Burford Designs

Man Shops Globe: Season 2

I was flipping through the channels on Sunday and was a little shocked and a lot ecstatic to see that Sundance was airing Man Shops Globe but I was even more overjoyed when I realized that they were new episodes.  That elation quickly turned to sadness when I saw that season two began on June 30^th… how did I not know this?  I scanned the guide to see if what episodes I had missed and if they were going to air again, nothing showed up so I quickly went to the Sundance website and found out that their were only a couple of shows I missed and several episodes were coming up.

 

This season is a bit different.  Instead of just showing Keith Johnson (buyer at large for Anthropologie) shopping for new items he seems to be going to each of these locales with specific intent.  For instance tonight’s airing (Cyprus) he travels with a friend of his, Helen, to get items from Cyprus to help get her a book deal. 

 

It took a little getting used to but I really like the flow of the show… seeing artists doing their thing and being so free with it.  The passion oozes from the screen for me.

Keith, tour guide Helen and Christina (Helen's cousin) in front of the restaurant Maria's Place in Cyprus, as seen on MAN SHOPS GLOBE Season 2.  

All photos courtesy of SundanceChannel.com

Man Shops Globe airs Wednesday nights 10 PM EDT with other showings throughout the week.  Thursday, July 22 the first four episodes will air back to back beginning at 6 PM EDT.  The current episode guide shows that there are only five episodes this season with the final episode airing next Wednesday where Keith travels to Sweden.  So far season two looks like travels to Thailand, Scotland, Australia, Cyprus, and Sweden… what wonderful adventures.

Keith Johnson, host of MAN SHOPS GLOBE, and Anna Sui, designer, sit in Damascus.

My question is “where’s Syria?” I keep up with Solitary Cameraman) ever since I wrote about him here) and saw this post from March.  Ummm… season three possibly?  But, when I look through the promo photos for season two I see photos from Syria, Mexico and Venice so it does look like an eight episode season as well. 

We will see...

Martha Stewart Holiday Cookie Special - The Cookie Press

To help everyone out, since I have received a few comments and several emails regarding Fine Living Networks Martha Stewart’s Holiday Cookie Special, this is what I know about cookie presses and specifically how to get a cookie press like Martha's (one that twists and doesn't have a lever or trigger). 

I personally own a few different types of cookie presses and have a couple of the twist ones... mine were purchased many years ago (I got one at a thrift store and one at a garage sale) they were only $1 or $2 each.  The aluminum (or aluminum/copper type) cookie press was made by Mirro and called an Easy Grip Cooky Press or Mirro Cooky and Pastry Press. 

 

I haven't found an online outlet for that particular type except EBay (or a similar online venue).  I still see them when I have gone into thrift stores (although that really doesn’t help all of you).

So, as I wrote, to help you out I did a quick search on EBay and they have Mirro Cooky Presses selling anywhere from $6 to $60 (after shipping).

 

Search tips to include: dial a cookie, dial-a-cookie, cooky press, mirro cooky press, easy grip cooky press, mirro easy grip cookie press, mirro cooky and pastry press, cooky-pastry press,

 

And any of those words/ phrases can be searched with or without the word "vintage" or “retro” in front of it.

 

I hope this helps and good luck.

Sneaking Out To Shanty

I have a confession to make… this afternoon I sneaked out of the house to get away from a certain relative.  Of course I don’t simply mean that I slipped out unnoticed, I had to devise a plan, and since my car keys were in the main part of the house, where said relative was, I found and used my spare car keys and went out through the garage to my car.  I just needed a break so I went to my favorite little boutique, Shanty.

 

I first introduced you to Shanty and its lovely owner Maggie during the Who Let the Girls Out (WLTGO) post a few weeks ago.  I love going in to see what new merchandise she has gotten in and what old items she has to use for displaying it all.

 

This is the outside of Shanty (these were pictures I took during WLTGO)

The sign reads “shanty HOME. CLOSET. CAFÉ.”

 

Here are some of her Christmas goodies she has for sell

 

along with these adorable elf booties (and ginormous stockings to match, although I don’t have a photo of the stockings).

