Nora Fleming and Carol Zeien, Two New Women in my Life!
There’s so much to unpack in this week’s post! All kinds of great new things are happening at CoziNest. First, and most importantly. let me introduce you to two new women in my life. Carol Zeien and Nora Fleming! Carol, is a beautiful – inside and out, lady who is my new business partner at the shop at Southern Antiques & Accents.
She brings with her a wealth of knowledge about retail, a mutual love of our Lord and a dear, sweet friendship. She moved to the Fairhope area about a year ago and we met through a group of artist on the Eastern Shore. It is rare in life that you meet someone and feel you’ve known them your whole life, but this is the case with Carol.
Carol Zeien
For 12 years in the state of Iowa, Carol owned and operated her own tea room and gift shop, named Imagine This. The thing she still loves about her business is being able to use her creativity to help others make their own creative vision come to life while contributing financially to her family. She continues to paint as a freelance artist under the name Imagine This.
She is married to Don, Retired Chief Warrant Officer 3, US Navy who served 22 years in active duty. Their two daughters are Chandler and Camden. Chandler is married to Dustin Brannam, Captain, US Marine, and they are stationed in San Diego, CA. Chandler is a physical therapist at Rady Children’s Hospital. Their youngest daughter, Camden, is a student at Pensacola State where she is preparing for a career as an aesthetician.
Carol’s expertise in choosing inventory has already made a big hit in our shop. We now offer Mad Dash Food Mixes which sell out every time we sample them. They are selling like hot cakes for gift baskets as well as quick and easy dinners for our patrons.
We also offer teas from AppWyld Teas in North Carolina, scones, jams and lemon curd! AppWyld also makes their own bath salts and bath bombs which are brand new in the shop! Come in soon to make up a gift basket for those on your Christmas list, or to mark dinner off your grocery list.
Carol is an incredibly talented artist
She paints commissioned pieces as well as some beautiful wall art that is for sale in our shop. She sent me a picture of this sheep a few days after we met and it SOLD immediately. Can you believe the eyes?
After hanging “Be Still” in MY den, we’ve been busy filling the shop with new and exciting inventory. One of my favorites is Nora Fleming.
An Ah-Hah Moment with Nora Fleming
A few months ago a customer of mine called with a suggestion. She asked me to consider carrying Nora Fleming in my shop. I had never heard of of Nora Fleming, so I asked her to tell me about it. Robin, thank you so very much!!! As she talked about the collection, I could hear her passion about the line and so I filed it away for future consideration.
When Carol and I discussed inventory weeks later, I asked if she had heard of it and yes! She had actually carried the line in her store in Iowa and was totally on board with adding it to our inventory.
I fell in love with the line as soon as I started researching. I have always loved entertaining and the simplicity of these platters, trays and bowls with interchangeable minis is such a no brainer!
If you love playing hostess but don’t have the space to store serving pieces for every holiday, Nora Fleming is your new best friend. The minis are small and don’t take up much space, but offer you so many options for every holiday and event of the year. One gift. Every occasion. Here’s how it works:
1. Select your base and mini
This is our bread tray with the collegiate helmet for the University of Alabama. We currently have Auburn, AL and and LSU in stock. We can order other schools if Nora Fleming has the license for your particular team.
LSU is represented here with the Octagonal Platter.
2. Dab hole in base with water and slip mini into the hole
3. Pull the mini stem from underneath to secure
These platters, trays and crocks make a great start to a gift basket. Brides love them. They make a great family gift for those family Christmas games like Dirty Santa or for the name you draw at the office. Start with a tray and mini, then add one of our Mad Dash Mixes, tea, scone mix or lemon curd for a unique gift for under $100.
Your gift will be loved and you’ll have ideas built in for the next birthday or holiday. The minis are both affordable and loveable and make collectors very happy!
There’s a delightful mini for 12 months of the year! They are collectible and do retire, so be sure to get the ones you love as soon as you see them. They may not be here the next time you come in. Locations who have permission to carry Nora Fleming are limited to 25 miles between stores. We are lucky to have this line in Fairhope! Drop by the store to see the new line and hear about an upcoming promotion.
Our current inventory of minis include options for Valentine’s, Easter, Spring, St. Patty’s, birthdays, Summer, patriotic holidays, Fall, Football season, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, We may not get another order in before Christmas, so If you are a collector, hurry in!
If you are already familiar with Nora Fleming, please comment below and tell us about your favorite mini or event. We would love to hear! Also, please share this email with your friends! We want to spread the word about this beautiful new line in Shop #115 at Southern Antiques & Accents in Fairhope, AL.