Where is Croquet?

When Jim left for his European adventures a few weeks ago he brought along a little piece of Florida: Croquet, the Flamingo! This summer Croquet will be hiding all across the world. Follow our Facebook page and Twitter to find hints of where he is. If you can guess where Croquet is hiding we'll give you 15 percent off your next purchase!

Where to find hints: 

1) Twitter: @EFVillageShop

2) Facebook: facebook.com/europeanfocusvillage

3) Here on the blog!

Here is a sneak peak of the first clue: 

Where is Croquet? This country has seen the best of food and wurst of food. 

Make a comment on our social media pages to guess! (We'll need city and country). Stumped? Don't worry, the clues will get progressively easier. 

Want to bring home Croquet? Visit the bouncy display our Main Street store or on www.efvillageshop.com. 

Bouncies - Handmade Magic Imported from Germany

A few weeks ago my friend stopped by the Village on her way home from work. Like everyone who passes through our door, she stopped first at the Bouncy display. Having heard so much about our best seller she was curious what the fuss was all about. 

"So, they bounce..." she said, her nose scrunched up. "I mean, that's it?" 

I don't fault her skepticism. It's hard for many in our generation to fathom the entertainment value of anything that's not an i-Something or requires an electrical cord. 

I grabbed my personal favorite (and a Village original) the flamingo and handed it over. "Just try it." My friend took hold of the toy and let it drop. Then, like many before, her eyes lit up with delight as the flamingo took a plunge and bounced back up. 

"Oh!" She exclaimed. She had been officially initiated into the Bouncy Fan Club. While I helped other customers over the next 30 minutes my friend continued to test out Bouncy after Bouncy. "I don't know why, but they're just so much fun!" she finally admitted. 

Bouncies are without a doubt one of our top sellers. Their carousel in the front window draws crowds in on Saturday mornings during the farmers market. They've been used as baby shower gifts, wedding displays and even desk toppers. I think their appeal is exactly why my friend was skeptical in the first place: In an age when I now have to charge my books before reading it's kind of nice to have something that doesn't require a plug or, even better, back light. Each Bouncy is handmade in Germany. There's a kind of love and pride that goes into handmade toys that you certainly can't find in an iPod. Admit it, even with Siri, doesn't your iPhone seem kind of...souless? 

Sure, each Bouncy is handmade of quality materials and has a beautiful, detailed design. But really, the truth of their appeal is really much simpler: Bouncies, you see, are made of some sort of magic. 

How else would you describe this? 

Pick  up a Bouncy at our downtown Sarasota store today. One for $15 or two for $25. 

www.bounciesusa.blogspot.com

www.efvillageshop.com

Easter Surprises at the Village

 

This weekend is the 10^th Annual Art and Craft Show in Downtown Sarasota. We hope you will stop by to support artists and hopefully say hello to your favorite European store.

Stop by European Focus Village this Saturday and Sunday and one of our lovely employees will give you a magic egg filled with candy and…if you’re lucky...a discount on your next purchase! Supplies on these eggs are limited so come soon to see what yours will hold!

Um, yum! Chocolate egg directions.

 A few alleged Easter facts found from the most trustworthy of resources: The Internet!

1. Easter gets it’s name from a pagan goddess: Eostre. The goddess of spring was honored each year at the spring equinox. As my high school drama teacher explained, in order to encourage the Anglo-Saxons to convert to Christianity a festival was held during each of their major feasts. Thus, Christmas was scheduled close to the winter pagan holiday and Easter (or should we say Eostre?) was moved to the spring.

2. The tradition of the Easter Bunny is inherited from German immigrants (at least according to this article). The idea of an Osterhase (Easter Hare) came over to the Pennsylvania region in the 18^th century.

3. Absence does make the heart grow fonder: When Cadbury made their famous creme eggs available year round they lost sales. Now the eggs are only available after New Years Day until Easter (ish).

4. You can make this with a Cadbury egg: 

For more fun facts and tales visit us at our Main Street Store in downtown Sarasota. 

Grandma Knows Best

Or, how to cure acne, poison ivy, and dry skin by cleaning up your act.

The skin may be the body’s largest organ but it’s also the one with the fewest defenses. Skin faces attacks from the sun, pollution and controlled climates on a daily basis. When confronted with itchy bug bites or irritating poison ivy I bet you dream of literally being “comfortable in your own skin”.

At the risk of sounding like a late night infomercial, EFVillage has found the cure to it all- at least when it comes to many skin concerns. Grandma’s All Natural Soaps are a frequent best seller here at our store on Main Street. Made in the good ole’ USA with no additives or dyes these soaps are packed full of powerful, all natural ingredients. Customers rave how it soothes skin, clears up acne and cures dryness.  

