Original Ink

Can't believe it is almost 2012

2011-12-26T07:45:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe I have survived the last few months. If you had seen all of the orders that deluged Original Ink since my last post you would understand why I have not posted on this blog since October. It has been a WOW experience with lots of ups and downs. And I MUST tell you that it would have been impossible to have gotten through this season without the help of my TEAM:
my store manager, Kim Shirley, my layout and printing assistant, Aaron Miller, my production assistants, Anna Miller and Claire Bowers, and last but not least - my right hand man who would do anything I needed- my husband Lawrence.

From left to right: Kim, Claire, Kathryn, Anna & Aaron

Claire and Lawrence at the assembly table

Original Ink designed and produced thousands of Christmas cards, party invitations, stickers and tags for our fun and creative customers in addition to our new Original Ink calendars for 2012, which were a hit.

We found local artisans that created unique items for our store and enabled us to offer our customers very special handmade gifts for their Christmas shopping. From the artisan goat's milk soaps, hand knitted baby hats, gourmet pecans and pottery ornaments (just to name a few), there was something to meet the needs on everyone's list. And now it is time to dive into a search for new items for the store in 2012 and time for me to get the creative juices going and paint and draw all the things that are swirling around in my brain.

We welcome your input and requests for new inventory suggestions at Original Ink so email or call and let us know what you need and want.

I look forward to seeing you and making beautiful and fun things for you in 2012

NOW, HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS FROM 2011

YEA!! Fall is finally here!

2011-10-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

I am SO glad the blistering hot summer days are behind us and I LOVE feeling a bit of cool fall breeze on my face these days. I actually got out to a couple of FALL CRAFTS FAIRS locally and cruised the artisans looking for NEW and fabulously ORIGINAL gift items for the ORIGINAL INK STORE...
FIRST OF ALL.... SALE TIME....
I have MORE TEAM CUPS and NAPKINS than I need and YOU NEED them for your TAILGATE and COLLEGE SPORTS EVENT PARTIES... so here you go.... a SALE:
25% OFF ALL COLLEGIATE PRODUCTS.... COME AND GET 'EM!!!

WE do have 2 new handmade items featured at Original Ink. One is beautiful Baby/Child's hand knitted sweater.....It would easily become a family heirloom that would be handed down for generations. It is beautifully made of the softest cotton and fully washable.

We also have the most adorable pair of baby UGG Booties... so cute!
I have replenished our stock of pottery bud vases - perfect little gifts... and I have new BABY BIRD Keepsake Cups for baby gifts...tiny birds adorn the handles.

Our Soy Candles are just THE BEST... Pair one with a lovely linen tea towel or some fall patterned Caspari paper napkins or guest towels for a perfect gift to take to your Thanksgiving Day Hosts.

New ARTWORK by a NASHVILLE artist is one of my favorite new additions.

and more ART by other artists

WE have the CRANE & CO Holiday Card Custom Album at Original Ink and are ready to take you order for Holiday greeting cards... 10% off special offer through October 31st.

I have added some new ARTWORK of my own to the Original Ink Design offering for the Holidays.

So... come order your Photo Cards, gift tags, stickers and greeting cards early.

Spooktacular Designs

2011-09-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN DESIGNS ARE HERE!

The smell of Fall is in the air and we are busying ourselves in preparation of Halloween Fun! Whether you're planning a ghoulish gathering, trick or treat fest, or birthday bash we have a SPOOKTACULAR invitation just for you. Come on over and let us get something "brewing" for your occasion!

Some of our samples:

Drop in and visit us soon and view or new selection of note cards, stationery, gift items, baby items and jewelry! And don't forget, Christmas is just around the corner so start thinking about your Christmas Cards. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Happy Haunting!

The Original Ink Team

Like us on Facebook

Visit us on the web at www.originalinkdesigns.com

Original Ink

7528 Second Street

Germantown, TN 38138

(901) 758-0889

Gearing up for FALL!

2011-09-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

Well friends, time is flying and soon I will be letting you know all about the Early Bird Christmas Card ordering special. It will be sometime in September.... so stay tuned for that!
We have gotten in some great things for Tail Gate parties: Team CUP and NAPKINS.... and I am creating new designs for great washable stickers for labeling the little ones cups and bottles for day care and mothers-day-out.
We have some very pretty new jewelry: freshwater pearls in white and black ... bracelets, neclaces and earrings.

