The Country Sampler Experience

I just can't believe it's all over!! Phew... what a whirlwind! The photographers (Donna and Philip... shown in the picture at the end of a very long day... and calling D&P for the rest of this post....) arrived at my BF Laura's house Friday night. We made introductions and then Laura gave them the grand tour. They left all their SCADS of equipment in her living room so they would have less to set up the next day. We went out to dinner and had a wonderful time getting to know them. They have shot for Architectural Digest and many other prestigious magazines. They've led very exciting lives.

They came back to Laura's house at 8:30 Saturday morning and were there all day. Laura said D&P moved many, many things and re-arranged things so they were pleasing to the camera. About 6pm D&P brought their equipment down to my place (a mere 7 houses away) and boy did that make things seem a whole lot smaller in the house!!!! These folks do not travel lightly - tripods, computers, cameras, cables, 5 bags of fresh fruit and 2 big buckets of fresh flowers, great big Rubbermaid tubs of props, etc. They toured my house and then went on their way.

D&P arrived for the shoot at 830 Sunday morning and let me tell you... it was exhausting!!! Their minivan did not leave my driveway until 8pm. The only room in my house they didn't shoot (besides the master bathroom) was my office, which I had already piled all my everyday junk in (big box of shoes from by the front door, my coffee maker, toaster, knife block, all my husband's paperwork and junk from "his" baskets, etc.) So by the time all their things were piled in there it was very distressing!! I can see that if you were a person who couldn't handle clutter or your house being turned upside down, it would be very challenging. D&P did say they had a photo shoot where the homeowner had to leave.. she couldn't handle the stress!

The Editor in Chief told D&P that there is a 75% chance that the pictures/story (which hasn't been done yet) will run in this year's Aug/Sept issue... she is pushing to have it ready. How cool would that be???? D&P have already emailed the Editor the rough/unretouched pictures for her to look at. Supposedly there will be a decision in the next 2 weeks... I promise to keep you posted!!!

It's truly surreal to see your home through their fancy lenses!!! It was the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me and I still can't believe it came to fruition. D&P told us several times that literally thousands of people submit their houses for consideration and a very, very few are ever chosen to be published. What an honor.

However, I am SICK TO DEATH of pumpkins!! I finally got it all put away last night. I don't even want to hear the words Fall, Autumn, Harvest!!

Country Sampler is coming!!

On Sunday April 19th, Country Sampler magazine photographers Donna Pizzi and Philip Clayton Thomas will be coming to Junction City to photograph my home and my best girlfriend's home! We've been talking about this for months and just set the date several weeks ago.... it is so exciting! I truly feel so honored.

The really interesting part is that our home will be featured in the August/September 2010 issue, so Fall is in the air over here!! The house is adorned with pumpkins, Indian corn, spooky cats, Fall signs and the like... and it's starting to look normal! (now I know I am in trouble...) When I put the Fall goodies out on the porch I know the neighbors will really be talking.

The photographers will arrive on Friday to introduce themselves and have a look at our homes. Saturday April 18th they will spend the day at Laura's spectacular home, which is only 7 houses away from us on the same street. She will be in the December/January 2010 issue, so her house has more of a winter theme right now. Then they will come on Sunday to shoot ours. Sometime later this Spring, Donna and Philip will return to take pictures of our friend Dee's glorious home! She will be the first to be featured, in the April/May 2010 issue.

I'll do another post right after the excitement is over. Happy Halloween everyone! :>)

Christmas in the Country

Oh my goodness... I am so behind on my blog posts! I just can't believe I am only getting to this an average of only once a month. Our Christmas Open House, "Christmas in the Country" was held earlier this month. I love this time of year and how very full the shop is! I am especially pleased with the large Christmas tree in the window.... would love to cart that baby home and plunk it right down in my living room! Some gift ideas for this year: NEW Reed Diffusers in Buttered Maple Syrup and French Vanilla, inexpensive "Gifts to Go" section, NEW seasonal scents in 26oz. jar candles, NEW clove scented battery candle lights, and as always, a full assortment of Irvin's punched tin wax melters in three sizes.

