BlB—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 8,1983 BY KIMBERLY HERR WILLOW STREET - Starting a new business is no easy task, but for Sandy Eidemiller Mylin everything seemed to fall into place. Sandy began growing flowers for drying at her home at 18 Pine Lane, Willow Street, which she shares with her husband, Don. But then, her interest grew and her yard did not. So, she needed a new place to grow the flowers. Her in laws, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mylin, offered the use ot the garden on their dairy farm. Then she needed a place to hang all those flowers for drying, and there was the washhouse ceiling. Then, with the encouragement of friends, she decided to open a shop. There was the faithful, old washhouse waiting to be redone. But all was not finished, as now Sandy needed something to display her arrangements on. Once again, the farm came in handy. There was the old tobacco press, old crates and antique crocks just waiting for a new purpose. “Most of the things I just found at the farm,’ ’ Sandy explained. So today, thanks to donations from the Mylin’s 80-Beth Farm, Route 272, Willow Street, Sandy is celebrating the grand opening of her new shop, which features dried flower arrangements, dried flowers, wreaths and pot pourri. Sandy’s interest in flowers began Sandy Eidemiller Mylin’s new dried flower shop, features flower arrangements, wreaths and pot pourri. It is located in the warehouse of her in-law’s farm. #t i ifcf' Hanging from the rafters of the washhouse are many bunches of dried flowers in almost every color imaginable. Some are from Sandy's garden, and some are uniden tified wild flowers. Washhouse Finds New growing when she took a flower arranging course at the Willow Street Vo-Tech School, after graduation from Lampeter- Strasburg High School. After that, she worked for more than a year at Erma Kreider’s flower shop in Quarryville. Then Don decided to go to Penn State University for a two-year course in horticulture. Sandy decided to do the same, and today they both own their own businesses. Her’s is Millwood Country Flowers. Don’s is Millwood Landscape Gardens. They both chose the name Millwood because their home is located in Millwood Village, and they wanted the names of their businesses to be similar. “We wanted people to be able to identify us together,” Sandy ex plained. “I added country because I wanted to keep it with a country atmosphere.” And country it is. Two collies greet visitors to the shop. A large, open hearth fireplace stands ready to warm occupants on-cold winter days, and cows can be seen gracing peacefully from the shop windows. Simulated kerosene lamps light the shop, and cheery red and white curtains frame the windows. Everything is put together and ready for business, after much hard work on Sandy’s part. She planted most of the flowers - Is it _ / - *• i m W' Sandy's workshop is located right next door to her shop. “I practically live here." she said. Sandy grows most of the flowers she sells. on sale from seed in early spring and spent most of the summer tending and drying them. In early August, she began work on the washhouse, which had previously been used as a woodworking shop for her brother-in-law. She, with much help from her mother-in-law, Mary, painted the walls, stripped the linoleum off the floor to bare the original boards and removed the plaster from the fireplace. Wien September rolled around, the washhouse was ready to go, and Sandy began concentrating on making the many arrangements now on sale at her shop. “Now is the big time for fall flowers,” Sandy said. Many of her arrangements now feature the fall colors, and some of them are arranged in ceramic pumpkins in preparation for the upcoming Halloween holiday. Sandy explained that it takes her about half an hour to complete an arrangement. Her workshop is located right next door to her shop in a less finished part of the washhouse. “I practically live here," Sandy laughed. To have her own shop, Sandy has had to give up some of her duties as Don’s secretary, although she still tries to do both. How does Don feel about that? “He’s all for it,” Sandy said. *r* / Role os Flower Shop 4** *lr . • , i \m J •V . - V »» ly\ jhop came from the farm. Even the truck that holds the sign and the corn husks were home grown bn the Mylin’s farm. “He’s the one that really got me started." Sandy and Don have been married for three years and both have opened their own businesses. “We’re proud of that,” said Sandy, age 23. Sandy’s shop will be open from '' ' h 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday tbrougn Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The shop will be dosed Sundays and Mondays. During the holiday season, Sandy will be extending the hours into the evening.
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