Visit Apple Box Boutique for gifts Mom will love.

What a great way to thank your Mom... for everything.

Not sure what Mom would like best?  We offer Gift Cards... no expiry date, no additional fees and easy to redeem on everything in-store!

 ♥,
Apple Box Boutique

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Late Night on the Ave is October 4th!

Be sure to watch our blog "On The Apple Box" for details on our Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan colour of the month and our October draw!

Looking forward to seeing you this Thursday at Late Night on the Ave!

♥,  
Apple Box Boutique

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Canada Day Sale -- One Day Only!

On Saturday, June 30th, we are holding a Canada Day Sale.

Hurry In 

It lasts just one day!

♥,

Apple Box Boutique

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20,000 Thank-yous!

After a couple of long days working like mad to sort out why our blog posts would not publish, the mystery has been solved.  Thank you to all those Blogger folks that made efforts to ensure we would be up and running for a day we absolutely did not want to miss. It is a special day...

Yes... it is thanks to you that we have reached 20,000 pageviews!!!

Some people may wonder why we think this is a big deal.  First, it is a huge deal because we have made great new friends and appreciate that our readers visit us.  Second, it is because when we started the blog, we had set 20,000 pageviews as a milestone for ourselves.  What makes this day even better is that we had hoped to meet this moment in a set time period, and we are excited to have reached here much earlier than expected.

And so we are VERY excited.  It is a warm, fuzzy feeling and we want to thank YOU for stopping in, for following and for sharing at On The Apple Box.

To show our appreciation, we would like to offer a V.I.P. discount to all of our blog followers and readers.  Just email us at info@appleboxboutique.com with the subject line: I've been On The Apple Box, and we will send you a coupon worth 20% off in-store purchases* until the end of the week.

20,000... what a pretty number.  THANK YOU!

♥,

Apple Box Boutique

*Includes all home decor, bath & body and candles. Coupon valid until end of day on Friday, June 29th.

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Spotlight on Eco-friendly Products: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ (ASCP)

Today is the the last of our three-day series focusing on our eco-friendly and natural product lines. At the outset we mentioned that we are consciously making an effort to offer items that are kind to our planet and our customers' health.  We are happy to be sharing the stories of our three major eco lines: Whitewater Candles, Barefoot Venus Bath and Body, and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ for Furniture, Walls and Floors.

Since other paints and coatings contain harmful levels of chemicals called VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), we are very excited to be the Central Alberta supplier of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ™ for Furniture, Walls and Floors, today's highlighted eco-friendly product and the signature paint used in our Apple Box Boutique studio.

Spotlight:  Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ™

Annie Sloan developed her now famous Chalk Paint™ to answer the need she had for a paint which would have many uses from acting like limewash to looking like old painted furniture, and that had a good range of colour that could be extended by the user. This paint is quick-drying and very easy to work with, allowing people to be creative as one doesn’t get involved with the technicalities of preparation and it also allows you to change your mind without hassle.

Applications:

• Best paint on the market for painting furniture
• Paint can be use on any surface -- literally!
• Use on walls for a soft matte effect or wax it for a polished plaster effect
• Can even be used to paint floors
• Paint can be applied to interior or exterior surfaces and furnishings
• Yes, chalkboards, too -- imagine coordinating them with your decor!

Techniques:

• Use one colour or layer colours
• Distress and apply waxes to create an old world patina
• Can be used as a wash -- dilute with water so when you apply paint it shows the wood grain
• You can use it as an impasto (thickly) -- just leave the lid off to thicken
• Two to three coats makes a highly durable chalkboard
• Paint fabric -- holds up through washing.  Can wax to give a different look to the fabric finish.
• Very little black pigment is used so the colours can be mixed in any combination

Ease of Use:

People, pet and eco-friendly and with virtually no odour, everything can be painted on-the-spot!   

