"The only place success comes before work is a dictionary."
Vidal Sassoon

Words to Live By - Week 1

We're spiffing up around here...

For those of you who hang out around Bay City you know time is getting close for the opening of the Bay City General Store. And you know that means spiffing the place up a bit. This year we decided to spiff up our blog a bit too, so let us know what you think. We think it fits us to a "T." We met the creative soul that spiffed the place up for us on the internet, never met face to face, two strangers bumping into each other cyberspace and voila - she nailed us - we love the new look that looks old. That probably only makes sense to us. Thanks, Cat!

So with our new, old look we are venturing out into the blogging world to connect with other like-minded souls. So if our paths should cross, drop us line in the comment section and we'll drop a line back.

Look Who's Turning One!

Sir Winston Wigglebottom of Bay City will be one year old on April 5th. Don't you think he would be absolutely adorable in a "paw-ty" hat? The Bay City General Store will be opening for the season real soon - maybe a Winston birthday paw-ty celebration is in order.

Do you like our new look? We do, we really do!

New Kid on the Block

There's a new kid on the block - I-24 Antique Mall! It's at exit 37 in Metropolis, Illinois, Home of Superman. Today was its' first day to be open to the public. You couldn't ask for a better location, just seconds from the interstate. Add in the Southern Illinois Wine Outlet store just steps inside the door and I think you have a winner. There will be flea markets, wine tastings, music, good food and other special events as the weather gets warmer. The Bay City General Store has a booth just inside the door and we are looking forward to seeing you there. Stop in and say hi to Charlie and Richard when you are in the neighborhood.

Daily Flotsam and Jetsam

I love the blogging world - I start my mornings with coffee overlooking the river and travel around the world in a matter of minutes. It's like peeping in someone's window to see what they are up to, what their house looks like or what's for supper, except it is socially acceptable. I'm pretty sure actually looking in someone's window is NOT socially acceptable. I love the fact that some talented people are willing to share their creativity with the rest of us by hosting online workshops. It's so much easier than having to take your shoes off to fly across the country, not to mention the full body scan situation. Anyway, I digress. To start 2010 I signed up for Mary Ann Ross' Remains of the Day journal and so far it has been way too much fun and occupied way too much of my day. I didn't exactly follow the directions - it plainly states a sewing machine is required. I'm allergic to my sewing machine.....so I used iron on stuff to attach my fabrics and ribbons. So far, so good! The photos above are my progress so far..............

Reflection

As I reflect over the past years' activities and events there have been many fun activities but probably the most fun I had was at Collage Camp with K.C. Willis. If you have not seen her fabric collages for yourself I strongly recommend taking a stroll through Lipstick Ranch at www.lipstickranch.com She is offering her Collage Camp at a discounted price of $75 now rather than the usual price of $98. You can find all the details about Collage Camp at http://www.collagecamp.ning.com It's the best $75 I spent this past year.

I'm heading off to camp - this camp http://collagecamp.ning.com If you haven't already drooled all over KC Willis' fabric collages - run, do not walk, over to this website and see for yourself. And the best part of all - she is sharing her talents with all of us campers with videos of how-to's. Head on over and sign up now at a discount.

Going to Camp

The Good Old Days...

The good old days are alive and well at the Bay City General Store. We're all about nostalgia and we love hearing customers say "oh I had one of those when I was a little kid." Here's a few glimpses of our Trip Down Memory Lane department. Any of these toys take you back to your childhood?

Planting Time in Bay City

Spring is springing up all over the place around here. Daffodils have been up for a couple of weeks, tulip poplars and the forsythia are blooming. We're starting to see crappie fishermen in the creeks. And the Bay City General Store is blowing the dust off and getting ready for its spring opening. The first thing you see when you walk in our old 1915 store is this seed cabinet. It can be a painful experience for parents with young kids - they are eye level with all sorts of colorful vintage candies. Each drawer is filled with all the candies and novelties from your childhood - Sugar Babies, Milk Duds, Candy Buttons, wax bottles filled with sugar water, candy necklaces, Pixy Stix, candy cigarettes (yes they still make them - can you believe it?) BB Bats, Bazooka bubblegum, Tootsie Pops, taffy and circus peanuts. Does it get any better than that? While the munchkins are drooling over the candy selection hopefully parents will be drooling over the new spring merchandise - nature inspired plates and serving dishes just perfect for that next tea party or gathering on your patio or porch, nests and eggs of all sizes, baskets blooming with forsythia, bluebirds sitting on glass cloches............well you just need to come see for yourself. Oh did I mention red wax lips????????????????????? That makes it worth the scenic drive right there. Hope to see you soon!