The Keepsake Corner

3/7/2010

Amy and I will be at Keepsake Corner today, so please come and check us out. I found an interesting bit of history at WRAL TV's Tarheel Traveler. If you'll follow this link, http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/video/7169297/, you will hear about something that happened in Selma in 1942 that rattled their cages. Enjoy.

2/28/2010

Today marks the end of February which ended quite well. Congratulations to the US in winning the most medals, and congratulations to Canada in winning the most gold medals. The olympics were very successful. Here in Selma, we still have lots of the cups and saucers and buttons left, so make sure you look at the pictures on the website or better yet, come to the store. Of course, there are lots of things in the store that aren't on the website; jewelry is something that we have lots and lots of. Keep in mind that the combined Car Show and Antique show is on April 17, 2010. We hope to see you then if not before. That will be a biggggggggggggggg day.

2/14/2010

Happy Valentines day to all of you valentines. I hope you have enjoyed the day. Take at look at the website page title "Our Store" if you haven't lately. I've just uploaded lots of pictures of cups and saucers, antique buttons and stereographic cards. We picked up a collection of Cups and Saucers and a collection of buttons during our last visit to Florida. We found the stereographic cards here in North Carolina. You can find the new pictures of cups and saucers under the heading of "Cups and Saucers" and the stereographic cards you will find under "Other Collectibles". I loaded the buttons under both "Jewelry" and "Other Collectibles". It will be fun looking at the pictures even if you don't see anything you want at this time.

1/31/2010

We are at the end of another month and have celebrated a decent snow. We get excited about a 5 inch snow because we only see those every few years. Amy and I returned from Florida today to the cold. What a shock to the system. She has decided she wants to move there permanently. We'll check with her in July and see if that's still her position. The store was closed yesterday and today due to the weather and will be closed tomorrow (Monday) since Selma's streets and sidewalks aren't in good shape and tonight will be frigid again. Tuesday is a normally closed day, so we hope to see you on Wednesday. As I mentioned previously, Sandra has vacated her space. We wish her the best. Current plans are to bring in another dealer to replace her, but that final decision hasn't been made yet. In January, we saw a variety of items sold and were not able to establish a clear trend of what you currently collect. Why don't you email us at info@keepsake-corner.com with your requests and we will let you know if we have it.

1/10/2010

I hope your new year has started off to your liking. If you're on the east coast, chances are you have lamented the cold weather at least once this year. You may be in Selma where 30 degrees is cold, or in Florida where 50 degrees is cold or in Maine where 0 degrees is cold. Nevertheless, you have probably experienced temperatures well below your definition of cold. The bright side is that this is a temporary condition. Thank goodness, the cold hasn't stopped the shoppers. We will be observing a more relaxed store opening schedule through February. The store will be closed most Tuesdays during this period, but it never hurts to check. Amy has been known to go open the store even when it was scheduled to be closed. You can always call to see if she is there on Tuesday, but the best bet is to come another day. One other sad thing I would like to mention is that Sandra has decided to leave us. It has been a pleasure having her work with us these few months and we will miss her tremendously. I believe she will be out by the end of January. If you're a Monday regular, please stop by during January to wish her farewell and to tell her you will miss her. We are currently talking with some others about joining the store, so the store will continue to have great merchandise.

12/30/2009

Happy New Year to all from us here at Keepsake Corner. We are very grateful for a wonderful year and look forward with much anticipation to the next year and decade. Hopefully the economy of this blessed nation can continue to improve and return to a time when we feel comfortable making more elective purchases. We're praying for those who are unemployed and long for improvement in the economy.

12/23/2009

Merry Christmas everyone. Keepsake Corner will be open today and closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We will reopen on the day after Christmas, or for you Canadians, Boxing Day. We appreciate each an every customer we have been able to serve during this shopping season and are hopeful all of you will have a great Christmas with your families.

12/6/2009

Christmas is coming soon and many of you have stopped by the store to look for something special for those on your shopping lists. We have loads of stuff. It's always great to hear our customers tell us that "this is my favorite store" or "your store looks great" or "I have been to all the other stores in town and this is the best one". Trust me, we've heard all of these comments and it makes our heads swell just a little. These comments are always totally unsolicited. Take a look at the new pictures I have just loaded of Molinard dice and Crane pinking shears. We always love to find such great merchandise and are sure these items won't be around long.

