LaurieAnna's Vintage Home

April Showers, May Flowers, and Smiles

2013-05-11T11:47:00.000-05:00

April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring smiles!

I have loved flowers---and sharing them---for as long as I can remember.

When I was little, I used to spend weekends outside finding just the right flowers to pick and give to my grandmother. I am talking handfuls. Every size, shape and color. Every time I brought them to her, my grandmother would ooh and ahh as if each 'bouquet' was the first she had ever received. And then, I would receive the biggest compliment of all. She would place them in a mason jar with some water, and proudly display them on the kitchen table.

What I didn't realize back then was that many of those flowers were actually a weed. But, in my eyes, they were the most beautiful things I had ever seen.

Gorgeous purples, bright yellows, and other vibrant colors were so pretty to me, and I just had to share them with someone I loved! And my grandmother appreciated ever single weed, every single time. It makes me smile today as I think about how proudly she would display them, and how proud I felt each time she did.

I think all of those things---the act of gathering flowers in anticipation of giving them away, the wonderful feeling of knowing I made someone happy, the smile on my grandmother's face, the warm feeling of accomplishment I experienced with every mason-jar display---I think all of those things helped to shape the person I am today.

I still love flowers. In fact, we may have gotten carried away with flowers just a bit on our front and rear farmhouse porch this spring. But, who cares......it sure looks happy!

My love of flowers does not end at our home, you will always find fresh flowers tucked into displays at our Shoppe too......I just can't help myself.

I love the creative outlet that flowers provide, and the sweet way that flowers welcome family and friends.

But most of all, I love the smiles they bring!

All of the photos in this post are from our Farmhouse on Main......it has a big spring smile.

:-))

Ahhh, April

2013-04-02T09:53:00.000-05:00

It has to be one my favorite months of the year.

I love seeing the beautiful wildflowers and the famous Texas Bluebonnets that paint our highways and country roads.

highlandlakes.com

April temperatures are generally warm enough for us to open windows in the car and at home. Oh, the feel and smell of fresh, April breezes!

Seeing sweet spring babies gives me a sense of renewal.

loadpaper.com

And April also means spring cleaning.....but let's not go there yet.

:-))

At The Shoppe, April tends to be one of our busiest times of the year. I just love it!

And with the launch of our enhanced online shopping experience, things just got busier and better than ever! The addition of our linen and gauze clothing online is keeping us very very busy!!

April will be busy at the Farmhouse as well. Last Spring we spent a lot of time making over the back porch and yard.

So this year we have plans to "Springify" the front porch and walk among many other projects that have been awaiting their turn for some of our attention. :-))

How about you? Are you working on any special April projects?

All months bring something special, and every month (and day, and hour) is a blessing in my eyes.

But there is just something very special about April...

In Your Easter Bonnet?

2013-03-27T14:47:00.000-05:00

I was watching a movie the other day, and could not help but smile at scene depicting tons of kids and parents, dressed in their Sunday best, having the time of their lives at an Easter egg hunt. Memories of Easters past flooded my mind, and I soon found myself smiling from ear to ear.

While I don't remember ever wearing a 'bonnet', I did don my share of frilly, puffy, colorful dresses! Oh, and one more important adjective to describe those beautiful dresses my mom painstakingly picked out each year: scratchy. All of those stiff, lacy petticoats and ruffles just got the best of me. I would scratch, itch, and fidget all day long. Maybe that explains why I so love to wear the beautiful----and comfortably soft---linen and gauze clothes we carry at The Shoppe today!

I also remember wearing those Patton leather shoes---so shiny and new! They were always paired with ruffled white socks. We did not get new shoes often, so I wore them proudly each year. And let me tell you, the shoes were much more comfy than the dresses! I loved them so much, my mom often had to talk me out of them before bed.

Then there was the beloved Easter egg hunt. A competition, generally with my cousins, that was the highlight of my day. Oh yes, I was in it to win it---and I knew just where to look. I could always be guaranteed of finding a treasured stash of brightly colored eggs inside the tire swing, nestled in the coiled up water hose, bunched at the base of the back porch stairs, and 'hidden' in the crook of a favorite tree.

And the day was not complete without a big, delicious dinner with family after church. Easter dinners ranked right up there with Thanksgiving. After all, we were giving thanks each Easter for the most precious gift of all.

From our LaurieAnna's family to yours, we wish you all a very happy Easter. Here's to making tons of wonderful Easter memories!

