The House Dressing Company

Written by : Julie Cove

You are in for a real treat if you plan on stopping by this Saturday!  We love pampering our valued customers and this is the day we do it all just for You!  Since I opened The House Dressing Co. 18 years ago– boy seems like an eternity–  I have always hosted a shopping event for our loyal customers.  It is the one day that is soooo fun because all of our favourite customers pop in and we get to see them all on one day!  It is such a festive day while everyone is in such good spirits getting ready for the season.

Our collection of holiday goodies is at it’s peak! — that’s why we have our shopping day before December hits -while our selection is  great offering Savings of 15% store wide on all regular priced items so you can choose anything your heart desires!–and Save of course!  Wanna hear a secret? ……..  We have a surprise gift with purchase for you too!

But remember it’s one day only on In-stock items only and all items must be paid for on that day.  Sorry no Holds permitted.  15% Discount may not to be combined with other offers or sale items.

I am also really looking forward to our Live Musicians who are making their debut in a commercial setting as The Best Darn Christmas Trio in Sidney!  Charlotte Elgersma, Desi Barkman, will be singing many, many Christmas carols with Gussie Kooijman on keyboard.  You will be thoroughly entertained and leave with holiday carols dancing round in your head.

…..And don’t forget how fun it is to take in the Sidney Sparkles Santa Parade at 5pm- and then the Lighted Sailpast Boat Parade at 6:15.  It’s a fun filled day to kick off the holiday season!  Be sure to bring items for the food bank for collection during the parade.

I really, really love what our town does for this special day and how it has grown into such a lovely town- yet I dream for “the icing on the cake” which to me would be…. for the businesses and the town to do a completely lit up street like Ladysmith!  We drove thru on a whim one year coming down from skiing late at night not knowing what we were in for and-Wow Wee-  that town is utterly magical during the holidays even when all the shops are closed!  Practically every single shop has gone to town- heee- with their display of lights and swags across the street, roof top scenes- it is incredible!  Check out this link for Ladysmith Festival of Lights  right here. If you get a chance or if you are heading up island you really should check it out.  One day perhaps I can convince the folks around town to take our little town that is so amazing to the next level and make it utterly fantastic!

We can’t wait to see you in the shop .  We hope you will also take time to enjoy what our wonderful community has to offer!

ps- I hope you are starting to think about The Ultimate Christmas Decorating Contest- and what you might photograph or submit!  Submissions can be made in person starting December 1st thru to December 24th.  The link is right here for the categories and if you need to revisit the details.

Written by : Helen McIntyre

Today is all about decorating  Trees and Wreaths! Time is ticking away till Christmas and some of you, I have talked to in the store are already putting out or are all finished decorating! Good for you! It’s great when you can enjoy your wonderfully decorated home for as long as you can during the holidays!

I have been busy busy busy at the store making it look fabulous for Christmas! A huge part of decorating is all the trees and wreaths. I have talked with some customers that put up multiple trees in their home. I think that’s great……especially if you are partial to a whole bunch of different looks. You can create a different theme for each tree! That is so much fun! I have done the same at the store. We have so many different looks that we want to showcase……….so what better way to do that, than decorate a tree! Some of them include:

In one window I have a rustic, cottage like look. This includes, big red “Santa I can Explain” signs, ice skates, wooden tags, dried brown leaf garlands, woven red birds and some woven ornaments. Its really important to try and use different materials when decorating your tree and also varying the scale. The big red signs are a great element in amongst all the smaller items! It really makes a great statement! I love the way garland looks in a tree! Especially when it is something really different and textured like the dried brown leafy one that I used in this particular tree! It may not be absolutely noticeable, but if I were to remove it……..the tree definitely would not look quite so finished!

