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Sweet Lisa's Vintage Sale -- This Saturday May 21st

Isn't it grand to have kind and fabulous friends??  The type of friend who always tells you that things will be ok and that you are fabulous even when you don't quite feel that way.  Well one of those friends for me is Lisa.  I met her 11 years ago at the shop and I liked her instantly.  She never has an unkind word.  She's tops.

She is an artist and a fellow lover of vintage schtuff!  She, like me, has to sell some of it sometimes to make room for new acquisitions.  So a couple of times a year she has a vintage sale out at her house in the country.  She has a sweet little apartment over the garage that she uses to hold the sale so even if it rains it's no big deal.  

I asked Lisa to send me a few current shots as she sets up the sale so you could get a sneak peek.  It's looking super cute and I see a few things I'd like to snap up myself.  But I won't yet because I want you all to get first dibs.  Check out the photos and do yourself a favor and pop over there this Saturday May 21st between 9 and 4.  16038 Quigley Rd, Sycamore.  Off of Airport Rd.  She has a white fence along the road.  

Oh my, that bubbly tablecloth is Adorable!

Vintage clothing, shoes, accessories.  Fun!

I think there will be something for everyone!  Grab some friends and head on out to Lisa's vintage sale in the country.  It is supposed to be beautiful this weekend.  

Team MMHG

Meet my elves.

Ms. Sandra Elfson, Ms. Lisa Elffingham, and Ms. Pat Mc Elfster.  They rock.  They are super talented elves.  Not only are they awesome at cookie filling, ticket writing, customer service, gift bagging and all-around niceness, but sometimes they even break out into little elf jigs when you least expect it.  I love an elf who'll do a happy jig at a moments notice.  Helps keep me energized and full of the Holiday Spirit. 

 

They worked their tiny elf booties off this weekend at our 11th Annual Holiday Open House.  We were all so busy we barely had time to sneak into the back room for cookie breaks.  I can tell you that it fills all of our big ol elf hearts with joy to see the shops filled with happy faces.  Some of you we've been lucky enough to see for 11 years in a row and some of you were new to us this year. We love you all and  are truly honored that you like what we do.  When I say "we" I really mean it.  I don't do any of it by myself.  MMHG and Moxie have always been a team effort.  The team may have grown in size over the last 11 years but the loyalty of my team to me and the shops has never wavered.  I am so thankful for you and them!

 

We were so busy at MMHG that I regretfully didn't have time to run across the street to take a photo of Moxie's elves.  Courtney and Bob sung their praises to me all weekend long.  Many customers told me that Moxie had a check out line that ran out the door a few times so they might have been a little too busy to pose for me.  And that's a great thing!  Thanks to you all for shopping local.  May you all have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving Holiday!

 

Now I'm off to plan my shopping list for the Moonlight Shopping Party.  Let's see, wine, shrimp, appetizers.....Yum!  We are told that even the men-folk love this event.  Do you think the wine and shrimp have anything to do with it??  Hope you can make it.  Friday December 3rd from 6 to 9 pm.  

Local Artist Requires Intervention .... News at 9

An insider at the trendy boutique Megan Morrison Home and Garden has informed us that the highly talented artist Pat Kirk has turned to making arts and crafts projects to supplement her art sales income.  The slow economy has really made her stretch herself creatively.  When asked what inspired her current projects she replied " Well, I really wanted to attack the market with something you wouldn't see everywhere....something that would elicit smiles and still have a practical application as well."  "I woke up one night and it just came to me.  Make crocheted bottle covers.  The hardest part was learning how to crochet.  The designs just came naturally" said Kirk.  If sales go well she is thinking of setting up an etsy shop with the name "Look What Pat Made"  or she might call it "p-kirky"  or possibly "patty-k's kookie kreations."  

......................... Tongue in cheek productions, bringing you all the really important news!

