Style, Baltimore Mag and Urbanite

We are so excited! All 3 magazines are featuring Earth Alley in their fall issues. In October, Baltimore Magazine took a great photo, and in November Style, which already hit newsstands, gave us a great little write-up. Urbanite's November issue will also say something about us. A big KUDOS goes to our local press.

This is great news for us on the heals of over-committing our advertising budget. What will work out? Time will tell as we reach our 8 week mark. I loved the Women's Film festival or their courage and dedication to women's health;...and I would have liked to seen one of its patrons visit Earth Alley. I lied, one came in to say Hi. Ugg...I even donated a bracelet to the cause.

Farewell to an old friend

This picture was taken last September in Discovery Park in Seattle, one of our favorite places. Our beloved dog and old friend, Damascus, passed away on Sunday. Damascus lived a long and happy life; he loved to run, fetch and especially eat! He brought us a lot of joy and love. We are spending time with his buddy, our other dog Theo. Since moving from Seattle six months ago, we have held down two jobs and got Earth Alley going. It has taken countless hours and energy. Now that we are up and running this is a very sad reminder not to work too hard and spend time with those you love. We'd give anything to have Damascus back. If we don't have smiles on our faces like usual, you know why.

We made it!

Earth Alley successfully opened and we celebrated with many friends. Here is a photo to show we were still standing by day's end.

Insight from Big Sur

One week before opening, I went on a much needed vacation to sunny, coastal California and had a most amazing experience, most memorably in a hot tub overlooking the beautiful cliffs of Big Sur. With a few new friends, we encouraged Cloris Leachman to join us. She listened to my hopes and my doubts about Earth Alley. Before she kissed me on the cheek she slapped me on the face, I think to knock some sense into me. She said, so you remember what I am about to say, “it is a good idea and you must go for it.” Also, she said to have a water feature and serve wine at your opening with a happy smile. And so I have gone for it – since arriving back last Wed. at 12:30 a.m. I have worked like I have not before. The last 2 days have been a whirl wind.

Verizon is saying that I have to fix the line that they never put in, the alarm guy is saying he can’t finish until Verizon puts in the line. Orders are misplaced or missing. Nonetheless, we are opening on Saturday.

Luckily 2 new creative friends, Allison and Amy, came to help me make sense of the last of the displays. I think they are creative geniuses. I must say, it looks good, like a real store. And just in time for Baltimore Magazine to take some photos tomorrow.



Please come and join us on Saturday, September 1st, 5 – 7 p.m.





Eva Khoury

Last Shopping Spree Before Opening Party

Just back from New York at the last trade show before opening. Overspent. Can I come up with a lame excuse to justify it...Yes, of course. There is something about New York; the creativity and thoughtful ideas were amazing: key chains made from bike chains, candles inside Brazilian nuts, purses made from records and stuffed animals that help save the South American rain forest as well as interesting jewelry from Brazil, South Africa and Florida.

In order to celebrate, we are having a party - Sept. 1st, 5 - 7 p.m. Please invite any friends who may be interested in meeting us and previewing items. It is always great to see familiar faces!

New stuff coming in & new challenges everyday

Wow, this is one crazy ride opening a store. Lots of great items are trickling in every week. Let me go on a tangent though - only for a minute. Has anyone worked with local artists? The creativity cannot be matched and the insight - as always I am blown away! BUT I am trying to keep everything "on track" and keep an effecient schedule because it is the only way I will get the store open in time. It is very much the antithesis of the "artistic" temperment. I think 10 emails trying to schedule a meeting is about average. It is almost like living in Seattle again where making a coffee date is like asking for a 50 year committment. I have had conversations at craft markets, flea markets, online and it is hard to get a firm commitment.

So, I am falling short of one of my first goals - to get as many local artists as possible. If any one has insight on how best to work with local artists let me know!! I will keep trying because the creative energy and beauty is so great to be around.

Alley dogs come to Earth Alley

There are some cats too! One of the orders from the Atlanta show came in already. This guy is just one of several, all having some recycled or refurbished metal components. Now I have to find a dog house in the store to keep them safe.

Coming down from a shopping spree

After the crazy exhileration of the past weekend in Atlanta at Amerimart, I am coming down fast, kinda like after a big shopping spree - oh yeah it was a big shopping spree! Unlike coming home from a great shoe sale, I don't have anything to show for it - except for the credit card bill - at least not for another 2 weeks when some of the orders will come in like the simple but beautiful eco-friendly garden pots made from discarded rice husks. What colors did I order, what size again. I want..I want...

Am I really opening an eco-friendly store shopping in an American mall?

It hit me like a ton of bricks. I am really opening my own store when I catapulted myself to shop ol'American style – the BIG Mall way! Imagine 3 Mall of America super-size-me buildings with 18 floors in each all connected by elaborate passageways and a several football field size open space. There were over 5,000 venders selling everything from Peruvian potato ornaments to Middle Eastern rugs worth more than my recently bought store in Hampden. The collateral damages - my first panic attack.

Up until this point, it was all a romantic dream – owning a store - until I went to the biggest trade show on the east coast this past weekend. My task of culling through the 5,0000 or more mini-shops was to seek out, eco-friendly, fair-trade "original" items for my new store in Baltimore, Earth Alley, kinda like if I were to search through the Mall of America for earth-honored items made from local artists. The exception - shoppers from the entire County in a bargain-basement of the century crashing into each other. My idea of fun…Quickly I found the free beer and started pushing my way as well. Not so friendly, eco- or otherwise of me, I know but I did find some great things.

Selection of hand made pillows and silk scarves from Earth Alley.