NEW POTTERY will be here soon as well as the beautiful fall designs for the Caspari paper plates and napkins. WE have the most wonderful SOY CANDLES and some beautiful NEW ARTWORK.
So come in and check out all the new things.
I have added the CRANE Holiday Card Album for the most beautiufl Holiday cards as welll as wedding, mitzvah and holiday albums from Carlson Craft so we have more designs for you to choose from. The albums we have of Inviting Company photo cards and invites are VERY CUTE and we also now have a wonderful selection or note cards, note papers and pads from Embossed Graphics... order and their products are usually delivered within 5-7 days.. They have great embossed and raised ink products.

As for me... well the 90 hour work weeks will hopefully be coming to an end soon. I have my TEAM in place and we are diligently working to get our infrastructure of orgainzation in place so we can keep pace with all this great new business. I look forward to introducing the Original Ink TEAM to you soon.

I have given my dear husband, Larry, a break from building display items for the store. His last contribution was making The GIRLS... 2 wooden manequins . I named them after my mother, Eunice, and her childhood playmate, Fringella. As the weather cools, Larry will be building new steps for the deck entrance as well as a handicapped ramp. We have painted the front doors a buttery yellow and put out American flags .. I love all the colors and this new cooler fall weather has lifted the summer duldrums and put a bounce in our steps here at Original Ink...
Hope to see you soon.
Kathryn

Sorry... it's been crazy busy here!

2011-07-19T22:03:00.000-07:00

I have not posted anything for WAY TOO LONG! That has been mostly because I have been meeting myself coming (as the expression goes) with so many printing orders and all the other time consuming parts of owning and operating a business...whew.... exhausting (but I'm still loving it!)

My ribbon cutting and grand opening was Thursday, June 23rd and we had a good turn out.
The local Germantown chamber of commerce members were in attendance and very welcoming. Friends and customers came and gave lots of encouragement. We all enjoyed refreshments and getting to know each other. The responses were all favorable and everyone assured me that the store was going to be a HUGE hit in the community.

So..I guess I will be busier than ever!... I am slowly putting together a potential dream team of helpers. Once that is in place I hope to have more time to paint and create new designs for you all.

Meanwhile, the gift selections in the store have been expanded to include some BEAUTIFUL JEWELRY (by local artists, of course!). We have some gorgeous necklaces, earrings

and some UNIQUE COCKTAIL RINGS - hand fashioned from vintage Czech crystal buttons... HOW ORIGINAL!!

AND... really cute pins and clips in flower shapes made of pretty fabrics and felts.

Our local seamstress has been busy fashioning custom LAUNDRY BAGS (great for the big kids going off to college) in FAB FABRICS...featuring college colors and sorority mascots.

We also now have the CUTEST APRONS for Mother and Daughter.

Coming soon...CUSTOM KOOZIE COVERS... sophisticated fabrics with a beautiful monogram.. give your favorite CAN some CLASS!

THE NEST(the baby room) has been filled with the sweetest, unique little layettes, wraps, stuffed animals and more for baby with custom monogramming and embroidery available.

There are completely CUTE stuffed animals and the most ORIGINAL...

hand made stitched felt hair clips for you little girl

And for the new MOM.. we have very chic diaper bags and of course Original Ink's very original thank you notes.

Original Ink carries the Elizabeth W line of fragrances... a GREAT gift.

AND!!!! the ART and PARTY room is finished. It is a great space that feature paintings by local artists and provides a venue for small group gathering of 12-15 persons.... does your BOOK CLUB, KNITTING CLUB or BIBLE STUDY group need a place to meet. Come check it out and see if it might be just the answer to the problem of where to gather for your small group.

MORE IDEAS IN THE WORKS FOR THE ART AND PARTY ROOM - STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES.
SO.. that is the latest from Original Ink. Please come in and see us if you have not already. I think you will be amazed. Folks have said that Original Ink has been a well kept secret but that cat is about to LEAP out of the bag. (another expression... my momma had a lot of em')
So come shop early. Many of our gift items are hand made and one-of-a-kind ...so come in soon.

I'm HERE!

2011-04-17T19:43:00.000-07:00

I am still sorting and putting things away and spending more time than I'd like trying to find things that I know I have unpacked and put SOMEWHERE?? But I am really loving the new space..there is room for everything and then some more room!
It is a REAL STORE.... with ALL KINDS of cool things. Beautiful pottery, the sweetest baby things you have ever seen, bright and colorful paper plates and cups by Caspari and very nice embossed, engraved and letterpressed notes by Crane and Co. There are fragrances by Elizabeth W. , unique wine bottle stoppers, cute bunny slippers for a Happy Easter gift and pretty cosmetic bags or Kate Spade note and notepads for the graduate.

