Keep on Dreaming

I have been a long time believer in the Secret, positive thoughts, thoughts become things,etc. I am here to tell you it is all true. I am living a life I have long dreamed of, but for years didn't really think I would ever get to. After my change of employment I really started focusing on those long held dreams. Without knowing how, where, or with whom, I just put it all out there and out of the blue it has all come true....Ok, ok enough with my deep ramblings, on to shopping for the Holidays!

Molly and I have been working day and night (ok not night, we are both early birds) getting La Bella Vita/Retromantics ready for the Holidays. If I say so myself it is looking outstanding. There are gift ideas for all of your lovers of fibres and fripperies, and looks we can help you replicate at home.

We are holding classes every Sunday afternoon, 1 to 4, starting the 28 and continuing until Dec 19 to help you have a Homespun Upcycled Holiday season. Think English styled crackers, felted ornaments, vintage paper wrapped ornaments, recycled cuffs; cute, easy to do in one afternoon, and will add that personal touch to your gifts and decorations, that we are all wanting to add at the Holidays.

We have also added a couple of great lines of bath indulgences and amazing smelling candles. Fabulous holiday presents or hostess gifts.

Not to forget...Dec 4 is Mineral Point's Candlelight shopping evening. Galleries and Shops are open late and will greet you with festive food and drink. The town is lined with luminaries, chestnuts roasting, carolers, and just an amazing feeling of history, holidays gone by, and good will to men,(and of course women;).

So in this season of magic, keep on dreaming.

Kath

Life after Corporations

Just a short post to catch up....After what was basically 3 months of watching TV, grieving, and healing, life just flung open a door, shut off the TV and said GET GOING!

So much has happened in the last 2 weeks my head is still spinning. I think most of you know about how the talented and lovely Molly invited me to grow the Vintage business with her at her shop and gave me her back room to play in; however with her help, and boundless enthusiasm I am now expanding to her next door neighbor.

Starting this weekend I am opening the doors of Arkiteks Salvage most weekends until the end of the year. The equally lovely Arlene (and Frank) have graciously asked me to join them in the operating of their Amazing architectural salvage business! Retromantic Antiques will moving there bit by bit over the next few months. We are still working out the details but the building will be a meld of all 3 businesses. A full roll out will happen in the spring.

We have been working our butts off this last couple of weeks to get ready for the Fall Art Tour this weekend so if you get a chance come on by and say hi. Pics and more details later.

My Surprise

So I am VERY happy to announce I now have a presence in Downtown Mineral Point! Lovely M0lly Walz from the always cool and fun La Bella Vita Fibre Gallery http://www.labellavitamp.com/ has invited me to join her. I will be in the back room with a some contributions from other Vintage lovers. Retromantic will be the main inventory there and I get to style/design the room to my hearts content.

I will still have my cozy little shop at my home and be open Thursdays through Sundays but I get to help Molly out down at her shop too! So there may be times that you will see a sign at my home that reads "at La Bella Vita". Head on down the hill if you do.

I am also adding some bath and beauty items so watch for those in the next week or so. I am really excited about all of this and hope to see all of you soon. Check out the pics from the space at La Bella Vita. I took them really quick not wanting to disturb all the customers so watch for more pics later.

kath

Renewel of Spirit

I don't know about you, but the summer here this year has been draining. The heat and humidity that we have had virtually all summer along with my extreme change of lifestyle has been challenging. I HATE heat and have never been home all day every day.....

While my time home has been healing it has still been, (and still is) a huge change. But...along with the cooler temperature, and beautiful fall light, comes a lightness of spirit I have been waiting for. I am ready to redecorate my home and of course my shop RETROMANTIC ANTIQUES.

I have been gradually editing my home. As I let go of the negative energy I had been inundated with for so long at work, I am finding I want to also let go of some of the fussiness in my home. It is becoming lighter, cleaner, more focused. Pics to come in the coming weeks. I have also been working on a HUGE project in my kitchen. I am now on floor excavation part II. It is slow going and very hard on my hands and arms. Again pics to come. I know the project and aching knuckles will be worth it.

But back to the shop. I have been refining some ideas I've had for the shop this morning and the pics are just the beginning. Ideas and great stuff to cosy up your nest are being designed and set up.

I know I have been open a little haphazardly the last couple of weeks and I apologize if you have stopped by only to find me closed. To tell the truth that will be happening again this weekend. I am spending time with family before everyone gets so busy with School, and life.

Sorry this has been so rambling but welcome to my brain! lol. Back to the shop and to enjoy this GREAT weather. I will be open all day today(friday) Saturday morning, Sunday by chance. Regular hours starting again next week.

kath

Our trip to Iowa

Yesterday BE and I took a day trip to Iowa.

It was our anniversary and we decided Iowa was the most romantic place we could go...we're crazy like that. lol Anywho, we drove to Kalona. A cute little Mennonite town with a great sophisticated bistro, Tuscan Moon. We sat outside and had amazing sandwiches on cibatta bread and really great wine. Their wine list was pages long. Sorry no link I was sure they would have a web site....but if you are in that part of the country go.

But what really took us to this sweet little part of Iowa was my long desire to visit Sister's Garden and Bloom http://sistersgardeniowa.blogspot.com/. It was worth waiting for and definitely worth the drive.

It is right on hwy 1, two old buildings that are charming on their own but filled with goodies! The garden has treasures everywhere too from chairs hanging on wire to great old motel chairs. All the poor husbands hung out out there.

I however wanted to wander the 2 buildings forever. Every kind of shabby, chippy, rusty, goodie you can think of was creatively and charmingly arranged in multiple floor displays. Mixed in were lots of great smelling candles and soaps.

Can you tell I LOVED it? I am so inspired! Sometimes having my little shop in my home can kind of feel like a vacuum so it was great to see such creativity in work.

I hope to get back yet this fall. I wish I could go visit every week!

After that we wandered around Iowa City. What a great little city. Cute shops and pubs. I'm sure in a couple of weeks when the students are all back it will be hopping.

Dinner was at CiboFusion http://www.cibofusion.com/ in Cedar Rapids. Again amazing fresh interesting menu and a great atmosphere. All in all a very enjoyable day. Day trips can be the most fun we find. Discover some new spots and still be home to sleep in your own bed. So goes another glamorous day in the life of Kath and Brad....Glamour is so over rated.

k

p.s. all images are from the Sisters Bloom blog.

And the Winner is......

On my last post I mentioned a give away for those coming to my shopping and cocktails night. It was a lot of fun and I had a great turn out. I just picked a winner for this great vintage picnic basket filled with melmac dishes and cute table cloth from the 50's. Really cute and "green" right?

So the moment you have all been waiting for (lol)......

The winner is SANDY JONES!

Sandy I will contact you today and we can schedule a time to get your goodies!

New goodies being put in the shop and new staging ideas. Check us out.

New Hours: Thurs-Sun 11-6

I realize I haven't shared any shots of the shop for a while. Here's a peak of what you will see when you stop by now.

I included a couple of shots of my hanging baskets on my porch. They started out as the stack of great rusty baskets you'll see in the shots. Just add moss and lots of flowers and Voila! a very impressive statement for your garden.

I will be closed this Friday at 4 and all day Saturday. Off to a work event with the Hubbs. Back open Sunday.

Please join me if you can this coming Wed night for an evening of Shopping and Cocktails! 5 - 7 July 14th.

Enjoy the Sunshine!

kath