Spring is beginning to bloom...with new finds

available for purchase here

two sizes of these great burlap totes with vintage wine label graphics

It's moments like these...

I had a moment at the shop yesterday with a little boy, Christian from Bexley (my hometown) that I will treasure forever...for many reasons. He is 7-ish years old, wise and quiet (not bashful or shy, more of a gentleman demeanor) with a beautiful smileflanked by a gorgeous set of dimples. Ever since I met him in December he has reminded me of my older brother. Michael, my brother, passed away in his sleep July 4th, 2002 from an undiagnosed heart condition. We all miss him terribly. On a few occasions the atmosphere around certain situations seem to be steeped with his presence. This moment was one of them.

One of the greatest pleasures I get from my "job" is being there when a customer finds something that makes their heart skip a beat and they just have to have it. Well, this young man's heart did quiet little back flips, I know because I could see it on his face. His mom discovered Urban Farmhouse through the Country Living

Fair and just started coming out recently and dare I say is thoroughly addicted. She was finishing up her shopping and Christian said something about an old camera he saw in the front of the shop, he wondered if it worked. I walked up there (to Lisa Marton's area) with him to let him see it. We were looking at the camera when his mom said something about the Viewmaster. I looked at the next shelf up and there was a vintage black Viewmaster, just like my brother Mike's but black not red plastic. I picked it up and looked through it, it worked and had 15-20 of the round slides too. When I looked down and went to hand it to him the joy in his face was magical! I handed it to him and told him to look in and towards the window...his face was so full of happiness, you wouldn't believe it. It wasn't a "jumping up and down, hyper-excited this is going to pass as soon as I see something else shiny" kind of joy...just pure happiness and joy. He had $20 Grandma gave him and the Viewmaster was $18...more joy.
So I am standing there with eyes full of tears remembering my childhood with my brother. When I raised the Viewmaster to my face I half expected to see the
classic dinosaur images, t-rex and the stegosaurus fighting on the edge of the cliff! I managed to keep my composure, smiling the whole time, kept the tears in my eyes and not streaming down my face. Mom and son stayed right there for a few moments while I walked back up to the cash register. Right there smack in the middle on the expanse of wood of the old store counter was an enamel letter "M". Christian's mom had found it in the store and had laid it there before joining he and I up by the camera. Coincidence I know. But it was cool...like a sweet hello from my big bro Mike, signed even!

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...

No time for commentary, trying to get all these new finds cleaned, priced and displayed...

two fantastic benches or tables (TOP TABLE SOLD, WICKER BASKET ON LOWER TABLE SOLD)

German shipping basket and phonograph box on black farmhouse kitchen table (BOTH BASKETS SOLD)

gray cupboard, fantastic storage, nothing but shelves inside...$595

24 drawer (!!!) hand crafted stand, graphic drawer fronts with porcelain knobs wonderful storage for crafters...$195
multi-paned glass door cupboard top...$ fresh green farm table...$168
darling cottage style cupboard, tongue & groove accents...$425


1928 tennis trophy (SOLD)
wicker traveling basket (SOLD)

Victorian basket purse (SOLD)

My FAVORITE finger food and a new cocktail

My absolute favorite hors d'œuvre comes from a cookbook my dear friend Joy Wujek penned. Joy is very creative and wonderfully talented! She is the owner and tea extrodinaire behind Petali Teas & Mootz Run, Ltd., a fabulous tea shop 4 miles west of Granville on the north side of 37/161.

Picadillo Wellington

1 pkg frozen puff pastry dough sheets
1 lb ground beef
2 oz walnuts, finely chopped
1 T balsamic vinaigrette
1/3 c dried cherries, chopped
6 oz tomato sauce
1/2 c red onion, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Spray cookie sheet with pan release. Open package of pastry and let dough rest outside of the box until beef is cooked. Brown beef and onion in pan and drain off fat. Stir in cherries, balsamic vinaigrette, and walnuts. Add tomato sauce just to pull the meat together, similar to a sloppy joe consistency. Season with salt and pepper, let cool. Using a glass or biscuit cutter cut 2" circles from the dough. Place one teaspoon of beef mixture in center of circle, stretch and fld dough over to make a mushroom shape. Place on cookie sheet seam side down. Bake until golden, about 15 - 20 minutes. Serve hot.

For the cocktail, the Besame (translates to 'Kiss Me', perfect for the New Year)
Ingredients:
2 lime wedges
5-6 raspberries
1 1/2 oz Agavero (made from 100% blue agave)
passion fruit juice
dash of Chambord
Preparation:
Muddle limes and raspberries in a highball glass. Add Agavero. Top off with passion fruit juice. Add a splash of Chambord. Pour this mix into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain back into the highball glass.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~HAPPY NEW YEAR & BE SAFE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally...an auction!!!!

About mid-November through the end of the year most auctioneers are on "holiday". I guess it's too hard to compete with the retail flurry that is going on. I think during normal seasons I am at auction at least 3-4 times per month. So I have been itching to go to one! But finally, today, I found a good. After 4 hours my truck was packed to the top AND I have to go back for three pieces that would not fit (one requires a pick truck)! Yeah! I scored some fabulous vintage baskets (one European market basket on wheels), ironstone, vintage luggage, an industrial style basket with a stiff canvas lid (would be a very cool side table), a long, old green, primitive table, 3 vintage, metal picnic baskets, vintage beadwork flowers, plus some wonderful small items like a vintage strawberry pin cushion, and lots more! Wish I had a staff of 6 to help me unload, clean, price, and display!

Now, for the 3rd installment of New Year's Eve hors d'œuvre ideas...Cranberry Salsa. I know I know, sounds strange but trust me, you're going to fix this every year during the holidays. It's full of amazing, bright flavors that burst in your mouth. During Christmas cut tree shapes out of spinach tortillas using cookie cutters. Bake or fry in hot oil for tree shaped chips to serve with the salsa. For New Year's? A champagne bottle shape?

1 bag (12 oz) fresh cranberries
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and cut in eighths
1/2 large red pepper, cut in large chunks
1/2 medium red onion, cut in large chunks
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup apple juice
3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbsp chopped pickled jalapeno pepper
1 tsp grated lime zest

Put cranberries, apple, red pepper and onion in food processor; pulse till chopped. Transfer to a large glass bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients till blended. Cover and refrigerate, or spoon into crocks or jars and refrigerate.