Happy Friday!  Wow, what a week of Christmas shopping it has been!  I’m happy to report that second hand gifts are coming of age and even seem to be quite trendy this year.

To join in the holiday shopping fun, Duncan asked if he could invite his friend Tim over to help us announce that our holiday magazine stand give away was a success.  Someone's sister is going to be very happy this year, but right now - it is a secret who?  Thank you everyone for coming in on Friday and submitting your special person for this prize! 

Funny, the announcement became kind of secondary compared to the day that Duncan and Tim had just deciding how to best make this announcement.  Here is kind of how it went.

Here’s Tim --- Arriving at the shop and admiring our nice rustic Montana rockers.

Tim liked my scarf, so he asked to wear it for the big announcement (note:  the magazine stand is behind Tim -- it really didn't get much show).

Duncan got jealous and decided that if Tim was going to wear the scarf for the announcement, he didn’t really want to be part of it.

Since it's the holidays, they compromised and Duncan got to wear the scarf which made him happy again, so he showed Tim around the store for some holiday shopping.

Duncan showed Tim how sometimes, (and only sometimes - like when he is modeling), he gets to sit on the furniture - like this new Mitchell Gold sofa.

The End!   I got tired of both of 'em - so kicked them out and told them they should do the rest of their shopping in pet stores!

If you still have some holiday shopping left in you --- stop by and see our fine selection of unique, fun and one of kind gift items.  But whatever you do --- don't ask to borrow my scarf!!

Holiday Open House!

Here they are ... Five good reasons to put Echo on your list of “must stops” for Black Friday.

Reason #1 - Tablescaping!  Okay ... this is where I admit that before I opened my shop, I catered for 15 years.  During those 15 years, I’ve set a lot of tables.  After being away from it for a couple of years, I have the itch to set a holiday table or two.  Therefore --- tablescaping is my holiday theme this year.  I’ve gathered up a market basket of items from my shop and created some centerpiece ideas that I hope might inspire and give you some ideasyour own decorating!

Reason #2 - Gift Give Away!  On a piece of paper ... write the name of a person who you think might enjoy a little gift and the reason why he/she might enjoy a little gift (the gift will be displayed in my shop). For doing so, you will receive 10% off any purchases made that day, and there is a chance that your person might get a fun gift complements of you!

Reason #3 - 10% off!  Everything in the shop!  One day only - complements of Echo!

Reason #4 - Free Cookies

Reason #5 - I am pleased to report that second hand shopping is becoming so trendy that I’ve decided it’s time to take it to the next level and explore second hand gifts!

Craft Time!

The craft table that inspired it all.

Halloween is behind us now and I can feel the pressure beginning to mount.  Duncan is running around with his hair on fire worried about what to put together for Christmas presents.

I think what got him started was when this fabulous craft table came into the shop.   Usually, he just goes out and chooses a rock or two to give as his gifts.  He bills them as paperweights and everybody acts like it is a new and novel idea, but this year, he is trying to come up with something different.

Duncan - thinking about gifts!

I try to re-assure him that there is plenty of time, but so typical of his breed - he likes to start early so he has plenty of time to enjoy the season.

Hey ... if any of you think this craft table might make YOUR holiday projects a bit more organized,  stop by and Duncan will show off all it’s features.  If he isn’t busy, he’ll probably  share a holiday idea or two. 

Meanwhile,  while he is busy crafting, I’m starting to plan my holiday shopping party.  Stay tuned for the details in a week or two!

New Format !!

Before

Has anyone noticed how much smarter I’ve seemed over the past month??

Well ... it’s because I’ve been taking a Small Business Marketing Class at the Lifelong Learning Center and let me tell you ... I am so impressed.  

My overall  business plan was re-enforced and I learned a lot of helpful tactics for building my shop, customer base, and serving you - my supporters. 

My Friday Note is going to take on a new format and become an every other week or bi-monthly update from Echo!  (whichever comes first)  Whew!!  That should lessen your reading assignments, ... and give Duncan a chance to dream up some new “looks” for his modeling stints.  

