Primitive Night Lights back in stock!

The darling primitive night lights are back in stock... thanks to the FedEx man :>) I have brown, red, mustard (shown) and brown with brownish bulb available once again. I'll be listing them on the website tomorrow. Also new to the shop and shown in the picture are the Irvin's outlet covers in blackened tin. I have the standard double outlet in stock, but they are also orderable in many other configurations, including GFCI outlets, double lightswitch, etc. Will get them listed on-line tomorrow too! Bye for now!

Almost forgot! I promised Buttermilk customers Linda and Joe Harris that I'd post a link to their house. The Harrises were featured in the same issue of Country Sampler as my home... Aug/Sept 2009. Their home is OUTSTANDING... and currently for sale! Take a minute to click on the link below... you will be ready to move right in! Toota-Loo for now!

http://www.sunriserealtyllc.net/2710whisperingoakspl.htm

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you're probably about ready to float away... geesh.... talk about April showers! My niece, who lives in San Diego, called me a few days ago to "complain" how hot it was... 85 degrees. Poor baby!!

My new battery candles have arrived and they are way cool! I ordered these at the PA show and they were one of the last shipments to get here. There are several styles available... all are shown in the picture above. From left to right, top of shelf... small "votive" size BOC (battery operated candles) available in red and primitive brown, medium size "cake candle" BOC that actually has a timer function.. available only in prim brown, and a tall BOC avail only in mustard (and this is the only one). Lower shelf has the tall "cake candle" that have a full size taper BOC that slips down in the wax sleeve... avail in must and burg, and the new lumpy bumpy pillar BOC in mustard, tan and burg. All feature a very waxy, thick silicone bulb. Very different from the other BOCs I carry :>)

Also shown are two other items from the PA show (do these people realize it's been almost 3 months?!?!) One is a black metal sleeve with star cutouts... this will fit over a candle, but also has a small cut out at the bottom for you to feed an electric cord through. And the mustard star unit is made to show off whatever large jar or cake candle you are burning. Would even look darling with a large BOC!! Also available in several other colors.

Bye for now dear friends and HAPPY EASTER!

Gratitude

Just wanted to take a break from my typical Blog posts and write about gratitude. That is, MY gratitude for the wonderful customers I have!! When I think about the success of Buttermilk Junction, I am blown away that we've continued to grow each year the shop has been in existence.

For those of you who don't know, I have wanted to own a country shop since I "found" country decorating in the eighties. In November 2005, my husband Lee and I rented the tiniest storefront we could find in Junction City and started setting up shop. If that space was 200 square feet I'd be surprised. Even though we knew it could never be our permanent home, we had to "test the waters" before jumping in any further. In April 2006, we moved to a 1000 square foot shop nearby and enjoyed that space until the summer of 2007. Due to issues with building management and a flood caused by an upstairs renter, we started looking for a new space for Buttermilk Junction. On Sept 1st 2007 we opened in a neat shop 3 blocks away. I thoroughly enjoyed that location for the two years we were there, even though parking was a huge problem as well as a few other issues. At the end of August 2009, I began packing up once again and moved over to Ivy St. to share space with our local quilt shop, Thimbles & Threads. That was 7 months ago and I haven't looked back since. Not only did my wonderful customers support the move, we've made many more country-lovin' friends since then and the past 7 months have exceeded my hopes. All this to say that without you, there wouldn't be a Buttermilk.

We are not rich by any stretch of the imagination... my husband and I BOTH need to contribute to our finances to pay the mortgage, car payment, etc. I always had a corporate paycheck and when I lost my full-time job to overseas outsourcing in 2008, I was not sure what to expect. But God is so good! And I thank the good Lord every day that I get to do what I love (DECORATE) and be my own boss. It's hard work but very rewarding and I look forward to whatever the future holds. When you come in and say Buttermilk Junction is your favorite store, or you'd rather shop there than anyplace else, I am truly honored. Thank you for your friendship and your support!!!

