At the Cactus Creek Shop we are very lucky to have big windows right on Main St.  We always try to do a unique & different window display but in 2012 I want to push us a little bit further to create better and better window displays.  I started this one on New Years Day and for the first time made a Pinterest Board to inspire me.  I’ve posted all of the inspirational pics below… we took a smidgen from each of the photos and created our own look.  More pics of the windows {and other pics of store} are HERE.

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Technorati Tags: merchandising windows, retail window display, store window displays, window display, winter window display

There has been a big push to shop local over the past couple of years and this weekend {the weekend after Thanksgiving} is when people will be spending a bulk of their monies this season.  When I think shop local it is about my own Main Street, but also the other Main Streets across America where Mom & Pops are working hard day in & day out to stay alive and make a difference.  Whether you access them online, by traveling, or by going to your own little down town, we would all appreciate it if you would “SHOP MOM & POP”.

Here are a few good reasons:

1. Keep the cash in the community.

2. Mom & Pop owners donate more to local charities than non-local owners.

3. Embrace the businesses & characters that make your community unique.

4. Environmental impact is reduced by simply not driving as far.

5. Mom & Pop businesses create & keep good jobs.

6. Superior customer service, cause every sale matters.

There is a common belief that we save money by shopping at the big box stores but I have saved time, gas & MONEY over and over by staying on Main Street or shopping online. Look around & consider all the factors before pulling out your wallet… and that’s all I’m gonna’ say about that!! Hope like heck to see you at the Cactus Creek Store in Weston MO this weekend… and if you don’t shop with us then go see some of our friends <3

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Technorati Tags: mom & pop, shop local

We had an amazing Irish Fest Weekend here in Weston MO and immediately dived head first into re-freshing the Cactus Creek Store for the holiday months ahead.  It wasn’t easy to pull out the Christmas tree before Halloween, but now that it’s all said and done it feels soooo good.  We’re trying not to do Christmas in a traditional way… we’ve spent the whole year collecting items that would make creative decor for the holidays that will slide easily into the rest of the year.  The duck decoy tree {above} is still in process and we also have a cute little white elephant tree {more pics on Facebook HERE}.

We also have a ton of vintage Christmas {above} for those of you doing the shiny*bright thing.  These ornaments & decor are fun to mix with the stuff you already have to give it a vintage feel…

This was one of my favorite displays {above}… we put one of our vintage windows on top of a tapestry to give it character, frame it’s beauty, and add some playfulness to the winter scene.  love this one!!

Ever expanding collection of Mexican pottery {above}… I love mixing this pottery with my white dishes to use as serving pieces, pops of color & for indoor plants.

New Native American art from James Ayers {above}… an awesome interview with him coming up next week!!!

That’s all for now… as I said, the rest of the pics are on Facebook right HERE.  Our muscles, creative juices & moving skills are maxed out, but we are ready for another weekend in Weston MO!!  Lots happening on CCD.com next week so stay tuned… later, xo+fancy

** More about the Cactus Creek STORE HERE **

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Come one come all… best weekend of the year to come hang out in Weston MO!!  Be sure to come by the Cactus Creek STORE to say HELLO!!

** Click HERE for DIRECTIONS to the store… **

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ahhh, home sweet home.  I’m back from Texas & ready to roll.  I have tons to post from the trip but in the meantime I wanted to share these photos…

I drove into the hometown {Weston MO} at 3:30 on Saturday morning… slept for an instant and was at the STORE unloading by 7:00am so that we would have some fresh inventory for our little town’s biggest festival of the year ~ APPLEFEST.

My sweet and talented friend/jewelry maker/photographer, Melinda Dennis, took these photos over the weekend and I just love them all… thanks Melinda!!  more soon from Tejas…

** More PICS from the Fall Windows HERE **

** More about the Cactus Creek STORE HERE **

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Technorati Tags: cactus creek, cactus creek store, fall display windows, melinda dennis, pumpkins, weston mo

{more about the AMAZING All Lamp HERE}

Yesterday we went on a little shopping trip & one of my great finds was this ALL Bucket.  There are so many ways to use this bright marketing relic… Here are two fantastic ideas from our friend Jim Healy, Junk Architect.  Jim is an Editor on Junk Market Style.com, as well as being a Licensed Architect.  For years he has scoured antique stores, flea markets and estate sales for the purpose of finding objects to RE-LOVE.  He always has creative ways of thinking outside of the box & re-inventing common objects that most of us would pass up.  Thanks Jim for the inspiration!!!!  +fancy

{details for the ALL Coffee Table HERE!!}

** Click HERE for other Flea Market Ideas **

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Had a great day shopping today with the family… we hit 3 stores/sales and I found lots of great treasures for the Cactus Creek STORE.  We were all worn out when we got home & decided to take naps.  I tried my hardest to lay down & take a little rest but the thrill of the hunt was still beating in me and I had to go straight to the store, unload & take a few pics with the phone.  I love it when a spontaneous junk jaunt ends up so well…

My first find of the day was this WOODEN FOLDING DOUBLE CHAIR… It is so fantastic for a bench seat at a dining table, an entry hall, or fold it up and hang it on the wall for architectural art that can also be extra seating!!

Vintage ALL bucket… a great addition to the laundry room, or maybe make it into something new…

these antlers are HUGE!!  Great big rack that would be perfect for the mantle.

I can’t find much information about this game but it’s in perfect condition and it was just too fun to pass up…

Of the three boys my middle one naps like I do, not at all.. in fact my spirit runs deep in this little man.  It was his idea to go shopping today ~ he has decided that he wants to start a “sellin’ stand” so he was wanting to buy stuff to sell  {love it!!}.  Unfortunately we didn’t find any toys for him to re-sell so he’s going to be selling H2O tomorrow at the store if anyone wants to make a budding entrepreneurs dream grow…

** Click HERE for Cactus Creek’s ONLINE STORE **

** Click HERE for more about the Cactus Creek STORE **

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This week we re-did the Cactus Creek STORE ~ took the whole thing apart, moved it all around, and put it all back together.  We try to do this at least four times a year… I’d like to do it six {or even eight} times a year but it’s a BIG task & takes several 12-hour days of hard labor, not to mention the absolute disaster that we make in the store in the process.

I am very very lucky to have my Mother-in-Law Connie who helps me with this daunting task… she and I have worked Cactus Creek together for almost 11 years and we can get the entire store done {virtually without talking} in a very quick manner.  She likes things crooked.  I usually like things straight.  It makes it look like WE did it… One time I hired someone help us.  She did a fantastic job, but it didn’t feel like our store anymore… a testament to the importance of the owner having their hand in the merchandising.

I snapped a few pictures before we left tonight… it feels so good to cross this project off the list for the summer!!

BIG thanks to Connie… I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you, love you,t

MORE after the break >>>>>>>>>

(more…)

Last week I posted pictures of some new barnwood furniture that we recieved here in the Cactus Creek store… the craftsman sent me more photos from his workshop and I just had to share ~ his work is excellent and he does custom orders.  I am so proud to have his merchandise… yippee!!

** Click HERE for more from the Cactus Creek STORE **

** Click HERE for more sources for **
Rustic * Westsern * Vintage FURNITURE

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We’ve been working hard to continue to add stuff to our new Cactus Creek ETSY site… this week we’ve added trophies, maps, souvenirs & more ~ check it out!!

** Click HERE for the Cactus Creek ETSY site!! **

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