My plan is to discuss “relevant “ material - such as sales, how-to projects, events, of which I have a few in mind for the shop, and other “relevant” discoveries.  Notice I am trying to stay relevant and to the point here.  Sort of elevating  the Newsletter to more educational and less entertaining.  Now, won't that make us all smart!

After

Oh ... speaking of relevant ... here is my latest ...

One of my customers (a budding reupholsterer) has taken a couple of my run down chairs and with the flick of her magic wand and some fun fabric has managed to give them a new lease on life.  Here is a before and after of one of them.   Swing by to see other samples of her creative work

Light Bulbs

I don’t normally let my mother buy things from my shop.  First of all - she has way too much stuff in her house already and second of all, I don’t condone cherry picking ....

BUT ...

Last week, she called me up... or placed a call to me ... as she would say, and quietly inquired about a certain lightbulb decoration that’s been bouncing around the shop for months.  As if it were a national security issue, she demanded that I remove the lightbulb from the 40% off sale shelf, carefully wrap it in tissue and protect that with some cardboard.  Then she asked me to place it behind my desk for safe keeping.

I could tell that she was on the trail of something big.

It turns out that on September 23rd, our big national news folks reported that GE had just pumped out the last incandescent light bulb ever to be pumped out of the GE lightbulb plant.  No more GE incandescent light bulbs, nor any other brand in the USA, will be manufactured, distributed or sold again.  Never.  No where, no how, no way.  Notta!  They will be obsolete AND illegal!  

Mom prefers that kind of light bulb and now has reason to believe that they will become collectors items by the end of the month, so she is buying them up by the truckload.

All I can say is .... {{{ What next? }}}

I hope she is right on this collectors item thing, however, I have a visual of her arguing with the Light Bulb Police when they come checking door-to-door for offenders.  But if she’s not right, it’s re-assuring to know that we have an outlet to sell HER collection.  Hmmm ... Echo - Home Furnishings and Vintage Light-bulbs kind of has a nice ring to it.

I have to admit, this one does look kind of sweet gracing her dining room table and being the showpiece of her new light bulb decor!

It's a wrap!

I’m back!!  Did you miss me last week?

Well, as you know, I’ve been busy “representing” at this year’s Parade of Homes and I’m happy to report that gently used, functional, affordable, time-worn decorating is “IN”!!

Edgell Building and Development was honored for Affordable Family Innovative Design while Jackie Johnson, the Realtor / Designer, was given an award for Memorable Decor.  I, of course, was honored to have tons of people walk through the doors and comment on how  appropriate our "Echo-echo" furnishings looked.  Thanks to all my supporters and welcome to all of you who just discovered Missoula's fanciest funnest used furniture store - out by the big box guys.

Oh ... is there a football game tomorrow??

I hope all of your "coming home" events are memorable and comfortably appointed!

Here is a photo of my furniture homecoming on Tuesday!  A perfect "before" shot!

My Big News!

Here is my big news for the month ---- and the reason why you will not be receiving a Friday Note next week.

Echo echo has joined the big boys and is lined up next to them in this year’s Parade of Homes! 

I was invited to help furnish a home in the new energy efficient community at River Place.  This home was Built by Edgell Building and Development to be lean and green and I’ve been working with Jackie Johnson, the Realtor / Designer from Windermere Real Estate to continue the sustainability theme throughout.

For me, the fun part about this project is to pioneer some new territory and show that not only is it possible, but it’s also cool being green from head to toe (or in this case - roof to sub-flooring)!

Swing by and see our finished product!  

September 16th - 19th

845 River Place - Just off River Road

You can buy tickets at the home.  Oh ... and wear your cute socks because you have to take your shoes off!

Hope to see you there!

I get to say it again ... "Green is the new Black!"  Here is a photo of a green coffee table - so you can remember!

Shabby Chic Dining!

Time for this weeks installment of budget decorating ... We’ll call this one .. The REAL Shabby Chic!