11/20/2009

We're almost there. Pat has moved her space and her new space looks really good. Lou and Larry have started moving into Pat's old space and while they have some work to do, it's coming together. Please come in and see what's new since there has been some moving around. With Thanksgiving right around the corner and Christmas on the way, we hope many of you will stop by and say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" or whatever greeting you prefer. We love to be greeted.

11/15/2009

Today was Faye's last day in the store as a dealer. She has been a lot of help to us over the years and was a charter member who has been there since the store opened. We are all sad to see her go, and this of course will mean some shifting around in the store. In fact, Pat will be moving to Faye's space and our new dealers Lou and Larry will move into Pat's old space. In the meantime, Chris and Terri have rearranged their space for a new look. Amy and Grant will take over Lou and Larry's space to complete the round robin. All of this moving around will not interfere with your shopping and even without Faye's merchandise the store is full of great merchandise. So come on by.

11/7/2009

November has begun on a little bit of a whimper, but that is historically the way Novembers begin. The peak will be around Thanksgiving, so if you want to shop before the rush, come on in. I regret to inform you that Faye has announced that she will be leaving the store soon. She has some really good deals to choose from, so come check out her merchandise. Faye has been with us since the store opened in 2005 and has many regular customers that come in to visit her on her workdays. Please come in to say goodbye if you know her. We will miss her tremendously. We wish the best for Faye and her husband Dean.

10/24/2009

We are 2/3 through the East Coast Antique Show at Selma and it has been spectacular. If you haven't made it yet, don't worry, the show will still be going strong tomorrow. But make sure you come out tomorrow for some great deals and just plain shopping excitement. On Friday, we enjoyed seeing many of our regular customers and today some of you came back, but most of you we didn't see yesterday. Sales have been great both days. Thanks to all the kind customers who make it a point to tell us that the store looks great or that this is their favorite store.

10/18/2009

I have just uploaded another picture to the store pictures of merchandise. This picture is of a set of four Disney nodders by Marx and appear to be in great shape. See them under the headings of "Other Colletibles" or "Toys and Dolls" under the "Our Store" tab.

10/18/2009

Next weekend is the weekend of the East Coast Antiques Show at Selma. The stores you are accustomed to visiting will be participating as well as many street vendors for a fantastic selection of antiques and collectibles. In preparation for this momentous event, Keepsake Corner is well stocked with merchandise. We have an outstanding selection of estate jewelry, perfume bottles, cups and saucers, depression glass, other glassware and items too numerous to mention. The store is being stocked with a wonderful collection of Romanian porcelain made by Moga (http://www.porcelain.ro/main.php?lang=en&session=3a0ae0b762e62d6b847d3af0489d6538 - copy this link and paste it in your browser window). If you will check out the pictures of our merchandise at "Glassware" and "Other Collectibles", you will see examples of this great porcelain. It makes wonderful gifts. Also check out our new pictures of a collection of postcards we are putting in the store (at "Other Collectibles"). And these are just the tip of the iceberg. If you don't see the postcard you're looking for, there's still a chance we have it. Just email us. We hope you will visit Selma next weekend, and please stop by Keepsake Corner and tell them you read this blog. Thanks.

9/25/2009

Today was dreary weather wise, and according to the news, I-95 northbound was closed for a while. However, sales were brisk and people were lined up at the check-out at times. For that we apologize. We never know from one day to the next how many customers will shop, and we have to staff the store in a way that we can maintain a good level of service without being overstaffed. Thank you for your patience. This weekend is also show time for Liberty, but several customers in the store said they had left Liberty to shop in Selma for better deals. Hopefully all of you are happy with whatever deal you received. Speaking of deals, several dealers have sales with merchandise at 50-60% discount in an effort to combat the recession, and it seems to be working. In addition, we are trying to clear a space to make room for new dealers to move in on October 1. Our new dealers will bring in some excellent older merchandise to complement the wonderful merchandise already in the store. Make sure you stop by in October to check out their space.

