New Years Eve - 2009

Put on your dancin’ shoes --- it’s time to welcome the new year!

To start us out ... here is the short list of my New Years lists ...

New Years Resolutions:

Only adopt imaginary pets

Only eat imaginary cupcakes

Only buy imaginary shoes

New Years Eve Toast:

To health, wealth and time to enjoy .... and someone to enjoy it with!!

New must see movie recommendation for 2010:

About Steve - starring Sandra Bullock - now available in DVD.

and finally .... it’s official ... I read it on a tee-shirt ...

Green is the new Black!

What a great year to own a consignment furniture shop!

Wishing you a happy, prosperous and of course - a green 2010!

May all of your fun and favorite purchases be from Echo!

Jennifer and Duncan

Echo echo - Home Furnishings Worth Repeating

Countdown to 2010!

Only two days left in 2009! Welcome in the new year with a quirky new piece of furniture!

A Chirstmas Poem for you!

"Backwards turn backwards oh time in your flight,
make me a child again just for tonight!"
--Elizabeth Akers Allen

Make it Yourself Table!

Made from pipes and a board, this is the perfect solution to a number of troublesome table situations!

It's showtime - 5 shopping days left till x-mas!

I realize that our Griz have been winning and winning and winning some
more, but now we finally have them off to Chattanooga! We’ll watch them win
on Friday night, we’ll have a celebratory beer, then, It’s time to get busy
with our SHOPPING! No more procrastinating!

Duncan and I are ready. We’ve been waiting here with bells on (and scarves
on and reindeer horns on) and we are ready to help you find that special one
of a kind holiday gift! Happy Shopping!

Christmas Shopping ???

Is THIS the weekend we stop watching football and go shopping instead???

White Elephant Gift??

This will be my submission at the Social Media Club tonight! I anticipate a lot of fighting for this one!

Bananas

I am sitting in my shop with the heat cranked up to 78 degrees to combat the 0 degrees outside and I am looking at a new yellow chair. I have to giggle because this reminds me of three things ... my birch tree, my son Sam and bananas.

Here’s the scoop ...

Since Spring, Sam and I have been twisted up in a little housekeeping battle involving our back yard. For some odd reason, Sam started tossing his banana peels into my birch tree. He thinks it is funny. I on the other hand don’t see the humor in a back yard with banana peels dangling from trees, bushes and spread out all over the ground. Every time I see him toss his peels in the air ... I yell at him and threaten an ant infestation.

Last week when Mom was at my house helping prepare for my Holiday at Home Tour, she and Sam stopped for a little banana break. In his usual style, after Sam had finished his banana, he stepped out the door and tossed it in the air, hanging it up in the branches of my tree. Mom wasn’t quite clear on the reasoning behind the ritual, but figured when in Rome, do as the Romans - so shrugging her shoulders, stepped into the cold and gave her peel a toss. Later she asked me about our unusual ritual which inspired me to take a look at Sam’s masterpiece and I guess that after a year, I have to agree. A pretty Montana birch tree decorated with hundreds of shriveled up banana peels is kind of funny.

Way to go Sam! Here’s to a little holiday giggle and a Montana banana tree. Swing by my shop and see if you can’t find something to put a smile into your holidays!

Here is the chair that inspired my banana giggle!

One of a kind side table!

Another perfect holiday gift idea! Manufactured by Shaker Workshop and available at Echo!

Plant Stand Christmas Tree!

How about this for a live tree!

Holiday at Home Tour!

Here is my chicken in a wreath nest display!

Holiday at Home Tour

Prepping for the Holiday at Home Tour -- tickets available at the homes - all proceeds go to Watson Children's Shelter!

Holiday Gift Idea

Here is another furniture type gift idea ... a cute whicker table and chair combo! Just arrived today.

Vintage Office Chair

Here is a unique holiday gift idea. Instead of something shiny and new - how about a chair with experience and style.

Mirrors!

A great holiday gift idea!!

Turkey Hangover ...

So much for Black Friday --- Too much turkey yesterday has hampered our shopping!

