Welp. Tick another item off Ye Olde Dream list: I just went HOG WILD decorating a window. Lookahere folks!
Now. I have decorated many a window for work in my younger years, but it wasn’t for some cool place like Anthrologie, it was for an Aunt Edna style department store that made us follow corporate diagrams. So boring. And every time I’d finish setting something up I’d stand back and rework the whole thing in my head. Muchos frustratingos.
Anyway, so, last November, when Jaime and Paulette, the owners of one of my favorite local stores, Stumble & Relish, asked me if I’d like to come over after the holidays and help set up their window with WHATEVER I WANTED, you better bet I jumped at the chance!
And what was the theme? Valentines. So you know I was on this like white on rice.
The window at Stumble & Relish is narrow but crazy tall. Like Shaquille O’Neil tall. So you know what that means? Chandelier time.
You can see tutorial I made for another pajacki here. It’s surprisingly simple, especially when you have a basement full of wandering coffee filter flowers and hoola hoops. Don’t ask.
I have mentioned my love for Stumble & Relish before, so if you live in the Chicago area you might have gone by, but, if you were still thinking about it now is the time. Why?
Ahem…
They are the first to carry my pillows!
That’s right folks. I have a product line. We livin’ it fancy pants now. If you follow me on social media you know these have been in the works for ages. It was trickier than I expected, and there are more on the way, but I can’t even tell you how awesome it is to see this first batch with my own very eyes. And hands. Ooooooo it’s exciting!
You can purchase the pillows in person from Stumble & Relish right now for $48. I’ll be selling a *slightly* different version of the pillow covers (unstuffed) online in a few weeks, but this is the grand premier and the only place you can see them in person. So get it while the getting is good!
The actual pillows are 18″ square, cotton, but with a linen-looking finish. The front is a cropped segment of my painting “Bite Me Sheila” and the back is solid linen/almost-beige color. I had a few different samples made and I fielded a few friends for opinions, and the overwhelming conclusion was that doing these on a slightly off-white base makes them look a little more high end, and the colors on the front pair with more neutral surroundings. If your house is currently done up in neutrals but you want a punch of color, these will work nicely. These pillows play well with others!
Stumble & Relish is also selling three prints of floral paintings never seen before. These are all smaller, cropped versions of pre-paintings that never made it to the finish line, but are very similar to some of the more popular pieces in my popup shop from last fall. They are already framed (white frames + wide white mats = my favorite) and retail for $60.
Not sure if I’ll be selling more of these as I still need to figure a decent/affordable print provider, but, it’s in the soup.
PS: That’s my new favorite expression, “In the soup.” As in, the soup is cooking it just might take a while before it tastes right. Isn’t that a good expression? Yeah. I think so too.
So let’s get back to the important thing: THIS WINDOW.
I’m so excited! Sooooo excited!
Many thanks to Jaime and Paulette at Stumble & Relish for inviting me to share in the fun and for helping me reach the next steps in launching my dreams. The tiny little twinkle inside me that always dreamed of having a product line never thought it would happen, and now it has (sorta), and it is bizarre, absolutely bizarre, to drive down the street and look in a shop window and say THAT’S MINE! Annnnnnnnnd it’s in a window I got to help set up? Man!
The 11-year-old me, the one who begged for a mannequin for Christmas, is so proud of the 36 year-old me, it hurts. And I’m not going to lie, it feels really good.
Now I know what you are thinking: Did you get the mannequin?
You bet your ass I did.
Her name was Trixi. Great hair. Size 4. Hated shoes. My uncle named her after a Tijuana prostitute and she was the best dressed mannequin in the neighborhood. Obviously. This photo looks weird, but you have to remember that one of the ’80s greatest contributions to humanity was the movie Mannequin, staring hunkadelic Andrew McCarthy and Kim Catral before she lost her damn mind. Little girls nowadays have Frozen – I had Mannequin. And Mannequin 2: On the Move. No judgements! If you have never seen the movie, I’m not going to spoil it for you, but I will leave you with the music video montage courtesy of Starship, not-coincidently titled, Nothing’s Going To Stop Us Now, which is exactly how I’m feeling this week. Great things are coming! And all of this is thanks to you guys. Thank you for making this possible, and thanks for coming along for the ride.
