I want to share a new venture on the horizon…I’m re-opening my little shop, Chez Chloe. It’s focused on kitchen and housewares, specialty foods and I’ll be branching out just a wee bit into body care- can’t go wrong with luxury soap and lotions I say. Here are a couple quick picks of the beginning…
The storefront, located in Eastsound on Orcas Island ( at Christmas)- It’s still the same minus the green trimming. It will be loads of fun opening this garage door to the sidewalk and passersby (how do you pluralize that one!)
And a little gander inside. There is a lack of windows… ok no windows… but due to to the glass front it still receives plenty of light.
It’s the perfect size for me to fix up and work mostly on my own.
And here is trusty shop dog doing his part keeping me company:-)
Me and my navigator rented a van to pick up fixtures in Seattle. I bought a few display pieces and berry bushes. I had a van after all. One dozen bare root blueberries, some raspberries, and yes… a few perennials. Did I mention we rented a van. I was like, should we go to Costco and buy bulk toilet paper and paper towels? Maybe some trash cans? Otis thought a couple very large boxes of milk bones should be added to the list. Chloe loved it too… brings out that kid side of us like man, we could just live in this thing.
Next up is orange muffins and chai glaze… and NYC… where I head to this week to visit my son and do a little R&D. Research and development. Or relax and dine.Tchüß xx
One Year Ago: (I keep forgetting to add this):
Sushi for St Patty – Step by step sushi making
LAST NOTE: i’ve got a query into the mystery of the floating arrow!
Wendy's Place 
Wow. Wendy … congratulations! Love the location of the shop and .. I can’t wait for your progress .. Otis have a big part in it – I can see *smile Enjoy NYC … make it read for me – and make some posts out of your visit – enjoyed your last ones so much.
Land safely and delight yourself.
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Am having a lot of fun researching and putting it together. Now I’m on a break in NYC and enjoying time with my son, and all the sights and sounds of NYC. That’s a wow.
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I hope there will be some kind of post about your New York – enjoy and delight yourself.
Do just what I would have done.
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I know what you can do (or should I say where you can drive) in that van! And Otis too!
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Yeah baby! One day we are going to rent us an RV and hit the road!
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This is so exciting!! Now I am understanding the move from EUROPE to Orcas Island. What a great adventure you are starting on. Can’t wait to see and hear more about it. Wishing you booming success!! Hugs to your furry buddy. : )
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Thanks! I really love retail and working with the vendors and customers. Being in in new york right now is also getting the creative juices flowing. So many cool displays!
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How exciting! Your shop looks like it’s going to be amazing! The best to you, Wendy!
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Thanks Resa. It will be fun sort of doing updates on the blog about the store. The social media thing has jumped leaps and bounds in the last five years- you’ll have to keep me in check if I get boring:-)
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Lol!!! You, boring, never! I’m looking forward to see what happens. 🙂
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Best of luck!
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Thank you kindly!
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What a great new venture, and that shop front really looks lovely! Congratulations and good luck!
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I can’t wait to swing open the garage door come summer. Hopefully it will stay warm longer than 6 weeks!!!
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Yeah! I can’t wait for your new store! When do you hope to be open?
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Hi Lydia- I’m shooting for mid-April. Look forward to the whole process but also to being in town to keep up with people 🙂 How’s Pebblecove? x wendy
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I’m sure your shop will be successful!! Next you’re planning a trip to Seattle let me know…I always need a good excuse to get off my little island!!!
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Thanks Risa- Great to hear from you. Would be great to catch up. I’d be up for a visit to your island too. Shoot me an email… x
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I am excited with you! Sounds like a wonderful idea and looks real good from what I can see so far. Keep us updated and good luck 🙂 with all your plans! 🙂
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I’m interested to see how I fare in the social media arena. I enjoy the blog but sort of suck at FB and twitter- and EVERyBODY is doing it. More pics coming soon though.
