On the Road With Suzanne: Brrrr...And It Is Only August 30th!

Coming down the stairs this morning, headed for the coffee, a chill hit me from the open screen porch doors. Brrrr...and then, instantly I was back in time, standing across the road from the Victorian farmhouse where I grew up, wisps of fog floating up from the warm cow pies in the pasture behind me, the cows standing at the fence staring at me, me turning around and saying "moooooooo!" to them. My arms are full of books (nope, didn't have a book bag and no one else did either, whoever invented it is probably a millionaire) waiting for the yellow school bus to take me to my school in Greenwood, Delaware. The first day of school, back then, was the day after Labor Day and it was still warm enough to go barefoot. Which also reminds me that the Mennonite children, who went to a different school, I guess because kids like me were a bad influence, went to school barefoot. So all of these memories swept past me....and then the feeling was GONE. Poof. (Well, that was fun. And kinda weird).

Greenwood School

Back to the present.

When I started this blog I had just re-started my gift rep business. Since then, I have acquired several more greeting card and gift lines. I've gotten orders and re-orders and things are starting to pop. It's a fun job.

Here are my newest lines:

MORRIS MAGNETS. www.morrismagnets.com - Wow! What a terrific company. They have all the bases covered: great product line of signs, magnets, picture frames, coasters, key chains, badges and custom gifts. Their color catalog is probably a half inch thick. They have been at it 25 years and definitely have their act together. I'm delighted to be bringing these products from their home in the State of Washington to the Delmarva Peninsula.

RAINBOW CARD COMPANY. www.rainbowcardcompany.com - This line contains beautiful as well as cute playing cards, bridge sets, greeting cards, note cards, matted prints, by the artist, Jody O'Meara, who is so talented! And smart. Here is her story:

"Jody O’Meara began painting in watercolor sixteen years ago. She had no idea where that journey would take her. After spending time learning the basic techniques in Denver, where she has always lived, she began traveling the world with other artists applying those techniques to Plein Aire painting. In the beginning, Jody’s love of flowers gave her the perfect subject to paint. As she grew more confident in her work, other subjects began to capture her attention. Jody was excited to see what watercolor would do for anything from landscapes to still lifes, from people to pet portraits, from golf shoes to coffee mugs. She learned that watercolor brought a freshness and depth that could not be achieved in any other medium.

When Jody decided to produce a line of products based on her watercolor paintings, her goal was to bring products to the marketplace that evoked feelings of joy, comfort, love, and happiness. That is why she chose puppies for this year's focus. Puppies are one of life's great joys. They begin by completely disarming you. They make you smile. They love you unconditionally. They are loyal and will follow you everywhere. They will lie beside you when you're sick and lick the tears off your cheeks when you are sad. Jody's watercolor puppy designs are both fresh and timeless with a textural softness that makes you want to pet them. Jody has also created a pet sympathy card based on the poem "The Rainbow Bridge". It is the perfect card to comfort anyone who has lost a pet."

"Rainbow Bridge" Dog Sympathy Card

"Rainbow Bridge" Cat Sympathy Card by Jody O'Meara

"Horse Sense" Card by Jody O'Meara

Rainbow Cards - "Tucker" Bridge Set

BUNGALOW CANYON. www.bungalowcanyon.com - This is my newest line. Mary Rotondi, the creative genius behind these beautiful journals, note pads, and desk sets, started following me on Twitter and when I thanked her, I told her I would like to try to get her some sales on Delmarva, she decided to take the chance. Thank you Mary!

Bungalow Canyon journals, note pads, and desk sets.

RETAIL SPOTLIGHT
Gifts of Serenity

http://www.Gifts-Of-Serenity.com

Just off the Boardwalk, close to Grotto Pizza, in Rehoboth Beach, is a charming little shopping district called Penny Lane. On the left, as you enter, is an upscale boutique, Gifts of Serenity, which has been in this location since 1998. In fact, it is SOOO charming, it received the prestigious "Best Gift Shop" awarded by Delaware Today Magazine.

Check out the www.primalelements.com vegetable glycerin soaps such as "Winterfall" described in colorful terms as : "Autumn foliage and warm nutty acorns tucked inside a bar of herbal green notes and rich woods to create an aromatic memory of a crisp fall day". You will also be delighted to discover your perennial favorites, Yankee Candle, Crabtree & Evelyn, Bayberry Gift and Peace Frogs, and more. Stop by and tell Jeanine Suzanne sent you and don't forget to smell the soap.

Notice the sign? "Frog Parking ONLY. All others will be TOAD" .

"Primal Elements" displayed at Gifts of Serenity

*Photos are from Gifts of Serenity's Facebook page.

Rehoboth Beach was founded in 1873 as the Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association by the Reverend Robert W. Todd, of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilmington, Delaware, as a site for Methodist camp meetings. The association was disbanded in 1881, and in 1891, the Delaware General Assembly incorporated the location as Henlopen City, and later it was renamed Rehoboth Beach.