 

And this is one of her display finds that houses note cards, napkins, magnets and more.

Maggie and I chatted for a bit while I sipped my coffee and chose a couple of little treats to purchase for myself.

 

I first noticed the mini chocolate mold during WLTGO and thought about purchasing it then.  For four years (as a teenager) I worked in a candy store/ ice cream parlor where most of the candy was handmade there on site.  Mr. Henne, the owner had lots of molds similar to this one for Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter and would so there were always tons of bunnies, turkeys, and trees being made depending on the time of year.  I should write a post on that job some other time.

 

Thanks Maggie, I really enjoy your little boutique every time I stop by and visit.  For those of you still needing something special, for yourself or someone else, then you should take the trip to Newport, WA and drop in to shop at Shanty… 235 N Union 509.447.3160.  Whether you need to sneak out or not.

Who Let the Girls Out

Last Friday the office was closed and since I was off work Mommy wanted to go to Spokane.  As we traveled through the town of Newport, we noticed that several of the businesses were not yet ready for Saturday’s event of Who Let the Girls Out.  Specifically we were looking at Floral Expressions where Mommy occasionally works, because Mommy had worked there earlier in the week (Wednesday) and they were just pulling out the boxes for all of the decorating and a couple of ladies were coming in later that day to help set up the trees.  A few hours later when we were coming back (about 7:30 PM) we drove past again and they still weren’t ready (same with a few other stores where we noticed the ladies decorating and doing last minute prepping).  We felt for them, there were many events when we ran our store that we would stay late into the night arranging, rearranging, pricing, creating, and prepping hoping and praying to be ready in time for the event and it’s a lot of work.

But boy, when the day finally comes and people show up, it’s all worth it.  I’m not sure how each business fared that day but if the amount of ladies out and about going from shop to shop meant anything at all they it was a huge success.

 

After the junior high we went along Highway 2 to our first stop Into the Garden Up to the Lake situated at 1092 Hwy 2.  It’s a nice little seasonal shop that takes in artistic consignments.  There is a lot to look at for inside and outside your home.

Next on our route was Floral Expressions located at 125 N. Washington.  I’m sad that I didn’t get a picture of these really awesome glass lights that were behind the counter.  Floral Expressions is run by Donna and is a floral and gift shop.  While we were there we enjoyed some hot apple cider and looked around at all the new holiday finds.

There were three large trees and a few smaller ones.

 

 

And I love these robins that I first noticed in the spring, adorable.

Since it was a drizzly day we drove down to the next little area that had the next three shops.  The first was the Kitchen Shoppe positioned at 211 S. Washington.  It was packed with people purchasing and looking at various kitchen utensils and cooking supplies as well as those watching and enjoying the cooking demonstrations. 

Just a couple of blocks away at 306 S. Washington is My Sister's Cottage.

It is a wonderful home décor and gift shop.  The front part of the store has more of a lodge/ western motif while the back part is very feminine.  There were mantel places galore and this was one of my favorite vignettes.

 

And this is what welcomes you as you enter the store

the entire store is very warm and inviting.

 

And across the street at 317 S. Washington is Just Because, a charming fashion boutique.  It has fashionable clothing, jewelry, handbags, skin products and luggage.  They were serving wine and champagne to guests along with some delicious brownie bites with a smidge of cream cheese frosting and half a chocolate covered strawberry on top.  What could be better then some great clothes and yummy treats.

The adorable Maggie owns and operates Shanty found at 235 N. Union did an amazing job with her store (well Maggie and her wonderful friends who helped out).  I met Maggie at the WLTGO in May as we talked about her store and the house she and her hubby purchased and refinished to make into this wonderful dream of hers.  This little boutique is a sight to behold.  It is part gift store part clothing shop part café and part hang out.  I love her display pieces the most.  She had this large cleaned up chicken coop and each of the cubbies held merchandise and you all know how much I love cubbies.  You can check out that great piece on Maggie’s blog.

