Holiday Magazine... Coming in October!

How many of you are "addicted" to magazines?

I admit I am a "magazineholic"!

I love magazines with decorating ideas, junk spots,

gardens, and Holiday Projects!

There is a Holiday "book-azine" due out in

October by author & editor Matthew Mead.

I met Matthew at the Junk Bonanza. He has authored

Halloween "book-azines", Flea Market Style Magazine

that came out this spring, and contributes to

Better Homes and Gardens and Country Living.

Do any of you remember our Junk Bonanza

Chocolate Cake story?

Well, Matthew and his wife along with Ki and

our friend Cammie we had invited to have a piece of

cake with us. That was until,it went missing!

A hotel worker dropped it... and didn't tell us!

(now that I think about it,

the hotel never did send us the check they promised!)

Anyway, Matthew is offering a contest for a

chance to be mentioned in the magazine for a

little help in promoting the new publication!

So, all bloggers unite...

head on over to Matthew's blog

and see how you can enter too!

Head over to Holiday with Matthew Mead to find out how you can win the opportunity to have your blog or online shop mentioned in the magazine. Holiday with Matthew Mead is a "book-azine" celebrating and offering inspiration for the Christmas holiday season. To be released in October 2010, Holiday is offered via online orders only - in limited quantities - and will not be sold on newsstands. But, by simply following theBUY HOLIDAY MAGAZINE link below their banner, you can reserve your own copy of this beautiful magazine, with guaranteed delivery of the magazine straight to your mailbox! Holiday with Matthew Mead is144 pages of holiday inspiration with well-known and admired designers, bloggers and top-notch features, printed on beautiful paper and not drowning in ads!

Now, head on over for your chance to win!

Now open Saturdays!

We finally took the plunge and have

decided to be open every Saturday!

Ready or Not... I told customers we 

would be open on the 6th of March.

Well... it was more like "not ready"!

It was so hard for me to open the store

and not have it packed to the rafters 

as we usually do for our events. 

Our customers said they were just 

happy to have us open and are looking 

forward to seeing what treasures we 

will be adding each week!

  

A taste of Spring!

 As I look at this picture

I can see several things that

have a new home tonight!

I layered this drop leaf table with a quilt

 runner, handmade by my mom,

 checkered tin trays, simple white 

china plates, door knob placecard holders 

and a variety of vintage kitchen items.

  

It  was one of my favorites!

 I usally have so much product

to display that I can't use the furniture 

like you would use it in your home.

Now there's a positive for not 

having the store stocked full!

A Spring flower basket gives a boost of 

color for all of us who are so

color deprived by this time of year!

Old Clip Boards...

More projects completed for the shop!

I'm trying to stay motivated

& productive as I awake

from my winter hibernation! 

 

These old guys were fun & easy 

to do. I wanted some of the old board 

to show so I only took the paper to the

 edge of the clip and left about 3/8" 

around the edge of the board.  

I used a little distressing ink & stickers 

on some... and they are complete.

Use for a note pad for daily lists or

use with a photo of someone you love! 

This way you can change out photos 

easily & often! 

Ahhh... s-t-r-e-t-c-h... yawn...

"Is it Spring yet"?

"Soon old bear... soon!"

SPRING...

...it has to get here sooner or later!

 

 I finally have gotten some motivation

to do some Spring projects! 

...old bottles embellished & ready 

for Spring flowers

...more bottles showin' a little love!

...my try at painting on water color paper

I will mount it in a chippy old window frame.

I hope Spring will be comin' your way soon!

If it's already arrived, please send some 

warm sunshine to Nebraska!

Yippie Skippie...

I finally found it...

at Borders today!

Flea Market Style Magazine

Can't wait to snuggle up with a 

cup of tea and browse the magazine.

It is going to be fun knowing 

I've met some of these "junkin" folks!

Please "Bear" With Us!

We are still trying to figure out our 2010 plans for 

The Whistle Stop! 

Between frozen, broken pipes and 

our winter wonderland of 

snowy weather we are behind in getting the shop 

undressed from the Holidays! 

Most of our little kitchen had to be torn apart,

 re-plumbed, new drywall put up and then 

primed and  painted (painted several times)!

