Country Living Magazine.....

You cannot imagine how excited I am that DIGS got a little Garden Shop love from Country Living Magazine this month.  The article is titled "Garden Shops Worth the Trip..."  HOLY CRAP!!!!!  They put us in the same article as Terrain and Flora Grubb!!!!!!!  I feel a swoon coming on.........  Check out the article on our website.    www.digs-pdx.com .  

YIPPEE!!!!!!!

so most you know that three weeks ago we were lucky enough to expand our shop and open the "out" side of digs inside & out.  We now have a whole new 800 sq. ft. of outdoor furniture, outdoor accessory, outdoor fabric, pots and plants to share with everyone...and if that wasn't good enough...today we were approved for a grant from the portland development commission's storefront improvement project to put in windows across the front of our new space (alberta street side) and to put a glass roll-up door on the 19th ave side, new awnings and new signage for our entire building.  HOLY CRAP!   my head is spinning!  the changes will be so impactful to our business as well as to the face of alberta street.  three cheers for the PDC!  hip hip, hooray!  stay tuned for ongoing photo documentation..........

OFF TO HIGH POINT!

YIPPEE! Tomorow we're off to the High Point Furniture Market for the 7th year.......soooooo much to see and get for the shop and for clients! Visiting with Hickory Chair, Visual Comfort, Soicher Marin, Design Legacy, Bernhardt........and on and on! Lucky enough to stay at the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro and have reservations at Print Works Bistro - every night - the perfect place to wind down after a long and tiring day at market (with a cocktail, of course!)! YIPPEE!!!!! Stay tuned for photo documentation of what new stuff we're looking at........

April showers...

.....will bring May flowers......but in the meantime, don't you need a super stylish umbrella? I could not resist these 4 lovelies for the shop......so sophisticated! I kept a black pagoda umbrella for myself....although it was a difficult for desicion between it and the black ruffled one...... get out of the rain........please stop by and test one out!

WE'RE EXPANDING....and it''s about time!!! Read on.......

two of my favorite things.......

I LOVE HELLO KITTY - I LOVE LOVE LOVE KISS (go ahead, roll your eyes) -what could be better than to love both of them at the same time! YIPPEE!!!!!!

PANTONE COLORS FOR FALL FASHION - 2012

Pantone announces top fashion colors for fall

HTT Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/9/2012 2:11:07 PM

Carlstadt, N.J. - Global color authority Pantone has released its color report for fall 2012 and announced the 10 top colors for women's and men's fashions.

"By playing to consumers' practical side with versatile neutrals, and boosting their confidence with bold, spirited hues, this skillfully balanced palette has something for everyone," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®.

The top colors for women's fashion for fall 2012 are:

Pantone 19-4056 Olympian Blue
Pantone 17-1463 Tangerine Tango
Pantone 18-5338 Ultramarine Green
Pantone 17-4014 Titanium
Pantone 15-1142 Honey Gold
Pantone 18-2133 Pink Flambé
Pantone 16-3817 Rhapsody
Pantone 14-1506 Rose Smoke
Pantone 19-1012 French Roast
Pantone 14-0445 Bright Chartreuse

for men's fashion for fall 2012 are:

Pantone 19-1012 French Roast
Pantone 19-4056 Olympian Blue
Pantone 15-1142 Honey Gold
Pantone 17-1463 Tangerine Tango
Pantone 18-5338 Ultramarine Green
Pantone 17-4014 Titanium
Pantone 19-1652 Rhubarb
Pantone 14-0445 Bright Chartreuse
Pantone 16-3304 Sea Fog
Pantone 12-0304 Whitecap Gray

DOMINO.IS.COMING.BACK.HOLY.CRAP!

HALLELUJAH! I can hardly believe the news I just heard...Domino magazine is coming back....I cannot begin to tell you how happy this makes me. Oh, how I have missed Domino....here is what I have read.......

Domino magazine is returning to semi-regular publishing on April 17th. The new issue, titled Domino's Quick Fixes, will "mix new and previously published content." Today's news release described the project as "Domino's best home decorating stories, focusing on easy, often inexpensive changes that make a big difference -- from quick spruce-ups of dowdy furniture to more involved DIY projects like painting stairs or reorganizing a home office."The issue will be available on newsstands until July 16th for $10.99. "A second issue is planned for the fall, although the subject matter is not known at this time."

I will be anxiously awaiting April 17th.......

WHAT A BLACK FRIDAY!!!!

WHEW! Yesterday was a CRAZY day at the shop! I was totally blown away by all the 'local' shoppers who were not going anywhere near a big bog store! I cant thank everyone enough for making yesterday a truly remarkable day for our small shop! We had so much fun - champagne, hot cider and yummy treats for everyone - everyone was in such a good mood and the weather was SPECTACULAR! YIPPEE!!!!!!!

