50% Off!

I know, the percent sign is backwards...oh well, come in anyways!

Once the decision was made to close the store it is difficult to continue to be here. Don't get me wrong; its fun ringing up all the sales & seeing many of my loyal customers but the difficult part is to see my little vintage cottage store in what I would call 'disarray'.
I am so thankful for those of you that love salvaged items and will give these lovelies a great place either at your home or your store. I delight in the thought that they will not be put in a dumpster; rather they will have a treasured spot where someone will bring the past to the present with such love.

I think if you see it & have a great feeling about it...then buy it. The sweetness you will feel every time you pass it in your own space is worth the purchase. Hopefully, you will be able to find something that warms your heart at my sale!

I will be bringing things in from home, down from store loft, out from the inside 'shed' and from my almost unnecessary storage unit! So, stop by each week.

A little side note: RB&C will be closed April 17 & 18 for a family reunion. Many of you read my sister's blog as well as mine; there is doubt we will both blog about the experience! Stay tuned.

25% Off!

Last Saturday, I worked at the store until midnight. I was pulling all my displays apart; putting like items in areas around the store. I put all shutters up front, lamps on the stair case, dishes on the front display, linens on the vintage bed, etc.

If you’ve been to my store you know that I like to display rather than warehouse items so while this rearranging is probably helpful to those looking for something specific, it’s awkward for me to look at. The store is no longer like walking through my favorite magazine.

So after I left last Saturday I was happy with my progress knowing that the next day I would be having a private sale for business owners only. I got to the store around 11:30 Sunday morning with anticipation. I had the best helpers (Ginger, Phyllis, Tiffany, Marla & my Elizabeth) on hand to help. The sale was from 1:00 – 5:00 pm and would you believe there were a couple of people waiting at the door when I opened? This was a very hopeful site!

By 2:30 the ‘crowd’ was gone and for the next two and a half hours I piddled around the store and read my newest Romantic Homes.

Wednesday I opened the door with a 25% off sale and was flooded! Many regular customers came in to get some goodies and give sweet hugs. So now, until March 30th you too can get 25% off everything in the store (except fixtures/displays marked).

My life pages are turning slowly from one to another and I have to admit, it turns with some sorrow. I am, however, keeping a little list of things I want to do after the new page begins the next chapter. Here are some examples:
Sleep in on Saturdays
Walk around the square and C-Street visiting all the stores (their open hours are the same as mine at RB&C so I haven’t been able to visit)
Write, write, write (including more blogging)
Sew, sew, sew (& put on Etsy)

Visit my mom in Arkansas

Babysit my grandbaby more
See more of my family
The list will continue to grow I’m sure.

I hope to see you soon!

Turn the Page

Opening day @ RB&C

What if you took each opportunity, walked through every open door, accepted every gift, entertained risks, relied on faith? Would you have disappointments, failures, losses or finales? Yes. But if you are true in your intent, don’t manipulate others and rely on God’s direction it will be worth it with blessings to boot.

Red Books & Chairs has been a life long dream since I was a little child. I would clip pictures from magazines and make drawings of what I hoped it would be like. The passion for a vintage cottage store has always been with me and in 2006 it became a reality – a dream come true.

The financial risk, the unending tick of the watch, the unexpected business details, the friendships built are all bi-products of plunging into a dream.

When a person has even one single day to live their dream it is a memory never forgotten. Now, two and a half years after Red Books & Chairs opened it is time to turn the page to another adventure. Although nearly every adventure is not without grim & glee, the experience and memories make each new page of life worth exploring.

Many of you have become dear friends and I will certainly miss seeing you each month on your visits to C-Street, but have no fear! I will be active on-line and at local shows. If you receive my monthly e-newsletter you will still be notified when I am out in the public showcasing my new creations. And of course you know you can find me each 1st Friday right here shopping my favorite stores on C-Street!

There will always be a bookmark in my life at the pages of Red Books & Chairs.

Keep checking my blog as I detail how the closing of RB&C progresses through April.

Hope to see you soon!
Jennifer

Box of Sunshine

I have many, many things and people in my life that make me happy. Like you, I have blessings to list. There are moments, however, I feel like I am going to sufficate, implode, snap or yell. Do you have those moments?

While working for a mission (homeless, transitional & emergency need) a few years ago I became very stressed, frustrated and felt helpless at times. I learned a lot about human nature, God's grace and compassion but still, those moments crept in.

My eldest daughter, Stephenie made me a 'Box of Sunshine'. She instructed me to pull a little note out any time I felt stressed. Some days I pulled 2 or 3 out of the box.

Now, owning my own business I have different 'moments' and often run to my Box of Sunshine for relief. I find that I am calmer after reading one of the notes because I know how much love went in to making the box of notes and because the colors just make me smile.

I'm so grateful for this little box and for those that take time to say or write little things to just send a little sunshine.

Farquhar Road

My wonderful friend, Melinda Lantz was working in South Africa when she made her driver pull over so she could snap these photos. Fun, huh? I hope this gives my sister-in-law (who has been working on lineage for years) some new 'avenues' to pursue in the family tree search!

Hanging With My Girl

One of my all time favorite people to hang out with is my 11 month old granddaughter. Every single day she accomplishes something new. Last week she waved at me, kissed me when I asked for a kiss and clapped when I sang "Patty Cake". Yesterday she did the motion (in her own way) for 'roll 'em up & roll 'em up" - the next verse in "P'Cake". I can't wait to see what today holds!