Larry Ruhl, for High Falls Mercantile, is featured in the March 2012 issue of Country Living Magazine. Larry was one of seven dealers from the Country Living Fair selected to share his prediction on the next big collection.
"With the growing respect for American farmers comes an appreciation for the tools they used."
You can find the full feature on page 46 in the March 2012 issue of Country Living Magazine.
A few weeks ago, Cait asked to speak with me. Thinking it was about a new product or question about an order I said “Sure” without looking up. I realized that she meant business when I looked up and she was standing there with a nervous look on her face.
Cait and her husband Jason.
Cait started talking about the organization St. Baldricks and explained their mission statement. “The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.” This all sounded great to me and supporting a great cause is something that is instrumental to the core of what High Falls Mercantile is about. After all, we do a food drive each year in the store benefiting our local food pantry’s, we create a room for Housing Works Design on a Dime event raising funds for those living with HIV/AIDS, and are part of Carve For a Cause, a local grassroots organization.
Then came the next part. “Well…” she said, “I’m shaving my head and want to know how you feel about it.” She went on to explain that St. Baldricks has these supportive events in which people raise money and shave their heads to show compassion and solidarity for kids fighting cancer.
Without hesitating I explained that Jeff and I would fully support her along the way. It’s so easy to get caught up in appearances and Cait’s commitment to this fund raiser is a true testament to her character and priorities.
So, after March 10th, we will look a little different inside the walls of High Falls Mercantile and couldn’t be happier with the reason why.
To read more about Cait’s journey check out her blog here. To learn more about how to donate and to watch Cait’s fundraising progress, click here.
We are down to the final 24 hours of our Taste Maker Tag Sale for One Kings Lane. We are more than 50% sold out but there are still some great buys to be had. Thank You so much to everyone that has already shopped. Rest assured that we are busy packing to make sure that we get your new purchases out to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, happy shopping! Grab it while it lasts. 
As we gear up to go live on Monday we wanted to share with you one last sneak peek into what we are offering in our Taste Maker Tag Sale. Museum mounted artifacts and old implements have been an important part of our mix since opening the doors in 2004. When we were asked to curate a sale for One Kings Lane, we couldn’t possibly do that without offering some of our signature pieces. You can register to shop here and remember, these sales move fast. Good Luck and Thank You! Larry
Want to see more? See our previous One Kings Lane sneak previews here and here.
Photograph Courtesy of Jean Kallina
It’s been a busy few weeks here at the shop. We are slowly winding down from the non-stop holiday season and moving into the next few months of new adventures and returning events: One Kings Lane, Architectural Digest Show, and a second year of Design on a Dime.
It is so easy to get caught up in all of the excitement for the first half of the year. So we wanted to take the opportunity to share some other fun happenings, inspirations, and blogs we enjoy.
What a pleasant surprise at the beginning of the week to see such beautiful coverage of two very dear customers. Design Sponge always has some of the most visually stunning blog posts and Amy didn’t disappoint.
My first memory of Jeff and Jason was at a High Falls Mercantile tent sale. As they selected some of my favorite vintage and eclectic pieces, it immediately struck me that they must have a gorgeous home. Little did I know that a year later, I would a get a glimpse of that creativity and vision. It’s always such a pleasure when Jeff and Jason stop in the store. I can’t wait to see what sort of goody they are going to have their eyes on next time.
Photograph Courtesy of Design Sponge
Photograph Courtesy of Design Sponge
Photograph Courtesy of Design Sponge
Visit the Design Sponge blog for Jeff and Jason’s story and inspiration. Can you spot the classic High Falls Mercantile item?
It is such a lovely day when Amy from ABCD Designs pops into the shop. Recently Amy surprised me with a visit for a guest blog she was working on. She was as bubbly and excited as ever, even amidst furniture being moved around and customers in and out.
Photo taken by ABCD Designs
Photo taken by ABCD Designs
Read Amy’s full post about seasons inspiring color palettes and fabric selection at the New England Home Magazine Design Blog. What is your favorite fabric palette selection?
As if this year wasn’t moving by fast already. I couldn’t believe it when we received a call from a favorite Hudson Valley photographer and blogger, Jean Kallina, to do a Valentines Day shoot in the store. Is February really already that close? At first we were hesitant; our décor wouldn’t be what you consider a traditional Valentines theme. She immediately erased all of those fears and focused on images of pairs and pampering gift ideas.
Photo Courtesy of Jean Kallina
Photo Courtesy of Jean Kallina
Photo Courtesy of Jean Kallina
Photo Courtesy of Jean Kallina
Leave it to Jean to seek out some of my favorite products and present them in such stunning manner. How do you decorate for Valentines Day?