The true ROCK STARS of the day, however, was Betsy and the staff at Betsy and Iya at 24th & NW Thurman, who really put their all into organizing the "LITTLE BOXES" local shopping event, which was truly the hit of the day! We had so many shoppers come in with their receipts from other stores and their neighborhood shopping maps - it was a true success! So MANY MANY thanks to Betsy and Iya for organizing the whole thing - a truly remarkable feat! Perhaps they will take it on again next year????? Hint, hint!!!!!

And then, in the evening we had Tannenbaum Madness on Alberta Street - all the shops were open late and it was sooo festive! 30 stores had their trees lit and a good time was had by all! Thanks so much to Sara at Alberta Main Street for all the work on that project!

Allrighty the, it is on to Small Business Saturday! Thanks American Express!!!!!

Have a great weekend - and here's to the holidays! CHEERS!!!!!!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

GOBBLE GOBBLE!!!!!!....and then it is onward into the shopping season! COME SHOPPING AT DIGS!!! Everything is 20% off both Friday and Saturday...and did I mention that we have champagne and hot spiced cider??????

before and after boudoir chairs - so cute!

Check out this pair of vintage boudoir chairs we just re-upholstered in this beautiful limey-green and black linen (with black welting - just like a bit of eyeliner!) and put in the shop! So dang cute!!!!! They before fabric was a little scary but they really turned out beautifully! $450 each, just in case you want one.......

YIPPEE!!!!! WE'RE OFF TO ITALY!!!

So the French One and I are off on our every-other-year- fall trip to Italy - Siena to be exact! YIPPEE! A real vacation - it is fully my intent to not work at all for 12 days - I'll let you know how that works out!

OK....I will do a bit of shopping.......

We leave on Thursday......so you may not hear from me for a while.......

Have a good 12 days! Arrivederci!

Above are a few pictures of our last trip...so lovely!

YIPPEE.....it's finally fall!!!!

My favorite season........time for fall colors and falling leaves, time to pick apples and pumpkins....time to wear sweaters and berets and time to make soup! Fall in Portland is a lovely thing! YIPPEE!!!!!!

How cute is this Hello Kitty.......LOVE LOVE!

Have a great weekend!!!

THE CRAVE BOOK IS HERE!

YIPPEE!!!!! We are in the CRAVE guide again this year....such a fabulous book of local, women owned businesses! The books are $20 and available in the shop! Don't you just want one????

...only 3 more days......

...until I leave for Paris! YIPPEE!!!!! Usually I stay on the Left Bank in the 5th, 6th or 7th, but this time I am trying it over on the Right Bank in the super fun Marais District......close to the most amazing Place des Vosges and Centre Pompidou........talk about a contrast! A bit more work to do before heading out......and a few more dinners with friends and Frenchy over the weekend...but for now, off to slumberland - I have a head cold to get rid of! Chop Chop!!!

PARIS< HERE I COME...next week.......

So I am ALMOST out of here...I leave Monday the 5th but I have SOOOOOOOO much client work to do before I head off. .....and if I don't get over this head cold by then - if I actually have to fly to Paris with it - I think I'm gonna hurt someone! There is not much worse than flying with a head cold.

I'm stopping back through Chicago on my way back from Paris for the Casual Furniture Mart - all outdoor stuff - to place orders for Spring.

I am sooooo excited! Mais Oui!!!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Follow up on Not Neutral lantern

I just wanted to post this photo of the lantern in my last post actually in my garden. Looks pretty cool huh? Don't you just want one in your garden?????

Loving outdoor lighting.....

As you all know, I LOVE LOVE outdoor entertaining and everything that goes with it...(furniture, cocktails, fabric, cocktails, lighting...) so I have to share this line I carry at the shop that is AMAZING in the garden. The Not Neutral Lantern is an amazing addition to my garden because of the amazing light it gives off. This is not just another garden lantern, what makes it special is the candle stem that lifts out of the lanterns and allows you to light all 5 candles at once without having to reach inside and burn yourself. Also, since there are multiple candles on multiple levels, the light comes out the entire piece instead of just having one candle at the bottom.

Anyhoo....the pictures are below.......LOVELY! Should you happen to want on (or three) they come in black, white, yellow, lime green and black as well as 4 sizes. Look at that glow!!!! So cool!!!! Check them out below......


I have the largest size in orange siting on the edge of my deck and can be viewed from everywhere in the garden...DIVINE!

My opuntia is blooming!!!!

I brought this little lovely back from Intermountain Cactus in Salt Lake City, Utah. The flower is more orange than it looks in this photo. Truly stunning!!

Chinoiserie do-over

We have been working on a do-over for a client for the last few months. They went from an entirely peach interior to much more chic and colorful one. Here is some of the progress..... The upholstered pieces are all by Hickory Chair... Fabrics by Schumacher, Pindler and Duralee. Stay tuned for the finished product in a few weeks where we will post the before also. Huge change. HUGE!!!! I love my job!!!