This summer has been …well, difficult.  I would like to address this personally, as the owner and ultimately, the person making the decisions that affected us  all.

Recently we lost a member of our staff, a part of our Apple Box family, but not before making the choice to support them through their illness.  We were informed that any added stress would worsen their condition – they loved their job with us and were worried about losing it -- and for that reason I decided to not replace them but rather keep the door open for them to work when they could.  We are a small, family-run business, and though the past weeks have been fraught with unforeseen events that affected our Studio hours, the last thing we intended to do was inconvenience you, our customers, and yet sometimes we did. Even knowing your patience and understanding, being there for you is important to us, too, and it wasn’t  an easy choice to make.  I wanted you to know that.

That decision, for us, was the right thing to do under the circumstances, but something that was truly unexpected was the effects of holding fewer workshops.  I made the call to postpone offering a full schedule while we met the challenges we were faced with.  It seemed relatively harmless until some new customers started coming in to our shops with bad information and issues with painted projects.  We’ve since learned that a number of you had opted to take classes from uncertified and, unbeknownst to you, inexperienced people (painters who may use them but really know very little about our brands).  I wish that were different, I wish you could get your money back, but ultimately all I can do is hope you will consider taking a workshop at our Studio so that we can help. Painting should be fun and easy, and I am sorry to hear when anyone is discouraged.  It doesn’t have to be that way.

Where are we now? With the news that our employee and friend will not be able to return, we must move forward with plans that were set aside, and also with adding to our team.   We must get back to the future we planned for Apple Box™ Design Studio.

First, effective today the Studio hours are not just returning to what they were, but they are improved: 
            Tuesday – Thursday we will now be open from 11:00 AM to 6:30 PM. 
            Fridays and Saturdays we will be open from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM, answering your request for earlier hours on and near the weekend.  So long as it makes sense to have longer and earlier shopping days, we will meet the call.

Also effective today, we are welcoming our new Studio Assistant.  She is Stephanie Hayward, who comes to us with extensive experience in retail and an education in design.  We’ll be introducing Stephanie to you in-studio and over social media in future weeks as she becomes a part of the team at our St. Albert location.
 
We are currently seeking a Retail Assistant for our Edmonton location.  Apple Box™ Boutique is set in Highlands, a lovely historic community that we are proud to be a part of.  The Boutique is our flagship shop and is the shabby chic/cottage chic big sister to our rustic/industrial chic Studio.  If you (or someone you know) would be a good fit, please send your resume to: info@appleboxboutique.com.  You can also visit our website Employment page for further information.

Sunday, September 7th is a big day at the Boutique as we celebrate the Highlands Street Festival.  Be sure to stop in between 10 AM and 5 PM for music, food, artisans and great deals from vendors and local merchants, including Customer Appreciation pricing at Apple Box™ Boutique.

Finally, we will be posting our painting workshops this week.  All registrants in the month of September will receive in-store credits (not just the early birds!).  Judging from the long list of customers on our Workshop Notifications list, seats may  go quickly, so be sure to get your registration in at www.appleboxboutique.com/workshops-and-classes.html.

There are people to thank (profusely) – Mista Zaugg, our General Manager, for holding everything together, often working at the Edmonton Boutique in the morning and rushing up to St. Albert to be there for our Studio customers in the afternoon, then home to her two young children who also deserve thanks for sharing their Mom without complaint. Also Basia Kowal of BCalm Bookkeeping who spent the better part of her ‘free’ summer away from her accounting career to work in retail at our Boutique until her own company became too big a success to be set aside.

And importantly, I’d like to take a moment to thank you. We have the deepest appreciation for all of your support over the last few weeks, not only for the Studio but for our employee as they rallied against an illness that looked frighteningly close to taking a friend from us forever.  You stuck with us, offered your assistance and shared your own stories of perseverance.  I genuinely mean it when I say we have the best customers in the world.  I can’t wait to get back to business and to catching up with you all.  I hope to see you at the Studio soon!

♥, 

Reimagined Monday is a source of such joy for all of us at Apple Box™ Boutique and Apple Box™ Design Studio -- every month we can hardly wait to see who the winner is, and what they have won!

For any of our readers who do not know about Reimagined Monday, it is our monthly draw from all of our customers who have submitted before and after pictures of projects using Chalk Paint™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan or Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint.  You can write a little or a lot, and we feature reimagined pieces on our blog as often as possible.

