Curiosities for Friday......

{*1. vintage polka-dot ribbon & petite hand} {*2. Vintage cash register tape}

{*3. Handmade petite book}  {*4. Brass name plague & calligraphy pen} 

 {*5. Vintage store sign}

{*6. Vintage birdies} {*7. Vintage store price stickers}

{from Kara's collection}

***---Smack dab in the middle----***

Minted Rose Lip Balm

Rosebud Salve & Headache relief for the Christmas season.

I went shopping on Tuesday with a dear friend.

We headed south to Cincy and while browsing came upon these darling girl-y tins of salve and lip balm. My friend Wanda squealed, no, I do that, Wanda is cool, calm & collected.

She stated she grew up 2 miles from where these products are made. 

They used the Rosebud salve as children. Newer to the company is the Minted Lip Balm and it is w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l. I love the salve too, I have serious cuticle issues and this is just what the doctor ordered.

Wanda always has the best stories, she grew up in a large family in Maryland. This past summer some of her family was visiting Washington D.C. The men went in one van and the gals in another. {the gals really didn't want to talk about motors, gears, and other manly topics}

Trying to locate the Lincoln Memorial their GPS system lost its signal. Wanda's dad opened the window and stuck it outside to attempt to get a signal. 

A few months later the FBI {not kidding} contacted Wanda's brother {the van was his}. They had questions for him. Someone had reported them that a van was slowly driving in Washington D.C. and a man of Arab descent was holding a camera out and thought he was taking pics of tall building. {I'm cracking up at this point as I know how this happened} Wanda's dad is a German Baptist Preacher and has a longer beard and no mustache. He grew up Mennonite and is not from the Middle East! Wanda's brother called his dad and joked, thanks for getting me in trouble! Although after the FBI did their research they knew what had happened. You never know who's watching!

Now from that subject to Anthropolgie: from one extreme to the other!

Athropologie's mugs wrapped with plaid felt and kraft tag on the handle with pine cones inside. I'm ready for candy cane hot cocoa!
{swoon} polka dotted skirt with layers of scallops {extra swoon}
Puffy tissue balls cut out some laboriously way........piled high! I'm ready for snow! {did I just state that?}

Have a lovely weekend! Thanks Wanda for the fun shopping trip & stories...........

k

Oh, Hello!

We're here somewhere we keep losing ourselves as that is how much we're flurrying around. "Losing ourselves?" Now that doesn't make any sense , but hey, it did when I was writing it! Warning: I didn't edit these photos, I have misspelled words in two previous posts and I'm not even worried about it.

Judith from Bloomsburry Loft called and knew why we hadn't posted in forever as she knew that we were going crazy too. Shop girls are so understanding! Oh, and hello new neighbors word has it on the street that our tents are close to each other. Fun, fun!

Kasey from Lola B has been diligent in calling to cheer us on and we'll be staying in the same hotel and having a great dinner together one evening. Anyone interested shoot us an e-mail and we'll give you the details.

Thanks to those who have been great support: both our moms, & a great big shout out to my mom-in-law for surprising me and getting my kidlets yesterday. Thank you for kind words, e-mails, calls to everyone----thank you.

It takes a village to raise a child {can't remember who quoted that please google and get back to me, I'm too lazy at the moment} AND it takes a village to get ready for the 2009 Country Living Fair! I can't believe the crazy things we've pulled off in the last week! Oh, the last minute inspiration, why is it always last minute?

We've been calling, pricing, pricing, pricing, pricing---you get the picture! We're slowly getting to the finish line and we're sprinting not jogging! Can't wait to see everyone there..........

Now about the Midwest weather that weekend............well, we're both praying about that one.............

See you there!

