Charla and Lauri Present

Until Next Spring . . .

2011-11-21T09:07:00.011-07:00

Wow! The boutique was so amazingly busy, fun, crazy, etc. Other than some bookkeeping and a few other minor details, we're about done with this show. Our apologies for not posting the winner of the Purs'nal Pal earlier. We did notify Michelle that she won that giveaway and she was ever so excited! Charla and I are slowly getting our homes back in order and our mental faculties and physical well-being are returning. Turns out that too many successive 20-hour days take a toll on just about everything.

We just can't put this show to bed without first thanking so many people who make this event possible:

Our families, who not only put up with absentee wives and mothers (and a lot of convenience food), but cheerfully help out with posting signs, make sure we remember to eat and drink, move lots of heavy items, put up with our grumpiness when things get a little overwhelming, and so many, many other things. Kudos especially to my sweet Dave, who saved the day when the wind decided to wreck havoc with our signs, and for the million other things he does, and to Charla's Ray for getting the Christmas lights up early, catering to our continually changing ideas of where what needs to go to look best, and for the million other things he also does.

Our crafters and vendors, who are not only incredibly talented, but are so wonderful to work with and, so very kind-hearted, helpful and fun. We've rejoiced with them in their happy experiences, and grieved with those who have had heartaches in recent months. Our prayers are with those who are facing difficulties. These outstanding people are the salt of the earth and we are so blessed to count them as friends. A special shout-out to Kevin - who slips in and out quietly - making sure that the atmosphere before you even get to the front door is welcoming and magical.

Our customers/friends - the new ones who have just found us and brought their enthusiasm with them, and the old faithful ones who come year after year. We love getting to know each of you and love getting to catch-up with lovely people who we don't get to see so very often. We have lovely ladies (and a few gents) who come every single day and those that we see less often. We love watching the teens and kids who come and ooh and aah over all the fun stuff. I personally can't believe (and I know Charla would ditto this) how many friends I've made over the years as a direct result of the show.

When things get hard pulling this off, thinking of all of you is what gets us through.

We value your opinions and would appreciate if you'd let us know of any suggestions you might have to help us make the next show even better.

We love you all.

Second Winner and Third Giveaway

2011-11-05T22:20:00.004-06:00

Our winner of the $25 boutique gift certificate is proof that persistence pays off. I think she has entered every single giveaway we've done and finally . . .

SYDNI CLINE wins!!!

We can't wait to see what you decide to get at the boutique. Congratulations!

Our next giveaway is courtesy of the wonderful ladies at Purs'nal Pal. I've written about the dynamic duo, Wendy and Donna, right here and here. They have generously offered one of their mini organizers to the winner of this drawing. It's been three or four years since I got my "Lil Red Riding Hood" Purs'nal Pal. It still gets used every day and still looks (and works) great! Definitely one of the best investments I've ever made. So comment, or post something lovely about the boutique on facebook or your blog and send us the link in a comment, and you will be entered in this drawing.

Charla and I have had such fun seeing everything come through the door as we set up this year's show. You will not be disappointed. Come say hello and enjoy a festive experience!

First Winner and Second Giveaway!

2011-11-03T22:27:00.006-06:00

And the lucky winner of 6 jars of their choice of Tagge's Famous Fruit products is:

Melinda Davis!!!

Congratulations! We'll see you at the show when you come to choose your tasty jams and salsa.

Our second giveaway will be the coveted $25 All Through the House gift certificate to be spent on anything of the winner's choice at the boutique.

To enter, comment on the blog, "like" us on facebook, or, if you invite people to come to the boutique on your blog and send us the link in a comment on our blog or if you share the boutique announcement on facebook, you will get two entries in the drawing. Winner will be announced late Saturday night (if I'm not totally wasted from setting up the show).

As always, winners must come to the show to pick up their prizes, or they will be forfeited.

I can hardly believe that our vendors are bringing their things for us to start setting up tomorrow. It's going to be a great show! We'll see you then.

Tasty Tagge's Products - First Giveaway Fall 2011

2011-10-31T21:07:00.004-06:00

Charla and I look forward to the boutique for many reasons - not the least of which is the opportunity to stock up on our favorite salsas and jams from Tagge's. So, we're happy to announce that the first giveaway this time will be one half-case of your choice of the many wonderful taste sensations that Tagge's Famous Fruit offers. You'll find a tasty recipe using some of their products right here. And below, you can see a view of a small part of their beautiful Utah farm. Thayne and Cari have worked hard to learn the art of farming. The results speak for themselves. The quality just can't be beat. You have two ways to enter our random drawing. You can leave a comment here or you can "like" us on facebook. Either way, one lucky winner will be announced soon. Good luck!

Is It Already That Time Again?

2011-10-18T14:05:00.002-06:00

Oh my, yes here it is all over again! Last week, Charla and I spent a pleasant afternoon (and then some) labeling and stamping our boutique flyers, finalizing our crafter list, noshing on some yummy Cafe Rio (thanks to my sweet daughter Sica for making that possible!) I will post our fall show crafters in the next day or two. Next week I will start our blog giveaways - so check back! We've got some generous vendors who have offered some very nice prizes. We'll look forward to seeing you soon!

Summer Cooking Classes

2011-05-31T12:03:00.012-06:00

I've still got a few openings left. Click on the flyer for a clearer image. Let me know if you're interested - my info is in the flyer. I need to have a final count by the end of the week so that I can order enough aprons, cookbooks, and other fun stuff.

Something Fun!

2011-05-19T06:30:00.003-06:00

One of our wonderful vendors, Brittany Fenton, is opening her own store. We can promise that you will find unique and fabulous things there! The location is 4646 South Highland Drive. It's directly north of that colorful new assisted living place on the west side of the street. Let's all help her get off to a great start!

GRAND OPENING!

Friday, May 20
10:00-6:00
Saturday. May 21
11:00-4:00

Gift with purchase, discounts, prizes & food!
Please join us for this event!

