TA-DA! {New Products}

We've added dressmakers pins to gigantic angels wings and lots in between......Over 60 new products and if you count all the configurable goodies, well that's a lot more. Customers have been waiting & watching because "poof" some things are already low stock. Thank you!


We'll slowly be adding even more things as most of you know Christmas is on it's way........

Go to the bottom of our peek page, row number 28 right here....

Have fun,

k&d

Daily Posts

{Next week: come in & have a seat}

Monday: A Stitch in Time {preview of habadashery items available at our tent CL fair 2009}

Tuesday: A Gray {or is it Grey?} Kitchen

Wednesday: Package for Baby

Thursday: Curious Shops that we don't see in the press, but should be. Also, featuring two gals that will help us out for the CL fair. They are both shop girls at heart!

Friday: Our favorite outside plants.

Also, if any of you have a submission of something that you would like featured let us know!

Drop us a line www.mcmasterandstorm@embarqmail.com

Sold Out! We'll be Restocking!

{Carnival Embellishments}

SOLD OUT!

thank you......more to come!

Where are Darcy & Kara?

Can you find Darcy & Kara?

Really we are here just flying around like crazy people. {Burping baby, feeding baby, lack of sleep, changing diapers is on Kara's full plate} {+ there's her 3 year old that is a busy bee} {Luke retorts- "Hey Mom, I woke Zach up!} arrrrrrrgh!

Darcy is on the other hand working on a project for the web boutique & involves her total concentration!

Meanwhile, how do all of you even twitter????????? I can't even manage to figure out to create a new folder on the mac + find the time to blog! I feel like I'm twittering all the time without twittering. Ok, I really had little sleep last night, I'm not even making sense!

Later on I have a funny post about Darcy and sorta involves Earth day without us even realizing it would make a perfect post. I will post this later on Farmhouse tales.

Must go and ship orders!

K

Peek Inside Baskets will be Available Soon.....

We've had requests & your wish will be granted available online sooooon........

k&d

Blog News

We'll be closing regular blog posts except to post new products that are being offered on our website. We have lots to do to get products photographed and uploaded. We have a busy workload to finish in the next week or so to get everything accomplished. Thanks for understanding.

Back to Business

Finally Darcy & I were able to place more orders

yesterday & our office is more organized.

Shipments are getting speedier {thanks for understanding}

& can't wait to show you what's arriving on our online shelves!

Our goal is to have spring things available online

the first part of March.

Keep peeking!

K&D

Happy Valentine's Day

Wishing you lots of love today!

[*give away today!]

Our new headquarters [in the middle of nowhere still] is in a tizzy, as it's like

trying to find a needle in a haystack! We hope to have a plan next week to get everything organized.........

Meanwhile, some things are finally arriving that have been out of stock & need to still place orders for some things. Our new phone number is still having some kinks so please e-mail us if you have questions. [mcmasterandstorm@embarqmail.com]

*Ok, giveaway time........

please tell us what gets you in the mood to clean, organize and rid out all that "stuff" that's been piling up since 1986! No wrong answers here! We'll be sending out a box of tags and other goodies to start your way to an organized home!
Contest ends Monday 11am EST!

Lots of love to all of you today,

k&d

Memories of "The Spot"

Luke sitting with his pals Kip & Darcy......memories of this past summer. Luke was 2 1/2 & pleased as punch, especially with "The Spot's" yummy chocolate milkshake. Ahhh, dreaming of summer in the Midwest!

*Coming soon more pics of Zach!

*A post about Jill Brown

*A giveaway

& more blathering about this & that!

K&D

Bebe, Bebe! {Oh, my}

Welcome Bebe Zach Ellington
8lbs 11oz
Born 2/1/09
@ 1:09pm

I was going to post last week on getting ready for baby....
& he made it here before I had a chance!
I will post more pics of baby Zach soon!
k

A Week that We're Wishing for an Early Spring....

What a week, a week that has completely fell apart. Horrible weather, sick kids, doc appts, school closings, and Darcy & Kara a sick as well. The store has had hit & miss hours this week and due to sick shop owners we are closed today, Saturday {e-mail us with any questions}. We had pics to take of new things for website and that will not happen this week. We're wishing for an early Spring and it's only the middle of January! We hope to have a back to normal next week. Kara will be back to the store on Tuesday with gusto she hopes!

Homemade chicken noodle soup.............today is the day to make it! We wish you all a warm weekend. Let's try not to dwell on this yucky week.
Love.
K&D

Sweet Saturday Thoughts

One of our customers, Debby, who discovered us at the 2007
Country Living fair found a home for one of our favorite things-
this swan "floating on water".
Debby is a customer who understands the quirkiness of
McMaster & Storm. Her collection of purchases always
reflects what we are truly about, different things
that add a spark & a touch of uniqueness to a home.
Plus we always enjoy good conversation as well.
We hope to keep in touch with them
through the future going-ons of McMaster & Storm!

Gary & Debby brought us each a potted rose in a darling
pink pot----we hurried and did a collection of
Valentine-y colors at home with this plant!
Very inspirational and colorful during this ho-hum
time of winter in Ohio. Thank you also for
the very humbling note you tucked in our plants.
We appreciate your thoughtfulness!
K&D

Now this picture of these gals---the live, love scrap gals
has a story as well. They are retailers and we have enjoyed collaborating on
ideas about retail. They are moving to a
smaller building with character and I believe will become a very unique scrap booking boutique that will
inspire and not be a typical scrapbooking store. We hope to do some events with
them. They are always a lot of fun when they come in.
They also get our paper/vintage/odd things addiction!!!


Since we have announced our closing of the brick & mortar store
we have spoken across the country to retailers and the impact the retail
life has on us. We all want to do what we love, enjoy family, and lead a fulfilling life. Each of us works to find equilibrium and sometimes pull back when one
aspect is out of balance, (i.e. spending time with family).
There is always a solution and even if it means closing & finding other
ways to lead a fulfilling life. Believe me we can't wait for the next chapter of McMaster & Storm,
we'll keep you posted on the blog!

{icy weather, questionable road conditions. Store may or may not be open depending on the weather today, please call to verify, 10th of Jan sorry}

Our Brick & Mortar Storefront is Bidding all Adieu

2009 is fast approaching and it will be a new beginning for us. We are closing our store in Greenville, Ohio. We still will have our "petite department store" online- www.mcmasterandstorm.com & we will set up at events like the Country Living fair. Some other ideas are brewing in our heads as well. As many of you know Kara is expecting her 2nd little one Feb. 11 and she wants a slower lifestyle while her children are young. They keep ya bus-y!

We have been blessed with friendships with other store owners and will continue to keep in touch with you all. We promise we won't disappear completely!

There will be our back room sale starting this Friday from 10-5. We will be selling props, display pieces and lots more. I will post pics of display pieces later today. Also, there is an in store sale going on as well. We will be open through January 31st.

Note: Staplers are on there way to the shop. They should be here shortly and there will be no discounts on these.

Questions? Call us @ 937-548-2100

e-mail mcmasterandstorm@embarqmail.com

Happy New Year!

LOL,

Kara & Darcy

Fastner fiasco...

Well the weather outside is frightful but our European fastner is so delightful... let them come, let them come, let them come... well the only trouble is they will not arrive before Christmas morn.

We so do hate to spread the news of this to our dear customers who are patiently waiting {as we are also!} We'll keep you updated on the arrival and get them in your hands as fast as our little legs can carry us!

Blessings to you and yours,

D

Breaking News!!!! The Staplers are Coming!!!!

How Exciting!
The staplers are coming before Christmas they tell us! If you would like to be on our order/wait list, please e-mail us and we let you know the moment they are available on the website. Thank you for your patience.

Our e-mail is mcmasterandstorm@embarqmail.com

Kara & Darcy

"Oh, Where Oh Where have the Staplers Gone?"

For those of you wondering, pondering, scratching your head, twirling your hair and e-mailing us, we will be getting more of these staplers in. We will have exciting news soon!
k&d

Refresh Your Page!

Hello! Just in......please refresh our website home page as new pics are on it. Refreshing also might help any problems you encounter trying to order. Hope that clears up your e-mail questions regarding this. Our tech guy was working on our website yesterday!

We'll be busy bees between Christmas open house and web updating!

k&d

Going Nutty Around Here

Red and white cotton twine and nut cachettes. Christmas is coming at McMaster & Storm!

Getting back in the groove again. Some serious Nesting for Kara as she focused on her home for the last week. {I needed a break and time away from blogging} Little over 3 months to go until baby arrives and much needed time organizing before our Christmas open house. Actually don't think the real "nesting" phase has set in yet but, felt really great to freshen up the house. The real pregnancy nesting phase has not set in because if that was the case I would've cleaned out my Tupperware cabinet but, instead I scream every time I open it and quickly close it. How in the world does one organize that stuff. I love it but, oh those lids its mass confusion for sure.

I promise that I will be uploading some more things. I've been poking on this. I will check on inventory as that needs updated. Plus we have restocked some things like our chocolates among other things.

Christmas open house dates have been decided and working on things for that event.

{That's the going nutty around here!}

Nov 13th 10-8

Nov 14th 1-8

Nov 15th 10-5

Our event coincides with our downtown christmas this year. There will be carriage rides, singers & the downtown churches will be open. Love this as we have beautiful old churches throughout our downtown.

We will close down that Mon - Wed to prepare. On Mondays following open house we'll be open from 10-5.

I will post our theme on a later post.

k

I Spy Touches of Red

{Thursday was Kara's day off
Made homemade chicken & wild rice soup}

{Getting Luke's outfit ready for fall pics,
attaching the "L" red & white ribbon on upper sleeve of
parchment color sweater.}

{Tickets for the glee club and choir at Miami University Oxford, Ohio
A beautiful old campus 1809-2009 celebrates their 2ooth year.
Cute red & white ticket can't wait to attend with dear friends.}

{Love touches of red}

Fall is here!
K

Shop News and Bebe News!

{shop news}

Kara talked to her California retail friend last week and was told that they were planning Christmas open house already. Yikes, that means we need to get down to business. We have taken a break this past week as we have really just gotten over Country Living fair. We want to get all the new things online by next week. We tried some new products out at the fair and had a great response. We can't wait to show you. Prize Ribbons will be available soon plus a petite offer that involves these and our tablets & pencils. We'll also be re-posting items that are back in stock that you thought disappeared from our website!

{bebe news}

Kara received this card from Darcy a while back. Here's what it says........

KBG
Nest now or forever hold your peace!
That little piece of sugar will
soon make an appearance!!!
My Love- Darcy

Some of you blog friends know I'm expecting and also know of our journey to have children. I did have a miscarriage this past January. Luke {almost 3 now} is our first miracle. I feel incredibly blessed to be expecting again and in my 20th week. Some of you gals are still "in waiting" and my prayers go out to you.

{my favorite Christian newsletter that comes out 6 times a year on the subject of infertility, adoption, etc

I highly recommend this to anyone as it always came when I needed it most}

So here it is this fall we are presenting "Nesting". I would love to get Luke's baby book scrapbook up to date before this little one arrives in February. I love this company for photo albums, Kolo they have the loveliest of colors and they are simple. I would also like to get baby's room started as well.

I would like to encourage everyone to finish up a project in the month of October. Paint a cabinet, finish something you started, or fall clean.

Fall blessings to all & Happy Nesting!
K&D