P.S. - Don't forget about our modified Easter hours for this weekend's show only. We hope you will stop by for a visit:

Thursday from 9am - 5pm

Friday and Saturday from 9am - 7pm

Closed on Easter Sunday

Keeping My Faith

2013-03-16T14:00:00.000-05:00

Being a shoppe-owner is a joy, but it certainly has its fair share of challenging decisions. Some decisions are so easy that the answer just pops right into your head. While other decisions can take a long period of time to get a feel for what is right. Through my years, I’ve found that I tend to choose incorrectly when I go against my first instincts.

Last month we discovered that Easter Sunday falls during the First Monday show. I must confess that this snuck up on us because in the 8 years since we've been in business, Easter has never fallen during a First Monday show. Even still, my first instinct was, "we will be closed".

However, recent input suggested we would catch heat for being closed on that Sunday because it was during First Monday. Others pointed out the obvious, that April is one of our biggest shows of the year and it's foolish to miss the opportunity to sell, particularly since we are only open 4 days per month. And potential customer disappointment was a big concern for me.

All of the points shared were from intelligent and well meaning minds. However, none of the points were strong enough to get me past this thought..... we should be closed because it's what my heart and faith know to be right.

So, I'm keeping my faith.

Faith that closing the Shoppe on Easter Sunday is the right and best choice for us and for our business despite that it's First Monday weekend and that others may be open.

Faith that my amazing crew will appreciate being able to spend Easter with their families.

Faith that extending our store hours to 7pm on Friday & Saturday during the show will still allow us to serve our customers.

And faith that our wonderful customers will respect this very personal decision.

The upcoming show takes place March 28 - 30. We hope you will stop by for a visit! You will find the Shoppe open Thursday 9am - 5pm, Fri & Sat 9am - 7pm.

We look forward to seeing you here!

March Madness

2013-03-05T00:30:00.000-06:00

Nope, I'm not talking about basketball. I'm talking about the wonderful, crazy, blessed madness that is March at LaurieAnna's!

EARLY MARCH:
Our March show was simply amazing.

We had so much fun showing off the new 'farmhouse' room in our expanded space.

We heard tons of wonderful compliments on our new products.

As always, the Shoppe was filled with lots of new customers, long time friends, fur babies, and sweet lil ones.

Photos such as these are just a few of the things that make LaurieAnna's more like a home than a store. :-))

I loved this cute lil LaurieAnna's shopper in training.....look at her sweet lil purse. :-))

Even Zeek could hardly believe how wonderfully crazy our March show turned out! He was just a bit overwhelmed by it all!

MID MARCH:
Between getting our expanded space ready and ordering, pricing, and placing product, I have been busy loading gobs and gobs of items to our online store.

Keep your eyes on LaurieAnnas.com to witness the launch of our new and expanded online store---and to experience a truly unique online shopping adventure!

LATE MARCH:
Yep - we are already planning for the next show at the end of the month.
Truckloads of new merchandise continue to be delivered daily.

In addition, we are expanding our clothing and jewelry lines!

We heard you, and we are delivering items like these.....

Aren't they wonderful?

Whew! March definitely came in like a lion---and it looks like it will go out the same way.

Yes, 'March Madness' has me busier and crazier than ever----and I would not have it any other way!

On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow!

2013-02-27T00:12:00.001-06:00

We are thrilled to announce that we will be expanding The Shoppe once again! So, along with our new spring merchandise, expect to see even more of LaurieAnna's when you visit us for the March show!

We are so blessed to have this opportunity to grow----and to grow so fast. In fact, hubby and I were reminiscing about how quickly it all has happened.

This show will also be the 8th anniversary of LaurieAnna's! Over the past 8 years, we've gone from booth to Yellow House, to The Shoppe, to the expanded Shoppe----and now we are expanding the expansion! It's been a wild ride!

With the additional room, The Shoppe has now grown to almost 10,000 square feet! WOW! It's simply mind-boggling!

In addition to growth at the physical store, we have been diligently working on an expansion of the online store which we will soon share with you! What kinds of things would you like to see featured in the new space and online?

Come see us! The fun all begins on this Thursday morning at 9am, show dates are Feb 28th - March 3rd.

Store hours:

Thursday 9am - 5pm

Friday & Saturday 9am - 6pm

Sunday 9am-5pm

Be My Valentine!

2013-02-14T08:14:00.006-06:00

I can't help but feel warm and cuddly when I think about Valentine's Day.

Valentines we exchanged as children were simple and silly. They were not meant for romance (we were children, after all), but were made to make us smile. I still remember creating a decorated cigar box to collect Valentines from classmates. Do you remember those times? And, do you remember adorable Valentine's cards like some of these?

They still make me smile! :-))

museumofcute.blogspot.com

Now as an adult, Valentine's Day represents a number of other things to me...

TRUE LOVE: What more can I say? I am a hopeless romantic, and love celebrating this special day with my wonderful hubby. He is my best friend, biggest cheerleader, and true love!