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I haven’t started to Twitter yet…and FB is not my top priority either…I need some time for myself, too 😉 and not always just with the electronic devices 😉
Looking forward to more pics and stories about the new store 😉 xo take care and have a great weekend! 🙂
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Oh how wonderful!!!! I wish you great success and it is good to hear from you!
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Thank you Cindy. It’s a bit of a tenuous time with retail but I think people are still out there spending money. I’m crossing my fingers!
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Cool, I love that space and can’t wait to see its transformation!
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Me too! It’s sometimes nerve wracking and overwhelming and then totally exciting and fun to watch it unfold/evolve. It’s only 450sf- I can only imagine when people land in huge spaces. Cheers!
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How exciting for you. If I ever get up there, I’ll have to come and check it out. Keep us posted on your progress.
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That would be great. I’ve met a couple fellow bloggers and it’s a lot of fun to put a face and a hug with the virtual friendship:-)
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Wow how exciting!
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Very. And I’m totally inspired being in NYC this weekend. So many great displays!!!
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This deserves a huge woot woot! Terribly exciting! Good luck with your new adventure – can’t wait to see more photos and hear loads of shop stories…
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WOOT WOOT… like that. I’ll have some shop stories this summer. I do hope to stay regular- and I don’t mean with my fiber. Just give me a little kick in the pants if too much time slips by. When do you graduate? Are you drawing up bakery plans yet??
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This must be so exciting! I’ve always longed for a shop and can just imagine how “over the moon” you are. So you’ve done this before? Did you just close temporarily? xx
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You would create an amazing space. Maybe something to consider in your future. I had the shop in 2006 till end of 2009 before we went to Hamburg. I do love retail.x
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Wendy! How thrilling is this! I’m so excited for you…I’m actually kind of excited for me too! We make it up to Seattle every once in a while from Portland, and Orcas is just a hop across the water from there! How fun it would be to meet you and see your shop-creation (and maybe love on your sweet dog!) Have a lovely time in NYC however you decide to R & D!
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As I mentioned above- I’ve met a couple fellow bloggers and it’s really great. I’d love to see you on Orcas Island and you can give Otis a little lovin. I’m having a great weekend so far…Just need to find a few minutes to post some pics! cheers x wendy
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Congrats, and good luck! It sounds like a wonderful little shop! I’m sure you’ll be a success. Keep us posted!
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A new venture now that is exciting! Looking forward to seeing and hearing of your progress.
You have a shop dog – ho wmuch is he going to enjoy that job!
and the berry bushes – it would have been rude not to have used the van properly
Now I’m of fto do some R&D tonight 🙂 Happy days and best wishes with the shop!
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Oh I am so over the moon excited Wendy!! I can’t wait to come visit. Yay!!! I will spread the word on my local facebook page and tell everyone I can think of. Let me know how else I can help you. Congratulations!!
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I am a fan of your definition of R&D – we think alike, my friend – especially when it comes to NYC (my favourite place in the world – hope to live there some day). I’ve spent quite a bit of time there scouring for the best places (to eat, mostly…) and have compiled a must-try NYC list. If you’re ever in need of inspiration, I’d be happy to send it your way. Your shop space looks wonderful!
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Your new adventure sounds like it will be loads of fun…good luck with it all.
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Congratulations Wendy! Apologies they’re belated but truly heartfelt nonetheless. I saw your most recent post with all those fabulous boxes and goodies. Amazing!!! I think that this is definitely a new & exciting chapter, plus it’ll be interesting to see how you find it running the business second time round. Look forward to more developments in the future 🙂
Ps that golden furry shop boy of yours is darling, my how he’s grown and so quickly!
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Thanks! I learned a ton and also look forward to putting that knowledge to use. It’s still a lot of work but 95% of the time I’m loving it. Can’t beat that!
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It’s obviously so etching you thought of for a while and it’ll be such a beautiful providers, I can just tell. I really do look forward to seeing your new venture up and running 🙂
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