I am a distant cousin of Mrs. Claus....

... and I have already had inbox messages from those in the know about that asking me to pass along special wishes to her. For instance... one of the items in a photo earlier in the month on this very blog will be packed in Santa's sleigh for a lucky Bruce lady. Yep. And that's all I'm going to say about that, BUT I'll be glad to pass along your wishes to Mrs. Claus. All you have to do is let me know!

Also, I wanted to post a quick update to let you know I have new wall decor in (including this piece that we've had before) And I couldn't wait until the next newsletter went out to share this pretty bedroom in a customer's home. People often ask me what colors this piece works well with -- well, here's your answer -- anything! The walls in this room are rich chocolate brown, but I've also seen it on blue, green, and even generic beige. It's a great accent piece.

Guys .... just want to have fun

I'm always on the lookout for things that make good "guy gifts".... here are a few I've unpacked lately. Really cool "antler" lamps and these pretty (but not girly) oval leather boxes. I think the boxes would be perfect for holding the remote control, or for him to throw all that "pocket stuff" he normally throws all over the place. Keeping it contained instead of strewn everywhere!

Just Sayin'.....

Gonna be all subtle and suggest you go to www.artifactsbrucems.com and check out the sale page. That's all I'm saying. Not going to force you to go. Not going to mention it again. You didn't hear it from me. I'm being SUBTLE, I tell you!

Birds on the Brain or just Bird-Brained??

If you're talking about me the past few weeks, you'd be safe betting on the latter. :)

But, I have really enjoyed unpacking some of the little subtle birdy-themed items for the Christmas window this year. I will have some full-blown Christmasy birds to show you later, but wanted to let you see a little sneak peek of some of the other things.

Left: holder for cocktail napkins with a little bird to weight them down. Below left: A wire cookbook holder (with chains and weights to hold your cookbook open) is topped by a little birdy. Below right: One of my favorite sayings for a child's room -- "always kiss me goodnight" -- is featured on this pretty frame, along with A BIRD! :)

Holiday Open House November 4-7

Welcome to the Holiday Open House preview for loyal newsletter followers! As I said in the newsletter earlier this week, I will be posting updates here as I unpack holiday goodies, and give you updates on the new merchandise that is coming in!

Check back often and email me if you have any questions!






Left: Look at these gorgeous turquoise canisters!! I just got them in yesterday, but I've had these pretty brown vases with TURQUOISE drip design for a while now and I think the combination just POPS when they're put together! On the right: HUGE new hammered copper bowl that just arrived. Look, it takes up my whole countertop! Would be so pretty filled with holiday greenery or use it before then filled with pumpkins, gourds, fall leaves, etc.

Decorating Tips & New Customer Photos

I'm delighted to be able to share photos of some great pieces from Atifacts in the new home of a young couple! You can see full details on the Customer Photo page of the website.

There is a design tip on there that I wanted to share here, though. They selected a baker's rack with some iron scroll work for their kitchen and mimicked the ironwork with a coat rack in the entry hallway. They also carefully repeated a leaf/vine motif (without overdoing it!!) by using an accent piece with that design in the entrance and taking the motif into the great room with lamps, lamp shades, and the design of the end tables.

Sometimes in a new construction it's difficult to make them look more like a home and less like a catalog or furniture showroom. This young couple selected a somewhat "distressed" piece with a rustic crackle-finish accent table for the entrance and it sets the tone with the look of an aged, collected piece and the use of a piece with a finish like this is a great way to put a personal stamp on a new house.

They are not quite finished decorating, and I look forward to seeing more photos in the months to come. They've gone a super job so far -- go check it out for yourself here: Customer Photos

The weather is toooooo nice.....

.... and people don't come see me at Artifacts as much when the weather is nice! They're working in their yards. And if I could be doing anything I wanted to do... uh, I'd be working in *my* yard too, so I totally understand. :)

BUT to keep me from going nuts during times like these I rearrange and dust and redo and dust some more and move things and dust and when I'm finished I usually find something I forgot to dust. HA! AND I think about things I could do differently in the store.