The other window in the store showcases a very shimmery, elegant cream and glass look. I have chosen lots of really big glass balls with shimmery patterns on them! They make the tree look so sparkly! Its also nice to add sprays! They don’t just have to be for a vase or wreath…put them in your tree. They create a whole other element that is very interesting. You don’t need many. The ones I chose for this tree are elegant looking with a matte cream berry. This completely is a contrast to the other shimmery decorations on the tree, however they work and provide another layer of interest. In conjunction with the sprays and balls are lots of really really shimmery items such as: ice skates, snowflakes, pine cones (they are fantastic) and birds.

Right as you walk in the front door you will see a great tall tree that is filled with pewter, silver and gold! I absolutely love this combination! I have never really mixed these colours before, but it works so well! Again, I have chosen to add big scale by using the gold and silver traditional signs that say: Joy, Noel and Peace. If you decide you don’t want them on your tree you can always hang them on a door knob, on a wall or on your front door! I have also put in sparkly gold feathers! They are just so effective, you wouldn’t believe it! …..and very inexpensive! Ohhh and one of my favourites is these big over sized wiry gold flowers. You simply just stick the stems right in the tree and manipulate the flower top until you have it just right! So, in order to balance out the interesting shapes and sizes of some of the decorations, it’s a great idea to also have some traditional balls. In this case, I used large mercury, pewter balls with a slight diamond pattern on them! They are so fabulous! For the smaller items there are: small acorns, birds and mistletoe! I love the way this tree is so shiny and glamorous!

Towards the back, by the big rug rack…..I placed a big flocked tree up on a table. It is adorned with red and white! Its such a classic look and really bright and cheerful! This tree has a combination of matte white acorns and walnuts (which I think are my favourite thing in the whole store) flocked mittens and toques, red glass hearts and balls and some really fun balls with red and white tiny pom poms! Oh, and also some really classic white balls with a little bit of ribbing on them. I choose mostly ball shaped ornaments for this tree of varying sizes, but  it’s important to remember to use different textures as well!! I really like the way the glass looks with the flocked, matte element of the tree. You could also add some larger “sign” like ornaments to this type of tree or a great red matte or textured garland! The sky is the limit! Just use your imagination!

Also, really important: when decorating your tree at home, make sure you stand back from it every so often. Its a great way to really know if the tree is balanced with ornaments and if you like the placement of everything!

I have also done up some wreaths around the store. What I usually do is take a really great simple bare green wreath and add lots of different items to it. This completely transforms the wreath and you can really personalize it to be your own style. I have decorated one really big wreath that is already pre-lit (which is a big plus). I used red orchid clips. I have to say…..using clips is so great, simple and easy! I also used silver sparkly feathers and these great pics that have a cluster of really glamorous silver balls. The wreath was completely transformed into a show stopper! Great for above your mantle or sideboard..etc…..Same tips apply to wreaths as they do to trees…use different sizes, shapes, textures and colours!

Other clips I used in some wreaths are the silver and gold dragonflies! They are very effective! A couple of wreaths I did also include weaving a garland throughout the outside greenery to add more bulk and texture and also using sprays to get the same effect! We also have wonderful berry wreaths that I altered with some green sprays! They look great with or without the greenery!

I hope you are all eager and ready to tackle some of your decorating! …and maybe even try some new decorations on your tree this year? I am always available to help decorate your home or offer some advice at the store.  Remember to enter your creations in our “Ultimate Decorating Contest” and win up to $1000 just for submitting a photo of your decorating.  There are 16 categories to enter- check it out here if you haven’t already.  You have until Dec 24th to enter!

Happy decorating! Don’t forget our Open House on Sat Nov 28. Starts at 9:30….live music, delicious food and great prizes! The Sidney Parade is also on the same day! Be sure to come out and see us!

