High Falls Mercantile Blog

Genevieve Joins High Falls Mercantile

December 4, 2010 – 4:12 PM

One of the fringe benefits of being in retail is being able to design and execute our storefront window. It speaks not only of the mood that we want to set but can also inspire, intrigue, and in some cases maybe even engage some of its viewers.

Holiday Window 2008

We have done windows that are completely monochromatic and we have done windows that require sunglasses. Windows with beautiful antiques, collections of 19th c. top hats, rugs, ironstone, and our most powerful window to date, our Hunger Month window that inspired the community around us to help feed those in need.

This time of year I embrace my inner fashion designer and create the holiday window.

2009 Holiday Window "Mimi"

Almost every one of our holiday windows has involved a dress or dresses presented on vintage dress forms and mannequins featuring a dress that I’ve fashioned from something from the store. A rug, a tablecloth, vintage fabric pieces, and in this years case, a gold embroidered cloak with beaded fragments of trim and silk. Hair made from moss and pheasant feathers and just the right amount of taxidermy, in my opinion.

We are often asked what inspires our displays and I certainly have my favorites. The Garment District in NYC with its trim shops, button shops, gaudy jewelry stores, and fine antiques stores. I love wandering the halls of The Frick museum as much as I love walking around my own property and our barns. I love rummaging around antiques stores and auctions as much as possible and can often be found rummaging through books in the library for hours on end.

There is always a story behind each window, which I start to think about the second the current year’s window is completed. I see a photo or a magazine spread and my mind starts to buzz. How can I hang that or suspend this? I start to drive Jeff crazy with bizarre notions of how I can pull things off.

People that are close to us at the store start asking by September…”What’s her name THIS year?” Well, this year her name is Genevieve and here is her brief story:

Holiday Window 2010 "Genevieve"

Genevieve loves to attend parties during the holidays and shower her hosts with gifts. This year, she is preparing for her next event by dressing in her hotel room. You can see all of the gifts lining the shelf above just waiting to get carried off and presented to the lucky recipients. Her jewelry, fine treasures, and yes, her favorite brandy, all travel with her. With her dress zipped up tight and the final touches finished on her hair, she is ready to face the evening chill. Her room is cozy with all of her personal comforts awaiting her return.

I hope that you enjoy the store and the window this holiday season. As always, we love hearing from you.

-Larry Ruhl

By High Falls Mercantile | Posted in Inside High Falls Mercantile, Our Windows | Comments (9)

Let the Festivities Begin

November 22, 2010 – 6:17 PM

It’s hard to believe that we are ready for our next window. The High Falls Mercantile Hunger Month Food Drive was such a success thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the community. What a pleasant surprise it was to discover that over 3,000 pounds of non-perishable food items filled our window over the course of six weeks.

There were so many donations that we spent almost a whole day this past week sorting and bagging everything

Donations are being delivered to:

What a wonderful feeling to see how involved and passionate everyone has been in giving families in our area a chance for a bountiful Thanksgiving. We are   holding on tight to those warm and fuzzy feelings as we start gearing up for the holidays.

There has been a whirlwind of activity at High Falls Mercantile this past week. It’s always incredible to see the store make any sort of transformation, but this one has been my favorite so far. Icicles dangling from the ceiling, festive vintage ornaments in the window, rustic garlands and wreaths in abundance. I love seeing how all the glittery lights and sparkly ornaments blend so well with the rustic décor.

Festive Garland Adorning the Apothecary Wall

As we decorate and get in the holiday spirit at the store we are also really excited to be a part of the 1st annual “Crafted. Handmade in the Hudson Valley.”  High Falls Mercantile will be at a lovely Holiday Sale being hosted at our favorite potter Ayumie Horie’s 112-year old church-turned-studio. We are honored to be a part of this event with such an exceptional group of artisans.

High Falls Mercantile—Eclectic, fun and sophisticated mix of fine home furnishings with an eye toward quality and timeless design.

Ayumi Horie— Functional, handmade pottery with quirky animal drawings for use in homes, offices, and cars everywhere.

Hudson Valley Seed Library— Heirloom seeds packaged in frameable contemporary art packs, each one designed by a different artist.

Bluestocking Bonbons— Organic, fair-trade handmade artisan chocolates.

Christine Fromm Designs— High quality wool, cashmere and mohair sweaters refashioned into hats, dresses, skirts and other winter clothing for adults and children.

Dirty Girls Design—Holiday wreaths crafted with Catskill greens & distinctive wild ornament.  No glitter, no gilt- just green.

Gray Works Design—Furniture and housewares, and Footed Plattes with a rustico-moderno sensibility from locally and sustainably harvested hardwoods.

Hodge Podge Farm—A collection of one-off home-grown pieces including handmade women’s clothing and crocheted accessories.

Jenny Lee Fowler— Fashions custom silhouette portraits the old-fashioned way.

Rustic Stu—Finely crafted cutting boards made from local and exotic salvaged woods.

Treeo Design—  Eco friendly gift wrap and gift boxes. We’ve taken some of the guilt out of gift-giving… or, at least, gift wrapping.

Whimsy Designs— Handmade lighting and home accessories.

Please join us for this special holiday weekend full of local and handmade goodies perfect for holiday gifts, demonstrations, tours of the studio, and of course the best part- yummy treats to be enjoyed by a warm fire!  There will be ample time to chat with each craftsperson, pick and choose from a variety of wares, and even create custom baskets full of handmade gifts.

-Cait Finn

By High Falls Mercantile | Posted in Community Service, Inside High Falls Mercantile, Our Windows | Comments (2)

“Too Many Empty Tables” Food Drive

October 26, 2010 – 11:54 AM

Too Many Empty Tables

Our window filling up

We’re  fortunate to live in a beautiful region, in a lovely home and to run a shop filled with feasts for the eye.  Yet despite the thousands of acres of farmland in the Hudson Valley, there are many in our community who go hungry.  This harvest season, we’ve decided to dedicate our main window to a food drive to benefit the food pantries in our area.

Titled “Too Many Empty Tables”, our drive will run up until Thanksgiving.  We’re collecting non-perishables of all sorts that we’ll distribute just before the holiday that celebrates the harvest.

Listen to Larry’s WKZE Radio Interview – Too Many Empty Tables

Kayla

Kayla

Baby food in the window

Baby food in the window

Well, let’s just say that we’ve been astounded.

There’s the woman who said, “I grew up poor and know what it’s like”, and has brought in toothpaste, baby food and some less than predictable stuff.

Kayla, age 12, publicized Too Many Empty Tables at her school and brought in boxes of food that were collected from her classmates.

We’ve overheard parents and grandparents explaining to young children what hunger is and, in some cases, sharing with the kids what it was like to grow up hungry.

Our reach isn’t far in terms of who we’ll feed.  But whoever you are, wherever you live, chances are that there are too many empty tables in your community too.  Please do what you can to help feed those who are in need.

By High Falls Mercantile | Posted in Community Service, Inside High Falls Mercantile, Our Windows | Comments (2)