Time for Some Changes August 29, 2008

Now that school is back in session, it’s time to start thinking about moving back indoors after all the summer outdoor activities.  We’ve got some simple and inexpensive ideas that will immediately transform your living space.

Pastiche now has several new patterns of curtain panels that will set off your decor!  These panels are perfect for bringing new life into any setting.

There are five different patterns to choose from.

The prices are from $25 to $35, depending on the pattern.  

Match the panels with some paper lanterns and your entire space will be instantly transformed.  With the affordable prices, you’ll want to spice up all your spaces.

Carla in New York August 27, 2008

This one doesn’t count, since this is a shot of Carla, but she sent in a picture of her and her Freitag bag, Rex, at a flea market in Hell’s Kitchen.

This is a fine example of what we’re looking for in our Baggin’ Contest.  So get your pictures in soon!

Carla has been on a buying trip in New York to stock up Pastiche for the upcoming seasons.  Her new finds will be coming into the store very soon and we’re all excited about what she bought.  We’ll keep you posted on all the new goodies as soon as they hit the store!

The Baggin’ Contest! August 21, 2008

Since it’s time to start hauling around all those wonderful textbooks, we’ve come up with an exciting new contest for our viewers!

One day, while having coffee at The Coffee Ethic,

(Yes, a shameless plug for our friends at The Coffee Ethic!)

we noticed a young woman walking by with her Feuerware bag.  Immediately we knew she shopped at Pastiche and thought how awesomely cool.

Now we wonder who else wears or carries their Feuerware, Freitag, or Gecko Traders bags around town.  

So, with this thought in mind, here’s our contest:

Do you have a Freitag, Feuerware, or Gecko Traders bag?  If so, how do you use it?  Do you carry your laptop to the office?  Do you use a bag to carry groceries?  Maybe it’s your everyday purse.  Do you keep all your most valuable items in one?  How, where, when, and why do you use your bag?

Yes, we really want to know these things so we’re asking you to submit a picture of you and your Freitag, Feuerware, or Gecko Traders bag to us.  We’ll post them right here on our blog.  Then tell all your friends, family, or strangers on the street about it and we’ll go by popular vote.  Each photo submission will have it’s own post, open to comments.  The photo with the most comments will be our winner.  

Yes it’s that easy!  Submit it, we’ll post it, then let the world decide who has the coolest bag for the coolest uses.  This is open to everyone who has one of the above mentioned bags.  Please limit yourself to one submission, even though it will be incredibly tempting to detail the many, many uses these bags have.  

So here’s the low down.  Email your photo to pastichedecor@gmail.com.  Start submitting now.  You have until September 24 to get one in.  We’ll keep the pictures and posts easily available until September 30.  Tell everyone you know to visit this very site and leave a comment on the post with your picture.  On October 1st we’ll announce our winner!  And what does the winner receive?  We twisted Carla’s arm and sat on her for awhile (well, Jeremy walked on her back which she greatly enjoyed) and she is giving out a $50 gift certificate to Pastiche.  This will be a perfect excuse to get something wonderful for yourself in celebration of your mighty, baggin’ accomplishment.

Dorm Dilemma August 20, 2008

Once again, it’s time to move back into the institutionalized industrial dorm room.  Nothing feels less like home than a boring room that looks like a jail cell.  Never fear, though!  At Pastiche, we’re all about changing the incredibly dull into something incredibly spectacular.  

 

Stop in Pastiche and let one of our designers or artists help you pick out the right items that will make your dorm room a place you’ll be anxious to return to after a hard day of classes.  

We also realize that decorating can be tough on a student’s budget, but we’ve got many items that are affordable and can instantly change a cinderblock cell into a land of enchantment.

Stop in soon before your overwhelmed by classes and get your place of refuge ready!

It’s That Time Again! August 19, 2008

Where did the summer go?  School starts next week for many of us.  It’s time to put away the swimsuits and beach towels and pick up the backpacks and textbooks.  Where does time go?

 

But, here at Pastiche, we’re ready for school.  We’re stocked up on everything cool for school, whether it’s preschool or grad school.  You’ve got to check out our wonderful Blah Blah backpacks.  These are knitted bags that are animal faces.  

If that’s not going to work, we also have a large stock of Freitag and Feuerware bags that can handle the toughest class schedule.  No matter how many textbooks, notebooks, computers, art supplies, or lab equipment you need to carry, these tough bags can handle it.

Also, new in the store, are some wonderful notebooks that use retro French design to add a bit of style to an otherwise drab item.  Some of the styles are lined, some are blank for sketching or painting.  

Stop in and check out all the different items Pastiche has to offer to make the not-so-exciting schools days something a little more fun, a little more colorful, and a little more awesome!

The Party of the Year! (or the past many, many years) August 14, 2008

Yesterday was Carla’s birthday.  Carla, if you don’t know, is the founder, creator, supreme being, and the coolest boss ever of Pastiche.  Now she’s really, really old and probably will need to be in the nursing home by the end of the year, but we’ll promise to visit her.

Anyway, we managed to get her upstairs at Springfield Brewing Company for her birthday party.  (Her walker didn’t really fit in the elevator, but we managed.)  It was a very exciting party!

Everybody whose is anyone was there, of course.  

Some of us were disappointed in the choice of accessories Carla choose for the party.  We think jeans and a tiara just don’t work for most occasions.   Of course, being a casual affair and because it was her birthday, us fashion dictators have issued Carla a pardon.

Eco Friendly Toys August 14, 2008

If you’re looking for toys for a special child in your world, you need to come to Pastiche and check out Plan Toys.  These beautiful wood toys are from Thailand and made of rubbertree wood.  Rubber wood is an environmentally friendly, sustainable wood and all the toys are painted or stained with soy based products.

Besides being eco friendly and safe for children, the toys themselves are wonderful.  From the ingenious cactus game to the circus play set, children will find these toys fascinating to play with.  With the fun shapes and a little imagination, there are hours of enjoyment in these toys.

We also have a modern design tricycle that’s adjustable to a child’s leg length and a beautiful rocking horse.  For our complete selection of Plan Toys, stop in Pastiche or give us a call.  We’ll be happy to assist you in picking out the perfect toy!

Deliveries!!! August 12, 2008

It’s always an exciting time when the UPS driver pulls up in front of the store.  What’s she bringing this time?

Carla rushes to open the boxes to unpack all the incredibly wonderful new things she has ordered for the store.

“Wow, cool!  Awesome!  Neat-o!,” everyone exclaims.  

So what are some of these new things?  Well, the easiest way to find out is to stop in Pastiche.  The next best way is to check back here often, since we’ll keep you informed off all the new stuff we’re stocking the store with.

Also, you might want to check back here soon since we’ve got the best contest coming up, just in time for back to school!

And Now…A Commercial! August 6, 2008

10 Things To Do With Wrapping Paper August 5, 2008

It’s pretty obvious what to do with wrapping paper. You wrap gifts and packages. But that’s no the only use for wrapping paper. We’ve come up with some ideas for other uses so here’s Carla’s 10 Things To Do With Wrapping Paper:
1. Chop it up and use if for collage work.
2. Make really neat gift cards and tags.
3. Use it to line boxes and organizers to make your desk look really neat.
4. Frame it for some quick art.
5. Decoupage furniture.
6. Adhere to cardboard for journal and book covers.
7. Scan it for web wallpaper.
8. Use it to cover a lampshade.
9. Wallpaper for dollhouses.
10. Scraps are perfect for arts and crafts with children.

We, of course, have some amazing gift wrap at Pastiche. Here are a few of the patterns available: