Back to The Purple Pear

I have had a few days to relax near Houston, Texas with my husband, oldest daughter, and three grandchildren over the Thanksgiving holiday. My grandchildren agreed to visit a home where their mother spent some of her childhood and then we were off to bake Christmas cookies and spend one last night together.

After we took the grandkids to school on Monday, we drove to Round Top to do some antiquing along the way before we headed back to Houston to fly out to Portland. As we headed back, I saw this sign designating Rachel Ashwell's prairie B&B and shop in the countryside near Round Top. I knew she lived near the area, but was surprised when I saw the sign designating the site.

In one of my visits to an antique shop in the town of Brenham I discovered the most delightful shop called "Gypsy Antiques". It had the most wonderful array of collections, and I saw this painted shelf and thought it was so beautiful!

Today I returned to my shop with the anticipated delivery of a new line of paint! I have added another decorative/furniture paint from Miss Mustard Seed! The packaging and the names of the paint colors are so delightful, "Tricycle, Typewriter, Kitchen Scale, Grain Sack, Luckette Green, Mustard Seed Yellow, Flow Blue, Shutter Gray, and French Enamel. Well let's see if we can't find our way to some expression and adventure with these enticing names!

Fun!!!

The move to this new location is coming into its own sort of peace and contentment. It all began with the incredible Annie Sloan and now it is "unfolding" and embracing all manner of new ventures and ideas and colors and dreams.

A supportive husband!

I just want to acknowledge my husband, Solon, in this post for all the work he has done and help he has given since he arrived home from the East Coast where he had been working for the last year and a half. He has been there in my new store since we first opened the door.

Never one to complain, he has helped so many customer during this remodel with saws blaring, ceilings falling down, and workers coming and going, all with the grace of his positive demeanor. Now he is beginning the clean-up of the store.

I have been trying to do outside shows to get the word out that we have been open all along and that we also have a new address!! On Sunday I spent the day cleaning up the space and today we bring in lots of new merchandise. Our "official" grand opening and party is December 8 from 4 to 7 PM.

When you are driving down Glisan Street, look for the yellow building with the purple door. The big Purple Pear sign will go up when the rain stops, hopefully soon!

Bragging Rights and Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton has a new book out by Rizzoli that focuses on design and architecture. Now I am sure most of you are thinking that she is an actress and what does she know about house design and anything related. However, look at her style. Some may think her eccentric, but I have always loved her style because she exemplifies someone who knows what she likes and has stayed true to this focus for as long as I can remember. Besides, I am smitten with her hats and clothing and how she carries her style with grace, confidence and panache.

So after my nightly trip to Home Depot I came home to a husband hungry who wanted a quick and easy meal. We walked to a nearby restaurant, and just as we arrived home, our daughter sent us a text message saying she was at a book signing for her design company in LA featuring Diane Keaton and her new book and here was the photo. Seldom do I feature personal things on this blog, but really, it was difficult not to be excited about all of the above. Almost done with my remodel. A few more trips to Home Depot and then a day to bring in all the merchandise waiting for a cozy home in which to be displayed. Stay tuned. We are in the midst of planning our fun grand opening!

Construction Crunch

Welcome to my kitchen!!! When there is remodeling going on in your place of business, it tends to sometimes transfer chaos to one's home life too. This Sunday my husband and I decided to take advantage of the store being closed and planned a one night trip up to Mt Hood, one of my favorite places to visit. However, before we left, I actually took several hours and cleaned my kitchen out of Chalk Paint and a little madness.

We did not arrive on the mountain until nearly dark, but in the morning the sun was on the mountain and it was majestic!

Yesterday I finally got around to painting two tables that I will finish today. It felt so good to pick up a paintbrush again and dip into a quart of Chalk Paint™ decorative paint.

After closing my store last night, I had to run out to Home Depot for a few items, metal stripping for the corner of a wall.....

And some joint compound. Unfortunately, the one that I was looking for was completely gone so I had to go to another store. Funny how one can be so oblivious to certain items in a store until you have to purchase them. I had no idea there were so many kinds of joint compounds out there. Some even come in a box already mixed and for some odd reason, it made be think of boxed wine!

Now I am busy getting ready for Plucky Maidens. This is always a fun show to participate in and equally fun to attend. Hope to see many of you there. I will be selling Chalk Paint™, painted furniture, pillows I have made, Christmas stockings and lots more!

Store Progress

We're almost completed with my store remodeling, and my customers have been so gracious in spite of the sawing, hammering and other usual construction noises. We've enjoyed sharing our Annie Sloan products with so many of you at the new location at 6016 NE Glisan in Portland.

This morning, I made my first sale of Annie's fabric at my new store to a true lover of the French country look. Debra Ruggles, from Canby, Oregon, is shown in the photo below with her purchase of Normandy Toile. I wanted to capture this exciting moment for The Purple Pear and Debra was gracious enough to allow me to do that. Thanks Debra! Please stop in and take a look at the other three designs that I am offering. They are all beautiful and the quality is superb!

The Purple Pear will be the location for many exciting events during the remainder of 2012 as well as for the new year ahead. In 2013, we will be hosting an evening guest artist series. More immediate, several workshops are scheduled for November and December, mixed in between the holidays. Please check the dates on my website's "Welcome" page.

Also, a grand opening for my new store has been set for Saturday, December 8, from 4-7 pm. (More to follow in a subsequent blog.)

Finally, for those of you who have already stopped by The Purple Pear's new location on Glisan Street, I want to express my appreciation for your visits. The remaining touches of remodeling will soon be completed, and it is my hope that The Purple Pear will be a place to find joy and inspiration. As one of my favorite artists, Georgia O'Keeffe, once said, "I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for."