Echoes in the Attic

2012 - A Fresh Start

2012-01-03T11:31:00.001-08:00

Every year at this time we re-focus and re-strategize with new goals and designs we'd like to do but never seem to have time for in our day to day busy schedules. It's our goal to get some new designs launched off the drawing board, into the prototyping stage where we tweak and play till we're in LOVE with the new style. This year we'll do our share of this, but along with our eco-handbags we hope that Echoes in the Attic will soon morph into what we've always envisioned and what some of you have been asking us to do...a line of upcycled products that's wider and broader. The evolution of Echoes has kept us very busy and very happy with steadily growing numbers of eco-peeps that love carrying our 'salvage-savvy' bags. Since it's inception in '05 when we started Echoes, we always hoped we would have the time and space to commit to accessories for home as well. Our addiction to antique wool and chenille blankets has us thinking of squishy, feather pillows again, upcycled lamps painted with fabric covered shades, old b&w photographs and uniquities that have Echoes one of a kind style and that takes upcycling to the next level. We'll keep you posted on our vision...stay tuned.

2011-12-05T15:30:00.000-08:00

Love this shot as our 'ode to the Picker Sisters',
HGTV Tues. at 10pm
We love the way these two ladies re-use, re-purpose, up-cycle hard materials like truck fenders into designs for sofa's, antique commercial signs for headboards, just like we do with XS textiles from office chairs, drapery and sample fabric.
Keep up the great re-inventive work Picker Sisters, and we will too.

Pre-Christmas Sale Events Round-Up

2011-11-03T16:40:00.001-07:00

November and early December are the busiest months on our calendar. Echoes gets out there and interacts with customers to find out what you really want. Hands-free, cross-body, pockets, more pockets, longer straps, wider straps...you name it and we hear it. All this customer interaction helps us streamline and make our upcycled, vegan, Canadian, handmade ecobags even better.

You can follow us on facebook to find out all the specifics but in the meantime, here's the overall lowdown:

Nov 5 - Holland Landing Community Ctr 10am - 3pm

Nov 12 - Port Perry High School Craft Sale 10am - 5pm

Nov 12 - Bradford Arts Guild at the New Bradford Library 10am - 5pm

Nov 18 - St. John's Presbyterian Church Bradford fundraiser 7 - 9pm

Nov24 - York County fundraiser, York County Bldg Newmarket 10am - 4pm

Nov 25/26 - Warehouse Sale, 22 Gres Court Bradford, Fri 2 - 8 pm

Nov 30 - CBC Craft Sale, Front St. Toronto 9am - 5pm

Dec 2/3 - Warehouse Sale, 22 Gres Court Bradford, Fri 4 - 8pm, Sat 11am - 3pm

Hope to see you out for some great deals on Echoes 'upcycled ecohandbags for planet-lovers'.

The Falling Leaves drift by the window. The autumn leaves of red and gold - lyrics, Frank Sinatra

2011-09-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

Fall is one of the loveliest seasons. It brings with it enough chill to change from the sleeveless, cottaging, carefree days of summer to that feeling of feathering the nest and a change in wardrobe with layers, colours and textures of warmth. Nothing like tossing on a great scarf over a warm jacket with an Echoes, warm-toned, cross-body flatbag and you're good to go. Get out there. Go walking in the autumn leaves. Hold hands with a loved one. Stroll the markets and see nature's bounty. Get to a fall fair or cranberry festival Just don't worry about what your carrying, Echoes best selling Zipster & Zipster Jr. add just the right hit of colour and pattern and keep your hands free for more important things.

Happy Autumn everyone!

Ah, Summer...

2011-06-28T04:11:00.000-07:00

Seasons come and seasons go. Echoes loves the bright greens of spring in all it's newness turning into the fullness of summer. Autumn colours inspire and winter's grey only benefits by a splash of colour wherever you can. At Echoes we love each season for the backdrop of lovely eco-designs we reinvent from XS textiles.

There's an ease to summer's wardrobe and the fun is adding just the right bag to the simplest outfit to make it pop. Echoes soft pinks and apple or celadon greens will fade slowly to the autumn golds and browns...keep your eye out for the subtle changes and remember, nab the bag you love before it's gone, they're one of a kind.

Spring 2011

2011-04-27T04:55:00.000-07:00

Spring bags are coming in and going out even faster. Funky florals, graphics, cut velvets and colour, colour, colour. We've up'd production and are keeping up but that leaves very little time to just sit and admire any particular faves...and there are a few. We've loaded our brand new webstore with some great bags...the new Hipster/Zipper is still leading the pack of faves along with the new Zip Jr. People love the zippers!

Check out our new webstore or a funky bricks 'n mortar store or eco-boutique near you.

www.echoesintheattic.com

Nab your new spring Echoes Eco-Handbag

2011-04-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

April 15th - 23 - Book an appointment to Nab Your Echoes Spring Eco-Handbag! Just in time for Easter, Mother's Day you can come and shop our huge selection of spring bags before we ship out to our stores! At Echoes HQ/Laura's home office we're knee-deep in bags and we'd love you to be sporting new, fresh colours, patterns and styles in time for capri and open-toed-sandals-season.

Email for your private shopping appointment echoesintheattic@gmail.com

Our favorite colour in spring is GREEN!

