Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Baggallini: the Perfect Bag!

Developed by two very stylish flight attendants, Dixie Powers and Ann Simmons, in 1995, Baggallini bags have just arrived at all three Tin Box locations!

 These bags are perfect for avid travellers as well as people simply wishing they had that "perfect" everyday bag. Fashioned from lightweight and water resistant nylon which is extremely durable, Baggallini bags are available in a wide variety of colors from classics such as black and grey to wonderful shades of green and red.
 
In creating Baggallini bags, Dixie and Ann made sure these bags featured everything you might want in the perfect bag, they have ample interior pockets to keep you organized, are available in a variety of sizes so that you can pick the right size for your needs, are designed with ergonomics in mind to keep your back and shoulders from feeling stressed, and on top of being completely functional are also stylish and modern!

It's All About Mie!

A wonderful new jewelry line called Mie has just arrived at all 3 of our locations and we are sure that once you have seen these fun pieces you will be all about Mie!





 Mie is designed by two Canadians fashion and style lovers, Jeneen Gacek and Diana DeLuca, who found inspiration from Javanese artisan jewelry design.




Each of their pieces feature raw elements such as semi-precious stone beads, hematite and leather bands to create unique and fresh designs. These pieces, all of which are great for layering, are the perfect way to dress up jeans and a tee or add a fun flair to a more formal outfit!

Too, many of the bracelets, necklaces and earrings have script or symbols incorporated into their design with words such as "love", "imagine", and "believe" making them a great gift idea!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Celebrate the Royal Wedding With These Fun Products!

With only 5 days left before the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton we found a couple of royally fun products that are sure to make you smile!

The Solar Queen offers a stately wave when placed in the sunlight! She is currently in stock at all three Tin Box locations, and is the perfect size to adorn an office desk or window sill.


And, what could be a more apt tribute to the royals than tea? We definitely recommend Royal Tea tea-bags for afternoon tea time! These are currently in stock at Whyte Ave and Canmore, but are selling fast! And if you love tea, be sure to check out the other assorted teas we offer!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Happy Earth Day from the Tin Box

Here at the Tin Box, we just realized that it's Earth Day! As we consciously strive to respect our planet and its resources every single day, we thought we would share a few of our everyday efforts to reduce our impact on the environment.

1. We source products from many local designers and manufacturers, thereby reducing the environmental effects of transporting products to our store as well as supporting our local economy. Might we add, this also means that we can offer you many unique handmade products available exclusively locally. Although brands vary slightly by store, some of the Albertan brands we offer include Cloud+Lolly, Nik Naks, Susan Dean, Aimee Z, Derek Alexander, and many many more!


2. While we absolutely support you bringing in your reusable bags when shopping at the Tin Box, if you don't, all of our store bags are made of paper! Paper bags not only have less impact on the environment than their plastic counterparts, they are also handy for reuse when storing potatoes and onions!

3. We reuse as much of the materials that our products are wrapped in when being shipped as possible. And, that which cannot be resused, we recycle.

4. All of our stores are located in walking-friendly areas!

5.  Almost all of the cleaning products we use in our stores are environmentally friendly, preventing the release of harsh chemicals into our envoronment.

Happy Earth Day!

Easter Long Weekend Hours!

Rumor has it that the Easter bunny is hiding somewhere in our stores, so we are hoping you will have time to drop by and help us find our elusive resident cotton-tail this fabulous and sunny long weekend at the Tin Box!

Our Edmonton store hours are as follows:

Whyte Ave:
Friday April 22: 10am - 9pm
Saturday April 23: 10am - 9pm
Sunday April 24: 11am - 6pm
Monday April 25: 10am - 6pm

High Street:
Friday April 22: 10am - 6pm
Saturday April 23: 10am - 6pm
Sunday April 24: 12pm - 4pm
Monday April 25: 11am - 4pm

Canmore:
Friday April 22: 10am - 9pm
Saturday April 23: 10am - 9pm
Sunday April 24: 11am - 6pm
Monday April 25: 10am - 6pm

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Energy Muse Jewelry!

Inspired by feng shui and fashion, designers Heather Askinosie and Timmi Jandro combined their talents to create Energy Muse jewelry. Their pieces channel thoughts such as empowerment, intuition, and confidence as well as the healing properties of gemstones such as quartz, carnelian, and jade to inspire the wearers of their pieces to live a positive and healthy lifestyle.

Included with each piece of jewelry is a scroll and information sheet explaining the meanings and healing properties of each of the gemstones it is composed of as well as the healing properties associated with them. Too, a lovely cloth bag is included, which is perfect for safe storage of the pieces.

An authentic antique Chinese coin that is between 100-500 years old is incorporated in each of Energy Muse's pieces, and all Energy Muse jewelry is hand-crafted by artisans in the USA.


We invite you to come discover Energy Muse at our High Street and Whyte Avenue locations!

Nik Naks Jewelry!

You may have seen beautiful Murano glass jewelry while traveling in Europe, but here at the Tin Box we found something equally gorgeous closer to home!



