The Whistling Elk – A 2020 Retail Star!
Tag: Chester NJ
Find a Way to Enjoy The Moment (Staying Home)
Right now I m sitting in the sun which is streaming in through my slider…I have never done this before shockingly !!
The Corona Virus, horrible and beastly as it is, has forced me to stop working 24/7 and slow down and take a little downtime.
I have worked my whole life. Even when switching jobs I didn’t take time in between. Since opening my own shop 30 years ago I have worked the whole time between 6 and 7 days a week. Sure, I took some amazing ski vacations over the years (at Vail my favorite) but even then I fretted about being away from my business.
Now don’t get me wrong, this virus is a terrible, terrible, terrible thing and I am distressed that people are sick and dying. They are in my thoughts and prayers every day.
But this “stay at home” order is in some ways a gift that I never asked for and never would ask for. However, now that I’ve got it I am wholeheartedly enjoying it for the gift that it is and for what it is worth. I would never have taken time for myself.
For the first time in my life I have no income stream…none in the forseeable future and can’t even imagine how this will all end…but right now the sun is warm, I have nowhere to go, nothing pressing me, and I feel as though God has given me time to rejuvenate, to plan, to rest, to rethink everything, to enjoy the moment! I will trust that he has plan and meanwhile I will not allow this gift to go to waste.
Plus and Minus
I put together a list this morning of projects that need doing.
I filled an entire sheet.
I posted it and every time I walk by it I think of something else to add. There are some plusses to being stuck at home.
Some of the things on the list have been on the back burner for months and perhaps years!
I have decided to make sure that I pick something on that list to complete every day…with that in mind I literally could stay home for a quite a while.
Well, that will take care of some of the time I have on my hands…
I have already discovered this morning that my mind is still creative and fertile…teeming with ideas…mostly how to improve and take my business to the next level…new things I want to do, plans I want to put into action.
It’s almost scary. Maybe, just maybe, that is why when this is over our economy is going to go nuts….we will all have this pent up creativity and desire to go full steam ahead.
Some things with regard to my business I have already implemented in this new free time I have found myself blessed with.
Minuses, of course, we all know. We miss each other, we’re a little scared and we can’t wait for it to be behind us. And, it’s hard stop from eating! 😉
Stay safe, my friends.
Barbara
In Times of Stress It’s Good to Have Something You Enjoy Doing
It’s a stressful world right now.
I am always glad that there are certain activities that
keep me busy when stress is in the air…
Painting is one such enjoyable and therapeutic activity.
What is Yours?
THE WHISTLING ELK 2019 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide
Throw Blankets
Beautiful, soft, cozy, colorful, elegant and a fashion statement for your home. You must have at least one! Ours come in almost every color imaginable. Wrap yourself up in one! And give one to all your friends and family! You will be a hero.
Maison Berger (Lampe Berger)
A big favorite. An air purifier that perfumes the air you live in! Beautiful and a real workhorse too! You will love it…no open flame…and scent all thru your home.
Made in France with that special oohlala elegant scents that only the French can do! There are also candles, reed diffusers and mist diffusers–you can have it all!!
Sorrelli Jewelry
A family owned company that is all about sparkle! An extensive collection is available at the shop and we constantly run specials…come see what the latest deal is! And a hint to all you men out there…this is a winner!
La Vie Parisenne Jewelry
Gorgeous jewelry by French Designer Catherine Popesco. Antique molds are used to create this line of 14k gold plated and swarovski studded collection! A must have or a must give!
Mark Roberts 2019 Christmas Fairies and Elves
If you don’t have one you will want one. The 2019 Collection is beautiful as usual and well appointed as ever. They will make you smile (or else). For 26 years a special Christmas offering from The Whistling Elk.
Sloane Fine Tea Merchants
Did you know there was something known as a Tea Sommelier? Well there is and this line of fine teas was created in Toronto by a Tea Sommelier who is also a trained Perfumist (is that a word?) Delicious and amazing to both your scent and taste! You need to try the Heavenly Cream…it’s divine!!! (hahaha really)
A Girl With A Pearl
These are the real thing. Need a really special Gift…this is it. Baroque Cultured Freshwater Pearls…beautiful. Different styles and price points. A must have for the woman in your life! Hint, Hint.