We are trying to offer handmade items by local artists when possible and have several artists creations that we hope to tell you about soon.

We have dubbed the baby room ... "The NEST" and it is a perfect place to find a gift for the new baby. We have the softest knit daygowns and sweet little cotton gowns, too. There's very HIP diaper bags and bibs in fun prints. The little girls in your life would love the hand made stitched felt hair clips with shapes like cupcakes, icecream cones, birds and flowers. There are wonderful paintings by Missy Hensley and Mary Williams

The pottery in fern and bird nest designs are FABULOUS. . Platters, covered bowls, honey pots and latte mugs... there are even the cutest little cups for "bebe" with the word imprinted on the side OR a baby cup with tiny bird on the handle.

The bird nest pottery was recently included in a Historic home and garden show in Collierville and were the perfect accent pieces on the table decorarated with birds nests and a little birds

Many pieces are one of a kind and won't last long so come and see me soon for all your gift giving needs.

Now here is my latest invitation design...

perfect for your Little Golfer!

AND TWO NEW HAPPY EASTER CARDS

Remember: BE CREATIVE, BE UNIQUE, BE ORIGINAL!!!

Getting Ready... So MUCH to do!

2011-03-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

The TO DO list has been a MILE long.... and I have cracked the whip over my poor hubby and daughter til they have nearly revolted...but I keep them fed in the evenings and heap on the praises for their hard work and that seems to keep them going.

The Carpenter/Husband

The Carpenter and his Creation

My aspiring carpenter husband has taken precious time off from his work as a personal fitness trainer extraordinaire, to build my GORGEOUS HUGE work station/check out counter AND put down some cool flooring for my work room AND paint the wall, AND put up wall shelving AND now I have him on the project of building a "TREE TABLE" for the "Baby Room". It's a good thing he likes to build stuff....

My daughter Anna - the adorable- has been painting, painting and PAINTING some more.... floors, walls, baseboards, signs, tables, chairs... you name it... she'll paint it!!!
My son Jake has helped his dad with the carpentry. And, our dear friend MK... who is always there when we need him, has
painted and helped Larry with cabinet construction.
My brother-in-law, Glen, who happens to own a drywall business, kindly patched the big holes in the drywall that we made thinking it would be a great idea to put an opening in one of the dividing walls between two rooms.... but that was before we discovered the ancient walls were made of layers of oak lathe that were an impenetrable fortress... so we backed off of that project.
It obviously TAKES A VILLAGE...to move from a little shed to a REAL SHOP and I am very thankful for my little village.

The new bright lighting is installed, the heart pine floors cleaned and the bathroom floor tiled. Now we just have to:
clean up the grounds
finish building and installing display
code, price and put out merchandise
get approval from the City of Germantown for my signage
put down a new walkway from the parking to the entrance

have 3-4 HUGE trees cut down in the parking area.

redo the landscaping at back entranceOHHH... and CATCH the "CRITTER" in the attic.. probably a raccoon....(I"ll keep you posted on that adventure)
and move in....

whewww... I'm tired thinking about it.

Guess that is why I can't sleep and am up at 3:00 a.m typing this message on my blog.

Silly me....

more painting

Waiting for Pottery!

MOVIN' ON UP!! BIG NEWS!!!

2011-02-28T21:42:00.000-08:00

Well, it was just about a year ago that I started this little blog to tell you about the move for Original Ink from the spare bedroom of my home to the little garden shed that would become a shop.
My sweet little shop has been such fun and I have loved being there BUT... I knew when I moved there that I would outgrow the 12 x 16 feet of space VERY QUICKLY and I have indeed done that. I desparately need more space and so I am excited to announce a move for Original Ink to a new location in Germantown, Tennessee. I have leased a very cute cottage in the historic section of town and will have TONS of new space to enjoy.
If you want to mapquest the new shop... it is located at 7528 Second Street in Germantown, TN 38138
It is just south of the intersection of Poplar Pike and West Street on the corner of West and Second Street
My opening in the new space is April 1st, 2011 and I'll keep you posted on the Grand Opening!

There will be new paper (including CRANE paper products) and great gift items added to the Original Ink offerings and a team of helpers to be added.