Homespun has arrived

Well poo I am a week behind in my posts... I have been working really hard to get my new "POS" system up and running. It's been very time consuming to enter everything... hopefully another week and it will be done.

Look at this gorgeous homespun!! I have 8 bolts now... loves it! The red reverse windowpane and the mustard/black windowpane are my two favorites. I am so thinking curtains! This is very nice quality homespun, not the rough stuff from the "box" stores... $8.75 per yard. A reminder that the fabric ladies are happy to do the cutting.... you don't want me to do it... I cut fabric like I wrap gifts... and that's not a pretty picture my friends.

Spring Open House was a wonderful success! Too bad it didn't feel like spring... but that's OK, it does now :>) I've received SEVEN more boxes of goodies since the S.O.H.! Not all of it is seasonal... there was the homespun, some wonderful primitive "tabletop" cubbies, faux tallow berry candle rings and garlands, reed diffusers are back in, repro tin Easter chocolate molds, new braided trivets and coasters in wonderful colors, etc. I am also expecting the new Judy Condon book any day now. Oh and the UPS man brought me a big box of runners, shower curtains and window treatments that I haven't even opened yet!!

If you haven't been in the shop in awhile, please come see all that is new! Will try to get some of it on the website over the next few weeks... POS taking priority right now as I have to be up and running by April 1st.. no foolin'!

Happy Friday all!

Spring Open House next week!

Won't you please join us for our Spring Open House... scheduled for Friday March 12th and Saturday March 13th from 10am - 5pm. Come have a look-see at all that is new!

How has everyone been.... I have felt very productive this week! I managed to spackle and touch up paint my office, in addition to getting my decorating theme nailed down for that room (not to mention cleaning up the extreme CLUTTERY mess!). Also, I moved a wall cabinet to a new location and a shutter became a wall hanging in my dining room... and I even started a Goodwill pile. The highlight was putting my new coverlet and duvet on my bed. Next project will be a new bathroom countertop if I figured my tax liability properly and we actually DO get a refund!

Oh ya... I also decorated my house for SPRING! Yeehaw... so nice to see some Springy things here and there. Before you know it we'll be putting out the seashells and flags. Aack! Have a wonderful week all!

Well shoot.... I missed my Friday deadline last week! I think it was because I got in a great big ol' box from Family Heirloom Weavers and I got caught up in the moment. While a few things I was expecting were backordered, the box did contain my new duvet and my "Sea Star and Jewels" coverlet. Ooooh la la this coverlet is a beauty!! I raced home at 5pm to put it on my bed. Loves it!! Still some decorating to do in the master bedroom but these two pieces were a major part of the redo.

The pillowcases are from pbteen.com ... they are black with white polka dots! The pillow and bedskirt are Ralph Lauren "Cold Springs," a black and linen mattress ticking. Also, the coverlet reverses to linen background with black. I must comment, that white basket looks out of place in the photo... funny how the camera really highlights certain things! Maybe I will get out the black paint this weekend.

The UPS man was not very good to me last week! I think he stopped twice; once with a tiny box of not much to speak of and the other time with the blankets. He did show up yesterday with a huge supply of 2010 Country Sampler Home Tour Editions, which was great... but I had hoped for something even a teence more exciting?!?! Mr Fed Ex brought two ginormous boxes from Lt. Moses Willard lighting... a special order for a customer. I told Mr UPS he better not let me down on Tuesday. He didnt seem particularly amused.....

Well this is a short one since it's already Tuesday and I need to be back on schedule by the end of the week. Bye for now!

WOW... Spring Fever is going to be rampant if this weather keeps up. Even though I have to be at the shop all day, it is still so nice to look outside and see glorious sunshine. It's probably 60 degrees out there, yet I just saw someone go by on a motorcycle wearing a T-SHIRT!!! Crazy people!!

