John cut wood. I painted wood. We glued. We clamped. We were happy with the results.
These particular stencils had been used over and over and had several layers of paint which suggested Halloween to us. So we made up as many words as we could and off they all go to our booth at Brothers Antique Mall in Medina OH.
We also framed a few more of the numbers from the 1920s London bus destination scroll. I love how they look, but then I have told you that before.
The other spooky thing is our local Borders store with the huge "going out of business" banner in front. We went in for the first time since they started to close. It is a shambles. It looks like the worst second hand store. There seems to be piles of stuff on sale that I have never before seen at a Borders. Chairs and empty display racks are jumbled up towards the front of the store. Bookshelves are mostly bare. Half of the lights were off so there was an eeerie feeling to the whole store and it was so quiet.
I will really miss this Borders. I will miss the perky clerk with the enviable curly hair and lovely Irish accent. I will miss the great craft section of books and the nice selection of stationery items. I will miss the live music in the beautiful gardens and patio. I will miss the great selection of magazines and the easy parking. I will miss walking out of the movie theater and right into Borders. We have a Barnes and Noble nearby, but the parking is more difficult and the selection of books I like is fairly bleak. Our Borders had a wonderful vibe to it that was very welcoming and always full of people. I will really miss our Borders.
I'm really missing my Borders too! It was right down the street and loved stopping in and browsing for an hour or so.
Posted by: kybarb | Thursday, 08 September 2011 at 08:03 PM
I went into the Borders sale and it was as you describe. More like a store I wouldn't give 5 min too. In my area they have always been 2nd to B&N, which is now sadly, the only book store in town. If there's another one in Annapolis, I'd be glad to hear!
Love those signs you're making.
Posted by: Maureen | Friday, 09 September 2011 at 08:16 PM
You totally captured my feelings about our local Borders closing (in Northern VA). I had a hard time visiting and seeing the chaos. I love your blog and hearing about your adventures in "retirement."
Posted by: Ellen | Saturday, 10 September 2011 at 07:09 AM
I worked in the Borders here in Long Beach, CA for five years. It was a fun place to work back then. We opened the store and it was quite the experience starting from the beginning. It is so sad to see them all closing. I miss them. I love physical book stores. I love to touch and feel before I purchase books.
Posted by: Brian Kasstle | Saturday, 10 September 2011 at 03:29 PM
Borders was our home-town, local bookstore. We are so sad to be without it, now, and sad for people we've known for decades who are out of jobs.
I couldn't bear to go in, at the end.
Posted by: Vicki in Michigan | Tuesday, 20 September 2011 at 04:03 PM