Sunday 15 March 2009

Not goodbye...just au revoir! AND A COMPETITION!

T'is s bit of a long post today...and quite a lot to read...but it ends with a competition/giveaway!! ;-)
Yesterday, I found some rather lovely notecards in my fave card shop in Exeter...
The Card Gallery, Queen Street ;-)
I love this shop!
You can guess the rest!
They didn't stay as notecards for long...LOL
Tags for the fair!


I fiddled about with card, fabrics,ribbons and buttons...

And soon had a production line on the go ;-)


I've packaged them up in sets of 4


And put them in my shop



Meanwhile ...WIP..

I had about half a yard of this lovely, soft, velvety fabric in my stash




So have added a few more hearts to the heart stash....(I mean Mr Snippets might like to ring the changes in his car, don't you think? !! )

***
Now for the competition!

SHOCK HORROR!

Orange Tree , Princesshay, Exeter is closing!! ;-( ;-(


As you can imagine, this is rather upsetting for me!

It stocks (or did!) CK and Bridgewater Pottery..plus a whole lot more...and I was always allowed to take photos to promote the shop.

However, Orange Tree already have a shop at Darts Farm,Topsham...so Orange Tree will live on ;-)

To continue...here comes the interesting bit!

What/Who is going to take its place?!!!!;-)

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Please read on some more...

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Orange Tree opened its first store at Darts Farm in Topsham more than a decade ago, and followed that in 2007 with the opening of the Princesshay shop.
It is run by Sandy and Li Case, who stress that the Topsham Orange Tree store at Darts Farm will continue to operate as normal.
Mr Case said: "We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in Princesshay and it is with great sadness that we leave.
"We have had two successful years here but we have decided it is not quite right for our business."
He said a new store was expected to open at the outlet when Orange Tree closes.
"We have been made an offer we really couldn't refuse from an extremely good and successful business," he said.
"I cannot tell you who right now but I think Exeter will be very happy indeed that they are moving in here.

***

Wayne Pearce, Princesshay Centre director, said: "It is reassuring that despite the economic situation, Princesshay has continued to receive a good level of interest from a variety of leading brands and local independents regarding the units in Princesshay.
"We are in talks with an exciting new name to the city regarding the Orange Tree unit and are optimistic that we will be in a position to announce the new occupier in the near future.

***

Derek Phillips, chairman of Exeter Chamber of Commerce, said: "Princesshay continues to attract a huge level of interest and I think people will be very excited about who is moving into Orange Tree.

***

'Exciting!'

'Happy"'

'Excited!!'

'Extremely good and successful business!!'

Are you all thinking what I am thinking?

***
Yes, I have somehow managed to convince myself that a new CK shop will be opening in Princesshay Exeter!!

Knowing the shop as I do, it's the ideal size...and with the Cathedral right behind it ..great for photos/ blogging purposes!!

(I could be way off the mark though. I have been known to be wrong about so many things!!)

***
And so for my competition...

All you have to do is say which business YOU think might be moving into Orange Tree.

If you want to all guess CK..that's fine!;-)

If you have any better ideas, then fine too.

GOOD LUCK!!;-)

I'll find a lovely giveaway..but it might be some time until they announce the new occupants of the shop..so be patient!

How exciting!!


Meanwhile, a huge thank you to Orange Tree!
You have given me two years of (almost weekly) absolute pleasure!
;-)

22 comments:

  1. Hi Sal, I've no idea who might be moving in but just for the fun of it I'll say someone completely different like "COOK"!! Have you got a COOK already? (for your sake I hope it's CK though) Love Salx

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  2. And I have been grateful for the rest... ;) lol

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  3. Hmmmm...from all those comments I was thinking CK even before you said it!

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  4. It surely must be CK although - and I think I must be alone here! - I'm not particularly a CK fan because I don't like too much of any one type of thing in our home. I think CK is a bit like Laura Ashley in the 1970s: you saw it everywhere from frilly milkmaid dresses to patchwork pieces and beyond. It's a pity when something is univerally (well, almost universally) liked, it then appears on blimmin' everything and we are in danger of style overkill. But as CK is so popular I think I must be alone with these thoughts, that a little of almost anything goes a long way.
    Margaret Powling

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  5. I will have a guess at Emma Bridgewater as you say that the shop stocked some of her items. I am probably way out. I hope it is not a happy hamburger joint!