Club Bags
The best little bags ever. They hold your phone (quite comfortably) and have a zippered pocket for your valuable stuff….like lipstick, money $$$, etc. And did i mention that they are good looking? Well they are quite fashionable!
Michel Designworks
Going Somewhere? This company makes Great Hostess Gifts…beautiful, festive and beautifully packaged. Great price points. Foaming handsoaps are the best! But there is more…so much more.
The Whistling Elk is loaded with great gift ideas and decorations for your home. Your Go-To shopping place…Stop and See for Yourself! This little list is just the tip of the iceberg 😉 Trust Me.
2018 Mark Roberts Fairies
Well, last week the Mark Roberts Fairies arrived on the scene! As always they are adorable. We have a selection out now for your viewing pleasure!
This year Mark has introduced some new elves and they are beautiful! They have weighted feet so they can stand alone anywhere which makes them even more fun. Lots of great detail!
There are a couple of girl fairies again this year…this is Joyous Christmas and she has the most amazing skirt!
They are out now! Come and see and choose yours!
LAMPE BERGER BECOMES MAISON BERGER
Lampe Berger has a new name!
M A I S O N B E R G E R
and is going to be introducing a lot of new products!
When I go to the Home Accessories and Gift Show in July
I will be visiting Maison Berger and will see all their new products!
I am excited and actually can’t wait.
Maison Berger is also celebrating it’s
120th birthday!
The Whistling Elk 28th Anniversary
Wow, another year has come and gone at The Whistling Elk.
We have just entered our 29th year in business!!
So very soon now we will be celebrating our 28th Anniversary. Watch for our posts letting you know what our special plans are…coming soon!
I still love what I do after all these years!
Mondays at The Whistling Elk
Wishing you a Happy New Year!…and reminding you that The Whistling Elk is
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK…for your shopping convenience.
Mondays from 10:00 am til 4 pm
Tuesday thru Sunday from 10:00 am til 5:30 pm
Mondays are especially good days to shop us – you can beat the weekend crowd and jazz up a dreary Monday by coming in for casually elegant home furnishings and accessories!
At the Whistling Elk you will find all the finishing touches that make a house Your Home at affordable prices…accent furniture, lighting, artwork and mirrors!
You will also find thoughtful gifts! In addition to Lampe Berger Paris there is Bedford Cottage Throws, exquisite French Jewelry, Sloane Fine Teas and much more! And don’t forget we sell Paint Couture…a fantastic choice for creating amazing furniture and cabinet finishes.
I have just returned from shopping for 2018…
There are lots of great new gift items, accent furniture, artwork, rugs and more! It was so much fun finding great pieces for you!
So if you love a European style that is casually elegant you will love the shop.
So come by any day….and don’t forget MONDAYS! Start your week off right with a visit to THE WHISTLING ELK.
We are in our 28th Year in Chester of bringing your style, beauty and affordability!
2017 is Fast Drawing to a Close!
As 2017 draws to a close, I would just like to say how grateful I am for all the wonderful customers who frequent my shop!
It has been another wonderful year! And I am enthusiastically awaiting the beginning of my 28th year here in beautiful Chester NJ…in another couple of weeks I will be heading to Atlanta to shop for merchandise for 2018!
I will be forever grateful that I chose Chester to be the home for my collection of casually elegant home furnishings and accessories….
Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season!
Sometimes You Just Need a Flying Pig…
I have been awaiting this particular art shipment for over two weeks. It was on the road for almost a month….which is very scary…But it is all perfect!
So very happy it’s here!
Right now it is leaning just about everywhere in the shop!
There is so much beauty here…landscapes, geometrics, bath prints, amazing fleur de lis wall sculptures, florals, still lifes and more.
A Flying Pig even came along with this order….he has an amazing Swarovski crystal crown too!
He is nestled in behind the embellished candlestick below…
so cute!
The Whistling Elk is Sponsoring a Lampe Berger Special for Mother’s Day
It’s a perfect time to try a Lampe Berger at The Whistling Elk!
We have lots of beautiful lampes to choose from and when you purchase one you can get a tripack of 3 fragrances for 50% off!
