With all of our great customer projects, it has been a little difficult for us to squeak in “Spruce Originals” for retail. Starting this week, we have some long awaited retail furniture coming out of the workshop including two sofas, several lamps/lampshades, and custom bench. Keep an eye out for them later this week as they make their way into the Spruce storefront and online. Here is a photo of Erick and Clar getting down to the bones on some of the projects last week. The weather was so incredible, they decided to do a little stripping outside.

AND, the bus is finally to the shop. We’re still smoothing out a few kinks, but I am officially driving it to work every day! Here’s a video of the Sprucettes taking their first ride around the neigborhood.

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As you all are rushing around to get your house clean for family, we are rushing around making sure everyone gets that “spruced” piece of furniture in time for the holiday! I am chomping at the bit to get a few Christmas trees here at Spruce, but we will pause and celebrate the holiday with the best food hands down. Thanksgiving! We are so thankful for being able to get to do what we love as well as having clients that are so top-notch. Over our own Thanksgiving lunch today (you can see Pixie in the photo hoping for a few morsels), we came up with a few things we are thankful for and can’t live without.

T – Turkey Cutter: You use it for turkey, we use it for foam ha!
H - Hammer: Duh
A - “Aretha” the Air Compressor: She is loud and proud.
N - Natchez furniture care: Will give any piece of wooden furniture new life.
K - Klinch – It: For that spring work we do on all of your chairs!
S - Staples: About a million in every single piece of furniture
G - Goggles: Safety first people
I - Iron: Can’t look shabby
V - Varnish: Necessary for all those wood refinishing overhauls
I - Industrial Sewing Machine: Also known as “Britney” and “Christina”
N - Nails: These guys make sure your springs stay nice and tight
G - Gloves: We would have some gnarly fingers if we didn’t use our gloves

We hope you have a great Thanksgiving full of tons of turkey, stuffing, and family! Spruce will be closed Thursday through Sunday of this week. See you Monday and Gig’ em Aggies (I couldn’t resist)!!

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As we wrap up 2010′s classes, we look forward to scheduling our 2011 classes with some exciting offerings! Here’s a short list of classes we’re planning:

• • DIY Custom Lampshade Class – turn your dim lamp into a bright one with a knockout shade!
  • DIY Headboard Class – Spruce your bed! Complete your own designer headboard!
  • DIY Bench Class – pick out one of our stellar fabrics or bring your own – we’ll build a sweet little bench together!
  • DIY Bring Your Own Chair Class – an oldie but a goodie. Check out Spruce’s long list of “Before and After” success stories. Get inspired – you can do it!
  • DIY Chair Class  – we’ll offer one during the week for those of you who are occupied on the weekends.
  • Party Classes – special requests entertained! We’d had a few solicitations for dedicated classes and would love to help your group get Spruced! What a great gift for birthdays, work parties, or just for fun!

We have not set the dates yet, but if you have any inquiries please call, email, or stop by. We look forward to “Sprucing” with you in 2011!

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Hope everyone is having a great week! I wanted to do a little bragging today on the students from this weekend’s class. We had a special Mod Green Pod BYOC Class that focused on green upholstery and also included the use of MGP’s new custom fabric! Each student was able to customize the MGP prints to any colors they would like. Everyone came in for a consultation to look through the HUNDREDS of color options and picked their very own personalized fabric. I would love to have a fabric that I only owned, what a treat! The day of the class Nancy Mims and Val Pearcy from Mod Green Pod came to help out and give insight into what it means to produce environmentally-conscious fabric. With hard work and a little help from the Sprucettes, everyone finished with a beautiful new creation! Take a look and let us know what you think! Also, check out the Design Sponge write-up about the class and all the chair transformations.

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We are excited to announce a new addition to the Spruce team! Krysti started at Spruce in late September as an intern for the front of house operations. Meredith has been putting her hard to work organizing and managing the fabric selection as well as retail inventory. Recently we decided to bring Krysti on as Meredith’s “front gal” pal.

Krysti was nice enough to answer a few questions for us so you all could get to know her a little better.

1. Tell us what you’ve been up to lately at the Art Institute of Austin.

At The Art Institute, I have been working on getting my interior design portfolio together for the upcoming portfolio show.  I would like my specialty to be in furniture design, but I still have a lot to learn. So far I think rendering would be one of the best attributes I’ve gained during school.

2. Do you have any pets?

I have one cat named Combo. He’s adorable and thinks he’s a dog which is a plus.

3. What do you like to do in your free time?

I try to relax in my free time or go to a hula hoop class. (My goal is fire hooping…)

4. Favorite color?

Purple

5. Favorite fabric company?

Schumacher

6. Favorite band?

There are WAY too many to pick just one. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Florence and the Machine.

7. Favorite book?

Right now I’m reading Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential; he’s so crass and humorous to read.

8. Favorite Austin restaurant?

A few years ago that would have been easy, Las Manitas. Since that is shut down, I’m not sure… possibly Perlas?

9. Next upholstery project? Do you have any?

I hope to have some in the future. None planned as of right now.

10. What do you love about Spruce?

I will have to agree with most of the clients. Spruce has a great atmosphere. It has an Austin, down-to-earth, homey feel coming from everywhere.

11. Favorite Interior Designer?

Hmmm, Kelly Wearstler?

12. Favorite design period?

Bauhaus

13. Favorite TV show (Spruce TV doesn’t count:)?

Modern Family

She’ll be here on Saturdays and a few days a week, so stop by and meet her in person. Also, November 15 is her birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY Krysti!! We hope you had a wonderful day!

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