ALSO...
Enter to win one of 4 giveaways! $50 clothing gift certificate, Beautiful gift crate, tapestry painting & gorgeous cake stand!
To enter: email brittany@bluebirdstyle.com
Include name, number and email
Must be present to win Saturday @ noon!
www.bluebirdstyle.com

Two Quick Highlights

2011-04-15T06:43:00.004-06:00

So, at our November boutique "All Through the House" in 2010, we decided to do daily prize drawings at the show as part of our 30 years of doing this celebration. It was so much fun that we decided we wanted to keep doing it. Usually the prizes are just something small that tickled our fancy when we were shopping at fun local shops, but occasionally, one of vendors will donate a larger really, really nice item for us to give away. On Monday, amongst all our little prizes, there was a Purs'nal Pal purse organizer (click here) that one of our favorite customers and friend Chris Kelleher won. So mega thanks to Wendy and Donna of Purs'nal Pal for providing that. I'm still using and loving my own Purs'nal Pal - you can come on over to the show today and tomorrow and get yourself one of these awesome treasures.

Today we are doing another prize drawing and amongst all the little fun things - there is a bigger prize that some lucky customer is going to love. Thanks to Jayne Curtis of Wood'n It Be Nice for providing one of her beautifully created block groupings. You can click (here) to check out more of her creations. One of the hard things about doing this show is that I kind of want to take a couple of everything home with me - plain and simple not possible - but one of Jayne's Easter groupings is definitely coming to live at my place. I just am having a really hard time deciding which one because each is unique.

Come on over to the show today to enter this great prize drawing. And thanks again to our wonderful vendors!

Wherein we announce another winner and then tell you how fabulous the show is looking!

2011-04-13T05:59:00.007-06:00

The winner of the $25 Boutique Gift Certificate is:

The Thomas Family!

You know what to do - find me at the show and you'll be taken care of!

And now on to the show itself. So many of the great traditional things we have and so many fun new things. One of our new additions to the show is called Lasting Link. My cute sister-in-law, Mary Glauser, is the founder. It's so fun to talk with her and feel of her enthusiasm for this project. Lasting Link is a nonprofit organization formed to meet the needs of the Top Generation (65 and older). Its purpose is to help members of the generation utilize their skills and abilities for as long as possible in purposeful activities, which helps to maintain dignity and independence. The revenue generated by Lasting Link provides products and services to those in the Top Generation with the greatest economic needs. Lasting Link also fosters a connection between the younger generation and Top Generation. It creates opportunities for older and younger Americans to meet one another, share ideas and develop friendships. You can purchase their cute headbands and marble bags at the show to help benefit this worthwhile endeavor!

Another newbie at our show is Lucha Shoes. I'm thrilled to brag this up not only because my son, Mike Glauser, is one of the guys responsible for this, but because they are truly a quality product at a reasonable price with a great purpose. You can watch their first fun video to learn more - just click here. Come check them out! Mike is also the good-looking blonde guy modeling the shoes on their posters at the show - can you say proud mother?

This is just a tiny sampling of all the fine products that you will find when you come to the boutique. If you check out some of our older posts, you will find much more! But the best way to discover everything is just to come on over to Charla's home. We hope to see you there!

Winner Winner . . . And one more drawing before the show starts!

2011-04-11T08:48:00.004-06:00

The winner of six jars of Tagge's Famous Fruit products is:

Mommy D!!!

Yum! Just come talk to me at the show and we'll get you taken care of.

And the last drawing before the show starts (but we will be doing daily drawings at the show!) is for a $25 boutique gift certificate! Win this one and you get to spend it on ANY of the fabulous merchandise at the show. Nice! Start commenting to enter. I'll post the winner Wednesday morning before we open the show.

And last but not least - our vendors and crafters began dropping their wares off on Saturday and I can't even begin to tell you how many great things you will find when you come. We're talking Easter, Spring, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Spoil Yourself Day, Put Some Squeaky Shoes on Your Child Day, Give Your Tummy a Treat Day, and so on. We can't wait to share all this with you!

Now - enter the drawing and as I tell my kids frequently, "MAKE it a great day!"

Spring 2011 Giveaway #2: Tagge's Famous Fruit

2011-04-09T01:15:00.008-06:00

We are definitely going to have your taste buds working overtime with another yummy giveaway! If you've been to our boutique in the last couple of years, you know how wonderful Tagge's Famous Fruit products are! If you haven't - it's time you came and sampled the high-quality, tasty varieties of jams and salsa that they offer. Cari & Thayne Tagge have agreed to award the winner of this giveaway six - yes SIX - jars of your choice. I'm wishing I could enter this one myself. Check out this post for an easy, great recipe using a couple of their tasty offerings. To enter this one, just comment and tell us which salsa you would like us to put out for sampling the first day of the show - corn salsa, black bean salsa, or garden salsa. We'll post the winner on Monday and announce another giveaway.

If by chance you noticed the time that I am doing this post, you will know that my usual "boutique insomnia" has set in. Charla and I are doing some major work first thing in the morning to prepare for all of our fabulous vendors who will be bringing their things around noon. Wish me at least a few hours of deep sleep and START COMMENTING if you'd like us to keep doing these giveaways.!

And the winner is . . .

2011-04-09T01:07:00.005-06:00

Alicia!

Come find me (Lauri) at the boutique, introduce yourself and we'll make sure you are taken care of well. Good luck narrowing down your yummy choices of Sandra's Pantry goodies. And THANK YOU Sandra for providing this prize!

May I Say Tasty? A Giveaway Compliments of Sandra's Pantry

2011-04-06T19:00:00.006-06:00

Time is short and I really want to get three giveaways accomplished before the show's opening day. So here's the deal - this giveaway is for two days only and there have to be at least 13 comments for it to happen! Thus, we need everyone to get the word out. Facebook it, tweet it, text it, phone call it, tell your neighbor when you go out to grab the mail - whatever - let's go big or go home. What is the prize? Let me tell you - if you like major deliciousness - you want to win this one! Several years ago, I met one of those women whose picture should be in the dictionary next to the word "cute". We were both volunteering at our kid's school and she really is such a wonderful example of womanhood and motherhood. Anyway, last winter my sweet friend Sandra Farish called and told us about these gourmet toppings she was making and wondered if she could put them in our show. Oh my, "gourmet" is far too tame a description for these extraordinary treats. They are designed to go on top of ice cream, cake, or other desserts, but my darling 15-year-old asked if I would please purchase some for her to eat straight from the bottle - they are that good! Sandra is giving away 2 half-pint or 1 pint jar of the winner's choice. Just to get your taste buds going - here are the varieties that the winner gets to choose from:

Dessert Toppings:

Pecan Praline
Bittersweet Chocolate Raspberry
Caramel Apple Pie
Cranberry Rum
Berry Delicious

Other Gourmet Delights:

Cabernet Wine Jelly (a cheese accompaniment)
Garden Fresh Chili Sauce
and maybe more - I just checked out her blog and she's got some other varieties - can't wait to see what she brings to the show!