Written by : Julie Cove

Listening to the falling, sometimes driving rain on the roof top can sometimes make you feel a little melancholy for the warm weather that has left us for a while.  Do you get this way when the rain is endless?   I find that if I make a list of some things that I have been itching to accomplish, that I haven’t made time for when the weather was lovely, I can dig in and get the job done without feeling like I am missing something more fun outside.  The satisfaction of  getting these things done feels great.  Then I can perhaps wander outside with some boots on to see if there is something I’m missing.  Armed with my camera of course, that’s what I did and what I found was swirling puddles of water, droplets bouncing from the pavement, squirrels busy stocking up and the winter smells filling the air.  It was a wonderful adventure.  What I discovered is that the rain isn’t so bad after all and there are things to be appreciated and thankful for even when the weather seems better suited for ducks!  Take a peek!

The flooding fields attract visitors that are enjoying the rain!–the ducks and me!

Too wet to play!

These berries set against the green made me pull over in an instant!

If you still find that you are getting a wee bit tired of this liquid sunshine how about this idea.  My girlfriend Karen introduced me to “Beat the Blues Night”. Have you heard of this idea?  This is when you spontaneously decide on a Sunday night or even a week day evening (just hours prior to arrival) to invite a few friends over and have a shin dig– just to beat the blues away!  This could be dinner, or a game of pictionary or a movie or just tea with the girls!  If it’s out of the ordinary for you and them to drop what they were doing and join in, then it’s all the better!  You’ll find that it really does lift your spirits along everyone elses’.  And before you know it, another week has passed and you’ve been in great spirits with memories of a fun “beat the blues” experience.  Try this every so often and teach your friends to do the same and while you’re busy having fun, not focusing on the inclement weather, the the warm sunshine will be upon us again.  Sound like a good idea?  Give it a shot and report back- I’d love to hear what you did and how it went.

If you are really, really tired of this rain I challenge you to find a way to appreciate the season vs feeling gloomy like Eyore about it.  It doesn’t serve us and we know it!  You’ll find that when you shift your attitude about the weather you will attract good things and see the beauty around you, in turn making for a better day!  Wouldn’t you like that?  Just let the weather go!  Get a great umbrella, and some boots you love and dress warm.  Before we know it the snow drops will be popping up thru the earth with a happy glow from all the rain we’ve had!

Happy Monday!

Written by : Helen McIntyre

Hello everyone

Today I wanted to share some great “must haves” for the Holiday Season. These 6 picks are all about pampering yourself and entertaining with family and friends!

We have already had many many people in the store to stock up on the popular holiday fragrance – Frasier Fir by Thymes. Every year around Christmas we have it…..and it is amazing. It is a combination of Siberian Fir needles, heartening Cedarwood and relaxing Sandlewood. The Thyme’s Company refer to it as “Mountain Fresh, yet cozy and comforting” ……and it really is! You will love it if you haven’t already tried it. This wonderful scent is definitely a must have for the holidays! Your house would not be complete without it. The candles are always the favourite amongst everyone, however there is also hand soap, dish washing liquid, sink sets, hanging sachets and room spray. You and your guests will be sure to enjoy this aromatic fragrance throughout your home.

Tea is next on my list of “must have’s”. It’s just extremely great to have on hand for yourself, your family or for when your friends pop over so you can brew them up a cup! Maybe even share a pot! The small packs are also great as a hostess gift! We carry the Tea Forte all year round, however during this festive time of year, new fabulous flavours and items come out all with wonderful holiday packaging! The limited edition holiday teas include: Sweet Orange Spice & Winter Chai. A warm cup of tea is definitely a must have for myself during the cool holiday season.

Food, I think should be next on the list. The holiday season is never complete without really good food. Wildly Delicious products are a fast, convenient, affordable way to have tasty, flavourful  appy’s at any time! The Compotes are amazing with cheese and the warm dips are so flavourful! My favourite is the squash with white bean! So yummy. There are many different products to choose from. Its great to stock up……as you never know when you will need some. A friend might pop over unexpectedly or you might be invited out to a friends for dinner and need a hostess gift in a hurry!

So, after talking about food….you probably will need some kind of platter to arrange it on! Serving Platters are next on my list! I can’t get enough of these!!! I love that they come in so many different shapes and sizes. You can have so much fun with them. Maxwell & Williams offer a great selection and very affordable prices! Serving platters are great for displaying your carved turkey on at Christmas, arranging your appy’s, an antipasto platter or a baked whole salmon…etc…..I would strongly suggest building up a selection of platters for yourself! You will find them very useful!