Tasia the Hopelessly Addicted Sewaholic

I love getting emails from shop friends and acquaintances from near and far.  The world wide web makes my world seem so much bigger in many great ways.  What fun to have relationships (even if they are only thru email) with people in Canada, France, Japan, Sweden and Australia....to name just a few.  I've met all of my online friends thru our shops.  Some thru our brick and mortars and others thru our etsy shop.  

Tasia is from Vancouver BC Canada and I met her sweet self thru etsy.  She has purchased fabric from us and is what I'd consider to be quite the accomplished seamstress.  She has a wonderful blog that makes me wish I'd tried a little harder back in my early twenties to pay attention more in the sewing class I took.  I love fabrics and have so many ideas but at that time, me and the machine did not click.  Who knows, if I ever find myself with extra time on my hands ( ya right) I might give sewing another try.  For now, I will just live vicariously thru the sewing projects of others.  

I was thrilled when Tasia let me know yesterday that she had used one of the fabrics she purchased from us to make a super cute new dress.

She used a vintage 60s pattern and modified it to suit  her needs.  You've got to see the back of this dress.  It has a killer open back detail I just love.  Oh yea,  the shoes aren't too shabby either!!  Read all about how Tasia made this dress here.

Sales You Should Know About ......This Saturday!

Hi everyone....

Some of my friends and acquaintances are having great vintage sales this weekend and I wanted to let you all know about them.  

This Saturday May 22nd the lovely and supremely talented Lisa from team moxie is hosting a vintage sale at her picturesque house in the country.  She has a super cute apartment above their garage and it is filled with awesome vintage finds.  Dishes, pottery, pictures, vintage clothing and lots more.  She will be open from 9 to 4 saturday only.  16038 Quigley Rd Sycamore, Illinois.

Right across the street from Lisa is Mabel.  I've never met Mabel but heard lots of great things about her from Lisa.  She sold at Kane County Flea for decades and still hosts barn sales out at her homestead once a year or so.  She is pretty famous.....well that's what Lisa said anyway.  She is also having her sale on Saturday.  So just park in front of either place and be sure to stop in at both of them and tell them Megan sent you!

Now, after you've done your shopping in Sycamore you need to hop back in the car and head 15 miles west on 64 to Esmond Illinois.  That's where you'll find the soon to be famous Petit Flea Market hosted by Anne Marie at Nada Farm.  On Saturday she'll be open from 9 to 5.  At her sale you'll find artwork, antiques, vintage, handmade clothing and an on site Patiserrie.  She was visiting the shop the other day and tempting me with stories of homemade cupcakes with decadent fillings.  Cupcakes and vintage...........yum is all I have to say on that subject!

The Petit Flea Market will also be open this Friday night from 5 to 7 pm.  For more details you can visit nadafarmevents.com.  Located at: 2423 Woodlawn Rd. Esmond, Illinois

So c'mon you guys....lets get out there and do some vintage shopping!

Those Kar-Fre Sisters

are so much fun!  Michelle and Kris,  the dynamic sisterly duo behind Kar-Fre Flowers in Sycamore. Their shop is gorgeous and it smells great too!  Plus, they are a fun and friendly family owned and operated business which I love.  

Here is Michelle dressed as an Oompa Loompa.

 

Now that is going the distance to have some fun at work.  You go Michelle.

I check their fun blog, Michelle's Musings, (see the link on my sidebar) often to see what's new.  I love this Sam The Snowman Bouquet they've created.

It is  fresh, fragrant and long-lasting.  I can't get enough of the smell of fresh evergreens. But not only does this bouquet smell good it looks great too.   How cute would this be sitting atop an urn next to a front door or as a table centerpiece.  Love it!  If you love it too....well then be sure to visit them in person in Sycamore or go straight to their website here.

I am always honored that Michelle and Kris take time out of their busy schedules to do some of their shopping at MMHG and Moxie.  I can tell that they feel as strongly as I do about shopping locally.  Michelle highlighted her recent visit to downtown DeKalb here.

