In April, we had more letters than normal because we held a contest for what you like about the store and another for what could be improved (or what you don’t like). Here are some of the responses:
I have a positive testimony for your shop, my girlfriend came in last weekend and purchased a darling yellow and black wallet, and was thrilled with the customer service and loves your inventory as well. Just thought I’d share that with you! – Ricky R. (this letter came after and apart from the contest)
I love your store and did buy a gift for my daughter-in-law who lives in the Spokane Valley. I live near Vancouver, WA and thus the reason that I have not been in your store this past month. I received a double lung transplant in Dec. 07 from a young woman from Coeur d’Alene. Her mother brought me to your store. We had a fun day and when I go back to visit my donor family, we will be sure to stop by your shop again. – Judy P. (this was an amazing story and these are amazing people)
Good Morning! I was just in your store this past Saturday, I love your store, your prices are very reasonable and when I come in I always leave happy and satisfied. Thank you for such a wonderful store. – Valerie S. (you are welcome, come see us again)
My favorite piece in my home is from your store. – Anne M. (this is our goal for every home)
Sorry, I haven’t been in . . . with 4 kids its hard to get in there and look. But my birthday is on Friday so I hope to be able check the store out again soon. – Dianna S. (happy birthday!)
If I had a steady income . . . I would shop at your store several times a week! I thank you for being so diligent in your emails and discounts in these trying times. – Philis G. (our hearts go out to those who are struggling at this time and we try to have good deals available, even for limited budgets)
You are Fantastic . . . give Robin my best – I can still remember the lovely coffee aroma in your store and her wonderful laughter & giggles. – Margareta L. (thanks, again)
I was in your store, but once I discovered a scarf that was made out of REAL rabbit fur, I was not only offended but horrified as well. I cannot and will not endorse a store that carries this kind of merchandise. – Susan S. (sorry, I guess we cannot please everybody and sometimes we have strongly held differences in our beliefs)
I love your store. I would buy more if I could . . . Unique Motif has many beautiful items for the inside of the house. Now that spring is finally in the air a lot of the neighbors are thinking about being outside and enjoying their patio and yards. It is just a suggestion to see if other people would be interested in you selling more decorations, furniture and accessories for the outside. – Katie B. (took your suggestion and have garden arbors, trellis, plant hooks and holders and more)
I love you guys and your store and can hardly wait to come back and buy some of my favorite things! – Joy C. (hope to see you soon)
Hi!! I love your store . . . I love your candles and I really like your clocks. It is fun to walk around and look at the new things you have. If I come in around pay day I am more apt to spend money. – Sandy R. (please come in around pay day!)
We are from CDA, but recently moved to Oceanside, CA with the Marine Corps. I discovered this store when we were visiting for Christmas last year. It was a fluke. We were killing time before while we waited for our pizza to be made. The lady working (Robin) was so nice. I was mostly touched by the personal service . . . This is one of the stops I look forward to when I go home next. – Alison S. (thank you for your service to our country. You and your husband will be in our prayers)
I have had some things on my heart concerning you for some time, and after reading this new issue of your newsletter, I just find I must send you a note . . . I am sorry your business is down, but you may have more luck bringing people in the store if you are more positive in your approach. You need to uplift the attitude of your newsletter . . . but it feels very negative to the reader! You have a wonderful intent for your message, but instead of making the reader want to rush in, we read this real, real long message about people not coming in . . . You could have a wonderful, cute, uplifting message with bright happy text. I really believe it might make a difference! People are in need of uplifting. Again, I feel like short and to the point will get the most interest. You have a wonderful store and products at great prices, its just hard to become known. – Richard A. (I am really sorry this is the way you see the newsletter – I don’t remember any of those negative messages but will look at it and work on it)
I just want you to know I do not have any complaints or suggestions. I read your newsletters. I just like to stop in occasionally and see what you have. Sometimes, I buy something and sometimes I do not. Money is tight but I love your offerings. Thanks for caring about your customers! Lois W (thanks, and come see us when you can – even if you are not buying anything!)
We enjoyed your e-message . . . Jean finds so many interesting gifts at the store for friends and family at reasonable prices that fit our budget. Fondly, Jean & Hal (thank God for good friends and regular customers)
Why is Unique Motif my favorite store? The name says it all, I love the uniqueness! Your products range from practical to decorative and everything in between, starting at just $1 and up . . . I have purchased from you an Idaho metal sign with cowboys . . . a metal sign with Chief Joseph riding an appaloosa . . . three garden frogs, “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.” Where else could I find such unique one stop shopping? – Kathy S. (another great fan!)
Sorry. I did not take any “before” photos. It was an old library table that was hand painted blue. A nasty, not-quite-so-baby blue. The old paint was scraped off by hand – not sanded. Then, around the table top, I added a 2.25 inch strip of oak that fades in at the drawer.
After more prep, the undercarriage was painted black. The burning on the legs was done AFTER the first coat of lacquer to burn the finish into the base.