Basics Office Products EARTH DAY contest

2011-03-30T09:31:00.001-07:00

Stop in to any one of 35 Basics Office Products and fill out a ballot to win an Echoes in the Attic Ecobag to celebrate Earth Day. See for yourself what beautiful diverted landfill from forward-thinking companies can be re-imagined into when they choose to eco-donate instead of trashing it.

Basics Office Products is giving away 35, one of a kind, Zipster Flatbags. The most popular Echoes bag just slings across your body so you can go...with a clear environmental conscience that you're helping us save the planet one handbag at a time!

Basics Office Products EARTH DAY contest

2011-02-24T16:48:00.000-08:00

Basics Office Products is celebrating EARTH DAY with a contest and a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, Echoes Zipster, cross-body, flatbag is the prize!

We are thrilled to be a part of Basics Office Products Earth day celebrations. Just drop in to any one of Basics 35 store locations and fill out a ballot. You could win an Echoes Upcycled EcoBag and be a Green trendsetter.

Draws to be held April 21st, 2011 in all stores...35 bags up for grabs.

YOU be the DESIGNER

2011-01-10T06:09:00.000-08:00

Echoes strives to honor your individual style by designing one of a kind, or one of a few, upcycled eco-handbags. Inherent in our eco-donations of small, but gorgeous fabric sizes is the necessity to keep our 'runs' very exclusive. That being said, Vicky and I have often wondered if those of you who carry one or many of Echoes bags would ever want to have a go at being your own designer.
This is your chance. 'YOU be the DESIGNER' is a one-time chance to choose from our stash of gorgeous fabrics, bring your own or mix the two and make your own statement in a current Echoes bag style.
For a limited time, January 17th - 31st we're inviting you into our studio, otherwise known as Vicky's house, to choose your own fabric combination. We'll have the bags professionally sewn and you'll be carrying your own design within 3 weeks! What are the chances that someone else is going to choose exactly as you do?
For an appt. call Vicky at 905-775-0529 and prepare to unleash your creativity on your own Echoes eco-bag.

2010 coming to a close

2010-12-13T09:43:00.000-08:00

Echoes is ushering in the New Year of 2011 with some brand new design/styles. We're working on some tweaks in a couple of bags to change things up a bit. We can't wait to unveil the newly designed bags. In the meantime, beginning mid-January 2011 we're going to be announcing a really cool promotion that will involve you!!! More details to follow, stay tuned.
To all our loyal customers, many of whom have become good friends, we wish you a safe, healthy, and joy-filled holiday season and a new year of happiness and a host of handbags that come from 'greener pastures' : ) Vicky & Laura

Echoes bag carries all for chemo trips!

2010-10-21T06:18:00.000-07:00

(From one of our terrific Echoes friends)

March 5 of this year I was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. I would have 6 rounds of chemotherapy. March 6 was our local Karate school's fundraiser where one of your beautiful Echoes bags had been kindly donated. My friend and I were admiring it on the auction table. We were talking about how often I would be going back and forth to the hospital for my treatments. I was going to be there for several hours each time so I had better pack a lunch and books for reading. I was going to need a bag to put all this stuff in. She was going to bid on it for me as a surprise birthday gift. So she did. Then, she got to talking to another friend of ours who was also bidding on the bag, and this girl really wanted it for her friend as a birthday gift too. So my friend stopped bidding. Well, as the night went on and the auction was coming to a close my friend's husband noticed that someone had out bid my friend. Not knowing that his wife had stopped bidding so the other girl could get the bag, my friend's hubby out bid her and won the bag. So for my birthday, a week later, I was given the bag you donated to the Silent Auction. The bag is beautiful and I LOVE IT!!! My bag went to every doctor's appointment, all lab days and every chemo treatment I had. My bag carried every test result I had. It carried my "book" of questions and special dates and notes, word search books, books to read. You name it my bag carried it back and forth from the hospital. I am grateful for my bag ... if it could talk the stories it would tell about the places it has been. Thank you for being so creative!

We loved getting this email and needed to share it. As a cancer survivor myself, this one really touched me. Happy to report that this gal is doing GREAT. Cancer is also in her rear view mirror and we're so glad she's healthy now and happily still carrying her Echoes bag she took to all her chemos.

Echoes Brand New Bag Launch

2010-09-21T04:16:00.000-07:00

Echoes has got a BRAND NEW BAG! We're thrilled to announce the launch of Zipster JR. A mini version of our most successful Hipster Zipper (Zipster) that launched this past spring '10. It's a cross-body, flat bag with two zippered compartments just like the larger version, only this one's for eco-fashionistas who just want to carry the essentials. Great for wallet, keys and cell for outings that you don't want to lug a bigger bag. The original Zipster is pretty comfy...doesn't bog you down at all and the hands-free part is always a fave, but the JR. is even less of a commitment. Watch for the Zipster JR, launching now in one of the amazing almost 100 stores across Canada carrying Echoes in the Attic's 'Salvage-savvy handbags for planet-lovers'.

