Rachel Carlson

recovering?

 

and feeling bad that i gave it to the hubster who has been an amazing nurse - poor guy.

Friday Feature: THE PINK ATTIC CAT

 

i am so excited to introduce you to my sweet friend amy of the pink attic cat in downtown historic littleton.  and this feature falls on a friday that littleton celebrates the lighting of the tree and my favorite lights that go across main street from shop to shop.  amy's cute shop is perfectly dressed in vintage christmas and ready for the party!  IF i'm able to fight off this cold i've had for the past 2-3 days, i will venture out to see the lights.  

the pink attic cat

Located in Historic Downtown Littleton 

2555 W. Alamo Ave  Littleton, CO 80120

303.797.4474

owner:  amy doherty

the pink attic cat is nestled just off of historic main street in downtown littleton.  a perfect little stop if you are out and about shopping for antiques, consignment or unique treasures. 

 

 

amy was VERY busy in the store when i came to do her photo shoot so you will only see a reflection of her in a mirror there.  that made me happy when i came home to unload/edit the photos to find this photo.  she is very helpful in finding just the right thing for you.  and if she doesn't have it, she works to find it for you.

  

i was THRILLED to learn that McCall's had just been in her store for a photo shoot a few weeks earlier.  i'll be searching for that article, that's for sure! it is suppose to come out in about 3-4 months.  i can say i knew her when.  amy was very thankful that i was doing a feature about her on my little ole' bloggy here.  um HELLO, you just had McCall's in your store for a shoot and article, i consider ME the LUCKY one.  cheers to you amy!

i was happy to learn the things i learned about amy in my interview below.  i've added some photos from the shoot as well. 

Tell us about the Pink Attic, how/when/why you got started?  I have always loved vintage things and good junk.  I started about 9 years ago, doing only markets / shows and moved into the brick and mortar almost three years ago.  It's been a whirl wind since and nothing but wonderful HARD work.

What are your best resources in finding the treasures that are in your store?  I look anywhere and everywhere and hopefully everyday.  I don't have just one special place to look.  I am also lucky enough to have some great friends that know me and my style very well.  They find things for me too!

 

If you could name only ONE special treasure that was hard to see go, what was it? That's a hard ONE! 
I guess that I would have to say that I wish I hadn't sold a wonderful medical cabinet that I had in storage.  It was chippy white paint with cabriole legs and a glass door.  Perfect to house a small collection.

What season do you feel you do best in?  The last quarter of the year.  We start with Halloween...I really like Halloween.  Then we close for a couple of days, strip out the store and start over with vintage Christmas...a lot of vintage Christmas!  The store is completely loaded.  I actually think that The Pink Attic Cat has more vintage Christmas than anyone else in town.  I love the glitter and sparkle that the season lends.

  

 

Has the economy slowed traffic down in the area that you are in?  We have good days and bad days, but I have a really great customer base that keeps coming back and bringing in their friends.  I am very blessed to have such wonderful people for customers.  Without them, I don't get to do what I truly love.

What do you like most about the historic area that your store is located in?  We are all very unique, small businesses.  Everyone helps everyone else.  Historic Downtown Littleton is wonderful.  People park and walk all around town shopping and enjoying a meal at a local restaurant.  We all appreciate that so many people want to shop local.

 

 

 

Do you have a checklist when going out to find treasures for your store? No, never.  I don't limit myself.  If it speaks to me, but is outside my box, I still buy it.  I have learned not to ignore the gut instincts.  The only thing that is always on the list is vintage Christmas.

If you don't have something in your store your customer is looking for, do you go on additional treasure hunts to help them find it?  Yes, I keep a wishlist and attempt to fill as many as possible.

What is your favorite thing to collect? Skeleton keys and paper.

 

 

 

What is your biggest collection of one single item (i.e. scrabble tiles, vintage aprons, etc.) I think the biggest collection of a single item in the store is paper.  I have everything from vintage greeting cards and postcards to certificates and book pages.

What is the oldest treasure you have found?  I had a dresser from the 1850's.  It was worn and beautiful. 

Describe the perfect day in your store, treasure hunting or other?  The perfect day in the store is when I am busy enough to make it a great day financially, but I have enough time to spend with each and everyone of the special people that walk through the door.  In a perfect world it would also mean that I had enough time to clear my desk off too...that hasn't happened recently!

 

 

 

can you tell what i was drooling over above!?  thank YOU amy for the treats *wink*.

