Saturday At My Desk

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Working On The Weekend

If there was only more time in the day, yes?  Since there isn't, I'm busy at my desk today. Working on photographs and adding them to Bates Mercantile Co.

Photos representing what I love about the city.....

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{new york and dublin being two of my favorites}

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...and what I love about the country.

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When I'm done with photos, I MUST clear my desk. It looks like a tornado swept through.

Baked some homemade bread last night. Had some with a pinterest recipe I tried....think mushrooms, mozzarella all melted with fresh herbs. I'll try to share in the next couple of days.

By the way, it's small business Saturday today and Moday is CyberMonday.  You can receive 20% off prints, photographs, calendars and stationery in the Bates Mercantile Co. store through Monday. Just use ThankYou20 couponcode at checkout.

Off I go. Have a great day,





When Black Friday Comes, Small = BIG

Support Small Business

This year, when you're shopping for gifts for the holidays I challenge you.  It's a simple challenge really. I challenge you to think about where you're spending money and spend it where it makes the most difference. Are you spending it in big box stores on items that are mass manufactured? Are you spending it with big brands that have entire marketing machines working on their behalf?  Or, are you spending it with small businesses who put their profits toward paying their mortgages and grocery bills? Or are you spending it with companies whose CEOs are using the profits your money helps create to increase their 6 figure bonus again this year? Are you spending it with people who handcraft their products with love? Are you spending it with companies that import the cheapest product they can find to make the biggest profit? How are you going to spend your hard earned money this year? What will your gift giving say about you?

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That's not to say there isn't a place for larger companies. They do employ many people. However, there a plenty of times when you can support them throughout the year. At holiday time, if it's important for you to give a gift that really has meaning and thought behind it, think small.

On Black Friday there are many, many small independently owned shops selling on venues like etsy who handcraft items from hats, aprons, journals, photographs, prints, jewelry, furniture and so much more. If you're looking for something with a little bit of history too it, there are plenty of vintageers selling unique gifts that have a story to tell.

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Before you hit the checkout button, or before you hand your money over at the cash register, just stop and think about the difference your purchase can make to a small shop owner.

I. for one, will be focusing all of my shopping on SMALL=BIG this year.

Our little etsy shop, Bates Mercantile Co. is offering 20% Off archival prints, photographs, calendars and stationery today for Black Friday.  Simply enter ThankYou20 at checkout for the 20% discount on those items. There are many others small shop owners who are offering deep discounts as well. There are lots of shops linking up their sales on our facebook page, so if you want to support the small shop/handmade/vintage movements and really make a difference to someones bottom line, check out all these sales!  If you're a shop, be sure to link up your shop and post your sales. Let's all help each other out this year and start a Small=Big Wave.  You'll find that when you spend your money with a small business, more times than not, they take the time to give you the customer service you deserve, package your item with extra care, and do whatever they can to let you know that your business means a lot. All good reasons to shop small.

Giving Thanks

I trust that all of you in the U.S. had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was a perfectly glorious day late Fall day here. The leaves may be gone for the most part, but there are still beautiful views to be had.

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Ours was grand.

Freeform Friday

Here's something that should get you moving.  Just a little message from all us small shop owners.  Click here if you're reading via email.

Peace out,

Summertime Mantle & Input Please

July, America's Birthday Month

As I prepped for the annual Bates Independence Day Lobster Bake, I decided it was the perfect time to change up the mantle.  All I had to do was a little tweaking to go from Spring to Summer.  In honor of the red, white and blue, I went with my version of a patriotic summertime theme.  Here's the mantle as it was all dressed up for Spring.

A few quick changes, and viola, the Summertime mantle.

I took away a few things, and added some, including the beautiful flag my Dad made me, handcarved to boot. 

Also, you'll note the lobster, which really is a salt and shaker holder my nephew Pat and his girlfriend Ashley gave me on last 4th of July. I took the salt and pepper out of his arms and moved him from the pantry to the mantle. He makes me laugh.

Then I spied my Jeter bobblehead (Garrett had just glued him back together after a terrible mishap) and thought the 'boys of summer' would be a perfect addition.  Poor Jeter lost part of his cheek and it was unrepairable (is that a word?). I'll have to do a little flesh color paint job on the poor boy. Baseball can be rough.

I kept things on the mantle that had gold, silver, blue or red and also kept my big Ireland print because, well....because it usually hangs out there. Plus, the houses are very Summery colors, don't you think. Again, not sure if Summery is a word, but it is today on Mercantile Muse.

My mantle extends a bit to the top of my bookcase, which is where Uncle Sam landed. Yup, you guessed it. My Dad made him too. He's quite the folk artist don't ya think?  Uncle Sam reigning high above all else. Perfect spot.

As you can see, I added some beads. Our 'neighbors-in-laws' Emile and Carol gave us a bunch when we saw them just before the 4th. I think they made a pretty big statement for a small detail.