Back to School

2010-08-15T13:11:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again...back to school commercials are in full swing. Our fave...."It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Alas, it would be but my daughter is leaving the nest. Going off to University and I'm going to be going through some post-partum no doubt. We'll get used to it (I suppose) but the first two weeks are going to be a little rough for mom. I'm sure she'll be having a blast, so that'll ease my pain a bit. Not looking forward to walking past her room and wondering the name of cyclone that hit it.
She's leaving in fine shape for the daughter of a 'bag lady'. She's got a new Hipster Zipper, a couple of handy wristlets for ipod, camera, chargers, cords, wallet, cell, student card and 2 new laptops carriers for her precious MAC.
For all you mom's like me that have the bittersweet moment coming up pretty quickly (my daughter's been counting down since about 171)check out our eco laptop bags for organizing notes and keeping the pricey laptop in it's padded, ultrasuede compartment.
www.echoesintheattic.com

Mompreneur Award Nomination

2010-06-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Savvy Mom's Entrepreneur Award nomination. Please check it out and cast a vote for us...It's completely voter driven...the more people who vote, the better our chances. The prizes would go a long way in helping us with our mission to save the planet one handbag at a time. http://momentrepreneur.savvymom.ca/entry/2817551-Echoes-in-the-Attic?offset=0&sort=upload%20DESC&channel=6087

Thanks!

ZIP IT!

2010-06-16T17:11:00.001-07:00

In the words of Dr. Evil "When a problem comes along, you must ZIP IT!" Echoes first Zipster Eco Bag. Cross-body ease and secure zip closure for luggin' and totin' all your stuff for day or evening. Check out the webstore www.echoesintheattic.com or find a store near you on Echoes 'stores' page of the website. One of a kind, upcycled, vegan, cruelty-free, factory-free ecobags. Now available in nearly 90 cool, boutiques across Canada! Salvage-Savvy Handbags for Planet-Lovers!

Echoes Mother's Day FREE SHIPPING on webstore purchases

2010-04-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Mother Earth and MOM Echoes is offering FREE shipping on all webstore purchases till May 8th/10. We love our mom's, we love being mom's and Mother Earth needs us all to vote through our purchases on her long and healthy existence.
Echoes Salvage-savvy handbags for planet-lovers are made from a mix of sturdy materials from post-manufacturing and gorgeous designer fabrics. In other words...diverted waste stream donations previously on their way to a bloated landfill near you. Echoes steps in, stops this process and reinvents these spectacular fabrics in a line of one of a kind, eco purses, totes, diaper & laptop bags.
Echoes in the Attic - Canadian, One of a kind, Eco-friendly, Upcycled Handbags.
www.echoesintheattic.com

Our Bags Are Travelling

2010-03-31T04:32:00.000-07:00

Echoes bags have traversed the planet! They certainly go more places than we do. This year these two gorgeous girls toted Purse-nickety Hipsters across the pond on their school trip for March break. From England to Paris Lauren & Tessa toted their stuff in Echoes handy, small bag meant just for essentials keeping all their necessities close at hand without having to lug a big, honkin' bag...and looking pretty cute in the process trying to get this guards attention outside the royal palace. He wouldn't even blink!

Echoes Private Shopping Event Mar 20-Apr 3

2010-03-05T02:54:00.000-08:00

With a change of season comes a change of handbag. Spring's just around the corner and to celebrate we're doing a 'first'. As many of you know we run Echoes in the Attic's Eco-(small e)empire from our workshop/studio at Vicky's house and Laura's office-come-Christmas-Sale-Event-Shipping-Receiving-dept home in Bradford ON. After many requests for a spring show/sale we've decided that for two weeks March 20 - April 3 you can book a private appointment to get first dibs on our spring line. Nothing like the Christmas Warehouse Sale, just Laura's office with piles of new eco-bags including our new HipZip before stores make their selections. Call 905-775-4656 or email: echoesintheattic@gmail.com to set-up a time. Come out and bring a friend or two, that's about all that'll fit at one time! Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EchoesFan Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/echosintheattic Check out our Squidoo page on our newest bag the HIPZIP http://www.squidoo.com/newecobag

Echoes Purse-ifier diaper bag in Today's Parent magazine

2009-12-15T16:42:00.000-08:00

Echoes is thrilled to have our upcycled "Purse-ifier" diaper bag gracing the pages of Today's Parent magazine. Our beautiful 'rescued remnant" designer fabrics are gorgeous on this sturdy, dual purpose diaper bag that can also be used as a laptop carrier. Along with it's multi-pocketed interior its got a swish, padded interior pocket lined with ultrasuede that's just the spot for your precious laptop or your precious cargo's necessities. Made from the most beautiful "salvage-savvy", new, designer fabrics, it's a good thing for toting all your stuff and casting your vote for the planet. See all Echoes beautiful bags made of fabric diverted off the path to landfill at: www.echoesintheattic.com

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Blog of HOPE

2009-11-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation has an inspiring blog of HOPE. Check out my submission on the journey my family and I took through it coming out the other end with the inspired idea for Echoes in the Attic.
http://findinghope.cbcf.org/2009/11/11/659/#more-659

