French Inspired Art by Christie Repasy

There are so many exciting things coming up at the boutique this spring and summer that it is hard to choose which to announce first, but with Shabby Chic and Cottage Chic taking Canada by storm, how can we do anything other than introduce our latest offering...

Artwork by Christie Repasy

We love Christie`s paintings so much that we have developed an entirely new program and will be offering Online Ordering on our website.

It`s easy to use... just visit our Gallery and click on French Inspired Art. Note the Item# for the piece you would like to purchase and click the Order Online button to enter it into the order form.

That`s it!  The item will be held and you will be contacted by our Customer Service Representative to confirm your order.

Visit our French Inspired Art gallery to see more of Christie`s art.  And watch our blog for an upcoming article on this gifted artist.

Signed,

Flower Sale: Today from 12:30 - 5:00 PM

Easter is a time of family gatherings, Easter egg hunts and fantastic dinners... Bring a little spring in with Easter flowers from Sugar Blossoms Floral Design, open today from 12:30 - 5:00 PM.

Sugar Blossoms Floral Design

6507 - 112 Avenue

Edmonton, AB

780-474-5456

Easter Flowers: Sugar Blossoms' Garden of Glory

One of the glorious things about going into the boutique each morning is that it is like stepping into spring every day.  We are very fortunate to have Sugar Blossoms Floral Design on site occupying the little garden cottage in the southwest corner of the shop.

Often it is like living in a dream, and Easter time is the perfect example... colour and beauty abound (not to mention the fresh floral scents) and it's not to be missed!  Floral designer Leslie Ayers has bunches, bouquets, arrangements and cut flowers that will make your Easter weekend bright, fresh and spring-like.

For the dinner table, your loving spouse, to brighten the living room, or just to make your Mama happy, stop in at Sugar Blossoms Floral Design and "pick" your Easter flowers!

Reimagined Monday: Hartwood Roses' From China Cabinet to TV Cabinet

Sometimes a reimagining is just plain genius.  I loved this one so much I could hardly wait to share it!

Connie is a Master Gardener; a certified Rosarian who specializes in antique Roses. Her business, Hartwood Roses is what she refers to as a "small nursery"... they carry 800 varieties!  If I make another trip to Virginia, I am absolutely going to Hartwood Roses.

She is also a very handy gal, indeed who falls into an array of categories:  Carpenter, Remodeler, Dreamer and her blog is continuously inspiring.  This offering is one of my favorites because it updates an old 70's cabinet for new yet practical use in today's world and even more so for its creative and beautiful colour combination.

Describing the process in her own words, here is Connie's China Cabinet makeover:

I knew from the moment I saw this hutch sitting on the sidewalk at Goodwill that it would be perfect for a TV cabinet ... but it's classic, 1970s style wasn't part of the picture.

The doors were the first thing to go.  I installed trim to cover where the hinges had been.  New wood panels fill the sides where glass was originally.

With these modifications made, now what color should it be?  I knew that I wanted to use two colors of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, so I stared at my handy color chart for inspiration.  (seen in THIS post)  Initially, I was drawn to Chateau Grey and Duck Egg ... but my new can of Olive was the winner.  I am continually amazed at how much I love the way ASCP colors combine with each other.  (I don't think I've found a bad combination yet.)

The original door pulls look like door knockers from a medieval castle ... they're gone now, too.  In their place, I found knobs at Hobby Lobby that are perfect!  Look how well they coordinate with the Duck Egg.

Inside those doors are two drawers and LOTS of storage space.  Everything in this hutch shows quality materials and construction ... dovetailed drawers!

At the shop, The Husband and I rearranged a few things to make this baby fit.  As tall as it is (7 feet!) the footprint is surprisingly small ... four feet wide.  That's a lot of function in a relatively small space.  The TV space is wide enough to easily fit a 42" television.

Why settle for ordinary television furniture?

I am so excited about the look of these two colours together that I have already started digging through my studio for just the right piece to use it on!  

Don't you love it?

Here is how to share your reimagined paint project at On the Apple Box:

Send us a description of how you used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to get from your vision to the reimagined piece, before and after pictures, pictures of your project in progress or a couple of it in its finished state, and you may be highlighted on our blog!

Flowers! Today our shop is a Parisian garden

Happy Valentine's Day, one and all!  Today our shop is brimming with flowers, and I couldn't be happier.  Love is in the air!

I have an affinity for Paris, French style and the incredibly breathtaking gardens in the region and thanks to sharing our boutique with Sugar Blossoms Floral Design, I have been transported there.  We are surrounded by a sea of roses and other aromatic, beautiful flowers awaiting a new home this Valentine's Day. 

Anyone who receives one of Sugar Blossoms' stunning bouquets or arrangements will fall in love all over again... I know I have!

*Where not noted on images, original sources are unknown.  Please let us know if credit can be provided!

Valentine`s Sale!