There are two different tripacks to choose from … one has fresh scents: Fresh Linen, Lemonflower and the international best selling fragrance Ocean Breeze!
The other tripack includes New Orleans (one of our best sellers), Orange Cinnamon and Vanilla Gourmet!
Get yours while supplies last.
The Whistling Elk 2017 Another Year Another Fresh Start!
Wow, I guess moving really did affect me! I just realized that I have not posted to the blog in over 5 months! Oh My! But life at The Whistling Elk continues…
The Fall and Christmas season has passed…I made my annual January trip to Atlanta to buy goods for 2017…and have already received several shipments from those orders placed in January…
As always it is so exciting to receive new goods. Always a fresh start and a new perspective! And this year will not disappoint. So, come and visit The Whistling Elk soon because we are already showing new pretty stuff!!
Here’s a little preview:
Moving Can Put You in a Funk
Well, I sold my home and moved to a new one. That is a pretty short sentence but it says a lot and the whole process put me in a funk….so much work! I feel like I fell asleep in March and woke up in August…sigh…
But I am done with that…The Moving Funk is over NOW!
I love my new home, it’s relatively “put together”…at least as much as I plan to do until I live there a little and see what is what. Meanwhile the shop waits for no man….and fall is coming! That means that lots of trucks are rolling in with all kinds of great merchandise and the shop is brimming with wonderful pieces.
Art arrived yesterday, lots of it! Here’s a little sneak peak…
Last week my fall clothing line arrived and it is spectacular! Lots of great fabrics and styles and lots more leggings this year!
Our Lampe Berger is STOCKED…and there are many new gift sets at great values and some beautiful new lampes!
The Cream of the Crop
Over the years one tends to “adopt” great pieces…
This pretty antique vanity originated in Denmark and is circa 1910…
It’s been with me for 10-15 years and now it can be yours!
Yup, it’s in the shop and up for grabs…
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Those Pretty New Things Are Arriving!
Shopping for the store is a lot of fun but I have to admit it is even more fun when the merchandise actually starts to flow in and you open everything up and feel like you are getting presents!
This week a bunch of cute little chandeliers arrived! They are small so are good for powder rooms or as pendants over a table or island….all sparkly and pretty!
A lot of vintage pieces showed up last week….I love the soft colors!
There is so much more! You have to come visit…and of course there is more coming!
Mark Roberts Christmas Card Fairy
He is waiting for you! Meet him inside The Whistling Elk….now!
I’m With Miss Piggy…Everyday Should Be A Small Business Shopping Day!
I am still chuckling over the Small Business Saturday video featuring Miss Piggy (it’s posted on chesterstreettalk.com.)
Very Cute! Thanks for sharing Jess!
And yes, the Christmas Season is almost here…
Thanksgiving is next week! Wow! I can’t wait to enjoy the food and the family gathering!
At The Whistling Elk I am ready! The tree is up and full of Mark Roberts Fairies and beautiful ornaments…
and, of course, we are well stocked with our favorite jewelry line, La Vie Parisienne…
A new shipment of Sloane Fine Tea Merchants Teas came last week so we have some favorites in stock like Heavenly Cream and some new ones like Vanilla Bean Rooibos….I tried this one last night and it is delicious and healthy to boot…full of antioxidants and anti-inflammories…yummm!
Sadly you cannot eat these beautiful cupcake ornaments!
Our famous Throw Blankets always make a great gift…Soft and warm they are also a beautiful addition to your home décor!
Lots of pretty decorations around the shop to help you get into the holiday spirit!
Oh my, our Lampe Berger shelves are packed with amazing fragrances, lots of beautiful Lampes to choose from or Gift Sets at special prices so you can give the gift of scent to friends and family!
You will find the shop is full of beautiful artwork, mirrors, lamps and small accent tables for the home…we are still a wonderful source of home furnishings and accessories! So come and find out what shopping Small Business is all about…great service, friendly faces and, of course, CHESTER is in itself is a beautiful location for shopping…so full of old world charm!
Walls Define a Room – Fill Them with Beautiful Art
A shipment of art just arrived late yesterday afternoon. After the initial flurry of activity required to take in the shipment, unpack it and examine it then price it….I got to thinking of how the walls of a room define the space within it and how decorating the walls brings the room to life and enhances and complements the other furnishings.
