Fireflies in a Jar

They are back in stock for Spring!

Only 16 available, while supplies last!

And I do believe my niece Clare needs one for her room!

Twiggy ~ Earthy ~ Crunchy

Anyone who knows anything about me is that I love stuff that looks twiggy and viney!

I love to wrap garlands around everything!

Chandeliers!
Glass Globes!
Framed Prints!
I'd almost say it's one of my "issues", but having said that, it's also one of Barbara's issues!

We get so excited and inspired when we see wild twiggy garlands at a show!!!!
I was so inspired at the recent PA trade show, that I
ordered a twiggy garland with cream flowers and flecks of burgundy and green for the centepieces at my upcoming nuptials this Fall......

One more thing checked off the list!

Come on into the shop and get inspired....we received a UPS truck load of new stuff this week!!!

L'il Birdies

Aren't these the sweetest l'il birdies?

Adorable on your windowsill looking out at the falling snow and reminding us that spring isn't all that far away.......

Available in sage, blue, and cocoa......

only $2.95 each.

I bet everyone wants to see what "lucky"looks like.....
Marianne and her dear hubbie were the winners of a $200 Brown & Hopkins Gift Certificate! They hail from Lincoln, RI and say they have been shopping here for years!
Congrats again! I bet that new rug looks great in your home!

It's IN to be SQUARE!

We received some new wreaths....
And they are square!

Don't you love how it acts as a frame
for a framed picture or photo?
It would be great around a mirror as well!
We can make up a custom wreath to match
your decor using berry garlands,

faux florals, ivy, vine garlands....
The possibilities are endless!

Aren't All Eggs Hard Boiled?

Happy Easter Everyone!
I wanted to share an amusing story from days gone by....
One morning, my footie pajama wearing son,
then just 3 years old, (he's now 19!)
got out of bed earlier than usual.....
(I was still just waking up).
As I lay in bed,
I hear Sam say from the kitchen...."Oh, no.....",

then I hear, "Ut Oh..."

It was then that I walk into the kitchen
and discover my little Sam

helping himself to what he thinks are hard boiled eggs.

He had cracked two eggs by this time
and was on to his third when I snapped these photos. It's one of those memories that makes you smile.
My kids love hearing about the silly
and innocent things they did when they were little.
These realistic eggs (just $1.95 each)
that we sell in the shop were recently purchased
by a woman as a joke for her son....
She was going to mix them in with her eggs in
her fridge. That is how real they look!
We think they look cute in our little egg baskets.
We hope your Easter baskets were over flowing,

and if not, we are offering
15% off everything*
that you can fit
in one of our shopping baskets
from Monday, March 24th thru Thursday, March 27th!!!!

*very few exclusions

Sweet Success!

The other day a man walks up to our old fashioned penny candy counter....

He asks, "Do you have any fruit slices?".
I reply, "Of course!"
At first he says that he would like 12 of them......
On second thought, make that 24.
I think that's an unusually large order of one type of candy.
I ask, "What are you going to do with all these?"

It appears he has been sent in by his wife
who is at home making butterfly cupcakes.
Ooh, those sound pretty! So I googled the idea and found them!
They require 2 fruit slices (halved), 1/2 gummy worm, and shoestring licorice antenna.

The next day, I mention it to our very talented Barbara,
and she comes up with a dragonfly big enough for the top of a cake!
So I baked a cake!

Obviously, it does not require a baking school degree,
it's just fun, and did I say easy???????
This is a great idea for kids to make!

Oh, and by the way, some of the calories have been removed.....
I made this cake with a packaged cake mix and a can of solid pumpkin!
And you can't tell the difference!
And it is low fat and low calorie, if you don't add the frosting or candy!
Here is a recipe for cupcakes (only 3 points per on the WW program!)

WEIGHT WATCHERS CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
Ingredients
1 box devils food cake mix
1 can (15 oz) solid pack pumpkin
Directions:
Mix together.
Do not add anything else that is mentioned on the box.
It only takes these 2 ingredients.
That's all. Mixture will be very thick (and you will be tempted to add something, but don't.) Place in muffin tins, sprayed with non stick spray.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes.
This makes 12 muffins.
1 Muffin is 180 calories, 2.5 G fat, 37 carbs, 2.5 G fiber, 2.5 G protein = 3 WW points

Split Peas Are Not Just For Soup Anymore

At Brown & Hopkins,

We like to look at things beyond their intended use.....