 

 

Rather than expose your skin to the carcinogenic chemicals found in many mass produced soaps treat it to Grandma’s Pure & Natural Line. We carry everything from poison ivy soap to laundry detergent. Whether you need to cope with acne or just want to keep baby’s skin baby soft we can find the soap for you. For an extra treat check out the “Secrets of Suzanne” soaps. Still comprised of all natural ingredients, these soaps carry with them the pleasant scents of Oatmeal Almond, Sandalwood and Lemongrass.

Grandma’s Pure Soap Bars start at $6.00. Stop by and get yours today!

www.efvillageshop.com

Things You Didn't Know About Ireland Part 4: Ireland's Rich Literary History

Things You Didn’t Know About Ireland Part 4: Ireland’s Rich Literary History

J.R.R. Tolkein and Roald Dahl may get a lot of credit in the literary world, but Ireland has just as grand a literary history as anywhere else in the U.K. So what if people don’t host annual dinners like they do for some Scottish writers (we’re looking at you, Robert Burns)? This list of writers from Ireland comprises of some literary megastars. Some you may have even thought we’re English. Take, for example…

1. C.S. Lewis – JRR’s BFF was born in Belfast. He also went by the nickname Jacksie even though it has zero resemblance to his actual name.

 

2. Oscar Wilde – This brilliant writer dabbled in a bit of everything from comedic plays such as The Importance of Being Ernest to fairy tales including The Happy Prince. In drastic contrast to both of these is his most famous novel, the gothic The Picture of Dorian Gray.

3. Jonathan Swift- The author of Gulliver’s Travels once suggested selling children as food to as a form of population control. Don’t worry, the essay was a hyperbole meant to express his anger at the mistreatment of the poor.

 

 

4. Cecila Ahern- Ahern isn’t in the history books yet, but her father is. He was elected the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland in 1997. Cecilia was only 21 when her first novel, PS, I Love You was published. It became an international best-seller and was even adapted into a movie starring Hilary Swank.

Things You Didn't Know About Ireland Part 3: Why There Aren't Any Snakes in Ireland

As I was researching Ireland for this series I inevitably at one point Googled an image of St. Patrick. I saw quite a few images like this:

Of course I wondered what was up with all of the snakes. I thought the metaphoric Satan was usually represented in imagery as only one serpent, not a whole cluster. So I decided to investigate

Things You Didn't Know About Ireland Part 3: St. Patrick Banished Snakes from Ireland

First things first: St. Patrick wasn't Irish. He was born in Britain in the 4th Century and was transported to Ireland as a slave when he was a young man. During his enslavement he was converted to Christianity supposedly after a visit in a dream. Although he later escaped home to Britain, he decided to return to Ireland and preach the Catholic faith. 

Back then Ireland was a mostly Pagan country. St. Patrick is credited with converting the country to Christianity.  A famous teaching is his use of a three leaved clover to demonstrate the Holy Trinity. 

Another common legend is that St. Patrick banished snakes from Ireland. It's true, there are none of the slithering creatures to be found on the Emerald Isle. But is a higher power to thank for the absence of snakes?

Not exactly. The truth is there were never snakes in Ireland. It's a bit of a geologic mystery: during the most recent Ice Age Ireland either broke away from the European continent or rose out of the sea where it had been forming. Snakes evolved after this took place and never made it to the new island. 

So why credit St. Patrick with their banishment? A couple theories have been thrown around. One is that the snakes symbolize the paganism that St. Patrick destroyed through conversion to Christianity. Another is that the snake story may relate to the story of Moses (whose staff turned into a snake) in the Old Testament. 

For more fun facts on St. Patrick visit here. 

Check out our online store for our wide variety of treasures from Ireland. Want 10% off? Follow us on Twitter (and mention us in a tweet so we know who you are : ) ) and we'll give you a code word to use on your next purchase. 

"Italy: My Beautiful Obsession"

There was a time when young ladies graduated school and spent their time exploring Europe. These trips, lasting months at a time, helped nurture in women an interest in culture, art and, most importantly, adventure.

Aden Flowers was one of these such women. She spent time in Barcelona, Paris and other famous cities before finally landing in Rome, the place where she was to find true love.

Of course this refers to both to Italian culture as well as a young man named Tony. It turns out he was not okay being left home in New York while his girlfriend explored Europe with friends. He hopped on a plane with every intention of marrying her (quite a surprise when she arrived at her hotel).

Arden's engagement, wedding, and life long love affair with the Mediterranean (and of course, her husband, to whom the book is dedicated) are just the beginning of this charming memoir. Full of stories and insights into Italian culture "Italy: My Beautiful Obsession" is a perfect read for anyone who dreams of Europe.

Beach reading is a required hobby in Sarasota. Pick up this perfect seaside book for $14 at our store on Main Street or by visiting www.efvillageshop.com.

Things You Didn't Know About Ireland Part 2: Why Protestants Don't Wear Green

Recently a customer asked Jenean if we had a Claddagh ring with an orange stone. The customer explained that "Protestants don't wear green."