THE BLESSING OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS: They offer us unconditional love, laughter, hugs, support, encouragement....the list goes on and on. On a day that represents 'love', it's hard not to think of the special relationships we hold with family and friends---including our extended Laurieanna's family of customers and crew!

PASSION: Not just passion for a person, but passion for a belief, a cause...and even a job. I am so blessed to do what I love. Thank you for allowing me to share it with you!

What words or memories come to mind when you think about Valentine's Day?

Thank you all for the warmth and love you send to us at LaurieAnna's year round, each and every time to visit us in person or online. And we send it right back to you---with big, big hugs!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

The Wonderfully Wild February Show & Warehouse Sale

2013-02-09T11:55:00.000-06:00

Spring was already popping up in the Shoppe this past show and really kept us hopping! But, total craziness is the phrase that best describes the atmosphere of our first ever warehouse sale!!

Hundreds of you shopped the sale during your visit to the Shoppe and our little yellow building was buzzing! Over a hundred people were lined up when we opened at 9am on Saturday morning.....the turnout was positively overwhelming and beyond anything we ever expected! Thank you!

First time visitors Shawn and Natasha heard about us from friend who planned on coming with them, but had to miss because her husband was sick.

As much as they missed their friend, Shawn and Natasha admitted that it all worked out for the best---because there simply would not have been enough room their friend AND all of the treasures they found! In fact, they were barely able to close their SUV doors!

After they finished up at the warehouse sale, Shawn and Natasha visited us at The Shoppe to say, "hello" and to get a first glimpse of the store. It was such a pleasure meeting both of you sweet ladies. We hope to see you again next month, with your friend in tow!

Another group of wonderful ladies noticed the warehouse sale when they were making their inaugural visit to LaurieAnna's. Betsy, Emily and Callie were all on hand to give beautiful Kaitlin (age 3) some shopping tips! We hope you all enjoyed your first visit and will come back very soon!

And we always, always love seeing our returning customers, like precious Chanel and her sweet human, Audra. They have been friends of LaurieAnna's for over three years, and it's such a joy to see them at The Shoppe on a regular basis. In fact, I have been known to 'babysit' Chanel while Audra does a little shopping! :-))

To the hundreds and hundreds of you who stopped in, we can't thank you enough for making our February show such a success---and so incredibly fun! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being a part of the maiden voyage of our wild and whimsical event! We will definitely do it again this summer!

Ready, Set, Shop! ~ Our First Warehouse Sale!

2013-01-30T13:53:00.000-06:00

Since our last show, hubby and I have been hopping planes and covering ground----on search of perfect treasures to celebrate Spring. And boy, did we find them! And we kept finding them...and kept finding them...

We have so many new and exciting items to fill the Shoppe! From exquisite lighting and décor, to beautiful clothing and jewelry, the Shoppe will be stuffed full of new items as we kick off the Spring season.

In order to make room for all of the wonderful new merchandise, we are excited to be holding our very first 'Warehouse Sale' during our February show!

The 'Warehouse Sale' will take place on Saturday and Sunday, February 2 and 3, at our former Laurieanna's store site (the yellow house right next door to our current Shoppe), making it easy for you to visit us at both locations during your upcoming trip.

'Warehouse Sale' items will include remaining holiday goodies, slightly imperfect inventory, and other popular Laurieanna's merchandise that we simply need to move.

Our regular show at The Shoppe gets underway on Thursday, January 31 at 9:00 a.m.

We hope you can join us for all of the fun!

February Show Hours (at The Shoppe):

Thu., Jan 31 9-5

Fri., Feb 1 9-6

Sat., Feb 2 9-6

Sun., Feb 3 9-5

'Warehouse Sale' Hours (at The Yellow House):

Sat., Feb 1 9-6

Sun., Feb 2 9-5

NOTE regarding the WAREHOUSE SALE: No presales, all sales are final, CASH ONLY, no credit cards or checks accepted.

Looking Back at 2012

2013-01-02T05:22:00.000-06:00

This year has been a whirlwind of amazing events for us. So many exciting projects and accomplishments to celebrate!

At the farmhouse we completed several projects that were well received. Our 3 most popular farmhouse projects, according to the stats here on the blog which referenced over 30,000 hits, were: (you can click on the title to visit the specific post)

#1 Our Farmhouse Dining Room

#2 Back Door Guests are Best

#3 Farmhouse Bedroom Reveal

And getting an honorable mention was the DIY Shutter Plate Rack. This little project received a huge amount of traffic! :-))

Other celebrations, thanks to Romantic Homes we enjoyed some great press. And once again LaurieAnna's Vintage Home was named one of the best stores in Texas!