In addition to her everyday merchandise,

she was decked out for Christmas with bright festive colors.

 

And refreshments were abundant as always.  Mimosas sprinkled with pomegranate seeds, espressos, fresh fruit, pumpkin cookies with maple frosting, and much more.   

Can you tell which store I liked the most?  I truly enjoyed them all, and I’m not quite finished…

 

There was one last stop before we headed back home and that was Rivers Edge Treasures at 203 E. 4th Street. 

Lona had brought in her own leaves to COVER the entire outside walkway of the store.

As you can read on the windows above Rivers Edge Treasures is a compilation of vintage, antique, consignment, home décor, furniture and a whole lot more.  I really liked the white section especially this large Father Christmas and white flocked tree.

Then there was the show stopper tree, called the Fairy Tree that is actually being donated to the Newport Hospital Foundation for the second annual Festival of Trees.  This event is a dinner, gala and tree auction with raffle tickets going for $1 a piece.  That event will happen at one of their local schools on December 5^th.

 

Over all it was a delightful event that jump started my holiday cheer.  Many thanks to all the ladies who put in a lot of hours getting everything ready for the community. 

I hope they are all up to doing it again in the spring.

Bizarre Bazaars

Last Saturday Mommy and I spent the day going to different holiday bazaars, craft fairs and the Who Let the Girls Out event (originally written about here).  It was all very interesting and a lot of fun, although as I guessed, we did not make it to all of the events (we decided not to go to Blanchard because we spent all of our time at the other places).

 

We started our day going to the God’s Provision Holiday Bazaar.  The ladies from the thrift store stock up all year and it can be hit or miss for fabulous finds.  This year, everything seemed to be really pricey, and I wasn’t pleased with that (usually the prices are wonderful (as in great deals) or at least right on the mark and this time I just really wanted to hurry through because most things were marked $5.  I’m talking about things like Christmas tins that you can pick up at most garage sales or thrift stores for 25¢ or 50¢, definitely under a dollar, but $5, give me a break.  But I trudged through and meandered around the tables.

 

I did notice a few things that caught my eye, three things to be exact, and none of them were priced.  At most events (especially garage sales) I don’t like to ask the price unless it’s something that I REALLY want and I hate to ask when I believe the prices are already exorbitant.  After walking around the entire room I gathered the items that I wanted and looked around to find one of the volunteers to help me.

 

Caroline, a lady who works at the thrift store and knows Mommy and me from there came over and priced my items.  I asked about a bunny salt and pepper shaker set, a lidded soup tureen (that I would like to begin collecting), and a partial set of green clay plates and bowls.  I haven’t been able to take any pictures of those finds yet.

 

Although they aren’t open on Saturdays during the winter Caroline told Mommy that since the weather was pretty good the store was open and were having a dollar a bag sell so we should go check it out.  If the item doesn’t have a price on it then it can go for a dollar a bag, which is a plastic grocery sack.  Most clothing and items such as books have listed prices but are not individually priced, but larger or collectible items like a wedding dress or a Beatles album are individually priced and are therefore not included.

I purchased some clothing and Mommy got a few things.  Between the buildings there were two pretty neat sofas (one a full fledged couch and one more of a love seat) that were in need of some TLC but I really liked them.   I could totally see the couch recovered and with new legs as something that Baby Boy would want.

 

After that little spree we went to the Lioness Craft Fair at the junior high school.  We looked forward to this craft fair because it was pretty good last year and we were surprised by that.  This year, it was highly disappointing.  One of the first tables was a lady who was selling brown paper lunch bags covered in red construction paper and cotton balls trying to look like Santa.  At first I thought she was trying to sell something her kids had made, but when I asked who had made them she exclaimed that she had made it all herself.  In addition to her booth, there were a few stand out crafts people, but most of the tables were for different home businesses that sell their wares with home parties and from catalogs.  When I go to a “craft” fair then I expect the items to be handmade crafts otherwise just call it a bazaar then at least I know what I’m going to.

 

From there we went to Who Let the Girls Out, but that’s another post.