So, to get this going - get everyone to comment. If we get at least 20 comments, we'll announce a winner on Friday! Then - plan on coming to the show next week and sampling Sandra's creations. Your sweet tooth will thank you!

2011 Spring Flyer

2011-04-06T18:53:00.003-06:00

No Fooling - It's Coming!

2011-04-01T12:01:00.006-06:00

Yikes! Our Spring show is almost here and I'm just now getting around to updating the blog. This will be a short post just to give you the basics. But look for more in the next day or two.

Charla and I (and some of our wonderful family members and one fabulous friend) had a movie/work night last night - watched "Tangled" and divided, labeled, and stamped thousands of fliers which went to the Post Office this morning. So there's no turning back now!

SUCH A NICE SURPRISE!
A Spring Boutique
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
April 13, 14, 15 & 16
11 am - 8 pm
2035 East Millstream Lane (3505 South)
Salt Lake City

We've got ever so many great creations coming. I'm already filling up my mental shopping cart.

Doing prize drawings at our last show was so much fun that we're going to do them again. And oh the blog giveaways you'll see in the next few days are going to be - well - most of them are going to be down right yummy - and the others just plain fun! I'll update our crafter list later today and start doing highlights and giveaways tomorrow!

We can't wait to see you!

Yesterday's Prize Winners and Sisters Day

2010-11-12T10:04:00.002-07:00

So here it is after ten on Friday, the boutique opens again in less than an hour, and I'm just now getting to this post. Therefore, I shall keep it short, sweet and complete.

Yesterday's Prize Winners:

Sarah McGinn: a dried floral arrangement by Valerie Rich

Diana Peck: a set of notecards done by Annette Emmer

Today we are doing Sister's Day at the show. You bring your sister(s) - you both get to enter the drawing! The prizes are some very cool things from Real Deals of Holladay - one of our favorite places for home decor (other than our own boutique, of course).

Advance warning:

Tomorrow is "Bring Your Guy" day at our boutique. You bring one of your favorite guys - Dad, husband, boyfriend, brother, friend, whatever - and you both get to enter the drawing! Prizes to be announced tomorrow, but it's likely the guy prizes, at least, will be some of our delectable goodies.

Come on over! It's really unbelievable the amount of talent contained throughout the show. And we'd love to meet you.

Best Friends Day Prize Drawing and Yesterday's Winners and a couple of Vendor Highlights

2010-11-11T09:43:00.003-07:00

What a ride! We are having so much fun at the boutique. Yesterday we had Mother-Daughter Day where any Mother-Daughter combinations that came to the show got to enter a drawing for a couple of nice prizes. Here are the winners:

Nancy Green was the winner of the Purs'nal Pal purse organizer. My Purs'nal Pal has turned my purse from a bottomless pit to a fully functional helpmate. We know you are going to love it! Thanks to Wendy and Donna for providing such a great prize!

Julie Pos was the winner or her choice of four Silk Flower Clips. I wore one on my sweater yesterday and got all kinds of compliments. So we think you will enjoy picking some that you like. You can use them in so many ways - in you or your child's hair, on a sweater, jacket, belt, or scarf, even as a gift topper. Thanks to Staci and Ellie Metcalfe for the flowers. Ellie is our youngest crafter this year at a whopping six years old!

If you weren't one of the lucky winners, you can still get yourself some of these wonderful things at the boutique today.

And here is another chance to win some fun prizes: If you bring your best friend(s) to the show today, you both get to enter a fun prize drawing. The prizes today are a sweet dried floral arrangement from our amazing Valerie Rich, and a set of note cards (your choice) done by the incredibly talented Annette Emmer. You can see both of their work at the show.

Again, I apologize that I don't have any pictures for you today. But I wanted to let you know that Valerie Rich also does custom florals. My sweet 97-year-old Uncle Al gave us this awesome rosemalled (I'm pretty sure I spelled that wrong) antique milk can. The colors don't really go with my decor, but I asked Valerie what she could do with it and she was able to pick up some of the shades on the can and some from my house and the result is so great and her price was so reasonable. Even Uncle Al thought it was beautiful. She is definitely up to any challenge you can throw her way.

Annette Emmer has several pieces of her art work in our Artist's Corner. I've always admired her talent and know that you will enjoy seeing her artistry. She not only has orginal art there that you can purchase, but she has prints and notecards with many of her nicest pieces featured. Be sure to pick up a few packages so that all those holiday thank-you notes that you'll be writing will be especially nice. Annette is also one of the sweet people at the cash registers and we are so grateful for all the help she has freely given over the years.

Anyhoo . . . come to the show - you will not be disappointed!

Sneak Peek and Winner!!!

2010-11-09T21:46:00.005-07:00

Wow! We just finished having a little sneak preview with our vendors tonight. I just have to say that we get to work with the greatest people ever.

We gave a few prizes for various reasons that have made it possible for us to keep doing this for 30 years.

Those vendors who have been with us for the entire ride:

Kathy Buhler
Diane Wiscombe
Linda Tabish
Annette Emmer
Cari Newbold

The vendor who came the farthest for this show:

Kathryn Rae (all the way from Missouri!)

The vendor who dropped off her things to us first last Friday:

Michele Sly

Our youngest crafter:

Ellie Metcalfe (6 years old - check out her flower clips)

We had a little drawing just for the crafters and we'll be calling those who won.

The show looks great - only need to finish a few little signs tonight (you know - "restroom" "please come right in" etc.) and then tomorrow we go full tilt. I'll mention a couple of things that were highlights for me today. Kevin Sybrowsky is the bomb! His metal yard art adds magic and makes the walk into the show like entering a fairyland. Wait until you see the firepit! Beyond beyond! Michelle Glauser brought a quilled paper creation that is so so so to-die-for. You simply must come and see it. Ashley Kennedy's vintage prints. Logan Kiefer's T-shirts and artwork. Valerie Rich's dried florals and Jennifer Sampson's greenery. Grace Rock's cook books. Meeting Donna Dewey! There is no way to list even a fraction of the awesomeness. Just come and enjoy for yourself.