There is lots to do to get ready and I will try to post photos of the progress.
Here are some of the first photos of the new digs....

there will be lots of space,
a separate production room
and the feature I am VERY excited about is
a real RESTROOM!!
No more camping out. For those of you who have
visited the little SHED shop, you may not have noticed

that this very basic facility was MISSING at my little

shop in the shed. I had to trek down to the neighboring
greenhouse for a visit to what one of my clients refers to

the Front - Second Street side... CUTE... huh!

as the "Aunt Fluffy".

So now I will have a nice HUGE bathroom accessible
right there in the very same building.... HOW CONVENIENT

Back MAIN entrance

The MAIN BIG room...

The BABY and CHILDREN room

The Original Chics will be moving to new digs of their own.... I'll keep you posted on that, too.

Snowbunnies.... i mean chics

Almost spring!

A New Year - off and running

2011-01-15T19:03:00.000-08:00

Well to those of you who were worried about me during this recent Holiday CRUSH of business... I did survive! But, I determined that next year I would have to be cloned or at least employ more help.

My daughter and husband were life savers. Anna took all of the assembly projects and layered, glittered, punched holes and tied ribbons on over 3000 Christmas cards. Larry became Mr. Mom and did the grocery shopping, house cleaning, laundry and then gently woke me up and sent me to bed when I fell asleep over my laptop... often after midnight. (a few of you may have noticed that you were getting proofs emailed to you at midnight or 1:00 in the morning ... CRAZY). So next year there will be changes for the better.

I did close the shop from Christmas Eve to the Monday after New Years day, but still went to the shop to do CHICKEN chores, draw new artwork and meet with clients.

Wedding invitations have started coming in as Christmas time engagements are announced. I am designing some very pretty invitations and working on a VERY COOL wedding reception card that I hope to feature soon. It has the vintage poster look with lots of complimentary but varied typestyles.

Valentines Day is always a fun opportunity to do some cute Valentine Cards for the little ones.. I try to do a new design group each year. The first year was the "Beatrix Potter" designs, then there was the simple graphic "Sweet Hearts" designs. Last year I did my favorites to date that were the "Baby Farm Animals".... as I told you... can't get the farmgirl outta me. This year I have a series called "Fashionista Valentines" that feature clothing ... humm you are asking yourself... how would that work???... well ... check it out..... (Valentine designs are to the left)
And one more new series this year with more cute animals...
"The Happy Animals" designs.
So ORDER NOW for original and unique Valentine Cards for your children and grandchildren. (Or maybe for yourself!!!)

As for news from the ORIGINAL FARMVILLE.. the Original Chics are doing well. The rooster boys have come into thier own... chasing the girls all around and crowing... at least ONE rooster is crowing. He is the macho man and I call him ROOSEVELT... the other rooster boy is a bit geeky and does not crow and definately is not the ALPHA male. I am calling him "GIRLY MAN". I know that is not politically correct but it certainly fits. Each of my little flock has their own personality. ROSIE the mother hen is sedate and maternal.... always on guard .... clucking loudly if a cat or dog approaches. Then there is BLUEBELL... named by one of my young customers. Bluebell is a dutiful little hen. She minds her own business and lays a pretty little cream colored egg every couple of days. Then there is DITZY CHICK. She is so silly... she litterly wouldn't know to come in out of the rain. When all the others are making their way into the coop at dusk (which is instinctual - that is a chicken fact... you've heard of going to roost... that is what they do as the sun sets every evening)... there is Ditzy Chick pacing outside of the fence unable to figure out where the gate is, which is always open and she frantically runs along the fence until she finally finds the opening and awarkwardly clammors up the little ramp into the coop. SILLY GIRL!

Spring will be on its way sooner than you think and by Valentine's day the first daffodils will be peeking out of the ground. After that, Easter will be around the corner, so think ahead and if you are wanting to order Easter stickers, greeting cards or are having a neigborhood Easter Egg Hunt that you'd like to send invitations for...just let me know and I'll fix up something just perfect for you.
I also have a neat little sprial bound book of "Table Graces"... it is a collection of prayers for the dinner table... 31 different prayers or "graces" to say before the meal. It has a different prayer for each day of the month and then you can repeat them every month. The book is $19.95 and comes in a litte carrying bag with a bow. Order yours now... they make great Easter gifts for friends or grandchildren.

Come and see me if you are out my way. My little shed is warm and cozy and I will serve you a cup of hot tea, coffee or cocoa.

Well that's about all for now but I have lots of exciting things in the works and hope to share more soon.

Meanwhile enjoy some of the new designs and I'll post more soon.