What would be your advice to someone wanting to do the same?  It is always scary to try something new, but if you don't ever try, you won't know if you could be successful or not.  I was deathly afraid to step into the building and have all of the financial responsibilities, but I have been here for almost three years through trying times and I haven't ever looked back.  I also think that it is really important to surround yourself with a great suppost system.  Those people are your biggest fans, best customers ands and will always be there when you want to move furniture :).  When the door opens on your passion, step through!

 

 

 

 

thank YOU amy for allowing me into your space and for letting me share it with others.  please visit amy when you can, it's a guaranteed treat!  best wishes for a successful holiday season amy, i'll be watching you and cheering you on.

happy holiday weekend to all.

♥ rachel

being thankful

 

not sure why i'm using my mad hatter photo to define what i'm thankful for this year. maybe it's the setting of a table that we are about to be guests at thanks to our dear friends the walkers.

it's been a very tough year and yet i have a LOT to be thankful for...

i am thankful for friends near and far that have made it possible for me to do things that i otherwise could not have done without them.  you know who you are, thanks for all that you are and all that you do.  if i start to list the reasons why, i will simply start to cry.  THANK YOU.

 
i am thankful to friends that remember the 'little' things about what i like because i can't afford to splurge on gingerbread lattes at starbucks - this is WAY better and i can have them daily now.  thanks to BOTH of you and wow, what a coincidence!

 
i am thankful to friends that make the above possible for me to be inspired by - thank YOU.

         

 

i am thankful to bloggy friends that i've met online and recently in person that are extremely generous.

  

i am thankful to work for two amazing and outrageously GENEROUS manufacturers.  love you guys!

  

 

 ave you SEEN all the holiday projects we've been cooking up on the gypsy blog!  yummy.

i am thankful for my MIL.  and she knows ALL the reasons why we are both thankful for her.  it's rare that one actually loves/adores their MIL.  i am VERY lucky to have an amazing MIL.  VERY.  thank you very much for my DH too.  and for understanding code - LOL.

 

and last but certainly not least, i am thankful for the hubster.  for being silly still (photo above) and making me laugh out loud and for making my heart happy even in bad times.  YUP, that would be a mutant dragon/dragon mutant in my coffee.  thank you for supporting what i love to do and for putting up with me even when you don't want to.

for that i am thankful.

i will be back on friday with a new feature - it's a good one.  i spent a couple hours with this cute girl the other day and just in time for your holiday shopping.

please share what you are thankful for.

best wishes for the happiest of thanksgiving holidays!

♥ rachel

i had breakfast with a fox yesterday...

  

not the furry, four-legged kind.

carissa fox that is.  aka the brown eyed fox.  she is so creative and does amazing things - check out her etsy shop!

in fact, i've been eye-balling this piece in her shop:

 

i forgot to take out my camera to take photos of us but she had the waiter take some.  when she sends them to me i'll share.  i'm trying to get ready for sewing club today so a headshot is all you get.  she also brought me the cutest gift but i've yet to photograph that.  but it looks something like this and has a cupcake in the center of the heart:

 

carissa has been an online friend for 1+years or so?  you know the kind, the blog you follow, where you actually leave comments, an imaginary friend of sorts.  she does exist.  she was everything i expected her to be.  you know when you prepare yourself to meet an online friend, is she going to be weird, a freak or scary (*you know who you are*).  HEE-HEE.  OK, maybe that's just me and my thoughts.  but it was like we were long lost friends that simply picked up where we left off.  she's sweet, kind, generous and it helps that she's from texas.  she had lived in colorado for a spell (that's texas speak) but we just never had the chance to meet, crazy i know.  she lives in wyoming now, still just a road trip away.

thanks for everything carissa and safe travels home!

off to get my sewing skills on for the day.........

♥ rachel

friday feature: the information edition

buy local.  support local.  wherever you live.

i thought i would share today why i think it's important to me and why i am doing friday features, etc.  stay tuned next week for a new feature...

it is not a new phenomenon.  in fact, it's something that we need to bring back and/or continue to practice today and the next day and the next...this is not a post about the ailing economy that we are in.  it's about making the difference and making it work for what we do have and what we can do about it now.

easier said than done.  i know.  i am not a spending fool under the circumstance but i'm certainly trying to do the latter with my friday feature installments.  hopefully drawing more awareness to people/businesses that you might not otherwise know about.  they may be people/businesses i already know or have met or they might be new ones i just discovered along the way.  if i can do my part in bringing attention to that, i will. 

some of you are already doing it and don't realize it - good for you.  continue to do it.  let me know about it so i can let others know about it.  i'm not saying i have a million blog readers but the ones i do have will tell their friends, and you know what that turns into.  this is how we find out about the best local places to have breakfast, let me not get into that or i will get super hungry.  it's how we find out about that cute outfit that we found at a thrift or consignment store we knew nothing about.  OK, sometimes that's hard to share because sometimes they are my best kept secrets.  you know that one time...  all kidding aside, share the story!  i have been thanked by many for sending new customers their way.  and if that is a little piece of something bigger for them - cheers to them.