One idea is to group furniture items by color. But I'm not sure I like that idea. As a shopper -- would I like the idea of seeing a furniture finish I like & then walking around & going, "Oh, there's another piece with that finish!" and feel like I've discovered something for myself OR would I like things just all in one place? Hmmmmmmm.... I could group funiture items by use - put all the sofa tables together, all the small cabinets together. But same question arises. Better to see it all or enjoy discovering things?

I know what *I* prefer as a shopper and a shop owner, but kind of wonder what my customers feel, so let me know either here or through email.

I also think about lines I'd like to add, and one thing someone suggested in a contest I ran a couple of years ago was a line of Mississippi pottery. I loved the idea, but I still haven't added it.
:( Now that is an item that I would group together, not spread among the other items at the store, so that means before I add it, I have to come up with a dedicated area for it! That means cleaning out a big section of the big shelves and lately I've gotten so many great vintage items and glassware and pottery, etc in that those shelves are fuller than ever!

And then there's bridal, graduation, gift registries. Is there something I could be doing different/better there? What about my sign that I used to put outside on the easel, why don't I use that anymore & where did it go? What theme is my big Christmas window going to be this year?

Seeeeeeeeeeeeee all the directions my mind goes just because the weather is tooooooo nice?? :)

Graduation Registry

Remember back when you graduated from high school & you opened all those cards with cash and checks tucked inside?? Do you remember what you used that money for?? No? Well, neither do I, but I probaby spent it on milkshakes or hamburger & fries! I think seniors are so smart now to register for luggage and other items they can use in their "new life" as a young adult.

In the past two years students have registered with Artifacts and now have antique dressers, jewelry armoires, chairs, lamps, etc. to take with them to college and onward. Won't it be nice for them to look at those items in the future and think of the friends and relatives who honored their graduation by buying them?

We have some great items that would be perfect for graduates, and we feature them on our web page, and run CCJ ads about their registry with us. If you know a graduate, encourage them to pick out something (from us or from Jeffery's or someone!) so they'll have more than a meal or two at a fast food place to remember their place in the Class of 2010.

Ideas: Lamps, cedar-lined blanket chests, antique (and modern) vanities and dressers (which also make great laptop desks, designer chairs. Check out our website for photos & ideas or come by & see us for more details!

February 2010
BRASS TACKS: essentials; realities as in the phrase "get down to the brass tacks"
--~*Happy Valentine's Day to the SWEETEST Customers!*~--

** Happy Valentine's Day! **

For the second year we have created special Valentine's Gift Certificates to make your gift-giving a little easier. And, as we've said before -- gifts from Artifacts are 100% Fat Free, 100% Sugar Free, and 100% Calorie Free! :) And thanks to a suggestion from Jennifer B., we can now safely add this line "and they don't wilt either!!"

Please remember, that we do not sell candy/sweets or flowers that offer those promises -- just treats for the home and for the heart! Last year we literally had someone who saw the ad in the CCJ drive in to get the calorie free candy....

** Stay Warm **

As I write this, the National Weather Service says: A STORM SYSTEM OFF THE SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA COAST WILL TRACK EAST ACROSS NORTHERN MEXICO AND SOUTHERN TEXAS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. BY THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...THERE ARE STILL MANY UNCERTAINTIES CONCERNING THIS FORECAST SUCHAS THE EXACT STORM TRACK AND THE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE AVAILABLE. HOWEVER...AT THIS TIME THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A FEW INCHES OF SNOW SOUTH OF OXFORD AND TUPELO MISSISSIPPI...

