The Blog

NICOL SAYRE SIGNING, SEPT. 11TH

Nicol Sayre will be signing her original doll creations at American Harvest on Saturday, September 11th from 10am to 1pm.  As you already know quantities of Nicol’s dolls are extremely limited, so arrive early for the best selection.  She will be featuring Autumn and Halloween dolls.  In addition, we will be selling her licensed designs for ESC.  These wonderful Halloween designs are being manufactured for Nicol by ESC.  The Halloween items include Caged Witches (that is a witch doll where the lower body is wood slats), paper mache witch shoes, a witch on a crow and many other designs.  Because we are Nicol’s Home Store, she will also sign the licensed products that we sell that day only.  We are very fortunate to have Nicol at our store….Nicol does not sign these items at any other store but American Harvest!

If you are unable to attend her signing at American Harvest, you may call the store at 925-485-1577 during the signing and purchase her dolls and licensed items over the phone, please ask for Sharon.  They will not be available online through our website shopping cart until after September 11th.  Yes, if you purchase over the phone, Nicol will sign her delightful creations for you!  But, we really would like to see you in person at American Harvest on September 11th!

SLEEPY HOLLOW AT AMERICAN HARVEST

The Headless Horseman makes his appearance on Saturday August 21st, as American Harvest presents Sleepy Hollow, Halloween event.  Our postcard was designed by Ingrid Pomeroy.

We have been working around the clock to make this event special for all attendees.  April made her magic again this year with major prop building including this large Sleepy Hollow sign patterned after the actual sign at Sleepy Hollow, NY.  Take a guess on how many pairs of recycled work gloves it took to make her haunted tree.

Sharon has created many of the items for this event, including her famous glittered skulls.  Jan pulled out all the stops in creating her vintage inspired Halloween collages.  Susan brought us a wonderful array of her Halloween creations.  Ingrid also made beautiful “floating” clock face necklaces.  And what a nice surprise today, when Laura brought in homemade Halloween cupcakes!  We all needed that blast of sugar!

Glass owls adorn this Halloween feather tree with mushrooms.

Debbee Thibault has created 25 one-of-a-kind Halloween pieces for our store.  These are the most incredible items, my pictures do not do them justice!

What a royal Halloween treat is this beautiful queen!

This sweet little lady is decked out for the Sleepy Hallow event at American Harvest.

Debbee’s whimsical creations capture the heart.

Sharon, Monique and Debbee are putting the finishing touches on a Halloween display.

Halloween items by Debbee.

More Debbee one-of-a-kind creations.

Nicol Sayre just surprised us with two Sleepy Hollow inspired dolls for our event tomorrow.  These two original dolls are beautifully costumed and meticulously hand painted by Nicol.  Also, Nicol has brought us five of her designs that are being produced by ESC.  These five designs are not in stock yet, but should be here in time for her signing at American Harvest on September 11th.  You can pre-order these creations tomorrow at American Harvest and have Nicol sign them when they arrive.  You can then pick them up at the Sept. 11th signing…we do expect to sell out of these wonderful creations, so be sure to see them at the Sleepy Hollow event.

We hope to see you on August 21st at 10am for the Halloween event of the year….Sleepy Hollow at American Harvest.

SAN FRANCISCO…IT CALLS TO ME!

We are certain that everyone loves their hometown, their city, and their favorite destination.  But San Francisco is different than any other place on earth.  Wherever you go in the City By The Bay, the vistas are breathtaking, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the San Francisco Bay to the East, the Marin coastline to the north and the beautiful peninsula to the south.  The food is incredible, beginning with San Francisco’s sour dough bread.  Here are just a few glimpses of this magnificent city.  Many of the photos were taken by my sister, Suzanne, when she and Terry (my favorite brother-in-law) attended the Black and White Ball.  WARNING:  viewing the following photos may cause you to break out in song, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco”.

Here is one of the venues of the Black and White Ball before things got started.

There is no other bridge in the world like the Golden Gate Bridge, the view is from San Francisco looking toward to Marin County.

The Transamerica Pyramid building makes San Francisco’s skyline one of the most recognizable skylines in the world.

It seems that Coit Tower stands proudly above the City from almost any vantage point.

San Francisco’s China Town has fabulous restaurants.  This is Debbee Thibault’s favorite!

We try to go here when Debbee visits us.

SF’s Playland was torn down years ago, unfortunately.  But many of the items from Playland can now be found at the Musee Mechanical on Fisherman’s Wharf.  This is Laughing Sal, who greets visitors with a very loud and sometimes frightening laugh.

Here is another view of the beautiful Coit Tower.  When visiting SF, you should go inside the tower to see the magnificent murals.