Black Friday!!!

Door buster, deal ... Free pumpkin or gourd with all purchases over $50.00!!! See you here ... Happy Thanksgiving to all! Some restrictions will apply - see jennifer for details!

Montana Wreathes!

Sustainable, green and very unique!

fun poofy loveseat!

And yet another "must have" for the holidays --- a sleek fun loveseat!

Vintage Radio

The electrical function of this shortwave needs a little work - but the cabinet is as nostalgic as it gets!

Kroehler China Cabinet

Vintage 1962 china cabinet. Classic sleek lines and in perfect condition. Could be great for showcasing books, collectibles and a variety of special bric - a - brac!

Office chairs

Two lonely old office style chairs seek new home.

Wanted - Holiday decorations!

As we clip through the line-up of Fall and Winter holidays I am excited to know that Thanksgiving is next in line ... already !!

For me this is a pretty big deal because this is the first holiday season in my new shop and I’m feeling a bit giddy about the whole thing. I’ve been so taken with October halloween decorations and now November Thanksgiving decorations (kind of the same as halloween - just a different color bow on the pumpkins), that it caught me a bit off guard to see how quickly Christmas is sneaking up on us, but here it comes!

For you - this means two things.

One ... you now have an opportunity to filter through and streamline your collection of holiday decorations. I am setting aside next week --- November 17th - 21st for intake of your once cherished, gently used ornaments.

Two - During the week of November 24th - 28th I will display these little gems around my shop and from that point forward, you will have the opportunity to purchase someone else’s once cherished gently used ornaments.

Also --- at this point, I think it is appropriate to let you in on a little secret ....

I have some fantastic gift items - and perhaps - if you use your imagination - a few great white elephant candidates!

Oh, and as long as I’m letting loose with secrets, there’s one more happy thing to look forward to this week ... on November 19th, the 2009 Nouveoux Beaujolais will be out in force ... so let the fun begin!

Here is an example of some clever recycled, sustainable wreathes I am getting in!

Mid Century Danish Phone Bench - Neat!

Now here is a piece you don't see every day!

Tall dining table!

This elegant dining set is contemporary and urban in style. It measures 36" tall, 48" long, 36" wide which brings the seating up a notch from your normal dining table.

Lime Green Chair!

I just LOVE this new chair. It must have been pretty daring in the day with it's cheerful lime green color!

PIllows!

This week I stepped back in time. Way back. Yet somehow, the result was just about the same as it was some 35 years ago.

It was sixth grade and I was a member of the Eagle County 4-H sewing club. Sewing club leader ... Mom. First year sewing club project ... the famous red and white checked pert skirt. Now why anyone choose a check for their first sewing project is beyond me. I mean really, what are the chances of all those checks ever matching up? But at the time, it looked so pretty and it just felt right. All I remember is fierce battles with thread and bobbins and Mom, several tries at straight lines, several tear outs and rip outs and in the end ... frustration and defeat. The night before the fair, mom gave up and finished the dog gone thing while I quietly sat next to her collecting the pins as she pulled them from fabric while easily sewing perfect seams.

Now, as my regular customers with sewing talent know, I needle everyone who walks through the door by asking if they would like to sew some pretty pillows to consign at my shop. Thus far, no takers, so I decided to do it myself. Pert Skirt memories are vague and really, how hard can a pillow be.

Mom and I went to JoAnne’s and had fun choosing fabric and pillow forms. We had fun laying it all out flat and straight and we even had a little bit of fun measuring and pinning where the seams should be ... but that’s about where the fun ended. Once the sewing machine came out, the fun part was all over and once again, in the end, mom declared that she gets to be the sewer and I get to collect the pins.

But ... I guess that in a way, this time I won! After mom was all done with her sewing, I drug the pillows down to the shop and decided to doll them up with my own brand of embellishments. Some hand-made buttons and bobbles and ribbons and bows will soon adorn my collection. Swing by and take a peek at my wonderful new hobby!

What is this???

This gadget came in yesterday. I'm not sure what it is, but it costs only $6.00 and it looks pretty handy. Any ideas ???

