mabel annie's

  running across these old photos sends me traveling down memory lane tonight. i had the cutest little shop a few years ago. it was called mabel annie's...it started out in a small little space in the old hotel here in our little town. then this cool old building (the original opera hall 1861!) came up for sale. long story short...we purchased it. i had antiques...a quaint little eatery...gourmet foods...& fresh flowers...i offered interior design services...and did wedding flowers. i miss the shop in so many ways...it was such a gathering place...a place where i could express myself. it was wonderful...it did have it's drawbacks though...as time went on...it got harder and harder to wear all the hats that were required. . dan would ask me..."so how did you do today?" meaning $$$$...i'd say "i don't know, but i met the neatest ladies from topeka!" that should've been the first red flag. i finally sold the building, and then missed it like crazy! one of the things that was difficult in running a business was the amount of time it took after closing hours. there was less and less time to go junking...decorating...creating artwork. now as i look back...it was my canvas. these photos were from an article that was featured in romantic homes magazine...it was also in another magazine...country almanac...both were so much fun to have done. i still run into people that i met through the shop. reality was that it was tough to stay ahead of the retail game. dan worked non-stop on the old building...saving us tons of money...and luckily we were able to keep it going for 5 years. i do have withdrawal symptoms occasionally...i catch myself thinking of opening a new shop...but i have to remind myself of the time involved. i think, no...i know i have been searching for something to sink my teeth into that i can call my own...express myself through. i am in search of what will fulfill me in this time of my life. i desperately want to make a difference in whatever i do...i don't want to wake up one day and say "why didn't i do this or that?"...life is so short...really is flying by the older i get...i have been getting a daily dose of "tut". it's a great motivator, assuring me that "it" is mine for the taking. keeping my eyes and heart on the lookout for the next road to take...i am beyond ready for the next adventure.

Comments

[catherine]

what a beautiful Shop you had! I feel like you are talking about My life right now!
I am sure whatever adventure you take you will do an amazing job at it, your pictures are lovely!

[Kathleen]

What a magical space and amazing experience. Your building had a wonderful sense of theatrics about it. I love all of the salvaged materials... swooning here!

[Tracie Lyn Huskamp]

ANNIE... OH MY... HOW WONDERFUL.. your Beautiful Shop.. I See SO MUCH of you in all those pictures.

FUNNY... everything you talk about I hear almost the same words from my brother-in-law ( the store owner of Willowbrook in Atchison on 8th street)

It is HARD very VERY HARD to wear all those hats......

You know... although it was difficult to give up the business.. and you worry that you want your life to have an impact... BUT YOU don't even realized that your life ALREADY HAS had a GREAT impact on so many.

I consider myself LUCKY to call you Friend!!!! and am better for having you as part of my life!

XO

[tongue in cheek]

Wow, what an amazing shop! An d incredible hat collector you are! How did you manage it all! I understand the desire to be creative and giving, maybe you could do your shop but smaller scale and with only one or two hats?

[nina]

lord, annie, i didn't know this part of you!!! how wonderful! sigh. and how taxing (in the wearing out sense, AND the money sense). you know, funny thing - in a lot of my artwork, i have used the name mabel - now we have that in common as well. it is such a wonderfully old fashioned name.
sending love to you on this cold sunday morning - xoxo