mcmaster and storm

European Fastners or Pliers (in English "a cute stapler")

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

They're back after a 1 1/4 year hiatus---we have found a distributor for the staplers. When we opened our "petite department store" we thought these were a perfect fit. They sold out &

alas our company was no longer selling them, but after searching and sending our customer Peg Mennings on a mission when she went to Europe to get another one for Kara. We have had requests regarding these staplers since we first opened.... so here they are, back in the store. We found the true distributor we are happy, they are happy!
Why the excitement over a stapler? This stapler has a never jam mechanism and has a dot that turns red when empty & they HAVE THE CUTEST STAPLES EVER! REALLY! It's a cute coppery gold staple & petite to boot. We use it for altering cards, projects, gift wrapping, etc. etc. and it's so European, literally. Well the stapler isn't bad looking either. Want one? Call the store as I predict McMaster & Storm will be the #uno seller of these cuties. We also sell the refills. So staple to your hearts content----we are!
Darcy & Kara

staplers come in assorted colors, {not all are shown} w/ a pack of "petite staplets" as we call them

check out the darling staple & the coppery- gold color

Country Living Fair 2007

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Ribbon

Our vintage-y cabinet that we added our "bird" & novelties on the glass

Our booth, with some of our hand crafted prize ribbons, which is part of our Trophy Co. line

Country Living Fair 2007

We feel completely humbled by the response to our booth at the fair. We have received numerous phone calls and e-mails from excited customers who would like to venture to our store. THANK YOU! We wanted to bring a taste of our store to the fair complete with our colored tissue. I met customers in the hallway at our hotel, which was booked! Darcy & I went to our van at the hotel to get some things in the evening---every door we passed exuded women's laughter, I think the whole hotel was filled with Country Living fans. Today at the store a customer told us she & her husband was sent to Kentucky to find a hotel, which was booked with a wedding, so turned around and finally someone found them a bed & breakfast with only a twin bed. The couple took it after 2 hours of searching! They were so glad they came (yes, really). Country Living has received unhappy comments but we would like to add they didn't know 3 times the people would show up. We were floored also! Last but not least----to Abby of The Blissful and Rebecca of a la mode design, our friends through blogging, we got to meet for the first time there! I wish we would've spent more time with them, I think a trip must be planned to Canton, Ohio! So glad to meet both of you! (love your new website & blog Abby, it's perfect!)
AND, to the other vendors that we got to meet again after too long of a time:
Judith & Karla of Bloomsbury Loft in Powell, Ohio--where vintage meets modern
Lisa Norris of Made by One Girl in Chattanooga, Tennessee--who states "if it's perfect, I didn't make it!" (we love that)
AND, to the new vendor we met, Rebecca of Rebecca Ray Designs, who designs purses made by the Amish community and was picked by Country Living as one of the "pitch your product" winners held this past March. Watch your magazine as she will be featured in 2 weeks.
Enjoy your week!
Best, Kara & Darcy

Fall open house pics & you thought we disappeared!

Friday, September 21, 2007

We had a week that was a flurry of pricing, detail work, moving things around, cleaning, late nights and early*early mornings! This morning as I was driving Luke to my Mother's house, there is a small stretch of the road that is very pretty. Woods on both sides, it curves slightly, the leaves are changing, well it's peaceful. (these are rural country roads, you might pass a car and likely you won't) When I reached the bend in the road a thought popped into my head, we sometimes are driving along and things are going fine until we come to a bend in the road, and "things" seem to unravel. Lately "things" have been challenging, and I have questioned if the benefits outweigh the costs.

BUT, WHAT IF WE GIVE UP BEFORE THE BEND AND IF WE WOULD JUST KEEP GOING, EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE & STRAIGHTEN OUT! We are so capable of thinking of the here & now and if we would look ahead there is a lot of tremendous excitings things happening AFTER THE BEND IN ROAD!
Looking up & looking out: we'll keep you posted on the exciting things that will be coming to fruition "after our bend in the road"! Happy Fall, it's officially here today.

also a little song was sung to me this morning by Darcy's children
"Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Kara
Happy Birthday to you
CHA, CHA, CHA!"
(yes, they did say the last three words!)
I'm 3 decades + 3 years old today!

Bonjour from France!

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Cathy & her boys

Yesterday morning I received a great e-mail, after 13 years I tried to contact my French pen pal, (see July 2nd post) I sent a letter 2 months ago. I was doubtful it would find her, to my surprise I heard from her again. She has two beautiful boys. my mother found her letters in the attic, I thought they had been thrown away.
People are priceless! I'm so glad we can stay in touch via e-mail!

Best,
Kara

Inspiration

Saturday, August 25, 2007

{cute, cute begging for us to take it home to McMaster & Storm}

Darcy & I are off this weekend to pick up a vintage-y china cabinet. I spotted this awhile back took a photo and it's still at the shop. Good for us, as we have ideas for it. We are not painting it nor changing the knobs, but we're going to show you what we do with it when "our inspiration" finished. Check back often!

A customer asked Darcy yesterday, "where do you get your inspiration for the store?" Well, it's everywhere, in nature, fabrics, textures, colors, flea marketing & in our creative fabrications. (sometimes even in the wee hours of the morning) Our homes also play a role; testing ideas and just rearranging furniture in our homes gets us going! We are blessed to have the gifts that God has given us, and need to use them to glorify him. Sometimes we forget how awesome our Creator is.

Fall is coming out in the store, Darcy finished details on our wheat sheaves and our new deeper hued rugs are in as well. We should see delivery trucks a lot this next week or so. Also, sending out greetings to our "retailer friends" may you have a wonderful fall season at your shops, we are so blessed to know everyone of you!

Warm Regards,
Kara & Darcy

Spinning!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

"our little man spinning"

Lately it's been a whirlwind, editing orders, adding this & that and yes, canceling those that don't fit into our "look". We're orchestrating many orders to present our identity: McMaster & Storm. I would rather the goods "poof" & they're at our back door ready for Darcy & I to prepare them for auditions before we put the goods "on stage"! Don't worry though this will be our 3rd season here and it'll be the best "evah"!

So if your spinning don't worry you'll eventually stop! Enjoy the rest of summer, the days are getting slightly shorter and the locusts sound different----

Coming soon details on the Country Living Fair!!!!!

summer fun at Greenville park

Dog Days of Summer

Monday, August 6, 2007

summer 2007

I'm so glad it's not snowing, BUT the humidity was out of control today. I made the heat bearable by eating lots of ice cream. Can you believe the recommended serving is 1/2 cup! I think a whole bowl full is the right amount!

Need to post pictures of Annie Oakley days before it's old news. I've been out of blog mode as lighting struck our transformer and caused a short in our wiring, so it's been touch & go with the internet lately until we rewire.