Seems like every time I turn around, there is a shabby chic this or a shabby chic that.  People buy new furniture and “shabby chic” it.  They buy old furniture, scrape it up a bit more, paint over the scrape ups and turn it into a nice clean shabby chic.  Don’t get me wrong --- I love it too.   More and more however, I find myself falling in love with the originals.

These are the guys that have years of real paint, scratched and scraped to reveal several layers, eras and stages of development.  The guys that might have one foot just a quarter of an inch shorter than the rest.  The real men of the furniture world who might have a spot of wood glue here and there to repair an old battle wound.  The fellows who lost a knob, but acquired an equally old new one.

These are the pieces I consider pioneers in the world of Shabby Chic!  One of the joys in budget decorating is being able to take these finds, put them together with other similar pieces and create a very special space.

What brought this all to mind is this little set of over-loved pieces I was able to introduce to each other in hopes they could hit it off and ride into the sunset together.

Budget Decorating!

I’m back on track .... the budget decorating track, that is.  Seems like a perfect topic for today!

As you might recall -- a few Friday Note’s back, I intended to dedicate the whole month to this topic ... but then ... company came, I decided to have a sale, and as usual other business got in the way.  Now I’m back to thinking about budget decorating, so here we go!

We’ve got ourselves a housing crisis, reports on a double dip recession and a lot of gloom and doom every time we tune in to the news.

But wait ... what’s that? ... do I hear cheerful noises in the back ground??  What is this? 

Why, that’s the sound of refinishers, re-users, and do-it-your-selfers;  paint brushes splashing, creative minds spinning and people having fun as they go about their business of making something out of nothing.   Seems that buying old used nothings and turning them into kitschy new somethings is a new favorite past time!

Here is some homework for you.  Go to my new favorite web-site ...

http://www.designspongeonline.com/

Type “before and after” into the search box and be inspired!

After that, I would like for you to pack up all your inspiration and drive it to Echo where we’ll help you find the perfect clever nothing to transform!

Here is what Duncan decided to work on ...

He is hoping to take THIS (photo one)  .. Bang out the dents, add some paint and a hard hat and turn it into ...  THIS (photo two)

Sandi Henderson Pillows!

Does anyone remember the drafting table I had in my shop for a brief stay?   

I am pleased to report .... it found a job!  In my opinion, probably the best job a drafting table could hope for in our dear city.  

It’s not working out difficult mathematical angles and formulas in an engineer or architects office ... The job it landed is more delicate than that.  It’s not just sitting around looking pretty, paying bills in a home office ... its’ job is much more involved than that.

What is it, what is it ????

Well ... my drafting table now works in the studio of Missoula fabric designer Sandi Henderson.  Click on the link below and treat yourself to a viewing of her Farmers Market collection inspired by our very own farmers market of course!   

http://www.sandihendersondesign.com/category-s/86.htm

Incidentally, my shop has found itself sprinkled with a few of her “sample” pillows!  Pillows that she makes up to showcase some of her fun fabrics.  

This Saturday, treat yourself to a trip to the Farmers Market for inspiration, a trip to Selvage Studio where you can find her fabric, and a trip to my shop to see her cute pillows!

Happy shopping!

Souviners!

Oh no ... Just when I was all lined out and ready to spend my Friday Note month discussing decorating on a budget, we got the phone call ...

Companies coming!!

Just like that, everything changed.  My little nine month old second cousin is coming and it’s been a LONG, LONG time since we’ve had a baby run through our family for a visit at the folks’ house!

       Costco baby food -- check --- wait a second, no baby food at Costco.

       Walmart baby food, --- check

       Photo album ready -- check

       Film --- check

       Crib --- no --- wait --- I’ll bring one from the shop --- check

       Car seat --- no --- her mom will probably have one.

       Baby sun block ---check

       Baby mosquito block --- hummm -- do they make such a thing?? We’ll check

On and on the list goes, but when it came right down to it ... our little visitor was actually quite self reliant and well prepared for her journey.