Kathyn
***The Valentines Series sampled are just 2 of the 4 design for each series
Ask if you'd like to see the others in a series. The price is $1.00 each for the children's Valentines and $1.20 each for the Teacher Valentines... no extra for personalizing with your child's name

OHH and scroll all the way to the bottom the see one of the newest custom designs .."Cowgirl Lingere"... it will make you smile.

The ORIGINAL CHICS!

2010-10-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

Rosie the hen and her brood of 4 nearly grown chicks are the Original Chics at Original Ink.

I inherited these Chinese Silkie chickens from a neighboring vendor at The Market at Poplar Estates.

Then ensued the project that my handy husband took on of making suitable accommodations. We have created our own Farmville here at Original Ink. The chicken coop and pen are attached to the side of the shop and I can see my little flock out of my window as I work. FABULOUS.... I LOVE IT!

You just can't get the farm girl outta me. I am thinking of adding a couple of bunnies.

Rosie the hen has 2 hen chicks and 2 rooster chicks. I plan on this being a GIRLZ CLUB so the boys will have to go.... anyone want to adopt a Silkie Rooster... they have not started crowing ... yet!

I get to do a lot of barnyard educating for visitors now that I have the chickens...

I plan of putting a big chalkboard up on the shed side that gives informative facts about small livestock.

Farm Fact #1. Did you know that you do NOT need a rooster for the hen to lay eggs?

Many people do not know that.

Farm Trivia Question for the month... What does it mean when a hen "goes broody" ?

Send in your answers.... I will give a pack of 12 free enclosures to the first person with the correct answer.

Now for Invitation and Stationery news.... it is not too early to place your Holiday Cards and Tag orders.

It is too late for the 2 early bird sales that were in July and September.... watch for them next year.

November 1st may be as late as I can take CUSTOM orders for cards that require paper or ribbon that must be ordered but for those of you who are last minute shoppers, I will have LOTS of designs that can be done even up to the week before Christmas if needed.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22- SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24th I AM HAVING A HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
FROM 10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. All the holiday cards, tags and unique gift ideas will be on display. My neighboring vendor, Millstone Market will also be having an Open House with the cutest ornaments and gifts you have ever seen!

So come in and see me soon.... even if you do not have your photo yet, for those of you who are going to do a photo card. You can still narrow down the style choices that you might like to consider.

More news... I am adding the service "Constant Contact" and will have a means to do mass emails with news for you..DON'T WORRY... I promise not to flood you with junk emails... I hate those things myself! But, if I am having a sale or have a few party theme ideas that I can share with you then I will send an email newsletter of sorts and you can certainly delete it without reading it and I will never know :).

That's all for now ... COME SEE ME, ROSIE and the GIRLZ ...SOON.

Sizzling Summer

2010-06-29T09:49:00.000-07:00

It has been WAY TOO HOT here in Memphis. Last week or two the heat index was at or over 100 degrees every day. I think cooler weather is forcast. It is not even July 4th yet.

I babied my beautiful window boxes every day with water and food but the scorching western sun was too much for my lovely geraniums. I will replant them with something that can stand the heat... maybe CACTUS!

To pass the summer duldrums, I am having a 20% off sale on "Early Bird" Christmas card orders.

It has forced me to get some new Christmas artwork done and so far I think I like the new designs.

Check them out below... and if anyone is reading this from June 26 - July 3... come on in and order for a big savings.

NOW OPEN!!

2010-04-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

I have officially opened.
The inside work was fast and furious and my kind hubby, who did all the labor, and I went to bed every night with a cup of tea and two alleve for the aches and pains. But it is finished - for the most part.
There is lots of little tweaking to do and some touch up painting but it is very funtional and I am enjoying being here VERY much.

Today I got new window boxes and LOVE them.

A little pop of red with a table and chair cushion are one of my favorite additions.

I hope to get my sign hung over the front door in the next few days, then it will feel like a real shoppe.

Thank you all for following this little adventure. I will be continuing the blog and will keep you posted about the new things happening with Original Ink... like the NEW and IMPROVED WEB SITE coming soon!

If you are in the neighborhood - PLEASE come and see me.
6993 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, Tennessee 38120
Love,
Kathryn Miller ~ Original Ink

Wild Couple of Weeks

2010-03-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

As is typical for me... I had a couple of wild weeks recently. I had a computer operating system install that went badly and ended up being without the abiltiy to work for about 8 days. For me that is a lifetime...with all the orders waiting... but I managed to get them all out on time and can now breathe a little easier and have a new almost "glitch free" computer.

