March Madness

March Madness begins Monday at Orange Tree!  We will be offering 25% off designated items each week throughout the month of March.  The discounts begin Monday and continue through the month as follows:

Week 1 March 2-7  25% off personal care lines of Kathleen Lewis, Ambre Blends, TS Pink Mineral Bath Salts and Honey Bee Bar Lotion.

Week 2 March 9-14 We celebrate the Lenten Season offering all our items with crosses at 25% off!  This includes all of my wooden and ceramic crosses, all Blessed candles and Eau de Toilette.

Week 3 March 16-21 Everything Green is on Sale!  25% off all designated green merchandise in the store.  This sale will include a huge variety of items so don't miss it!

Week 4 March 23-28 Spring has Sprung Sale (at least we hope!)  All Cute Tools, Garden Sparklers and Windchimes are 25% off.

Love is in the Air!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!  Yes, today is the day to show your extravagant love to everyone around you (well, maybe not everyone!) but certainly to those special persons in your life.  You know, wife, girlfriend, daughter, mother, etc.... Flowers, of course, are a traditional choice in showing this love, but let's be GREEN about it...in 3 days they will be in the dumpster, the vase will be stored away in a cupboard in the garage and your thoughtful act will have been.....hmmmmm see the problem here?  Perhaps tradition needs a little "change" (political buzzword of the year!).  

We have some of the greatest Valentine gifts at Orange Tree this season and we are open to help you with this shopping from 10-5:00 Saturday, 2.14.09.  Remember my buying trip to New York a couple of weeks ago?  Well I was so excited about the new merchandise that I went ahead and accepted delivery of many new items just last week!  Your Valentine gift could be one of the newest, hottest gift items to hit Michiana (earth shattering, isn't it?).  Our most traditional gift item is a "bundle" including Uppseedaissee pj's (nightee or two piece pants set) in 100% cotton, red and white of course.  This set includes a complimentary gift box of South Bend Chocolates...hey, we are talking about a BIG box of chocolates for FREE!!!!  

Another romantic item available is our Thomas Mann Jewelry..This sculptor is nationally known for his jewelry designs which almost always include.....HEARTS!!!  This is very hip jewelry made from various metals and can be casual, or dressy and appropriate for just about any type of dress or occasion.  25% off Today!!!!!  Yep, I know this is a great sale!

Can't forget the romance of aroma....Ambreblends is sooooo HOT!  This all natural blend of ambre and other "secret" oils create a most unique result on each individual since it works differently with a person's body chemistry.  We have had request from people who stopped others on the street to ask what they are wearing.  Clean, unique and very romantic.  We have spritzers for body and home,  and compact roll-ons (which are perfect for carrying in your purse).

Other new options include Trace Mineral Bath Salts!  These are so great for your bath and make the entire bathroom smell yummy.  Trace Mineral Mixes include selected trace mineral elements along with macro minerals, electrolytes, organic calendula, chamomile, lavender, and vitamins A, B1, B2 B6, B12, C, D, E, and essential oils.  WOW! nutrition for your skin!  

Baabaazuzu is back and yes, there is snow on the ground today.  We have fingerless gloves (perfect for spring) and the ever popular Posie Pins.  

Perfecto Glass Jewelry Heart shaped glass necklaces and earrings.  Delicate and sweet.

And of course, each item comes in our complimentary Valentine's Day gift wrap (white with a hand tied red ribbon) to save you any trouble.  So save the flowers for the garden and shop for a handmade, USA made gift that will last until next Valentine's Day!

Patriotic Acquisition

Speaking of USA made, this has been one of our biggest challenges in buying.

We all agree that supporting US made is the responsible thing to do, especially when our nation's unemployment rate is soaring day by day. Not only does buying US manufactured goods result in revenue and employment retention in our country, it also results in elevated end user prices which is any retailer's concern. 

So here is my dilemma: How can I be sure that you, my customer, will value domestic production enough to pay 10-20% more at the register? I can't, but I like this guy's take on the issue....

Thom Conroy sums up the the results of this purchasing philosophy quite simply:

Positive economic results of domestic purchasing aside, most US made products represent higher quality and customer satisfaction. I would rather provide my customer with quality merchandise that I know will retain it's value for for longer than to offer something that, due to inferior quality, will within a short time end up in the landfill....another big issue for us at Orange Tree.

So until later, Orange Tree will continue to be red, white and blue + Green!

Day 2 & 3 NYIGF

We worked very hard to find more US made/handmade/eco-friendly items to bring back to Orange Tree. Here is a sampling of some of the lines we will be adding:
This beautiful sleepwear/loungewear line is US made in California from fine cotton with satin accents. These are so good looking you can wear them anywhere!

Soulartherapy.com

These are the most wonderful gifts for any occasion and any age or gender. "Blessed" candles and Eau de Toilette in bottles reminding us of our blessings. Each jar/spray bottle of fragrances "Charity, Faith, Grace, Reverence, Glory, and Devotion" has a blessing imprinted on the back and a sterling silver cross on the packaging. The sprays are gender neutral (especially FAITH) and come with a sterling silver cross with a chain. 

And did I mention US made!???!

New York Day 1

It was a big day in the big apple for us today. We managed to navigate two floors of Handmade work and have found some great additions to our present lines.


Finally got our BaaBaazuzu orders placed and we will have some fingerless gloves, mittens and scarves to use yet this winter season!

And Kaley got to meet her beloved blog friend Michelle Allen. We ordered some great, whimsical clocks! She also turned us on to awesome popcorn...more later!



Peanut butter/white chocolate drizzle! Oh my Lord!!!

Painted Frames

Here is a new technique that I developed and love! These are large scale frames that hold up to 8 x 10 photo or artwork and make a BIG statement on a wall.


This particular piece holds a print of one of our favorite artist, Andrew Daniels. Overall measurement is approximately 24 x 26.

This next frame is great with an added phrase using my ceramic letter beads. Whimsical and fun, this too holds an 8 x 10 photo although I also have 4 x 6 sizes. Frames can be custom designed to go with your decor, deep and rich, or bright and cheery.




One more unique frame is in the store holding a sepia tone photo and it looks so cool. Warm browns, umber and deep turquoise blue with gold accent band. Great color combination for an 8 x 10 photo.

New York here we come!!!

Today is really busy for the OT executives (doesn't that sound so official?). I have socks to deliver the the Center for the Homeless thanks to those of you who participated in Warm Hearts/Warm Toes, and packing as we prepare to head off to New York City tomorrow on our first buying trip of the season! Whoohoo! that means great new merchandise in the store very soon!

Kaley and I will be spending two days at the New York International Gift Fair for which we have spent the last month planning our strategy to visit the vendors that we know you will love. We will be visiting presently established accounts and many new artists who we can't wait to share with you!

So, stay tuned and I will give you a little show from New York starting tomorrow!