New Stuff

Tons of super new stuff came in this weekend! Here is a fun glass top end table.

Standard Time!!

Not too much to report this week .... but ... if you’re like me, you’ve probably spent some time preparing for Standard Time which begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday November 1st. Usually, I like to wait until I wake up on Sunday morning to run around turning each of my clocks back one hour. This way - I have plenty of natural daylight to properly perform the task. But just in case I get the urge to do the “fall back” thing at 2 a.m so that I’m not behind in the morning, I am prepared for that as well.

Each light bulb in my home and all 33 light bulbs (belonging to 32 lamps) in my shop have been checked and they are ready for action. So what does this mean for you? Well, it means that after you’ve had a wild Saturday at the Griz game followed by a crazy night of Trick or Treating - you might not be prepared to deal with that extra hour of night.

I’ve got you covered. My lamps are fun, quirky, unique, inexpensive and most important they come with free light bulbs and are already assembled.

Here’s to a big fun weekend filled with lots of cozy lighting!

Versatile Bakers Rack

Bakers Rack / Bookcase. I don't know if this piece should be classified as a bakers rack or a bookcase, but either way - it is simple, handy and loaded with good storage space.

Sewing ???

I'm getting ready to go to Joann's and pick up some fabric for my new pillow sewing project ... Wish me luck! Also ... here is a little sewing box I have for sale ... very cute!

Costume Shopping

I can’t believe how quickly this month has flown by. By the end of next week it’s going to be Halloween already and like all the other neighborhood dogs, Duncan is just crazy excited about the whole thing.

Instead of purchasing his costume from the local pet supply store, we decided that it would be more clever to see what we could put together using items from our shop. First Duncan wanted to be a lamp ... but then he decided that it was kind of claustrophobic, so he let me be the lamp and he’s trying out the primitive man mask.

Of course, there’s still a week left so we have plenty of time to decide on something for certain, but knowing Duncan, he’ll procrastinate and then at the last minute he’ll have no choice but to toss a tablecloth over his head and go as a ghost.

For any of you readers who fancy trick or treating as a piece of household furniture, we would love to fix you up with a smart, homey halloween ensemble. Just be sure to get here fast, because I’m pretty sure that home furnishings will be a popular theme this year!

Chair and a half!

It's not a love seat, it's not a chair ... but it is a super big, super comfortable and super stylish chair and a half! Beautiful fabric and meticulous condition.

Simple Upholstered Chairs

I have two of these clean lined, simple upholstered occasional chairs.

little red bookcase

Remember when bookcases used to be so simple!

Vintage Deacons Bench

Here it is!! The little pine Deacons bench I have talked so much about!

Lamps, rugs, and frames!

Spruce up your home with something a little quirky, interesting and different. In addition to lots of fun furniture, I also have an eclectic collection of home furnishings!

Friday - week in review!

This week all I have accomplished is to move furniture around in my shop and work on trying to fix a lamp. Through all of my shifting and sifting, it occurred to me that some pretty interesting things have come through the door and perhaps I should utilize my Friday Note for what it is intended ... to tell people about my fun furniture.

A guy brought in these simple barn wood frames --- and that is all they are, simple barn wood frames. But I’ve been popping them here and there, setting them in front of things and have noted how much more polished everything looks when it is framed. I had our Duncan demonstrate for us and you will see in this week’s feature photo what a difference a frame makes.

Just yesterday a consigner brought in a one of a kind charming little deacon bench. I tossed a hand woven rug over the back and it looks a lot warmer - kind of less uptight and deacon like.

I have a yellow and blue corner featuring a pretty slipper chair and a matching dresser and end table. None of these pieces came in together - but they have become fast friends and would love to move out and find an apartment of their own.

My big brown green fringed fancy vintage Gimbels Department Store sectional sofa continues to be a centerpiece and anchor my shop. I’m thinking that it is just one of those really good supporting actors, always there to make the other guy look good, acting as the springboard who shoots the other vintage pieces out the door.