At the end of each month, a name and a prize is drawn -- even our staff members don't know what the reward will be, and it feels a bit like Christmas, which makes it even more fun.  So far the prizes have ranged from gift cards to paint, workshops, brush kits, books and all the little extras.

It is easy to enter.  Just send your project pictures and the story of your experience using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint to info@appleboxboutique.com or info@appleboxdesign.com.  There is no limit to the number of entries per person, as long as they are individual projects.

And now for our July "Reimagined Monday" winner (drum roll please)...

Wendy submitted a really unique piece that she calls her "Old Chair Bench".

We just love the colour choices and the whole upcycling aspect!

Wendy has won a $50 in-store credit.  Thank you for sharing your fabulous project with us, Wendy!

♥, 
Apple Box Design Studio 
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We'd  LOVE  it if you shared our blog!

Recently we had a customer contact us to enquire if we would paint brand new furniture from Crate and Barrel to their colour preference using Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan.  Although we were a bit surprised (mostly because of the cost of new C&B pieces), we are happy to take someone's vision and make it a reality.

Today's Reimagined Monday project comes to us from Collette Whelan, who bought a new piece and with a little Chalk Paint™, turned it into something she loves.

Here are the "Before" pics -- the cabinet has great structure but was a little 'generic' in it's finish:

Collette explained that this is a cabinet she purchased at Salisbury Greenhouse to house some of her gardening stuff in her garage and wrote,  "Although it was not a bad color to begin with, I wanted it to be more of a fun piece, so I chose the Chateau Grey with a clear wax to finish."

The "After" is stunning!

We love the new look of your cabinet, Collette!  Thank you for sharing it with us and best of luck in the draw.

We love to highlight our customer's  projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw. 

Your project may appear on our Blog or Facebook page! 
At the end of each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured  to   be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be  included  in  the draw. 

Send your name, pictures and story to: info@appleboxboutique.com for your chance to win!

♥, 
Apple Box Design Studio 
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We'd  LOVE  it if you shared our blog!

It took a bit to get around to posting this, but we are very happy to announce that Kelly Wood is the winner of our June 2014 Reimagined Monday draw!  Kelly received a Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan starter kit and we can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Kelly's winning submission is this great reimagined door project:

Congratulations Kelly! 

We love to highlight our customer's  projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process    using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw. 

Your project may appear on our Blog or Facebook page! 
At the end of each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured  to   be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be  included  in  the draw. 

Send your name, pictures and story to: info@appleboxboutique.com for your chance to win!

♥,
Apple Box Design Studio 
_______________________________________
We'd  LOVE  it if you shared our blog!

We've received so many fantastic projects recently that we want to share, which makes today's blog post a Reimagined Monday smorgasbord... a collection of images submitted by some of our fantastic customers that are sure to inspire!

All of these projects were completed using Chalk Paint™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan.  We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Gorgeous, one and all.  Thank you to everyone who sent these in ... each of you have been entered in our Reimagined Monday Draw!

Enter our Reimagined Monday Draw!

We love to highlight our customer's projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw. 

Your project may appear on our Blog or Facebook page! 
At the end of each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books,
supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw. 

Send your name, pictures and story to: info@appleboxboutique.com for your chance to win!

♥,
Apple Box Design Studio 
_______________________________________
We'd  LOVE  it if you shared our blog!

This week's Reimagined Monday post comes from Shelly Grant, a gal who not only has a great eye for a great buy, but was fearless in her mission to make these fantastic Versace chairs work with her decor.  Read on for the whole story, in Shelly's words!

Purchased these 8 chairs (two with arms) from a couple who were selling off their mothers’ (in-law) estate.

The mother had purchased the VERSACE dining set from The Gallery in Hollywood. I purchased all 8 for $75/chair = total $600

My husband almost had a heart attack when I said I wanted to re-cover them – and paint them. Well, there was nothing wrong with them and they are VERSACE. You cant mess with that!!  But . .  though they were incredibly solid, they didn’t go with anything else in our home."

FYI – the material now has a sort of leather look/feel  and is very comfortable.  Isn’t sticky, or cracked. It’s  been six months and still not dried out or cracking.

Everyone who has sat on them, I tell the story and they are shocked.

All in all – I think it turned out pretty great – especially considering it is my first Annie Sloan project.

