January Projects!

Here we are, mid January and this morning I finally had my epiphany regarding what we do in January.

This is the month for organizing and planning ahead!   Not a real favorite for the procrastinators among us - but none the less, planning, organizing and spiffy-ing up for the upcoming year is really what January is all about.

My calendar is all up to date with birthdays properly noted, my closets are cleaned out with all the outfits I’ve “outgrown” being distributed to their proper charities - which leaves me free to move on to the more advanced stages of organizing and planning - painting things and rearranging the furniture.

In regards to painting things ... I’ve asked my assistant, Duncan, to demonstrate for us how the simple act of changing the color of a piece of furniture can change it’s whole personality.

Here is an end table in green.

Here is the same end table in black.  It's kind of astonishing what a difference it makes, isn't it?  Much richer I think.

If painting isn't your thing, try switching up the furniture a bit.  I don't know why, but I always look forward to re-arrange the furniture day.  I guess it's probably because as a kid we would go through this drill about every other month and it was always fun to watch the family bump into stuff and stub our toes as we learned to re-negotiate our route through the living room.  Regardless, re-arranging is a great way to change things up  and give you a new perspective on life - or at least on your living room.

Finally, if none of these fun January activities appeal to you - I have one more suggestion.  Commit to having a green year and start with a smart, roomy new shopping tote from Echo!   Duncan just loves his and has decided to use it for all the stuff he used to haul around in plastic garbage bags.  Well --- almost all the stuff ..  he still takes his plastic garbage bags with us on our walks because the Echo bags are far too nice for that. 

January Inspiration!

Every January, I want to start off the new year fresh and perfect.  For some reason - this year, my need for fresh and perfect has me paralyzed.   I’ve been wandering around my shop trying to take down the Christmas decorations and find something interesting to put together for this long gray month.  A fresh, perfect, inspirational January decorating theme is what I crave.  

I pop a couple of crunchy dried out pine needles in my mouth, pretending they taste like Rosemary and convincing myself they are a yummy addition to my fresh new January diet plan .... but still ... nothing.

Sure enough - I’m starting off my new year .... un-inspired.

I stare at my computer and consult with Facebook, trying to decide if it’s just me, or if  everyone is experiencing the same creative standstill and just like that - up pops my overachieving cousin Megan.  Megan is the one who had Halloween completed in July, Christmas packages were wrapped in September and she is currently working on Easter.  “Snap out of it”, she proclaims.  Just start!!

For anyone else out there who might be looking for some direction, here are some easy - do it yourself ideas from Megan (an accomplished re-purposer) that might help you jump start your creative juices for a fresh, decorative and  purposeful 2011!

An old milk can, Her daughter Sophie's red scarf, last year's snow flake lights and sticks from their tree make up this January centerpiece.  BTW - Megan tells me that the bench belongs to our Grandmother Esther- who turns 95 TODAY!  Here's to Grandma -  an original thrifter before thrifting was cool!

Megan's new "crafty room" .  She started this (transform a corner of the basement) project yesterday, so she'll keep us posted as she moves along. 

Ever wonder how to marry a kind of ordinary clock and an old picture frame ... here you go.

And finally ... an old window re-purposes into a message center for her four kids.

Thanks Megan ... I think I'll go paint something red now!   And here's my contribution - for anyone wondering how to re-purpose all those dried up pine needles from your tree ... try them in soup!

Happy 2011!!

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!