I Love Summer House

A Great Idea!

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:12:00 +0000

There is something you can do to support local non profits as well as local businesses. We had a great customer in the other day who purchased a really nice item expressly to donate it to a local non profit benefit auction. This action helped our store and the non profit, as well as giving the buyer a tax write off. Win win win.....! Dollars spent in local independent businesses are turned over many times in the community. Taxes paid by local businesses also benefit everyone in the community. Local business also contributes to the many nonprofits in the form of direct donations to various groups. Supporting local business with your dollars supports the whole community.

If you are "Old at Heart"....

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:54:00 +0000

If you are "old at heart" our shop is probably not for you!

Altiplano Fair Trade Bags, yum!

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:12:00 +0000

We just got some wonderful bags from Altiplano. Altiplano is a company committed to Fair Trade. They work with some wonderful artisans in central America. The bags are scrumptious. I hope they sell well so I can reorder!

Shad, Shid,Shod,Shud, no....Shed! Yes!

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:59:00 +0000

SHD, Summer House Design, leads one to want to insert a vowel between the H and D. SHAD, no, too much like a fish. SHID, no, to close to a word meaning "crap". SHOD, no, we aren't a shoe store. SHUD, no, we want no obligations....so SHED, yes! SUMMER HOUSE ECLECTIC DESIGN!! And such a great Port Townsend reference! What do you think?

"Out of the Flame" an opening for Glenn Lyons, Glass Artist

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:29:00 +0000

On Saturday December 3rd from 5pm
until 8pm Summer House Design will have an opening to showcase Glenn Lyons' flame worked glass. We have had Glenn's work for years since he is one of the store's owners, but now we will be showing more of his work on a permanent basis. We are very excited about this!

Store of Wonderment!

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 06:36:00 +0000

A couple came in the shop yesterday and told Lesley that they always visit our shop when in Port Townsend. They told her they call our shop "The store of Wonderment"! Yeah! Shall we visit the store of wonderment? Yes yes of course!

Elements of Expression from Nunn Design

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:36:00 +0000

Come in and see what local designer Becky Nunn of Nunn Design has been coming up with! Elements of Expression is her new line of customizable jewelry that responds to your individuality. From a fun array of interchangeable pieces springs an infinite number of possibilities. You can mix and match these parts to create really interesting and unique to you jewelry, all in about 10 minutes! They are priced very reasonably, come and have a look!

Long time no see.... us on this blog!

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:42:00 +0000

Here are the December, November and October windows. Our windows are always so much fun!

Visual Blog

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:38:00 +0000

Sometimes it's nice to just post some eye candy!

Ways to do business, and not

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:36:00 +0000

There are good vendors and bad vendors. Vendors are the companies a retail store purchases product from. We have been lucky to buy from some really good people, and occasionally great people. We buy from small companies just starting out, and companies that have been around a long time. Just recently we had an unpleasant experience with a vendor we've been buying from for the past 3 years. They gave us an ultimatum, buy in much greater volume, use our displays (very large) or we will by pass you by and sell to other stores in your town. Since it just didn't make sense to use their displays, or to purchase in greater volume we were basically forced to stop carrying their line (Look for a sale in September!). In the past we carried another great line of vegan handbags. After selling their product very well for several years we found out they were now only going to sell at high-end boutiques and department stores. It was somewhat humorous because their whole schtick was socially conscious vegan bags, but what they actually did was to become more money driven.

So thanks to Cecillia at ESPE, and Gladys at Sarut, the wonderful folks at Fred and Friends, and Gama Go. You make it nice to do business!

What They Say About Summer House Design

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:50:00 +0000

We've had the good fortune to get frequent compliments on our store and the experience customers have there. I thought I'd share a few of their thoughts from the last couple of years:
"You have a great store! It's our favorite so far, and we've been to all of them now."

"Your store is my favorite store in Port Townsend. Right now I'm perfectly happy!"

"If I had a store it would be like this store."

"Can I live here?"

"This is my favorite recess."