Echoes Sales Nov/Dec 09

2009-11-04T10:07:00.000-08:00

The pre-Christmas round-up of where you can find Echoes at sale events other than 65 stores that carry their eco-bags across Canada: Nov 6th 1pm - 7pm, Nov 7th 10am - 4pm A Step in Thyme Christmas Gift Sale at Lucy Maud Montgomery's Manse in Leaskdale Regional Rd #1 just outside Uxbridge
Nov 7th 9am - 5pm MarketMoms Holiday Shopping Experience Mill Run Golf Club, Uxbridge
Nov 12th 9am - 3pm Southlake Hospital Newmarket, by the elevators, the East Wing 40% of all proceeds going to the new cancer centre
Nov 19th 2:30 - 7:30pm Beth Tzedec Synagogue 1700 Bathurst St. Toronto
Nov 25th 9am - 4pm Pre-Christmas Sale Catholic Board of Ed. Bloomington Sdrd, Aurora
Nov 26th 9am - 3pm Southlake Hospital Newmarket, by the elevators, the East Wing 40% of all proceeds going to the new cancer centre
Nov 27th 10am - 4:30pm Bradford West Gwillimbury Arts & Crafts Sale at the Library in BWG Dec 4th 5- 8pm, Dec 5th 11am - 5pm Our second annual Christmas 'REGIFTER WAREHOUSE SALE 22 Gres Crt. Bradford
Dec 10th 11am - 2pm Fair Trade Bazaar Bayview Secondary School Richmond Hill

Etsy, for all things handmade

2009-09-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

Echoes on Etsy. It's the website dedicated to all things handmade, and all things anti-cookie cutter. Fabulous finds, many of which are one of a kind. Craftsmanship instead of mass produced uniformity. Etsy is all about originality and we thought that couldn't be a better fit for Echoes in the Attic. Our one of a kind bags, totes, diaper & laptop bags are made of rescued remnants from post-manufacturing and designer samples. Each bag is lovingly detailed and we think that's kinda special. We're the anti-bling and we're doing our part to save the planet one eco-bag at a time.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6802112

U of E - University of Eco

2009-08-17T16:27:00.000-07:00

Over the shoulders of many new students on university campuses will be bags that are black, boring, and mundane......with few exceptions. The exception...eco-clever gals with an eye on the environment and a desire to sport a bag that NO ONE ELSE will be carrying. Some girls have done their eco-homework. Check out this beautiful, eco-chic 'Liberation Laptop Bag' heading off to a Canadian campus, made from 'rescued remnant', fabrics from post-manufacturing and designer sample fabrics in one of a kind combinations. These fabrics are diverted directly off the path to landfill. Our future really does look bright when our kids head off to pursue their goals and when that starts with being environmentally responsible we all get an "A".

Echoes now on Etsy

2009-08-14T06:28:00.000-07:00

Echoes in the Attic's salvage-savvy line of handbags, totes, laptop and diaper bags is now available on Etsy. Etsy is the place to go for one of a kind, hand-made products you won't find anywhere else. Check us out there at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6802112

EVERYWUN recognizes Echoes

2009-05-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

Echoes has joined the coolest site ever. It's called EVERYWUN 'making giving possible for everyone'. It's super easy to do and has a huge impact on the world. You earn points through really simple, fun, easy, cost-free actions, see the credits that you’ve earned and track the impact that you’ve made on the world! It's like a cyber game with real results. With your points you can feed hungry children, plant trees, send mosquito nets to Africa, get books into the hands of children or care for animals.
Getting points is fun. Trivia questions that teach you about a lot of great stuff we should all know, receiving a newsletter and other easy stuff.
Oh, and here's the link this socially conscious organization did on our eco-efforts at Echoes. http://newsletter.everywun.com/
We may only have one voice, one vote, one opinion but we can use our 'one-ness' to change the world.

Dream Designs is a dream destination for eco-goodies

2009-05-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

We visited one of Vancouver's best eco stores while dodging raindrops on the West coast over March Break. Dream Designs has tons of great eco-option products from diaperbags (ours) to clothing, dishes and bedding...locally made, fair trade, ecologicial, sustainable & organic. We are honored to be among the ranks of the Canadian products they carry.
If you're in Vancouver Dream Designs is a must. Check our website for store locations (Commercial Dr. & Lynn Valley North Van)

Fuze Photography

2009-04-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

We recently had the enormous pleasure of having photo's done by the very talented Joey Boylan of Fuze Photography in Medicine Hat AB. www.fuzephotography.ca (check her out, it's so worth it).
Joey came to us by way of a new friend of Echoes', Amanda Hillier who was the inspiration we needed to get our butts in gear and redesign our Purse-ifier diaper bag...which we've sold out of every run we've done.
Thanks to Amanda enlisting her friend Joey we now have some amazing shots of our bags which you'll soon see on our new website...coming soon.

An Echoes bag goes to The Valley of Fire

2009-02-14T08:06:00.000-08:00

Hey check out this great photo of one of our MagBags in The Valley of Fire just outside Las Vegas! Our bags certainly go more places than Vicky and I do! Thanks to Leigh for sending us this cool photo.

Echoes Caribbean Photo Shoot

2009-01-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

Disguised as a Christmas vacation in the sunny south, I have to tell you I had a hidden agenda & my luggage was much heavier than anyone elses. Can you guess what with???? Yes, my weakness...BAGS. I took this great opportunity while celebrating Christmas with my own and extended family in the Caribbean to shoot some amazing photo's of Echoes bags with backdrops of sand, surf & palm trees. We'll be updating our site which is long over-due with some beautiful shots from our first tropical locale photo shoot.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas and that 2009 is full of abundance, health & happiness.

