Old-Fashioned Things

There's plenty to see in Savannah. It's a beautiful city, full of history. But you'll be missing a lot if you don't venture out to other nearby areas. We only had a day to do so, but we always pack a lot into those short trips! Tybee Island is about 20 minutes' drive from downtown historic Savannah. It's a barrier island, and a popular spot for families to vacation during the summertime and enjoy the sunny beach. More laid-back than many other beach vacation spots, there's plenty to do there during the warmer months. Of course, we visited in January, so we weren't sure what to expect. We found... history ! First stop: Tybee Island Lighthouse. You can read all about its history on the website, but here's a summary. The first version, a "day mark" — lighthouse without a light — was built in 1736. It was destroyed by storms. The current structure dates to 1773, but the stairs and top 40 feet of the brick-and-wood structure were burn...

I highly recommend winter vacation trips. Last year, my husband started our new tradition of taking a trip for my birthday in January. We can do this now, since our kids are grown and it’s a pretty slow time for the shop. It's also a real treat to escape the frigid weather and head south for a while! Last year we went to Nashville for two days. His choice. This year I got to decide, and I picked Savannah. I highly recommend Savannah, especially if you love history. In Savannah's Historic District, there are a lot of lodging options, including lovely historical hotels. We chose Planter's Inn, built in 1812. Not only is it a lovely building, it's also supposed to be haunted — but aren't all old buildings? We didn't meet any spirits, but we did enjoy the complimentary wine-and-cheese reception daily at 5:30. It's fun to chat with other guests in their sumptuous lobby. Planter's is located in the heart of the historic district, and we p...

When we are sourcing items for our shop, I'm always on the lookout for embroidery. I love it, personally (and I do tend to stock items I love), and it sells pretty well both in-store and online. As with many handcrafted items, such as crochet and quilts, it's rare to sell an embroidered item at a price commensurate with the labor it requires to create. Unfortunately, unless you're a true artist, you'll have a tough time crafting for profit. To be honest, there's more money in creating patterns and teaching people to make these items. However, most crafters aren't in it for the money. They do it because it's an enjoyable pastime; it relieves stress and boredom. Crafting can be practical, too; quilts keep you warm, crocheted doilies and antimacassars protect furniture, and they all enhance the beauty of our homes. As we stitch, maybe we think about the item becoming an heirloom to be treasured by the generations to come. Cross stitch is a particular type...