it's not easy i know.  but you have to start somewhere.  speaking for myself:  i want to keep our dollars local, i want to keep business 'in colorado' and local businesses thriving.  it's what creates community and makes us a unique environment to be a part of.  it's the person at the counter that KNOWS your name and greets you personally each time you walk through their door and wishes you a nice day as you're leaving.  it's the people that remember the last conversation you had and ask you how things are going.  even if i have to drive to get it.  it may not be walking distance or a bike ride up the road but it will be in colorado.  invite a friend along, share the ride, split the costs, load up, share.  it's the people that don't have a brick/mortar store front but are working their butts off to make a living to follow their dream.  help them out.  you will be surprised as to how much you get back from it. i know this because i speak from experience on that point.  help empower them to hopefully open their own brick/mortar if that is their wish. 

no.  i'm not running for office.  i just want to be a part of a great experience.  a great community.  keeping it local to the state i live in.  i want to support what people are trying to do for our local economy and help them continue to do it.

and i'm SPENT!  thanks tons for the emails i've received on this feature.  if i know that it's helping that means it's working.  cheers to local businesses.

happy weekend!

a new moon has risen

 

it's after 3a.m. - back from the show and off to the land of nod.

sweet dreams...

the smiley box has arrived...

 

and who doesn't like the SMILEY box.  with that said, you might not see/or hear from me for several days!?  who knows.  i'll be busy pouring/studying/sketching over this:

 
and of course dreaming about the fabrics that i'm saving pennies for to do the projects 'in' the book with.  i have challenged myself to do EVERY project in this book since the book is mine now.  HUGE thanks goes to my lovely canadian friend - ki - love you!

another thank you goes to a new canadian friend for the treats i received in the mail the other day from a blog drawing i won - thank YOU kaye!  the scarflette is PERFECT and i've already sketched a new design to use the extra goodies that you sent, good thing i have the fabric for that (stay tuned...).  i can't believe you sent me your first block - GULP - it's lovely!

i owe you a photo of me in the scarflette i know, bare with me.  but for my readers, here is what kaye sent me from her blog drawing:

 

*photo from kaye's blog*

there is a lovely button that holds it securely around my neck.  it's lovely and fits perfectly!

and finally, special thanks goes to two very special friends of mine kelly and michelle.  and you know why.  i don't need to go into detail about what you both have done for me recently just know that it means a lot to me that you have given so much of yourselves and that it is very MUCH appreciated.  

warm hugs to everyone as we get ready for another round - brrrrrrrrr!

♥ rachel

start your engine...

 

let the countdown begin...

i ♥ rouenneries...

 

*all photos from french general or google*

hello.  my name is rachel carlson and i am a textile addict. 

sounds better that way huh.  OK.  but have you SEEN the new rouenneries release by french general by way of MODA.  *sigh*.  inhale.  exhale.  you all know that i am a fan of black and kraft with splashes of red in my paper world.  but COME ON, to find something so similar in the 'fabric' world.  i've been experimenting with burlap for a few weeks but linens and cottons in creams and natural run a close 2nd.

i recently visited our local shop 'fancy tiger' with kelly to DROOL over the bolts of yummy cottons, linens AND the book that i simply HAVE TO HAVE.  i really should wear a bib when i go there.  i can't afford the fabric right now so i'll just be patient.  the book is not on the shelves of our library yet because it is fairly new too but you should SEE the projects in there.  i'm going to make a pact to do ALL the projects in that book when/if i can get aforementioned goods.

 

look at ALL those yummy fabrics on the cover!  i mostly like the solids, stripes and polka-dots naturally.

a peek inside the book:

 

a sampling of accoutrements (wishing i had a FRENCH accent) to tease you:

 




off to dream of lovely things...

have a great week!

♥ rachel

Friday Feature: STASH

 

Happy Friday!

in the spirit of today's feature, i have been sewing ALL week, no really.  i even started my first ever quilt - GULP.  scary, i know.  we shall see how many things i can do today and through the weekend.  my goal was to sew for one week straight, so far so good...

i'm excited to introduce you to crystal, owner of STASH in castle rock.  in fact, a few blocks down the road from the barn where she originally began. 

