Shop At Moxie

New Blog and $100 Anthropologie Giveaway Contest

Change seems to be my new thing for the last two years.  I've just been focusing on doing what is best for myself, my family, my shop, my health, etc. etc.  

Change is good as far as I'm concerned.  Keeps life interesting and somewhat challenging too!

So on that note, it probably won't come as a surprise to you that we've made a few more significant changes to our business model.  I won't bore you with the how or why part so much as to just give you the bare bones facts.

• we are no longer selling gifts online via shopatmoxie.com
• we are NOT going to be blogging here on typepad any longer

 

• we ARE selling vintage on ETSY
• we have just launched a NEW BLOG Hey Moxie at www.heymoxie.blogspot.com
• we still ship things everyday and are happy to do it if the item isn't too big
• our shop is as happy, full, and crazy busy as always!!!!!!

The decision to close shopatmoxie.com was simply because selling new items online is just not that much fun.  How's that for some brutal honesty. You have to compete with the likes of Amazon, Target and the usual suspects and by the time you are done trying to sell the items for what you have to to compete with their discounts and offer all the customer service and extras that we did .... you have not a lot to show for all that effort.  And you know what, it was my sister Courtney who got up every stinkin morning with the birds to do all of that packaging and shipping and I couldn't ever feel good about it.  I wanted her to be able to sleep in once in awhile.  She never complained.  Not once.  Seriously.  Not once in 7 years.  I've never conducted business with money as my main goal.  It's always been about artistic expression.  So it really was not a hard decision to let that part of our business model go.  

The reality of it all is that vintage is my true love and selling vintage online has been going swimmingly for the last 4 years.  It is really fulfilling to find one-of-a-kind items and then see them off to new homes.  Lots of our goodies find their way to Japan, Norway, Australia and the UK.  It's fun and we get to meet other vintage loving folks this way.  So we are now focused on just selling vintage online and it seems like a great decision to us.  

Our shop in DeKalb is the same fun place that it's always been.  We have our normal mix of new and vintage, with new items arriving almost daily.  It's just the online ventures that have changed.

The new blog "Hey Moxie" ... well that's just because I felt like a blog change.  If you've followed us here you will need to hop on over to the new blog and sign up by email, google connect or bloglovin to follow us.  The old subscription won't work anymore.  All of those options are easy to do and you will see them in the sidebar of the blog.  If you have problems signing up drop us an email at moxieindekalb@gmail.com and we will do our best to help you.  

To launch our new blog we are sponsoring a $100 Anthropologie Giveaway contest over at www.heymoxie.blogspot.com

I really hope you'll follow us over on the new blog.  I really appreciate your friendship and loyalty.  See you there!

 

 

foxy

When your aunt owns a funky gift shop .... it's no big surprise that you somehow find yourself in the midst of a full on foxy photo shoot when you just stopped by to drop off lunch for your mom.  Thanks sweet Brooke for indulging your eccentric aunt in her spontaneous photo shoot.  You rock. 

cute and clever idea

Such a clever and cute use of a cupcake liner for those days out on the porch or patio.  Come see our collection of adorable liners at moxie!

as seen here

photo via gabrici on flickr

meet the moxie twins

Stephenie and Hona....the Moxie Twins! These two fabulous cuties cooked up this idea awhile ago to dress up as the moxie twins for halloween.  I'm guessing it was the crazy matching "moxie blue" corduroy jumpsuits we had in the vintage section that inspired that decision.  I was not at work Friday when they debuted their outfits but Courtney told me that a couple of customers asked them if that was the moxie uniform.  Oh my, could you just imagine if I required that from everyone.  I wouldn't have much of a staff left.  "Oh Courtney....don't forget to wear your jumpsuit tomorrow!"

 

This photo turned out a little blurry but I wanted you to see the full outfit.  They made belts and scarves out of some purchased leopard fabric and I'm loving their matching heart socks and over the top accessories.  Our definition of moxie is: courage combined with inventiveness and I think Steph and Hona really captured that spirit.  

I just love working with spirited people who like to have fun.  I've said it before but it is worth saying again....I've got the greatest team in the world.  Oh and girls.....I'm hoping to see some matching elf outfits for the Holiday Open House!

A postcard from the girls....

Dear friends, 

Having a great time at Moxie.  The boss is up to her same old tricks.  Making us model the merchandise for her own guilty pleasure.  She claims that the customers love to see us in action but deep down we know "she" loves it the most.  "She" is so mischievous and it's just like her to hoodwink us into posing for these pictures.  But sweet kind hearted souls that we are, we do just what the puppet master wants.  Love, Maureen, Courtney and Patty. 

P.S.... send help. 

Spring Sale and Boho-Ball at Na Da Farm

Hi friends.... An event you should know about!

Over the years I've had the pleasure of getting to know the talented and super sweet Anne Marie of NaDa Farm.  She is a woman filled with ideas, energy, a love of the earth and all it's bounty and above all else a warm and creative soul.  

She hosts beautiful sales at her farm a couple times a year which feature her latest creative endeavors along with those of her friends. You can find gorgeous vintage finds for your house, handmade jewelry, original art, or an organic chocolate-filled cupcake baked by Anne Marie herself.  Now that's the kind of variety I like!  

Anne Marie's sale continues to grow and change each season.  This year she is adding more dealers, a market area and even a Blogger tent where bloggers can hang out, sip champagne and get to meet some new or old friends.  If you own a copy of Romantic Prairie Style (a beautiful must have) then bring it along because Fifi O'Neill will be there to do a book signing!