• No messy sanding, stripping or priming
• No more lugging furniture to a painting area
• No more waiting for perfect painting weather
• Easy clean-up
• Paint is flexible so you can be creative and change your mind

Credit: Foampillowss, Annie Sloan & Savvy Southern Style

Fun:

• Because the paint is pre-mixed and easy to use, it is stress-free
• You never waste paint because it is an aqueous product. Let it thicken to use as a fine art paint or a craft paint, or to get a 'chunky, farmhouse" feel to your furniture.  It doesn't 'skin over' like other paints.  Did it get too thick?  Just add water to lighten it up again or to use as a wash
• Coordinate curtains, pillows, accessories, carpets and floors by stenciling or painting them
• Annie Sloan shows her humour... she says this is a girls' paint, but boys can use it too!
• The paint is so versatile and pure in colour that extending allows you to create to your heart's, and imagination's, desire

Thousands of Colours:

"Extending" the paint means that the 30 'core' colours can be mixed together without becoming murky or 'muddied' as can often happen with latex and oil paints.  It allows you to create personalized and custom colours and really be creative with it!

The Right Paint for the Job:

• Originating in the UK, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ™ was designed to allow walls to breathe, making it perfect for cottage walls in Europe which means it also works perfectly in North America and our varying climates
• Paint indoor items, outdoor items, floors, walls, metal, glass, plastic laminate, smooth woods, rough woods, plastic, Ikea and Jysk style cabinets, kitchens, even fabric... the list goes on and on

Tried and True:

• Annie Sloan has been making it since 1990 so it's tried and tested! 
• True colour that transcends eras, styles, materials, climates and can keep up with your imagination
• Search the internet, books and catalogs for examples of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ projects (often also referred to as ASCP), and you'll find thousands of examples and positive reviews!

Lots of Class:

ASCP is so popular that we have joined forces with Tara Jamieson, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Specialist to offer classes in Edmonton on a monthly basis.

All supplies are included, so all you have to do is --

just show up in your paint clothes

• Take the Beginner's class to get hands-on experience with the paint and the tools, and learn aging and distressing techniques that will help you to with your own DIY projects

• If your kitchen needs to be freshened up or completely updated, then the Kitchen Reinvention class is for you

BONUS: 

Use the coupon code: APPLE to save $ each time you register for a class!

Go Green:

• Best of all, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ is extremely low in VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) so it won’t harm you or the environment

Now available at Apple Box Boutique Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta.

6507 - 112 Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta

T5W 0P1

780-479-0007

♥,

Apple Box Boutique

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Spotlight on Eco-friendly Products: Whitewater Candles

Over the next few days, we will be highlighting our eco-friendly and natural products. We are consciously making an effort to offer items that are kind to our planet and our customer's health.

Our three major eco lines are Whitewater Candles, Barefoot Venus Bath and Body, and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ for Furniture, Walls and Floors.

Today our focus is on Whitewater candles.  These have quickly become a favourite at the boutique and we can't say enough good things about them.  Not only are they eco-friendly -- they are beautiful, aromatic and easy on the pocket book.

Spotlight:  Whitewater Premium Candles

Whitewater Premium Candle Co. was founded during the spring of 2007 as a result of our search for a quality all natural candle for our retail boutique. We were looking for a candle that was simple yet stylish, earth-friendly, long lasting, fragrant and most importantly made in Canada. After much searching we decided to take matters into our own hands and produce exactly what we were looking for.

Our quest began in search of the cleanest burning pure soybean wax, and a quality all natural fibre wick that would deliver a beautiful even flame and full fragrance throw without any wasted wax. The heart of our candle needed to have clean and natural aromatic attributes, which lead us to earth friendly vegetable oil based fragrances and essential oils to ensure a full bodied fragrance throughout the life of the candle. This was clearly our greatest challenge and achievement, and ultimately became the defining element of all Whitewater Premium Candles – our signature fragrances. No matter when or how often our candles are burned, our fragrances truly remain as pure as the day they were crafted.

We believe strongly in the use of renewable, biodegradable resources like soybean wax and oil, and we create environmentally friendly candles which produce minimal waste, and are an eco alternative to petroleum based products. Our reproduction antique enamel containers are stylish, re-useable and clean easily with soap and water, and we re-pour all empty containers which our local customers return to our store.