Bamboo cutting boards are next on my list. I love the texture, pattern and durability that they have. Not to mention their very fun shapes and sizes. The great thing about these cutting boards is you can leave them out on your counter because they look so nice and they are eco friendly. They become a decorative element as well as having a great use. If you are doing up some cheese, grapes and crackers for guests coming over, you may even want to serve the cheese right on the cutting board! Its so simple and looks great! Some of them also have handles to make carrying them a breeze. I love the long one we have in the store that looks like a wine bottle……..very fun!

The next item(s) on my list will most likely be a favourite……..candles! The warm glow and cozy ambiance they create is truly amazing. There is nothing like them. Candles are great for all year round, but they are particularly suiting for the holiday season. You probably don’t realize how much you use them. Candles are perfect for setting a mood or just adding a warm, comfortable element to any room. You can use them when you eat dinner, have a bath, while you are relaxing at the end of a busy day etc… you can also have them placed all over your home: on your mantle, sideboard, coffee table, around your fireplace hearth, dining table, window sill etc……There are lots of choices when it comes to candles……I prefer plain white pillars myself. They look so fabulous when they are lit! We have them in 3×3, 3×6, 3×9, 3×12 and also some 4×4’s and 4×6’s. It’s fun to mix the different heights on a candle tray! You can also try floating candles! They are very effective….in a glass bowl filled with water. Try putting some different materials in the bottom (glass stones, coloured rocks, greens etc) for some sparkle!

Last but not least are the snowflake earrings. They are so pretty and sparkly! Every woman needs a pair during the holiday season. They are the best to wear at Christmas parties, New Year’s or just around town! There are 3 different styles. You will get so many compliments when you wear them…they are definitely a must have. We at The House Dressing all have a pair and we love to wear them this time of year! Hurry and come get a pair……they sell fast! One lady came in and bought some for all the bridesmaids in a winter wedding! How fun!

I really hope that I have got you all excited about all the wonderful “essential” items for the holiday season. It was so fun coming up with this list…..as you can imagine there was lots to choose from!

Next week I will be sharing some great Christmas tree and wreath decorating ideas……lots of fun!

Written by : Julie Cove

We’ve brainstormed a fabulous way to Support the Food Banks, Celebrate Your Talents, and Win Great Prizes this Christmas!  This is the poster for our exciting contest. Take a peek!

Of course we commissioned the “one and only clever gal” Rose Cowles to design it for us. Don’t you love her stuff?  She ceases to amaze me with her talent!  Now about the contest.  There are sixteen, Yes…… I said 16 categories — enter one or enter them all!  And check out that grand prize!!

• Submissions Accepted: Dec 1st to Dec 24th
• Enter In Person Only at The House Dressing Company
• Each category Entry requires a Minimum $2 Cash Donation for the Food Banks of Sidney & Victoria
• Early bird entries received by Dec 10th will be entered to win a $50.00 HD Gift Card.

CATEGORIES & PRIZES

•Best Christmas Decorated Room with Tree = Top Prize-$1000 ($500 cash, $250 Design Services, $250 HD Gift Card) (Submit photos only)

•Most Unique Decorated Christmas Tree = $250 ($125 cash & $125 HD gift card) (Submit photo only)

•Best Christmas Dining Table = Boxed Set of Maxwell Williams Dishes (Value Approx 125.00) (Submit photo only)

•Best decorated Mantle = Candle Gift Basket (Submit photo only)

•Best handmade Christmas Ornament = $50 HD Gift Card (ornament to be donated for our Community Gift Tree)

•Best hand made Christmas card = $50 HD Gift Card (Submit photo only)

•Best Homemade digital card = $50 HD Gift Card (must bring a digital version into the store)