Southlake Hospital Fundraiser

2008-12-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

Here we are at our table in the main lobby of Southlake hospital in Newmarket at our first fundraiser called PAY IT FORWARD. We were bowled over by the positive response to our eco-savvy products by Dr's, nurses, staff and visitors to the hospital. Many an eco-handbag will be under Christmas trees this year...and the best part, we are thrilled that Echoes was able to raise over $1,000 through a portion of sales for the new cancer centre being built at Southlake. Having been down this yucky cancer road myself, it's great to know that the new centre will alleviate all those trips to Princess Margaret or Sunnybrook for radiation. What a relief it will be for some who drive all that way for about a minute exposure to radiation for many days in a row. Look for Echoes products in Southlake's giftshop in the new year where 50% of the proceeds will go to the Southlake Foundation for the new cancer centre.

Welcome to our new friends at Casa Luna

2008-11-15T12:10:00.000-08:00

This is a fabulous store with a real commitment to our planet. Casa Luna in Ottawa (Orleans to be exact) is our newest store carrying our eco-line of Echoes bags and we couldn't be happier. Casa Luna is all about high quality, handcrafted furniture and accessories that have been produced in a way that respects both nature & people. The reclaimed woods reinvented into pieces by craftsmen in Mexico, Brazil and South America are absolute treasures to be passed down for centuries. Their skilled craftsmen only use sustainable woods like pine or reclaimed woods like mesquite that has been discarded or salvaged from structures such as old hacienda doors. What a perfect fit for us to have our 'rescued remnant', vegan handbags displayed on such gorgeous pieces of furniture. We highly recommend a visit to Casa Luna if you're in the Ottawa area. The husband and wife team of Diane Dumas and Alex Grooscors are so warm and friendly and truly personify Latin hospitality.

...and pretty stockings all in a row

2008-10-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe, but it's right around the corner...Christmas '08. To celebrate all things reclaimed & redesigned Vicky & I decided to do a unique ode to Christmas past with gorgeous stockings made from antique wool & chenille blankets. These heirloom inspired stockings are meant to be a keepsake for a new addition to the family who'll be hanging it by the fire for many years to come, or for someone who simply appreciates the workmanship and detail of a bygone era. They evoke an old fashioned feeling when there was much more time to do and take pride in such beautiful handiwork. Each of these stockings in this signature series is available in very limited lots that have been made by hand by the talented Echoes co-founder/owner Vicky Gerke. How pleased were we to have them included in Canadian House & Home magazine's spread "Dreaming of a Green Christmas." Store availability by request.

Salvage Savvy Kimberley Jackson

2008-09-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

Located in one of T.O.'s coolest neighbourhoods 'The Beach', is a unique salvage savvy store called Kimberley Jackson. Already enjoying huge success in their cottage location in Huntsville, their store on Queen East is how to nab KJ goodies downtown all year round. The store is full of furniture & accessories made from salvaged architectural pieces so naturally Echoes in the Attic was a perfect fit. You'll find Echoes Eco-Bags as well as soft, squishy, down-filled pillows made from designer ends & antique chenille's all displayed on uniquely crafted pieces you won't find anywhere else in the city...or the planet actually. Each KJ creation is one of a kind, hand-crafted & finished not to mention, easy on the environment. 1854 Queen St. E. one block west of Woodbine.

The Toronto Film Festival

2008-09-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

This year's T.O. Film Fest. is especially exciting for us at Echoes as we were asked to design special eco goody bags in combo with The Global Group (known for their eco-kindness through their fabric donations to us) and Grand & Toy who is filling each bag with environmentally conscious products.
The lucky recipients will be the V.I.P.'s visiting the cyber-cafe/press area...do you think Brad & Angelina might want a skookum, new, rescued remnant tote for all those diapers?

Simply Home in Leslieville Toronto

2008-08-21T03:49:00.000-07:00

In the antique hot spot of Queen St. E. in Leslieville Toronto sits the sweetest little store called Simply Home. It's robin's egg blue/brown facade with a window box full of flowers can't be missed as the shabby chic wares spill right out onto the street. You'll find re-claimed furniture in historic greens, pale blues and whites as well as many accessories including a boat-load of Echoes pillows, both designer remnant & chenille plus handbags, totes & diaper bags. This store is worth a weekly perusal as their stock changes often...chandeliers, breakfronts, bark-cloth, chairs, side-boards, dinette sets, lamps. It's a small gem in an up and coming area known for it's unique cottage style in the city. You may wonder where popular Toronto Stylists score their pieces for t.v. & magazines...you've found it. Enjoy Simply Home!

Fab new store in Richmond B.C.

2008-08-15T04:48:00.000-07:00

In the quaint little fishing village of Steveston B.C. there's a store that's suits us to a tee and we've wanted to be a part of for quite some time. Here's a shot of our bags hanging in "Pieces". It's new owners and I do their order completely over the net with rounds of pictures till they get just what they want. They have very good taste in my opinion. We're happy to say they're selling well and we're looking forward to our next shipment to them. I wouldn't mind flying their selections to them each month to hang out with my sister who lives there but, alas that carbon footprint would be nasty. If you're anywhere near this sweet little town, check out "Pieces" especially Canadian, accessories.