Do come by and shop our Christmas goodies when you have the chance and enjoy the sights and sounds of a country Christmas. Hope to see you soon!

Junction City Harvest Gathering & Quilt Walk

Earlier this month, we participated in the first ever JC Harvest Gathering & Quilt Walk! Quilters from all over our area submitted their wonderful creations and they were displayed at area businesses and at the Historical Society as well as the JC Library. Customers Norma Templeton and Carol Adams both had quilts on display at Buttermilk Junction. While I was out of town that weekend, it sure was fun readying the shop for the event. Above are their amazing quilts....... and trust me, the pictures do not do them justice.

We are definitely planning on making this an annual event!

Fall is here!

I cannot believe it's been over a month since I posted something... that is awful!

Well, it's finally Fall at Buttermilk Junction! Today is the official Open House and the shop is brimming with cozy Fall and fun Halloween goodies to decorate your home! Lots of wonderful scents as well, including my new favorite, Buttered Maple Syrup jar candles. Yummmm.....

I updated my "webshots" with pictures of the shop, as well as posting pictures of my Fall decor at home ... take a look when you have time.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Fall Preview

Can you believe.... time for a Fall Preview already!?! This week is the Scandinavian Festival here in Junction City, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to test the waters, as they say, with a few Fall products. I even managed to make a few of them myself - woo hoo! I've set out the 2009 calendars that I've received so far... more designs are coming.

If you're brave enough to come out to see us during the Festival, we're planning to stay open late and we'll even be open on Sunday 8/10!

WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING!

Phew.... finally! It was a lot of work, but it's done. You can now visit us at www.buttermilkjunction.com and shop online! I have included all our wonderful Amish Barn Stars, Irvin's Wax Melters, candles, framed samplers - just about everything I carry in the shop!

Do you know someone who would like to shop with us, but lives out of the area? Share our website address with them!

Annual Sidewalk Sale

Just a quick note to announce a change to our 3rd Annual Sidewalk Sale. Since we don't have a luxurious parking lot like we did at the old location, I've decided to change the sale to One Day Only. With the Junction City Police Department and Jail right next door, I didn't want to do anything that might cause our fair city alarm! Ha ha!

Please visit us on Saturday, June 28th (the last Saturday in June!) from 8am til 5pm for a great sale. I've been marking tons of things at 50% off or more... I really do have a lot of great things to put out, so you don't want to miss it.

Hope to see you then!

New at the Shop!

I had such a fun weekend redecorating the shop and adding all kinds of new goodies.... what a treat! Above is a picture of the Americana display at the front of the shop, and above that a picture of the gorgeous new "Made in the USA" woven table squares, throws, and blankets that just came yesterday (of course, one day after I finished all the re-doin'!)

If you click on the link to your left, called "Come Tour Our Home" you will be directed to WebShots, where I've posted all the pictures I took of the shop. You'll find new star-stamped pottery, new bedding on the little twin bed, the "cinnamon pantry jars" I made, new star shaped silicone lightbulbs, etc. etc. Be sure to check it out! Come see us when you can!

Website in the works!

Over the next several weeks, I'll be fine tuning a real, honest-to-goodness website for the shop! It will allow for online shopping, as well as give you first glimpses of new products as they arrive. While I plan to spend all weekend redecorating the shop and putting out all the new goodies, I still hope to have the website up and running for commerce sometime in mid-June.

The website address will be www.buttermilkjunction.com. Stay tuned!

Shop Updates

Lots going on at the shop! Here are a few items of note:

*All sheep figurines and bottlebrush wreaths have been marked down to 50% off!

*Our next First Friday is June 6th - starting at 5pm, we'll have an unadvertised sale, a sweet treat, and be open til 7pm along with other downtown businesses

*The week of June 10th will be our annual Flag Day sale

*Our annual Sidewalk Sale is scheduled to start on June 26th and it'll be a good one!

We have new items coming in by the truckload! Come see us in June for lots of great things to decorate your home for the summer!