And who is the winner of the $25.00 All Through The House gift certificate?

Holly! Congratulations! Come find me at the show and it will be all yours! I love doing this!

Remember that anyone who brings their moms or their daughters to the show tomorrow gets to enter another giveaway at the show. Nighty night - I'll be dreaming boutique and hoping to see you at the show!

Night night - I look forward to seeing you tomorrow

Vendor Highlights

2010-11-09T05:09:00.008-07:00

Okay, first things first. Be sure to enter our latest giveaway now! (here) Charla and I are walking around glassy-eyed from trying to get set up - we've only got an itty bitty bit of time before the show starts! But, let me tell you, there is so much amazing, unique, one-of-a-kind (and on and on with the positive adjectives) stuff! Who wouldn't want to win a $25.00 gift certificate for our boutique?

I'm just going to let you in on a few of our wonderful vendors right now, but I'll share more tonight.

We are so excited to have Purs'nal Pal with us this time around. You can check out their website here. These two ladies, Wendy Kamahele and Donna Dewey, have designed some fabulous
purse organizers that are so great in so many ways.

If you are a gal with a dozen (give or take a few) purses or someone like me who uses the same one until it needs to be buried - you need one of these. You put all your necessities into one of these babies and then all you have to do when you want to change your purse is take this Purs'nal Pal, pop it into your choice of purse for the moment, and you are ready to run. For me - a carrier of the basic black, I-don't-want-to-spend-another-dime-on-another-purse - kind of girl, my Purs'nal Pal may not change homes very frequently, but I can find what I need so easily. I bought mine a couple of years ago and I love it! You would love one too. You will find them at the top of the stairs at the boutique. Just one more quick word, I've only met Wendy of Purs'nal Pal so far, but wow, what a nice, fun, sweet, generous person she is. I'm not only grateful to Purs'nal Pal for the tidier state of my purse, but because it allowed Charla and me to meet Wendy (and I'm looking forward to meeting Donna).

Right by the purse organizers, you will find some truly unique purses made by one of our all-time favorite crafters, Pam Newman. Pam is one of those people who can put things together - be it a home or an outfit or a craft - in a way no one else would think of and the end result is always gold. Also, for you Utah fans out there (I know, sorry about that last game!) Pam and her hubby, Scott, have written a poem that will please you to no end. It goes with some red Christmas stockings they've also put into the show. Just know - there are limited quantities.

If your family is anything like mine, we seem to get more than our fair share of cuts and scrapes. Just one problem -- several of us are allergic to the traditional over the counter anti-bacterial ointments. Lucky for us, my sister-in-law Becky Glauser, makes some fabulous stuff she calls Owie Be Gone. This is a truly good remedy. She also makes lip balms and another great fix-it, Chap Be Gone, for those dry winter hands that are a'coming. Grab yourself some at the boutique. Becky also does some nice grape-vine wreaths and fairy ornaments. And by the way, Becky is another winner in the great person category - fun, pleasant to spend time with, oh-so-kind, and a great cook, too!

Opening day (Wednesday) at the boutique will be the first of some fun 30-year-celebrations. It's Mother/Daughter day. If you bring your mothers or your daughters with you to the show, each of you will have the opportunity to enter a prize drawing to be done at 7 p.m. (you need not be present to win). Charla and I had some fun times this summer shopping around for prizes and we've also had Purs'nal Pal offer one of their purse organizers as a prize. Don't miss it!

I'll be posting again tonight - if I can keep my eyes open long enough. I'll be announcing the boutique gift certificate winner! Check back for Thursdays celebration.

It's all so exciting!

Crafter Highlights and a $25 Boutique Gift Certificate Giveaway

2010-11-04T20:02:00.006-06:00

Several weeks ago I was at a great baby shower for my niece. Wow, I can't believe all the amazing things that are available now that were not when I was having babies. Anyway, one of the gifts she opened contained the cutest handcrafted items and I knew we just had to recruit the person who made them. I was introduced to Diana Alm. She's been married for three years and has a darling one-year-old daughter who keeps her busy. She decided after receiving some cute baby items at her own shower that she wanted to start making them on her own and sharing them with others. She loves crafting. I love the bright, bold combinations she uses to make her changing kits and car seat covers unique.

I found out that she is related to the nicest gentleman, George Alm, who did our spring show and is doing this one also. He is Diana's grandfather-in-law and makes those fun pop can airplanes. I wish I had a picture for you. If I had a little boy I would definitely buy a bunch of those planes to hang from a bedroom ceiling. Maybe someday when we can turn one of kid's room into a den for my hubby, I'll hang some in there. They are so cool.

Charla and I have been working hard today to get her house ready for this year. We are so excited to see all the great things that our vendors will be bringing starting tomorrow.

Okay, I promised a new giveaway today. We are giving away a $25.00 gift certificate for the boutique. To enter all you need to do is comment. If you've been at our show before, please comment about what you like about it. If you've not been before, comment on what you hope to find. We need at least 20 comments for this to be a go - so pass the word around.

Winner!

2010-11-03T15:08:00.002-06:00

Time for another winner announcement. The lucky commenter who wins the Pear and Peonies $20 Gift Certificate to be used at our boutique is:

crafted and clothed

I'm anxious to meet you and give you your prize. Will you please email me at charlaandlauripresent(at)blogspot(dot)com and let me know your name so I can be sure to give it to the right person? Just find me (Lauri) at the boutique and I'll be happy to hand it over. Congratulations!

Watch for another giveaway to be posted tomorrow. These are so great - I wish I could enter!

Random Thoughts

2010-11-02T15:26:00.004-06:00

Don't forget to comment on the Pear and Peonies giveaway post below - it's almost over!

