End of an Era

In 1955, two new businesses opened-- Disneyland and Edman Fine Furniture.  They have a lot in common...just depends on how you look at it.

My Grandparents started Edman Fine Furniture almost sixty years ago and it has been our 'amusement park' for decorating, design, furniture, and more.  What a ride it has been!

My Dad was twelve years old when his father opened the store.  As a child, I would visit my Dad at work and run around the different room settings (it's over 15,000 sq ft of fun!).  Denver, back then our warehouse manager, gave us kids rides on the hand truck in the warehouse!  My gosh...growing up we thought our store WAS Disneyland!

The storefront back then.  Where this picture
was taken is now a PF Changs!
Times have changed...

My Dad (middle), his brother Steve (left), and sister Mary
(right).  This photo was taken the year the store opened.
Good thing I wasn't around then...I'd be hanging a picture
on that bare wall and adding a throw pillow for color!

My Grandparents (left) with my Dad (right).
We still have the 'Edman' sign but the storefront
has changed several times over the years.

Hello sister Beth...gotta love the 80's!
Store truck in back and our Dad's big boat of a car.
Both could deliver a sofa...that trunk was huge!

Four Generations.  My Grandpa (left), me, my sweet niece Grace,
and my Dad (right).  Grandpa was 90 years old in this photo.

The storefront painted by the wonderful PVE Design.
The building still with all the brick, but wanted to
freshen up the signage and change the colors.

Inside our store recently.  Lighting, artwork, pillows, and furniture
have been our focus along with in house design  to 
help clients make their homes beautiful!

Three years ago, we started our own brand of furniture
called edman&co.  A line of fabulous upholstery.  

My wonderful Dad.  Lloyd "Babe" Edman

My Dad, Babe Edman,  is the reason I entered the furniture business eighteen years ago.  My sisters soon after.  We all feel so blessed to have learned from the best.  His experience, knowledge, sense of humor, and devotion for the furniture store (and his family) has been a great gift for us all.

My Dad is ready to retire.  His sole career has been working at Edman Fine Furniture.  Well deserved...it's time for he and my Mom to travel, enjoy their five grandchildren, and to cut the apron strings off for us!  Time for we daughters to branch out and head in the direction we've been dreaming about.  We are so excited!

Edman Fine Furniture has been a place for many of us to call home.  Our Sales Manager, Denver Harris, has been working for the store for over 33 years and we love him dearly.  We often say, "Thank God for Denver!"  He has been like a brother to us and fit in to our family perfectly.  Denver is a jewel who has been devoted to serving our customers and meeting the needs of whatever has to be done when working retail.  And he gives great hugs too!

Our customers are the absolute best people you will ever meet! We appreciate the relationship and consider many our dear friends. With my Dad retiring it was a hard decision to close the store.  We couldn't imagine having Edman Fine Furniture without my Dad there everyday.  So, it's time to close Edman Furniture and look to a new beginning.  We hope to see you during the sale and we will keep you posted on what's to come!

Thank You Dad.  We love you always and forever.  

Fun being 4!

Charlie's 4th birthday party.  He wanted Pirates...all because of this book...

This fabulous book from our dear friend Sabrina.
Charlie wants this story read to him every night.
So this was the year for a Pirate Party!  Ahoy!

It's fun to be a Pirate!

Printed a few signs-- this one to welcome the
kids to the house.  Black & white is cheap
and free clipart online helps give
it a festive look.

Name tags.  Makes life easier with the mix of
 neighbors, friends, & family.

Hot weather?  Just add water!

Bounce house kept the giggles going...for us all!

Keep the party jumping!

 

Go Fish for Treasure is always a favorite.
We used a big box from our store & cut an opening
for the kids to stick their fishing poles in.

My 10 year old niece in the box clipping the goodies
on a clothespin.  The kids ended up playing this
game over and over again!  

Bean bag toss-- too cute!  

The pirates found lots of loot!

Pin the Patch on the Pirate!  Arrrrr!

Little girls make cute Pirates too!

Walking the plank...oh no!

The treasure buckets made it fun.

Polka dot straws & cups from Christmas...
works for Pirate Parties too!  

                                         

Superman enjoying his cupcake.

Do you think Charlie
had a good time? He did!
He's a lot like his mother...
only I use a lampshade! 

                                                       

I made this sign using extra paper plates, a printable bubble letter coloring
page, a red crayon to fill in the bubbles, twine, and close pins.
Charlie loved to see his name in lights...well, in paper plates!