  I had planned on a little Valentine show and 

had ordered a few things but, Valentines day is

 Sunday and the shop is still not 

feelin’ the LOVE! 

It’s feelin’ the “MESS”! 

        We are still toying with the idea of being 

open every Saturday! ???? 

Just this time of year with our cold, Cold, COLD 

temperatures it’s been impossible to work 

in the garage on furniture and such. 

I have no excuses for not working in the 

craft room though...

 except maybe the “winter blues”!  

          We will let you all know soon of our 

plans for the little bit of a country store... 

called THE WHISTLE STOP! 

 Bear says, “Winter is for Hibernating!” 

I knew I liked him for more 

than his good looks! He’s insightful too! 

  Thanks all for your patience!

     Laurie 

Just Waiting Patiently!

I keep checking every store I go to... 

and it's not there yet!

I can't wait to sit with a cup of tea 

 and browse the new

Flea Market Magazine. 

I've met several of the "STARS" that are 

pictured or have articles in the magazine 

so it will be even more exciting to read!  

A good friend of mine, Cammie from

Daffadowndilly's provided many of the 

old & wonderful junk that is pictured and 

used in many of the projects in the publication! 

It's due out the 23rd but, I've heard rumors 

of it possibly hitting news stands early.

If  you're a "magazine aholic" like me...

keep your eyes open for

Flea Market Style!

It should be a good one!

MEET BEAR!

... isn't he cute!

His face is just so sweet!

Some good friends of mine stopped by 

the other day bearing Christmas gifts! 

(no pun intended!)

  This little guy is jointed & made from 

red & blue mohair which was trimmed to 

give him a "well loved" look. I also received

a gift card to Starbucks! 

(I admit it... I am an iced tea addict! 

& spoiled by my friends!) 

I think Bear and I will share a Starbucks this 

weekend, cuddled up with a blankie & a stack 

of magazines It should make our

 "unbearable" winter temperatures

"BEARABLE"!

   

WE COULD OF USED THESE...

...last Saturday!

We through up the signs and opened the shop

so that customers could have one more chance

at some Holiday bargains before 

The Whistle Stop's long winter nap! 

We turn off the water when we're not there

and when we turned it on...

You guessed it...

It was raining out the light fixture 

and the door jam in our little kitchen.

Frozen pipes... Ughhh!

So good thing the hubby is handy! 

He's been playing "plumber" & "drywaller"

all week and next he'll be playing "painter"! 

You've got to love below zero winter temperatures...

... NOT! 

AND THE WINNER IS...

Today's the day!

Thank you to all who entered & linked

my give away to your sites!  I appreciate

you taking the time to stop by 

and visit The Whistle Stop's blog spot.

... and now for the lucky winner!

... Congratulations

Riverwood Primitives!

... please, go to my website

www.thewhistlestopcountrystore.com

and email me your address

and Shaker the Snowman

will be on it's way to you!

Thanks for entering!

The White Stuff Just Keeps Coming...

MORE SNOW... 

THE SNOWMEN HAVE TO BE LOVIN' IT...

... me not so much! 

Stay warm!

I Need Some Input...

What Path to Take? 

If you've ever been to my shop

The Whistle Stop 

or if you run a little shop,

 open everyday or event only,

I would love for you to share your

suggestions... let me know what

works for you.

If you hop on over to my message page on

my website it will give you some insight to what

I'm trying to figure out. My shop started out 16 1/2 years ago, 

open 6 days a week and over the years I have changed things a 

few times. The last several years I have been an event only

 store... & open Saturdays during November and December 

for the Holidays. It has worked well... until this past year I feel like

I need to "tweak" a few things. I guess as I get older & depend 

more on the income from the shop, I'm trying to figure out what 

would be best. I did admit to a few, and now to the world

that I did have a few "mini" meltdowns this season... 

Small shop owners out there...  you know all the hat's we wear.

purchasing agent, decorator, customer relations,

book keeper, PR & advertising agent, event coordinator,

creator of product, janitor... you could probably think of more I'm sure! 

Thanks for your help!

I appreciate all my friends in "blogland"!