Tuesday . . . And I STAYED Local!

Totally Local Tuesday!

So, I knew I had to get out and about a bit, after going for sloth status for several days. I had a few errands to run which took me north, and as I came back I stopped by to see several business owners I needed to catch up with, and a few other businesses I’d intended to check out before.

Before I review today, I need to follow-up on two things from last week. First, if you haven’t been on North Park Avenue in a bit, or even if you have but not down the large entry to the shops of the Hidden Garden Courtyard adjacent to Galopin / Ten Thousand Villages, there’s a new business in the small space once occupied previously by Jonathon’s Flowers. Nature in Beauty, a new endeavor from Marvaldi, also located in the Hidden Garden Courtyard, is now in business. Liz and Judith, who man -- or woman -- the shop were delightful and excited when I introduced myself . . . which is always NICE! (Hey, I've had some go roughly!) I don’t know a lot about makeup – perhaps not surprising – but the whole organic thing should be appealing to most, if not all. All ingredients of their products are certified organic, with 100% natural plant fragrances and no synthetics. There's never anything toxic, plasticizing, metallic or otherwise scary . . . and that's got to be great for anyone's skin, but especially anyone with allergies or any sensitivity. Plan to get more from them in the future, but stop by and say 'Hi' yourself, find out more about their great product line and check out how effectively they've used the space!

I have some Local-themed projects in mind for Leisa Covelli at Leisa Lovely Designs in Fern Park but today was not the day to discuss them. Not yet. If you’re an experienced embroiderer, however, and looking for a job, she’s looking. I’m anxious to help her find that employee so that I can share my ideas. Sewing experience is definitely a benefit. While I was in the store she also spent some time raving about a Local business I introduced her to, I.T. Services of Orlando, based in Casselberry and owned / operated by Vincent. To say Leisa went on about the service he provided when she had a computer problem would be an understatement. In her words, he was in her store, removed the CPU and had in back in the store working perfectly IN UNDER ONE HOUR. She said others had suggested various national solutions to her, Geek of the Week and such, but she said there was no one she could have been as pleased with any other service. She said it was exceptional service at a very reasonable price. Ah, I believe that’s more of that Local LUV’n Local we run at the end of my column each week!

It was past lunch time when I was there and I dropped into neighboring Rey’s Cuban Café at the end of the strip center for lunch. Having lived in South Florida for five years, I came to really LUV a great Cuban sandwich. Quick heads up here to my two absolute favorites, Black Bean Deli and Cuban Sandwiches on the Run in Casselberry. I’ve been to both bunches and they are AWESOME! Having said that, Rey’s was really good! It was a big sandwich and it was definitely fresh, a slightly different combination than I’m used to. I’ll definitely be back, cause the black beans – can you leave out the black beans? No! – were also delicious. And the prices were quite reasonable, I thought.

From there I was down to Robin’s Nest Antiques in Maitland, located on 17/92. I talked with Dennis Busold for some time and he showed me some of his shop’s greatest treasures. I’m a big ‘American Pickers’ fan, so I could do this stuff all day! Included in the treasures he showed me was a Steiff (Made in Germany) stick horse / pony child’s toy. It has wheels on the bottom. I’ve seen lots of Steiff bears on such shows as ‘American Pickers’ and ‘Antiques Road Show’, but never one of these. It’s very cool. But then he pulls out an early stop sign and THAT was really cool. Old signage, street signs is a sweet spot for me when it comes to vintage. Dennis says this piece would be from around 1912 or not long after, just after such signs were introduced. This one was to be handheld and could have been at a railway or school crossing. The octagonal shape didn’t occur until the early 20s, and after initial signs were black and white, the next signs were black and yellow. Lastly there was a LARGE vase with from around 1900, produced by Wheeling Pottery in Wheeling, West Virginia. It’s a beautiful piece, and always interesting to me to hear the likely story of such a piece, deduced by this detail, that mark, another finish. Such shows as I’ve mentioned are popular for many reasons, but surely among them is that this is from a time when we used to make almost everything in this country. They’re not just products but pieces of American history.

From here I was down to finally see my friend Ali at Living Morocco in Ivanhoe Village. He recently got in a huge new shipment of Moroccan made furnishings and accessories and he knows I can’t get enough of them. We traveled to Morocco in October of 2000 and it was as if I had a neon sign on my head . . . . every where we went they knew I was the one ready to buy! And I was. Not quite sure how, but the kid who grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina has always been drawn to Middle Eastern and Asian textiles, furnishings, and more. His selection this go around has some very different pieces I’ve not seen before, different in details or look. Lots of mosaic fountains I always LUV, but also lots of Berber ceramic jars with their traditional metal and bone embellishments, hand painting. If you like art, to me, Moroccan furnishings and accessories are each like an individual piece of often functional art, whether a henna lamp or a bone inlay mirror. I need a bigger house . . . and more money!

Lastly, on my way home I finally dropped in to check out a gallery I’ve noticed so many times, but never taken the right turn to get me into the parking lot. Gallery 17.92 has been in business for over 36 years! It’s now owned by Tommy Cannalonga, who’s had it for two years. There are some VERY cool works in this gallery! I wasn’t familiar with Monte Olinger, but Tommy quickly told me some of his story, showed me his wide variety of abstract works. As Tommy said, Monte puts “a piece of his soul” into each of his works. He also introduced me to works by Mirjana Cesar, originally from Croatia, who has both paintings and jewelry in Gallery 17.92, and works at one of my favorite furniture stores, Washburn Imports.

This was a good day! Nice to shake off the sloth and get back out there! Tomorrow . . . . I’m craving food to go along with my LUV of Middle Eastern furniture as I head back to College Park!

Signing off tonight . . . our ‘Give A Dog A Home’ guy is Big Red! Big Red was found by one of Pet Rescue by Judy's wonderful volunteers. Poor guy went to the local animal shelter while he was looking for his owners. When the time came the volunteers just couldn't let him be put down, so they rescued him and brought him in! Isn't he beautiful? He has plenty of love and energy to give to someone. He walks great on the leash when walked with a Gentle Leader and will heel perfectly; even when tempted with birds and squirrels, he resisted pulling. Even though he looks like a big dog, he is very managable and mellow with the proper training technique. See more on him and other available animals on their website.