Gung Hei Fat Choi

It is the Chinese New Year -- the year of the OX. I have learned a little about the traditions around the new year. Red means happiness, so people wear red, and the banners are red. Long noodles, beans, and anything long, means longevity. So in my window I have posted a sign saying Gung Hei Fat Choi which means Happy New Year. The clothes are red, and long. The wool on Alice's collar is from the long coat of a Wesleydale sheep. The merino sweater covering an Oleana dress is long, as is the necklace (impossible to see) made by Danish DesignerBorg. Photographs never do my window justice!!

Marja (mimi) came in with a whole load of 'muffedise' - cute fingerless gloves, just to cheer up these dull and oh so cold days!

January 2009

Working with this blog is proving to be a challenge!! It doesn't want to do what I tell it to do, but what it wants to do!!!

I have two immediate product notes:

- Oleana dresses are perfect for weddings from Brides to Mothers of the bride. They come in 20 different colours, and in two lengths. They have pockets and are lined. They can even be specially made, to fit. They are sustainable too, because they can be mixed and matched, and do not scream "wedding". We found some beautiful images of an Oleana wedding dress here http://onelovephoto.typepad.com/heathergilson/2008/08/a-garden-weddin.html

- On a more immediate note, I received my shipment of Pia Wallén slippers a little late, but this means that I have all sizes in the new dark grey colour.

The store looks lovely, as always, and new people continue to find me and so on one hand my email list grows, but on the other, many people change out their addresses, so I loose a few people each time I send out a mail. I am working on creating a Facebook group too so that I can take advantage of all the possibilities of Internet Marketing.

I want to remind you to shop local in this time of economical change. I think the one truly positive thing that could emerge from the mess is that we return to shopping in small shops, and move away from the big box stores, and that people will buy less, but more beautiful things.

I have been a part of the Modern Urban Guide since its inception 4 years ago, and really admire what the creators of this map are doing. You can find wonderful small shops not only here in Vancouver, but across Canada. Go to http://www.modernurbanguides.com/

Yuletide ended on the 7th of January. In Denmark it is called Hellig Tre Konger, the day when the 3 Kings bearing gifts finally arrived in Bethlehem. In some cultures the 7th of January or 'little Christmas' is a day of gift giving, and if you follow the song, the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' you know that the Twelth day is present overload!!!

I received a card from Pernilla Svenre in Sweden with the prettiest stamps, and the three crowns were stamped on by the post office. I have asked my facebook friends to help uncover the meaning--does it have something to do with the Hellige Tre Konger, or does it have to do with something Swedish. I have scanned it for you to see. Maybe one of you knows??

I took down the advent ring between Christmas and New Year. It was getting very dry and I was a bit worried about the candles. It was nice to take it down, and to change the displays around. It felt good to greet the new year with Christmas put away.