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  6. How about Woollies?
    OR... Harvey Nicks..?
    My money would be on...TOAST.. beautiful clothes though out of my price bracket..
    I hope for your sake it is CK ..

    Michele xx

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  7. How very interesting! I will have to have a think about what might move in. My friends' dad had a jeweller's shop in Princesshay in the 1980s. Thanks for your message - we were indeed having a lovely afternoon with our friends when you got in contact!

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  8. Hey! I dont know your city so not sure what you have already, erm how about laura ashley?? i bet you have one of those though! We're trying to get CK to sell stock in our local home bits n bobs store in Romsey but they're reluctant as they already have stock 12 miles away!-a poor excuse dont you think!!
    Kirsty xxx

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  9. Sorry to dampen your excitement, but just lately down my neck of the woods the only thing opening up in every town - and I mean EVERY town, is SUBWAY! or a Tesco's Express!!

    Soon all our towns will have the same mundane shops, as if they havnt already!...so sorry to hear your favorite shop going! We need little quaint shops like this to stay open, to keep Blighty unique!

    Oh well we can dream! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you honey...If its not what you think it will be...visit me...Our Tunbridge Wells CK is wonderful and well worth a visit! If you are ever down this way - I will take you myself xx

    Love Happy x

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  10. Maybe not just CK but a whole new fabric shop that sells fabrics other than curtaining. I desperatly hope for this. We have lost so many of these stores and I hope in the newclimate we will see a revival.

    Margaret

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  11. Oh you poor thing but let's hope, for your sake, it is a C.K shop! I love her stuff - pity it's not in Australia....(sad face on the other side of the world...:(...)
    Your tags are really gorgeous - the colours are beautiful.

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  12. I really hope it is a CK too. There aren't enough of them are there? Laura Ashley would be good too, I always feel inspired after going there!
    Or wouldn't an independent shop be lovely, selling Greengate, CK, Emma Bridgewater,Caroline Zoob, and crafts too?!!!! You could supply them with your lovely makes! NOW THAT WOULD BE A GREAT SHOP!!!
    I agree with everyone else though we don't want any old boring Tesco, mobile phone shops, or Subways!!!
    Have a lovely week : )

    Sharon xx

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  13. Hmmmmm not too sure!! I do hope it's CK for you. x

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  14. Oh, what a shame the Orange Tree is closing - you will miss your favourite shop. Have no idea what will replace it but I hope your dream of a CK shop comes true:)

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  15. I really hope it is CK but I've looked on the web site & it only mentions Liverpool. I've also checked out the internet & it doesn't give anything away. My friend works in the ad dept of the local newspaper, she said she would let us know if she heard anything. I can't think of what it could be, we don't really need anything but CK....LOL!!! Hope it's not another clothes shop. A tiny John Lewis would be good!! Love the tags, I'm looking forward to the fair now. I'm not sure how the flowers are selling, Jen hasn't emailed me, how many did you see??? x

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  16. I was going to say CK, hmmm CK or erm Past Times!!!!
    Lovely hearts Sal
    Twiggy x

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  17. Dear Sal - I love your tags! They are totally delightful, what fun you must have had making those.
    Now as for the shop.... ummmm .... might it be Joules? Or do you already have that? Or could even be a mini Marks and Spencer food? I hope, for your sake, it is CK !!!

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  18. Hmmm... How about a MilkShake bar? They seem to be popping up everywhere!


    xxxxx

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  19. Yes, I, too, was thinking the same before you mentioned it. I hope you are right. In this bleak economic climate CK seems to be going from strength to strength. Those tags are wonderful, clever you!

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  20. I really really hope it's not a Starbucks! CK would be wonderful wouldn't it?

    Lovely tags you have there, and the hearts are delicious!

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  21. Great minds and all that - as I was reading my mind automatically thought CK CK CK!!!! However.....not knowing Exeter obviously...but knowing my town....my guess is poundland:) :)!!!

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  22. OK, I have decided to suggest L'Occitaine, which is a local French firm now selling in the UK. I think they specialise in organic lavender and violet-based cosmetics and household products. How's that for a wild guess?

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Thank you for taking the time to comment! ;-)