Recent News

Business has picked up considerably for the holiday season. More and more people are finding the shop and we are grateful for their efforts to visit. We also have developed quite a list of creative people who are contributing their work to the shop inventory. We started with about 12 artists/crafters, and in only two months that number has grown to almost 70!!!! We have met some wonderful people who have unique and exceptional skills. You really must come to visit and see all there is to fill your Christmas shopping needs. We have made a special effort to keep our prices fair and reasonable, so that you may not need to go to the mall at all this year. Visitors to the shop find it friendly and relaxing, and there are so many items to see, you will think you have been at the olde curiosity shoppe. We hope you will have time to visit us this season. Please note the new and extended business hours. Keep checking back to this website for future updates. See you soon, we hope.

Paula and Jim

Wow! We have received quite a reaction since opening the store on September 15th. One month in, and we are pleased to announce that we now have over 35 people making, creating, finding, retooling, etc. items and bringing them to our store for consignment sale! We continue to think of ourselves as a craft, art, and antique shop where people can find rare, unique, fun, and original items to use as gifts.

We still love visiting local garage sales, craft shows, and auctions in hopes of finding the newest treasure for the store, but it is our consigners who truly make our shop unique. We love the surprises people arrive with daily, whether it is an antique side table, beautiful jewelry, a teddy bear that looks oddly familiar, or intricate counted cross stitching. We love to see the time and effort you put into everything you bring!

We hope you will stop by and check out the great items we have in stock. The fact is, the store is really full and more people are calling each day to inquire about joining us as artists/crafters.

Except for delaying our Christmas decorating as long as we can (Paula is anxious to decorate the tree), we are ready for your Christmas shopping. Only two months to go! Get a good start now before the real holiday chaos kicks in. We have plenty to offer, and our prices are very reasonable. You can probably finish your entire list right here with us.

Please stop by for a visit. Our hours of operation (until the holidays get closer) are Wednesday 9-5, Thursday through Saturday 12-7, and Sunday 12-5.

THANKS!

We are already gathering holiday "stuff" to decorate the store, and we hope that YOU are already thinking about what you might want to sell for the holidays. You can start bringing holiday items soon.

We would love you to stop by anytime to view your items within our inventory!

We really hope that Blue Fiddle Gifts will become a friendly place where people stop in whenever the lights are on -- even if it is just for a free cup of coffee, or to work on my jigsaw puzzle. Maybe we can even team up to use that big counter to create a joint project or two. The possibilities are endless!

From Paula and Jim:

Thought you might like a little update of how things are going.

About 6 weeks ago a few people met at 400 Columbia Turnpike and sat in a nearly empty store and talked about The Blue Fiddle.

Since then, much has happened.....

1. You got busy with your work and have nearly filled the store with wonderful items that we're sure will appeal to our soon-to-be customers.

2. Paula and I have combed the capital district for reasonable tables, display cases, etc., and the store is filled with those now also.

3. The word spread about the coming of a new store, and we are now no longer a few people thinking about how we can do this. The list of craft people and artists is approaching 25. More people call or drop in almost everyday.

4. While I was working there today, I turned away four people who just saw the shop and thought they would come in to shop.

5. All of the building permits, certificates of occupancy, insurance, tax numbers, business licenses, phone lines, etc. (whew!) are in place and ready to go.

6. The Mastercard/Visa lady comes this week to make the final installation of that machine, so we will be able to take charge cards.

... and so it goes. We are ready to have the opening on September 15...Saturday...at NOON. We don't have a brass band, and we won't be dressing anyone in a costume to stand by the road. We did have a sandwich board sign made to put out front, and there will be ads in the Advertiser and Metroland. Other than that, we're describing this as a "soft" opening. Truth is, we're kind of afraid of being overwhelmed that first day. (Hint.....if you have time, drop by on Saturday for awhile and make sure we aren't being swamped......remember, we're new at this whole store thing.)