What does back-to-school mean to you?  For me it means sending my youngest to Kindergarten and for Kathy, one of our fab staffers, it means sending her middle son off to his freshman year at JMU.   What a range!  What a change!

For us it’s all about backpacks and lunch boxes and for Kathy it’s about the mini-fridge and bath caddies for the communal showers.  The list seems insurmountable, where does one begin?

We started last week with our new backpacks and lunch boxes and next week we will work on the new shoes and clothes (particularly new jeans for my oldest as every pair he owns has a hole in the left knee!).  After that we will do the school supplies for them and the school supplies for me.  For the kids we will be stocking up on picutre and chapter books, alphabet flashcards and an apple for the teacher. 

And for me, I’ll be raiding my store for the Russell & Hazel binders and accoutrements (currently, on sale 20% off only in our store during the month of August!) so that I can keep all the kids’s school and after-school schedules, lunch menus and contact lists straight – to keep me straight and from having that inevitable embarrassing moment of having to run to school and bring the field trip permission slip that I forgot to put in the backpack.

For Kathy that will mean a nice new Dash & Albert rug for the cold linoleum dorm room floors, a warm Utility Canvas coverlet (available in the store only, at the moment) and inexpensive but durable Fishs Eddy dishes for those nights of Ramen noodles after the cafeteria closes.

Such big changes that are unbelieveably exciting!  I feel so fortunate to be a spectator as Kathy sends Tim off to college.  They are a great example of how all the hard work of high school, sports and extracurricular activities have paid off. 

To not feel so ridiculously behind, I better get Will back in soccer and Kate signed up for Girl Scouts.  Harvard here we come!

One reason I love Old Town is because it has such a beautiful waterway and wonderful sailing heritage. I love to walk along the marina with my family on warm summer evenings and watch the boats glide slowly along the Potomac. Last Christmas we took the kids on a river cruise with Santa himself. It was a real treat, and one they still talk about.

I was never much of a sailor myself, but I love the old nautical traditions and appreciate the historic significance this mode of travel and trade, adventure and exploration holds all along the Atlantic Coast. It’s what inspired this set of gift ideas. Not all of these items are available online, but what’s not linked below can be ordered by phone* or purchased at the store.

• Sail Seafarer Jute Pillow, $100, a wonderful ode to tall sailing ships, this 22-inch pillow is screened in navy blue with matching piping. You can practically hear the timbers creek and the gulls over head.
• Vaugondy 1745 Noir Globe, $240, this reproduction of a mid-18th century French globe would add a touch of elegance to any office, study or family room.
• Message in a Bottle Kit, $14, they say a message in a bottle can drift halfway around the world before washing up on a distant beach. Now your children can send their very own messages and see where their imaginations take them.
• A Field Guide to Sail Boats of North America, $21, includes illustrations and detailed descriptions of 255 boats, including statistical data such as draft, sail area, and hull construction — perfect for the sailing enthusiast in your life.
• The Paper Captain, $9.95, relive a century of nautical history with facts, figures, and stunning illustrations, then cut out and build 20 beautiful die-cut paper models — designed to float!
• The Louis Vuitton Cup, $75, this stately, illustrated volume offers an impassioned account of the competition’s inception and vision, and a closer look at seven landmark races in the regatta’s history.
• Eye of Time Desk Clock, $42, this smart and portable timepiece features a spherical lens that doubles as a magnifying glass, chrome stem and band.
• Knot Door Stopper, $50, this giant jute rope knot makes an attractive and interesting door stop or accent piece.
• Blown Glass Pearl in Oyster Ornament, $17, add a little undersea shimmer to your Christmas tree this year. Silver shell with pearl white interior.
• Cape Horn Anchor, $29, small brass anchors like this one were displayed beside the entrance to the family cottage to announce the homecoming of seafaring husband or son.
• Sailors Knot keychain, $7.50, monkey’s fist knot keychain with a solid brass shackle closure is expert ditty work — made by fishermen in off-season.
• Replica 19th Century Pocket Compass, $55, a miniature travel version of the ancient mariner’s compass. A set of concentric gimbaled rings make sure the compass always hangs level.

* To order by phone, call 703-838-0355. Our special holiday hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

We have two young children in our house so Christmas is a really big deal. Last Sunday they spent the morning circling toys in one of the newspaper inserts. My son literally circled everything in one book (except the girrrrl toys — yuck). My daughter was a bit more discerning and not quite as gender biased. She did show a preference for kitties, though.

Of course Santa won’t bring everything on their wish lists, but they might find a few of the goodies they circled under the tree.

As a parent, I try to balance my children’s diet of toys. Some toys are like junk food, they’re fun for a day (if they last that long), then wind up spending the rest of the year at the bottom of the toy box. Other toys are engaging, fun, teach kids to think and will get regular use.

If you’re like me, then you’ll appreciate the toys below. They are for younger children, but we have a fairly wide selection of classic books and other items that older kids would enjoy too. And, the best thing about these toys is that every one of them could have come from Santa himself.

• The Truth About Santa Claus, $19.95, a fun little book that uses “evidence” such as vintage illustrations and antique postcards to unearth the real Santa Claus.
• Belle Amis Puzzle Cubes, $49, a set of three all-cotton stacking cubes that little ones, ages 0 to 3, can use to create six different characters.
• Memory Match 16, $35, slide in one of four double-sided cards into a natural wooden board, then lift the red dots to match numbers, animals patterns and more.
• Handknit Stacking Rings, $67, hand crafted from soft pima cotton by women’s cooperative in Bolivia. Great fun for any toddler.
• Christmas Tree decoration, $17, this little tree provides a vintage touch to any holiday display. Guaranteed to take you back to your own cherished memories.
• Let’s Play Mail, $63, this fun felt play set comes in three great varieties — letters and postcards to mom and dad, letters to grandma and pa, and letters to Santa.