The UPS man didn't have anything too exciting for me today (tissue and bags... yawn....) but the FedEx guy brought me some Amish barn stars. I have never ordered them before, but am trying out the 10" size... they are adorable! Perfect for the authentic barn star lover with a space problem! They will retail for $18.95 and I'll try to get them scattered around the shop tomorrow.

Have been keeping myself busy today with a painting project using some new paints I ordered at the Winter Market. So far it's, er, interesting! It's quite a process and I am anxious to see the end results. Since the day is almost done that probably wont happen until Monday. Also managed to do a little hand stitchin' today and whipped up some cute SEED bags. Will have to wait til Spring Open House next month to see those tho....

**UPDATE** Furniture is SOLD......So I just got a call from my BFF Laura and she asked me to post on my blog that she has reduced the already bargain price of her IKea Ektorp set to just $500! For everything!! OMG I wish I had an empty room somewhere! Here is a link to the IKea website / Ektorp page so you can see how wonderful a deal this is....http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20031656 This link shows the sofa slipcover... and as you can see it's $149 just for that ONE slipcover... so $500 for an entire set of furniture plus three complete SETS of slipcovers is an incredible deal!! See my previous post for more info.. it's the one from February 5th.

Well I shall close for now as part of "Blog Friday" is writing in my own blog, but the other part is reading some of my faves!! Happy Weekend all!

New tin "Petticoat" lamp - USA made

New tin hanging taper holder - USA

Tall tin "hogscraper" electric candlestick - USA

Grapevine garland with tiny twig STARS attached!

Oval penny mat

Black crows

Tan primitive cat

Faux bay leaf wreath with "pip" berries

Does anyone else have the "wintertime blues?" I have just been struggling to get motivated to get ANYTHING done! Cant get interested in doing too much of anything... and there is so much that needs to be done. I hope this feeling doesnt last too long... I much prefer to feel productive and energized (well, who doesn't, right?)

The UPS man has brought me a few new things this week.. always so fun to see him coming with a big ol' box! So far it's just been the "tip of the iceberg"... most of the larger orders are still yet to arrive. I snapped a few pictures as I unboxed this week... as shown above. A lot of what I ordered at the show was "Made in America" product and I am tagging things as such as they come in.

I've been putting new goodies out as they arrive, except items that are spring-specific. Those will have to wait until the Spring Open House, March 12th and 13th. I hope I have enough product for Spring.. I always worry about that. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Happy sunny Friday! We are all going to get a severe case of Spring Fever if this keeps up.

My BF Laura found out yesterday that her house has sold, and she and her hubby Mike will be able to buy the "farm of their dreams." I am so happy for her, but I will sure miss hearing her go "toot-toot" every morning as she's on her way to work. Although, the new place is just a mile up the road.

Anyhoo... Laura has a collection of IKea slipcovered furniture that she is wantin' to sell. She has a full size sofa, loveseat, chair and footstool in the "Ektorp" line, complete with a denim, a tan and a white (washable) slipcover for EACH piece! She is asking $1000 or best offer for the entire set... that's probably cheaper than the 3 sets of slipcovers alone. I can attest to how well these pieces go with "our style" of decorating because I have the loveseat in my living room. If you are in driving distance to us here in Oregon and are interested, please give me a call here at the shop and I will put you in touch with Laura.

Still patiently waiting for my new goodies to arrive! So far all that has come has been new plastic bags and a giant roll of tissue. B-O-R-I-N-G! As things start rolling in I'll put some pix up here. Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Friday! I think I have sufficiently recovered from my jet lag, however, the euphoria from my trip is still lingering!

I've spent today in the shop brainstorming "Spring." Always a hard season for me.. just not into the cutesy pastels and what I call "bunny-chicky" stuff. Next week I need to get out into the big world and do some research on what direction the shops are heading as we move into February. Of course I will be receiving new stock over the next 3 months.. lots of small wooden cupboards, new linens from Family Heirloom Weavers, new pillar candles and much much more.

