Continuing Education

Hey y'all! So I'm sitting in a classroom for the first time in five years! I enrolled in a couple of continuing education classes at Gainesville State College - just up the road from our new house. The campus is beautiful - the class size is tiny (only 4 or 5 students enrolled) and the professor seems really nice. He's already cracking Baptist jokes so it'll be interesting to see where the day goes from here. I've got six hours to learn how to design a webpage, because my next big online adventure is going to involve completely rennovating our http://www.fkconsign.com/ website - which needs a little bit of a facelift. I'll let you know how it goes...

*peace*love*fashion

Casey

Inspiration - Marie McGrath and The Joy of Fashion

Here at Finders Keepers Boutique, we love and live for inspiration. We spend countless hours searching other bloggers to see what they're up to, revel in some stroke of fashion genius, be moved by someone's words, or to feel connected to that universal sisterhood of style. So, once a week, we're going to repost bloggers who made us say wow - who kept us on their blogs for hours and hours as we scrolled through their pictures and thoughts.

This week: Marie McGrath with The Joy of Fashion @ http://www.thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com/

Marie takes pictures of her daily ensembles and she has grown quite a following. Her creative use of colors in combination with classic lines makes for a sophisticated, inviting style that I know our customers would love. She's Kate Spade's take on Audrey Hepburn, sweet through and through with a glint of sass that she'd be remiss not to satisfy. In one of my favorite recent posts, Marie adorned a side ponytail with vibrant little butterfly clips. Brilliant! Infact, I'm infatuated with so many of her looks that I kept changing my mind about which one to use. As soon as I settled on an outfit she'd post something else that caught my eye. So, I'll post a couple of looks (I couldn't choose!) featuring a favorite theme of mine (mixing black and white accessories) and leave the rest for you to discover!

Visit Marie McGrath at http://www.thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com/

It's a High-End Handbag Reunion

Now that I am only in the store a couple of days a week I realize how fast the turnover of inventory is. The Boutique feels like a whole new store every time I walk in. One shop tendency that continues to hold true is the waves and patterns of inventory that comes in. One day we might have every consignor bring in at least one piece of "Free People," or Anthropologie labels, or maybe it's a day of boots. The long and the short of it: Birds of a feather tend to flock together, even in things unfeathered.

I decided to come into town yesterday to take pictures at all three of our stores. Stephanie had called me the day before about a F*A*N*T*A*S*T*I*C Chanel quilted handbag that arrived on Tuesday, and I just had to see it for myself. It was all I hoped and dreamed, by the way. But I digress. Next to the most-perfect-Chanel-bag-ever was a candy apple red ankle-wristlet... also from the fine people at Chanel. I managed to close my mouth and tear my eyes away from the quilted sisters to stumble upon not one... not two... but three Louis Vuitton handbags. A couple of classics for the tradition LV fans (a speedy, in particular) and an oh-so-cute slouchy-denim number that puts the polish on any ensemble.

Since I was determined to pop into all 3 stores I didn't have time to style the bags, only to let them shine in all their glory - which they did and did well. BUT I couldn't help but take a picture of this adorable Marc Jacobs yellow floral handbag against Stephanie's yellow floral Maxi dress and also of a classic Burberry handbag against Carter's striped cardigan.


Oh Chanel! No such thing as too big... or too small

I had to do a close-up!

"I don't get it... ohh!!" So. Freakin'. Cute.

I did a double take when I saw them in the case!

Louis Vuitton: for the more classic fans

Another classic Louis Vuitton model

A more daring rendition!

Marc Jacobs: just perfect for summer!

Burberry Bliss: couldn't have styled for it any better!

Bohemian Rhapsody

I am a hippie. Total, can't-deny-it lover of cotton, linen, flowy stuff, messiness, easy-breezies, and sunshine. It turns out Barbara, retired school teacher, military wife, and marriage-counselor extraordinaire (who VOLUNTEERS at Boutique... works her hiney off for free with us 'cause she likes it so much) is too. It made me think that perhaps we all have an inner flower-child that we secretly (or not-so-secretly) like to get in touch with every now and then. Another bit of proof: we can't keep skirts in the Boutique. Not for five seconds. They come and go as fast as the Georgia temperatures rise in the morning (and for you northerners, it's quick... really, freakishly fast.) For those of you who aren't making bracelets out of clovers just yet, skirts are an absolute staple in any Bohemian's wardrobe. The good -- scratch that -- GREAT news, is that skirts are coming in just as fast! New consignments tend to taper off in July, but that has not been the case at the Boutique this summer. We opened ten NEW accounts on Saturday alone. So, it's safe to say that if you come in searching for that perfect summer skirt, we've got you covered! But back to Barbara: she makes the perfect summer hippie in this fabulous, free-flowing ensemble. Barbara, I'm jealous. Just so you know...

We Wanna Win Best Consignment Stores in Atlanta for Creative Loafing's Annual Survey!

Yeah, we want it!

Winning a "Best of Atlanta" consumer vote is like the ultimate shopper's high. It means you like what we do. It means a nifty newspaper article that we'll frame and hang proudly in our stores. It means we're doing right by our customers and our mission -- and that's what we work to do every single day.
And right now, we need you! Creative Loafing is holding its Annual Best of Atlanta Survey now through July 31st. This year they've made it oh-so-simple! Go to their website: www.atlanta.creativeloafing.com and click "vote now." You only have to vote for five categories for your votes to count. We want to win like a six year old at a kickball game.... really (really) bad! And we can't win without you!