Not so long ago, I saw a boutique that was advertised as "Not Your Mother's Boutique" and it made me wonder just what sets our show apart from others. Well, I think it comes down to a few things and these are in no particular order. You may find a lot of things that would appeal to your mother, but you will also find a lot of things that appeal to every member of your family and your friends. I kid you not. There are great things for babies, great things for toddlers, great things for preschoolers, great things for girls and boys of all ages. We have great clothing that will appeal to anyone with a fun sense of style. We have tasty things that everyone loves. We even have some "guy" kind of things (I'll be highlighting one of those later). We have crafty things and fine art. I guess you could say we are a boutique for everyone. Another plus is that we have a great combination of traditional things along with the latest hot new things. But one of the nicest things to me is that we really try hard to create a nice atmosphere. Not just at the boutique itself - although you will find that being at our show can really get you in a happy holiday mood with all the smells, music and fun - but we try hard to create good relationships with our crafters and customers. We try to be aware of our crafter's life events. We really do care about those that we work with and want them to do well at the show and all year long. We love seeing old friends and making new ones. A few years ago, I noticed that one of the addresses on our mailing list looked familiar. I jotted a quick note telling her that I grew up in that house and would she please introduce herself to me at the boutique. She did. And now I look forward to seeing her each year, finding out about her family and about my old beloved neighbors. These are the kinds of joys that make doing this worth all the work and headaches. We look forward to seeing you and hope that you enjoy this year's show!

Pear and Peonies Giveaway!

2010-10-30T23:47:00.004-06:00

Here's one of our favorite giveaways ever. Yes! Thank you Brittany Fenton of Pear and Peonies. This will be their second show with us and we love having them along for the ride. Brittany has generously offered a $20 gift certificate to be spent at our 2010 Holiday Boutique. Tell us in a comment why you'd like to win this one. Pass the word along - we need 20 comments make this giveaway good. In the meantime, enjoy a few pictures of their awesome clothing line.

Winners!!!

2010-10-30T09:25:00.002-06:00

Here are the winners in our necklace giveaway:

SUZIE - you win the bling necklace!

M'LISA - you win the initial charm necklace!

Congratulations! Just find me (Lauri) at the boutique to claim your prizes.

I'll be posting another giveaway later today - so check back. I LOVE giving away great stuff.

Vendor Highlight: My Growing Season

2010-10-27T10:59:00.011-06:00

First of all, let me remind you to comment on the giveaway post. We just need a few more comments before we can select the winners and then . . . we'll post another great giveaway!

Michele Sly of My Growing Season is a mother of three with an entrepreneurial gene. I originally sought her out because I personally want to own each and every one of her products - and all my kids are already grown up! These are wonderful ways to teach and entertain children. Everything is so well made and she's got a great replacement policy if you're like most of us who find that pieces tend to go missing at times. Working with Michele has been a delight. Here are a few pictures of what she'll have at the boutique and there are ever so many more. There are also a couple of Christmas soft toys that are must haves - an advent calendar and a nativity set. I honestly don't know how anyone can limit themselves to just one item! Be sure to check out her website - just click on My Growing Season up above. Thank you Michele for being a great part of the show.

Food, Glorious Food (and a great recipe to boot)

2010-10-25T20:55:00.007-06:00

First, before I get to the tasty stuff - make sure to comment on our last post to enter our giveaway!

Okay, so I must admit that our family went to see a production of "Oliver" recently, so the title of this post just kind of popped into my head. We've posted before about all the great goodies at our boutique. Click here. People - it just keeps getting better. We have Kathy Buhler's seriously amazing chocolate/caramel dipped pretzels, caramels, and pecan logs. We have Linda Tabish's chewy, gooey chocolate turtles. Then there are Diane Wiscombe's gigantic peanut butter cups. Maudine Thomas is doing her fabulous brownies and cookies. If things go smoothly, Lauri Glauser may just bring some of her freshly baked sweet rolls, spicy gingerbears, or to-die-for creme-filled chocolate cupcakes. Joan Gregory's perfect-for-the-holidays green and red pepper jellies will be there waiting for you. Oh, and don't forget that oh-so-sensationally creamy tomato basil soup. New this year will be Sandra Farish's decadent gourmet dessert toppings. And the inspiration for the recipe I'm going to share with you will be there, too. I'm talking Tagge's Famous Fruit jams and salsas. Here's the story:

Earlier this year, I just happened to be at a local grocery store at just the right moment to take advantage of a great buy on pork roast. The next Sunday morning I was trying to decide just what to do with it - the usual prep just wasn't doing it for me that day. I got out a crockpot cookbook that had not seen the light of day for a very long time and started thumbing through it. I came across a recipe that sounded like it just might be a winner, but two things here - a) I didn't have all the ingredients on hand, and b) anyone who knows me is aware that I can seldom leave a recipe alone - I pretty much always make changes no matter what. This recipe called for 1 jar of apricot jam. I only had 1/2 of a jar. Amazingly enough, I actually had dijon-style mustard. Anyway, I remembered that I did have some of Tagge's peach salsa in my storage room. Let me tell you - the finished dish was fabulous and instantly became a family favorite. I've made it several times since and it always gets rave reviews. In fact, I made it yesterday and I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture to share with you. I strongly recommend that you pick up some of Tagge's yummy food items at the boutique and then make this for your family. I call it -

SWEET AND SAVORY CROCKPOT PORK ROAST

1 pork shoulder roast (3-4 pounds)
1/2 jar Tagge's Famous Fruit apricot jam
1/2 jar Tagge's Famous Fruit peach salsa
2 Tablespoons honey dijon mustard
1/4 cup chicken broth (or 1/4 cup prepared chicken bouillon)
1 large onion, quartered and sliced
1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (depends on your family's taste)

Place the roast in your crockpot (I highly recommend using a crockpot liner bag). Put everything else on top and mix it just a bit. Cook on low for 10-12 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. Place your finished roast on a serving platter and then pour the juices into a gravy boat to be served over rice. We like to cook equal parts rice and barley - a nice, unique texture.

So easy, so tasty!

Again, don't forget to comment on the giveaway post. You would love to have either of the necklaces! Encourage your friends to enter also - we can't do another giveaway until we have 20 comments and two winners in the first one. We have some more really great things to giveaway!

Crafter Highlight and Two Giveaways

2010-10-22T20:54:00.010-06:00

Our first highlight of this season is on Jennifer Gardner. She's the mother of three beautiful daughters, wife to a really nice guy, fabulous photographer, superb swim teacher, all around great gal, and one of our jewelry designers. One of her current favorites are wax seal pendants that have been seen around the necks of many celebrities. She also loves to create some majorly fun bling. In addition to what you'll find at our boutique, she'll also do custom orders for weddings, other special occasions, or just to match a particular outfit. You name the colors, she'll create something to die for. She's got stamped metal charms that you can customize with names or words that are meaningful to you. You'll also love her unique bracelets. Here's just a few pictures for you to get the idea.

