As we traveled – by road! – from LA to Florida this week, I was amazed at how the scenery was both incredibly varied and incredibly similar – all at the same time. What AM I talking about?!…you might ask.

We saw the break-taking mesas in Arizona, the fabulous hills around Santa Fe, the gentle, rolling hills of central Texas, the skylines of Houston and Mobile….but, we saw Target and Barnes and Noble and Walmart everywhere we went. America really has become a country of chain-stores.

For this reason, it was so wonderful to go out of our way to visit Boerne, Texas. With 3000 miles to cover in only 6 days there is not much time to stray from the freeway. But visiting TK’s was something I knew we had to fit in. (And you can see by my shopping bag, that I did a little damage there!)

TK's in Boerne, TX

I met Terry many years ago at a trade show but I had never before had the opportunity to see her shop. It was such a delight. It’s a smallish place but so beautifully laid out. I felt like a kid in a candy shop. When every mall and street corner is full of stores carrying the same products, it is so refreshing to come across a place like TK’s. I don’t know where Terry finds such treaures, but it was truly a joy to wander through her shop. I didn’t care how many precious minutes of road time I was missing. I lost myself in the experience.

The next time you are ambling through central Texas, be sure to put Boerne on your list of must-sees. It’s a precious town and this is a precious little shop. I hope you will say hi to Terry and Carmen for me!

Terry and Carmen and me - nice display of Crosby & Taylor!

What do you do after the busiest Christmas season ever? And what do you do with your German Exchange Student when your daughter (her host sister) is in Switzerland visiting your other daughter?

Our German daughter, Lea, and our American daughter, Rosella

What would any red-blooded American do? Take a ROAD TRIP, of course!

I needed to clear my head after the frenzy of the holidays. And I needed a lot of road time to think and plan and design new products for 2011. So, on the day after Christmas, I flew to LA with Lea, from Germany (about whom I have blogged many times!). We picked up our rent a car, drove to the Pacific, photographed Lea putting her hand in the Pacific, pointed our car to the East and started off.

Lea - The Pacific Ocean - Sunset - a perfect start!

The next evening we pulled into Santa Fe and, after a late dinner, connected with Ahlum Scarola – one of my earliest employees. One of the best things about having a small business is the relationships that you develop with your employees. Ahlum was always more than just an employee. In fact, my relationship started with him when he was only 9 years old. He spent a lot time at our house since he was really good buddies with my stepson.

He started to work for us when he was only 17. Over the next 10 years he wore all kinds of hats. He traveled to crafts fairs and trade shows. He was Rosella’s first babysitter and 5 years later, her first basketball coach. He was my manager for awhile. He worked in our office. He did pretty much everything you could do! In fact, the two of us set a record for the most orders shipped in a day. This record stood unbroken for many years and I still have the photo of us – proudly posting in front of our mountain of boxes – in my office.

There is not enough room in a blog posting to detail everything Ahlum means to our company, to my family, and most of all, to myself.

To this day, I consider him one of the finest people I have ever met. The visit with him – and his son, Ryder – was much too short. And, unfortunately, his dear wife, Cara, was under the weather, so we missed her altogether. We will have to return to Santa Fe soon! We miss you already, Ahlum!

Visiting with Ahlum and Ryder in Santa Fe

We have some exciting plans for 2011! But before we can get to these new products, we need to make some room on our shelves.  Therefore, for the first time ever, we are having a BIG After Christmas Sale!

Last day of work before Christmas!

Today was our last day of work before Christmas. There were just a few of us there – the rest having scattered to spend time with family and friends. Derrik did our inventory, Dan got some welding done (for our Studio Sale – check it out!) and Carl and I worked on new products for Valentine’s Day – exciting! Leandra was on the phones and e-mail. She doesn’t like to be photographed so you will just have to imagine her happy face.

It’s been a wonderful, busy holiday season for us and we would like to thank all of you for buying American-made products. Please come back and visit us at www.crosbyandtaylor.com on December 26th when we will launch our first ever Big After Christmas Sale!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

Derrik doing inventory

Dan doing some welding for our Studio Sale

Carl and I working on new products for Valentine's Day 2011!

Thank you to all who entered our Giveaway Contest this week and Congratulations to Lynn Langeliers – the winner of our Free & Fabulous Facebook Giveaway #10 – a pair of our Angel Tealight Holders (retail value $78)! We will be taking a break from the giveaways next week as we prepare for our first ever post-Christmas online sale.

Pewter Angel Tealight Holders

We have a new addition to our Crosby & Taylor family! I have blogged many times about Nancy, our awesome Operations Manager. Well, last Monday, our dear Nancy was here at Crosby & Taylor until 4:15. She then walked home, did a few things, and then at 10:30, she decided maybe it was time to have a baby!

That’s just how Nancy rolls. She takes everything in stride.

She brought little Evelyn Rose in to see us today. As soon as Nancy turned her back to ship some Christmas presents, I “dressed” Evelyn up in pewter and stoneware. How could I resist?? This is only the beginning. If she is anything like her older brother, she will probably end up modeling our products for years to come! (See Oliver – after the 3 pix of Evelyn – with our Cookie Jar!)

Evelyn with a Pewter One Cup

Evelyn modeling a sneak preview of our Jewelry (coming in 2011)

Evelyn delighted about our Petite Salt Pot

Big Brother Oliver and our Cookie Jar

Newlyweds Petrel and Jacob

If you have a pair of Newlyweds on your Christmas list and haven’t yet found the perfect ornament for them….I have an idea for you! The Wedding Cottage in Portland (Oregon) owned by none other than my lovely daughter (and newlywed) Petrel, has some gorgeous ornaments – exclusive to The Wedding Cottage.

They are not yet up on her webshop but you can give her a jingle at 503.643.9730 and she will get one right out. They were all designed by Petrel and myself and are made of pewter – what else?!  She has four different designs – three of which are customizable.

The Wedding Cottage- Portland, Oregon

Who doesn’t love the soft glow of candlelight – especially at Christmas? This week’s giveaway is a pair of our Angel Tealight Holders (retail value $78).

Pair of Pewter Angel Tealight Holders

To enter to win:

-become our friend on Facebook

-post a comment telling us where, in your home, you would enjoy these sweet Angels

Deadline for entries is Friday, December 17th at 9amPST

NOTE: Please be sure to post on our Facebook page – not on our blog

Congratulations to Robbie Cortez, the winner of our Free & Fabulous Giveawaay #9 – our 7 piece Pewter Nativity Set! (retail value $79)

MIniature Pewter Nativity Set

Thank you to everyone who posted comments about their holiday traditions. It was fun to read about Robbie’s Nativity Collection but it was also exciting when I realized that Robbie is the brother-in-law of my very first employee! Back in 1986, I had three small children and a new business. I was really overwhelmed so I hired Robbie’s (now brother-in-law) Adam. He was a strapping young lad of 16. I believe it was Adam’s first job. He stuck with me all through the rest of high school and college. Those were fun times. Thanks, Robbie, for taking me back down memory lane. Merry Christmas!

Pewter Nativity Set

This Friday we will be giving away one of our Miniature Nativity Sets. This Set includes The Holy Family, a Stable, with a tiny Angel attached to the top of it, and the 3 Wise Men (retail value $79).  Although we designed this set to fit on a mantle or small shelf, we have also been told that it is a great traveling set. Unlike many kinds of Nativity Sets, this one can never be chipped or broken!

Here is how you can enter to win:

-become our fan on Facebook

-post a comment: Tell us what your favorite Holiday tradition is!

-deadline is Friday, December 10th at 9am PST