  

crystal is living her dream.  she owns and operates a cute boutique filled with yummy fabric, yarn and craft goods as well as some other artisan works, go crystal.  i keep forgetting to bring a bib each time i visit because the fabric alone is to DROOL for.  this is where i got my 'stag bag' fabric by joel dewberry.  she is also the one that taught me and kelly our first bag class - the ruthie clutch.  thanks crystal!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

check out her calendar for upcoming classes.  plenty of classes to take for upcoming holiday gifting.  or for a treat for yourself.  i have a good friend that has been spending some time over there (*wink*cough*LC*cough) recently.  my master-enabler skills 'are' working.  don't worry LC, i won't tell.

crystal's business site:  STASH

crystal's blog site:  STASH

here is a recent interview with crystal.  AHEM, i think they were more for me than they were for her?  OK, maybe ONE of the questions was more for me, can you guess which one?

what was THE defining moment behind your decision to open your own store?
I have always wanted to have my own yarn and fabric store, the moment I knew it could be a reality was with the encouragement and support from my wonderful husband, Jon.  I also couldn't have done any of this without Carol, my partner in The Barn.  She has been a huge support and always very encouraging.

where did you get your start?
Stash first opened it’s “doors” at The Barn in a little space no bigger then most closets.  From there we moved to a bigger space, then to the wonderful little cottage where it is today

tell us the name behind 'STASH'?
Stash is defined as something put away or hidden.  We all have our secret stash, wether it is fabric, yarn, paper, clothes.  My hope is that at Stash you feel comfortabel enough to know that you are not alone, we all have the fiber addition, and it is OK.  You don't have to keep it a secret, I understand.  I hope you feel you can come on in and look, feel, covet, and maybe walk away with a little something that makes you HAPPY!

do you prefer to knit or sew?
I go back and forth on this one.  I mostly knit, because it’s easier to take with you.  Then there are times when all I do is sew two or three things at once.  I’m never without my knitting or sewing.    

what compels you to buy certain prints for fabrics?
Nostalgia, if a certain print brings on a good memory, I just have to have it.  If I see a print and cannot stop thinking about it, and sometimes customers ask for a certain print that I overlooked and that one becomes a favorite.

what compels you to buy certain types of yarn?
If I love to knit with it, it’ll be at Stash.  I tend to gravitate toward natural yarns and yarns with a story behind it, for example if it supports samll communites and Indie companies.  If a certain pattern catches my eye and uses a particular yarn.  Or if I come across a yarn I have not heard of before, I research it and try to get my hands on some.

who is your favorite designer fabric/yarn/etc?
I have to admit Manos is my favorite to knit with.  The fiber is amazing and the colors are to “dye” for.  (There is a great story behind this fiber as well: Manos is a true co-op that has been self sufficient for over 40 years and just this year received its World Free Trade Certificate.)

As for fabric designers, that is difficult to choose just one.  Of course Amy Butler is on top of the list, her prints just make you want to sew up something fun and they inspire you to be creative.  Then there is Anna Maria Horner, and Joel Dewberry, and just recently Valorie Wells.

is it hard for you to put scissors to your favorite fabric?  if so, how do you overcome that?
It was REALLY hard at first to put a sharp object to something so beautiful.  It seemed so finite, so wrong, and what if I messed it up?!?  After you cut fabric all day long and realize it really is OK and your projects really do turn out, it does get easier.  I actually enjoy the cutting part of sewing now, it is almost therapeutic.

how many unfinished knitting/sewing projects to you have going at one time?
This varies, but right now I have three projects on needles, two projects in the works ( I have the pattern and yarn, just not the time), one sewing project, and one needlework project.  I guess this is pretty typical. 

what do you like best about having your own business?
Knowing everyday is truly a dream come true.

what is the best part of your day when you are at your store?
I love the excitement of customers when they come in the door and see all the worderful fabrics and yarn, and being surrounded by all that wonderfulness all day every day;
and when someone comes in with a problem to be solved, and we solve it!

do you feel that this is a good business to be in?
I think crafting is a good business to be in.  I have a passion for crafting as well as many others.  I'm gald to be able to provide a place for everyone to be inspired and find a creative outlet

how do you feel the economy has affected this type of business?
I don't think I have been in business long enough to know.  I do believe that people are more inclined to spend money on a hobby in this day and age, especially if it is a gift for someone else.  It makes it more justified. 

*i have to agree with crystal on the above as i am making all handmade/homemade for holiday gift-giving.  it feels great and i know people will love and appreciate it!

if you could knit a hat/scarf/sweater for a famous person who would it be?
Martha Stewart, because I consider her a mentor in business and creativity

what advice do you offer to those wanting to start their own business?
Follow your passion, you have to love what you are doing in order to make it happen.

cheers to that crystal and thank you again for indulging me and my readers! 

back to the threads for me...

happy weekend!

♥ rachel