Opinion : Looking through the window

The guys and gals downtown always have my attention.

I am especially amazed at the window displays, as well as the arrangements inside the stores.

I commented to one of the store owners downtown that I am always in wonder at how she can take something old, that on it's own, looks like it needs painted or changed in some way to make it useful, but she sees something else in it.

She will take this old relic from the past and arrange it with other items that are old and new and create something that I could stare at for hours.

If I didn't look like a gaping idiot, that's what I'd do. Just visit the stores and stand there and stare at the amazing arrangements these folks put together.

I was once again amazed as I worked on the click thru ad for one of our stores. Dean told me the pictures were in the camera. I opened the picture folder and knew I was looking for fall decor, but the pictures I saw didn't look like the store I was looking for.

Then I saw in the background, the counters and people working and realized that these were indeed the photos, but the displays made it look like a completely different place!

I smiled, created the ad, and sighed.

Back in the day, I used to look at Home Interior magazines, order a few things, then stare at the catalog and get an idea of what my wall should look like. I'd carefully arrange the pictures, and shelves and the things on my shelf until it looked almost like I wanted it to.

Then I'd move on the the next arrangement and do all the same steps until I finally felt comfortable and got the hang of the simple wall arrangements.

Then we had more kids, moved, and moved and moved and everything sat in boxes, decor was taken over by school books, mountains of toys, books, family photos, and now I find as the house empties out a bit more, I am starting to notice my stark walls.

Then I look at the stores downtown, and sigh, and stare, and am again amazed at what looks like someone casually plopped random belongings on the shelf, but it all looks so intriguing. I suspect that it took many hours to come up with all these details, and it takes the talent that I don't have to make it look so appealing.

So folks, if you see me in your store staring at just one section of your walls or shelves, and you ask me if I need anything, what I want to say is, just a smidge of your talent. But I'll probably have my mouth hung open, and a glazed look in my eye as I try to capture what you've done and try to figure out how I can duplicate your idea.

So far, I haven't gotten there. But, trust me, when I grow up, I want to be a decorator, just like you...