Add a little country bling to your Spring

by using split peas for bowl fillers....

Place them in the bottom of one of our bubble glass vases
top with a metal candle pan, and a spring candle...

You could even scatter them around your tablescape of herbs

and potted plants for a nice impact.

Sure, you could use traditional tie backs to

hold back your curtains....
But how about using a vine such as this?

Just wrap it into a circle and, wa la, you now have

created an interesting way to hold back your curtains!

This versatile vine also works well gathered around

the base of a lamp, or wrapped on the handle of a basket.

This little blackbird is fitted with a clip and wire on the back

and is intended to be used to attach to a wreath...

We bent the clip and inserted it in between the sash

on a double hung window and it's new home

has it perched and looking out yonder....

Combine items in displays that play off one another...

We hope you enjoy our displays as much as

we love creating them for you.....

And as always,

Thank You for Shopping at Brown & Hopkins!

Busy Bee...................

Oh, how I have missed creating entries for this blog!!!!

This past week has been so crazy!

I am going to say one word.....DMV ~ and most Rhode Islanders

will know what I am referring to! For those of you who

do not know what DMV stands for, it is The Department of Motor Vehicles.

I recently moved to Connecticut,

and needed to apply for a new drivers license,

and register my vehicle in that state.

So, I was equipped with all the necessaries,

my birth certificate, my emissions certificate, my insurance,

my old registration, my old license, good hair for a new photo......

I thought I had it ALL!

But one never, ever, has it all when they go to the DMV.....

It appears that my birth certificate is no longer valid

after 40-something years......

So I went from Norwich, CT to Providence, RI (for a new birth certificate),

and back to Norwich, CT, all in the same day

in order to get this mayhem over and done with!

And I would have to say that the entire week went on just like that day,

lots of appointments, with unimaginable waiting room times,

lots and lots of deliveries (but that's a good thing : ),

with lots of furniture coming in....and when 5 pieces come in,

about 17 have to move to accommodate them!

Anyway, we are now settled, and it was a good way to do

a little spring cleaning with our Original Beeswax Furniture Polish.

I love this stuff!

Shown above is the polish on top of our new 8 foot table

in the second floor dining room.

Come on in and check it out.

The table is made in New Hampshire and we are already taking orders on it!

And as for the furniture polish, let's just say,

it makes spring cleaning a little happier.

If that's possible... : 0

It leaves no wax build up, and doesn't fingerprint.....in fact,

it truly enhances the natural beauty of wood.

Perfect for antiques, kitchen cabinets, stainless steel, glass, marble, appliances and more!

Don't you just love Bumble Bee and Lady Bug?

We call them skinny leg people.

They are two of the newest designs from folk artist, Lori Mitchell.
Lori was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia.
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design,
Lori has always been inspired by children's themes and
literature, old illustrations and toys. Full of whimsy
and charm, her characters have won a place in the
hearts of folk art enthusiasts worldwide.
We have lots of collectors on the Brown & Hopkins Wish list
and call them whenever new pieces arrive.
Is there something that you like to collect?
Post a comment and tell us about your collections!!

Let's Look at Lavender

Lavender is one of my favorite flowers, or shall I say herbs,

as they have been long used in herbalism.....mmmm, their scent is so fragrant and soothing.

Did you know there 25-30 different species of lavender?

Of course, widely grown in gardens, the flowers are used in

dried floral arrangements as well as potpourris.

You may also take the dried flowers and seal them in

fabric pouches and place among your stored clothing

as a deterrent to moths. Much, much better than moth balls!!!!!!

You could also place a bowl of lavender flowers by your

bedside to soothe you to sleep, as it is known as an aid to

sleep and relaxation. Adding a few drops of lavender oil to your bath

would set the stage for a good nights sleep too!

Lavender flowers, sachets, soap, room spray and oil

are available for purchase at Brown & Hopkins.....

I happened to check the old inventory book from 1901,

and Lavender Oil was about ten cents per bottle......

Boy, Those were the good old days......

Snow is Forecast, But It's Spring Inside

What????!!!!!! More snow!!!??? I guess the groundhog didn't lie this year.

Feeling a little cabin feverish?

These pics oughta perk ya up!

A cloudy day justs seems sunnier when these are in the room...

New sheep!!!!!!

French hard milled soaps in luscious scents such as lemon verbena and lavender....

I'll take a half dozen please.........