Whitewater Premium Candles are available as votives, tealights and container candles in a variety of natural scents.

Now available at Apple Box Boutique Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta.

6507 - 112 Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta

T5W 0P1

780-479-0007

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Project Personality: My Style Crush on Selina Lake

Project Personality

with Apple Box Boutique founder Leanne Playter Korsos

Alright... I confess.  I have a huge style crush on the fabulous Selina Lake.

Granted, she may not be a household name in North America quite yet, but if you follow home decorating or style mags, blogs or books, you likely have witnessed Selina's work.  She is uber-famous in Europe.

The best part?  She is a nice, normal young woman who has made her way up through the ranks, so to speak, with hard work, determination and as she says, big love for what she does.  She humbly credits her success to the advice her parents gave her growing up, "my Mum and Dad always told me to smile, be myself and try my best."

And wow... doing her best has been pretty darned impressive so far!

Selina is based in the UK and is an Interior and Lifestyle Stylist.  The focus of her freelance career is usually to produce images, which are used to sell products, and to inspire magazine and book readers.  But she is also an author and her books are jam-packed with inspiration for decor-loving folks like me.

I like to imagine that we would be friends, or are at least kindred spirits, since she has said that if she were not a Stylist she would "own a boutique, which would sell all the bits and bobs I love, if I could bring myself to part with any of the treasures that is!"  I feel exactly the same way about Apple Box Boutique.

I could go on and on about the perfect loveliness of Selina's work, but believe me, explanation is not required -- instead I will stop with the chatter and simply share some of her work.  The problem now is how ever to choose from all those glorious images!  I may labour over this for hours, or perhaps just close my eyes and point, but either way I hope you enjoy the selections.  (I know I will!)

Okay, so clearly enthusiasm trumps decision-making but this is me reining myself in as much as I can manage, and what you see is just a sampling of Selina's body of work!

Her books to date include "Romantic Style", "Bazaar Style" and released earlier this spring "Homespun Style".  Check out Selina's blog for more about this excellent young stylist, and her website for information on her work and freelance services.

I am off for a cup of spiced tea and some peony arranging... I hope you have a feel-good day, too!

~♥~ Leanne

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Project Personality: Jewelry For Your Furniture

Project Personality

with Apple Box Boutique founder Leanne Playter Korsos

Hardware.  It sounds so 'masculine'!

... Until you think about interior design, decorating or furniture refinishing.  In this world, it means "pretty"!  Of course that was said in my most sing-songy voice, because what I am talking about is fancy handles, flowery knobs and shiny pulls... or as I like to call it, jewelry for your furniture.

Each time I reimagine a piece, a part of that is deciding what the bling should be.  Should I keep the original jewelry hardware, refinish it as well or replace it outright?

In the past I've run from store to store trying to find just the right hardware to finish off the look I've dreamed up.  It can take a lot of driving, parking, fuel and energy so finally I decided to carry hardware in the boutique in the hope that having it alongside Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™, paint supplies, decor and flowers means other DIYers won't have to travel to all ends of the city (or farther!) to find the good stuff.  Who doesn't love one-stop shopping?

Our first shipment of knobs has arrived and we'll be adding more over the coming weeks!  Of course our Blog and Facebook followers get a first look. Here are a few of the styles we have in stock:

So now dressing up your furniture AND your home is as easy as stopping in to say hi at Apple Box Boutique!

See you there!

~♥~ Leanne

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Pretty, Pretty Rain

We are at the boutique today meeting our customers as they come in to shop rather than hide away from the gloomy day.  Stopping in for cheery flowers from Sugar Blossoms, or picking up a little something special for yourself or a friend is a great start to conquering any blues that may come your way.  Thinking happy thoughts helps... and a little imagery never hurt either.

We thought that since we seem to be stuck with the rain, why not celebrate it?

Last but most definitely not least... the classic, timeless joy of singing in the rain:

Click to watch Gene... it is sure to make you smile in the rain.

Wishing you a joyful day, too!

♥,

Apple Box Boutique   

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