•Most gorgeous or uniquely wrapped present = Thymes Frasier Fir Gift Basket (Submit photo only)

•Most nostalgic Christmas Tradition = Tea Forte Gift Basket (must submit min 250 word written description)

•Most Memorable Christmas gift received = Thymes Fragrance Gift Basket (must submit min 250 word written description)

•Most Creative Christmas Family Photo (pets welcome!) = Picture Frame  8 x 10

•Best Decorated Christmas baked goodies = Wildly Delicious Gift Basket (Submit photo only)

•Best Decorated Ginger Bread House = Whimsy Kitchen Gadget Basket (Submit photo only)

•Best Kids Christmas Illustration = Webkin Stuffed Animal (Enter your age group- ages 3-5, 6-8, 9-12yrs)

•Most Creatively Decorated Workspace or Place of Business = $100 Tea Forte Gift Basket (Submit photo only)

•Largest Food Bank Donation = $100 Gift Basket From Fresh Cup Roastery

*HD-denotes House Dressing Gift Card

What do ya think?  Aren’t you excited now to decorate for Christmas?  Did you see all those categories? And those prizes-wow wee!  There’s everything from gorgeous gourmet Teas, lovely Thymes Fragrance, Gift cards so you get to choose your prize, Maxwell & Williams dishes!  Since you are a valued reader of our blog YOU are first to know about this contest –before the rest of the world!  Our campaign to promote the contest starts this weekend.  You will start seeing flyers and posters around town in the next week.  If you are keen, just download the entry form or you can pick one up in the store and decide what category you would like. entry form copy and then for a print out of the above click here for contest categories.

You’ll need to read over “How to Enter” by clicking here for contest details where you’ll also find the “Contest Rules”.  If you prefer we have this all on a one page flyer at the store.

So, all you have to do is get creative, take a photo and bring it in with your entry form and your donation!  If you don’t feel that you are “a creative decorating type” how about sharing your “Most Memorable Christmas Gift” or ” A Nostalgic Christmas Tradition” that you can write about.  A minimum of 250 words or more is all you need.  Don’t forget to include any children in your life for the Christmas Illustration submission.  What about a unique family photo? Really, there’s a category for everyone to enter! Even if you want to only donate to the food banks you still have a chance to win for the “Largest Food Bank Donation”.  Jim Townley, Owner of Fresh Cup Roastery, has generously donated our prize for this category, a gorgeous $100 gift Basket filled with coffee and goodies.  Jim is also passionate about raising funds for the food bank and has a fantastic community event in Saanichton that you can check out right here Fresh Cup Community Christmas where he is also raising much needed food bank funds in a big way.  Take a peek!

At the 11th hour we decided to add one more category so it may not be on our first run of flyers.  It is for the Most Creatively Decorated Workspace or Place of Business and the prize is $100 Tea Forte Gift Basket that could be shared in the office for coffee breaks!  How about your work space or the business you work at or perhaps own?  I bet you can find a creative way to make the office look festive.

We have chosen to support both the Sidney Lions Food Bank and the Mustard Seed Food bank in Victoria so that you can support both communities in need.  Our donations will be divided equally between the two.  A donation of cash instead of food donations allows the food banks to purchase exactly what they require to fill in the gaps.

We can’t wait to start seeing some of the entries rolling in.  We have a panel of judges lined up to decide who the winners are.  We’re keeping the the judges a secret for now but will reveal them in an upcoming post.  Do keep an eye on this blog so that you won’t miss any updates or peeks at some of the submissions that we receive.

I hope we have inspired you to enjoy your festive holiday decorating and crafts even more this year so that you will take a moment to snap a photo for the contest.  Hey, you’ve got nothing to lose, and after you’ve spent the time there’s nothing better than sharing your efforts.  Don’t be shy, your efforts probably look amazing but you might be just a wee bit too self conscious – let it go- take a risk- you might just be the winner- you never know! And how rewarding would that be?

Until the next update, have a great week.

Julie and the House Dressing Team