Baffled, Jenean looked into the history of orange in Ireland found a fascinating history of religion, politics and jewelry.

Things You Didn't Know About Ireland Part 2- Orange on the Emerald Isle

It all goes back to the Great Reformation in England when England converted from Catholicism to Protestantism. (if you don't know what I'm talking about rent the Showtime series "The Tudors" starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers. It's about 75% historically accurate and will give you the gist). Ireland had a long standing history of being Catholic after being converted by St. Patrick and wasn't too happy when Queen Elizabeth (again, for about 60% accuracy rent the biopic starring Cate Blanchett) forced them to convert to the new Church of England.

Order of the Orange procession in Ireland

The battle between the two denominations waged on and at one point King James, a Catholic, ruled the British Empire. He was defeated by William of Orange, a Protestant, who then converted everyone back to the Church of England.

Ireland eventually broke away from England and declared themselves officially Catholic. However, Northern Ireland remains a territory of England and thus remains Protestant. 

For Protestants in Ireland William of Orange's defeat over King James is seen as a turning point in their history. They proudly wear orange as a symbol of pride avoiding the color green altogether. 

Our beautiful Kit Heath jewelry can be appreciated by any Irishman (or Irishman at heart). Starting at $18 we have sterling silver rings, necklaces and of course, Claddagh jewelry.

Visit us online at www.efvillageshop.com.

Polish Wine Stoppers Back in Stock!

For anyone who loves polish pottery our display of tea pots, trivets, cream and sugar sets and even decorative crosses is a dream come true. Now to add to your perfect European kitchen are polish wine stoppers, handpainted in Bolestawiec.

Made of ceramic and natural cork these stoppers are great hostess gifts or even something to treat yourself with. 

Of course many wine bottles already come with a cork stopper (though an urban legend that wine cork is endangered has recently lead to an increase in rubber or even -ugh- twist off caps). But our polish wine stoppers are much easier to reseal and add a decorative touch.

What might you do with those extra wine corks you might ask? Save them up for some wine cork crafts.

Here's one idea:

Or perhaps you could make your own "cork" board: 

And if you're feeling truly ambitious:

Even if you aren't handy with a hot glue gun, that's no excuse not exchange your regular wine cork with one of our handpainted Polish ones. Just 13.95 at our Main Street Store.

As always, we welcome you to visit us at www.efvillageshop.com.

Things you didn't know about Ireland...Part 1

Think you know all there is to know about the Emerald Isle? We're not saying we're experts here at European Focus (unless the question is where are the best places to stay and see in Ireland. Then, why yes, we are experts). But after years of leading tours Jim and Jenean have picked up several gold coins of knowledge. This month we are proud to present to you:

Things You Didn't Know About Ireland...Part 1

A Little Something About Ogham Stones

Ogham is an ancient form of writing inscribed in Ireland during the first century. Read from bottom to top, the alphabet is comprised of several interlocking slashes across a central line (or "stave"). Each letter also represents a tree or plant. As the ancient Celts held a strong belief in the mysticism of nature this held a symbolism of its own. For example, the symbol for B also symbolized the birch tree. The birch tree itself represented fertility. So by inscribing a word with the letter B you were also imparting a message of fertility and healing. 

Here is an example of the alphabet...however, just like learning French, it's not as easy as pulling words out of a French to English dictionary to make a sentence. There are certain rules in the way these letters come together to form words. 

As they were inscribed more than one thousand years ago remnants of Ogham are now only found on ancient stones. Like many things from old civilizations scholars say they "aren't completely sure what Ogham stones were originally used for" to cover up the fact that they are, however, "pretty sure" and it's something as unexciting as grave or territory markers. 

Still, in addition to common uses the stones may have played a significant role in Celtic ceremonies. Jenean has even said that when giving tours to the ancient ruins she can feel an "energy" radiating off of them. 

As with all things cool from Europe, we've found a way to bring them into the store for your enjoyment. 

Now available for March: Handmade Ogham Wishes by Ethel Kelly, handmade in Ireland. $34 each. Limited availability, so stop in today!

For more information Ogham, visit http://www.uponreflection.co.uk/ogham/ogham_history.htm.

Want 10% Off? Follow Us On Twitter!

Now that Jim and Jenean have explored every corner of the physical world they're now navigating the mysterious terrain of social media. We've set up Facebook and Twitter accounts for the Village and want you to follow us!

Why might you be want to be our online friend? Periodically we'll keep you updated about sales, special events and new items. You might even catch a picture of Jim and Jenean in Europe buying from our vendors. 

And just for following us we'll give you 10% off! 

All you have to do is follow us on Twitter, then stop by and mention to Maureen, Lynda, or Stephanie that you're a follower. They'll check it against our verified list and give you 10% off. Super easy!