Word to Your Mother

With Mother's Day on the brain, we Trovesters recently enjoyed a lively email thread where we shared some of the wisdom we've gained as well as a few funny stories we've collected along the way. Motherhood is no joke but thankfully, there's much comic relief for those of us who are lucky enough to know the highs and lows of parenting. 

Here's a little glimpse into the convo from our most recent emails...


Some of our all-time favorite parental sayings are quotes from movies. Our kids are just now catching on:
* Be the ball.
* You can do it or you can do it with dignity.
* Are you for goodness or for badness?
* I don’t think that word means what you think it means.

Vitamin D and Saline Spray cure most things.

Use the “real” words with your kids.

Example: I’m pregnant with my son, taking my 5 year old to her pediatrician appointment.
Doctor: So your mommy has a baby in her tummy. Her reply, said with great contempt: The baby is in her uterus!

I was so proud.

And then there's this gem, taken from the daughter of a Trovester:

An important skill that my mom taught me early on was the ability to laugh at myself. The world is a lighter place if you can joke (and take a joke) with the people you meet along the way. Of course my mom always led by example. She embarrassed herself on a monthly basis- whether it was having a thong fall out from her pant leg in the airport security line or accidentally flashing the guests at a Halloween party when her costume malfunctioned. In these moments however, my mom hardly even blushed, but rather absorbed these situations so that she could later share them with her friends and family over a glass of wine. No wonder she has always been popular.

 

 

 

Jean Therapy

Our quest for great jeans has been lifelong. Yes, we all know the struggle is real. But in denim brand beija-flor (pronounced beige-ah-floor), we've found some of the softest, most flattering denim around. 

A mother-daughter duo founded the brand, inspired by figure-flattering styles seen on stylish ladies while living in Brazil. The team at beija-flor creates luxuriously lightweight denim that works with a woman's curves. The jeans come in universally flattering cuts with strategic stitching, illusion washes and perfectly placed pockets for those oh-so sought after slimming effects. Who wouldn't love THAT??

The entire line features wrinkle-free and breathable fabrics that keep you cool throughout the day that are also water-resistant, to boot! Each pair features "bounce-back memory stretch" which helps battle the dreaded gapping at the waist. 

Our selection of beija-flor jeans will be gracing some of the models at the Spring Fling fashion show and luncheon on Thursday, March 10th. Get more details about this fantastic event here

Come try on your perfect pair at our beija-flor trunk show at The Trove on March 10th & 11th and we'll give you a free gift! Purchase a pair and you get another free gift! We'll even be open at 9:30am on Friday, March 11th for those of you with school drop off/pick up schedules to consider.

While in Roanoke, stop by The North End on March 10th from 1-3pm & March 11th from 10-2pm for their Blanc Noir and Vignorella trunk shows. It's an absolute fashion frenzy in #thenoke this month!

Q & A with Julie Toles from Hedgehog Press

We're tickled about our upcoming barn workshops with Hedgehog Press. Julie Toles is a talented, driven, generous and kind artisan, who creates lovely goodies on her antique presses like greeting cards, cork coasters and leather tags for liquor decanters (all of which are available for purchase at The Trove). We asked Julie to share a little bit about her business, in advance of the workshops, so we could all get to know her a little better.

 

How did you come up with the name Hedgehog Press?

Hedgehogs represent optimism, feminine empowerment, and creative expression! It just fit! Also, I love that hedgehog's are generally considered a pest in places they are native to. They are very difficult to remove from a garden or backyard. I think I liked the idea that I would be difficult to remove...I'm here to stay!

What was your motivation for starting a boutique printing company?

My main motivation was to have a place to create my work. I am a printmaker which requires a lot of specialized equipment and space. Starting my own business came very naturally to me. My whole family is centered around entrepreneurship! We all have our own businesses and I have always grown up around family-run enterprises. I knew I had to figure out a way to sustain a space and not just rely on my artwork sales, then the printshop as it is now was born! And I absolutely love it!

What's your most favorite project to date?

It is so hard to have a favorite project! Everything is so different and specialized. I recently painted on a bass drum for a local jazz band, sculpted 11 elephants out of floral foam for a wedding, and was included in a styled wedding photoshoot that was picked up by The Knot! So many fun aspects about what I get to do everyday!

How do you stay creative?

I try to live a completely creative lifestyle meaning everything I do revolves around my creation process. I love being out in nature and try to go hiking at least one a week! That always gets me energized and helps me feel inspired! I also have a wonderful group of creative friends that keep me on my toes. Sketching and making things for no particular reason also helps me relax and hone in on what I'm doing. 

Whose art do you most admire?

I have always loved Robert Rauschenberg's work. His style and compositional skills are just amazing to me. I love his use of color and the voice he chooses to represent in his work is very compelling. I also love Francisco Goya. I felt as though I had a religious experience while viewing his work in Spain in 2009 and since then have been an admirer. He created prints for a reason, for communication, a way to showcase injustices...I have always felt a strong responsibility to printmaking as an art form for these reasons. 

What's next for Hedgehog Press?

With recent sales to larger retailers, I am looking to expand soon. I have some exciting ideas in the works and hope to see them come alive in 2016! I am sort of keeping the plans low key for now until I know they are able to happen.

We know you collect hedgehog figurines, etc and that people often give hedgehog paraphernalia to you. How many hedgehog tchotchkes do you own by now? 

Oh my goodness! People are so sweet and find me the cutest hedgehog themed items. I recently had an elementary school group visiting and had them count the hedgehogs around the room while they each waited their turn on the printing press. I think we lost track somewhere after 62!

Sign up for these fantastic February Workshops with Hedgehog Press @ The Trove!

