Without an Outlet?

Whether gardening or cooking, having creative outlets is so important for our health & well-being - especially 4 our seniors now that it's colder & darker out. Tomorrow, Earth Alley is raising funds for a local senior craft program. Come have wine, snacks & shop for a local cause. I wonder who'd I be without my hobbies? How 'bout you?

Go Ravens - Go Away That is!

I love the Ravens, don't get me wrong. Noting like seeing big men get together & take out there aggression with each other in a positive way - oh yes I meant on the field too...but...when there is a home game, this place has the tendency to become a "ghost town". Such a perfect day to be outside or at a game, I do admit.

Blood, Anyone?

Got this great idea to celebrate Day of the Dead for next 1st Fri. with a Blood Orange Happy Hour. Can't wait. Maybe the spice of the drink I am thinking of will warm the fall weather sure to come!

Smells So Good On

Brought back from Ecuador these fun & elegant pieces of nature. And they do smell good!

Summer Heat Burning Me Up

What beautiful weather! If this isn't an Indian Summer, I don't know what is?

Traditions in Turkey

Traditions in Turkey
a Trunk Show
a 1st Fri. event

Come explore crafts where Europe meets Asia!
Can't wait to see if others like what we brought back!

Toliet Bowls Anyone?

Last Sat. was Hampdenfest. Great! Lots of people, lots of interest and toleit bowl races - what a way to unite the community & get people out!

The Best Part of Owning Your Own Store

Besides the ability to follow your own creativity where ever it leads is to shop in cool places like northern Ecuador known for its handicrafts. This is one of the places that handicraft nuts like us go it'll be a long, hard weekend but soooo worth it.

So Baltimore It Hurts

Note to Retail Owners in need of quick cash or a boost in morale (provided you have the energy & a little audacity), street fairs are the way to go.
Risks: it's like cold calling - ouch!, people are hot and bothered just like you, heat, exhaustion & incredibly long hours! Did I mention the heat!
Pros: meet new people, get inspired by what crafters are doing, get reminded why you love your products.

Touchy Feely

Another observance: young adult girls see with their hand. Unnerving at times like yesterday when 6 young cute things proceeded to go in all different directions picking up everything possible in the store. Can we say "stop pawing and pay"? I guess that'll be a NO!

Can You Have a Hecker in Store?

What does one do when a heckler comes in with his wife, puts back what she picks out? Tells her she doesn't need another purse, asks a dozen questions, tells you jokes & insists that he's just bustin' your chops? Talk back? No, have a quicky, informative response, No, Suck-up? No Grin & bear it? Yes!!

Blissed Out

Three Days away from this place & I feel like a new person person. Gained perspective, gained some loving kindness (went to Kripalu in the Berkshires) but most important gained some breathing space to renew my love for eco & fair-trade.

I love, I love, I love, I love, I love, I love,

Note to Future Store owners: if a person repeats in the course of, oh say, a minute 20 times how much they love your store, chances are what they are really saying is...I'm not buying anything so if I praise the store until I need to take a breath it'll make me feel better. I think? I still not sure about this one...

Connections Connect My Heart - Finally

met an inspiring person today in Earth Alley. they're visiting her son's host family in Japan & wanted hand selected gifts. Not only did it bring back memories of my exchange experience in Denmark but we had a great conversation about her ideas of trying a new career, really about forging a new path in stimulating brain activity. I LOVE meeting women who dare. It seems that the most devastating outcome of this economy has brought fear to us about pursuing our dreams.

Can you Call a Person a Customer?

He is an amalgam of so many. He talked to us for an hour at an event we had a promotional table, mostly about his daughter who'd love to work at Earth Alley. She's green, really green. Two months passed, he came in recenltly, I'm not sure why. spend a long time telling me that he doesn't shop. but said I was a good salesperson, then left with no objects. I guess I am not as good a salesperson as he is a chatter. Reminds me of the guy last time who came in to chat while his wife went to church for over an hour.

Wilting Weather, Our Eye Balls are Dry

So here is the small shop owners dilemma: to close or not to close? One asks, "is there is hot chance in hell people will shop today?" Buttttttt...there is a chance! At 105 degrees, 1 sale at 12 noon, dizzy from the heat, I gave up. Hampden looked deserted as if everyone boycotted walking. I know I did. And, it is on these days that I wish I were working for someone, anyone else who will pay the ac, the electric bills and the upteen bills that keep this place going.

Re-Energize This Blog NOW

How am I sitting here again sitting contemplating closing the shop? Is there collective button pushed -NO MORE SHOPPING? I distinctly remember last year there were specific days, weeks yeah even months where the memo read cease & desist all spending immediately but go shopping anyways, torture small shops with as many question as humanly possible. Here we are again with no real warning. Can it be an additional spike in the sucky economy? Two weeks ago people loved Earth Alley & the next day, nope, no can do, nada! My spirits like the local flora in this brutal heat wave seems to be withering.

May is Outside Festival Month

Yesterday we had a display table at the farmers market, Tues. a professional networking with a display table, Wed. a charitable gig & Thurs. another display table at NIH then Fri. evening Mama's Mexican Mojito Happy Hour here followed by Sat.'s table at Cylburn Arboretum and Sun. at Annapolis' new green festival. What the $%&^&*( was I thinking. We eco retailers got to get the word out. I do love going to these event because for the most part, people are friendly and appreciative.

4,800 Bags Saved

Since opening on 9/1/07
Earth Alley saved almost 4,800
plastic bags!



(about 80% of customers - any arm twisting, nah?)
by asking customers to take a reused bag, or no bag at all!
Not bad for a little store!

New Tree free greetings came in

So exciting, just in time for eco month and earthday.

The Kindness of a Stranger

After hearing that I was going on a retreat alone by the beach, a wonderful customer, Renee, came back a few days later to give me a book to take with me. It really enhanced my trip to the Yucatan. Thank you Renee! And if you are looking for an inspiring, timeless, this is a great find.

From our Chilean Artisans

One of Earth Alley's unique fused glass artisan who lives in Chili's capital, Santiago,500 km far away from the epicentre 8.8 Richter scale, At her studio it reached 7.9, still pretty bad. Marcela says she is lucky because no one was injured only merchandise.

Cool New Jewelry Designer to Earth Alley

She is fun, creative and nice. Wow! And we are always suckers for unique animal images.

Still Shoveling Out

What is majestic & beautiful & a retailer's nightmare? 48" of snow in a week! Pleasant memories of New England & being snowed in for 4 years as an undergrad in VT... Thanks little poozer Theo for braving the stairs!