It’s time for that other holiday tradition: After-Christmas sales.

At Red Barn Mercantile, we’re marking every holiday item half off while supplies last. If you’ve had your eye on a dazzling ornament, a soft hand-stitched star, Christmas towel or children’s book, then hurry in before they disappear like Santa up the chimney. 

You can view a sampling of our Christmas items in the Seasonal section of our site, but you’ll need to visit the store to see our full selection of decorations, ornaments and other festive items. We’ll be open during normal business hours this weekend and next week, but closed New Year’s Day.

I don’t know about you, but when I think about the holidays I think about food. I think about the warm smell of fresh baked cookies, the turkey in the oven, the pumpkin bread and … did I mention cookies? So when I was putting together this week’s gift list, well, my thoughts drifted to you know what. Also, I’d like to mention that we have more food and food-inspired items in the store, from spice cookies and short breads to antique rolling pins and vintage utensils, to our line of Frances Palmer dinner and serving pieces. We couldn’t fit everything in this photo, nor did we have time to put everything online. So stop by the store to peruse our full selection of yummy gifts.

Starting at the top, we have:

• Ribbon Candy from Hammonds Candies, $9.50. A real Christmas treat. This really takes me back to when I would sneak candies from the dish at my Grandmother’s house. These candies are hand-made and gluten-free.
• Fishs Eddy Cereal Bowl, $7.50. Available in green, white, light blue, red and orange. Perfect for a bowl of cereal after a morning of opening presents, or a scoop of ice cream for dessert.
• Savon de Marseille Liquid Fig of Provence Soap, $27.50. I wouldn’t recommend eating it, but the light scents of these gentle French soaps will make your mouth water. Also available in Verbena, Olive & Lavender, Orange Blossom and Rose.
• The Little Big Book of Comfort Food, $24.95. This book is packed with more than 200 family-style recipes for breakfast, lunch, snack, drinks, dinner and deserts.
• Bubby’s Brunch Cookbook, $30. Bubby’s has been a New York destination restaurant for nearly two decades. But now you don’t have to travel all the way to the Big Apple to savor Bubby’s brunch favorites. They’re all right here.
•   Fortune Cookie Ornament, $14. These gold painted glass ornaments are fun and funky. I only have a few left in the store, so call or come by soon if you want one.
• Vintage Fabric Kitchen Towel, $25. For when it’s all over but the dishes.

Please join us from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, November 5, for the unveiling of our holiday décor and gift offerings. This is our second annual Holiday Open House and we can’t wait to show you all the wonderful things we’ve collected to make your holidays brighter and more enjoyable.

This year’s open house will feature four themed trees, including a fun and funky hand-made found-object tree. There’s also our Arctic tree, kids tree and the Scandinavian tree. Plus, we have a great collection of vintage ornaments and world ornaments, which include Bavarian dancers, fortune cookies, Eifel Tower globes, American flag ornaments and more.

The first 100 guests will receive a free ornament from this year’s collection. And cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Stroll the aisles, chat and see all the new gift merchandise, such as vintage Hungarian grain sack oversized towels, more from Fishs Eddy and a large assortment of great new gift books.

We just unpacked our Christmas decorations Friday … and today. Yes, even I got pulled into the decorating. Well, at least the lifting and holding while Amy et al told me to “move up, down just a pinch, a little to your left, no YOUR left.”

Okay, so you get the picture. It was a little crazy today. We still had boxes out and those who came in had to duck the ladder and squeeze through a few crowded aisles, but the displays are coming together and the place looks great. Everyone did a wonderful job.

After hanging and toting, I got a chance to snap a few photos. Here’s a sampling of what’s available. We don’t have any of the Christmas stuff online yet, so you’ll have to stop by the store if you see something you can’t live without.

Enjoy the Gallery,

Dan

Now that the election is behind us, let’s talk about some real economic stimulus — holiday shopping.

Regardless of political persuasion, we all want to get good value for our money. And by spending at local shops — instead of the big box retailers or discount chains — we can help keep more dollars here in our community.

Visit Red Barn Mercantile this weekend and accomplish both.

It’s our Holiday Open House and you’re invited. The elves and I are unwrapping our Christmas merchandise and rearranging the whole store to get everything ready. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve got. So come by this weekend to receive 15 percent off your entire purchase. Be sure to ask about our new Wish Lists.

And just in time for Thanksgiving we’re putting all Frances Palmer dishes and pottery?on sale. For the month of November you’ll save 20 percent on dishes, bowls and serving pieces. The Frances Palmer Pearl Collection is pressed from molds taken from Palmer’s hand-thrown prototypes and individually finished in gloss black, blue, taupe, white and honeydew.

We’ve also marked down select floor-model sofas and chairs by Cisco Brothers to half off.

And last but not least, all remaining Halloween items?are half price, too.

Come into the store to see our new holiday look and take advantage of these specials.