Small Town Life In Big L.A.

Shopping! Vegas! & Elvis!

Complementary coffee...the start of a recent Las Vegas buying trip for our store, Mountain Rose GIFTS. We're going in!

Elvis seemed to be everywhere.

Even in the showrooms.

A purse, no matter how light, can get heavy after walking showroom floors for hours. Thankful my hubby gave me a break. I'm FREE!!!

Catching a seminar while enjoying a boxed lunch.

Sometimes only a Coke will do.

Say what???

Received a hearty welcome to this showroom. You won't find this in Atlanta or New York.

Yup. This is wholesale shopping Vegas style.

Love it! Love it! Love it! The French theme and neutral color palette in home decor continues to be MAJOR.

The Las Vegas Market even entertains store owners at night in the courtyard.

Live music, appetizers, and shows around the campfires.

Marshmallows for roasting anyone?

We found so much good stuff!!! Bye bye Vegas! See you next time.

Back safe and sound in L.A. Thank you Lord for leading us as you do and for giving us strength and good energy.

Quickie Gift Buying Spree

One of the advantages for a retailer living in Los Angeles is the tremendous access we have to designer, fashion, and wholesale shopping venues. On this beautiful day we hopped in the car and headed downtown for a private event.

Let the hunt begin! Sometimes you find the best stuff when you don't "need" anything but are looking for new discoveries. That's what happened today. Some of those orders we placed JUST ARRIVED at our store MOUNTAIN ROSE GIFTS! Fun! Fun! Fun!

Even the elevators are decorated here. Our specialty French, Paris, Eiffel Tower theme is still going strong. LOVE it!

Downton Abbey,our favorite show, is influencing fashion too. There's something that draws us to those elegant days when life was simpler. I am seeing the Downton/Victorian influence in jewelry and home decor.

We are very excited about the newness for Christmas 2014 but for now we are thoroughly enjoying Spring & Easter in Montrose!

Shopping in L.A.

We're goin' in!!! What a treat it is to have Downtown L.A. so close. This week we enjoyed a joint buying trip for Mountain Rose Gifts and Revelation Tops.


The giant chair is the trademark for the L.A. Gift Mart.


My hubby has a great eye and loves to shop. Whimsical collectables always bring a smile.

This lunch from one of our favorite showrooms was a healthy and welcome treat.


Darn! Now I really want to sit there.


Shopping Christmas high atop the California Market Center.


Yes! Don't mind if we do!


Ahhhh!

We are happy to report the distressed trend in home decor continues. This famous downtown building seems to fit right in.


Finally! A chair I can sit in and it matches my top too!


This sums up our trip! Thanks for reading!

Touches Of Valentine Decor

Love necklace & red toile...

Red & white china...


A heart of stone...
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Join Me On A Whirlwind Buying Trip For The Stores

January is a very intense month for us. No sooner the Christmas season is over, which is full of church, retail,  wrapping, and parties, we hop on a plane and head for the major Gift & Ready To Wear Shows. Here is a scene we see everyday on our way to the Atlanta shows. We always happen to be there during Martin Luther King's birthday celebration. It's hard to see, but the sign on the left is a portrait of him.

First stop upon arriving is dinner at LaTivola. It's a cozy Italian restaurant in Virginia Highlands. This is their Warmed Olives appetizer.

Dessert at LaTivola is not to be missed. The special of the night was this delicious Apple Tart with Rosemary Cream. We also ordered a side of house made Vanilla Semi-Freddo.

Here's the view from one of the several highrise buildings that comprises the Atlanta Gift Mart. This was a snowless trip. It was cold but not bone chilling.

A fun showroom stop. It is rare to find sofas to lounge on. Generally you are on your feet...ALL DAY!!!

Every year has a different twist. This year several vendors had craftsmen outside in the halls demonstrating how things are made.

 

The Mart stays open until 8pm on the weekend. We shop, enjoy a nice dinner, and then drop. Atlanta has so many unique restaurants and they believe in dessert. One of my favorite stops, "Wisteria", lets you choose 3 of their homemade desserts for $10. We chose the Coconut Meringue Pie, Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream (Yes, it had a kick!), and Bread Pudding. I wish restaurants here in L.A. would pick up on this.

Being a "foodie" I look forward to the Gourmet Food section of the show where you get to sample everything.

Atlanta is a city that I enjoy. Here, popular "South City Kitchen" (You better have a reservation) is in a remodeled Southern home surrounded by spectacular high rises. Fascinating!

I think the Mussels here were among the best we have ever had. Considering we are from the Chesapeake Bay that is saying something.

As soon as we land in L.A. it's off to our local shows. This was taken as I was enjoying a break in the lobby of the California Market Center, my "home away from home" for the last 3 decades.

With all the lofts being built downtown their are new restaurants cropping up. We enjoyed people watching from our window table at PatternBar.com. You can see the California Mart from the window.

Here is a nice night shot of the L.A. Mart, home to many gift and decor showrooms. We have been shopping into the night on both coasts and had a very successful trip. You will find the fruit of our shopping in Mountain Rose Gifts and Revelation Tops.