Happy Holidays to Michelle and Kris and their Kar-Fre team.  I'm sure they are working their tails off and I hope they get some rest in January.  Just enough rest to gear up for their busy Valentine season.  The life of an entrepreneur can be grueling, but most of us wouldn't give it up for anything.  

Today is Lisa C's Birthday

So I thought to myself....what better time than today to feature her etsy shop.

As many of you know already Lisa is a wonderful member of our moxie team.  She is so sweet, extremely funny on the down low, shy on the outside but wild on the inside, a gifted painter and photographer.  Plus she's a mom and wife to some of the coolest cats I know.  Her four gorgeous kids and her wonderful husband are equally as creative and imaginative as she is.  

I love having her on my team and I am happy to brag just a little bit about her etsy shop.  It is filled with great stuff.  Everything from original art and handmade jewelry to vintage clothing and linens.

Here are some of my current faves from her shop Willow Nook.

This original painting was done on a vintage book cover.  At 32 dollars for an original work of art....well I am pretty sure this won't last too long.

Earrings in a lovely shade of green

These gift tags are made from copies of Lisa's original paintings.  You get three of them for $5.00......  Sweet!

Party dress anyone????

I love vintage purses.  I especially love this one because it's gray.  You don't see that nearly as much as black.  Can you believe Lisa has this awesome purse listed for only Sixteen dollars???  That's a steal!

I sent Lisa a couple of questions and she kindly took some time out of her day to answer them for all of us.  

Here goes.

Q --  At what age did you realize that you had an artistic inclination and how did it begin manifesting itself?                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

A --  I honestly think I've been drawing from the time I could hold a pencil. When I was a very young child, well before school age, I would make little books based on my favorite fairy tales and my mom would sew up the edge on her machine to make a binding. I still have some of those books. My family always complimented my work but your family is supposed to think what you do is great or at least tell you it is. When I got into school and my art teacher would comment or even hold up my work as an example ( I would have liked to disappear when she did that), then I knew it was not ordinary.                                                                                                                               

Q -- Why do you love vintage clothing so much and how long have you felt this way?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

A -- Vintage clothing is so special to me.  Things were made so beautifully. Such attention to detail. You can not find that in many newer clothes. That and they are sentimental to me. Someone long ago wore this and I wonder where she wore it, how it made her feel, did she dance in it, did he love when she wore it, that kind of thing. Some vintage is just fun and you feel good in it. In grade school I remember finding vintage cat eye glasses and a plaid jacket and loving them. I did not always have the confidence to express myself with my clothes. In junior high I started to buy a little vintage and then in college it was like a revelation. To play with vintage and experiment was great fun. Now as a grown woman I love it even more! Working at Moxie has helped awaken that love again and I feel more like myself.                                                                                                                                            

Q -- Could you share with us three things that inspire you creatively.                                                                                     

A --  I've always been inspired by beautiful things. Movies, books, magazines, music... 3 things that inspire me now are still probably movies, magazines and photographs that I take. There are more things of course but that is the top 3.                                                                                                                                                                                              

Q -- Name three favorite food or drink items you must have on hand while you are working.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

A -- I am a Coke and Sprite junkie. I don't think I could quit them if I tried and the thought of quitting makes me

 very cranky. I also love Hershey's milk chocolate. I then usually need some potato chips to satisfy the salt craving I sometimes get after eating alot of chocolate. I could live happily on pop and chocolate. I'm trying to eat better but that is not going too well.

Well I sure do hope all of you  hop on over to Lisa's shop Willow Nook.  Make sure you mark her as a favorite shop because it's her birthday today and what a nice birthday it is when you have lots of new friends.  

Getting Noticed...the good, the bad and the ugly terry cloth shorts set.

I have this image of myself as a child that I just can't shake.  When I was in the 3rd grade my mom decided that it was a good idea to dress me in a powder blue terry cloth 2pc shorts and top set and finish it off with the world's tallest white tube socks with blue stripes at the top.  Now since we had a humble budget to work with I didn't dare tell my mom how much I hated that clingy powder blue outfit.  