15% off furniture, gifts and home decor until February 15th!

 

What`s not to love?

Don`t Miss "Late Night on The Ave" Tonight!

It is finally here!  Our first Late Night on the Ave event happens today and we couldn't be more excited.

From 4 PM to 9 PM, shops and restaurants along 112th Avenue in historic Highlands will be offering discounts, promotions, contests and talent.

Shop at Apple Box Boutique and Sugar Blossoms Floral Design (6507 - 112 Avenue) and receive great deals just in time for Valentine's Day, including:

• $10 off our Annie Sloan Chalk Paint "Reimagine It" Kit
• Voucher for 15% off furniture purchases Feb 2 - 15
• Voucher for 15% off when you pre-book your Valentine's arrangements
• Receive a free SB vase with in-store purchases of pre-designed mixed-cut bouquets Feb 2 - 14
• Receive a free SB vase with in-store purchases of dozen roses Feb 2 - 14

PLUS:

Don't miss Sara Isabel, performing at 7:30 PM
and enjoy complementary beverages

& Enter To Win a store certificate for a dozen roses + a Teddy Bear for Valentine's Day!

Don`t forget to vist 112th Avenue merchants for more great deals!

See you tonight!

What is Smelly, Fuzzy and Perfect for Valentine's Day?

One girl's perspective on "the day of romance"...

This morning it is off to the land of wonderful choices, where aisles upon aisles of items await our decisions on what will make it to the boutique shelves. With Valentine`s Day quickly approaching, jewellery, chocolates and romantic meals lead the list for must-haves, at least in the blogs, flyers and television ads that tell us what we should want. But for me, a good old-fashioned bunch of flowers and a cuddly, loveable Teddy bear is hard to top. 

These days jewellery is flogged at every occasion, but it still seems to fit best with a proposal or an anniversary. Chocolates are given out at Halloween, Christmas and Easter, which somehow takes the 'special' factor out of them for Valentine's Day. Romantic meals are lovely at any time of year, though this might be a newsflash for some husbands. But a fluffy Bear and an aromatic bundle of flowers... that is unquestionably the perfect Valentine`s gift.

Why, you ask? Simply... Flowers require selection, some contemplation and an effort to make it, ahead of time, to a flower shop that knows exactly how to create a bouquet that will make your sweetheart swoon (personally, I feel that grocery store flowers are a little too "convenient" and don't send the same message, but maybe that's just me). Flowers are pretty, which makes most girls happy and even with their eyes closed your special someone will know by the sweet smell of their favourite flower that they are adored.

As for Teddy bears, they say so much... I love you, I want to cuddle you, I know you love me even when I need a grooming. Okay, maybe not that last thought, but otherwise what's not to love?

My vote is cast. What's yours?

Late Night on the Ave: Feb 2nd
Visit Apple Box Boutique this Thursday 4 PM - 9 PM and enter to win a teddy bear and a dozen roses plus cash in on great February deals. Don't miss musician Sara Isabel at 7:30 PM, and visit the other shops on the ave for more great deals and promotions.

Late Night on the Ave

One of the things I was completely sure of when Apple Box Boutique, the brick and mortar edition was becoming a reality early last spring was that I wanted to find a way to highlight local/Canadian artists, be they musicians,  fine artists, comedians, actors, photographers... well, you get the idea.  So I wrote into my business plan that once a month we would do just that and hold an event at the boutique, wherever that ended up being located, and then started telling everyone I met about it.

Lucky for me we landed in the Highlands merchant district where the 112th avenue restaurant and shop owners championed the idea in their own businesses and together we are presenting "Late Night on the Ave".

Thank you to the lovely Sabrina O'Donnell of Sabrina Butterfly Designs for creating this graphic.

On the first Thursday of each month, merchants in this quaint, historic community will open our doors from 4:00 - 9:00 PM and offer promotions, contests and more.

The upcoming Late Night event on February 2nd precedes Valentine's Day and is a great opportunity for Edmontonians to cash in on deals and get your flowers ordered and gift-buying done, not to mention alleviate concerns about line-ups, or for some particularly busy people who shall remain nameless, forgetting the day and being caught off-guard.

At Apple Box Boutique/Ambiance Events, any excuse for a celebration is worthy and we are very happy to have local up and coming musician Sara Isabel performing at the boutique.  When you stop in for Sara's set, enjoy a complementary beverage and enter to win our "Love is on the Avenue" contest.  (Watch the blog for our 'concert' poster, available tomorrow, with performance times and more.)

Sugar Blossoms Floral Design shares our space at 6507 - 112 Avenue and is joining us in offering the contest prize of a gift card for a Teddy bear and a dozen roses.  But that's not all!  There are plenty of deals to be had at all of the Highlands businesses taking part:

Poster created by Laura England, Mandolin Books and Coffee Company.

That should help make Valentine's Day what it is meant to be... stress-free and loaded with L-O-V-E.

See you there!