We have been so, so excited to unveil the BIG shout-out we got in the Fall 2010 issue of DIY Ideas (run out, run out to your nearest news stand and pick one up!).  Late this Spring, miss ephemera got all dressed up in her very best, smiled her prettiest smile, and primped and posed for her four hour photo shoot.  YES!  A photo shoot!

And not only were the photos so, so incredibly beautiful, but the article, written by ephemera’s good friend Bethany Kohoutek, was just outstandingly written.  We are SO proud that we’ve got this little snapshot as to where we stand now and how far we’ve come over the last three years.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU to the lovely people of DIY who made this happen in such a perfectly perfect way!

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What is it about a canning jar full of fresh cut garden flowers?

Here’s something good to do today…  Find a jar.  Pick some flowers.  Place in front of someone’s front door in a sneaky sort of way.  Easy, easy, easy and absolutely guaranteed to make everyone involved feel really, really good on a Wednesday afternoon…

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You know, the very best thing that can happen in a day is a surprise; don’t you think?  Today, the largest, most beautiful bouquet of Springtime flowers made its way to our counter via an incredibly lovely new patron of ephemera.  Happy day!  Then, this afternoon, Megan from Peace Tree Brewery in Knoxville dropped off two icy cold samples of their newly-bottled brew which, as it turns out, is my very new favorite thing!

The world is good!  We return the favor by handing out more and more Warbling Bird Whistles!  Yes, yes!  As of today, there are a few more people in the world with them in hand –we even got a phone call from Handsome Paulo from down the street demonstrating his newly-acquired Warbling skills!

Please enjoy the rest of yours as much as we have enjoyed ours!

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Is it naive of me to believe that if everyone carried a warbling bird whistle around in their pocket, the world would turn ’round just a little more gracefully?

REMEMBER THESE!  Miss Ephemera practically DEMANDED that we hand these out as party favors at her 2nd Birthday Party so we got a very large, nonsensical bundle of them for the occasion.  We, of course, had a bundle to spare when the big event was over and so our lovely customers were re-introduced to warbling bird whistles (I say RE-introduced as it seems that EVERYONE has a memory of these from their childhood…).  Have you ever handed someone a Just-Because-I-Think-You-Need-One Warbling Bird Whistle?  It is such FUN!  So much fun, in fact, that we quickly ran out!

But today, dear friends, a whole new flock of ‘em have flown back in!  Hooray!  And this time, we’ve got ‘em in ORANGE!!!  Come in!  Trade one of your stories for on of our warbling bird whistles!  Tell us about how, last night, your dog chewed up your favorite shirt or that it is your birthday or that you’re in love or that life is just plain and good or plain and not-so-good.  We’ll make sure that you leave with a new friend to tell it all to.

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When we moved into our new space in November, one of our greatest discoveries was that THE WINDOWS OPEN!!!  We’ve got a grand total of FIVE windows that have been ready and waiting to be thrown open for MONTHS.  And this morning, much to our delight, we knew that the time had come.  Yes, yes, we know…  It’s supposed to snow.  And rain.  And do all of the things that it’s supposed to do in Iowa in March but, for today, the heat has been turned off and we are bathing in sunlight, basking in light, and breathing in some fresh air.  Feels good, doesn’t it.

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Karen and I like to dream big dreams.  One of those dreams is that on some fine March 17th, we’ll actually muster enough courage and fortitude to climb out of our nice warm beds to attend a Kegs and Eggs St. Patrick’s Day celebration.  We think that it would lend itself to molding and shaping us into more well-rounded individuals.  There are, however, problems that surround this endeavor.  Like the fact that I find the idea of green beer revolting.  Like the fact that I have a serious aversion to the idea of drinking before 8:00 AM (I am the only lady who made it through five years of college at the University of Iowa without tailgating).  Like the fact that, if everything went fine and dandy, and we actually DID make it to Kegs and Eggs, through time and history, we have proven again and again that in these types of social situations, we exhibit very little self-control and would probably not be able to swing open the doors of ephemera by 10 AM like the responsible shop girls that we typically are.

So, in the meantime, we dip one little toe in, wiggle it around, and see how it feels.  We do this by eating (and serving) Guinness Stout Cupcakes at 10 AM.  Yes, yes!  It’s happening today!  In honor of all things green and Irish-y, we invite you to stop by and start your St. Patrick’s Day preparations a little early.

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Look what we found blooming on our front counter!  It’s a whole new crop of Springtime lovelies that just popped up this morning!  Freshly picked necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings from local jewelry designer Sunday Greaves!  (P.S. This is a pretty good example of why we love our job.)

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It seems people are a little down due to the lack of sunshine.  We’ll do our best to brighten your day!  If this doesn’t do the trick, then may I suggest eating a giant bowl of ice cream?  It’s been scientifically proven to make you feel better.  I read that somewhere.

You can find the images’ rightful owners here:

1.   sunshine in a cup

2.  breakfast (that’s my kitchen, by the way)

3. boots

4. lemonade

5. cookies

6.  flip flops

7.  eggs

8. colors

9.  phone

10. ducks

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I thought we had a good thing going with cupcake day, but this ice cream sundae buffet is the most amazing thing I have ever seen!

created by Amy Moss

created by Amy Moss

created by Amy Moss

created by Amy Moss

This is my dream!  I’m ready to make this declaration today, friendly blog readers: ephemera WILL have an ice cream sundae buffet.  I don’t know when, but prepare yourself because it will happen, I promise you that.

xoxo,

-karen

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Once upon a time, there was a lovely lady who had dreamt of spending time in a neighborhood where she could deliver little unexpected treats to the shop owners who inhabited it.  Once upon a time, she happened across our little nook and we couldn’t be happier about it.  Today, what should show up but a little yellow bowl with a little chocolate truffle nestled nice and cozy.  For the new year ahead, ephemera sends a simple wish out into the world that everyone should be so lucky…

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