9/20/2009

Fall is in the air which means a couple of annual events are scheduled in Selma. First of all, Railroad Day will be October 3rd. Later in October will be the East Coast Antique Show which is always a busy time for us. Of course, the store is open every day, so you don't have to wait for these events to drop by. We are sad to say that Nat will be leaving us at the end of September. Nat has been a dealer since we opened four years ago and has been a big help to us. We will miss her, but don't worry, her sister Pat will be staying and taking over the entire space that they currently share. To say good-bye to Nat, you will need to stop in this coming Thursday as that will be her last day in the store. Also, check the garden shop. I have just added four great cast iron urns.

9/5/2009

The Labor Day weekend is in full swing and we saw many of you today in Selma. Shopping traffic was excellent. Thank you for removing a fair quantity of merchandise from the store. We wish you all the best in your travels and trust that you will drive safely so that you can return home as healthy as you were when you left. And when you come back through Selma, stop in and say "Hello".

9/2/2009

Welcome to September and much better weather here in NC. Today we had some excitement at the store requiring a 911 call. Kudos to the Selma rescue squad who responded promptly and was able to help the patient and provide transportation to the local hospital. We are expecting a busy Labor Day weekend as many of you drive up and down I-95 and hope to see you this weekend. Please mention if you have checked the website lately when you come in.

8/24/2009

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to us!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes our 4th anniversary is August 25, 2009. We have had an exciting 4 years and look forward to many more. Our customers keep us coming back every day and we hope we can can enrich your lives as much as you enrich ours. We feel like the worst of the recession is behind us and are looking to a robust fall season. In fact, Amy has already started a Christmas display for holiday items. We hope you will stop in as you travel this fall and stay tuned for information about the antique show in late October.

8/9/2009

We were delighted to see you at Keepsake Corner today. I don't know if these are the dog days yet, but they sure are hot and humid and make us long for fall. In spite of the heat, many of you came by and shared your stories and left a few dollars with us. Some of you mentioned that KC was the coolest store in town. I think the meaning was literal in this case. We are glad to provide the AC and respite from the heat as you come in and browse. Keep coming and while you're here, notice Amy's new collection of handmade greeting cards which are produced by Rose. Rose does a great job and you will want to purchase several.

7/11/2009

As usual, July is a busy and successful month at Keepsake Corner. Today we were visited by a train load of customers from Charlotte. I hope all of you had a delightful trip and enjoyed your shopping experience. Remember to check the store often as we have several dealers and new merchandise is brought in almost daily. Be sure you check out Sandra's space. She has had a rip roaring start as her merchandise has attracted many customers and her sales have been great.

6/20/2009

It was a hot day in NC, but the customers came anyway and the day ended up being nothing short of fantastic. The sale merchandise seems to be drawing a crowd. Please be aware that the store is open 7 days a week during the summer. It will soon be time to say farewell to Linda who has been a part of the store since we started 4 years ago. I guess that makes her a charter member and she has been a reliable dealer and worker ever since then. We will definitely miss her. Beginning in July, we will be joined by Sandra and we're looking forward to working with her and having her merchandise in the store for you to browse when you come in.

5/29/2009

We're at the end of another week and another month. Memorial Day signaled the beginning of the summer vacation season. Just remember when you come through Selma to stop and rest for a spell and come in the store and say Hi. We are sorry that Linda has decided to "get out of the antiques business" (her words) but may still find time to work. We will miss her on Tuesdays, but wish her well. After Linda gets her space cleaned out, another dealer has graciously agreed to move in. We welcome Sandra and are looking forward to working with her.

5/25/2009

God bless all of our military men and women wherever you're stationed around the world. Today was a great Memorial Day and I hope everyone had a great day and weekend. We enjoyed another great day at Keepsake Corner and are always grateful for every customer.

5/12/2009

This is a belated happy Mother's Day. I have been very remiss in not taking care of such a necessity. Anyway, all you mothers are great and very deserving of your special day and I hope you enjoyed it thoroughly. Now come on down and pick out something for yourself from Keepsake Corner.

4/30/2009

It is the end of April and we're heading into May. Thank you for shopping with us. We appreciate every shopper in these economic times and you're what keeps us engaged in this business. Keep coming back. You're always welcome. Don't forget Mother's Day is coming up and we have everything that a mother could want.