Kara & Darcy too

Parties, Picnics & Fairy Rings

Darcy's picnic for her family {& no, this was not staged for a blog post. she is just that inspiring}
Pink lemonade perfect in every way.........
Fairy ring a nature phenomenon made by God, a ring of toad stools popped up in Darcy's yard.......
Stand in the circle and make a wish..............
close up of perfect toad stools.......aren't they cute...........
Party ahead! Teague and McKell's Circus party................
Prizes.............
Kid Tatoos..........a sweet client..........
Happy Birthday Teague & McKell..............

Loved Ones

Before I head to Savannah in the morning, here is Happy Birthday wishes to a darling soon to be 12, McKell. I will be gone and will miss the big bash on Friday. Darcy throws the loveliest of parties and she promised to take lots of pics for the blog. I ordered her present and she asked me what is was and of course I told her my lips are sealed. I did give her a hint....

it's not any Apple products, ----- maybe for Christmas missy..............
AND it's not any thrift store or antique finds.............
she sighed in relief as she doesn't understand our infatuation with the hunt and old, wierd, bizarre things..........
She'll understand someday, maybe when she's 25 and realizes her mother and auntie Kara were right after all..............BUT, really isn't the collection of shirts organized by color in the thrift store just peachy. We found inspiration just looking at them. Oh, Darcy found a homemade garment there {very Anthro} that McKell just rolled her eyes at. {Oh, to be 12 again} Happy Birthday girlie!

My cousin Rita, her mother and kiddos came to spend some time with us on Monday. This is the first time I have seen Rita in about 8 or so years. We have the same great-grandparents, she stood up in my wedding and we reunited on Monday. Terrible how this happens! Time does not stop and afterwards made myself promise to keep in touch. Of course I need to after seeing her darling kids! Look at baby Gabriella, isn't she a sweetie. {oh, and Rita is fun and lovely inside and out!}
Rita's boys: Petey, C.J. & Gabriella, the chubba wubba on the left is mine! Oh, I do hope they come again to the middle of nowhere! When they live in a place like Palo Alto this is very rural in comparison. Hopefully Darcy and I will see Rita next February and head to the gift show.
One of Zach's 6 month old pics........ Did I tell you he has reddish hair?

Don't you love to be surrounded by people you love!

Nie Nie won the Madsen Cycle

Nie Nie & her family

{Pic from her blog}

Nie Nie of the lovely blog The Nie Nie Dialogues

survived a plane crash {along with her husband}

She tells her story on her blog about raising children, her home, her accident, cupcakes & more.

& she WON one of the 3 Madsen cycles given away!

We love her blog......

Congrats Nie Nie!

Love your readers,

Kara + Darcy

Curious Shops & Two Gals

{Bon store sign, pic from Patch NYC}

We spotted these two gals in a booth in NYC and really didn't talk to them just noticed their smashing-ly cute business card and we knew their shop is on our list of places to go. Tuscon, Arizona is calling our name. We really haven't seen a lot of press {puzzling as it looks like magazine material} on this shop, another write up in this newspaper is spotted here.

{Interior of Bon, pic by A Fanciful Twist}

Vanessa, an artist writes a delightful article on this shop in her blog. This is the only place besides Patch NYC, that we spotted pics and a lovely write up of this shop. It's a mother/daughter team, who are highly creative judging by their work in the few pics we have found. Bonnie {mom} & daughter {Crystal} formed a partnership, Crystal hails from the well known Anthropologie in SoHo, as she did a stint there in the visual display department. Enough said this store is on our list of places to visit.........it looks that good! It should with a name like Bon!

Another shop we have yet to see in the press is Fleur de lis {no website} in Modesto, California. Ruth or as some call her "Ruthie" is another high energy, very creative shop owner. She has owned this shop for over 20 years. She has moved the shop to her current location in the last 7 or 8 years. She has a devoted clientele, her events are always packed out and her visual displays will knock your socks off.

The store is detailed and tons of fresh plants are mixed in. {San Francisco flower market is 1.5 hrs away} Kara started shopping there after she got married and still to this day all her purchases made there are still with her, it's that great! We highly recommend if you are visiting the bay area to take a drive to the Central Valley and make a stop. Darcy & I always have her shop on our list when we visit........promise you won't be disappointed.

