Orange Tree Gifts

March Madness

2009-03-01T18:46:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2009-02-14T05:01:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-29T07:08:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-29T04:47:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-27T05:16:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-24T06:44:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2009-01-24T06:21:00.000-08:00

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!

Warm Hearts/Warm Toes

2009-01-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

Please share the gift of warmth with others at Orange Tree. Beginning Monday, January 19th, as part of our OFF THE WALL sale, Orange Tree will be collecting socks to deliver to Hope Rescue Mission and The Center for the Homeless in South Bend. Just stop in the store anytime Monday-Friday from 10:00-6:00 and you will find our collection boxes. Your donation is worth a 5% discount on your purchase that day in addition to our 25% sale of merchandise OFF THE WALL!

Just one small way of sharing warmth!

Welcome Home from Iraq!

2009-01-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

This cube trunk was created for a young man for his birthday. His mom contacted me a couple of months ago and we have had a few sit down chats to review photos and thoughts on how I could incorporate the most special things to him on the piece. What you see is one of the most personal pieces that I have ever made. It includes his zodiac sign, his pet, his favorite teams, and his troop from Iraq. Happy Birthday! Welcome home, and thank you for serving your country!

More Custom Trunks!

2009-01-14T09:32:00.000-08:00

I love working with people to create a really unique gift and these trunks are the pinnacle of unique! The large trunk was created as a Christmas gift from a husband to his wife! HOW SWEET IS THAT??? We worked together passing ideas back and forth via email for a month, then he came to the studio to approve the charcoal layout before I started the actual carving, painting and ceramic embellishing. We included their kids' birthdays on the calendar on the top, their nationalities were represented on the end panels, and their lakehouse was depicted on what is considered to be the front of the trunk. Merry Christmas Alyson! May your trunk bring you many years of joy!

Snow, Snow, GO! GO! GO!!!!

2009-01-14T09:27:00.000-08:00

UGH! I am thoroughly done with winter and yes, I KNOW, it has just settled in for a long stay! But thanks to Old Man Winter, we are continuing our Off The Wall sale through next week! YAY! I knew you would be happy about that. So for all of you who have hibernated this week, get ready to get off the couch, out of your sweats, and join the real world for some great savings next week! We will see you then...Stay warm:)

Off The Wall!

2009-01-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

You thought we were a little unique at Orange Tree, well now we're proving that we are truly "Off the Wall" unique! Announcing the first annual Off The Wall event at Orange Tree beginning Monday, January 12 and continuing through January 17th. EVERYTHING on the walls will be marked 25% off!!! This sale includes rarely discounted pieces by Chris Roberts Antieau, David Scherer, Alec Reid, Andrew Daniels, Noel Daas, and much more. Even Jamie's pieces are discounted "off the wall"!!!

Stop in early to see the discounted prices presently displayed and remember "first come first serve" since many of these items are one-of-a kind and the same actual pieces will not be represented again by Orange Tree.

We are excited to open up space for new merchandise on order. It will be a great winter at Orange Tree so stop in for a citrus"y" time!

Happy New Year!!!!

2009-01-08T10:57:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to those of you who shopped Orange Tree for the holidays. We were exceptionally busy wrapping literally hundreds of gifts and tying many bows for our wonderful customers. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for shopping locally during these extraordinary economic times. We appreciate your loyalty and patronage.

All of us at Orange Tree wish you the happiest and most blessed 2009!

2008-11-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

Check out the new cube trunk in the store! This trunk is "A Time For Every Season" with a different season depicted on each side. The top rotates to point toward the current season. Approximately 24" x 24" x 24" makes a great end table or accent for any room. Of course these are really great when they are customized for someone with all the special things in their life! Great wedding, anniversary, birthday, or any special occasion gift idea. Let me know what you think!

Men's Night Out

2008-11-11T07:33:00.000-08:00

Men's Night Out= Women Get What They Want!!!! This season we will host our 1st Annual Men's Night Out on Thursday, December 4 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Pizza, Beer, Wine and Soda will be served while we assist our guy folks in shopping for all the goodies on our Wish Lists. (Have you filled one out yet???) Wish Lists are available in the store and online by request. FIll one out with your favorite Orange Tree items and a name of someone to pass it along to, and we will copy, file it, and send a copy to your significant other (who never knows what to get you)!!! It's a win/win for everyone!

What's in a name??

2008-11-02T10:19:00.000-08:00

I have been asked numerous times since our opening "What's with Orange Tree?" So, I will go public right now and let you all in on the origin of our store's name.

The orange tree, in eastern tradition, is known to be symbolic of generosity. Generosity, in western tradition, is symbolized through gift giving. Ta Da! East meets West at Orange Tree in little old Granger Indiana!

In case you have forgotten or didn't know, "Orange is the Happiest Color"~so stop in for a visit, a cookie and a few chuckles at our unique inventory of USA made, hand made, eco-friendly gift selection.

Happy day!

2008-09-30T10:16:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my Orange Tree Blog!!! It has been an exciting venture getting the store, website, my life, to this point!!!

Just wanted to remind you the Orange Tree Grand Opening is October 11 from 10:00-5:00. We will be offering hourly sales items, refreshments, and much more. Stop in for a visit!

remember...Orange is the Happiest color!!!

Jamie