The Mommy of All Holiday Party Posts

Hot off my digital memory card, this is the first batch of photos from Sunday's Peace on Earth Holiday Open House. Commentary to be added little by little as I can get to it! As you know if you've been in the shop, what we show on the blog is only a taste. We hope you'll come in and say hello and experience our Holiday story live in living color.

Above, our glowing silver ball topiaries flanking the front entrance attracted a lot of attention. We wrapped giant beach balls in tin foil {matte side out} and rested them atop our enormous cast iron urns to make metallic ice globes. The snowflakes we created from paper doilies in white and silver purchased from a local party supply store. Zoey, Jamie, and Debbie then cut out some of the edges into snowflake shapes and cut peace signs into some of them. The flakes were then affixed to the windows using double sided tape. Voila! Instant winter flurries.

Getting closer. . .

The theme of the event being Peace on Earth, we wanted to create a sort of otherworldly, celestial feel...but not in an expected way. Not sure how well all the detail translates in a photograph.

I love oblique, interesting shots like the one above. One of our color palettes this Holiday season is deep gothic red with zinc, pewter, and dove grey. Accented with silver glitter glass, I find this look to be just a step off from the traditional red and green. Not so hard for most of our customers to work into their existing palettes.

Our shopgirl Francie models fingerless gloves.

A yellow-vested shopper peruses what we've been calling our "Man Display."

Earthy, burlap-py 19-foot garlands for tree, mantel, or staircase were a favorite at the open house. These come printed with either Merry Christmas or Season's Greetings.

Shopgirl Becki and I caught in a tête-a-tête. This was a rare moment for me away from the register. At one point, Zoey looked over at me and said, "Abby, do you realize you've been ringing for three hours straight?" I love events like these because it reminds me just how many people we've come to know over the past three years. It's great to see so many of them at once!

Silver mercury glass adornments in every shape, size, and use.

Noël. If only they could've gotten the two little dots over the 'e.'

One of our top selling tree ornaments so far this season. Packaged in a white organza bag, we think it's an instant hostess gift and destined {if they last that long} to be a favorite for ornament exchanges, which one of out every three of my customers last year seemed to be invited to.

The pièce de résistance of this year's theme: the Silver Peace Wreath, comprised of vintage-style metallic silver bulbs. So glowy and shiny and perfect for the front door. I think we can all walk around bearing a bit more peace in our hearts toward one another, be we Republican or Democrat. This morning, when I ran into my favorite bagel joint for my Everything {untoasted} with cream cheese, I sensed what I'd describe as a muffled sense of dismay. Perhaps I was reading into things, but I saw quite a few tense-lipped conversations in progress and even more grim expressions squinting over today's newspapers. But on my way in and then out, I was greeted warmly by three complete strangers. No matter which side of last night's outcome we personally come down on, I think there's a real sense of the need to pull together as an American people and as neighbors.

An array of grabbables meets you at the front display.

These Peace Sign Ornaments are mercury glass in a warm cappuccino color, very spotty, encrusted with silver peace signs.

A customer totes a handful of ornaments through the shop.

Initial mugs inspired by 18th century France pair perfectly with one of our coffee toppers. The silver shaker canisters bear the flavor in French on one side, English on the other.

Fireplace scape in cherry red, silver and zinc. These funky oversized felt stockings make me smile every time I pass by them.

We always do a nod to Santa. These foil wrapped Germanic ones got me this year at Market.

St. Francis santos figure.

Scarves in all of the rich Autumn colors.

Italian Tumbled Marble Tile Coasters and Trivets.

And more.

Signs of the season.

These cool Snowflake Saucers and Serving Platters were a hot seller. Microwave, oven, and dishwasher safe. One among many new items recently shot and being prepped for uploading to the Online Boutique.

Bapchi's Caramel Toffee by Vosges and a glass of white wine sounds like a perfect after dinner treat to me.

Cowl neck scarves and caps with leather brims for cooler days.

Rugby stripes, organic reactive patent "leather," and herringbone tweeds.

Petit chien for minding your personal library.

Vintage-washed burnout tees.

Possibly one of our most sought after Fall items: the 2009 Day Book in an inspiring vintage-y design for the nature lover. Nesting 2009 also available.

Fluted Optic Hourglasses keep Fall's fleeting moments {imperfectly} in chocolate grains of sand. Small is sold out.

Our Gothic Church display.

Ditto.

Creamy Bistro Cubes by Tatine.

Every season there a few items I just really adore. This season, one of those is our Mercury Glass Snowflake Votive. Available in Large and Small {Large shown here}.