The drawer is the original, except for the face. It was taken completely apart. A new face was created and dovetailed (hand cut) into the original carcass. Installation was completed after all the finish coats. I installed a standard touch latch for a push-in-to-open operation. However, the latch is not strong enough to push against the force of the ball-bearing, top mount drawer guide. Because this table is being used for display, I might worry about that later.
After coating the undercarriage with black enamel, the top was coated with red enamel. It took over two hours to burn the top.
But you can see, patience and 25 sheets of sandpaper was worth the effort. The lacquer finish is water-borne and is very easy to spray. Using a CA Tech Bandit pressure pot connected via hose and fittings to a Lynx gun. The setup is for HVLP, however I run it off an air compressor, filtered and regulated down to 40 pounds.
Another view of the beautiful burn. Finished 3 days ahead of schedule. I was determined to have this finished over the Memorial Day weekend (Monday). However, after finishing the burn on Thursday night, Friday I came home from work twice to coat lacquer and applied the third coat after work. Then, the finish had no sooner tacked up and I had the table flipped over on drop cloths and was installing the drawer! When I get excited, it is hard to wait – I probably would not have slept!
Here it is, being useful in our store on Saturday morning! I am grateful to God for giving me the health and the ability to do a project like this.
Best Of Times: part five
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009The car I did not remember, was the car my dad possessed when he got out of the service, the year I was born, 1953. It was an early ’40s Nash. This is the model with the smooth-flowing, rounded, no-hump back. Humpbacks were standard fare for cars in the 1940s and early ’50s. The Nash was set apart in style and features, but they were unable to convince the buying public of their superior quality. They and their successors eventually failed.
Times were different back then: politicians and taxpayers never gave a second thought to propping up and going into debt to forestall eventual corporate failure. In fact, we fought a war against this. We buried over 130,000 of our men on foreign soil in our fight against socialism, fascism and big government during WWII. We can thank God for our victory and hope we do not lose our vision.
My dad’s very first car was a ‘38 or ‘39 Chevy, like the one in this picture. It was a rust-bucket. He paid $50 for that car in 1949, which was an incredible amount of money for a boy of nineteen years. In my dad’s time, life was not easy and one had to work hard and save every nickel just to purchase basic transportation. People were grateful for every opportunity and determined to work hard to afford the things they needed. There was no minimum wage back then.
We live in bountiful times, despite the daily whine that flows from our politicians and the media. Our “difficult times” brought on by a “recession” still affords us more leisure and luxury than days of old. Today, a high school kid with a part time job can go to the bank or credit union and walk out with a loan for a five thousand or twenty-five thousand dollar car. Few students have to make the choice between that extra job and participation in sports.
When my dad was young, he lived in Greeley, Colorado with his family. His father built a house very similar to the one in the picture, but they never moved into it. This was a disappointment to my dad. But times were difficult and the house was sold and the family moved to Seattle.
This was a good thing, else my dad would never have met my mom and I would not be writing this story. My dad is a quiet man, steady, plodding and not prone to exhibition. My mom is . . . eccentric. One day, she found a rattlesnake skin and wore it around her neck to school. She was a hit and a controversy and my dad broke off with her. This, he usually did with every display of eccentricity – but this is also what drew him to her.
Mother was a Waley. Her dad, Gilbert, was an upholsterer, as was his father. He claimed to be part Cherokee, which grandma always poo-pooed. He told me that we came from a long line of Spanish conquistadors who came to live with the Indians. The problem was, grandpa had no Spanish blood, grandma did.
Grandpa always had stories of pirates and escapades and he told them as if he were part of it, even if they took place generations ago. Grandma, on the other hand, was secretive and hushed up the family history for quite some time. All her life, she went by the name Babe. It was even printed on her checks. In the last five years of her life, she saw fit to let us know the truth, that her name was Esmeralda.
Grandpa Waley’s cousin was the notorious Weyerhaeuser kidnapper, Harmon Waley. This man was the longest running prisoner at Alcatraz (1935 – 1963). He arrived approximate eight months after it opened and was released less than a half year of its closing. He is the same man who beat up Al Capone and his two goons, as reported in Time magazine 15 Jun 1936. The rest of this episode will be saved for a later date.
One of these days, I may also tell you the story why an apparently English surname, Waley, belongs to a French people. My grandfather, Gilbert, had a grandfather named Gilbert. It is this Gilbert Waley, the captain and owner of five whaling ships, the son of a French general under Napoleon, who brought the heritage of the tall boats and whaling ships to Mystic, Connecticut.
How is it such a boring little shop-keeper came from such a colorful history? And how did we get into all this by talking about old cars? More to come . . .
On the economic front, the big news of the week is that unemployment numbers have fallen and it looks like they are turning around. Large companies have reduced their wholesale layoffs and a lot of small businesses are really gearing up – and many of the laid off have started their own businesses. But the media is unrelenting: I read two accounts this week – news stories, not editorials, mind you – why this is not good news and that it is not going to last. Doom and gloom will be the media’s mantra – they are determined to self-destruct. Don’t join them in looking down – look up!
There is good news all around us! Always remember, God watches the sparrow and He cares about you. Don’t live in fear but be thankful for all God has given us!
Posted in best of times, commentary | No Comments »