Well, that's close enough to tell me I need to prepare to stay warm. The combination of that and the article about the upcoming Quilt Show (March 5-6 at the Multi-Purpose Building in Pittsoboro) made me think about old quilts. You can have your snuggies, and come to think of it, even the polar fleece throws I have on my own couch; I prefer quilts! I'm going to drag out some of mine, wrap up in them, and think of the sweet hands of my great-grandmother, both grandmothers and my own mother who made them.

I think I'm safe in saying nothing warms quite like a quilt...both the body and the heart. If you need an extra one or two yourself, we have some beautiful vintage ones in Artifacts right now. Some quilt tops too, just waiting to be turned into heirlooms for your family.

**On Trend**
The hottest thing in home decor right now seems to be sconces, lamps, and plates/chargers on easels. We had so many customers take advantage of our tax-free Super Bowl Sale weekend (Thanks Guys!!) and those three items seemed to be on everyone's list. I have also noticed homeowners with a traditional decorating style going for a touch of modern here & there. They find a lamp or an accent piece that has a definite mod look and from all reports, they are liking the blend.

I think this means more people are leaning toward 'eclectic' decorating which allows more freedom in what goes with what. These lamps are actually a perfect example of a transitional piece that would work in a very traditional home, or in one that tends to be more modern.

The shades are a traditional white, but have just a little bit of updating with that flared-drum shape and the bases have a very modern feel with the sculptural element of the connecting circles, but maintain a traditional warm color.


We are expecting (if the weather holds) a BIG home decor load this week. Lots of new wall decor, metal accents, and even some pieces that will work well in the garden (spring is coming, I promise!) I will upload photos to the website when it arrives, and check us out on FACEBOOK for new photos, too.


** Coming Soon **

It's hard to believe, but it's time for Graduation Registries! Last year we had three girls pick out unique furniture items like antique dressers, zebra print chairs, and jewelry armoires to remember their graduation well-wishers. When a graduate registers with us, we label their item in the store, run an ad in the CCJ, and put information on our website and on facebook about the registry. We then keep a list of payments from friends and relatives to the graduate will know who to send thank you cards to.

If you have any questions, or if you have a graduating senior in your family, come in with them and pick out something for them to enjoy as they start this new phase of their life!

Graduation Registry Ideas: Lamps, cedar-lined chests,antique (and modern) vanities that can also be great laptop desks like this one:


and designer chairs (like this one, as seen on Project Runway's Models of the Runway!!)

________________~~~*****~~~_______________

** Bookmark & Check Often **
Artifacts Web Page
Artifacts Blog
Artifacts on FaceBook
Artifacts Layaway Policy

InFocus Photography by Brett King
It's not too late to book Senior Portrait Sessions!

Bridal & Gift Registry
** See all selections by going to Bridal Selections Page **

Kendra Mays, Bride-elect of Conmetrius Wright
Shower, February 20, 2010 at Calhoun City American Legion

Charlsa Carr, Bride-Elect of Cooper McCachren
Shower February 21, 2010 in the home of Jill Ferguson of Bruce

Paige Lancaster, Bride-elect of Drew Ross
Shower February 28, 2010 at Methodist Corner in Calhoun City

Ashley Weaver, Bride-Elect of Jason Wingard
Shower March 6, 2010 at Methodist Corner in Calhoun City

Nikki Pope, Bride-elect of Kelly Raulerson
Shower March 28, 2010 in the home of June Vaughn of Bruce

Previous Registries
Kristen Richardson-Bill Burnett
Mrs. & Mrs. Marshall Box(nee Brandy Stewart)
Mrs. & Mrs. Brian Stewart (nee Kayla Harrell)
Mr. & Mrs. Steven Thrasher (nee Deidra Hardin)

Recipe of the Month
Bacon-Stuffed Mushrooms would make a great treat for your Valentine honey! These are my copy of those served in Olive Garden. Just as good, and.... a LOT cheaper, too!! HA!
And yes, I know if you're my facebook friend I already shared this with you, but now you can go print it out with pretty text and picture and everything!