Redid my master bedroom before I went on my trip and my guest bedroom was the unfortunate recipient of all the red things I stripped out of there. So I think I will start sorting through that mess tonight (but it's so much easier to just close the door!) A few things will go on EBay, some will make their way down to the shop and others will just go in the "decorating closet" for the next time I change something around. The main things I am waiting for to finish the redo are the homespun duvet I ordered at the PA show and I need to make a decision about lampshades.

Also on the agenda for this weekend is clearing out the dining room - that was my dumping ground for all the goodies I bought at the Cash & Carry... some are for the spring open house so they will need to find a new hiding place until we get closer to March. Come to think of it, once I get that guest bedroom cleaned up I can stash them in there. :>) Oh it never ends!!!

Well I have to say... this has been a MOST overwhelming trip! I arrived in Pennsylvania at about 5:00pm on Weds and have been immersed in primitive country ever since. WOW. Here are a few highlights so far:

• While waiting for my van shuttle, I bumped into Kathy and Sharon from my favorite store of all time... The Country Loft!! Who would have thought that an Oregonian would see people she knows from San Diego in Philadelphia! Of course I figured they would be coming to PA for the Market, I never dreamed we'd share a van ride from the airport! That was very cool....
• I have filled an entire suitcase full of "Cash & Carry" items... oh if I only had a truck and trailer, I could have spent a mint!!
• I met Irvin Hoover, of Irvin's Country Tinware!!
• I have placed TONS of orders for wonderful new goodies.. many "Made in America"
• I am heading over to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner! (or is it lunch... I am still on West Coast time...)

That's all I have to share right now... I am still trying to soak it all in and get my game plan for some ordering tomorrow. The show ends at 3pm tomorrow and I am transferring hotels right afterward, so I am across the street from the airport (currently 30 mins away). I'll probably blog more tomorrow evening!

Well I am being true to my word about posting every Friday... although I can't think of a whole bunch to post about!

Very quiet in the shop today... January is usually the slowest month and this one's coming in true to form. That only make me wish I were home decorating something, anything! I was surfing around this morning and saw THE most gorgeous master bedroom... done in all cream, black and brown, with mocha colored walls and toile valances. Oh my I was ready to redo my whole room right then and there. My master is still the same as it was shown in the Country Sampler Fall issue... Pottery Barn "Margaret" collection in red. I do so love it but also love a change so my mental wheels are a-turnin!! My bed is matte black iron and I already have the cream colored quilt, so it wouldn't take too very much to change it over... some pillow cases, a new duvet, some different lampshades, toile drapes... hmmm......

I recently had my master bathroom painted and aside from one wall cabinet, I haven't put any of the decor back in. I'm just not sure what to do with it. I have a new PB shower curtain (Mum pattern.. cream background with shades of dark mustard, spring green and rusty-red orange). We have an awkward space between the two mirrors that I've never quite known what to do with. I have a couple ideas but hate to put holes in the wall in fresh paint until I know for sure.

My next post will be from Valley Forge, PA and I am sure all those primitive country goodies will put me in seventh heaven. Woo hoo!

New shop pics as promised

Happy New Year!!

Oh I just have to laugh at myself... I haven't posted to my blog since the middle of November. That is just so silly! We've all been busy but for Heaven's sake..

Well Happy New Year all! I hope you had a wonderful Holiday season and that 2010 finds you well. Don't we all remember the "crisis" of Y2K? Hard to believe that was TEN YEARS ago. We went to ridiculous lengths to prepare the workplace for the "big crash" that was sure to happen.. each supervisor had phone calling lists in case the "worst" happened, things were backed up and saved and re-saved... and then NOTHING! My boss and I became fond of saying "There's always Y3K to worry about next" :>)

In 10 short days I am Philadelphia bound! I am so excited to go to the big wholesale market I can hardly stand it! I have such wonderful visions of what I will find.. I am armed with my notebook to record ideas in each night. The show is partially "Cash and Carry" but the "Carry" part of that equation is a little challenging when you live thousands of miles away. The airlines new rules about luggage dont make it any easier. So I will likely do mostly ordering and we can look forward to new goodies in February.