Please ignore any dust that is still visible. That's life, right?

Do you have anything in your home that you change out for the season? This is really the first year that I've been doing the mantle change-a-roo and it's been fun. It's a nice change since it's one of the first things you see when you walk into our house. I'll keep the mantle like this for at least the rest of the month and maybe the entire Summer, unless I'm feeling a need for another change. Variety is the spice the of life, after all.

Photo Challenge Input

I was overwhelmed with the positive response to the potential photo challenge.  You guys are totally on board which makes me happy. I really appreciate your input and more is welcome. I'm thinking, instead of so many days 'straight', which can be hard for a lot of people to keep up with, probably 3 days a week for 4 weeks? How does that sound?  Perhaps Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday's? It will probably begin next Monday. If that's what I settle on, I'll be outlining all the info on the challenge at the end of this week. How does that sound? I've got a few good ideas for topics, but if you've got any I'd be happy to consider them. Feel free to share. 

Check That Off the List

I was able to get all four photographs that I featured yesterday, listed and up for sale in Bates Mercantile Co., our etsy shop. Yay for me. Darn it all, I just love checking things off the list (hey, that reminds me- I still have a 'how do you juggle it all' post to write for Kristen at Milo & Molly....can I just say, not always well!!!). When I actually get to cross things off the list it makes me happy as a clam. I'd like to know where the heck that saying came from...has there been a study on the happiness of clams and I don't know about it? Did someone interview them about their state of mind and word spread across the world about the Bliss of Bivalves? Just wondrin'. Back to the subject at hand, and in case you're interested, you can find the new photographs for sale here.

On another note about yesterday's post, I told you the story of a little pebble from France making it's way to me in the mail. The sender, Cari-Jane, told a much better version on her blog yesterday. One little beach pebble spreading happiness the world over. I wonder if he's related to the clam?

Here's hoping you have a great day. You've already made mine super just by being here.

Ciao for now,



In Progress & A Small Surprise

Flowers & Rocks

First, the flowers. My garden is bloom which always leads to inspiration for me. I am going to add some more photographs to our shop, Bates Mercantile Co.  I am very neglect in updating the ones I already have listed.  I've had my archival printer since October, but hadn't adjusted my photo listings for new sizes and archival printing in-house.  I'm in the process of working on some new shots from the garden, and old shots (like the beach ones below) as well, in photoshop.  This all means I have to order some photo art paper. Thankfully, this is isn't a problem. I found a fantastic source for paper when I got my printer, Red River Paper. Their suggestions for paper for specific purposes, turnaround, and customer service have been great.

I haven't been as serious as I should be about the photographs in our shop, but I think it's about time I was.

Here's some that are in the works.

I named that fellow 'one legged Pete'.

Aaahhh, the beach. Heaven.

I've also been mulling over the idea of hosting a photo challenge like my etsy pal Elle Moss did a while back. I would post the subjects for each day of the challenge and people would submit links to their photos and I would also feature them, here on Mercantile Muse. What do you think?

I wasn't able to participate every one of the 21 days of Elle's, but the days I did participate were a great way to practice my photography skills, get to meet other people who submitted and see how each person had a different take on each subject.  It was very cool.

So, would you particpate? I don't think mine would be 21 days, but perhaps something a little more manageable. However, it wouldn't be much fun if it was just me.

And Now, All The Way From France.............

The best thing about blogging to me, is meeting new people all over the world. The same can be said for having a shop on etsy. 

Well, yesterday, out of the blue I got a package from my pal Cari-Jane of Hybrid Handmade. Sweet girl had remembered that I was smitten with the beach rocks she had featured on her blog a few times. She calls them 'time pebbles'. I just call them awesome.

Lo and behold, one made it's way to me from the seaside on the South coast of France. I'm so darn lucky.

The talented Ms. Hakes, draws the beautiful design on the rocks she finds at the beach near her home and then seals them.  Mine now sits on my little kitchen windowsill altar of sorts. The altar currently houses a picture of my great grandmother, one of Gar's little planters, a lucky trunk-up elephant, a toasting glass of my gram's and a wishbone. The candy dish in the corner was also my grams and contains more wishbones for whenever someone needs to make a wish.

This little stone made me so very happy. Thanking you Cari, my dear, thoughtful friend.

One more thing.  The lucky Leona Weaver, winner of the blogaversary giveaway obviously likes to give as much as receive. She was a sponsor of the giveaway as well as the winner. As such, she couldn't really send her lovely dandelion photograph to herself, so she sent it to me. Nice, yes?

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As tempted as I am to keep it, I think it would be a better gesture to incude it in the next giveaway. If you are interested in particpating as a sponsor, please shoot me an email. I'm in the process of gathering things and it's sure to be another treasure trove of goodies, so keep your eyes and ears at the ready for details.

That's about it here gang. What's happening in your corner of the world today?

ttfn,