She had purchased it for my special "bell ringing occasion."  Yes I was one of the chosen few in my grade school to play the bells at a school program.  I'll never forget that day because I felt like my outfit was too small and it stuck to my root beer belly in an unforgiving way.  I felt awkward and I really was no good at ringing the bells.  I'm not musically gifted at all.  I love music but I can't make music.   That's for sure.  

Being an imaginative child, and now a very imaginative adult, has always been a blessing and a curse.  It leads me down the path of creative nirvana but also down the path of self doubt and ridicule.  

Flash forward to the middle of bell ringing performance.  It's me and a couple of other kids.  Can't you just picture us all standing in a row-- bell in hand-- trying desperately to keep count and remember just when to raise up your arm proudly and ring the bell.  Well, I really blew it.  I missed by big solo and threw off the other kids.  All eyes in the audience were on me.  I was humiliated and embarrassed.  Why did everyone have to be looking at me the day I wore the tight terry ensemble.  

I never told my mom how much I hated the outfit.  Back then you were grateful for what you got and if you weren't grateful you were smart enough to keep your mouth shut.  In defense of my mom...she always thought I looked good in blue.  She was probably sad the day I got my first paycheck and started wearing black every day.  One day when I was about 16 she burst into the bathroom on me and asked me in all seriousness if I was a "gothic."  No mom....if I was a GOTHIC I'd be wearing a lot more makeup.  I just like black.  

So wow, where was I going with this story??  It is my way of saying that I have always had a problem with standing out.  I am introverted and really do not like too much attention.  But when you work hard it is nice to be recognized by your peers, family and friends.  

The other day we got noticed for our vintage fabric selection on Etsy by the wonderful Becky over at Crafting a Green World.  Her site is filled with "do it yourself projects that incorporate reused, recycled, and natural materials that are eco-friendly."    She said we have a fantastical selection of vintage fabrics and that made me smile.  If you'd like please read the story she did on our little etsy shop here.

Thanks Becky....love your site!

George the Gnome Has a New Gig

Do you remember this guy from a recent post?

Well it appears that his name was George (he didn't tell me that) and he went and left us to go have fun with the super nice Michelle (from Kar-Fre Flowers in Sycamore) and her cute family.

What a blast George must have had participating in the Easter Bunny's scavenger hunt.  He sure looks happy and seems to have taken to his new family really well.  You can read all about George the Gnome's scavenger hunt over on Michelles fun blog.

I just got off the phone with George and he told me the names of his Gnome friends in the top photo are Theodore and Lincoln.  So now we know.

Introducing Nosam Nosila

What's Nosam Nosila?

It is the fabulous new etsy shop opened by our creative and talented moxie team member Alison Mason.  What do you see when you see Alison's name.  Do you see Nosam Nosila????

Because that is her name spelled backwards.  Clever.  I called my etsy shop shopatmoxie because Nosirrom Nagem was already taken!

Alison describes herself as creative, hardworking and silly.  I can vouch to all three of those....although I personally get to see more of the creative and hardworking side and less of the silly side.  Hmmmmm might have to hang with Alison after hours to see what happens when silly comes out to play.

Alison has been fascinated with clothing and garment construction since she was much younger.  She lets her imagination lead the way as she re-purposes vintage clothing into her own creations.  The "Carol" dress that Alison models above was once a size 22 boxy dress that she re-worked into the svelte sexy dress it is today.  

I am so proud of Alison and her talents.  She is such an asset to the moxie team.  Hardworking, energetic, loyal, trustworthy and filled with ideas and enthusiasm.  I'm really excited for her and her new etsy shop.  Please pay her shop a visit here.  And of course if you'd like to meet the superstar in person....you can always pay her a visit and a complement at moxie.

Good luck and much success Alison.  You deserve it!

P.S......love your stately cat in the background.  Name of Cat????