sun press

On another note I wanted to let everyone know that I am featured in last week's Sun Press newspaper. The article is in the Life Section and I am on the cover! Lucky me - free publicity. I hate having my photo taken, but anything to help get the word out about three.home. However, I am pleased with the text, regardless of how I look. Joan Cooper Rusek asked some good questions and listened well. I think the basics were covered as far as what three.home is all about.

http://blog.cleveland.com/chagrinheraldsun/2009/02/moreland_hills_three_home_offe.html#more


Hopefully this will bring people in to shop!!!

dog days

So I probably haven't mentioned a friend of mine who happens to be a dog trainer, and that she uses my shop as part of training for socializing the dog. There are days when she brings in 2-4 dogs a day. Her training program usually starts with a 4 hour session. Just the other day as I was becoming more exhausted just watching her with yet another dog - in the car out of the car, in my shop out of my shop, in yet another place...you get the idea - I said to her that this routine of hers is like speed dating. Instead of having different dates come to your table, talk about themselves for a couple of minutes and then move on to the next table, every couple hours a different dog comes into the shop, they do their loop through the shop, stop at the till for some chatting, possibly a test or two for jumping or whining, then a little human socializing between Michelle and I then out again. All this sometimes 4 times a day. Of course I have to comment on each dog and its name, their behavior issues, how they are doing on that given day, etc. It is actually pretty funny.

Last week she walks in with this little red teacup poodle... My dream date? Oh, I mean dream dog? ooooooo so cute, but does he come from a good family?

Actually Michelle was doing a breeder friend a favor and trying to sell the pup - there were 2. Due to the fact that Michelle is such a good sales person, as well as dog trainer, and a little due to her southern charm, she sold these cutie pies in a matter of hours for a mere $1100. Of course they come with all the papers etc. (not my gig).

Back in the summer there was Lucy . So big, so cute, so much slobber.

I bring this random-ness up because there are days where seeing Michelle and whatever friend/client she has brightens my day so much. And lately with business as slow as it is, I need the brightness. xxx

I should tell you that Michelle and I met when I chased her down on the sidewalks of Chagrin Falls last spring. In a panic because my new puppy 'Garcia' had somehow lost all of his manners that he so cleverly demonstrated when we interviewed him for our familiy dog, he was all but running the house. Not only did she train Garcia - to the point that when he sees her driving up the street he literally sits promptly at attention and waits for her to park, get out and give him love - but she also trained our newest addition. We got E.Z. on Fathers day this past summer. E.Z. - everything but...is entirely a different story, another blog. But as promised Michelle got her to behave somewhat normally - at least for a hound/beagle mix.

Antsy Pantsy Delivery Day

Happy Friday. Happy Sunshine.

I mentioned in my last blog that I would be introducing something new in the shop. I have been looking forward to this all week. Today is the day! I am witnessing 2 incredibly beautiful, creative women, Cynthia Phelps and Donna Morrow-Alusheff, immersed in one of their personal passions: retooled, recycled, one-of-a-kind clothing.

They have carefully {re} designed miscellaneous garments that were previously something else into unique 'treasures' to wear! There are so many wonderful pieces I can't begin to tell you about all of them. But think of pieces you have seen in NYC or Europe perhaps, or in magazines, on models and stars who we covet - slip-dresses, t's, scarves, workshirts!, jeans. You have to come into three.home and see their creations. We are attempting to find the best place in the shop to display them, and it has been so fun. I love their energy and I think having yet another special something in the shop that no one else has is such a coup in terms of retail - at least in my world. Anyone who has been to three.home knows one of the most important goals for us is to find and sell the odd stuff that has never been seen before, or at least not often - stuff that you don't even know you want until you see it here and then can't stop thinking about it. First home accessories and now clothing.

I cannot wait to comb through every single piece and examine all the clever details. I have this very funky brown & cream, vintage checked dress that is a tiny bit too short for me and I have been searching for the right thing to wear with it. Leggings and boots are not enough. Although my 14-year-old was encouraging me to 'go for it'. I explained to her how delicate the fashion version of 'going for it' becomes as we get more mature. In any case, I know one of these pieces by ANTSY PANTSY will be perfect with it. I will have more pictures when everything is in place.

On another note, I finally visited a blog and website belonging to someone you may already know - Danielle DeBoe of Room Service: http://www.roomservicecleveland.com. Her stuff is great. We have very similar tastes. Lucky for all who live nearer to Gordon Square (65th and Detroit). This is a new area in Cleveland and gaining its celebrity. I haven't visited her shop yet, but I am sure it will be a great experience. Danielle's blog was very entertaining. As I am getting more and more comfortable with the 'blog world' I will be creating a list of 'links' or favorites. She will definitely be on it. In the meantime, check it out.

Thanks for reading.

Maison D Objet - Paris

I think I am getting the hang of this blog thing. I just share any thoughts, ideas, pictures, whatever, whenever on my blog and hope that I can give as much inspiration as I get.

On that note...I was in Paris this past weekend for a quick 4 days. I had an opportunity to go to the MAISON D OBJET show, which is THE gift show of France. WOW! There were plenty of fabulous ideas to covet - talk about EYE CANDY! I wanted to buy a lot of wonderful furniture and crazy cool accessories and bring them back to my shop - three.home - but, as we all know, buying is not happening so much right now, and that applies to us shop owners as well. I did meet a lot of very talented, creative artists and exchanged business cards so when the retail climate shifts I will be ready to fill the shop with unique, FRENCH treasures.

I had 1 day to wander through St. Germain, an area much like SOHO in NYC, I think. My overall sense in Paris was on high sensory stimulation everywhere I looked. From people at the show, vendors and buyers both, the quaint little boutiques that I found, performers on the METRO, the tiny tables people sat at outside at cafes tightly clustered around a heater drinking espresso. Perhaps this is my perspective alone, coming from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Be that as it may, every person wearing every and any fashion statement seemed exciting to me - interesting somehow. It was cold there, so most were wearing layers - coats, hats, gloves - but I still saw so much.

Of course, I am so inspired by people who stretch outside the comfort zone and express their individuality. It just seemed to me like everyone in Paris was wearing one or more garments that reflected a personal style all their own, ergo, I was continually inspired. It all looked fabulous in some way or another.

Another bit of excitement for me; I am introducing some new merchandise next week. I will be selling a very specialized, one-of-a kind, line of clothing by Cynthia Phelps. She takes wonderful vintage pieces and re-tools each one to enhance its original beauty. The result is a truly unique addition to your wardrobe. I think Cynthia and her vision for frocks works perfectly with three.home.

Stop By

If you haven't been to my shop - three.home - in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, you should stop by next time you are in the neighborhood. I always have truly unique treasures. People who do come in are somewhat regulars and they tend to scarf up those fabulous, never-to-be-found-again pieces, so don't be surprised if you find something in one of my photos that isn't in the shop anymore. But, rest assured, there will be something that catches your eye.

I will look forward to seeing you soon.

First bit of free advice from me:

I found this guy...who has a warehouse...you know the story. But his industrial finds are really cool and local to Cleveland. I have several different pieces in my shop for sale. He usually leaves whatever paint is on there, unless it needs to be roughed up a bit. Then he oils and waxes every inch of the pieces so all the loose stuff comes off and it has a bit of a finish or protective coating. Almost shiny. You really have to use some imagination to incorporate one of these extremely rough looking pieces in your home. But the results are unique, warm, creative, and unexpected. If you want your home to reflect these qualities, here is a place to start.

Hello...

This is my first experience with blogs. I have read some, although not too many. Everywhere I turn blogs seem to be the place to be. So...here comes three.home (hopefully).

More to follow....