(Updated October 26, 2009)

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays. And this year we’re hoping you and your family will spend it with Red Barn Mercantile.

First, stop by and see our wonderful vintage-inspired Halloween decorations, cards, candles and more, now 25 percent off. We have everything you need to delight and bedevil your Halloween guests and goblins.

We are also participating in the Children’s National Medical Center Care for Kids Card program. You can purchase a Care for Kids Card online for $50. All of the proceeds go to Children’s National. The card entitles you to 20 percent discounts at nearly 500 Washington-area stores from October 23 through November 1. We are offering the discount on all non-antique items – perfect for discounts on those last-minute Halloween goodies!

Finally we will be joining our other Old Town Boutique District member-shops in welcoming the entire community into our stores Halloween Day for a little pre-sunset trick or treating. Throughout the day there will be free treats for the kids, and special gifts and discounts for the grown-ups at each of the 27 participating stores. If you wear a costume you might even get a little something extra. Some of the stores will even have special Halloween events. For example, at Red Barn Mercantile we’re inviting all shoppers to receive a free Tarot card reading between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Come by, bring the family and see what your future holds.

Happy Halloween!

SEE THE LATEST BEDDING STYLES FROM 2 P.M. TO 5 P.M. APRIL 25

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Visit Red Barn Mercantile April 25 to see the latest bedding styles from Serena & Lily. Our designers and a Serena & Lily representative will be on hand to discuss creating the perfect sleep space for you or your little ones.

“Bring your swatches and paint samples because this will be your chance to see a wide variety of Serena & Lily bedding, from crib sets to king size,” said Amy Rutherford, owner of Red Barn Mercantile.

The show will run from 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at 113 S. Columbus St. in Old Town Alexandria. Treats and beverages will also be served.

“I really enjoy the Serena & Lily product and I think my customers will to,” Rutherford said. “I also feel like we are sort of kindred spirits. I mean, here are two moms who had a vision of beauty and charm that no one else in the market recognized. They are always evolving, but also stay true to their core values and style-driven character.”

Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter released their first bedding collection in 2004 and turned the nursery industry upside down. Their bedding and crib sets are fresh and dynamic with color and pattern combinations that are sophisticated in their simplicity, timeless and comfortable.

Red Barn Mercantile is an independently owned and operated home furnishing and gift store that provides a one-of-a-kind mix of new and old. By combining rustic antiques, conversation pieces and newly manufactured items, Red Barn Mercantile offers a whole-room approach to home d?cor. The store is also a member of the Old Town Boutique District, a grassroots co-operative of small businesses working together to make Old Town a vibrant shopping destination.

Store hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit RedBarnMercantile.com.

Hello!? We got a great response from the tents and teepees.? Everyone is asking about them!? Since we are getting so much interest, I thought I would share the information with everyone.

The tents and teepees are DARLING!? My kids love them and so will yours.? Even Preston is lobbying James’s grandparents to get him a teepee – and he’s only 3 months old.? They are a fun hideout for any kid.? And the parents fit inside too.

The tent sells for $210.? It measures 40″W x 59″L x 48″H.? The structure is made of PVC piping and the cover is nice thick durable cotton that is machine washable.? The vintage inspired fabric comes in two designs – camping and hula girl.

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The teepee sells for $185.? It measures 72″H x 50″ pole spread.? The polls are made of pine and painted a corresponding color.? The 100% machine washable cotton is available in four different patterns – western, yellow roses, space and rose pindot.? All of which are absolutely charming!

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If you would like more information on the tents and teepees or if you would like to place your order today then feel free to email or call us at 703.838.0355.? If you order before December 8 we have been guaranteed Christmas delivery.? After that and we take our chances a little.? Also, these can be shipped straight to your little loved ones no matter where they are in the United States.

Look for these online in the next few days.? Until then come by, call or email us and we would be happy to help!

UPDATE: These items are now available for sale online.

Take care,? Amy

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We have two kids and my favorite part of the day is when all four of us climb in my son’s bed to read bedtime stories.

It’s a nightly ritual. Each child picks a book and then I read it. And, only me, because my kids like it best when I read to them. (I have to say that I take great pleasure in this fact!)

Our library consists of the classics like Where the Wild Things Are (my personal favorite) and the soon-to-be classics like Knuffle Bunny. It is ever expanding. I take a lot of pride in my children’s love of books. My two-year-old daughter loves them so much that she even takes a book to bed with her!

At least I’m doing one thing right…

Because books are such a big part of our family, it was really important to include them in the store. Just in the last two weeks we have received oodles of great children’s books! Here are just a few of our titles…

• Where the Wild Things Are (of course!)
• Madeline, Madeline’s Rescue, Madeline in London
• The Giving Tree (my other favorite!)
• Cowboy Small
• This is New York, This is Paris, This is Rome, This is London
• Corduroy (Preston’s favorite!)
• Kitten’s First Full Moon
• Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
• Blueberries for Sal (Sara’s favorite!)
• Yummy Yucky (Will’s favorite!)
• and Goodnight Gorilla (Kate’s favorite!)

Children’s books are so personal. They teach so many important lessons and are filled with so many memories.

As we opened the boxes to find these treasures, we found ourselves sharing our fondest recollections. Preston spoke of reading Corduroy at her grandparents house each time she visited. Sara told tales of visits to Maine and reading Blueberries for Sal on her mother’s lap. And, I spoke of making memories with my kids every night.

If you have a special memory or a favorite book, we would LOVE to hear about it! This weekend is the big Scottish Walk in Old Town. If you are in town come by and share. If I can find the book I would be happy to add it to our shelves… and to my library at home!

Warm regards, Amy