Jenn has generously offered two giveaways - one bling necklace and one wax seal pendant necklace. Leave a comment to enter. We've got to have a minimum of twenty comments for the giveaway to happen, so pass the word around. Two lucky winners will be announced next week.

Got any great ideas?

2010-10-20T16:27:00.002-06:00

Hey all you crafty people - we have room for another crafter in our upcoming boutique. We're looking for something new and fun. Check out the list of what we have at the bottom of our blog and if you are interested in doing something that is not there or know someone who might be - leave us a comment with your contact info.

New Flyers!

2010-10-18T22:52:00.007-06:00

Here's our new flyer! Feel free to share with and send to all your friends. Giveaways will start later this week - so be sure to check back.

Expanding on the Web

2010-10-08T10:33:00.006-06:00

Charla and Lauri Present . . . is now on Facebook!

Add our event to your calendars and "like" our page. This year will be our 30-year celebration boutique!

Click here:

Here we go again!

2010-09-01T18:53:00.004-06:00

Summer absolutely flew by! Between home improvement projects, kid's cooking classes (Lauri), kid's art classes (Charla), and just plain day-to-day stuff, all of a sudden it's back-to-school and time to plan our next show. Crafter letters for this year's holiday boutique are going out tonight! We are so excited about all the fun things we have planned to celebrate 30 years of boutiqueing (is that a word?) together. Check in every now and then to find out what we've got brewing.

One Day Down, Two to Go!

2010-04-29T21:12:00.008-06:00

Wow, today was a great opening day - especially considering the weather, road construction and stolen signs. Thanks to everyone who braved the storm.

Here's a few pics of some fun things at the show!

Baked with Love Aprons

by Ashley Evanson

She makes each of these aprons at home and they are of the best quality. They'll make you feel cute and sassy while you cook! She's done oodles of great designs.

Cakes and Banners
by Devany Niederhauser

She started making banners and cakes for her first child's first birthday. She likes to make parties extraordinary with great themes and lots of details. It was hard to find what she wanted in the store, so she started making it all herself.

Mimiware
by Michele Goaslind

If you'd like something fun to perk up your kitchen - Mimiware is the place to go. She's got so many fun designs. Michele also does some amazing doll beds and bedding.

Dear Miss Alice,
by Heidi Glauser

She's done lots of things for this show in addition to what you see above. Her button magnets, rings, and hair elastics are unique and fun. Her vintage cake, jewelry, whatnot stands and watch necklaces are each one-of-a-kind!

And that, my friends is a very small fraction of what you'll find at our Spring Boutique. Come check it out.

More Goodies!

2010-04-29T01:09:00.003-06:00

Announcing three more prize winners!

Birdie - you just won a set of watercolor notecards by Charla!

Bob - you've been one lucky man on this blog! You just won the Happy Mother's Day banner!

And Emily Pinnock - we can't wait to see you at the boutique so that you can spend your $20.00 gift certificate from Pear and Peonies!

Just ask for Lauri at the show and I'll see that you get your prizes. Congratulations!

By the way, everyone, look for some great pictures of things you'll find here that I'll be posting soon. Whew! Can I please get some sleep now?

Winners!

2010-04-28T22:13:00.003-06:00

So, we've spent the better part of the last three days putting this show together (not to mention all the "before" tasks) and our brains are a little fried, so forgive me if there are absolutely no frills on this post. But, I must say that the boutique is looking fabulous!

Here are the winners in our first two giveaways:

The de Roda Family wins the frame!

Jamilyn Bell wins the $20 boutique gift certificate!

Congratulations! Just find me - Lauri - or ask for me at the checkout and we'll get you your prizes. Thanks for putting us on your blogs. We look forward to meeting you at the show.

THREE Last Minute Giveaways!

2010-04-28T07:46:00.007-06:00

Okay people, we've had three of our vendors offer some fun prizes!

#1 - a set of watercolor notecards by our own Charla Barton!

#2 - a "Happy Mother's Day" banner by Devany!

#3 - a $20.00 gift certificate from Pear and Peonies to be used at our boutique!

Everyone who comments is entered in the giveaway, but there is one catch - there has to be at least 10 comments today for the giveaway to happen! Get your friends and co-workers etc. to enter ASAP! I'll post the winners tomorrow morning bright and early!

Two Giveaways!

2010-04-23T11:34:00.009-06:00

Starting tomorrow, we'll be posting some pictures of some of the fun things you'll find at "Such a Nice Surprise". Today, however, we have two giveaways to announce.

Giveaway #1

$20.00 certificate to spend at our show! Here's how you enter this drawing: post our flyer (you'll find it in the previous post) on your blog or mention our show in a post and put a link to ours, then leave a comment on this post telling us the address of your blog so we can check it out. We'll then enter you in this prize giveaway. We'll randomly select one winner from all those.

Giveaway #2

Valerie Rich and her daughter were new additions to our Christmas show and it was definitely a win-win situation. They do fabulous floral arrangements and some frames and cute magnets. They have agreed to give one of their great frames to one lucky winner. Unfortunately, Valerie had to leave town today and so wasn't able to get a picture to me, but I assure you, it's nice! Anyone who comments on this post is entered. Again, a random drawing will determine the winner.

We'll post the winners on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Finally - Such a Nice Surprise!

2010-04-14T11:15:00.010-06:00

After years of saying, "maybe," we're actually going to do a SPRING boutique! We're so excited with how it's coming together. Perfect timing for wonderful Mother's Day shopping with the bright hues of spring and summer. There will be so many fun, new things for everyone to see. Imagine over 40 crafters represented. Check back in the coming days to see some of the great items that will be here. Mark the dates on your calendar - you won't want to miss this show!

Putting the Boutique to Bed Until Next Year

2009-11-20T09:04:00.002-07:00

I don't know if anyone will be checking this blog out now that the boutique is over, but just in case...it was great! Every year it gets better. There are so many people to thank: our wonderful families who help us out (mostly cheerfully) with everything from dusting corners to moving large heavy pieces of furniture and display items that enjoy injuring us, also our amazing crafters who never cease to fill us with joy over their fine workmanship and unparalleled creativity, then there are all our customers - old faithful and new acquaintances - who keep coming and supporting the show. We try really hard to create a fun, friendly, cozy atmosphere and hope like crazy that everyone who walks through our door feels glad they came and leaves with happy anticipation for the coming Christmas season. We are grateful for you all and look forward to seeing you again next year. Someday, we may even do a spring show so we won't have to wait so long to enjoy you all again. Let us know what you think.