The sale begins on Friday May 20th, 5-8 pm with a Boho-Ball.  You are encouraged to join in the fun by dressing up in your take on Bohemian Style.  Anne Marie kindly featured Moxie recently on her blog (Thanks!!) as a great place to shop for a Boho outfit for the ball.  Our very own beautiful Lisa did some modeling for the shoot.

Doesn't she look all Boho-Fabulous!  Thanks so much Miss Lisa!

Here are a couple of photos featuring life on Na Da Farm and past sales.

Esmond is just west of DeKalb about 15 or so minutes.  Not hard to find and certainly a gorgeous country drive is always a pleasure!  So get your calendars out and mark it down.  The Na Da Farm Sale is one not to miss!

Making Spirits Bright

That is our goal here at MMHG and Moxie.  We love to make you happy!

 

Some days I do feel like a Jolly, Happy Soul, and some days I feel like my pants are too tight and that chocolate is the only thing that might make me forget that my pants really are too tight.  And that might be why I feel Jolly in the first place because skinny people probably never feel "jolly."  They probably just feel regular old happy.  

 

I love when animals wear clothing.  Not in real life necessarily, but in resin definitely. 

 

Miniature size vintage deer souvenir.

 

Elves and carolers.  When I was little we used to go a caroling a caroling.  It was fun and lots of the sweet neighbors gave us warm treats and fancy accolades for our (let's just call it amateur) performances.  Now I wonder what we would have gotten in way of response if we (my motley crew of siblings and neighborhood buddies) showed up and presented ourselves as elves.  Just a quick knock at the door and then we'd just hop about doing our best elf dance in our pointy elf shoes.  No singing....just dancing and tossing of small gifts and toys thru the threshold.  I imagine when they'd ask us in shock and delight what we were doing we'd just giggle incessantly and then run away under the twinkling lights of the decorated trees and houses.  

 

Have a bright and happy day!

Puella Vox. (Girl Power)

Girl Power.  I have it.  I love it.  I nurture it in others.  

 

Lean on me, when you're not strong.....

Isn't it so true that your real friends are  there for you even when everything isn't all shiny and happy.  I'm grateful to have people in my life that I can lean on. 

 

Blessings wall art.  

 

Unique people are so much fun.  I'm drawn to them like a moth to a flame.  Individuality rocks.

 

A little thanks goes a long way.  Pink pixie agrees.

Thank You Courtney, Alexa and Lisa!

For giving me the best laugh I've had in weeks!

Oh Lordy....I had a hard time keeping the camera straight I was laughing so much while trying to take this picture.  I think it was Courtney's dead pan stare underneath her big bushy eyebrows that got me.  She refused to smile because according to her....these glasses require a serious face.  

I just love all of my moxie and mmhg girls.  They are always willing to  indulge me with some playtime.  I asked them if they would put the glasses on for a photo and they didn't even hesitate to say yes.   I told them it was for the blog and they still agreed.  Now that's takin' one for the team!!

Funny glasses, stylish mustaches, gnarly teeth, and tattoo sleeves available at the shops.  Perfect for Halloween, group photos, or general silliness of any kind.  

 

 

Megan and Pat get Crafty

One of the things I love most about my friend and co-worker Pat is her full on enthusiastic support of all my "Wouldn't it be cool if......" statements.  I am totally prone to beginning sentences with that phrase.  In this case, the sentence was..... Wouldn't it be cool if we could find like a zillion embroidery circles in all shapes and sizes and then fill them with vintage fabric for wall art??"  And yes, I'm pretty sure I did say "like a zillion" because I definitely am prone to the go big or go home way of thinking.  No measly group of 5 hoops would cut it.  Granted we didn't technically find a zillion, but we did find enough to make an impact and that was a small victory in it's own right.  Sweet Lisa C helped us out by finding 4 of the tiniest hoops for me as a gift.  The tiny ones are so darned cute!  I am so lucky to have such nice friends that I get to work with too!  

After hoops were procured from vast and mysterious locations the real fun began.  I now had a reason to dig into the 2 bags full of small remnant pieces I'd been saving for the last couple of years.  Too small to sell but too cute to dispose of.  I knew they'd have their moment in the spotlight someday.  Pat and I set up shop in Moxie's backroom.  Thank goodness Pat was there to help is all I have to say.  It's not that it was hard it's just that it was so much pattern and eye candy I had trouble focusing.  It was my job to pick out the fabrics that would be featured, match them up to the right circle, and then press them with the iron.  Pat had the unenviable job of drawing and cutting the circles and inserting them in the hoops.  It took us about 4 hours  to do these.  When it came time to hang them we went free form.  Pat on the ladder and me pointing and assisting from below.  

We had so much fun.  There is something so satisfying about creating.  Whatever it may be.  No matter how simple or complex.  There is great joy to be found in the process.  Especially when you get to do it with a lovely person like Pat.  

Did I come up with this idea on my own??  Heck no.  About 2 years ago I saw a post somewhere out in blog-land where this idea of fabric and hoops was shown with some Liberty of London fabrics in them. I think it was the blog of a cool fabric shop.  Since then I've always wanted to do it with vintage fabric.  Thanks for the inspiration you cool fabric chicks wherever you are!

We decided to hang the collection of them on the wall of our newly expanded Kid Section at Moxie.  We made them for art not for sale.  But we've got plenty o fabrics for you to choose from if you decide to make some of your own.  

Here's a view of the new expansion....

 

It'll make Pat very happy if you tell her what a great job she did.  She's needy like that.  wink wink.