Echoes & Global

2008-07-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a shot after many hours of 'mining' for remnants at The Global Group in north T.O. http://www.globaltotaloffice.com/ We've been given access to some discontinued bolts of fabric and had a blast designing new combinations for our Tote Bag.
Recently Global & Echoes co-produced a whack-load of tote bags for the World Wildlife Foundation of Canada's Volunteer Service Awards. Now their animal-lovin' volunteers are carrying around an Echoes tote with Global's sentiments on the label...Think Global - Think Recycled. Our successful teaming with Global nets us about 200 - 500 lbs of fabric every 2 - 3 weeks of rescued remnants diverted from the landfill. Thank you Global for being such a behemoth company with a planet conscience to eco-donate to the little guy like us!

Cottage North, Port Dover

2008-06-18T04:19:00.000-07:00

Our 'intern' Kirstin and I drove to pretty, little Port Dover yesterday to load into Cottage North Soap Works. It was far (2 1/2 hrs) but worth the drive. What a pretty town and Cottage North...WoW! The scents, the sites, a total 'yum' for the olfactory. The owner Robin Laing, has consistently sold out of Echoes products every time she orders and that's been about 6 times since February.
If you're in the area of Port Dover, check out Cottage North and it's unbelievably sweet offerings.

Echoes on BT on Citytv at Dandelion Mud Pie

2008-04-03T09:57:00.000-07:00

Hey how cool is this...here's a shot of how we spent our morning. The gang at BT on Citytv may be used to getting up this early (4am)...we're not, but no problem. We made it to T.O. in record time (of course no cars on the road at 5am) with my car full of models, my daughter, her friend and my niece...teens on no sleep equal a giggle-fest. Landing at Dandelion Mud Pie at Yonge & Fairlawn by 5:50 we rolled 'live' at about 7ish on a myriad of great eco-savvy wares including our own line of 'rescued remnant' handbags.
Jennifer Valentyne was great to hang out with. What a pleasure meeting her... interested in all things eco and wholly man, is she ever good at remembering names.
Hope you'll all check out this store as earth day approaches on the 22 and help stretch the meaning of the day out as long as we all can.

TLC Bags at the One of a Kind Spring Show

2008-03-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

What a great time we had at the Spring One of a Kind Show. We love to see all the new creations...so many artistic people but we especially go to see our friend Tracy Lee Crandall of TLC Bags. This is her in her booth just before the crowds came and they came to Tracy's booth in droves. We were able to get this one shot before the doors opened, 'cause after that it was too crowded.
Her TeeBags were such a hit in the colours of springtime...citrus yellows & oranges, apple greens, and earthier sages & browns...absolutely gorgeous. We've been selectively placing small numbers of the eco-chic TeeBag by TLC into boutiques across Canada. They're very, very exclusive, but demand has been outrageous since being on LOULOU's & Canadian Livings Christmas Wish Lists. Remember you can see and purchase an excellent selection in our webstore.

Echoes at Cottage North in Port Dover

2008-03-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

Check out our gorgeous chenille pillows and eco-chic, 'rescued remnant' handbags at one of our newest, cool boutiques. Since November we've added 9 new stores across Canada where you can access more of our recycled handbags and pillows and we just got these great pictures from Cottage North in Port Dover. We had to get them some new chenille pillows asap as the last ones sold out the day they were displayed. Robin Laing Cottage North owner, has a way with soaps, scents, bubbles & lather as the back of this beautiful store is her workshop where she creates the most incredible body care products available both in her store and at on-line at bereal.ca
What a great 'girls day road trip'.

Vicky & Laura go "Global"

2008-02-05T13:04:00.000-08:00

Hey check out Vicky & me sittin' pretty...well sittin', at the head offices of The Global Group. We visited our newest eco-donor and checked out their chair. Later we headed over to the plant where they make all kinds of cool office furniture and save us their 'ends' or 'rescued remnants'. A few hundred pounds of fabric later the back of the car was full and we really are sittin' pretty now with scads of great recycled fabrics and remnants to make lots of pretty handbags with. Thank you Global...see you next week!

Echoes in the Attic gets "Global" attention

2008-01-31T07:09:00.001-08:00

Ok, how great is this...an international company, Global Upholstery who makes most of the office furniture we buy worldwide is off-loading their large remnants to our little cottage industry company. We're always looking for eco-conscious donors to join our current roster Robert Allen Fabrics, Ethan Allen Furniture & Taylor Robyn Originals who all believe in passing on great sample fabric and off-cuts to us to divert the landfill. Once again we've hit the jackpot when we got a call from the manager of Global's Toronto plant back in December '07. We met this January and are astounded by the amount of fabric we now have at our disposal to turn into our handbags & totes. Cool vinyls, industrial strength upholstery weights that lend themselves to durable, long lasting products. The blend of all these company's fabrics are beautiful and our retail prices are obscenely affordable because the savings are passed on to the customer. It's win/win/win down the line.... the environment, our eco-donors, our Canadian business and finally YOU! Enjoy our cool new offerings as they launch in our almost 50 stores across Canada 4 e-tailers and our own webstore this spring.