Today, Molly came to Echo to do a little souvenir shopping.  She was searching for something small, something local and something that matched her pretty sunflower dress.  Low and behold --- the sunflower lamp was perfect!

The lesson in this Friday Note:

This is the time of year that plans often run amuck, but one thing you can count on - souvenirs at Echo!  Put me on your check list as a must do with your guests!

Long Live Schwinn!

It has its spokes, it has its wheels, it has its frame, it has its handlebars and it has a really comfy seat but like many items that pass through my shop, all of these parts don’t seem to be working well together.  

I’m talking about The Schwinn!!  You may have spied this bike playing a supporting role in some of my Friday note photos.

This month, Martha Stewart did a piece about our newfound love affair with these old fashioned commuter bicycles.  My folks just returned from one of their jaunts down to Sun Valley, Idaho and they reported that these bikes are all the rage, hanging out on the designer racks of all the cool bistros.

BUT,  once again, like all things that find their way to my shop this bike kind of falls into a category of it’s own. It is not new enough to be a “new” vintage bike and it is not old enough to be an authentic vintage bike.  The quality it has is its potential!

When this bike falls into the hands of a loving bike person who can re-unite its parts, add a bolt here and a lug there to sturdy up its stature, pump up its tires, and put a dab of WD40 in places where WD40 lives ... well, then you’ll have something special.  You’ll have a flashy - like new Cruiser with the look and feel of a bicycle that has been long loved!

The good news ... it won’t take much to bring this ole girl to life and there are plenty of cruiser miles left in the summer!  

Dog Days!

Well would you look what the cats just drug in ....  Looks like the dog days of summer have just arrived!

I got curious enough to Wikipedia the event to figure out exactly what’s up with these so called “dog days”.  Here’s the cliff notes...

It’s mostly about the star, Sirius (Orions’ dog), and it typically happens in mid-July to late August in our part of the world.

For the Egyptians, it was a happy thing.  The rising of Sirius was used as kind of a weather indicator for the upcoming year. Since the rising of Sirius coincided with the hot sultry days of summer, the Egyptians coined the saying ...  “Dog Days bright and clear indicate a happy year,  but when accompanied by rain, for better times our hopes are vain".

The Romans also believed Sirius to be something of weather indicator, but they blamed the dog star for the hot sultry weather and took a more aggressive approach to appeasing the rage of Sirius. They sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of Dog Days.

                                                    Yikes!!!

To bring it a little closer to home, I interviewed Duncan and his friend Tim(ber),  to see what modern Dog Days means.  It seems to them that it signifies a time lie around the shop parked in front of a nice cool fan,  have picnic lunches with friends and stay away from the Romans for a good long spell - or at least until the temperature drops.

If you agree with their approach - I have lots of fun furniture to lounge away the days on, I have a couple of cute vintage picnic baskets to pack up and take to the park, and my shop is a safe haven from the bad guys!

Sustainable wedding gifts!

Has everyone heard the weather report for this weekend!  FINALLY!  It’s time to throw open the windows, flip on the fan, slather ourselves with bug spray and settle in for a little summer fun ...

Speaking of Summer fun ... July and August represent wedding season in Missoula. Really, ...  what’s more fun than weddings?

What I’m leading up to here is this ....  A simple reminder ...

For those of you lucky enough to find yourselves on this year’s wedding guest list circuit, I have TONS of super fun, unique, one of a kind wedding gift possibilities.   Also, if you are the politically correct  bride and groom considering a “green” wedding, I am happy to offer a bridal registry department.

Here is the manager of my bridal registry department showing off one of his favorite wedding gift possibilities ... a wedding cake cookie jar.  It can be used a number of different times, for a number of different purposes (Duncan suggests milk bones - go figure), it is sustainable, memorable and best of all ... the frosting will NEVER melt!

Happy 4th of July!!

This week I dedicate my Friday Note to two things ... objects ... oh .. whatever ...

1) A new roll around kitchen cart - who is doing everything it can find a home to be helpful in for the upcoming holiday.

