  The light, even though on all through the year, at this time of the year, it reminds me of our opening.  We opened just before Christmas in 2008 and the heart light was only supposed to be a Christmas decoration, but now it just looks like it belongs.

Lots of new toys coming in this week.  I know we're still in October, but in retail, as soon as September comes, you're gearing up for Christmas!