magnets, coasters, and stripes :: frogtape® fun

For my latest project with FrogTape® I had a lot of fun with little wooden discs! I created magnets and coasters that will make any household happy! Check out the full tutorial on the FrogTape® blog here!xo,Barb

creativebug :: online painting classes with knack

Hey everyone! I am so sorry that I have been a little bit silent around here the last couple of weeks!I had a really big and unexpected opportunity come up and I dove in with everything that I had. It went really, really well and I will be able to tell you about it at the end of the week! Yay! You don't have to wait long!AND....to tide you over....my online classes are launching THIS THURSDAY! I am so excited to share these classes with you all!I filmed these classes with a company called Creativebug and I absolutely cannot say enough about them! The team from Creativebug was an absolute joy and they were so skilled and professional. The week we spent together was long and tiring, but in the end new friendships were forged, great work was accomplished, and I totally cried when we all had to hug goodbye. I love you Brian, Devlin and Courtney! Thanks for being amazing at what you do!I'll be back Wednesday with more info on where to go and how to sign up!Get Ready!xo,Barb

FrogTape® earn your stripes contest :: enter to win $5,000

I think most of you know about my love story with FrogTape®, but if you do not, I would like to give you a little refresher and then tell you about an awesome contest!When I first started painting furniture I used painters tape. It said painters tape on the label and so I bought it and used it, but I always had bleed issues and was never really satisfied with the results I got. So, I didn't use it a lot except to mask off drawer sides and runners. In other words...I did not use it creatively in my work.Then one day, I was in Home Depot and I saw this new tape that promised no bleed marks and clean edges. I was intrigued, and so I bought a roll....and the rest is history. I was so impressed with this tape, that it became the only tape I used. I was never paid to endorse it or talk about it ( even during my book Furniture Makeovers) ....I just used it and talked about it because it is truly superior to other products out there.Fast forward to last year around Christmas. FrogTape® contacted me and asked me to become part of their blog squad. This collaboration made sense to me because it is a product I use weekly in my work and it would not be hard to use it, promote it, and love it since that was already happening. So, even though I am now a blog squad member and I do receive compensation for my work with FrogTape® nothing has changed on my end. I still create when I want, what I want, and FrogTape® is an extremely wonderful and generous  group of people to work with. I'm thankful to be part of the team!Now for the good stuff! FrogTape® is running their annual Earn Your Stripes contest! (please visit the website foe all of the entry details!) All you have to do is create something amazing with FrogTape® and send it in by the July 1 deadline! Seriously guys.......a $5,000 grand prize! Transform a room in your home, take beautiful images, and win yourself some dollahs!In honor of this awesome contest, I am having a little giveaway on my Facebook page which includes 4 rolls of FrogTape® to get you started! So head over to the Knack Facebook pg to enter! xo,Barb( images via earn your stripes pg)

shop snippets :: weekend happenings

I thought I would share a few glimpses that were captured around the shop this week, and share a little bit about the activities of the weekend!First of all, I am very excited to both speak at, and attend my third Makers Summit right here in my home town of Greenville, SC ! This event always proves to be a wonderful time of creative learning and refreshment....not to mention....the PEOPLE! I always walk away with new friends and mentors and that is a wonderful thing! I have heard from several of you that are coming from all over the country...and I am excited to meet you for the first time, and hug the necks of those of you I have met previously on my travels!Also, First Fridays is tomorrow night from 6-9 pm here in the Village of West Greenville! Knack will be open as well as our other friends in the village: Lily Pottery, Art and Light, The Village Grind, Joseph Bradley Studios, Matthew Campbell Studios, Charlie Mae, The Station...and more! Art and Light is having a special show called "12 Friends Bit by Bit" and it is an event that should not be missed!The weather will be gorgeous and warm, so come on down to the Village and immerse yourself in the creative hub of the city!I hope you all have a great weekend!xo,Barb

plywood wall shelves :: weekend project

We just made these awesome shelves for display at the shop, and I absolutely love them! The tools, materials, and time needed to make these beauties is so minimal but the end result is something so aesthetically awesome and functionally quite perfect.The full tutorial and materials needed for this project are available over on the FrogTape® blog! Check it out, and spend a couple hours this weekend creating fun new shelving for your home or office!xo,Barb

my new chai tea obsession :: the sophisticate's tea

I must start this love story by telling you that ...I cannot and do not drink coffee in any way shape or form, I have tried and tried but can never get past the "what the heck is in my mouth and when can I spit it out" phase. However, I have been an avid chai tea latte drinker for the past 5 or so years. My mom gave me my first taste one day when we were at Starbucks and I was hooked. Then I found out I could buy the Tazo concentrate at my local supermarket and make my own at home! That day was a big day for both my wallet and my drinking habit. Now I could have a chai tea latte every day! And so it began.....Now, I became quite picky about chai tea lattes.....(more like quite snobby)....and even though I bravely tried other brands...I never ever wavered from my beloved Tazo. I got to the point of not even trying other brands because I knew I would not like them. (so bad!)Well, my Tazo chai tea latte days were forever changed the day that my favorite little coffee shop, The Village Grind, opened around the corner from Knack! The Grind's sweet proprietor Lindsey told me I had to try their chai latte because it was the BEST and ....because I wanted to support my local peeps....I tried it. It was not love at first sip for me.....but rather a one eyebrow raising intrigue. How dare this newcomer tantalize my taste buds in this way. A slow love affair began that deepened more and more with each sip, and by the time I had finished my cup I was already wanting more. The smoothness, the lack of overwhelming sweetness, the fact that I could almost taste a hint of lavender (not really...but I swear it was there), I know the people who micro brew it, and the amazing fact that there are only six ingredients... and I can pronounce them all.People....I am a convert...and clearly you all can see what a huge momentous occasion this is. Truly....a big dealio.I can still enjoy making it at home, or I can stop by The Village Grind for a fresh and frothy tall one. If you are in Greenville, stop by the Grind for a hot one of your own, or stop by Knack for a bottle of concentrate so you can make your own at home. Our shelves look beautiful with both the chai tea and the black tea, and I am super happy to have it for a limited time at Knack! If you are not local, go to The Sophisticates Chai website and hook yourself up.Don't blame me when you can't go a day without it. I'll swear I never met you.xo,Barb

fun with FrogTape® :: geometric wall

I love sharp lines and geometric patterns....of this I am sure. So, it should come as no surprise that we created a colorful geometric wall at Knack, to brighten up the shop...and  to serve as a backdrop for this beautiful new bed!Hop on over to the FrogTape® blog for the full tutorial, and step by step photos!

merry christmas :: 2014

2014 was a year of incredible opportunity, leaps of faith, stretching growth, saying no, saying yes, pondering, intentional direction, and focusing on joy. I am thankful for each and every moment given to me this past year, for all of you who continue to befriend and support me here, and for the many, many blessings this life brings.I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!xo,Barb