Happy Friday - some thoughts - and a bribe

As you know, I blog so that I can reach out and have a creative voice from this rather remote part of the world. I hope that my posts inspire and influence. So I'm always thrilled when I hear from readers that something I have featured has influenced them in a positive creative way. Like yesterday when Janet emailed me and told me that she had contacted Sweet Petunia, who's product I featured here last week, and made an order of their products, including the Earl Grey Soap, for her store in Rossland BC. And like the day I featured that cool cabin-chic lamp - before I'd even had my morning coffee Lynda had commented on the post that she loved the lamp so much she had bought it! I love hearing these stories so don't forget to let me know if you have one.

And now for something completely self indulgent - as of this minute I have 489 followers - so close to 500! So I'm offering a special little bag of Cartolina goodies to follower number 500. Please sign up to follow on the right hand side(below the Modern Paper Goods logo) Leave me a comment and let me know.

Yes, you are right, this is a bribe - and I am not proud of it :-)

Image from one of my favourites - Twig Hutchinson

Canadiana

I am quite intrigued by both of these items from Etsy seller Hindsvik. The first one is a vintage Canadian film reel case - I think it's quite wonderful. Next up, we have some authentic vintage cabin-chic in the form of a stoneware lamp with a rustic Canadian scene on the translucent lampshade - I'd say that's a real score - and it's up for grabs at $54.

Merchandizing - that undefinable something . . . . .

If you have been following my blog for a while you will know that I am a big fan of eclectic shops with quirky personality and bundles of style. The kind of shop that offers a selection of old and new and imported and handmade and displays all those treasures in fabulously vintage cupboards or hanging from old tin ceilings and piled on top of perfectly scruffy old tables. You know what I mean - I know you do. There is a fine line that some stores seem to understand - kind of chic but not shabby chic, slightly bohemian, not too antiquarian, not too much imported stuff but definitely edgy and ethnic, not too many reproduction tchochkes and definitely, no definitely not twee. Why are there so few stores like this now? What has happened to them all? Why is it that Anthropologie is the only large chain store that seems to have figured it out that the average gal wants something special when they go shopping? Why is it that we really are drawn to this undefinable, abstract style of merchandizing?

So far in my travels there are only a handful of stores that fall into this category for me - here are a few(but not all) - Fan Tan Gallery, Victoria BC. Any Anthropologie anywhere. The Rubaiyat, Calgary. Salamagundi, Vancouver BC. Cabin Fever, Sandpoint Idaho, ABC Carpet and Home, NYC. Fish's Eddy, NYC. The Cross, Yaletown Vancouver. Watson Kennedy, Seattle. Most of which I featured here over the last few months.

Now it's your turn - I want to know what stores you have found in your neck of the woods and beyond that just have that undefinable something that sets them apart. Let's make a list . . . . . .