To Market, To Market

We Trovesters go to great lengths to bring the freshest goodies to our corner of Northeast Indiana. We search high and low during  our personal travels and a few times a year, we assemble at the best wholesale markets to divide and conquer. We find not only fantastic pieces we just know  you'll love but also make new friends, strengthen our team bonds and consume more than our fair share of vino after long days on our feet. We love (almost) every single second. Take a peek at our latest expedition to the famed AmericasMart Atlanta. This massive wholesale market features an exhilarating yet exhausting seven million square feet. Yes, SEVEN MILLION! Our FitBit bands didn't know what hit 'em...

Trovesters REPRESENT! Just for the record, that's iced coffee in Melani's cup, not wine as you might have first suspected.

The labyrinth of hell...AKA Building 3 (of 4 total buildings). New tees, books, jewelry, linens and furniture found! 

Look for these stunning candle lanterns at The Trove, arriving soon!

Leslie, with one of our fab sales reps, placing a jewelry order.

Can't wait to add this new line to our jewelry department.

Placed a BIG order for these retro style Newgate clocks.

Love love love these cutie canvas totes.

We always have fun in the Ben's Garden booth.

Not so bad to be indoors on a dreary, foggy day.

These pretty throws and pillows have us dreaming of Spring!

Not everything's a winner. You won't be finding this one at The Trove...

And another item we won’t be bringing back.

Wine vs. Food --- there's a clear favorite.

New Bed Stu!

You're going to fall in love with new Barefoot Dreams for littles.

Kitchen islands, awesome tables and  accent pieces - Leslie was clearly having a blast at this booth.

It's imperative to practice restorative yoga poses throughout the day.

Whew! We're exhausted all over again.

Stay tuned for the impending arrivals of our many new finds!

Personalized Presents

There are few gifts as thoughtful as those that are personalized. Giving such an item means you've put effort and time into the gift, which is sometimes more treasured by the recipient than the item itself. We're beyond happy to have partnered with local small biz, A + D Monogram Design, to bring you fun, modern ways to customize everyday items, elevating them into stylish, coveted pieces. 

A + D Monogram Designs offers chic, clear acrylic keychains, business card holders and pencil cups for you to emblazon. Or, adorn your car door, laptop, phones and tablets or S'well bottles. With a multitude of color options and monogram styles, printed on premium adhesive nylon, the only thing holding you back is your imagination.

There's still time left to line up some personalized presents for your stylish loved ones. Stop by The Trove ASAP to get your custom monograms then just pretend you did it ages ago...

We're open Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 - 5pm and Thursday from 11 - 3pm. See you soon!

Gifts for Everyone

We Trovesters search far and wide for the best gifts around -- and we have tons of fun doing it! Because we travel extensively and always keep our eyes peeled, you'll always find a varied array of unique inventory. Forget the big box stores and generic gift cards. Come shop The Trove for everyone on your list. Need some ideas? We've got you covered. 

For those on the go.

For the classicist.

For the traveler.

For the stylish do-gooder.

For the gourmand.

For little readers.

For the aficionado. 

For the fashionably funky.

For the ones who like to make their mark.

For those who like to snuggle up.

For the well groomed guy.

For the glamour girl.

For the green beauty junkie.

 

See you at The Trove!

Deck the Halls

At The Trove, we LIVE for the festive holidays of Winter. There's nothing that warms the home quite like the scent of fresh evergreens, twinkle lights, shimmering ornaments and special tableware. Because we're so passionate about these wonderful things, we make sure to stock the store with all kinds of holiday goodies. From luxurious candles to cozy plaid blankets, swing by the shop and feather your nest for the holidays and the long Winter stretching before us... 

Jewels in the Village

It's Christmas in the Village on Saturday, December 5th and we'll be having one of the best parties in town. Oh-so talented, local jewelry artisan Libby Ash will be popping up at The Trove with her amazingly gorgeous baubles. Her collection is elegant yet distinctive, perfect for the hard to shop for lovely ladies on your list. 

'Tis the season for sparkling adornments!

For more information about this weekend's Christmas in the Village, click HERE.

#ShopSmallSelfie Contest

We had an absolute blast celebrating Small Business Saturday last weekend. Our store in Roanoke was packed, as was our downtown Fort Wayne pop up shop at The City Exchange. We were beyond excited to see so many happy shoppers supporting small stores, brands and artisans. It made our entrepreneurial spirits soar!

We hosted a fun giveaway of locally made products featuring Best Boy & Co., Hedgehog Press, FoxSea Skin, Second Chance Farms and Melani Wilson Designs. The lucky winner was Renee Densel, who posted a picture of her pretty, newly monogrammed (in-house by A+D Monogramming) S'well bottle! 

Congrats, Renee! Thanks for shopping small!

Cozy & Comfy Gifts for the Holidays

The Roanoke Holiday Gift Extravaganza is coming up this weekend and there'll be so much fun to be had in #thenoke. From complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides, courtesy of Joseph Decuis, to specials in many of the boutiques and gobs of delicious vittles from the restaurants and bakeries, you'll be so happy to kick off your holiday shopping in our little corner of Indiana.  

At The Trove, we'll have TONS of new merchandise as well as holiday trims and hostess gifts for your upcoming celebrations. In our gorgeous barn (if we may say so ourselves) we'll be featuring two local brands known for their oh-so-soft and cushy, cute goods. 

KIND uses cashmere and merino wool to create one of a kind gifts, toys and accessories while Two Elle's creates unique cuddly dolls and Tooth Fairy pillows. 

Spend this Saturday in #thenoke and come see us in that gorgeous barn we're always going on and on about... 

For more information about the Roanoke Holiday Gift Extravaganza, click HERE!