I began thinking about how certain pieces of art just make your heart beat…and how the enjoyment of looking at them directly contributes to your feeling of well being and enjoyment in your home!
So on that note I am excited to share a few pictures of some of the art that came in….its a diverse collection this time…mostly smaller pieces but all beautiful. Maybe one or two will touch your heart and will take its place in your home!
We have some elegant crowns right now too…couldn’t resist putting one in the vicinity of this print….they just seem to resonate! The Chandelier print is studded with little amber crystals.
There are more beautiful pieces in the shop so stop by and see what catches your eye!
Our artwork is always elegant, always beautiful and always 20% off every day.
Tea, Honey and Home
I love tea!
I love not only the taste of a delicious tea but the whole ritual!
In this crazy world there is nothing better than to brew some tea, wait while it steeps, and then pour it from a pretty teapot into a pretty cup! and of course you should do this while relaxing in your beautiful home!
I know you think you don’t have the time. Well, I say make the time – you will be the better for it. Sip it slowly and enjoy the whole ritual. I admit it took me a while to get the hang of it but now I look forward every morning and evening to my private little ritual that relaxes me and helps me to remember what life is really all about.
I did a lot of research on Tea as I was looking for a new line to sell in my shop…and what I found is outstanding! Sloane Fine Tea Merchants. It wasn’t easy as they are in Toronto and I am now actually their first customer in New Jersey. It’s a little tougher to import product…I haven’t done a lot of that in my shop – but if you give it a try you will agree – it is worth it!
Here’s what they say about their Tea :
“The tea in your cup is a result of a delicious journey. At Sloane Tea Company we traverse the world in search of only the finest teas that would delight even the most discerning of palates.
The Sloane story is about beauty. Beauty as told through the senses of taste, smell and sight. Beauty as experienced through the remarkable taste of our teas, as well as the beauty of the colour in your cup and the enticing fragrance of our perfumed teas. Sloane’s signature line of teas and tisanes (herbal teas) combine the finest loose leaf teas, exotic ingredients and artisanal techniques.
Tea sourced & blended by Certified Tea Sommeliers
Each Sloane Tea is individually sourced. Chosen from hundreds of tea gardens, Sloane Teas are carefully processed using centuries old artisanal techniques. Our scented and blended teas are custom created by our own team of Certified Tea Sommeliers and culinary experts. As part of the development of our products, we have consulted with the Maître Nez (Head Nose) of one of France’s foremost perfumeries and trained at the Studio Des Fragrance in Grasse, France.”
The tea is absolutely delicious! My favorite right out of the gate was the Heavenly Crème – I am already addicted to it. It really is heavenly. And then I enjoyed it so much I already ran out!!!! So I decided to try the Jasmine Pink Lemonade and I have to say I love it also and for me that is saying a lot. As a general rule before sipping this tea I would have said “No Thanks…I just don’t like green teas” but I was wrong – this one is delicious! It’s blended white and green tea and one of Sloane’s “Signature” blends. It has the sweetness of fresh jasmine and an unforgettable pink grapefruit finish…and it is superb as an iced tea also! I have been drinking it both hot and cold and look forward to it almost as much as the Heavenly Cream….you simply must try these teas!
So now that I have found these delicious teas from Sloane, I am stocking them and found that I wanted to sell a delicious honey to use with them. So again I have done exhaustive research and found some sources of Raw honey which I will also be stocking. For the teas I love the Star Thistle Raw Honey the best because it has a very subtle flavor and doesn’t interfere with the flavor of the tea…but I have many varieties of raw honey available now:
Star Thistle, Orange Blossom, Wildflower, Bamboo, Buckwheat, and Clover….all Raw and delicious! And there will be more….
Ohh, and of course you must drink your tea from a beautiful cup…
At The Whistling Elk you will find not only home furnishings and accessories but also lots of other products to enhance the way you live your life! We believe your home should be your sanctuary…that is one reason why I love our Tea products! They will be in good company with our other home products like our Lampe Berger! Come in an see what is new! It’s our 25th anniversary this year! and we are celebrating!
The Whistling Elk 
Recent Comments