'Twas the Night Before the Boutique . . .

2009-11-10T22:45:00.008-07:00

Well everyone, Charla and I have been working our "you-know-whats" off, as have many of our family members (hugs and kisses). Things are looking pretty darn fine. Our crafters have really gone above and beyond. We have just a little tweaking to do bright and early in the morning and then our 2009 show will be off and running! There are so many amazing things to see. I've already started my stash of things to purchase (U of U dresses for your little girls, anyone?). My Christmas list will have an awful lot of things taken care of at the boutique! Anyhoo, I promised to post our last giveaway winner tonight. So . . . Lisa Fairbrother! (Are you related to the wrestlers from Murray?) When you come to the show just find Lauri (I do look a little like our caricature - the one with the blond hair and dimple). I'll be wandering around restocking or answering questions or just enjoying meeting new people and greeting dear friends. If by chance, you can't find me, then ask Charla or Annette at the cash registers, tell them who you are, and they'll be happy to present you with your prize. By the way all of you who need to have a great appetizer for your Christmas party, check out Joan Gregory's Pepper Jelly in the kitchen. Tasty, quick, and impressive. You'll find lots of other deliciousness in there, too! Can't wait to share everything with you! Hurry on over!

Time for One More Quick Giveaway

2009-11-08T06:58:00.003-07:00

Okay folks - this will be a fast one. Charla has offered a set of her beautiful watercolor notecards for this giveaway. All you have to do is comment at the bottom of this post and you'll be entered in the drawing. I'll post winners Tuesday night!

Everything for the boutique started arriving yesterday and all I can say is WOW - we've got a whole grundle of talented crafters! So many cool things. I can't wait for you to see it all! Next year I'll have better computer capabilities so I can get some pictures on here for you, but let me just give you a little bit of a picture in words. Fabulous stained glass - Purses with pizazz for mom and daughter - Whimsical watches - Necklaces galore - Tasty pepper jelly - Darling nativities - My new favorite soft toys - Great vinyl art - Dotty art - Darling onesies - Mimiware to die for - the list just goes on and on. I'm definitely going to get some great Christmas shopping done. I'll share some more of what arrives on Monday. Charla and I are so excited for you all to come!

Don't forget to comment to be entered in the drawing. See you starting Wednesday!

WINNERS!!!

2009-11-05T19:38:00.003-07:00

Sorry to take so long to post the winners of our first giveaway, but computer difficulties have put us behind a bit! So without further ado - here are the winners:

Bob
Mrs. M.
Sally

When you winners come to the boutique, either find me (Lauri) or ask Charla at checkout to collect your Twelve Gifts of Thanksgiving. And yes, Bob, you've got to come in yourself, but please bring Joy with you - we love her too!

and Debbie, if you'll come introduce yourself to me, I'll have something for you, also!

Look for another giveaway in the next day or so . . .

Talk About Committed!

2009-10-30T10:28:00.007-06:00

We've mentioned before how we have a combination of crafters - those who have been with us from day one, some who have joined us along the way, and each year we find some new and wonderful people. Well, today, I'd like to introduce you to the ones that have been faithful since the beginning.

Cari Newbold (Lauri's sister) started crafting with us way back when she was still a way cute teenager making clothespin Christmas ornaments and bow earrings. These days she's a mother of eight!, still way cute (even pretty much the same tiny size - no fair!) and making great stuff with her own darling daughter M'kynzi. This year they are making our favorite awesome earrings and bracelets, gorgeous caramel apples, and colorful "froofee-toos" - tutus for your budding ballerinas. Cari and M'kynzi both have such a sense of style, are wonderfully humorous, and they would do anything to be of assistance - and have done so considerably for us over the years.

Annette Emmer (Charla's sister) has done all sorts of beautiful things for the show, from dolls and hobby horses to beautiful hand-painted serving trays and hand-pieced table runners. She's a talented artist and this year will bring beautiful notecards and paintings - both watercolor and acrylic. She's been a great help at check-out for several years now also. Annette is a quiet tower of strength, doing so much in the background to make the show successful. We don't know what we would do without our sibling's assistance - KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU!

Charla's sisters-in-law Kathy Buhler and Diane Wiscombe have always been along for the ride, occasionally hosting boutiques of their own, also. I wish I had pictures to share with you of Kathy's amazing pecan logs, caramels, and dipped pretzels! Oh my . . . they are so amazing . . . mouth-watering . . . you ABSOLUTELY MUST try them all. The pretzels are standard additions to Christmas stockings at my house and I could not make it through a single day of the boutique without a fix of one or two of her caramels. The pecan logs sell out every year - we have women who call before the show even starts asking for us to set some aside for them (same with the pretzels). And, her prices are so, so reasonable! Kathy does a lot of other fun little items also - scrapbook pages, barrettes, etc. She's so organized that she always gets a plethora of great things done. But I have to add that above and beyond all the talented things Kathy does, she is one of the nicest people you could ever have the pleasure of knowing. Diane is another prolific crafter. Some of the things she contributes include rubber stamps, bath salts, great neighbor and teacher gifts, and stocking stuffers galore. But ladies (and you brave gents who are courageous enough to come), if you have any teenagers at your house, you will be a BIG hit if you bring home one (or more) of her giant peanut butter cups! We have several teens who come just to grab a handful of those. For several years we had an itty-bitty teenage gal (who has since gone away to college) who would come two or three times a day - every day of the boutique - to grab another of those tasty giants. She assured us she was eating them all, but we couldn't figure out where they were going! Anyhoo, in addition to her talents, Diane is such a friendly soul with a wonderful laugh.

And last, but not least, of our stalwarts is a dear friend from our old neighborhood, Linda Tabish. She has many talents, but for our show she specializes in one INCREDIBLE thing. Chocolate-covered turtles! These are not the chocolate turtles you see with nuts sticking out as heads and legs. These actually look like little chocolate turtles. Linda uses only the highest-quality and best-tasting chocolate, caramel and nuts. Yet another Christmas tradition. My husband and father-in-law, especially, would be completely happy if they found nothing else in their stockings! We don't feel like the boutique is complete without those yummy confections. And we love to see and visit with Linda again.

