Shop talk

        Back in time: When you walk through the doors of the two Verbarg Furniture stores Friday and next Saturday, you'll step into colonial America. To kick off a new Stickley Furniture line, the stores will have folks in period dress and will be serving food reminiscent of the colonial era. Colonial historian Jess Behringer, official spokesman for Williamsburg products, will be lending his expertise on Williamsburg style, 7:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. next Saturday at the Kenwood store and 3:30 p.m. next Saturday at the Amelia store. Verbarg stores are at 8155 Montgomery Road, Kenwood, 794-1555, and 1912 Ohio Pike, Amelia, 797-5000.

On the web

        Plum poinsettia: Little Jack Horner would be proud. But what would Joe Poinsett think? The U.S. ambassador to Mexico introduced the poinsettia, the indigenous plant with red leaves, to us during the 1800s. A pink plant was developed, and a yellow, then a variegated strain. This year we have a new poinsettia, Plum Pudding, which Florists' Review says is the “first true purple poinsettia” and has an “excellent shelf life.” You can see it, and order it for $39.99, at www.1800flowers.com or call (800) 356-9377.

        Shutter decor: If you have shutters on your windows, you have a new way to decorate for the seasons. Shutterwraps, made of heavy-duty vinyl, are decorated with various seasonal patterns and fastened to shutters 36-64 inches high and 12-16 inches wide. They fasten with Velcro tabs on the top and bottom. Produced by a small, family-owned business, Exterior Home LLC, the holiday styles include a Santa, Noel, candle and snowman designs for $19.95 a set. Other designs include It's a Girl, It's a Boy, plus birthday, nautical and country designs. At www.exteriorhome.com.

        Garage sale game: If you need to curb your spending at garage sales but don't want to give up the excitement of the hunt, a new board game, Driveway Deals, is for you. It can be loosely compared to Monopoly, but instead of property, players race to acquire things like second-hand golf clubs, patio furniture or a baseball card collection. Each player gets $100 and five hidden garage sale item cards. The object is to get to the right sales, make purchases and return home. Players can cut the cost of their items with Cash-and-Carry squares or Driveway Deal cards. $25 at www.weinergames.com.

Wise buys

        Patriotic decor: Home decorating has gone red, white and blue — along with everything else since Sept. 11. Imperial Home Decor Group, which makes wallpaper and instant stencils, has come up with a new collection, Spirit of America wallpaper, as well as new Instant Stencils USA Stars and Stripes. American folk art borders and sidewall trims include hearts, stars and stripes and scenes of Americana. Instant Stencils are small accessory packages in stars, stripes, hearts and eagles for small decorating and crafts projects. The Instant Stencil sells for about $9.99 a package and the Sprit of America papers are $18.99-$29.99 per roll at wallpaper and paint stores.

        Contact Joy Kraft by mail: c/o The Cincinnati Enquirer; phone: 768-8467; fax: 768-8330; e-mail; jkraft@enquirer.com.

Polishing a visionary's gem
Rehabbed buildings win awards
Keep crocus away from lawn herbicide
Garden center grew with the Berns family
To do this week
Circle this
In the know
Get to it