Wanderlust & Pixie Dust

Window Shopping

Whew. The fingers ain't what they used to be.  Anyhows.  Thought I'd share some pictures I took of downtown Riverside shops, a few nights ago.

I love the way these photos came out.  All that pink.  Simply delightful.  Can't help digging it because I'm such a girly girl. 

I realize that some may look at this and think that it's too busy in this room but I look about and wish that my house looked just as busy.  I think about what a room like this must look, through the eyes of small child.

I wish I knew a stroller sized baby to push around.  He or she would tilt their chubby neck and gaze up in awe.

Which reminds me.  Recently we were discussing our first trips into It's a Small World at Disneyland in Anaheim.  Mine took place at the age of 6.  I thought that all those Small World kids were real and spooky.  Do six year olds still think this?

 

Can't have too many parasols.  Especially pink ones.

 

Not sure what those hot pink chopsticks are but I certainly like the effect.

A corner to dream in .

 

An Eiffel Tower shaped wine rack.   Boy I would love to have this even though I don't have an inch to spare for it.  Nor do I ever have enough wine around the house at one time to fill this baby up.  However, I'm sure I could figure out another use for it.  It's pretty tall actually. If I had one of those newer homes with a high ceiling,

I'd wrap it in Christmas lights first of all and then maybe stuff it with pretty roses.  Or use it to display ornaments instead of a Christmas tree.  Okay, now I REALLY want it.  Sigh. No can do.

This window belongs to my beloved store Tiggy Winkles.  I flat out want every single thing in this window.  No ifs ands or buts.  The silver Christmas trees.  The repro Santo.  The bottle brush tress...speaking of bottle brush trees. 

One of my Lollishop friends, Priscilla, is offering these wonderful hand dyed bottle brush trees:

in her Sweet Rememberance Lollishop.  Aren't they cute?  To get a few of your own click HERE. 

I'd love to have a six foot tall blue one.

I especially want this antique, hand embellished with gold, glass fence.  I actually ran in the store and asked if it was for sale years ago when I first saw it.  Nope.  No such luck. Each Christmas it shows up in the holiday window display and I press my nose to the glass to worship and want.

I love this window scene. If you look closely, you'll notice that the Christmas tree on the left is upside down.

I'm eyeballin that glass thingy on the left. 

Love this costumed character.  She (he?) reminds me of a 1920's boudoir doll.

Here's a close up.  A tad blurry but what a wonderful, fun character!  Swingin from a beribboned hoop no less.

Oh I think this threesome is sooo cute. 

 

 

Check out this grand golden angel.  She reminds me of something but I can't recall what exactly.  A movie perhaps? 

A dream more likely.

 

Wow.  Didn't realize how many pictures I really had!  I'll be adding comments later and a second post with my remaining photos!

Mrs. Tiggy Winkles in Old Town Riverside

Today I want to introduce you to one of my most favorite, favorite, favorite stores of all time, Mrs. Tiggy Winkles.

I could wander through this store a billion times and never tire of it. Some of you lucky ladies out there may be familiar with Paris to the Moon in Costa Mesa. Pam Garrison did a post on this particular magical teeny tiny little store last year. If you click HERE and scroll down a bit you will be able to discover this wonderful store. Well, if you like what you see at Paris to the Moon, you will also fall in love with Tiggy Winkles.

Don't hate me but I chickened out in asking CeeAnn Theil, the wonderful and totally cool owner who welcomes everyone who is lucky enough to walk through her doors. If she is so cool why didn't I ask you wonder? Because my husband has been scolding me lately. The last few times that I've asked a storekeeper for permission (always with a big smile I promise!) to take photographs, I've been shot down. Ebert tells me that will probably be the case 99% of the time so I had better get used to it.

This picture is of one of her shop windows.

As you can see, she always creates the most incredible window scenes. I always feel like a little girl in the shop. Eyes wide, mouth wide open. I try to absorb every little detail and bring it home with me in my mind.

If you fancy these window displays, just daydream a little about what the entire store is like!

Here is window #3:

And a close up:

Sorry that these are not a little sharper. And sorry for the "reflections" in the store windows. Kind of adds a dreamy like quality though don't you think?

The last store window:

When you walk through this second set of doors you truly enter a wondrous world. A world of angels, The Virgin Mary, graceful garden angels, delicate jewelry, sparkling glassware, so many numerous beautiful things.

At the back of this first room is yet a smaller little nook. I like to refer to this as her holiday room. It's here that CeeAnn features all her themed holiday treasures.

It also in this little room that you will see about 30 full grown ladies somehow cram themselves the day after Christmas for the annual after Christmas sale. Oh I've been there. Boy do I want to be there on Dec 26th this time too.

Do I dare go, telling myself that I will be happy just watching the frenzy? That maybe I will be lucky and that I will be able to pick up one or two little ornaments for just a few dollars? You decide. If you think that I should go, let me know. If not, and I should exercise a little restraint and be a big girl, tell me so. RHONDA You don't count! I already know what you would say! You'd be like a little devil on my shoulder. Do it! Do it! She does have a few Wendy Addison eiffel tower
ornaments in silver glass glitter still available.

Understand why I am so terribly tempted?

Guess that I should add that this wonderful incredible store is located in downtown Riverside, California. Home of the beautiful historic Mission Inn. Here is a teaser pix of this wondrous hotel:
In fact, Mrs. Tiggy Winkles faces directly faces this Inn across a pretty courtyard or pedestrian mall. I'll be sharing more pictures later.