Lovely, fresh displays.
Check out the ribbon cupboard, tucked in the corner........she is known for her ribbon selection.

At a little over 1,000 square feet, she has never expanded. She is just amazingly good at making her shop crammed full like the ones in Europe. {She does go on buying trips to France, has been going there for a long time} Floor to ceiling, it's filled with treasures. Why is it that our favorite shops are small and have never swelled to thousands of square feet.....must be something to this, small is good!

Now on to shop girls at heart!

{Barbara at a farmer's market with her beautiful daughter, Arabella}

Barbara lives in Ohio & hails from California..........{she was a shop girl for Ruthie at Fleur de lis} Here is her lovely blog, Joyful Living.

She'll be helping us out at this year's Country Living Fair. She is a very talented gal, helping her mom, Doris behind the scenes with her Etsy shop, Dogwood Designs.

Here is a list of what inspires her:

What I love:

My Lord & Savior

My family & friends

What I enjoy:

Vintage linens, ribbons, paper

Mixing old, new, vintage & used together

Estate sales, flea markets, really any sales

Bringing nature indoors-flowers, branches, leaves....

Balancing the deor in our home to reflect a beautiful and cozy, but a real life home.

She also enjoys cooking, trying new recipes and using fresh ingredients.........

Barbara has two small children and is expecting another in December, she is a lovely mother and has a good eye for all things beautiful! We're blessed to know her as a customer & friend.

Amber lives in Indiana and is opening her own shop this fall........find more about her upcoming shop, Damask Designs here!

She is also helping us out at the fair this year! {should we tell these girls it's like boot camp, shhhh, we'll keep that under our hat}

Here is the oh-so-wonderful details on me & my little shop.....

I am a busy mama to two....

& I'm currently enchanted with vintage & French finds

Chandeliers

Ribbons

Quaint little shops & little bits of everyday life

I love to daydream, design & created {with whatever I have}

Damask Designs is an accumulation of my interests

It is a little "occasional shop" {open certain times of the year} selling all things "vintage & vogue". Tucked in the shop will be antique letterpress stationary, vintage finds & little indulgences, to make you & your days more delightful.

Best wishes to you Amber as you start your journey as a shop owner.

Darcy & I have known Amber as a customer and just recently met her in person, what a delight. We can't wait to come to your shop.......

Thank you to both of these sweeties for putting up with us!!!

Kara + Darcy

Rah, Rah, Rah {a shout out}

See that girl in the shades?

Well she's a friend {met through the Country Living Fair}.........

She calls Kara to say "hello" every now & then......

Kara even calls her every now & then.........

{oh, the other gals are friends too! Bethie & Jeanne}

We've been through the happenings at the shows

from crowds of people where you can't get out of your booth too pee.

{no, kidding Country Living Fair 2008}

&

through the hurricane winds of Country Living Fair 2009

*and the square dancers*

{sorry folks the square dancers are a inside joke,

you had to be there to understand! Only the Farm Chicks & the girls in that picture get this "fond memory"}

Any-hoo, she is a doll and lives in this cute, quaint 100 year old home in St. Charles

Illinois. Close to metropolis, Target, Anthropologie, Starbucks, Trader Joe's, Ikea, blah, blah, blah.........

ok, you get the picture! Darcy & I live smack- dab in the middle of a field.

Darcy lives closer to civilization than Kara.

We think Kasey just opens that cute garage door and wow, there's Starbucks with Marcy

serving her a Venti Latte.

Last week Kara rang Kasey {ok, she does have a cell phone!}

"Have you seen the new Country Living, yet?"

"Noooooooo, says Kasey"....... {sighing, Kara is pretty sure she was}

"Well, mine came & you're indeed in there!"