Nik Naks jewelry is created by talented Canmore jewelry designer and artist Trisha Nakagawa whose jewelry-making hobby transformed into her line of fused glass jewelry and other art glass pieces in 2007.

Each of these vibrant fused glass pieces is created by fusing several layers of glass together in a kiln. The number of layers of glass as well as temperatures at which each piece is fused causes different effects and therefore each piece is completely unique.

Our Canmore location has just received several new Nik Naks necklaces and earrings. As well, newly available to Canmore are Nik Naks coasters, which are only $36.50 for a set of 4.

These fun bright pieces are the perfect addition to any summer wardrobe!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Cards that Will Make You LOL!

Whether you're wishing a friend, colleague, or family member a happy birthday, thanking them for their thoughtfulness, congratulating them on a new home or commemorating one of the many other events that mark changes in a person's life, the Tin Box has the perfect card for you! We carry cards with messages and imagery ranging from laugh out loud hilarious to beautiful and poetic and, well, pretty much everything in between.

We understand that when you find that right card for a loved one, it helps make the message that you are sending all the more meaningful. As many of our cards feature humorous messages, in this blog post we'd like to share with you a couple of the lines of cards that make us laugh out loud!

"Loobrins" cards, available at our Whyte Ave store, showcase a sprightly sense of humor with messages written as if spoken by a young girl who is not afraid to say exactly what is on her mind!

As well, our Canmore location has a wonderful line of cards called Uncooked! This line has been described as snarky and quirky and is certain to put a smile on your face!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

It's Flip Flap Season!

With no batteries or water required to keep this little flower swaying happily in your window sill or on your desk, all you need to do is stick it in indirect sunlight!

Available at our Canmore and Whyte Ave locations, we think the Flip Flap is simply too cute not to have!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

It's Time to Check out our New Watches!

As you may have noticed in our last blog post, at the Tin Box, we are very excited about some of our new summer styles! As such, we would like to hi-light one item that really caught our attention!

Practical as well as stylish, rubber strapped watches are definitely in vogue this summer. The durable rubber that composes their straps makes them comfortable and easy to wear. And with a rainbow bold and bright colors as well as classic black and white watches, there is certainly one to suit everyone! With bold statement watches being a recent trend, why not combine this style with the fun bright colors of rubber strapped watches when accessorizing this summer?

A selection of rubber strapped watches is available at each of our locations!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Summer Style at the Tin Box!

Finally! As the snow melts and sun shines later in the evening, summer is beginning to reveal itself once again!

The warmer weather provides the opportunity to switch up your style and try new things in your home as well as when accessorizing and preparing for summer entertaining.

Since we are passionate about creating unique summer styles tailored to your personality, we figured why not offer up some tips outlining a few simple things you can do to welcome the warmer temperatures.

Primarily, in your home, nothing spells summer like whites and tans! Store your darker-hued linens and home accent pieces such as vases in your closet until next winter and try adding a few lighter-colored items to your decor . A textured white ceramic or funky white vase (filled with flowers soon to be blooming in your garden!) can easily add a touch of crisp and fun elegance to your living room. Too, a simple set of carefree white placemats on a kitchen table can brighten up your space for summer.

Once you have selected your lighter colored pieces, why not accent them with a splash of color! For example, pick out a throw or pillow in your favorite bright shade of green, blue, red, or orange and add some vibrance to your sofa.

Adding a few simple, crisp, and colorful touches to your living areas to welcome the bright sun and warm breezes that are almost here will brighten up your living area in preparation for shorts and flip flop season!

To prepare for summer entertaining, it's best to stock up on a few different barbecue sauces and marinades! Bread-dippers make a great snack for summer entertaining too as they require no preparation and compliment wines well.

Kids love home-made popsicles, and we carry popsicle molds. Another fun treat for little ones is to use a fun silicone ice cube tray and to freeze fruit juice in it for a mini summer snack. And, if you're serving up lemonade or iced tea, brightly-colored double walled tumblers do the trick!

Just as switching up a few key pieces in your home can make all the difference in preparing for summer, likewise a few new pieces can catapult your wardrobe into the new season.

With shorter sleeves and more exposed skin, why not try a few bangles or bracelets or layering a couple of necklaces of differing lengths? Nothing shines brighter than a silver-toned bangle on a sunny day. Big hoop earrings also compliment a summer wardrobe wonderfully. Gemstone and crystal jewelry sparkles wonderfully in the sun, and pearls are a timeless mainstay of every season. We also adore a strong statement watch - the ones with rubber-wristbands in bright colors can add a splash to your outfit, and we have a variety of colors in store.

Summer scarves look great with a white tee, lighter denim, a hobo-style bag, and a pair of flip flops or flats! We recommend picking out a summer purse that suits your style in your favorite color then picking out a few scarves that you can switch up with your outfits. Try one plain boldly-colored scarf, a floral scarf, and a paisley or striped scarf as each of these can create an exciting new look when paired with your other accessories and summer-wear.

For more summer entertaining ideas, we hope to see you in store soon!