It was also a huge year of growth for us. We almost doubled the size of the Shoppe by adding almost 4,000 square feet in shopping space this Fall, we added tons of new products to our brand, and almost doubled the size of our LaurieAnna's crew!

Looking ahead, 2013 is shaping up to be an even more exiting year for us and I have set some pretty serious goals.

But before I share details, I think it’s important to first recognize the lessons from 2012. There were many of them, but the most profound….. the lesson that I will carry with me into the year ahead is this:

To enjoy the journey and trust the path.

Our lives are beyond busy, and many times hubby and I are planning the next project before we’ve even finished the current project. Don’t get me wrong, planning is a good thing, but sometimes in our enthusiasm to move on to the next project, we must remember to take time to celebrate our accomplishments. I think the loss of my precious Father-in-Law had a great deal to do with the impact of this realization. Life should be a journey of celebrations, his life was certainly a testament to that.

This was a simple lesson, but I've found that the simplest lessons are usually the ones that can make the biggest difference in our lives. I'm thankful for all that the amazing past year has held for us and also for the lessons that increased my wisdom about life. :-))

How about you? What lessons did you learn over the past year?

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P.S. The Canton show takes place Jan 3rd - 6th and begins on Thursday morning at 9am. Come enjoy our HUGE after Christmas sale!! :-))

New Year's Traditions

2012-12-31T23:43:00.001-06:00

Hubby and I have been busy preparing for the January show, and spent some time talking about some of our favorite New Year's traditions.

Here in the South, no New Year's day is complete without eating a heaping helping of Hoppin' John - black eyed peas with ham hocks. I can't remember a New Year's day without them!

Several years ago, one of our friends from the North introduced us to pork and sauerkraut, simmered together with apples. She explained that this recipe was passed down from the Pennsylvania Dutch, and we were glad it was passed down to us - it was delicious!

What foods are traditional New Year's fare in your homes?

After a day of great food and football with friends and family, we are generally happy to settle in to watch New Year's celebrations on TV. The dropping of the ball in Times Square never disappoints, and it's so much fun to see video of beautiful celebrations around the world.

There are so many culturally relevant traditions celebrated at this time of year. It seems that all inspire us to make the coming year a great one, and to always remember people of the past with fondness.

And it is with great fondness that we always remember our wonderful LaurieAnna's customers and followers. You all mean so much to us, and have certainly inspired me to make each and every show in 2013 something special - with you in mind.

From our home to yours, we wish you much happiness and wonderful health in 2013. We look forward to sharing the coming year with you!

The Customer Experience

2012-12-20T19:00:00.000-06:00

As this year winds down and we get ready to start new adventures in 2013, I've been doing a little thinking. I've been asking myself, "What do I want for my customers?"

As you can imagine, many answers have come to mind. From great products, to friendly staff, and everything in between, the thoughts that pop into my mind have been endless.

But the one word that keeps resounding in my head is 'experience'---I strive for the Shoppe to be an "experience". I love Webster's definition of the word......

"The fact or state of having been affected."

BINGO! The dictionary magically put my thoughts into the perfect sentence. I want our customers to truly be affected when they visit our Shoppe, to leave happier than when they came in.

When you reflect on trips you have made to certain destinations, do you recall truly being affected? I know I do. The Disney experience is certainly top of mind. I also think of specific hotels and restaurants that Willie and I will frequent over and over again simply because they deliver an experience that affects us. And each wonderful experience seems to have the same consistent elements we strive to deliver at LaurieAnna's:

1. They are happy to see us! We are not just greeted---we are greeted sincerely. We are welcomed in the same way we would welcome guests into our own home.

2. We are treated with kindness and respect throughout our visit, delivered by every single employee. It's evident that the owners put thought into the character of who they hire.

3. We are provided with help on a personal level---with friendliness, warmth, and with a desire to get to know us. Many times they already know what we like. If they don't know, they find out---not in a pushy, 'salesy' way, but with sincerity and a desire to help.

4. They love what they do. The owners and staff have passion for their work, and their passion is contagious.

5. They have fun! They are happy to be at work (which is easy when you are passionate about what you do), and their happiness spreads from employees to customers. There are plenty of smiles and laughter. Customers leave happy and want to come back.

So that's our 2013 list of the top 5 elements that will help us achieve our goal to create a wonderful "experience" that truly affects our guests.

The short version of the above list......

I want you to love the Shoppe the way that I love it. :-))

From Willie, myself, and our entire staff, we wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a very happy, safe and blessed New Year!

A December to Remember!

2012-12-04T23:50:00.000-06:00

Our December show is going on record as our best ever, and all because of you---our amazing customers!