Finally, Kara in the middle of nowhere gets a glossy copy before

Kasey in suburbia!

While Kara's on the phone with Kasey, Kasey is typing on the computer

then tells me seconds later she's marching through the doors

of Barnes & Noble to see if Country Living is there {it's not}.

Hummmmph, Kara just spots a John Deere Tractor in her view.

The closest Barnes & Noble from Kara's house is 45 minutes away.

Kara hasn't been there in years.

Anyway congrats & hugs to you!

Love,

Kara + Darcy

Simon & Cricker's Westy Adventure

If you're tired of peeking on us!

meanwhile, here's something to peek at......

2 boys {I mean "guys", what was I thinking}

heading west

in a restored "tricked out" VW bus

across our country VA to CA

perfect citrus-y yellow color {so kate spade}

pop -up -thing-y on top is too cute.....

here is their blog

here are pictures

please wish them well

{we don't know them personally} although I'm sure they are heading to our church
conference out west.

{just through joni, and she's tired of waiting on our big change!}

this reminds me of my {kara's} big adventure west in 1994

don't you just love their title!

send them wishes please, this is too cute!

k+d

& yes, for those wondering if we're ok...we are!

keep peeking!

Thank You Kindly! {Scissors again!}

Yes, it's been a scissor week & a half!

{grin}

Kara: "Hey, Darcy don't you just love the package you received in the mail?"

Darcy: "Why, yes indeed do-da yippe yay!"

Kara: "Are you just tickled pink?"

Darcy: "I'm just flabbergasted"!

{When Ruth of The Beautiful Life left a comment about having another pair of

scissors like the ones Kara found---Darcy sighed and said she would love a pair}

{unknown to Darcy, Ruth e-mailed and said she would send them

to Darcy as a gift! Kara kept this from Darcy}

"Done!" e-mailed Ruth

Darcy: "Thank you so much for the lovely, thoughtful & generous gift!"

You never know when you're going to get a

special parcel on your doorstep!

Don't you just love "love mail"!!!

"Razoo-razoo-hip-zip-bazoo!

Rock-chalk-jay-hawk-sis-boom-ses!

Hel-la-bo-bo! 1902.

Win or bust! yell we must!

{Urbana, Ohio Senior class yell...

found in some vintage ephemera that we found}

good night

k + d

P.S. Carnival Embellishments are back in stock.....

the ribbons will vary slightly. The yellow scallop

will be the same though.

Enjoy & thank you for the sweet e-mails & orders

In the Middle of Nowhere..........

Meanwhile my 3 year old is putting paper in the wood stove, the fire wasn't going, but the roll of bathroom tissue {sounds better than the other word} that he put in has made a roaring fire. Sigh....
Thanks Kasey for calling and making my day seem normal {whatever that is, hee-hee}

Darcy had a moment last night and was desperate and headed to Wal-mart. {she was des--perate to head to Wal-mart let me tell ya!}
She found ranunculus flowers & that helped..................

Happy Friday..............
K&D

A Pink Ribbon Day! {Prize Winner}

A darling lady has won our organization goodies.........she has a lovely blog! She is Jerusalem of the my little life blog! We would love to have tea with her today!!! I will post a picture of the prize delights that she'll receive! {Sorry these nights with Bebe Zach have threw me for a loop, I'm so slow at everything these days!}

Dearie please let us know if you want more "pinks" in your organization goodies or "reds" or a combo of "reds & pinks"

let us know! Please email us your address @ mcmasterandstorm@embarqmail.com & congratulations! Oh, and the prize ribbon is yours as well!

What inspires us to clean & organize? Seda France candles, Mrs. Meyers cleaning supplies, Spring, open windows, magazines & blogs!

Love,

K&D

Good Things Happen to Those Who Wait......

