Looking forward.........

We have a small studio apartment, but it has a wonderful deck overlooking the marina. I'm already looking forward to those mornings when I will take my coffee out to watch the sunrise. Sue

Mirror mirror................

A collection of mirrors stacked by the window. Mirrors with painted frames, gold frames, oak frames, and gilded frames. Sue

Jewlery by Lisl.............

Mike just came from the post office with a small package. Good things always come in small packages. It's jewlery from Lisl Hector. Thank-you Lisl. These sterling silver pendants can be customized with a word, letter, phrase, or picture of your choice. Sue

Walking to work.............

Like many of you reading my blog I've spent many years driving to work on snow and ice covered roads. Now Mike and I live a block from our store and I love walking to work. Sue

In the garden.............

What a perfect time of year to be unpacking these new beeswax and soy candles. It's twelve degrees this morning, but I feel like I'm in the garden with fragrances like hyacinth, green tea and rhubarb, magnolia, garden cucumber, lavender barreme, and lemon sage. Sue

pretty in purple.................

This cement rabbit is wearing lavender dupioni silk ribbon. Other new colors for spring ........ lobelia, plum, perwinkle, robin's egg, wisteria, and viola.

stacks of soap............

sweet pea, spearmint rosemary, french pear, lavender patchouli, peppermint, rose, lime basil, violet, almond milk, pear sandalwood.......... We have stacks of homemade soap, big blocks of olive oil soap crafted in France, sheep's milk soap from a local Icelandic sheep farm and many beautifully wrapped Claus Porto soaps made in Portugal.

my day off..............

Mike is working at the store today. I'm home listening to the cold rain hitting the apartment windows. With another cup of coffee and my pile of magazines it will be a cozy day off. Sue

new tags..........

Michele makes hand stamped tags and paperdolls for the shop. These are some of the new ones she has been working on. Hope you can stop by and choose your favorite. Sue

only eight days?...............

I'm not giving up on my blog yet!! It was only eight days ago that I took my first picture and wrote my first post. It seems like forever. I'm feeling nervous about my blog. Nervous about what to say and how to say it. Maybe tomorrow it will be easier. It's only been eight days. Sue

too heavy...............

This morning I decided I wanted the one hundred pound cement garden finial in the window at the store. I thought about it when I went to bed last night, but I thought it would probably be too heavy. It looks great in the window and it was really really heavy!

hearts............

Boxwood wreaths. A perfect Valentine for someone special.

it's January.........

I've been complaining, "it's so quiet." My husband says, " it's January!" We've had this conversation before. It is January and it is quiet, but Michele is bringing cookies tomorrow.

suprise visit...........

Spring is visiting Suttons Bay today! Crows were calling as I walked to work. I crunched across frozen puddles and the sun was coming up over the bay. This surpirise visit is most welcome.

ribbon on Sunday............

Mike works in the shop on Sunday. It's my day off.....unless someone stops in to buy ribbon. This causes my husband to panic. He calls and I walk down to measure and cut the ribbon. I love ribbon and I love Mike, so don't worry , you can always buy ribbon on Sunday.

found.........

Just found this green pie safe at an auction. I know exactly where I will put it in the shop.
To be continued........

"You can do it mom"...............

I want to thank David. He has given so much of his time and every ounce of his patience to help me with my blog. I can't even remember how to find my blog when I get up in the morning! Thank-you to my daughters, Mary and Sarah, for pushing me to creep into the twenty-first century. " YOU CAN DO IT MOM!"

signs of spring.............

Welcome to the RED LADDER where you will find a few signs of spring.

first post.........

Hello this is Sue. I have been talking about starting a blog to feature my shop for several years. So at last it begins! I am nervous and excited.