4/8/2009

Being an NC State grad, I'm no fan of UNC sports, but congratulations anyway. You had a great season and deserve the national championship. Keepsake Corner will be close this Sunday in observance of Easter. Being true to our current practice on Mondays, we will be open this coming Monday, so stop in if you're traveling south to north or north to south, or if you're a local resident.

4/6/2009

We had another wonderful weekend in Selma. Faye sold some furniture, so she rearranged her space. Come in and see the changes. Amy and Linda have also rearranged some spaces, so the store continues to change for the better. Selma's annual car show will be on April 18, 2009. The show is always interesting and brings lots of antique and vintage cars to Uptown Selma. We hope to see you then.

3/14/2009

Amy and I were at KC again today. Even though the weather was awful (cold and rainy), many customers were defiant enough to come shopping anyway. Thank you for doing so. We are working on expanding the 50% off area so there are more bargains available than ever. We are also working on moving the Shabby Chic selection to a space closer to the front of the store, so be on the look out for a new look. Check out the laminated counter top that I just added to the "Other collectibles" category. The laminant has three Pepsi Cola bottle cap emblems made into it. These are not decals and they are not inlaid. It is a very rare, and I'm sure a highly collectible piece. Also check out the left front window with iron fencing and cast iron furniture. With spring coming, now is the time to get your yard ready.

3/2/2009

Now that we've had snow in March, hopefully winter is behind us and spring is on the way. For those of you in the northeast who are still digging your way out of the snow, I feel for you. By this time of year, I'm sure you're ready for this madness to end. We, Amy and Grant, were in the store on Saturday and Sunday and were happy that many of you showed up in spite of the weather. February wasn't a stellar month, but I wasn't a bust either. We are encouraged that business has maintained itself in these hard times and believe we're building lasting customer relations that will be mutually beneficial for years to come. Customers continue to tell us that they enjoy shopping at Keepsake Corner, that it is their favorite store, etc. That really makes us feel good and thank you for your gracious comments. That being said, you're welcome to share your negative thoughts with us as well. We know we are not perfect and want to be even better.

2/27/2009

Tomorrow is the last day of February, 2009. We have seen many of you come in the store during February and sales have been slow at times and brisk at other times. March in North Carolina means spring is near and we're all looking forward to it. Grant and Amy will be in the store tomorrow after visiting our grandchildren in Florida last weekend. Come on by and say hello.

2/15/2009

Another good day and we rearranged the 50% off area in the back of the store. The store will be open tomorrow for the President's Day holiday, so if you're out and about, come on in.

2/14/2009

Happy Valentine's day everyone. Ours was great. We had many shoppers and they wanted hammered aluminum, jewelry, glassware, pottery, perfume bottles, and you name it. Everyone was cheerful and kind. That is what's so great about meeting all of you customers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris and Terri on the loss of Chris' mother. It was a sad day for them. No matter how prepared you are, losing a mother is very difficult. Remember them during the next few days as they deal with all that is involved. The store will be open Sunday and Monday for President's day. It will be closed Tuesday this week, but reopens on Wednesday.

2/11/2009

We're continuing to enjoy warm weather in North Carolina. What a great time to visit Selma. Come on in when you get a chance and bring your valentine.

1/16/2009

Winter is upon us. Maybe it's a little cold to walk the streets of Selma and shop, but stay in the stores and it's not too bad. Yes, our heating system still works. Come in and warm up. And oh by the way, browse as long as you like, and take some merchandise home with you. Last weekend, we changed one of the windows by inserting blue and white decorative items. It is really pretty. All of the blue and white isn't in the window, there's still plenty in the store. Any you can buy directly out of the window too. Hope to see you soon.

1/7/2009

Happy New Year everyone. We are well into January and have already had many customers stop by on their way north or south. Even though Amy and I have been sick since last week (thanks to a cold our grandson shared with us) the store has been open every day and sales have been great. We are looking forward to another great year.

12/30/2008

How amazing is it that we're at the end of 2008? When my mother used to talk about how fast time went by, I thought she was crazy. It just seemed to go so slow. But it has sped up dramatically and is now going at breakneck speed. In one year we'll be staring at 2010. Imagine that!! As usual the week after Christmas has been a very busy one at KC with all the north-south traffic stopping in to take a break. We're happy to see all of you and hope you keep traveling our way. We at Keepsake Corner wish all of you a happy and blessed New Year.