Dream building: let’s do this!
Deb in Oklahoma
Yippety-do-DAH! Not only do you have a product line of beautiful pillows and prints, but you also have a window display! You are practically Rhoda Morganstern, which is always good in my book. And that is one dreamy window, too. I mean it. I would totally stop and look at everything, and then go inside and buy something. I only know you though your webpages, but I’m still proud of you!
Andrew McCarthy in the 80’s = adorable. Andrew McCarthy now = beyond handsomely dreamy.
Cody
Congratulations! The pajacki is gorgeous (and one day I’ll get the courage enough to make one of my own).
Geri Johnson
I love that your pillows from a painting called Bite Me Sheila play well with others! 😀
Congrats on all the new ventures! I’m so excited for you! And can’t wait to see what you do next! 😀
jaime
I can tell you it is amazing, they are amazing & I want one of everything! Now if only this Pajacki would fit in my house! Aunt Peaches you rocked our window and we are beyond honored to have you share your floral wonderland with us & with our customers. We all thank you. On these gray winter days, this window is a special slice of all the things our eyes need right now. Thank you and thank you for sharing it!
Michelle L
Oy oy oy the pillows! Hurry up and get them on the internet so I can get me some. Love this new venture, Oh Peachy Entrepreneur!
ML
dancing in circles! jumping up and down..running crazy like a nutzy kitten SO ..so happy for you.. and DAMN PROUD of you TOO!! Big hugs, sweet pea! love you! X -ml
AnnW
So, do we have to call Stumble and Relish to order the pillows, or are you going to have a link. I don’t think the Bite Me pillow will go with Anything in my house, but I’m going to make it work. I think one of the little prints is a cousin of my big Toledo painting. Congratulations, Peach! Well done, and I’ll take a cosmetic case or purse in the same pattern.
Lexietumcraft
I love everything about this post! You don’t know how many times I watched Mannequin 2 as a child. Plus im super excited to get one of your pillows when the go live!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!
Spring B.
So excited for you! I am most definitely not in the Chicago area, so I will be waiting with bated breath for online pillow sales to start. Happy day! 🙂
Carla
I have so much to say about this post but first: my dad was an extra in Mannequin 2!!! Okay, now that that is out of the way, those pillows and prints are insanely fabulous!!! Do I really need to fly to Chicago to buy one, because I’ve always wanted an excuse to visit the Windy City! I am having so much fun watching you kill it as a creative entrepreneur!
Alice Schmid
Soooo glad you are back! I love this chandelier! I grew up in the portage cragin era and at that time it was 100% polish, italian, irish. I love any all things Polish.
This is gorgeous and i LOVE the pillows! Does the store sell them by mail?
jan
i have followed you forever aunt peaches….i am so darn happy with all the great things that are happening for you!!!!! and the window? i wish it was in my house!!!! it’s a masterpiece 🙂
Susan Harper
So GREAT!!! I’m so happy for you!! I know you are thrilled and PROUD of your babies!! Can’t wait to get my hands on some of these goodies!
Lindsay Millican
dude, you are living the dream! I think Trixi would be proud.
Nancy
I am so happy for you, the widow display, pillows, prints….everything! Your work it beautiful, and filled with joy.
Love it all,
N.
Rebekah
Huzzah! Everything is AWESOME–window, pillows, prints. So excited for you! 🙂
Annie Pazoo
So so happy and proud for you Peaches! Can’t wait until we make it home to Evanston/North Shore next summer and can visit the store in person. Maybe you’ll have a summer window up then!!!!
BeckyKay
That is one darn good lookin’ window! That chandelier is incredible. I’ll definitely be reading your tutorial on that one!
Congratulations on the product line! Love the bright colors on that pillow!
Marie-Pierre
Where can I buy a pillow? They are no longer available on the online shop and I looooove them!!
I live in Canada.
Thanks!