Highway Store Spring Transformation: From Cluttered to Curated

Spring has arrived, and with it came the perfect inspiration for a complete store makeover. Sometimes the most beautiful changes come from the most unexpected gifts.

The Magic of Unexpected Inspiration

There's something magical about those moments when everything just clicks into place. That's exactly what happened when a gorgeous piece of antique furniture arrived as a gift, and suddenly I knew my highway store was ready for something special.

What started as a simple question of "where should we put this beautiful piece?" quickly evolved when my husband took one look at the space and said, "Let's flip the shelving on its side and make it look like it's floating!" And just like that, our spring makeover project was born.

The Transformation Unfolds

The process has been both exhausting and exhilarating. We've completely reimagined the entire layout, using that stunning antique as our inspiration and focal point. The floating shelves my husband created give the space an airy, modern feel that I never could have imagined before.

The best part about this renovation is that we've managed to double our display surfaces. This means I could finally pull more inventory from my studio to fill every corner and create a truly abundant shopping experience. The expanded space also works perfectly for safe, comfortable browsing, whether you're a local treasure hunter or a road-tripper passing through on Highway 16.

I spent an entire afternoon wiping down all the new shelving after my husband finished the installation work. It's amazing how much difference clean, well-organized displays can make. The space feels completely transformed, even though we're still not quite finished with all the details.

The Finishing Touches

We're still waiting for the perfect spring weather to tackle the window washing, and I have a few more paintings and decorative touches to complete. But even in this almost-finished state, the store feels completely renewed.

One thing I'm particularly excited about is finding the perfect small table and chair set to place in the center of the store. I can already picture how it will create a charming vignette where special pieces can be showcased like artwork in a gallery. It will be the kind of setup that invites people to linger and really appreciate the craftsmanship of each piece.

Perfect for Modern Shopping

The new layout works beautifully for our honour system shopping model. Visitors can browse at their own pace with plenty of space to move around comfortably. The expanded display area means there are twice as many treasures to discover, and the floating shelves create interesting sight lines that draw people deeper into the space.

Whether you're planning a road trip through the area, looking for unique local finds, hunting for the perfect gift, or decorating your home with pieces that have history and character, our newly transformed highway store is ready to welcome you.

A Story of Inspiration

What I love most about this makeover is how it all started with one beautiful antique piece. Sometimes inspiration comes from the most unexpected places, and this gift became the catalyst for creating something much bigger and more beautiful than I had originally planned.

The antique that started it all is now proudly displayed, waiting to inspire visitors just as it inspired us. There's something wonderful about pieces that carry stories forward and spark new creative visions in the people who encounter them.

Visit Us on Highway 16

Our doors are open for anyone who loves the thrill of discovering something special. The transformation is nearly complete, and I can't wait to see how visitors respond to the new space. Each piece in our curated collection has been chosen for its quality and character, and now they all have room to breathe and be properly appreciated.

If you do visit, I'd love to hear what you think of the changes. And if you find something that speaks to you, even better. After all, the best antiques are the ones that find their way to people who will treasure them.

 Connecting Through Stories and Subscriptions

The new website and weekly newsletter have opened up incredible opportunities to share what's happening in both my pottery studio and the highway store. There's something deeply rewarding about connecting with people who appreciate handmade pottery and the stories behind each piece. To everyone who has signed up for the weekly newsletter, thank you for allowing me into your inbox and for sharing this creative journey with me. I hope these glimpses into my artistic process inspire you to follow your own passions, whatever they may be.

This past week has been particularly special as pottery subscription boxes made their way to doorsteps across the country. The unboxing videos and photos from April subscribers have filled my heart with joy. Seeing people discover and connect with pieces I've carefully created and curated reminds me why I love this work so much. Each box tells a story, and knowing that story continues in someone's home makes every hour spent in the studio worthwhile.

The anticipation is already building for the June subscription box, and I can barely contain my excitement about what I'm planning. Production will begin in early May once the full website launches, but I'm keeping the theme under wraps for now. Let's just say it's going to be something special that celebrates the season in a way that only handmade pottery can.

The Challenge of Two Inventories

The next seven days mark an important milestone in my pottery business. I'll be working intensively to create inventory specifically for the online store that launches with the website on May 1st. This represents a significant shift in how I approach my business model.

Years ago, when I first started taking pottery to trade shows, I created an Etsy store to reach customers beyond those local events. However, when I opened the highway store with its honour system shopping, maintaining both online and physical inventories became increasingly complicated. The challenge was simple but significant: how do you manage inventory that exists in both places when one location operates on trust and the other requires precise digital tracking?

The solution I've developed is to maintain completely separate inventories for each space. The highway store will continue to showcase the abundant selection you can see in the photos, with plenty of color choices and variety for browsers who enjoy the treasure hunt experience. Meanwhile, the online store will feature its own carefully curated collection, photographed and described specifically for digital shoppers who want to know exactly what they're purchasing.

Seven Days, One Mission

Creating enough quality inventory for a full online launch in just one week might sound ambitious, but for someone who thrives on creative challenges, it's exactly the kind of mission that energizes me. I love every part of this process, from centering clay on the wheel to watching pieces emerge from the kiln transformed by fire.

My routine will blend seamlessly with daily life, as it always does. Between helping my daughters with online learning and creating educational opportunities for my arts students, I'll be maximizing every moment of studio time. There's a rhythm to this kind of intensive creative work that feels both familiar and exciting.

The highway store's current abundance of pottery, visible in every corner and on every newly installed floating shelf, serves as both inspiration and benchmark. My goal is to create an online inventory that matches that same level of quality and variety, giving digital customers the same sense of discovery and delight that visitors to the physical store experience.

Gratitude and Looking Forward

This journey continues to amaze me. From a simple pottery practice to subscription boxes traveling across the country, from a highway store makeover inspired by a gifted antique to launching a comprehensive online presence, each step builds on the last in ways I never could have planned.

Thank you for being part of this story, whether you're a newsletter subscriber, a highway store visitor, a subscription box recipient, or someone who simply enjoys following along with the creative process. Your support and enthusiasm fuel every piece I create and every new direction this business takes.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep creating beauty in whatever form speaks to your heart.