I could feel the holiday cheer as I walked through the Shoppe getting to know new customers and catching up with so many of our loyal returners. My cheeks were sweetly sore from smiling and laughing as many of you shared your stories with us. And now it is my pleasure to share some of your stories with our readers...

Long time customers Roxanne Spradlin and Shirley McCarty came in from Temple, Texas to pick up a few Christmas goodies, find some new home decor and, of course, find a few treasures for themselves. Roxanne and Shirley have followed us since our days at the Arbors, and we were thrilled to have them back with us!

Ginger Maxey visited us all the way from Wichita, Kansas! She discovered our blog and set a personal goal to meet us in person. On vacation and headed to San Antonio, we were the first destination stop for Ginger and her husband. Her shirt says it all---"He hunts. I shop!" Thank you, Ginger, for making LaurieAnna's part of your vacation!

While searching online for different shops in Canton, Christina Bennett and Gloria Albertson discovered our Shoppe and Facebook page. We hope they enjoyed their first visit as much as we enjoyed having them, and we look forward to seeing them again at future shows!

And ladies were not our only shoppers. Pat Kelley and grandson, Blake Jackson, joined us for some holiday shopping. Hailing from Houston and Austin respectively, Pat and Blake added to our Christmas cheer! While Pat is a returning customer, this was Blake's first visit to LaurieAnna's. Blake is the 11th grandchild for Pat and his wife, and we look forward to meeting many more Kelley family members on future visits!

As they were leaving the flea market grounds and loading their car, Melissa Bienvenu and Jenny Mourad were approached by some visitors from Houston who asked them if they knew of a good place to eat. Melissa and Jenny were happy to make a restaurant recommendation in exchange for a shopping tip, and they were promptly referred to our Shoppe! We were extremely flattered as these two delightful ladies shared their thoughts about their first visit to LaurieAnna's. Phrases such as, "We are in awe", "You are going to be famous" , "Nothing like I've ever see!" "You should be in Manhattan, NY" made us feel so blessed. Thank you , Melissa and Jenny, for making our December even brighter. We can't wait to see you again!

Loads of LaurieAnna shoppers in training were present, such as this cutie patootie, Laney Kate!

We also discovered that our shoppers come in all shapes, sizes, and...species! We loved meeting Harley and Cookie, along with their humans, Brad and Melody Shaffer! Harley, Cookie, Brad, and Melody visited us all the way from New Orleans. We are so glad they dropped in!

And last, but not least, no show would be complete without a visit from 1 and 2 (aka Carla and Amy)! Looks like they did some serious shopping---again!

I so wish there would have been enough time for me to visit with every customer that stopped by last week. All of you---each and every one---are so special to us. We are truly blessed that you are part of our extended LaurieAnna's family. Thank you for making this a December to remember!

Twas the Night Before Show-Time

2012-11-26T00:30:00.000-06:00

Twas the night before show-time and all thru the shoppe

I was fretting and fluffing - the store had to pop

The crew were all present and ready to go

Time to decorate trees and put out the snow

When back from the warehouse there arose such a clatter

Willie sprang to his feet to see what was the matter

He found Kenny and Rodney with boxes galore

Full of newly shipped treasures to go on the floor

Now Denis, now Patty, now Deborah and Jan

Get that merchandise priced as fast as you can

Put out the owls, and the penguins, and candles

Grab the pretty new garland and decorate the mantles

More jewelry, more scarves, more clothes to wear

Grab that chandelier, Willie - let's put it up there

More mirrors to shine, more lights to light

We worked frantically through most of the night

When our work was done and the store a-glow

I knew at last, we were ready for the show

With lots of new merchandise and fun things to share

The fun begins Thursday, November 29th - can't wait to see you there!

Store location:

1457 N. Trade Days Blvd., Canton, Texas 75103

Store Hours:

Thursday 9am - 5pm

Friday & Saturday 9am - 6pm

Sunday 9am - 5pm

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Shop online HERE.

A Family Treasure

2012-11-15T12:15:00.002-06:00

Many years ago I read a book titled “The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw, one of the most touching books I’ve had the pleasure to read. It celebrates the lives of the heroes and heroines that came of age during the Great Depression and World War II.

My Father-in-law, Robert Sigler, was one of the incredible men that made up this amazing generation.

As a Veteran of World War II, where he fought in Germany and was injured, he was awarded many medals including a Purple Heart.

In 1943 he married my sweet mother-in-law. They have lived in the same home their entire marriage where they raised 5 children, the youngest of which is my husband.

Their lives, which were built upon a foundation of faith and love, have been blessed with 9 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and countless friends.

He was a volunteer firefighter and a faithful servant of the First Baptist Church of Cleveland for 70 years where he was also a Deacon for over 50 years. His was a lifetime of service and dedication to his family, friends, and community.