Last Sunday my BF helped me re-do the entire shop and strip down all the Christmas. WOW that is a chore. We moved everything over to the clearance area and you can imagine how much cleaning was needed from all those glittery, flakey things... not to mention the metal "glitter" that invariably falls off the bottlebrush trees. The challenge for the rest of that day was moving things around to make it look different, and then filling in all the holes left by Christmas. I think we pulled it off! It is so refreshing to look at different displays.

I've snapped a few pictures... and promise to tell you all about the big show when I get back! Ta-Ta for now!!

New Country Sampler has arrived!

Well, the December/January 2010 issue arrived yesterday, and it's clear that my BF Laura's 15 minutes of fame have begun! Her home is featured in this issue, and starts on page 26. Truly, I have to tell you... you can't begin to know how gorgeous her home is! From the minute you walk in, you feel right at home. She has the most gorgeous antiques and collections... every corner is filled with wonderful treasures. I wish there were about 20 more pictures in the magazine... you are missing out on so many wonderful nooks and crannies.

If you'd like to see more of Laura's wonderful home, go to the left side of this blog and find the "Home Tours" button... it will direct you to my webshots site.

I am so fortunate to have met my decorating soul mate.. and that we live on the same street in the same small town... wow - how great is that???

Halloween Spooktacular

Our first ever Halloween Spooktacular was devilishly fun! we are looking forward to next year's event. Here are some pictures of our costumes.... me in full Survivor regalia including knee socks, stained tshirt and an actual Survivor "Buff" (I am a huge fan) and Bobbie looking very scary in her Morticia get-up.

Vacation... finally!

This year was the first time EVER I have gone 9 months without any time off... so needless to say my hubby and I were both very ready for a vacation. Of course, San Diego was our destination of choice (as always). We enjoyed 5 blissful days of warm sunshine, wore flip flops and shorts, and ate at all our favorite resturants. We were able to spend a lot of quality time with our niece Lauren and nephew Anthony... we also visited Lee's grandparents and also managed to see a few dear friends. We love living here in Oregon but it sure is nice to spend time back home as well.

Now that we're home, I am trying to get into a Christmas-y mood. The open house is only a couple weeks away and the Christmas merchandise is arriving every day. I have spent hours examining my Christmas decorating idea books and I think I am starting to "come around." Although it's been hard to think of winter today, with the gorgeous fall sunshine outside. I suppose it will all come together... it always does!

All Moved In!!

Well it just about broke me, but the big move is complete and we are open for business at the new location!! I am LOVING the light and bright quality of this space and am so happy with the wall colors. The new space is much larger than the old, and I was able to add quite a few furniture pieces and other goodies. If you want to check it out, go to my webshots site for more pictures:

www.webshots.com/user/buttermilkjunction

The shop is decorated for Fall... all the lovely oranges, yellows and browns... yummy! We are featuring several offerings by local crafters... homespun pumpkins, witches boots, grubby pumpkins, crows... oh my.

Still waiting for several shipments... more linens by Family Heirloom Weavers, woven dish towels by Weaver's Corner, etc. Check back often!!!

Ready for school!!

Well since I am in "downsizing mode" with the shop's upcoming move, I am going to blog about my sweetie pie niece Olivia, rather than about decorating. Look at that face!! Olivia is the youngest of my sister's children... she just turned 5 last month, and is overly anxious to start Kindergarten in just a few weeks! Olivia is our little sweetheart... such a good girl... so eager to help and always has a smile on her face. We are so fortunate that we get to see "Miss O" very frequently. She loves to stay the night at our house in "her room" and play decorating with Auntie.

What a blessing all our nieces and nephews are!!