New at the shop... and more soon!

I can't believe I've not made any posts since April. Oh my goodness - I have no excuse! Except that maybe a few days of sunshine got to me? If it's going to be 90 degrees this week things better change real soon, because it looks like 40 and rain to me....

I got a few new things in at the shop and created a display with them (see picture). I've also just placed "mega-orders" for new things and to restock the Irvin's wax melters, etc. Look for new summer-y things to come in sometime next month. And everyone knows what's next.... FALL!!! Aack!

Have a great week!

Virtual home tour!

This week, one of my customers told me that she posted pictures of her home on a site called "Webshots." Welllll.... wouldn't you know..... I just had to do mine too! What fun! I have it all set up in a link right here on the blog. Just look right under the picture of the shop, there's a link to my Webshots site. Click that link and you'll go right to my albums.

Not only do I have pictures of my home, but I also created an album with pictures and descriptions of a few new things I just got in at the shop. Check it out!

And just a quick note - starting this week, all of the lamb figurines and bottlebrush wreaths (ivory and pink) at the shop are marked 25% off.

Hope to see you soon!

Just in!

Just in at the shop -

• Completely restocked on the multi-colored braided round and square trivets, as well as the round coasters
• Homespun table runners in checks (mustard, navy, barn red, black) as well as ticking stripes
• New! Candle rings / wreaths with twiggy pieces, red and cream berries and rusty stars - great around the base of a taper or pillar, or even on the wall... multiple sizes available!

Sorry I don't have any pictures... of all days to forget the camera! I'm off to sunny San Diego tomorrow.. so more blogging next week!

TV Commercial in the works

Can you believe it? We're going to be on TV! This morning I met the film crew at the shop for my "big debut." Ha ha! This from the person who never took drama in school, never performed in a play, can't keep a straight face, etc. It was such a fun experience though. Last weekend, my husband Lee and I rearranged the back 1/3 of the shop and I think the timing was perfect for the commercial. He also was able to put some Wall Wisdom up by the barn stars, which made for a nice shoot. I say "nice shoot" like I know what I'm talking about!

They "made" me (ok, they asked me to) be in the commercial, which was a very interesting experience. I hope it doesn't look corny! And, I hope they used the skinny lens on the camera! It will be on CBS - KVAL in the next couple of weeks... can't wait to see the finished product.

Gorgeous!

I was looking through a magazine, and noticed a sign that read "Beloved." I thought wait a minute - that would make an excellent Wall Wisdom! And I knew just the place for it... right over my bed. My husband took the idea from concept to installation in 24 hours (this is some kind of a record!) And here is the finished product. The font is "Blackadder" and it's about 34" long. Doesn't that look gorgeous? Let us create something for you!

Easter items on sale

Can you believe Easter is already behind us? Goodness! Starting Wednesday 3/26, all Easter-specific items will be 50% off. Hurry in for best selection!

Wall Wisdom - NEW!

Check this out! We are now offering Wall Wisdom - a fully customizable, pressure-sensitive vinyl that applies directly to your walls. Haven't been able to find just the right sign? Or maybe you have a difficult-to-fill area in your home.... Wall Wisdom is for you! Come by the shop and take a look. We can give you a quote within 2 business days and you could be looking at your new wall graphics within a week's time!

Spring is here!

Well, Spring weather is here at least! This is the time of year when my husband and I both are trying to remember why we chose Oregon as our current home! Just kidding - we do love it here.... it's just tough to know how to dress for these crazy weather days.

The Spring Open House (held on 3/12) went very well. It sure was fun to fluff up the shop for Spring, even though that usually means adding some pastels into the mix (not my favorite primitive accent color...) Scroll down below to find a few pictures of some of the Spring goodies at the shop.

Have a wonderful week! ~Christina Z

Welcome to the new Butter-blog!

Thank you for visiting our new website! I think this will be a great way to share coming events, show new products, and maybe even share a few decorating ideas. I am really excited about it!

Stay tuned for Buttermilk Junction happenings and other ramblings.... and be sure to check back frequently.