Spring Transformation

In preparation for spring, the Christmas Attic team has worked hard to give the shop a bright transformation. I went to the shop this weekend to see all the new product lines for the spring. The ladies went to the Atlanta market two weeks ago to pick out new fun products for every day as well as Christmas. They came back with many great ideas.

The biggest change is the placement of the counter on the first floor, which has been moved to the middle of the room. As a result, the first floor looks larger and has more room to walk around -- which is great now but will be especially helpful when the shop is full during Christmas season.

Cheri the decorator extraordinaire has set up little boutique vignettes around the store. She has incorporated some fun new product. Against the back wall you'll find a spa section that includes Camille Beckman creams and lotions. We also have soft pajamas in this section, as well as one of Fay's favorites from March: the happiness message boards. All of these items will help you treat yourself to a little luxury.

One of my favorite trends that started last year and is carrying over into this year is mushrooms. They can be found in books, ornaments, and home decor items. We've set up the new mushroom display on an old tree-stump.

Along with the mushrooms, woodland gnomes are popular this year. The two were displayed together in many showrooms at the market in Atlanta. Brightly colored gnome candles are a fun way to keep up with the gnome trend this spring. The spring colors make them whimsical, festive, and just too cute. You can find these guys in the candle section on the first floor. They would be fun to decorate the center of an Easter table or an outdoor table for the warm weather get-togethers you will be having soon.

With Easter Sunday just a few weeks away, the display of Easter decor is now out. On the first floor counter we've put a large basket with bunnies, eggs, and lambs made out of textured tissue paper. It is hard to resist feeling the textured surface of the bunnies.

You'll find some changes on the second floor as well. The case behind the counter is now home to the Department 56 houses and accessories. The Wendt and Kuhn German figurines have been moved to a red display case in the front of the counter.

Come visit the shop and take a look around. We think you'll enjoy all the changes we've made. I was stunned to see the new counter. I just stood there and stared for a few minutes -- and wondered why we hadn't done it long ago; it looks so much better and make so much more sense now. I think you will have the same reaction when you see it!

Fay's Favorite Things for March

As spring is officially here the wait is over for warm weather and bright colors. Fay's favorites this month are worth the wait. Decorate your home, office, of desk to help keep you in a sunny mood. Here are some great items for spring:

1. Magnet Boards- These metal magnetic boards with floral motifs are great for your desk at home or at work. They are a great way to organize your lists, and important papers. You can personalize them w

ith fun magnets.

2. Spring Wreaths- I have mentioned the power of wreaths before but I am going to say it again. They are a GREAT way to go from one season to another without a lot of fuss. There are Easter themed wreaths with eggs on them, floral wreaths, and even one with colorful butterflies.

3. Frogs- As we prepare for April Showers the wet weather will bring out our hopping green friends. To welcome them this spring they are all over our home decor. Mugs with painted green frogs are great for a rainy day tea party. The sitting frogs are a fun way to decorate for spring.

4. Happiness - We all live busy sometimes stressful lives, a reminder of a positive outlook is always a great thing. Sometimes we need a little pep talk to get us through the day. This Happiness sign board is a great way to do that, hang it in your office, bedroom, or even your kitchen to brighten your day and remind you to smile!

5. Flower Girls - The parade of spring has begun, these handmade german flower girls are adorable. They are a festive way to decorate a table for a spring sunday brunch. Collect a few of them and make your own spring parade.

As we finally come out of the doldrums of February and into spring the best way to enjoy the season is to embrace the colors and flowers.

Valentine's Day Gift Giving Guide

Valentine's Day is not a time that we traditionally think of gifts. Chocolate and roses are the basics, but Valentine's Day gifts can still be fun. With Valentine's Day quickly approaching here are a few gift ideas for all the Valentines in your life:

For the lovable friend in your life: A card with a personal message is always a great gift. Greeting Cards are a nice way to let the special people in your life know how much you care, and are the perfect gift for friends who live in other cities.

