My children and I give full credit to my husband for being a man of great “one liners”.  In fact, one day I may just write a book of his “themes” that are handed down to us as wisdom statements.

Over and over this past month, his words have stung my heart as they floated past my ears.  “Connie, just do one thing, and do it well.”  He knows my passion for expanding my business, and my ability to let things take on a life of their own.  To me, expanding my business meant being in more than one location.  But I have learned that in such a small town as we live in, that simply doesn’t lend itself to anything but exhaustion!

I have attempted to house Burlap & Lace in multiple locations across this small town I live in, thinking that was “the answer” to expanding my business without having to drive 40 miles to keep and maintain a second booth space.  But because of the uniqueness of Brevard and its shops, I realized that to grow in this manner would actually necessitate diversifying the type merchandise I offered in order to be more unique in the different locations, and that totally went against the grain of the fabric of my business.

My ultimate dream has been to own my own business….to stroll to the quaint little doors of a downtown shop before sunrise on any given morning, slip the key to my shop into the keyhole and walk through the door of a place “all my own”….where once the lights were turned up and the sun gave way to a new day, those passing by might stop to gaze excitedly through the windows and then hurry inside to see what treasures they might scoop up before the next person beat them to the find.

Imagine, then, my enormous delight when the owners of Main Street Market Shops called me one Sunday afternoon and said, “Connie, we want you to take our window space.  We love your style and the way you create.  Are you interested?”  Are you kidding?  Am I interested?  YES!!!!!  I am interested! 

God has a way of fulfilling our dreams and delighting our hearts in ways that are not quite as we imagined, but are oh so much better than we could have dared to dream.  Really.  So much better….

So let me introduce you to Main Street Market Shops, the new home of Burlap & Lace.  Main Street Market Shops is located on Main Street in downtown Brevard, directly across from Mayberry’s and next door to Gravy and Fox Hollow Gifts.  Owned by the same gentlemen that own Fox Hollow Gifts, you will be greeted with some good ‘ol Southern charm when you enter their doors!

Let me give you a preview of my new space…..with entertainment being the “theme” this month…

As I finished setting up my space last week, the sun was setting and my heart was questioning if I had done the right thing.  This was a big step for me and it was going to require me to make some more changes…significant ones.  I turned to leave the shop, and my eyes fell on this in my newly created window….

God let the last rays of daylight seep through the window and onto a canvas I had painted, giving me a message my heart desperately needed to hear.  I embraced the moment.

So what about Country Creations?  Ah….

Sheila, Christy and Candace have been amazing to me.  The last year (and then some) has been full of fun, friendships and sharing life with these ladies.  I pray those days continue even though my business is finding a new home.  I will close my booth space at Country Creations on February 28th.  What that means is a great big SALE through the end of February!  Begin to look for mark-downs on merchandise that is there through the end of this month.   And then please come find me at Main Street Market Shops!  I’m not gone…I’ve just changed locations.  And not because they haven’t been amazing to me at Country Creations, but because God is fulfilling yet another dream of mine.

Coming in March…..I’m going to have a GARDEN PARTY and you are invited!  You will not want to miss this …  Main Street Market Shops …

March 1-31.

Until then, blessings.

~Connie