"[This is] the oddest, awesomest store ever!"

These comments came from people ranging from about 12 years old to near 80 years old. All we can say is:

"THANKS!"

Summer House Design...Best kept secret! Tell Everyone!

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 16:38:00 +0000

Every so often somebody comes into the store and sidles up to one of us and whispers, “This is my favorite store!” We’re completely flattered. But we don’t really want to become the store that is a lot of people’s best kept secret. We would love to be the store everyone knows and loves. If you will please tell all your favorite people about your favorite shop, Summer House Design in Port Townsend, we promise not to change or become too “high falutin”!

Gorgeous Pigeon Forge Pottery-Yet Another Vintage Find

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 20:12:00 +0000

We recently came across this choice Lemonade set from Pigeon Forge Pottery in Tennessee. This set with pitcher and eight matching tumblers has a beautiful blue glaze inside the pieces and a textured unglazed surface outside. Pigeon Forge Pottery was founded in 1946 by Douglas and Ruth Ferguson in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and operated until Mr. Ferguson's death in 2000. This set is probably from the 1960's or 70's. The photo is from our July window.

DUNNY'S BACK!!

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:44:00 +0000

New delights in store for Dunny fans! Summer House Design just received a new shipment of Dunny 2011 from Kidrobot, with all new designs. Shown above is the first one we opened, Laika--yes, she has on a space suit and helmet. Space history buffs and those born before the 1960's may remember that Laika was the dog the Russians sent into orbit around the earth in an early space vehicle in 1957. Alas, poor doggie died in orbit, but not before proving that a mammal could survive a launch into space. This is just one of what may prove to be the BEST DUNNYS EVER!

AKA (Also Known As)

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:52:00 +0000

You should be sure to look at our Etsy site, Vintage SHD, where we list some of our interesting Vintage finds. Some of these items have been in the store, while others have not. We often find unusual pieces that we have a hard time placing in the store context, but we feel are compelling anyway. Check out this early 20th century plover decoy, made from painted tin and hinged for easy storage. This one even has a dent where a shot pellet hit it in the head!

Free Shipping until the end of July

noreply@blogger.com (ilovesummerhouse) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:58:00 +0000

Now at ILoveSummerHouse.com FREE SHIPPING on one order of any amount through July 31st! Use coupon code: FREESHIPJULY

Have you checked out ILoveSummerHouse.com lately? We’ve added new products and categories. We now have a category dedicated to products made right here in Port Townsend; check out Glenn Lyons’ Four Spot Tumblers. We also have some of our beautiful vintage finds on the site. There are so many unique, fun and happy-making products on our website. Give yourself a little break and browse ILoveSummerHouse.com, it will make your day!

From now through July 31st you can get free shipping on one order of any amount from ILoveSummerHouse.com. Just use this coupon code, FREESHIPJULY when you pay and shipping will be free. This offer is for our loyal followers, but you can share it with your friends too-- just tell them what the coupon code is and be sure to tell them to use it by the end of July!

This offer is valid on orders shipped within the United States only. Each individual customer may use the coupon code once. Offer ends July 31, 2011.

Objects of Curiosity

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:56:00 +0000

I was looking at a shelf in my home one day, and (light bulb moment) thought it would make a great basis for a jewelry display. The display is loosely based on the idea of a "Cabinet of Curiosities". I love the way it turned out.

Summer House Design....Not Typical, Somewhat Topical.

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Mon, 30 May 2011 16:16:00 +0000

Here is what a typical shelf *in Summer House Design can look like. From left to right; alabaster lamp, Blenko decanter, french ceramic Virgin Mary, german porcelain vase, porcelain angel, guatemalan wooden horse, french glasses, mid century glass container, Dansk decanter, Curious Lists, and a wonderful "Heywood Wakefield" looking lamp! All in front of a really nice oil of a mediterranean scene. We put the capital "E" in Eclectic!
photo by Alex D'Angelo

*more examples

Road Trip to eastern Washington leads to Great Finds!