12/18/2008

Merry Christmas to everyone who views this website and to all of our customers. I'm not trying to be politically correct because to me Christmas means a celebration of the birth of Christ. If you do not believe in Christ, I still hope you have a wonderful holiday season and allow us Christians to celebrate with awe for our savior. And just be thankful that Christ has provided for such a wonderful and festive time of year for all to enjoy. And by the way, no matter what your religious persuasion, you are always welcome at Keepsake Corner.

11/30/2008

There's a post card that reads, "Go Green...Shop Consignment". It could just as well read, "Go Green...Shop Antiques". Just think of it this way, if you purchase something that's old or previously owned rather than something new, you are contributing to avoiding the environmental cost associtated with producing a new item. The old item was manufactured at another time in history, so any environmental damage from producing that item is done and cannot be changed. So by giving that item another life, so to speak, the world is getting more mileage out of any pollution caused by producing it. You may say, that there are environmental costs associated with transporting the item to the store, and more transporation produced environmental costs when the buyer removes it from the store and transports it to the new owner's location. But you don't need to consider these transportation issues, since any new item purchased involves similar or maybe even more transportation pollution especially if the item was manufactured over seas. So I say resoundingly, "Go Green...Shop Antiques".

11/29/2008

Today was great in Selma. You shoppers were just terriffic. Thanks for choosing our stuff to take home with you. Also, many thanks go to Charles Reid of Reid's Country Sampler across the street. I needed to wire a circuit in order for us to meet the Fire Chief's request to eliminate all extension cords. Charles was extremely helpful in answering questions, making suggestions, loaning me a conduit bender and fish tape, and even helping run the wire. He is a very neighborly neighbor.

11/27/2008

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone had a great day with turkey and trimmings, family, fun and entertainment. Tomorrow will be the busiest shopping day of the year and we expect no less at Keepsake Corner. The weather should be just grand, so come on down. We hope to see you here.

11/20/2008

It is cold outside (don't laugh northerners), so come on in and see what is awaiting you. Bring your Christmas lists and enjoy picking out some interesting stuff for your friends.

11/16/2008

Now that we're into November, we're beginning to think about Christmas. We have miscellaneous Christmas decorations for sale including old ornaments, nativity sets, Byer's Carolers and more. Also the Christmas show has started at the Rudy Theater, so come shop a little and see the show.

10/25/2008

We're 2/3 through the antique show and sales have been brisk, especially when considering the economy. In fact sales have been better than they were during the show one year ago when the stock market was near it's all time high. Go figure. We sold lots of perfume bottles and miscellaneous dishes. Also we had a great icebox which sold. But don't worry, there's still lots left. Come on down.

10/23/2008

The time is here. The East Coast Antique Show begins tomorrow. Hope to see you there.

10/21/2008

It is now only two days until the East Coast Antique Show begins in Selma.

10/18/2008

Thanks to all of the customers who came by the store today. You made the day a success. It is always interesting to see what you decide to take home with you. Don't forget, next weekend is the East Coast Antique Show at Selma which will be on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We won't set up on the street, but the store will be open to serve everyone who comes in. We hope to see you then.

10/7/2008

As of this week, Keepsake Corner will be closed on Mondays except for possibly holiday Mondays. If you have a question as to whether we will be open on a holiday Monday, just call the store during business hours or email us at info@keepsake-corner.com.

10/7/2008

Thanks to all of the customers who came by the store today. Also the Fire Chief came by and inspected our progress thus far in conforming to the life safety requirements and found the things we had accomplished to be satisfactory. We still have a few things left to do before he gives us a complete release.

10/3/2008

It's upon us. Railroad Days at Selma. Come on down tomorrow.

10/1/2008

Please join us in saying good-bye to Ann as she moves to another store. Ann has been with us for almost two years and we wish her luck in her new endeavor. In spite of financial turmoil in the US, today was a rip-roaring day at Keepsake Corner. The big seller of the day was several ice cream molds. Thanks so much to the person who purchased them. Don't forget to visit Selma for Railroad Day this Saturday. We hope to see you then.