AS for the SHED! She is coming along. I usually name my important possessions like my car, Lucille the Landcruiser and my tiny yellow and white motorscooter, Buttercup. So I suppose I should name the shed... I'll take suggestions... just to see if anyone is reading this little blog.

Here are some recent photos and the update to progress: The windows are in, all has a new coat of paint (I think I will tone down the blue color on the window trim), the awnnig is in place, the deck is built and the inside electrical wiring is complete and passed inspection. Still waiting on the power company to install the power source to the building.

Next step is to insulate inside, put up the interior paneling, PAINT, PAINT, PAINT, install light fixtures and recepticals, build a railing for the deck, put up side fence/screening, build workbenches for inside work areas and then move in.... WHEW.... still a lot to do! April 1 is my goal for being open... and I'm not going to give up hope on that yet. Will keep you posted.

Meanwhile I am creating lots of new and really cool invitations. Can't wait for you all to come out the my shop and see them. Check the photos below for some of the new designs

Enter Here!

2010-02-23T17:34:00.000-08:00

At last a real door... windows will come next.
My devoted and multi-talented husband, Lawrence, figures out where to make the door opening.
Then after we read and re-read the instructions that came with the door we managed to get it in place and fastened securely. A first coat of yellow paint and voila... it is starting to look a little like my shoppe.
Right now it is fondly referred to as The Shed. Today my web designer and I dubbed it the Paper Shed.
Yes, a new and improved website is in the making and I am excited.. Lots of exciting things happening here at Original ink.... Stay tuned.

Kathyn

Finally A Spot To Call Home!

2010-02-18T15:38:00.000-08:00

The little shed is finally settled in it's new spot. Last Friday a crew tried for about an hour to get it moved but the ground was to wet to navigate. The last couple of sunny days and another load of gravel did the trick and after some maneuvering the little shed was settled into place. Now I can begin the makeover. The fence in front of the building will hopefully be moved to give a better view of the shop from the drive and with a cute blue awing and a yellow umbrella I think it will get noticed.

Waiting.... waiting.....

2010-02-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

It is no fun to wait... but I have no choice. The weather is not co-operating and the little shed cannot be moved yet. We're waiting for a few days of above freezing temperatures so that the concrete can be poured for the foundation.
Meanwhile I have purchased material for window curtains and shop aprons.
I am also gearing up to get all my information into the web designer for a whole new web site.
The orders keep coming in so I am also making invitations and stationery all the while.
I have another fun project I am working on also.. I am going to do a triptic (I think that is the correct term and maybe the correct spelling) for a friend. It is a group of 3 paintings that go together. This group will be of a country scene in historic Collierville, Tennessee and depict my friend's historic home and countryside near the square. It will be done in the style of artist Rufus Porter. I am excited to work on it. Her home will be featured on the home and garden tour in April so I need to have it finished by then... I'd better get busy!!

A Pile of.......

2010-02-06T18:39:00.000-08:00

Well, it may be just a pile of gravel but it is the sweet promise of tomorrow for me.

This will be the foundation for the footings on which my little shed will sit.

The ground has been leveled and mother nature needs to give us a few good days of dry moderate weather and things will start to happen!

In My Dreams!

2010-02-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

This is what I envision as the finished Original Ink Studio.

I already know that the awning I picked out will have to be

adjusted.. not enough clearance for entry... but still

I think I can achieve this general look...

Like it???

The Approach to the Original Ink Studio and Shop

2010-01-29T13:44:00.000-08:00

This will be the approach to the new Original Ink Studio/Shop. The access takes you on a lovely
walk through the landscape and hard scape displays of Gurley's Azalea Garden. A variety of stone,
brick and natural pavers create walkways, walls, benches and fire pit features offered by Gurley's are
there for viewing as you stroll from the parking area to the shop. This photo taken after the
recent bitter cold snap does not do the area justice... it will be BEAUTIFUL in the spring.

The Shed that would be a Shop!

2010-01-28T21:20:00.000-08:00

Follow the adventures of the little invitation company that COULD!....could become a favorite source of VERY customized invitations and stationery. After a humble beginning in a tiny 10' x 10' spare bedroom of my home, Original Ink has grown and is in need of a new location.
SOOO.... sometime in March I will be moving to THE MARKET AT POPLAR ESTATES located at 6993 Poplar Avenue at the edge of Germantown and East Memphis just east of Kirby. This little garden shed will be transformed into a beautiful little studio and shop. Watch and be amazed!!!