… to set yourself a reminder for the High Falls Mercantile tastemaker sale at One Kings Lane. It is now starting at 11:00AM EST on Monday January 30th.
We are just a week away from our One Kings Lane Taste Maker Tag Sale, which goes live on January 30th at 11:00 ET. Here we share with you some of the beautiful antique garden pieces that will be going in the sale. Sign up here to register to buy. See you on the 30th!
A Beautiful Victorian Urn in Five Parts
A Pair of Fluted Antique Garden Urns
A Pair of 19th Century Urns
A Pair of Large 19th Century Urns
When we were asked to do a Taste Maker Tag Sale for One Kings Lane, we could not have been more thrilled. We’ve been a fan of theirs for years and the tag sales are one of my favorite things to watch (and buy from) online. As we gear up for our sale which goes live on January 30th, I wanted to start sharing with you some of the pieces that we will be featuring. Today I bring you objects from the architectural collection. After all, who doesn’t like a sneak peek? Larry
A beautifully detailed arched window.
Beautiful Salvaged Architectural Pieces.
Iron Fragment
Architectural Iron Piece
Architectural Element on Museum Stand
Early 20th C Leaded Glass Window
Register now for our January 30th Taste Maker Tag sale at www.onekingslane.com
The Apothecary department at High Falls Mercantile has developed a cult following of its’ own. We have the unwavering Santa Maria Novella fans, clients that go crazy for the Lafco House and Home Candles especially since being named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things, and of course Argan Oil from Kahina. This brings me to my favorite new Apothecary line at High Falls Mercantile. Blithe and Bonny was love at first sight. As if the packaging, made from recycled paper and layered with type wasn’t enough, the product beneath the wrapping is phenomenal. The line consists of an amazing Bubble Bath, Bath Salts, the most incredible and moisturizing hand and body lotion, a soy candle, and a goats milk based soap that has become a must have in my own home. Each of us here at High Falls Mercantile have our own favorites from the line. Cait loves the Eucalyptus Mint, Jeff the Honey Almond, and I have a soft spot for the rose soap and Jasmine candle. We invite you to discover your own favorite.
The ultimate soaking salts.
With a Goats Milk base, this soap is incredibly moisturizing.
Soy based Jasmine Candle
The best that a bubble bath has to offer.
Fragrant and Moisturizing
We just couldn’t help ourselves by posting a few of our favorite last minute Holiday gifts and with free shipping for the month of December, who can resist? Home fragrance, personal care, entertaining, it’s all covered. Happy Holiday’s!
The perfect December fragrance
The ultimate luxury. Santa Maria Novella Fireplace Starters
Fantastic felted wool coasters
Hand and Body lotion
Our version of the perfect winter soap
Whimsical Canape Plates
I usually start thinking about the next Holiday window as soon as the current one is complete. I go into the new year looking, watching, listening to see what grabs my attention. Inevitably, I am asked what inspired the window.
This year there were many things that inspired me. The first thing that comes to mind was the Savage Beauty Exhibit honoring the work of fashion designer Alexander McQueen. I went alone and was so moved by what I saw that many images and feelings stayed with me. It is by far one of the most memorable trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
I am also inspired by music. It’s would be a rare occurrence for you to come into High Falls Mercantile and not hear Florence and the Machine, Jordi Savall, or Nina Simone. As a matter of fact, during this years installation we kept the new Florence and the Machine album, Ceremonials, on repeat. It was a fitting title.
One of the highlights for me in 2011 was doing a vignette for Housing Works Design on a Dime event. I covered the walls of my “room” in the pages of an old tattered Encyclopedia. As I added layer upon layer the entire feeling of the space changed. I remembered the feeling of working with old paper and wanted to create something new. Why not a dress? The pages of an old volume that had seen better days, is torn, and falling apart could get a new life. I set about thinking of how this structure could come to life.
Armed with pages and pages of old books, I began creating “flowers” .I sat for hours in that hot window making those things fit into the small holes of the chicken wire that would help form the skirt.
The rest happened so fast…I wrapped her in 19th Century gold and silver upholstery trim and used some of the same for the streamers floating above her.
The crown was suspended in the air waiting to be placed on her head while her woodland creatures were causing mischief.
Here you can see my collection of 19th c silver and gold trims.
So, what does it all mean? Is there some hidden agenda within our windows? I leave that to you. Look carefully and you might find a few surprises. Even within yourself.
All Content Copyright 2010 - High Falls Mercantile INC - 800.687.6707
