Shopkeeping: Holiday 2021

Warm greetings to you. Here we are, Thanksgiving is next week. I started readying my shop earlier than usual this autumn, blending the seasonal teas, making soaps, pouring balms, and even making beeswax candles. There have been many sweet hours of creativity. It is such a lovely thing to have a small business in which I can employ my head, heart, and hands, in nearly everything I do. In these rather topsy-turvy times, my gardens and studio provide much peace.

All of my happy bustling was a good thing, because we’ve had a family challenge or two; and I decided, rather at the last minute, to do a holiday show. Details are below.

Saturday, November 20
Puget Sound Artists’ Gift Show
ArtWorks, 2nd & Dayton, Edmonds, WA

I really had not planned on doing any shows this season, but when the organizer of the gift show contacted me last month, I thought what a lovely pick-me-up it would be. This is the 20th year for this lovely, well-organized event, with its well juried and fine variety of offerings from many artists and craftspeople. If you will be out and about that day, and the show fits into your schedule, it would be a delight to see your smiling eyes even if above a mask. Additional information can be found here.

My shop is finally ready for you. I’m well-stocked with favorite Holiday and Winter Teas and The Apothecary Cupboard features freshly made soaps, herbal balms and fragrance sprays, as well as small beeswax candles to add a warm glow to the evenings which close in so early now. After next weekend’s show, I’ll do a limited restocking; but remember, I order and produce in limited quantities, and inventory will dwindle as we enter December.

Local customers, I am offering front porch pickup on Wednesdays through December 8, between 10am and 5pm at my home on South Whidbey. Orders will be processed and filled as received to keep control of inventory, and will then be set aside for you. Shipping will be charged, but those charges will be refunded following pickup. After you place your order, please contact me with your preferred Wednesday and whether you will be dropping by in the morning or afternoon. I will reply to confirm and provide you with directions to my home. Weather permitting, I will look forward to popping out to wish you a quick and safely distanced “Happy Holidays!”

My annual holiday promotion to thank you for your support and encouragement has begun. Please enjoy 15% off your next purchase.  At checkout, enter the code “THANKYOU” in the coupon/discount box, click “Apply” and your order will be adjusted. This offer is good until midnight December 12, when I close for Christmas and New Year’s break. I will be closing a few days early to allow extra time for parcels to make it to where they need to go.

Until my next post, I wish you a warm and cozy Thanksgiving. Be well and take good care.