LouLou Loves TLC

2007-12-06T17:02:00.000-08:00

Yet another great Canadian magazine loves our gal Tracy, the eco-savvy designer of the TeeBag by TLC. The 'hot' TeeBag is the clever invention of Tracy Lee Crandall who turns the lowly discarded T-shirt into the highly sought after handbag that every LouLou reader is after.
Tracy's gorgeous, eco-conscious take is a statement...and the statement you can't help but make when you're wearing one is "check me out!"...the other statement you'll be making is a ready answer to "WHERE did you get that bag."
See the TeeBag by TLC on LouLou's Christmas Green Picks List (pg. 148) Available at select store across Canada listed at tlc.com & available on-line at echoesintheattic.com

TLC in Canadian Living Magazine

2007-11-16T15:53:00.001-08:00

Check out this month's Canadian Living Magazine where our friend and awesome designer, Tracy Lee Crandall of TLC Bags (tlcbags.com) has her own spot (#21) on the Christmas Wish List.
Echoes in the Attic is so proud to carry her gorgeous, recycled, crocheted T-shirt bags called The TeeBag. This is recycling genius at it's best...clever girl! Since we started carrying Tracy's creations the demand has gone through the roof, and now to be recognized in a national magazine...kudos to you Tracy!
You can see Tracy's gorgeous TeeBags and Felted Wool bags at the One of a Kind Show '07

Northern Exposure Artisan Open Studio Sale

2007-11-06T09:03:00.000-08:00

This is our last show of '07 where you can buy our beautiful recycled wares direct from Echoes in the Attic. We've been invited to show at a house/studio tour called Northern Exposure in beautiful Aurora Ontario. We'll be surrounded by other talented artisans showing pottery, photography, jewelry and soaps in a lovely home setting replete with home-made treats and goodies.
Don't miss this once a year event where you can get a head start on your Christmas shopping!
Nov 10th 10am - 5pm &
Nov 11th 11am - 5pm
34 Tribbling, Aurora, ON
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=34+Tribbling+Rd,+Aurora,+ON&ll=44.010225,-79.481792&spn=0.028087,0.058365&z=14&iwloc=addr&om=1

Thanks for coming to the Canadian Home & Country Show

2007-10-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

A very big thank you goes out to all friends new and old for coming out to the Canadian Home & Country Show to see our recycled wares for 2007 and say Hello to Vicky and me. We had the prettiest booth in the show (in our humble opinion). We shared with two talented sisters from Shabby Lane Interiors and From the Inside Out Photography. The impact was wonderful we think you'll agree it looked like we'd all been in a store together for years. Response was wonderful and it seems recycled is even hotter than ever. Watch for our next sale coming this weekend at No Men Allowed (we didn't name it, we're just participating) 63 Wingold Ave. 2nd floor. It's a Designer Showroom open to the public for Saturday 11 -5pm and Sunday 11 - 4pm only! We'll see you there!

One Green Thing

2007-10-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

If only everyone would do just one thing to green up their act...
Here's one thing we propose. Come to the Home & Country Show Oct 25 - 28 at the CNE Automotive Bldg Toronto and check out Echoes in the Attic's greener choices.
Along with our best-sellers Purse-nickety, Hipster(Hipster Doofus for you Seinfeld die-hards), Purse-nickety Hipster (the hybrid) and ReBag we're launching a couple of new things...our huge recycled Tote Bags are finally here, and Christmas gift packages which include our sell-out ReBag made of 100% 'rescued remnants' with 2 organic, fair trade body bars from Simply. Simply has been enjoying such popularity that it makes it difficult for Amanda to get around to make her 'no-emissions-footprint' bike deliveries. Simply has the same ethos as Echoes in the Attic so we got together. What better container for body bars to come in than a recycled purse. Brilliant!
So, do your planet a service, support Canadian, home-grown business doing their best to do just one thing to help you green up your act.
See you at the show.
Laura & Vicky

What a Week

2007-10-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a week. We've been busier than squirrels getting our stock ready for the upcoming Home & Country Show at the CNE's Automotive Bldg next week. It's starts Oct 25 through 28th and our booth is a group effort of beautiful not so shabby, shabby-chic style furniture, photography, jewelry, pillows and handbags of all styles, shapes and designs and all from the 'discard pile of life'. This week we shipped our recycled wares to two new stores in Nelson B.C. and a Webstore in Manitoba, managed to re-stock some current stores and still have loads of fabulous product for the show. Last year we had so many visitors to our little 10' x 10' booth but this year we're going twice as big with all our eco-fab goodies. We do hope you'll come out and see just how much we can pack into our booth to tempt you...Christmas is just around the corner and there's no better time than the present to think about our future...Buy Recycled, Hand-made, Canadian! See you at the Show.