Shortly after the past Canton show, we received word that my precious Father-in-law had fallen seriously ill. We’ve spent virtually every hour with him and our family since the sad news and we were with him when he was called home to be with the Lord earlier this week.

Many tears have been shed over the past 10 days, but there have also been many smiles as we've dug through decades of photos for a memorial video that I assembled to celebrate the long and abundant life of this gentle and loving man.

It was just 2 weeks ago that I took these last two photos when we all celebrated their 70^th Wedding Anniversary.

Seventy years in marriage……truly a rarity, as was he.

A faithful and loving husband, daddy, and pawpaw, he was one of the best men I have ever known, an honor followed closely by his 3 sons. Our hearts are aching at the loss of this precious man but we find comfort in knowing that he is now with our Savior and that we will one day see him again.

Robert Sigler 1923 – 2012

We love you daddy.

P.S. Please pray for our family as our hearts struggle with this great loss.

Switching Gears.....

2012-10-04T20:32:00.001-05:00

Whew! The Shoppe expansion has kept hubby and I so busy over the past few months that our sweet farmhouse has had to sit on the back burner.

No complaints, I do love to work on the Shoppe, but I've been longing to give some attention to our little place again.

With the Shoppe expansion behind us, we are eager to now tackle another room makeover at our little Farmhouse on Main.

Our next project? ......

The master bedroom!

I've spent some time this week designing the space and we will begin digging into it this weekend.

But first, let me share a few BEFORE photos of the space.

Vintage details, 12' ceiling height, old moldings, long windows, and beadboard ceilings bring loads of charm to the space, but it is not without design challenges.

Many changes lay ahead for this room that will include lots of painting, construction, electrical, sewing, and plenty of furniture moving. I'll share our progress as we move through the makeover along with the solutions we found for some of the design obstacles. Using the weekends this month we hope to complete the room before our next show. Fingers crossed... :-))

How about you, any DIY projects on your horizon?

~ Real Treasure ~

2012-09-16T12:28:00.003-05:00

We may have finished the Shoppe expansion, but Fall and Christmas goodies have been arriving by the truckloads daily! You will not believe how much new stuff we have this month.....it's CRAZY!!

It's made for some long hours at the Shoppe, but several on the crew alongside hubby and I are having a great time getting it done. :-))

This week my precious friend Patty, who is a part of our crew, had her hubby Ronnie bring in a surprise while we were all eating lunch. A surprise that she had been working on for a while.

Using the photo above that she found HERE on my blog, she painted a portrait of our sweet boy Zeek.

Zeek takes every step we do, both at home and at work, and he's been with us for his entire 13 years so you can probably imagine the impact such a thoughtful effort would have on me.

Her talented hands captured his sweet face so perfectly and I LOVE that the porch of our farmhouse is included in the painting. But, even more I love that it was painted as a surprise gift from a very precious and talented friend.

Take a look at her wonderful work.....

Isn't that amazing?

She painted that from a photo on my blog.....such incredible talent!

You may remember that Patty was the artist for the wonderful painting (shown below) that was featured in our farmhouse dining room makeover HERE. I told her we are working on our own little artist gallery of her work. :-))

The painting will very soon find its place inside the Farmhouse on Main, but first I want to share it with our customers. So this month you can see it hanging behind the sales counter at the Shoppe. You'll also find Patty's sweet smiling face on the salesfloor.

The Shoppe will be filled to the brim with treasures for the upcoming show, but the wonderful people on my crew are the true treasures.

I'm so thankful for the friends in my life.....so very very thankful.

Thank you Patty!

Catching My Breath

2012-09-04T14:33:00.001-05:00

Why is it when I have the most to blog about, I have the least amount of time to do it? The past couple months have been a whirlwind of events at a dizzying pace for hubby and I and we're still trying to catch our breath.

Now with the expansion of the Shoppe completed I hope to regain some balance in my life. I have so much to share with you including an update on the explosive success of our past show as well as details about many exciting things in our future.

Thank you to everyone that came out to see us this month, it was so nice to see so many of our good friends and make lots of new ones! Our list of friends over the past 7 and half years just keeps growing and growing!

One of the sweetest things during the show was a visit from our sweet friend Amy, or as we affectionately call her.....#1. She and her close friend Carla, whom we've always called #2, for many years were always the first 2 people in line for our special events. Amy came in this month with her family, they were celebrating her great neice Stella's 1st birthday. Stella is a cutie and a LaurieAnna's shopper in training.:-))

Thank you ladies, and a big Happy Birthday to Stella!

I love this business so much, but these are the moments that mean the most.