Finally ... a transient group .... the lamps. These guys are kind of a motley bunch ... they arrive here sometimes needing a little work on their wiring and such. I prop them up, give them a shade and a shine and perhaps a top knot, then off they go, out to light up the world again. You have to be kind of fast to keep up with the coming and going of the lamps.

So there you have it ... a discussion about my furniture. Now, as for the quality, manufacturer and price, you’ll just have to come in and discover that for yourself. I’m only here to talk about their genealogy and feelings!

Clever little blue dresser

Simple clean lines set off of fun color and unique knobs on this little dresser.

Barstools wearing shoes?? Very funny

Since early September, my Mom has been bugging me to take a picture of all my barstools lined up wearing shoes. I don’t know why ... I guess she just thinks it would be funny. Here they are ... barstools wearing shoes, just in time for Halloween. I must admit, they do look kind of ridiculous -- and funny!

Now ... it's my job to somehow tie this in with a helpful, educational tidbit, and a reason to come to my shop, so here we go .... as long as the chairs are showing a little leg, lets go ahead and talk about seating heights. No matter what kind of eating seating you are talking about, you will be faced with the decision of what height to buy. Your standard regular chairs (far right, red heels) tend to be around 18”. Next in line is the counter height (red chair with cowboy boots and wooden chair wearing the Vanns Old Schools) appropriate for most kitchen islands and workspaces - these guys measure somewhere around 24”. Finally, your bar height (far left - black and wood chair, white Keds) will measure approximately 30”, these stools would typically be found at bars, around bistro tables and sometimes pushed up to an architects drawing table. It's a common mistake to think that barstools and seating heights is a standard one size fits all proposition but as you can see now, it must be as carefully considered as ... well ... your shoes!

As far as a reason to come to my shop .... these barstools turned out to be a better Halloween decoration than I ever would have imagined. Toss a coat and hat on your chair and you’ve taken it to a whole new level. I have a ton of fun and inexpensive chairs that would love to play dress-up in YOUR home!

Let the Holiday’s begin!

Fancy Purses!

It’s October!!! Hooray! I love October!

As my diligent readers know, September was dedicated to de-cluttering. Now that that’s done, there’s room to add some fancy in preparation for the upcoming holidays. Here’s a run down of what we need to get ready for.

First up is Homecoming, the mother lode for Griz fans ...

Then Halloween

Next ... Thanksgiving

and finally - December - a festive month in and of itself.

Before we dive into the whole furniture and decorating aspect of the season, it’s important to start with the basics - a purse. Everyone needs a new fun purse to sport around to special events and while I realize that I am coloring outside the lines here, (a furniture shop is not usually your first stop in the search for a purse) I simply couldn’t resist these pretty little beaded gems.

If you’re looking for a fancy way to carry your milk bones and money, swing by and take a peek at my collection!

Just In ... Camel Saddle

This cute red camel saddle works great as a unique footstool when your not out riding your camel.

Super Slipper Chair

I couldn't wait to post this little cutie! Curvy lines from all angles, fun fabric and delicately detailed legs!

Contest on hold!

My Friday "is this something" contest is on hold this week. I can't find any unidentifiable piece in my shop.

Comfortable? Very!

This little channel chair is kind of a go anywhere do anything cooperative addition to any home decor. It is the perfect backdrop for a variety of fun pillows!

Extreme Makeover...

A customer came by late yesterday afternoon and purchased this chair. This morning she sent me photo's of her makeover project along with this quote - "The desk came like this but the matching chair was $100. So $35 chair + $15 in spray paint and fabric= half price chair, and custom to boot!"

Sleek Retro Secretary - Just what everyone needs!

This stunning secretary is manufactured by Kroehler. It's sharp lines give it an elegant look while it's built in work light make it a practical work desk! Very unique indeed.

Charming Drop Leaf!

Here is a fun little drop leaf table set that is comfortable in even the smallest of spaces. The table measures 27" with two 10" drops.

Sleek Red Barstools

Here are some flashy red barstools! Sleek and contemporary. I have two of them.