2) Duncan and his dog friends - who are doing everything they can to be miserable and pathetic for the upcoming holiday.

Let’s start in a happy place with the kitchen cart.  Take a look at this little gem that just rolled back into my shop.  It’s been out to the folks’ place for a little TLC and when it rolled back into Echo this week, it looked fresh, clean, revived, renewed and ready for work!  It is solid wood construction with a sleek copper towel rack, super fast five point wrap around casters (from Home Depot!) and a “Good Stuff” finish!

It is hankering to find a new home where it can join in the holiday festivities ... like flying over here to cut up the watermelon, flying over there to pat out the hamburgers, holding a glass of wine and at the end of the meal, displaying the holiday cupcakes.

Now let’s talk about our furry friends.  From what I can gather, they aren’t exactly tickled about this holiday.  Duncan has spent the past week grumping around, hiding under beds, and watching TV instead in the safety of his home instead of going for his beloved  walks.  I’m guessing that most of his friends are kind of doing the same.  My only advise here is to leave it up to them just how and where they want to be helpful and involved and maybe ... a little extra milk bone or two will cheer them up a bit!

Rain Rain - Go Away!!

Happy Friday everyone!

Wow ... what a week.  I’ve kept really busy building my ark and escorting my furniture on  ... two by two.

Two chairs, two lamps, two desks, two couches, two coffee tables .... well ... you get the point.

To celebrate the rain, feel a bit less drippy, and make more room on the ark, I’ve decided to have a “set about” sale.  Row in and take a look at my “small stuff shelf”.   If it’s on the shelf ... it’s 20% off.  There ... do you feel better already?  Now you’ve got something productive to do - rescue small stuff before the tide rises! 

Here is a picture of my soggy porch rocker ... waiting for a sunny day and a friendly porch to sit on.  It stayed behind because it didn’t have a pair and it’s waterproof.

New fun stuff all over the place!

Little treasures ... all over the place ....  that’s the theme that composed my week.

Tuesday we started pawing through four boxes of new fun stuff.

It wasn’t ‘til yesterday that we we could relax after we got things under control.

The other little treasure for me was the completion of a long overdue job.   For the past couple of weeks I have been working to update my website.  Take a peek at my handy work.  www.echoechomt.com  Well, actually, it is mostly Astarna Web Development’s, (and a little bit my own) handy work.  But still.  I chose the photo’s and learned how to change them up on my site - so you can always check and see what is fresh and new and seasonal.  Thanks Hank (my web-site man) for all your patience and great ideas!

There!  Two things to put on your to-do list for the weekend.

_____  Check out my improved web-site.

_____ Swing by and paw through our new selection of treasures yourself!

Birthday Presents??

Here are the ingredients that helped create my week and my current situation:

1) I am in desperate need of color right now.

2) The rain is making me crazy and I needed a new fun crafty project to do - something to do indoors since arctic gardening is not my thing.

3) Mom’s birthday was on Tuesday.  

I am a procrastinator and didn’t think ahead to get something nice and well thought out for mom’s birthday - AHEAD of time.

And here is the predicament that these ingredients led to:

I decided that the perfect solution to all of the above would be to buy a bag of beads and some wire, and make a colorful little (little being the operative word here) bead string for Mom’s fairy garden.  A thoughtful birthday gift!  Of course, I bought the beads ON Mom’s birthday - so only had the beads and the concept to give her on the big day.

Good news!  She loved the idea!  In fact - Mom loved the idea so much that she went out and purchased enough tiny little colorful one millimeter beads to ring their entire five acre property ...  probably a couple of times.

I know this means nothing to you all - but if I should appear a bit cross eyed, crabby and complain about aching fingers, you’ll  know why.

Another little tidbit you can take from this story ... if you have upcoming birthdays that need to be addressed, swing by the shop and let me help you find something clever. It’s much easier to wrap furniture than it is to string five acres of beads. 

Silly lamp ???