Echoes in the Attic & Shabby Lane Interiors T.V. debut

2007-10-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Lisa Finch of Shabby Lane Interiors and I spent our day doing something pretty fun...we were guests on a Rogers cable show today called Daytime. We were there to talk about our "co-production" of a packed & stacked little 10' x 10' jewel box of a booth at this years Home & Country Show we're doing. It all takes place at the Automotive Building at the CNE Oct. 25 - 28.
Lisa and her sister Kelly are displaying painted furniture and amazing artwork of photography touched by technology and a little sparkle...all in a not-so-shabby, Shabby Lane way.
Vicky and I will be there too with all our best selling recycled purse styles, pillows and a couple of new exciting things like gift packs of ReBags with organic soap by none other than Simply. These are the best body bars...great hostess or Christmas gifts. We've got reclaimed/recycled leathers, silks with raffia you just have to see to believe. We'll have Auntie Em's Jewelry using buttons and beads in unique necklaces and new interchangeable belt buckles.
If you love eco-chic this is the place to find it.
Can't wait to see everyone!

Shhhhh...we've got a secret!

2007-10-11T03:45:00.000-07:00

Soon enough you'll see it in black & white what everyone's asking for this Christmas!
TLC's "TeeBag"
is coming to three Canadian Christmas Wish Lists.
Only available in select boutiques or through Echoes' webstore.

The TeeBag by TLC is in demand

2007-10-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

TLC's TeeBag takes the lowly T-shirt to new heights. The one who puts all her TLC into her line of recycled T-shirt bags is Tracy Lee Crandall. After a long while fending off offers from perfect strangers to buy the bag right off her shoulder Tracy thought she might be on to something! She started out slowly but since the calendar flipped to '07 it's been all hands on deck making her beautiful, one of a kind art-pieces we fashionistas are looking for to be the one with the most unusual, jaw-dropping accessories....and you're doing your part for the environment as these eco-chic babies are recycled to boot! When Tracy, Vicky and I started discussing our joint efforts selling on our websites and launching in a few of our more exclusive boutiques we had no idea how crazy things were going to get. We're currently battening down the hatches and stockpiling like mad as the TeeBag is set to launch on not one, but two National magazine Christmas Wish Lists. Until we met Tracy, we thought old T-shirts were only good for cleaning windows...WE WERE WRONG!

The Process

2007-09-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

We often get asked about how we make our bags so we thought we'd share a little of our process.
Echoes in the Attic bags & pillows are designed in 'lots' of a particular style and a head first dive into the pool or 'stash' of fab fabrics. Many things contribute to the design session...mood, time of year, is the sun shining, did I pull something in yoga! I'm a fortunate fashionista with a life long addiction to other people's cast-offs. I just see something different to do with something found. Whether it's from a day spent scouring second hand stores and scoring the overlooked or heaping my car with the generosity of our eco-conscious donors. The fabrics are yummy, often very small but fab. I have to admit though I'm no sewer. My partner Vicky and my former sewing teacher (my non existent skill has no bearing on her talent) usually asks me to 'step away from the cutting tools'. She sews, she teaches, she's even found a way for us to get more sewn than what she could do alone to keep up with the orders. Our purses & pillows are hand sewn in the sweat-shop free workshop of our 'right arm' production guru and her team of stay-at-home-moms.
For me, the finished product arriving is just the beginning of photo's, numbering, cataloguing, selling and supplying to our now over 35 stores across Canada, our e-tailers and our own webstore.
It's a crazy pile of work but it's our passion! Who was it who said...oh ya, my son at 9 years, "One lady's trash is another lady's purse."

Workshops at Artisitc Revival's ArtSpace 2

2007-09-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

Just three of our new friends enjoying the end results of their new found talent. These gals had some experience sewing so it made the time spent choosing just the right antique button unhurried. The ladies were allowed to choose from the fab fabrics from recycled designer remnants. Vicky led them through the steps to creating their very own ReBag...one of our most popular sellers.
Artistic Revival's intimate ArtSpace 2 Gallery made for a cozy setting and keeping our numbers capped made it easy for personal attention from Vicky.
A little time at the end for tea & treats and a wonderful time was had by all.
For info. on the next workshops please contact Clare at Artistic Revival 206 Main St in Newmarket. 905-953-0901
Upcoming workshops - Echoes in the Attic "Past-Times feather pillows" featured in Oct 2006 Canadian Home & Country magazine & July 2007 Style at Home magazine and our new "Big Old Bag" Tote.
See you in the ArtSpace!

The colour of Fall is always GREEN

2007-09-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

At Echoes in the Attic the colour of Fall is always GREEN. Our gorgeous, Canadian-made, recycled purses, bags, pillows and jewelry made from the 'discard pile of life' will once again be at the Home & Country Show- Oct 25 - 28/07 at the CNE Automotive building.
We've teamed with the not-so-shabby, Shabby Lane Interiors and will be setting up a little jewel box of a store for these four days. A mixture of re-vamped chandeliers, furniture, pushing my buttons jewelry incl. the new line of belts with highly sought after interchangeable buckles made with pre-loved buttons and beads, our best sellers; the Hipster, Purse-nickety & Purse-nickety Hipster, plus our constant sell-out The ReBag and our new Tote Bags made with vintage, designer remnants and retro fabrics, both topped with antique buttons. If one of a kind, or a few of a kind are what you're after please join us at the Home & Country Show this year.
Oh did we mention pillows...feather, gorgeous chenilles mixed with lush Robert Allen and Ethan Allen sample remnants.
See you there!
Laura & Vicky
www.echoesintheattic.com
echoesintheattic.@gmail.com