For the sweet tooth in your life: Cupcake Recipe Card Box. This collection of sweet treat recipes will satisfy the sweetest of teeth. These recipes are fun to try for special occasions. There are even cupcakes dipped in chocolate. To complete the gift, you can bake together.

For the romantic in your life: Mars and Venus may be very different, but they come together in this fun wine. Romance can now be found in a bottle. These fun Valentine's Day-themed wines are great for the wine-lover in your life.

Valentine's Day doesn't just have to be the traditional red roses and chocolates. Make it fun and whimsical with these inspired gifts for all the Valentines in your life.

Fay's Favorite Things for February

1. Maruca bags

These fabric bags with an across-the-body strap are great for travel . They have inside and outside pockets to hold all your essentials, and come in fun spring colors and patterns. They will be a must have for the spring season.

2. French Mugs

These antique looking mugs are great for a cup of coffee in the morning or tea in the afternoon. They'll warm you up and make you think of France -- which is always a good thing!

3. Root Candles

Soy candles that burn cleanly are the best candles for your home. Root candles come in small tins, pillars, and tapers. They are available in a variety of colors, so you can use them to decorate in every season. Place the taper candles in your favorite candleholders and change the color along with the seasons . . . or your mood!

4. Camille Beckman

French Vanilla hand cream

With a subtle scent and creamy texture this hand cream is just the thing to fight the winter dryness. It comes in a large tub, which is great because you will want to use it all the time.

5. Soulmate Socks

These fun, mismatched socks are cozy and warm -- perfect for a cold winter weekend. You don't have to worry about matching your socks in the morning. These will quickly become a favorite, so you might want to pick up a back-up pair.

Fay's Favorite Things for January

The Christmas Attic's owner Fay Carter has a list of favorites items to get your new year started.

1. Super Tuscan Wine

A fabulous bottle of wine -- Italian Super Tuscon Caparazo Rosso Toscana rich red wine. This is an affordable bottle $19.95, and is perfect for any occassion.

Fay always has a few bottles on hand for when company comes. For all the entertaining you will do in the new year.

2. Moonlight Cocktail

This CD will quickly become a family favorite. 1940's classic Moonlight Cocktail includes favorites like Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller, and Jimmy Dorsey. With a fun metal tin case this also makes a great gift. Relax and enjoy the music!

3. Clarinet Ornament

Music two ways -- Moonlight Cocktail and this clarinet ornament will make a great gift for the jazz lover in your life. There are other instruments available that include: a guitar, drums, and saxophone. What better way to begin the new year than with music.

4. Dog Note-cards

Dog note-cards by local artist Bill Harrah. These black and white scetches of real dogs. They are available in a variety of breeds. These are sketches or real dogs. Perfect to send "thinking of you" notes to all the speical people in your life. These come in a pack with white envelopes.

5. Leather Journal

The best way to start the new year is to keep track of the goals, aspirations, and plan for the upcoming year. This beautiful leather journal can be the place that you write down all the things you hope to do in the upcoming year. A place for all your thoughts.

These items will help you start the year in style.

The 40th Anniversary of the Christmas Attic

This year The Christmas Attic is celebrating our 40th Anniversary. We always have customers and historians come into the shop and ask us about the build and the history be

hind the attic. We have decided to retrace the steps of the shop and the people who have made us great. Enjoy the first installment,

and check back as we will continue it throughout the

year...

As the calendar year turns over, we are beginning to think about the 40th anniversary of The Christmas Attic and all the people who helped to make it what it is today. The story of the Attic begins with Henry Hobbs, the perpetual entrepreneur. In 1971, Henry and his partner Ken Schuppin found an empty tobacco warehouse building at 125 South Union Street leasing for $200 a month for a year, then going up $200 every year until it reached $1,000. "We were crazy enough to take it,"Henry says.