THIS POSTER........has caused Kara some sleepless nights, no not really as she hasn't been sleeping very well for the last month or so. Ahhh, the joys of her 3rd trimester pregnancy!
Darcy purchased two of these lovely posters for us at last years Country Living fair. They are a Hatch Show print, most likely done on an old press. They are not the typical commercial posters. They have a matte finish & well it's just plain cute. Kara thought that she had totally misplaced this poster or even thrown it away, she kept moaning to her rascal biz partner Darcy about the lost poster {like for 3 weeks}. Kara hunted high & low and meanwhile her husband is rolling his eyes at this silly poster.
She had thought it would be cute hanging in the nursery since it was carnival like and well, just sweet. Alas, no poster, UNTIL Friday when Darcy {the rascal} explains that she finally has Kara's Christmas gift done and is on the way to bring it over. Anyway in comes Darcy through the door with a basket filled with gifts {way too much, girlie!} and Kara proceeds to open her gifts. Two flat objects wrapped to the hilt and ONE IS THIS POSTER. All this worrying....& Darcy proceeded to have it dry-mounted and she stuck these cool over sized grommets and funky grey ribbon from Cheryl Parks-Rogers. MORE BELOW OF THE "TOO MUCH" GIFTS FROM RASCAL DARCY........

THESE PJ'S! I have been sticking these in my cart at Target for the last 3,000 times then taking them out as I go over in my head I don't need these, take them out of the cart now and head to the diaper section and buy what you really need {no, not diapers for me silly-the baby}! These are in the men's section
and are navy & white and oh, so classic East Coast or whatever {hey, that sounded good you know}!
Anyway the rascal Darcy had Sara stick my monogram on the pocket {after which Sara took off the pocket to
get the monogram on there}. On the back up @ the top is our Italian alphabet ribbon in a string of K's! These snazzy pj's and the slippers are going in to my hospital bag, they'll perk me up right after delivery {ha}!

Rascal Darcy also had the "sweet treats" poster mounted and
did her grommet thingy and ribbon all tied up for hanging! {I had been moaning that
I didn't have one of these yet & we've been selling them for a year!}
Not to mention my favorite candle, soap and that Mrs. Meyer's
lavender laundry soap tucked into THAT BASKET OF GOODIES.
Oh my, too much.....thanks a bunch....Kara

Oh, and not to forget about these pastry tags that lovely Kasey of Lola B's sent Kara. Kara tied bakery twine through them to add some punch. {bakery twine, pastry tags...get it? I knew you would!}

We hope to shortly {before baby, eeek due date Feb 11th we better get cracking} show you some organization ideas that we've been working on in our own studio/craft/sewing rooms.

Hey, folks you know what it's a better week already. We're on the mend!
Listen up, we'll have new treats on the web hopefully by tomorrow
afternoon! Once again rascal Darcy gave a whistle to Luke in his Christmas present!
Want to know what to give 3 year old boys.... a whistle they'll love you and you'll love them!
{with your hands in your ears of course!}

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}

Talented Sara's Gifts For Us

Sara came into the store with the most wintry treat of a gift. Plus the packaging was just wonderful eye candy. I didn't want to open mine as I love to savor the wrapping, but she insisted I open it.
Ok, lets have a look......


Sara took a German Christmas ball that's actually a box, painted and embellished it with flakes of sparkle. She then embellished the top with berries that look like they have ice on them and greenery. Sara tucked a bird tag as well. She made this from Martha Stewart's holiday idea book. Sara used her own twist for the top, which I love.

Tucked inside was darling hand knitted fingerless gloves! Sara can knit and well do just about anything with creating lovely things. {she's busy creating @ this moment!} The gloves were wrapped in tissue inside with bakery twine around the package. They are made with very soft yarn, Baby Alpaca D.K.

Now, I just need a manicure and I'll be set.

Darcy will open hers on Thursday, hopefully she won't see the blog. Regardless if she takes a peek on the blog, she'll love this!

Enjoy your last full week of Christmas preparations and don't forget to drink lots of hot cocoa!

LOL,

Kara & Darcy too