This is Lombard Street, the “Crookedest Street in the World”.

A view of the San Francisco Bay Bridge looking toward the Oakland Hills.

Alcatraz Island is a great place to visit, but you wouldn’t want to live there!  It is a fun excursion, but seriously cold out there on the bay.

Christopher Columbus looks out to the Golden Gate.

Known for its hills, San Francisco is beautiful from every angle.

I think that the building in this shot is Mission Delores.  Please correct me if I am wrong.

Here is the perfectly manicured gardens in Golden Gate Park between the Aquarium and the DeYoung Museum.

To the west lies the beautiful blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Are you still singing?…..”when I come home to you, San Francisco…”

GARDEN DECOR


I decided about two weeks ago to blog about decorating with statuary and yard art. Then, I opened my copy of Today’s Vintage and read an interesting article on the same topic. So instead of writing my own copy, please take a look at the article in Today’s Vintage magazine.  Pictured above is a fountain which is one of our favorite items in our yard, because it belonged to Rodger’s aunt and uncle.  His aunt and uncle loved to garden.  This was one of the first items that they bought for their yard back in the 1940’s.

Here are pictures of some of my favorite items in my own garden as well as my sons’ yards.

A beautiful coleus was planted in a vintage European planter with a statue of a little boy holding a fish.  This is on my front porch.

Jeremy hung two old windows on either side of a vintage screen door.  The garage wall was a blank canvas for yard art!

An outside room between the garage and house is decorated with bright, fun items.  Jeremy and Amy love Disneyland too, so they framed and hung posters of Disneyland attractions on the walls.  A wire basket of vintage billiard balls sits on the Dr. Pepper patio set.  This is a great ‘room’ for entertaining his high school cross country team.

Noel and Sarah placed a love seat on their backyard patio.  It is a perfect spot for relaxing after dinner.

Every yard should have a water feature.  Ringo loves to drink out of the fountain.

Rodger is crazy for these vintage garden gnomes.  He even has gotten our sons hooked on them.

An old metal headboard serves as a trellis for pole beans and basil.

A new gazing ball adds color and sparkle to our yard.  Gazing balls were particularly popular during the Victorian period.

We just purchased this “stone” bench for our backyard.  It is five feet long and curved.  Rodger needs to get some ground cover planted around it now!

I will post more yard pictures soon if you are interested.  Please leave a comment!

HOORAY FOR THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE

As crazy as it sounds, I do have a bedroom decorated in red, white and blue.  I know what you are thinking…..Sharon, the rest of your home is so neutral, with whites, beiges and creams.  Are you CRAZY?  Maybe, but I love Americana items.  The bedroom is downstairs and has been converted into a music room for Rodger’s drum collection.  I just happen to put all of my Americana items in there too, because they look so good with his drums. More »

ANSWERS TO THE MAY QUIZ

Well, you guys were not very successful in answering these 10 simple questions.   Simple I say, but Sharon disagrees….not all were so simple.

#1.  This is in the queue for the ride Indiana Jones Adventure.

#2.  Reconstruction is what’s going on in the Rivers of America at Disneyland.

#3.  On the left is Cruella de Ville, on the right is Sharon…please do not mistake them for each other!

#4.  I am looking at the pond between Frontierland to the left and Adventureland to the right.

#5.  No NOT gears…it’s a Hidden Mickey!

#6.  There’s a Hidden Mickey in the doorway to the Disney Vault store in Downtown Disney.

#7.  I’m the Blue Fairy.

#8.  I’m Pluto and I play the drums just like Rodger.

#9.  I’m Minnie Mouse and I’m running to”take a break”.

#10. Who’s the leader of the club?  No doubts here, it’s Mickey Mouse!

Stay tuned for another game and I guarantee it will be much easier!  Check back soon for a very easy game.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Game time everyone!   What do you see and where am I?  Send me an email with your answers….there might be a prize in store for you!  Just be first to send me an email with the correct answers.  So here we go….

Picture #1…Where Am I?

Picture #2…What’s going on here and where am I?

Picture #3…Who are these two beauties?

Picture #4…Where am I?  Please be very specific.  Hint:  Look at the top right and top left corners of this picture.

Picture #5…What do you see?

Picture #6…What do you see?  A bonus point if you know the location!!!

Picture #7…Who am I?

Picture #8…Who am I? What musical instrument do I play?  Hint:  it is the same instrument that Rodger plays!

Picture #9…You surely know who I am, but why am I walking so fast?

Picture #10…Who’s the leader of the club, that’s made for you and me?

Need a little help????? click on this link for help and some fun!!!! You may see an advertisement first, just be patient!

You have only until Wednesday, May 26, 2010 to answer these pressing questions!