Just a quick reminder - the first giveaway will be ending soon, so don't forget to comment on that post!

Giveaway Number One!

2009-10-20T09:56:00.005-06:00

If you'll look at one of last year's posts titled "Crafter Highlight - Lauri" you'll find a description and picture of what we're giving away first. "The Twelve Gifts of Thanksgiving" is a great addition to any Thanksgiving celebration. You could win one if you'll leave a comment and add your email address to our list (check out the contact information on the sidebar). We'll pick two names randomly and announce the winners at the end of the month. If you've been to our show before, leave a comment telling us what you enjoy about it. We'll pick an additional winner from those comments! Winners can pick up their prizes during the boutique - just ask for Lauri or Charla!

MAKE it a great day!

Since our boutique is only once a year and coming up quickly, we've got to get word out! Please tell your friends through facebook, twitter, your blogs, word of mouth, etc.! We're looking forward to seeing you soon!

Soup and/or Salsa anyone?

2009-10-19T19:50:00.003-06:00

We're looking for someone who does fabulous soups and salsas (even hot chocolates and ciders) to join our show. They've been a tradition in the boutique for years that makes my mouth water just thinking about them. But sadly, the ladies who did them are no longer doing them. If you or someone you know is interested, leave a comment with your email address or use the contact info on the side bar.

Look for a giveaway tomorrow!

One Month and Counting!

2009-10-09T21:18:00.003-06:00

Wow - 2009 has flown by! Charla and I have been busy for several weeks now putting together this year's show. We are so excited to have many of our favorite crafters back and some new friends who are bringing lots of fabulous new items. This is just a quick update for now. Check back in the days to come to discover a glimpse of what you'll find at "All Through the House". We may even have a giveaway or two. We're looking forward to seeing you soon.

Crafter Highlight - Three Crazy Ladies

2008-11-10T22:34:00.003-07:00

Wow, we're down to almost no time until our boutique starts. We're both showing signs of "boutique-induced sleep deprivation." It would really be nice if we had time to do more posts about all the great crafters we work with. But, at least there's time to tell you a bit about a couple of our favorites! Becky Davis and Krissy Meier are part of Three Crazy Ladies. They do the vast majority of the vinyl art that you'll find at our show. We asked them where on earth they got the "crazy lady" name. Turns out that Becky's husband was waiting for them late one evening so that they could finish "just one more" thing and just made up a little song which he picked out on a ukelele and the chorus consisted of the words "you're crazy ladies." The name stuck! We're lucky to have them. They have a great variety of signs and lettering that you can put just about anywhere. Good luck choosing just one or two! We love working with them. They fill custom orders so quickly, are so dependable and fun, and their prices are so great that we hope they'll continue to join with us for many years to come. Oh yeah, they also bring squeaker shoes that kids and moms both love!

Pictures to come!

Boutique Memories

2008-11-07T12:57:00.002-07:00

Lauri's 23-year-old daughter, Michelle, wrote about growing up with the boutique. To see what she had to say, click here.

Crafter Highlight - Lauri!

2008-11-03T21:57:00.006-07:00

Lauri is one of those people who does a little bit of everything. She has taught numerous art and music classes in the local elementary school, was a room mother for 21 straight years, and has taught kid's cooking classes in her home since 1988. She enjoys doing calligraphy and any other artsy/crafty thing that might tickle her fancy. You could also call her a collector--of great quotes, fun ideas, and tasty recipes--and she loves to share them all! We never know from year-to-year what she will come up with for the boutique, but we'll mention a few of this year's creations. Her bestseller is something called "The Twelve Gifts of Thanksgiving." It's a unique and meaningful collection of thoughts about Thanksgiving that can be enjoyed one per day in the 12 days leading up to your celebration or you can take turns reading them around your feast. She also makes sure that we have a great selection of our very favorite Hobblecreek candles at great prices. Since the boutique won't be at her home this year, filling up her kitchen, you can also look for some of her family's favorite baked goods - sweet rolls, gingerbears and gingertrolls, and her most decadent cream-filled chocolate cupcakes! Her family also has a tradition of filling their huge front windows with beautiful hand-cut snowflakes. She has literally cut thousands of them. When you visit the boutique, you just might find a few of these framed hand-cut snowflakes for you to add to your collection of Christmas decor.

Crafter Highlight - Charla!

2008-10-20T14:17:00.007-06:00

We do pull this boutique together, but we also love to put our own creations into the show! Charla is an amazing artist who not only does plenty of her own artwork, but has been teaching art classes in her home and in local elementary schools for for many, many years. She does the funnest custom watercolor family portraits you'll ever see. Her home includes a great studio in the works complete with easels, paints, clay, glazes, pottery wheels, kilns, etc. with a cat or two or three keeping watch at all times. For our boutique she does hand-painted Christmas plates that literally fly out of the show in the first few minutes every year. People come specifically to add them to their collections. This year's aren't ready for picture-taking just yet. She also does beautiful watercolor note cards
that any one would be proud to send. She also creates wonderfully whimsical Christmas ornaments, traditional nativities and more. Aside from being so incredibly talented, she's also one of the nicest people you'll ever meet!

Becoming Technologically Savvy

2008-10-20T10:12:00.004-06:00

So, Lauri's beautiful, talented daughter Michelle has created this blog for us and now it's time for us to put aside our blogging illiteracy and figure out how to do this thing ourselves! Starting later tonight, hopefully, we'll start adding more posts about our crafters and pictures of the amazing things they create. We can't wait for you to see some of the fun things that you'll be able to find at our show. Check back frequently to see what's new!

This Year's Boutique Flier

2008-10-18T05:20:00.003-06:00

Everyone is welcome! Join our mailing list on the right ------------------------------------------------------------->

Welcome!

2008-10-16T12:30:00.004-06:00

Most likely, if you are looking at this post, you already know about the traditional "Charla and Lauri Present . . ." boutique. We are glad to now be a part of the arts and crafts blogging community. Imagine all the wonderful changes we've made over the years. It just keeps getting better and better.

If you want to suggest a craft site, or just want to make a comment, or you are one of our crafters and have a blog/website, or any other reason, leave a comment below and we'll see what we can do.