Happy New Year

I don't know about everyone else, but I'm happy to have a new year and a new decade ahead of me. The holidays were wonderful, but please don't show me another cookie...
This seems like a good time to thank all of our customers at The Gables this past year - it was definitely an interesting year and it was only because of you that we're still here and still enthusiastic.
So, what's the plan for 2010? We've talked with so many customers and been so encouraged that I'd like to share what we've heard.
First - a lot of us seem to be thinking a lot more about how we spend our money. Frivolous spending seems to be a thing of the past and careful planning along with selective buying is the new normal. That actually sounds like a healthy attitude to me.
Second - we're all interested in value and quality. Thinking about our needs and wants and deciding on priorities. Buying that piece of artwork that we fell in love with and that will make a difference in our home.
Third - we want the 'real' thing. Locally, regionally, and US made seems to mean a lot more.
Other thoughts we've heard: Re-using what we already have in our homes and making it fresh with new accents or moving it to a new location. 

And supporting the businesses we love is important.  This is the perfect spot to say once again how much I owe to my customers.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Those are my thoughts on this January day. I'll be posting more on how we plan to make things fresher and better at The Gables.  We're expecting good things this year.

Love to hear from you - what are your plans or resolutions or thoughts for 2010?

Christmas Tea

Join us on Saturday, November 21st for the 2nd annual Christmas Tea! From 1 to 4 PM we'll be serving up tea and Christmas treats in the upstairs gallery. Everyone attending will receive a special treat to take home and possibly a special gift certificate.
The store is decked out for the season and we're ready to welcome this very special season.

New items for the Season

We just unpacked a big box of Pashmina scarves in some really great colors. These are in solids and also some very 'with-it' patterns of circles and paisleys. Since they're about 26" wide and 72" long, they can also be used as shawls (I packed one in a little shoulder bag this summer so I could use it in chilly air-conditioned restaurants).

Pashmina is a fine cashmere wool and these are soft, soft, soft. Plus the price of $18 - $22 is unbelievable.

Also new - more sterling jewelry from Roggio. These are the handcrafted earrings and bracelets that I've had on the counter. Thought I'd better get in enough so there's a good selection going into winter.

Other new items include greeting cards and books. I'm now carrying a better selection of kids' birthday cards and am getting back into childrens' books. I used to sell a lot of kids' books and have always loved great illustrations with a great story.

Be a Gables Follower

Become a Follower of The Gables blog and get in on exclusive discounts, sales, and give-aways. (Yes, I'm considering giving away some goodies!). I'd like to offer some new products to a select few and have them 'reviewed' for my customers. But more on that later....

You can sign up in the "Follower" box on the right side of the screen. There's an option to be anonymous if you don't want to be public about it. It will mean that you receive notice when there's a new post to this blog.

Greeting Cards and Handbags 20% off

Until Oct 20th, all greeting cards (including boxed Christmas cards) are 20% off.

The New Special (running in the Argus this week) is a 20% off sale on all handbags that runs until Oct 27.

Print off this notice or mention that you saw it on the blog to receive the discount.

Winner of the $100 Gift Certificate

The Fall Sale is over. Thank you to everyone who was able to come in to the shop and help make it one of our best events ever!
Yesterday we drew names of people who had entered the Email drawing. The winner of the $100 Gift Certificate is Mary from Waupun. (I emailed you on Monday, Mary).
The winners of the other certificates will be contacted today. And just to encourage everyone, I'm awarding all entrants with a prize. You'll be contacted soon.
Thank you again and please keep checking this site.

Sale Update

Update, Monday Sept 28th.
Wow - we saw a lot of people this past weekend. Phyllis manned the cash register and I was busy carrying things out for people and trying to re-arrange furniture as things were sold. We loved it! Gave away a lot of coupons for discounts and gift certificates that people can use over the next 3 months.
If you haven't registered for the $100 gift certificate, make sure you do so now (see the post below). We'll draw for the winners on October 13th.

September 26 - October 10

Storewide Sale - 20 % off everything

Receive a set of Gables Coupons for great discounts
and gift certificates that you can redeem in the next few months.
(Coupons given out with in-store purchase)

September 26th
Selma Glunn was here with
her exquisite gourd art - baskets, vases and containers
that have been incised and carved, embellished with ceramics,
weaving, and beading.
Selma sold a number of pieces of her new clay-art jewelry and I'll
just bet she's working on more this week in anticipation of
this coming Saturday.

October 3rd
Artists Mary Anne and Marv Nielsen will be here with
Mary Anne's fine baskets
and Marv's great brooms and whimsical walking sticks.
plus
Selma Glunn is here with her gourd art and her jewelry.
plus
Sample Wild Tree gourmet foods from 10 - 3
(this stuff is tasty!)
Bonnie Kaiser will be laying out 'the spread'
in our upstairs gallery.
Read more at www.bonniek.mywildtree.com
(click on link at bottom of this page)

Check back for further developments...