This is the funniest lamp ever ... if you look real close, you will see that a stout little French Grenadier makes up the base!

A dresser made of trees! 100% trees!

This hand crafted log and pine chest of drawers can be closed up and disguised as a rustic cabinet. Big enough to be used as a baby changing table, and elegant enough to perch in your living room.

Comfy Oversized Chair!

Perfect for snuggling with a book, a cup of tea, a dog, a cat or a goat!

Another "only in a consignment shop" story for you ...

While this is a true incident, the names of the characters have been changed to protect their identity.  For purposes of my story, the consigners name is Mary and the buyers name is Marge.

Last fall - Mary brought in a pretty green TV cabinet for me to sell.

Before Christmas - Marge bought the pretty green TV cabinet because she was remodeling her daughters room for a Christmas present.  This piece (along with a couple other items from my shop) created the perfect little bedroom ensemble.

On Mothers Day - Mom and I were out making the rounds in the local garden shops and we ran into Mary.  Proper greetings out of the way, I inquired about Mary’s new house only to find out that she had moved ... again.  Once she moved out of town and realized how she and her horses loved the spacious country life, she decided this is where they were meant to be so she decided to buy a home.

She giggled and shared her little house buying serendipity because she knew I would enjoy it and it would make me giggle too!

“Remember the green TV cabinet I brought you last fall? ...

“Yes” I replied

“ Well, guess what was standing there in one of the bedrooms of the house I just purchased?”

I had to laugh.  Sometimes it seems that this furniture takes on a life of it’s own and you never quite know just where it’s going to pop up, what it’s going to be doing, or who it is going to be following around.  In this case, it is probably the pretty green TV cabinet that got the last laugh --- "Hey there -... look at me ... I get to live with a teenager now!"

Here is another fun "girls room" ensemble that has it's own story ... but you have to come in and ask to hear it!

Fun Green Table

Here is the PERFECT thing to add some color to your cabin this summer. A bright green dining table. Add some assorted chairs and you've got some fun summertime dining.
Table $115
Chairs range from $12 - $40

Garden Furniture ...

Coming out of my ears!!

Pssst ... Want to get in on a secret??

As much as I would love to keep this one to myself, I think I owe it to everyone who reads my Friday Note to let them in on this little gem.  Fire up your Suburu’s because this weekend - there is something very special going on ...  perhaps one of the biggest “green” events of the weekend.  

Ready ....

Pleasant View Neighborhood Garage Sale,  this Saturday.

There .... that’s all I’m going to tell you.  You need to research the rest on your own.   Have fun, wear good shoes and don’t forget to stop by and thank me when you’re done!  

Have a terrific time everyone!

Duncan is going to ride his bike to work on Saturday - just in case I get a bit sidetracked!!

Shabby Chic Outdoor Bench

Kind of an interesting juxtaposition isn't it??
Price $120.00

Rugs!!!

Lots of rugs!!  All different prices, shapes and sizes.

GRADUATION IS HERE!!

Happy Day to all you UM graduates out there!

Chair Sale!

Hummm ... what’s new and fun this week?  Well, to be quite honest - nothing really.  It’s finals week at the U, so things around the home front have been a bit ...  ummm ... edgy shall we say.  

The good news is -- finals week is followed by graduation which means summer vacation and a changing of the guard in Missoula. While it is not officially the start of summer, it seems that on the Missoula calendar it is.  This is the weekend when our students’ parents come to gather up their goods and we locals reclaim our town.

Flower boxes come to life, parking places appear out of nowhere.  Landlords spiffy up their digs and the sound of neighborhood lawn mowers fills the weekend air.  Another sure sign that summer is knocking at the door ... all the garden furniture knocking at my shop door!  I have new (used - however you want to look at it), items for your yard piling up in my shop.  

Also, I’m still trying to re-home some of these chairs that are propagating more chairs- so I’m running a chair sale ... anything you can sit on is at least 10% and in most cases 20% off!   Swing by for an early seating, you know you will need some extra chairs when house-guest season starts.