Happy Holidays!

Starting today!

New Hours at The Arbour

The Arbour's Favorite Gifts

By request, here is a list of our favorite gifts at The Arbour this holiday season.  There is a wide variety of items and prices, so you should find something for everybody.  Of course, we have many more ideas than what is included here, so come in soon and shop for your favorite people at your favorite shop!

Happy Holidays,

Jen

Gifts under $30

Charles Dickens holiday candle - $28

Bellevue Farmers Market Cookbook - $19.95

Gifts under $50

Antique Linen Lavender Sachets - $48

Pine Wine Coaster - $38 + bottle of wine

Michael Aram Cheese Knives - $44


Gifts under $100

Michael Aram Olive Nut Bowl - $84

Bridle Leather & Bit Bracelet - $88

Gifts over $150

Match Pewter & Glass Decanter - $188

Pewter Reindeer - $248/pair

Glass Hurricanes - $356/pair

Gifts for Her

Seda France Candles in Ceramic - $44

Gift Certificate for Design Consultation - $120 and up

Gifts for Mom

Faux Roses in Glass Vase - $48 and up

Handmade Necklaces - $55 and up

Gift for Him

Staghorn Multipurpose Knife - $60

Gift for Teenager

Glovely Fingerless Gloves - $32/pair

Hostess Gifts

Handmade Ceramic Servingware - $38 and up

Metal Sign - $16

Striped Taper Candles - $24/pair

Tree Candles - $12.50

Thanksgiving Table + The Arbour

Patti and I thought we would share our Thanksgiving table setting with all of our wonderful customers.  This year since we had a smaller Thanksgiving than previous years, we could really focus on the table.  I was busy in the kitchen, so it was mostly up to Patti and I have to admit, I was enamored when I saw the finished product.

It was a casual day of entertaining at Patti’s house, so she really wanted the table to look special, but not formal.  I think she succeeded!  I had a very successful day in the kitchen and my mother had one of her own in the dining room. We hope you had as amazing of a holiday as we did and we are so thankful that we have such kind and loyal customers!

The Arbour’s Tips for a Perfect Table Setting

Keep it simple and seasonal. For the centerpiece, Patti used only fresh greens in an antique English footed wood bowl.  Real gourds and two different types of votives nestled among cedar and fresh bay leaves cut from the backyard added the seasonal aspect to the table.  It was definitely Thanksgiving!

Have a vision in mind.  In this instance, Patti’s was homey elegance.  By choosing a warmer color palette and no flowers, the table came across as being comfortable, yet the crystal glassware and gold accents upped the ante.

Mix it up.  Casual and formal, old and new; it can co-exist on one table!  Patti was able to incorporate crystal glassware and antique gold serving pieces alongside cotton napkins and rattan chargers.  It doesn’t have to all match!

Add texture when possible.  The rattan round chargers and the cedar greens directly on the table made the whole look softer.

Have fun and enjoy the creative process.  There is no wrong way!

In the next few weeks we will be doing the same thing for Christmas.  Patti and I will create not one, but two tables using most of the same items, but achieving two very different looks with a few simple changes.  Until then, enjoy the holiday shopping and festivities!

Jen

New at The Arbour - Holiday and Blog Design!

It’s that time of year again!  The holidays are fast approaching and after a lot of pleading on your part, we decided to put up our first round of holiday merchandise on Saturday.  More is coming, but in the meantime, take a gander at these pictures.  Of course nothing is better though than coming in and seeing it in person….

Also, I attempted to slightly redesign our blog to give it more of a modern look.  The background image will change with the seasons, so for the next few months, enjoy the birch trees!

Jen

Michael Aram at The Arbour + Special Offer

This month, our featured line is Michael Aram!  For the last several years, The Arbour has carried his wonderful creations.  Instantly recognizable, stylish and loved by everyone, Michael Aram pieces are ones to cherish and collect.  In fact, most of the design clients Patti and Ann have worked with over the years have ended up with a Sona Vessel in their home.  As per his website, Michael Aram is an American born artist who turned to metalwork after a trip to India in the late 1980s, spurring him to move to New Dehli and set up a workshop.  Every piece is entirely handmade ensuring those who buy Michael Aram pieces are getting a true work of art crafted by gifted artisans.  His work falls in a realm somewhere in between fine and decorative art meaning items are both beautiful and entirely functional, something we can all appreciate in this day and age.

At the gift show in New York this past August, Patti was very inspired by the Michael Aram booth and his new additions so she put in a much larger order than usual in preparation for the gift-giving season that we are all finding ourselves face to face with.   Come in and see his new fruit collection, including a fabulous apple dish and stock up on easy holiday gifts for friends and family alike.  EVERYONE loves Michael Aram, regardless of age or home style!

For the next two weeks, The Arbour is happy to extend 15% off on all Michael Aram, both in store and special orders.  Hurry in before November 15 to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to purchase a piece (or two!) made by a cherished member of the global decorative art community.

Jen

Pumpkins & Gourds at The Arbour

It all started last Sunday.  Rain was falling, the leaves were turning and Patti decided it was pumpkin and gourd day.  We piled into her car and headed north, rain coats and Wellies in tow.  Then all of a sudden, just outside of Everett, the clouds parted and there was the sunshine!  What seemed like a bad idea at first because of the weather, turned into a glorious day filled with good food and pumpkin gathering.

Our first stop was in La Conner for lunch at Seeds, a great little restaurant owned by the more well known Calico Kitchen.  A charming spot with a fantastic, inexpensive menu and amazing fries, Seeds is a must on a trip north.

After lunch, we ventured to one of Patti’s favorite shops ever, Go Outside.  Their book selection is unrivaled, as well as their little gift items and garden supplies.  You can even find Barbour jackets and vests.  The most inspiring part of the shop is how it is all presented and the friendliness of the people who work there.

Next stop, Christianson’s Nursery.  If you love Wells-Medina, you will love Christianson’s.  It’s almost never ending…

Then it was on to finding a great mix of interesting pumpkins, gourds and squash.  “The uglier, the better” is Patti’s motto when it comes to selecting them for the shop.  At one farm, they had stacked various sizes and colors of pumpkins and gourds on top of each other.  I could almost see the lightbulb over Patti’s head.

Voila…Pumpkin Topiaries at The Arbour!  Decide on your desired height and composition of pumpkins, drive a metal rod (the one we used is about ¼”in diameter) through the pumpkins one at a time using a hammer, starting with the one on the bottom, then slide them all on the rod.  Leave the stem attached to the one you want on top and push onto the rod.  Easy as can be!

Jen