New Routines

Hello. I’m writing this week from a local coffee shop and have brought along my trusty canine sidekick (Poppy) for what I hope will become a new and inspiring weekly routine. I thought it might be a nice bit of inspiration to write the blog each week from a coffee shop. While I love the comfort of my usual workspace, a change of scenery is a boost and a fresh perspective. Plus, the dog and I get to enjoy a lovely 50-minute walk into town and back, with added the opportunity to appreciate the changing seasons.

The health benefits of the extra exercise may be cancelled out by the syrupy treat flavouring in my coffee, however (hazelnut this week). Oh - and can we discuss people…? Just being around people for a while during the day for me is also such a treat. In my previous work life I had been rather comfortably part of a team, and the camaraderie was something I enjoyed. For those who thrive on working solo, I am aware that isolation is ideal; but for me, being in a social environment, even briefly, can invigorate to my day a little.

New Ventures

Speaking of new routines, this week I explored a potential new venture for Magpies and Diamonds. Our town is home to a charming antiques centre, and I recently took a closer look at the possibility of renting a space there. One of my long-term goals is to establish a physical space where customers can browse our curated selection: this would include vintage home décor items like mirrors, crockery, prints, linens, and curiosities (many of them from the Art Deco era).

The rental cabinets at the antiques centre were larger than I had expected. Impressive but also slightly overwhelming, when I learned that some vendors showcase up to 1,000 (albeit quite small) items! I tried to quickly recover the shocked expression on my face! I’ve already joined the waiting list for a rental space and started planning how I will merchandise it to reflect the shop’s aesthetic. This means I’m now reworking my business cards and updating my Pinterest boards with visual display ideas, which has become my latest obsession. Although I’m not sure how long the wait will be, I’m super excited about what the future holds.

New Additions  

As always there has also been new items added to the online shop, as shown below. I also realised, on reading through this, that I should have taken a photo of Poppy at the café too, afterall sharing cute pet pictures usually spreads good energy so I instead added one of her back at home.  

Until next time x