Watching your children enjoying their special day is so much fun!  To see Charlie play with his friends and have a great time on a warm sunny day makes my heart sing.  Before Martha Stewart, before Pinterest, before any of those clever decorating things...there was my Aunt Beth.  She decorated, cooked, and hosted the best parties ever!  My Aunt Beth passed away in June and life for us will never be the same-- we miss her terribly.  She loved throwing her two children's birthday parties and when I was growing up, I always wanted to be there!  Heck, no one wanted to miss a party Auntie Beth threw.  Whatever the celebration, she made it fun for all ages and made everyone smile!

My Cousin Courtney & My Aunt Beth
at Charlie's birthday party last year.

Auntie Beth

My Aunt Beth, Me, & my Mom

Yesterday, our family lost a wonderful person to cancer.  I want to share so many memories about my Aunt Beth because she was so important to me and many others.  For now, I just wanted to share a picture of her and that wonderful smile we all love!  Aunt Beth brought a joy to our world that made our lives rich, positive, and beautiful!   

Life is incredible. 

Beautiful Baby!

We are smitten!  Our little family has a new addition...

Six weeks ago I gave birth to a precious little girl.  It's been over three years since Charlie was this little; we had forgotten a lot but it's slowly coming back to us and enjoying all the days (and nights) of what comes with a new baby.  We have had family & friends visit us at home and that has been wonderful!  So many have asked to see the nursery so here are a few pictures of Baby Mae Beth's room...

Mae Beth is here!
Big Brother is over the moon excited!

These little booties are from a client-- aren't they darling?

A corner of her room.
The polka dot drapes
I found on a trip to London.

The little hand knit hat was a gift from my friend
Jessica.  Her mother makes them for a fabulous
shop called Passion Flower.  Sweet Pea!
The teddy bear was my Dad's when he was a baby.
I added some lace to the neck to make it a little more girlie
and the lamp is from our Bend shop.

The Paper Doll pictures have been in our family
for over forty years-- in my sisters' bedrooms
when they were small, then mine, & my darling
nieces all had these Lettie Lane pieces.
So special for Mae to have now.

This pretty Dash & Albert rug works with all the old things
along with some of the new to meld the two together.
I'm hoping to have this for years and years as Mae grows.

On another wall hangs some more
oldies but goodies. The doll my Aunt made out of
a pillow case with it's embroidered detail.
The antique dog is an old metal toy
and the poem is from my dear friend Christy-- about a new baby girl.  Very sweet!

Pillow case doll...

Sweet banner from a baby shower my friend made.  Love it
and just had to put it in her room!

Baby Mae Beth, "Macie"
(two weeks old in this picture),
is so precious to us!  



Thank You all for your cards, visits, yummy dinners, & gifts--
we so appreciate your kindness & love!

Spring Trends

Springtime is a favorite season of mine because of it's major shift from the cold, grey days of winter; wearing fluffy sweaters and ten extra pounds of marshmellow coat to the welcoming addition of flowers blooming and Cherry blossom trees full of pink-popping color!  Adios cold...I'm ready for the flirty fashions & freshness this new season has to offer!   

Spring Trends 2012 call for bright colors, shiny finishes, and bold patterns to wake us up from our winter hibernation.  Here's how it starts...we SHOP!

Classic patent-leather looks edgier with this 
quilted diamond pattern...
Audrey Hepburn meets Pat Benatar.

Furniture designers get inspired the same way fashion
designers do...they just have to make sure
it lasts a lot longer than just one season!

The bold colors that jump out this Spring are the brights.
Oranges, corals, & pinks give us the okay to
say goodbye to winter and hello to a fresh new start!

Happy colors make you--and your room--feel good!
This room wears it well, don't you think?

Shoes can spark interest for an entirely new outfit...
Working your way from your toes to your nose
is one way to get that fabulous, spring look you want!

This gorgeous entry piece with light and dark
wood tones is both dramatic and exotic, yet
neutral enough to go with lots of different
styles (just like those shoes)!

If bright & bold isn't your thing-- don't want that look-at-me
strut-my-stuff look, then you'll love the soft sorbet shades of pastels
that offer a low-key, ladylike vibe. 

Soft shades of blues, creams, & rose tones

make for a soothing, love-to-live-here look!

  A nice place to call home.

As always...black & white fashions defy time.
Big for this spring &  big in decorating!

Designers know you can't go wrong with
a bold black & white piece.  Goes with everything
and is hip & fabulous...always.

What's that you say?
Imitation is the highest form of flattery.
Nature always inspires...

Like this!

Your home should be filled with things
that inspire, that comfort, and that make
you enjoy being there.


Fill your life with the things you love!