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A Farmhouse Staple: The Mason Jar! - Farmhouse Friday #26

2012-08-17T23:47:00.003-05:00

There are certain staples that come to mind when thinking about the farmhouse, and the Mason jar is certainly at the top of my list! Why? Because this wonderful, multipurpose vessel has the magical power to bring family together.

Something Borrowed Wedding Guide

Can’t you just picture time in the farmhouse kitchen filled with generations of family – grandmother, mom, and daughter – all using Mason jars to can (otherwise known to my family as “putting up”) preserves, pickles, and other delicious goodies loving made from secret family recipes? What are some of your favorite foods to can?

No meal around the farmhouse dinner table would be complete without a Mason jar filled with sweet tea or lemonade!

Visions of kids spending balmy summer evenings catching fireflies include the reliable Mason jar as a temporary home for the prized catches until it’s time to count and release them. Then the Mason jar goes back on the shelf to wait for the next night’s fun!

The Mason jar provides additional time with kids and, yes, even husbands, when families work together on fun farmhouse projects.

Bride Pop

Kids can create decorative masterpieces by using Mason jars to display flowers, buttons, or candles.

Moms may want to fill them with handwritten notes, capturing precious memories to pass down to kids.

Every Day Trish

And husbands can certainly join in helping to create beautiful lighting fixtures.

What are some of your favorite ways to repurpose Mason jars?

- LaurieAnna's in Romantic Homes Magazine

2012-08-06T19:31:00.000-05:00

The September issue of Romantic Homes magazine sure brought a big smile to my face.

Why?

Because our store is featured on pages 70-72!

How stinkin cool is that? :-))

Thank you Rebecca Ittner and Romantic Homes magazine for highlighting our shoppe in such a lovely article.

We're just a little excited about it!! :-))

Summer Flowers, Fragrances and Smiles - Farmhouse Friday #26

2012-08-03T10:58:00.000-05:00

How do you display your farmhouse flowers? With our temperatures climbing over the 100+ degree mark, our flower gardens seem to be gasping for relief.

So this Farmhouse Friday will bring thoughts of early summer when our flower beds and herb gardens were alive with color and the smell of summer was all around. From the fragrance of lilacs to rosemary and gardenias to fresh thyme, it all seems to evoke the joys of summer.

Family reunions, nights filled with stars so bright you felt as if you could reach up and touch them, sipping ice tea on a front porch or just eating a big bowl of homemade ice cream. Those are what summer farmhouse memories are made of, finding beautiful scenery in the smallest of spaces...to the larger ones as well.

Even our furry friends enjoy the beauty of flowers

Don't you just love how these flowers look on this chair. Simple yet so elegant.

What about this great vintage can filled with the soft beautiful colors

For a simple splash of freshness, a small basket hanging from a door handle seems to do the trick

What about this display using old wood boxes

Can you see yourself sitting across from someone special with a warm summer breeze blowing

If you love more color from your summer flowers, what do you think about the blue gate surrounded by this beautiful vibrant color?

I just love fresh flowers and beautiful farmhouse gardens. What kind of gardens do you prefer? Do you have a "cutting" garden that you can cut fresh flowers daily? Do you plant flower gardens to attract butterflies or hummingbirds?

Do you put birdhouses in your flower gardens for our feathered friends to enjoy?

Whatever your choice, I think we can all agree that flowers play a huge part in putting a smile on our face and helps soothes the soul. Just the smell of a certain flower can bring back summer childhood memories. So until the hot temperatures subside, I hope I have given you some fun ideas to start your own creative process to display your flowers.

As most of you know, we are busy preparing the Shoppe for the new expansion. Days are turning into nights and nights into days. Everyone at LaurieAnna's is working so hard to bring you the most exciting "reveal" in September. Check out our facebook page and pinterest to keep up with our progress!

Let the Shopping Begin!

2012-07-30T13:00:00.002-05:00

The Canton show is upon us!

This will be the last show in our "smaller" Shoppe, and we are busting at the seams as we await the expansion. So there is lots of great shopping this show!

The Shoppe opens at 9am on Thursday morning.

Show Dates & Hours:

Thursday, Aug. 2nd, 9am - 5pm

Friday & Saturday, Aug. 3rd-4th, 9am - 6pm

Sunday, Aug. 5th, 9am - 5pm

Then after we lock the doors on Sunday evening, we will be in full swing transformation for our reveal next month! I'm so excited!

Our address is 1457 N. Trade Days Blvd, Canton, Texas 75103

And, for those of you in Dallas, my dear friend and clothing designer, Sharon Young, is having her quarterly warehouse clearance sale!!

The address for the sale is 10367 Brockwood Rd., Dallas, TX, 75238

You will not believe the amount of great clothing at this sale!