I’m totally hooked. More projects are one my schedule for this spring!!

We love to highlight our customer's projects! 
Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw.

Your project may appear on our Blog or Facebook page!
At the end of each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw.

Send your name, pictures and story to: info@appleboxboutique.com for your chance to win!
♥,
Apple Box Design Studio 
_______________________________________
We'd  LOVE  it if you shared our blog!

Billie Jo shared her first Chalk Paint™ project with us, and we have to say, we LOVE it!  And the best part?  It became a very happy Mom and son memory!

Here is the whole story, in Billie Jo's words...

"Looking for a new bedroom set for my son was discouraging and the thought of simply replacing great quality wood furniture with a metal frame was not a satisfying option. I stumbled upon Annie Sloan's paint, YouTube and Pinterest which lead me to your wonderful hidden gem of a store.

I bought the brushes, paint and wax and have started a new love affair. I have finished my sons bedroom set and it feels like a brand new makeover for his room- at a fraction of the cost compared to buying a new set.

In fact, while the task appeared a little daunting, once the paint was flying the whole family's interest peaked and my 6 year old came to lend a hand at distressing his bed frame. I truly love the paint, your staff was exceptionally helpful, and I've already lined up several more projects..."

Thank you for sharing, Billie Jo... It's like a brand new bedroom set! 

We can't wait to see your next fabulous projects using Chalk Paint™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan!

We love to highlight our customer's projects! 
Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw.

Your project may appear on our Blog or Facebook page!
At the end of each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw.

Send your name, pictures and story to: info@appleboxboutique.com for your chance to win!

♥,
Apple Box Design Studio 
_______________________________________
We'd  LOVE  it if you shared our blog!

From March 20 - 23, Apple Box Design Studio and Apple Box Boutique will be at the Edmonton Home + Garden Show providing information, demos and answering your questions about Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan, Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint, O'verlays Canada and more!

Send us your Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint project and...

1)  Your project could be featured in our Before & After album at our booth, and

2) Your name will be entered into our EHGS contest to WIN two tickets to the show

Send your full name, email, phone number, before & after pictures and your project information (what products and/or techniques did you use) to: info@appleboxboutique.com.  Enter as many projects as you like.

Deadline to Enter:  9 PM (MDT) on Friday, March 14, 2014

Submission of your project confirms your agreement to have your images/project/work shared publicly at Apple Box Boutique Inc.'s discretion, including at the Edmonton Home and Garden Show  (EHGS), in-store, on our website or social media sites.  Tickets can not be exchanged for cash value or store credit.  'Before' pictures are not required to enter the draw. Winner' s randomly selected manually and your entry acts as agreement to this process. 

Inspiring Change is the theme for International Women's Day 2014 and encourages advocacy for women's advancement everywhere in every way.   There are events honouring and celebrating the achievements of women all around the world, ranging from small random informal gatherings to large highly organized events.

Apple Box Boutique in Edmonton and Apple Box Design Studio in St. Albert were founded by Leanne Playter Korsos, whose research has supported and promoted women in Canadian history through various publications, maps, events and films.  It was Leanne's work that first depicted the travels of Charlotte Small and the important role she played in support of her husband, explorer David Thompson, and his success.  Leanne's findings were an important factor in Parks Canada recognizing Charlotte Small as a Person of National Historic Significance, and her segment in the BBC Ray Mears documentary Northern Wilderness brought to an international forum the importance of Charlotte Small's role in Canadian and British history.

Many of the products we offer at our Boutique and Studio were developed by women or businesses founded, owned or headed by women, including:

• Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan:  Artist, author and entrepreneur Annie Sloan
• Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint:  Collection by Marion Parsons (Miss Mustard Seed), Manufactured by Homestead House, CEO: Jennylyn Pringle
• O'verlays (coming soon):  Designed by Cheryle Rhuda and Danika Herrick, Distributed in Canada by Leanne Playter Korsos of Apple Box Design and in Australia by Therese Tarlinton of UPcycled
• A variety of artisan products and artwork created locally by women and sold at our Boutique
• The General Manager of our Apple Box group of companies is also a successful entrepreneur?  Mista Zaugg owns Cinnamon Photography and is an Independent Consultant with Grace Adele and Scentsy, is V.P. of Ambiance Events and is Lead Event Coordinator with another woman-owned business VIP Event Consultants and Concierge.