Why blog?? What's a Gift Shop to the owner and creator???

I'm not sure what to do with the link thing at the top of this so I'm going to skip it right now. Over break I watched Julie, Julia or Julia, Julie. I really loved the movie. I wasn't too keen on the ending. I have enjoyed break but I feel like I'm destined to find places for things and that is my life's plight. Find a place for this and reorganize that. Throw that away and put this here and that there. Often I ask myself, why blog? Does anyone read it? Has anyone even seen the darn thing? And if they had, did or do, what do they think or what is their reaction? No one has ever commented so who knows!

Today, I don't care. Today it doesn't matter to me in the least little bit. Today this is simply a way for me to vent!!! Today I have decided that blogging is a way for me to vent about this stuff. Stuff, there's too much stuff and simply too many things. Too many things to deal with and too many things to think about and too many things to find places for. Today, I had to fish or cut bait. I decided to cut bait. After much thought, a huge gas bill and in an effort to maintain, I turned off the heat in the gift shop. I moved everything that could be ruined by freezing into the back hall or back porch or what ever you want to call it. It's where the wood box is, it's where we keep the skis and snow shoes and it's where my computer and half the gift shop are located. All of the things I need to make soap and candles are scattered in various places. Where ever I could fit them, I put them. I have no idea what's going to happen when I go to make soap or candles. Yup, I had a good cry and then I determined that I was NOT going to let this get to me. I was going to deal with what was in front of me and just keep on keeping on. Sounds so rediculous, I know but in the process of processing all of this stuff I came to realize that I absolutely love making soap and candles, creating. Most of what I have made, I have sold so I have to give myself some credit there. I do wonder, however, why I am so driven to do this stuff. There we are again with the stuff! Anyway, this gift shop and the creation of things is extremely important to me. I enjoy it and I look forward to the next creation. When I'm supposed to be sleeping, I'm thinking about new things to make.

I continue to work at trying to become more known on the web and in my local community. I don't want to have a huge business. I don't want a bazillion orders and feel overwhelmed with it all. I just want to make as much as I can and sell it. It's that simple. Until today though, I really was not aware of how much all of this means to me. All I do know is that I will continue to move forward and see what happens. It's all I can do.

As for this blog and blogging in general....I will keep doing that as well. As best and as often as I can, I will blog and continue to hope that someone will comment and that more people will become followers. There's no way I can sit at the computer for the hours it would take to keep up with everything all the time. I don't have the time or the patience. Today though, I have blogged and I have vented and for me that is all that matters.

Once again this morning, I'm having trouble uploading pictures. I'm not sure why. I'll do the best I can. Anyway, the above picture is a beautiful dried flower arrangement in a pottery vase. A very pretty addition to any decor. A wonderful way to brighten up the fall and winter months!

Here's a picture of some of the dried flowers we have available. Several are in bunches as seen here in our baskets. You can alos see some of our table toppers and a basket of towels. We have a brand new, larger size, assortment of bath teas that make wonderful stocking stuffers too.
I'll continue to update as time permits. Yesterday was outside lights. Oh my did it ever take a long time. That was done in between yet another trip to the store and accompanying at the church for a friend. It certainly is a busy time of year! New stuff coming in tomorrow and I can't wait!

Finally, Pictures!

At long last, I finally have some current pictures. Something is not right with my camera! Tim let me borrow his camera and I took several pictures to update the gift shop. Today was very exciting. We have received more orders over the phone and on the website. One is for a larger gift basket to ship. I just love doing these things for people at holiday time. Actually, any time!

This gift basket has the four holiday coffees; Frosty's Favorite Flavor, Candy Cane, Jingle Bell Java and Mistletoe Mocha flavored coffees. To purchase any of these you can call. Go to http://www.stlawrencevalleyroasters.com/ or http://www.northforkgifts.com/ and call or email. Not all of what we have is on our website yet. Baby steps. We're getting there.

Here's the 2 sampler size gift basket. We have something for everyone on your gift list!





You can even get a mug with one coffee sampler! Now onto the soaps....



We have lots of different soaps in many different shapes and sizes. You can get guest size (1.5oz.) snowflake soaps, celtic knots, oatmeal, vanilla-lavender in goat's milk or shea butter. Most are 1.50 or less. These make wonderful stocking stuffers.

It's taking way too long to upload this evening. Look for us again tomorrow and we'll share more from North Fork Gifts.

Winter Is Upon Us

I haven't written in a very long time. My goal is to try to get to this more often and keep people up to date with what's happening. Last Sunday we had our open house. This past week the weather has made many changes in the scheduling. Our concert was postponed. Yesterday's trip to Utica to see Mama Mia was cancelled. We'll be going to River Dance in April instead. Tonight is caroling followed by hot cocoa and cookies with the singers. In the upcoming week we'll be singing all day on Tuesday as we travel to Ogdensburg and visit various nursing homes and Meadow View Apts. in Heuvelton. Our concert is TBA. The K-6 concert is on Friday and this week is also secret santa so....needless to say, it's going to be very busy.

The shop is warm and cozy. The tree is up and decorated and I spent a few hours the other day putting insulation into the bays along the ceiling to hopefully, keep it even warmer! I'm hoping to post some pictures of all the new things. Right now it's off to work! Hopefully, I'll be able to get back at this on a more regular basis.

The shop is open as long as we're here, we're open!! So please feel free to come by.

A Pleasure Indeed....

We had the pleasure, at North Fork B&B, of meeting Virginia Brown Waite, Florida Congresswoman, when she stayed with us this weekend. Today we will be open for business in the gift shop where Lisa hopes to be making more soap and candles as we prepare for more guests at the B&B and the upcoming holiday season. We have lots of new fragrances and some new soaps that will be coming out as well as some new candles. Check our blog and see the new things we'll be offering in our gift shop and on our website.

Today's a Very Exciting Day!

On the down side of things, I had to say goodbye this morning to my brother, his wife and my nephew as they head back home. We had our Thanksgiving weekend again this year and a wonderful time and fabulous food was had by all. My niece will have to head back to college as well today. We'll all miss each other and be looking forward to the next time we can all be together. My nephew helped me with my cello. He plays really well and had encouraging words for his aunt. He was also incredibly helpful in the gift shop hanging dried flowers. Today the ceiling should be finished! It's almost there....the dried flowers are down and ready to be put out. The Fall bags are on display and all in all it's a very exciting day!

These bags are a a sample of what we have in the shop. To see them all check out our website at http://www.northforkgifts.com Our Balsam wreaths will be on display soon so check back often to see all the new and exciting things to come!

Dried Flowers

This weekend we'll be bringing out the dried flowers and finishing the ceiling. This is one example of the wonderful dried flowers we'll have on hand. Bunches can be purchased to decorate or use in arranging. We have quite a few bunches of statice available as well. You can see more at our gift shop website within the next couple of weeks. http://www.northforkgifts.com For those of you looking to keep warm as the colder weather approaches please check out a fabulous site for hand painted and hand dyed fiber for those winter and holiday projects at http://www.moonlightandlaughter.com For coffee to keep warm and a fabulous new fundraising idea check out our coffee at http://www.stlawrencevalleyroasters.com All great places to find wonderful things!!