When Henry and Ken found the building, it was in less-than-pristine condition. More accurately, it was close to being a ruin. The building had no water, no heating or air conditioning, a hand-operated elevator, dirt floors, boards over the windows, and one light-bulb on each level. The men did most of the renovations themselves. The brick was all original salmon brick, known to be very crumbly. Henry remembers he would walk into the store to start the day’s work and find a large section of the brick wall had collapsed into a heap of rubble in the middle of the floor. They had to point-up the wall, which means putting concrete in between the bricks to make it more stable.They also poured and leveled a concrete floor on the first level, put plywood down on the second level, built the back staircase, ran pipes from outside into the building for water, and replaced all the missing glass in the first-floor windows. Henry refers to Ken as “the handy man” and himself as “the grunt labor,” but in hindsight neither one would have been considered as a host of This Old House. Still, they made up for a lack of technical skill with hard work, and they did hire an electrician and a heating and air conditioning specialist when needed.

One of the last things they did was call a locksmith to open a large 4 foot wide by 4 foot tall metal safe that was near the entrance.

They had all speculated about what might or might not have been in it. When they got the safe open, they found their prize: a 1940 nickel. That’s what Henry calls “putting your money away.”

When the shop opened, the sign read “The Picture Place.” It was a gallery and custom framing shop. The first floor was the gallery with fine art prints, the second a workshop.

Old Town at the time was nothing like what we see today, now that it has become a historic neighborhood and tourist destination with scores of shops and restaurants. The Old Town Boutique District was not even a glimmer in anyone’s eye. In fact, when The Christmas Attic opened, hardly any retailers or restaurants were anywhere nearby. Across the street was Dockside, a direct importer, and next door was a restaurant called Kings Landing where, rumor has it, Frank Sinatra once grabbed lunch. A few of Old Town’s favorite restaurants like The Fish Market and Landini Brothers moved in shortly after The Picture Place opened, but Alexandria was still a pretty sleepy place.

Around Town -- things to do as you finish your last minute shopping

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go," as one of my favorite Christmas songs says. It's true. Wherever you look, you can find signs of -- and reasons for -- holiday cheer. Here are some fun things to do around town to help you feel festive.

The National Christmas Tree is a must for any Washingtonian, or out-of-town visitor for that matter. With the weather as cold as it is, bundling up is essential. The tree is displayed with a large train track around the bottom. Christmas music plays, the holiday yule log glows, and the air is cold and crisp.

Go to the Warner Theatre now through December 26th to The Nutcracker, a great way to celebrate the season. I remember going to see it as a child with my grandmother year after year. When my husband surprised me with tickets last year, all the warm holiday memories and feelings came rushing back. This is something I mentioned a few blogs ago, but it is such a holiday classic it is hard to pass up.

Stay in and celebrate with friends. An impromptu dinner party, cocktail hour, or dessert get together is a wonderful way to enjoy the spirit of the season. Casual entertaining makes having guests over fun without all the hassle. Get a great bottle of wine, pull out the games, and enjoy the company.

If you feel like you don't have enough time to do everything on your list of holiday preparations, invite friends over for a tree-trimming party. Decorating the tree makes for a memorable and festive evening, and turns preparation into celebration. One nice touch is to choose ornaments for your guests that you think reflect them in some way, and then invite them to hang the ornaments on your tree. That way they become an ongoing part of your Christmas decor.

Of course, whether you invite your friends to join in or keep it a family tradition, decorating the christmas tree is a highlight of any Christmas season. Our advice is to think of it as an occasion in itself. Mull some cider for the kids and wine for the adults, play a mix of Christmas music old and new, and enjoy being together.

For tips on decorating your house for the holidays watch Christmas Attic owner Fay Carter on Let's Talk Live December 14th.

To finish your holiday shopping, come to Old Town Alexandria. You can find something for everyone on your list in the shops in Old Town. The Boutique District has clothing, shoes, and gifts for any special someone on your list. The new Spice and Tea Exchange on King Street is a great place to shop for the foodie in your life. Strolling around Old Town with a warm drink and a loved one is another great way to spend a holiday evening.

And finally, while you are having fun around town, remember to stop by the shop for a great selection of last minute gifts, wine for your dinner party, and collectible items to add to your collection. And if you happen to have discovered among your Christmas, decorations a pesky set of lights that just won't cooperate, don't worry -- we've got you covered there, too.