To market, to market...

Connie, Sharon and Mary went to the Dallas Gift Market last weekend to shop for new merchandise for the spring (and summer, fall and Christmas). Sharon and Mary have been attending 2 gift markets a year for over 25 years, so they are rather jaded by all the new, improved and hyped merchandise. We come back thinking there is just too much stuff out there. Not a goo attitude for gift shop buyers, but sadly the truth.

Connie took this picture of us, as she didn't want to be in it. This must have been pretty early in the morning because we look rather fresh. By the afternoon, we were dragging out butts around. We purchased some of these Mexican folk art wall hanging/magnets.

Oh, the choices! Anticipating what will be trendy, popular and sellable in our little store is always a challenge. Sometimes we find winners, other times we are totally wrong.
Here are some trends we noticed at Market this time. Talk about feeling old and dated. Items, colors and themes popular during my teens (the 70s) are all the rage again. I hate feeling retro.

The owl motif is back. Not the big-eyed, cutesy owls of the past, but these more dignified, wise owls. They show up on everything - pillows, cards, wall art, knick-knacks, you name it.

Another recycled, redone theme is bohemian Indian print fabric in the 'mod' colors of the 70s: bright orange, shocking pink, turquoise blue, neon lime green. Not a look I want to revisit, on my body or in my home. Must show I am wiser and more mature; or becoming a old fuddy-duddy.