If you have enjoyed our Christmas in the past, you know that we transform the whole store for the Christmas Season. It all starts in January with a trip to the first of at least five shows to see what is available. We look for quality, style and the best price. We are very picky and we come home with only orders for the finest merchandise and requests for a few hundred catalogs. We pour over the catalogs as they arrive and Keri and I start to dream of how we want the store arranged in November and December. Denise and Shirley place orders and plan carefully when items will all be shipped. Darlene reminds me that yes, I can dream all I want, but the rooms need to be broken down and cleaned from floor to ceiling and I need a plan for this.

As the products begin to arrive we inspect them carefully from top to bottom as we want only quality for our customers. At this point you will find Denise, Darlene and Shirley pricing each item while I find space in the barn to categorize room by room. Keri and I continue to dream as we get excited about truckloads of merchandise. Flyers are made and we take care to communicate with other shops so that all merchants are on the same page and preparing for Christmas.

About this time Denise begins to worry that I won’t get my Newsletter out on time. Shirley always believes I will. Arlene types it up and corrects all my spelling errors and Darlene then prepares the mailing. Keri is worried because I have changed the color arrangement in the living room three times. (She doesn’t know about the kitchen yet). I must not forget to mention my mother. She just keeps believing in me and reminding me that I worry too much. And about this time of year she keeps the refrigerator stocked up for my unannounced visits. As you will see in November, it all will come together and once again we will have a spectacular Christmas !

The best thing of all is that we all love working together…..we love preparing the store for you because when you walk in we see how you appreciate it. So come & enjoy. Again this year we will be passing out some pretty special coupons that will be our Holiday gift to you.

For 23 years Michael and I have been creating handcrafted furniture and home accessories. Did you know that we are considered a "green company"? Our wood comes from certified mills that cut only dead trees. We recycle materials (like old barn wood), and our lacquers are cotton based. It is our hope that our furniture will not be thrown away to clutter our landfills, but are considered quality heirlooms that will be passed down and shared with future generations.

We are excited to share our 2^nd Christmas season at Chocolate Soup and have planned an old fashioned display, "Celebrate Christ in Christmas" which features special nativities and advent wreaths as the traditional elements of the season for your family’s devotions.

This season we want to wish you the most valuable gifts of Christmas….LOVE, PEACE and JOY. Thank you for shopping with us.