So get out this weekend and take advantage of the great shopping!

We look forward to seeing you!

Farmhouse Living Not Just for Farmhouses - Farmhouse Friday #25

2012-07-27T11:13:00.000-05:00

Farmhouse living.

It's the simplicity of place, space and pace.

Life seems to slow down a touch and the appreciation of all the senses come alive. Touching the earth while planting vegetables, herbs or flowers....seeing the beautiful colors they produce.

Smelling the aromas of fresh herbs, fresh flowers and clean fresh linens hanging out to dry among them.

Tasting homemade meals from the garden, fresh squeezed lemonade or ice tea with mint... life doesn't get much better.

One doesn't need to live in a farmhouse to experience farmhouse living. It's easy to do even in the big city!

More and more I see small vegetable gardens popping up on the side of many homes in urban neighborhoods. Apartment balconies have turned into beautiful petite gardens with pots of flowers, tomato plants and fragrant fresh herbs growing.

You too can turn a corner of your backyard or patio into a farm house way of living. Even get creative to create your space.

But most importantly, always remember to find a special and serene spot to sit, enjoy and take in the simplicity of your place and space, at a very refreshing pace.

Some of my favorite herbs are Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage & all varieties of Mint & Thyme.

What are yours?

Some images were found on Pinterest. Click on the photo to visit their site.

A Very Special Summer Camp - The Treasure of Life

2012-07-23T10:30:00.000-05:00

Some of my fondest summertime memories are those of days at camp. The thought of an entire week away from home was both exciting and scary.

Little did I know that time spent with friends, enjoying wonderful camp activities, would also serve to teach me responsibility, leadership and yes, even entrepreneurship!

Did you attend camp when you were younger?

What are some of your favorite summer camp memories?

I want to take time to introduce our blog community to a specific camp that is dear to me. Dear to me because several of our Laurieanna’s staff volunteer there each summer. Dear to me because of the amazing work this specialty camp does with kids. And, because I know your amazing spirit, I believe it will become dear to you too!

Camp El Tesoro De La Vida, spanish for "the treasure of life", is a week-long grief recovery camp for kids ages 6 – 17 who have suffered the death of a loved one----a father, a mother, a sibling.

Kids spend the week doing all of those fun things we did at camp (horseback riding, canoeing, hiking, etc.), plus they participate in structured group counseling sessions led by licensed therapists.

El Tesoro De La Vida is celebrating its 25^th year this summer. Since words are just not adequate to describe the amazing impact this camp has on kids, watch the video below to see and hear about it from campers and volunteers. It's an amazingly touching video, so be sure to keep some tissue handy.

Did you recognize Denis in the video? This summer marks his 20^th year as a De La Vida volunteer, and his 17^th as the Volunteer Camp Director.

Our own Tracy and Debbie serve in volunteer leadership roles as well. Denis, Tracy and Debbie, all in the photo above, leave for camp this Friday, July 27.

Please join me in wishing them a successful week ahead and thank them for taking a week out of their busy schedules to make a difference in a child's life.

And to also extend a Happy 25th Anniversary to Camp El Tesoro De La Vida!

The Farmhouse Front Porch in Summer - Farmhouse Friday #24

2012-07-20T01:00:00.001-05:00

It’s a great place to sit in rockers, catching up with family and neighbors. It serves as a prime viewing spot for watching both kids and fireflies. But most of all, it’s the perfect place for making homemade ice cream!

Special thanks to David and Susan Smith of Keller, Texas for allowing us to photograph their beautiful farmhouse porch and vintage ice cream maker!

Let’s be clear. Front porch ice cream making is done the old fashioned way---with a wonderful, old, hand-cranked ice cream bucket. No fancy gelato machines are involved, and there is certainly no need for electricity.

One of my favorite memories of making homemade ice cream was sitting atop a towel folded over the ice-filled bucket. I certainly didn’t mind the cool perch in heat of the summer, and I was always one of the first to know when the ice cream was almost ready---the slowed churning as the ice cream hardened was always a good signal! What are some of your favorite ice cream making memories?

I’ve included a wonderful family recipe that has proven to be versatile over the years. Simply add your choice of ‘mixings’ and enjoy! One of my favorite things to add is 3 cups of pureed fresh strawberries. Several cups of crushed up candy bars are also a nice choice.

What other ingredients do you think would be delicious?

Homemade Ice Cream:

2 cups milk

1 cup sugar

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla

This blend of ingredients will make a delicious batch of ice cream!

Martha Stewart offers some great tips and advice HERE for those of you that may be new to using an antique hand crank ice cream bucket.

Would you enjoy seeing more farmhouse recipes?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

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