A Big Welcome to Romantic Homes Readers!

Okay, pardon the interruption and my apologies in advance for taking a moment here to toot my own horn...but I just have to share this with you. Romantic Homes magazine named me as one of their esteemed "Romantics" this year. I'm just tickled pink (get my cheesy tie-in to Valentine's Day?) But seriously, it is quite an honor for me, especially considering some of the other extremely talented and creative folks that also grace the pages; Margrit Biever Mondavi of Mondavi wines, Libby Langdon of "Small Space, Big Style" on HGTV, Corey Amaro, photographer/blogger, St. Zacharie, France, Kenneth Brown host of HGTV's "reDESIGN", TLC's "Over Designed", and MSN's "Interior Design Expert", Lidy Baars, antiquarian of the French Garden House in California just to name a few. A huge thank you to Jacqueline and her team at Romantic Homes!

I was asked to write about how I live a romantic life (well, anyone out there with three children want to try answering that?) Anyone who knows me also knows I can talk...a lot. But writing about yourself is a whole different thing. I was at a loss and it took me a few weeks to be able to determine my direction because the most important thing for me was that when people read it, they connected to what I was saying. I believe one of the reasons people enjoy coming to the shop is because of the feeling they get when they walk in or look at the website. I am able to generate this feeling because it aligns with who I am deep down inside. All of the things I do (the shop, website, blog, etc) are fun for me because I don't have to think about it, I just do what I "feel". I am connected to the shop and to my customers in a way that I cannot adequately describe and that's what makes it "romantic".

So here it is...the article I wrote and the final photos they decided to use. At first I was very bummed to see they misspelled my last name (it's Maughmer...pronounced Moffmer) but quickly let it go. Truly, in the bigger scheme of things, it's not a big deal. Then I remembered a great quote from fellow blogger Sharon Wilson....

"At this stage of the game, you just can't take anything too serious, it's about life and art and the drive to make it all happen, the humility to keep it in perspective...And a great punch line..."

(((punchline here would be from my husband who reminds me HIS name is misspelled on our marriage license and that's the same as a "Get Out of Jail Free" card)))

This is me being camera shy. I have never seen a photo of me that I have been happy with (oh aren't we women so critical of ourselves?!)

A token of the lover's holiday, a set of hand poured and cut porcelain X & O. This darling duo resides on my husband's nightstand. An elegant and delicate reminder that saying "I DO" out loud is a legal and binding contract regardless of your name being misspelled on the marriage license.

Some treasures I covet...the letters (addressed to Bexley Station...I grew up in Bexley, Ohio) have since found a home with a customer, the quail eggs and cloches I always have in the shop (and at home).

For a little over 2 months the state route near the shop and my house was closed and this is the road I had to drive to get from point A to point B. This particular morning the fog was hanging in the low spots...enough for me to take pause in my rush and admire the simple and amazing beauty of His handiwork. It was a blessing that road was closed.

I don't own this painting nor do I know anything about it. I stumbled on the image somewhere on line and her eyes captured me. They are familiar. They remind me of a beautiful and itelligent young lady I know.

And of course my love of ironstone. The engraved napkin rings made their way to California. A customer was visiting family here and they came out to the shop together. She did not buy the napkin rings during her visit but thought about them all the way home to the west coast. Once home she called to see if I still had them and could I mail them? Yes of course!!

The storefront and some other photos...