Tamara Is Going To Texas!

Hi Y'all!

After last nights lovely evening with The Creative Gardener, Jacque, and her peers and friends, I started to get really excited about my trip. I'm heading to Texas for the Round Top Antique Market Extravaganza! ( I added that last part...) I'm not looking forward to the 6am flight and connections to get to Austin (lame Sac. airport, very lame). And I joked with Colleen that she will have to collect me at the airport bar, waiting 3.5 hours for her, and being up since 3:30am!

I'm a newbie this time, but I'm very fortunate to be going alongside a talented designer and shop owner, Miss Colleen from Saffron and Genevieve. (whom is also one of my very good friends that I can't wait to spend more time with!)

Check out where I will for a a week! http://www.antiqueweekend.com/faycomap.htm

Check back for pic's, finds and any general musings I might want to share with you...

See y'all soon,
Tamara, Your Local Green Girl

Being Present

BE PRESENT

I've hear this yoga term before and it didn't resonate until recently. What does that mean? Am I present in my design practice? My store practice? I cruise along most days thinking of how much I have to, what I haven't done, what I need to do next. Lately I find myself pausing to just BE in the moment--unfortunately this has happened a few times at the store where I block all the wonderful chatter and discovery that is happening when customers are in. :)

What about being present in your life practice? Present with the decisions we make, our attitudes, our thoughts, our purchases. There is a very slow shift in our society and when we do buy something, we want to feel good about it. Not just feeling good because we got it at a cheap or fair price, but feeling good about the fair wage a woman received, supporting her in her trade and family, about saving a salvaged piece from a landfill, using vintage and antique, knowing the elegant chunky goblet we are drinking from was recreated out of a recycled wine bottle...I could go on....and on....(AND on.........)


I'm happy to be here where I am, making mistakes, not always being 110% "on" and elated, being comfortable not having the store "perfect" all the time. (the last one is the hardest for me!) I would say that as unsettled as things are for many of us, I'm happy to BE PRESENT in my life, are you? ~th

Reusing with Creative Displays!

ADORABLE! I had to share these, I just couldn't stand it any longer!
I love creating and finding unusual ways to display objects that we cherish and love but don't always get to look at or have out.
Vintage and antique brooches paired with old photos--what a sweet way to preserve and share your favorite pics and pins. Not sure what to do with those old family photos? Match Granny's favorite brooch with a special picture of her...

~Sweet AND Green~

Simple. Subtle. Beautiful

Simple, Subtle and Beautiful




















I've been inspired by those around me lately, it's amazing the power of creative, positive people! Colleen and I worked so hard to get my store back in order and looking good again! Thanks Col!
Thought I would share the shop "Early Sprin" window before it changes next week!

Keep Calm and Carry On

"These were the best of times. These were the worst of times." Sitting outside on this beautiful day---hanging out with the "crazies" (my brown dog retriever family) when the opening lines of Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities came to mind. How curiously appropriate this sentiment echoes in todays American world. I think I would rather switch them to say "These are the worst of times, but also the BEST of times." I'm seeing a transformation of values and lifestyle, people are nesting and reevaluating their homes and way of life. What wonderful challenges we have been presented with, and we can only succeed in making our communities better.

March is a transitional month, winter isn't quite done with us and it's not quite spring. March is the time to force bulbs (if you haven't already) and start making those initial self and home and garden plans. March is when things pick up in the "design world". Rediscovering old pieces, or finding new ones, redecorating, revamping, repainting.... Spring is a time for cleaning and purging (and recycling!) To me, spring has represented a need for modification, alteration and growth.

Growth is great, and the mission of the ECO-BOUTIQUE hasn't changed, in fact, it's about to get a lot better! In the March Newsletter I posted that I will start teaching Green Design and ECO classes--even a better way to reach out to my community and share my passion, knowledge and experience. I can only hope my enthusiasm and commitment to making green and eco design fashionable, functional and beautiful is contagious. There are a growing number of "greenies" out there, ( I was called this at a DBA meeting---it was said in a sarcastic tone, but I thought it quaint and cute, so I kept it, so there!) and change IS happening, we may not see it every day, but it's there. And speaking of turning things around, let's make the worst of times, the best of times!
Lastly, one of my dearest friends reminded me last week, "Keep Calm and Carry on". Oh, where is that WWII slogan poster anyway?


Cheers and Happy Early Spring!
Tamara, Your local Green Girl