Do I Dare? Oh yes I do

Do I care? Nope. Fashion, above all else, is suppose to be fun. It's not suppose to be a source of stress or anxiety. It's practically its own sport... at minimum a wardrobe should be a recreational outlet. Have you ever watched children make up their own games or imaginary worlds? They become so entrenched that reality slips away and this fantastical world that they all really see becomes utterly, absolutely real.

On Meghann:

Romper: Miss Me $36

Heels: Qupid $33

Handbag: Coach $118

A customer's 5 week adventure with Finders Keepers!

A customer wrote me a letter about her 5 week "adventure" with Finders Keepers Furnishings and Boutique. I'll let her tell it from here:

My husband Richard and I had lived in Decatur for more than 20 years. We loved our home on Pinecrest and had many happy memories of our time there. However, as with many people our age, we began to think of downsizing and simplifying our lifestyle. Therefore, it was not a surprise when one evening at dinner we began a discussion regarding moving back to our condo near Emory University. The decision to sell our home and move was made that evening! However, the five weeks that followed our decision were filled with many unexpected surprises and events.

Week One
A move to the condo would be a major downsizing on my part. My first task was to determine which articles of clothing and accessories I would move from my home's attic storage space and three closets. At the condo I would have one small walk-in closet. The downsize seemed overwhelming--for help I went to Finders Keepers Boutique...

Finders Keepers Boutique to the Rescue!!

The boutique staff offers a wonderful service for a small fee. A staff member comes to your home and she helps you evaluate your wardrobe piece by piece. I made an appointment and me, Julia and I, worked through one apparel season at a time. We divided my clothing, handbags, shoes, etc., into several different collections -- clothing for me to keep, items for their boutique, clothing for the main store in Avondale Estates, and items to be donated to charity.

Once Julia had removed the clothing and had left my house I felt a great sense of joy. I recognized the advantage of working with a clothing specialist and felt confident regarding the apparel that remained for my use. A great sense of accomplishment swept over me. I realized one of the major downsizing chores was completed. I really would be moving.

This was the week Rick had the first of two successful surgeries at Emory University Hospital. Finders Keepers Furnishings held a series of Saturday morning Workshops in March and April. One of the Saturday seminars led by a local realtor was entitled "Staging your House to Sell." I knew there must be some tricks of the trade to ready a house for the real estate market. I decided to attend the seminar -- I had a house to sell. What better way to get started than attending a free program, presented by a certified staging realtor? Also, parking at the Furnishings store is always easy. The event would be hassle free for me.

The store's staff offered cheerful greetings and breakfast snacks to get the seminar off to a great start that morning. Our speaker was wonderful -- knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and willing to remain and answer questions at the conclusion of her presentation. Armed with my seminar handouts I asked if she would be available to drop by my house for a quick walk through and to make specific suggestions for staging my house. If there were some items I needed to update our house, I knew I could depend on the inventory of Finders Keepers Furnishings. The seminar had taught me that many of my personal pictures, etc. needed to go into hiding when the house was being shown.

Week Two
The seminar speaker really impressed my husband when she came over for the staging walk through. We asked her for sales representation and decided to list the house with her. Our realtor brought the other members of her sales team to see our house. One of the Realtors commented he was going to sell our house that weekend.

Week Three
Several Realtors stopped by to look at the house, and for the first time a realtor showed our house to a potential buyer. The next day that couple made a second visit to our house. The following day they submitted their contract for the purchase of our home. Negotiations followed, and terms were agreed upon. A closing date was set for the end of the month. (This allowed about 20 days for me to complete the downsizing process and move out of my house!) An "Under Contract" sign went up in our front yard. So much stuff, so little time...

Finders Keepers Furnishings to the Rescue!!

The staff of the Finders Keepers Furnishings store offers their customers a selection service. For a small fee they will come to your home and help you select items to keep when downsizing, selling your home, or remodeling. They will also make item selections to go into their store for consignment sales. Their furniture store was a great place for me to sell linens, rugs, and furniture that I couldn't use in my condo. They also helped me select items for donation to a local charity.

My realtor helped my find someone to conduct garage sales at the house. Downsizing was now in full swing. Friends helped me start packing. Movers were selected and a move date was scheduled.

Week Four
We moved into the condo. Rick had the second of two surgeries at Emory University Hospital. Unpacking continued in the condo was done as time and energy allowed. Rick continued to recover from surgery and helped unpack when he could.

Week Five
We closed on the sale of the house. Rick's health continued to improve with each passing day. Rick set up his office and was officially "back in business." I named our condo "The Hutch." Our space is small but cozy. Everything I moved has a place in our new home, but there are some furniture items I need to purchase for the condo. New porch furniture and a new headboard, to name a couple of items.

Beyond Week Five

S-o-o-o where is my car taking me several times a week? Why Finders Keepers Furnishings, of course! I am finding great accent piece to spice up "The Hutch" and give my older items a fresh feel in their new spaces. One of these days I am going to walk into Finders Keepers and there will be the perfect headboard and porch furniture for our condo.

Footnote of the downsized wardrobe at the hutch. There hasn't been a single time I have stepped into my closet that I could not find the perfect outfit! Truth to tell, I am inventing new "outfits" - what fun! I have purchased one great jacket from the Boutique since I moved. Did it fill a hole in my wardrobe? NO, but it was just so cute I couldn't walk away and leave it in the store.

Special thanks to the staffs in all three Finders Keepers stores. You have all been major players in my move. You were there with professional services, good humor, and a "we can do this, let's get it done," attitude. You were all the UNDAUNTABLES!"

Will I forget your kindness during these past weeks? NO

Am I a customer for life? YES!