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:37:00 +0000

We would love to be "liked" on Facebook by you, at Summer House Design! Check out our page and see some of the great finds from our short roadtrip to eastern Washington. We always love a trip to the drier side of the state, especially since we both grew up over there!

Great Finds!

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Sun, 22 May 2011 21:58:00 +0000

The top pitcher is Blenko, the bottom pitcher we aren't sure of. Both are probably circa 1960's. Nice!!

Tokyomilk, yippee!

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Fri, 20 May 2011 23:57:00 +0000

We just received another big shipment from Tokyomilk, the perfume company out of Colorado. These are wonderful scents, really fresh and new. The packaging is inspired, and our prices are great! Come smell "Dead Sexy", or "Kabuki", or "Let Them Eat Cake"!

Exclusive Design just for Summer House Design!

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:03:00 +0000

Darby and Phoebe Huffman having been collaborating ceramicists for many years. Darby throws, and Phoebe sculpts and their work in no glaze red clay is exceptional. Recently we came to an agreement with the Huffman's to have some of their wonderful work in Summer House Design. Darby designed a wonderful "summer house" which is incised in the clay before firing. The red clay they use fires to a beautiful finish with no glazing, is dishwasher and microwave safe, and really enhances the flavor of anything you drink from it. Along with drinking vessels we have a coffee filter holder, and carafe. These go so well with "Sunrise Coffee", another local product by Sue Ohlson. Sue's coffee is so good and each package has an different original image by local artist Max Grover. It is so exciting to work with great local artists! Thank-you all!

Store Owners and Art

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Wed, 11 May 2011 16:42:00 +0000

The way Summer House Design appears is a direct result of our involvement in the visual arts. Glenn is a glass artist, and I (Cris) am a painter. We look at the store as a "work of art", with our choice of product as well as how we merchandise what we find. This year we were both fortunate enough to be asked to put work in the Museum of Northwest Art's auction this June. Yesterday we delivered our pieces to the museum in La Conner. Glenn's entry is a "bottle tree", based on a southern tradition. Mine is a painting inspired by a hike near Lake Crescent. The auction takes place on Saturday, June 18, 2011.
photo credits "Bottle Tree" - Alex D'Angelo, "Alder Hug" - Myron Gauger

Summer House Design Could have been named "Alice & Bee's"

noreply@blogger.com (cbl) — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:24:00 +0000

We seriously thought about naming our store after our mothers, Alice Lyons and Bernice (Bee) Busch. They were such talented and creative women, and they would have appreciated what we created. For practical reasons we kept the name "Summer House"; we liked the name and people already knew the store by that moniker. Around 2005 a large store in Bellevue decided they liked the name "Summer House" too, and Rattan Furniture became "Summer House". At that point we decided to make our name "Summer House Design". Over the years the store has become less about furnishing a summer cottage, and more about enjoying good humor and design. We think the name still works because when you come into Summer House Design you feel the warmth and your spirits are lifted, and that's what summer can do!

LAUNCH PARTY!!

noreply@blogger.com (ilovesummerhouse) — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:19:00 +0000

Join Summer House Design for the official ILoveSummerHouse.com launch party (there will be mini cupcakes!)

The launch party will take place at Summer House Design on Saturday, May 7th during Port Townsend’s Gallery Walk. Festivities will begin at 5pm. The address is 930 Water Street in lovely downtown Port Townsend. At the party a drawing will be held every hour to give away some fabulous door prizes, so come on down! If you make a purchase in the shop during the launch party you will receive a discount coupon code you can use on ILoveSummerHouse.com.

Now you can shop our store online and find all kinds of great gifts for friends, family or yourself. Find products you won’t find anywhere else with handmade products, vintage items, and goods from Port Townsend. The site also features a great selection of the kinds of playful items that make life more interesting and humorous; from windup toys to balloon animal kits; from a Buddha butter dish to a toucan-shaped butter knife. Find what you really want, but didn’t know you were looking for at ILoveSummerHouse.com.