Etcetera: It's going to be a glorious weekend
Well...we made it to the weekend! It is going to be a busy one around here! My friend Grace is flying in from New York and I will pick her up at the airport later this afternoon! YIPEE! We are then headed straight to the taco truck for some delicious ASADA tacos and from there we will be hanging out at Knack from 6-9pm for some shopping! I know that many of you have heard me talk about my friend Grace and I would love it if you would stop by to see her and welcome her to the South! You will love her......Saturday is the Makers Summit here in Greenville, and I will be speaking on a panel about branding and building your business using blogging and social media! I have had two very intense sessions with a speech coach and I am ready to go! Grace is a keynote speaker for this event and I cannot wait to get to listen to her speak, as well as the many other talented folks sharing their expertise and wisdom! What a fun day it is going to be as we munch on goodies, learn new things, and end the day with a big ole' craft party! Woot!Don't forget that Knack is open from 9-2 pm today and then again from 6-9 pm tonight for shopping! Knack will also be open on Saturday from 11-3 and will be in the very capable hands of Emily! We have lots of gifts for your valentine, and all glass vases are 50 % off through Saturday...... so stop by!Happy weekend!xo,Barb
Etcetera: Gigi's smocked aprons
Over Christmas my mom opened a present from my Gigi and it was this amazing smocked apron! I soon realized that there was not an apron for me and started begging Gigi to make me one...to which she replied " Oh, I have a bunch of them made up already, you can just pick one!" Yippee Skippee! Pick one indeed I did and it is the yellow one with the turquoise stitching that you see pictured above. {fist pump}I decided to ask Gigi if she would consider selling her aprons because I knew that people were going to flip over them and love them! She was happy to sell them under one condition.......she makes what she wants, when she wants and will not be taking orders. I think that is perfectly legit and am delighted to be able to transfer a little piece of Gigi to you all!The first batch is going fast and the only two that are available right now are the pink and blue. More are coming soon, and I will post them as soon as she sends them my way!The aprons are available in the etsy shop, as well as locally in the Knack shop! Woot!xo,Barb
Makers Summit winner.....and a 10 percent discount for the rest of you!
The winner of The Makers Summit is Brittany Brandt! Congrats Brittany! Please contact me so that I can get your registration link to you!.....AND for the rest of you....Indie Craft Parade is offering a 10% registration discount! YIPEE! I was so inspired by all of your stories...and enjoyed reading every single one of them.....so, I hope you all will take a chance and make this summit happen for you AND your creative passions and dreams!Here is the 10 % off registration link for you.......Open Sesame !xo,Barb
Etcetera: A look back at 2012, and looking forward to 2013
It is hard to believe that we are standing on the threshold of a brand new year! As I looked back on my photos from this past year, it was so great to see all that has been experienced and accomplished in the months of 2012.I started out the year full steam ahead, with book projects and photo shoots taking up the entire months of January, February, March and April. Then came the editing, proofing, and decision making. I cannot even tell you how much I learned about myself during this project. It was so mentally and physically challenging at times....that it felt overwhelming....and then there were the times of sheer joy and pleasure at the thought of what I was working towards. I can honestly say that I enjoyed all of it....even the stretching and the growing that took place in my life during this entire project. Working with the people at Chronicle Books could not have been any better, and they are the best in the industry. I continue to be humbled by the fact that they chose me to write a book for them.Then there was the new location for Knack that became available in June...and then a move in July! It happened fast, and I was not expecting to move the shop this year, but as you all have seen....11 Lois Ave. could not be more perfect for Knack and I am tickled from the top of my head to the bottom of my toes every time I turn the corner and pull in the parking lot! This location is the space of my dreams.....it is so special......it is Knack's home. Moving is always a challenging task and it took me a bit to get all settled in and caught up......but the timing was so perfect and once again I stand amazed at God's plan. Every single thing I need I have at my fingertips.....and more...and that just can't be explained any other way than extraordinary! There are some very exciting things on the horizon, both known ....in the works....and unknown......and I am excited about all of it. I am also very excited to move Knack forward into more than furniture.The Fall was full of 5 year anniversary parties, grand opening, Open Studios, jumping back into First Fridays, ordering product, setting up the shop and lots of furniture painting! It has been very full my friends....very full indeed.I love a fresh start, and January 1 is always a great day for me. I have already been doing a lot of thinking and reflection on what I want to accomplish this year both with Knack and within myself as well. I am not a big "resolution" girl....but I do sit down and make a list of goals for the year....then I throw in a couple of "pie in the sky" dreams {just for fun!}.....and also where I want to grow and improve as a mother, wife, and friend. I always want to be open to change and learning new things.Personally, as I move into this new year I want to continue to move towards authenticity. There are three words that I have written down and want to have running through my head daily......authenticity, intentionality, and courage. Authenticity in life for me means not holding back truth, being transparent and open in a loving way, keeping the "pleaser" inside me in check, and being okay with the fallout. Intentionality for me means making very purposeful choices, surrounding myself with people who will challenge me, and push me to be better...loving my friends and family hard......waking up every day with purpose.....living life on purpose. Then, there comes the courage word. I need courage to live out the first two words!! I want the courage to be humble when I am wrong, the courage to change directions if needed, the courage to be honest with others even at the risk of being injured myself, the courage to face fear with confidence, the courage to let go, the courage to live out a life of authenticity.I hope that each one of you who reads this will take time over the next couple of weeks to make plans for the new year. Fun plans, maybe plans, and plans to change and be better than you are right now. I hope that you will spend time with those you love, and love them unconditionally. Family and close friends are a gift, and the most important investment in this life.Merry Christmas!{ I will be taking time off for Christmas and will see you back here January 7th!}xo,Barb
Etcetera: New matchboxes, and a new year coming....with big plans
This post will be a bit all over the place...but that is what the word "etcetera" exemplifies right?So, today is the perfect day to talk about new matchbox designs arriving in the shop...love these new horse head designs......and exciting plans for the new year!2013 is already shaping up for Knack....and the horses are pushing against that gate just ready to shoot out and fly! I am super thankful to have two new interns starting in January. I will introduce them to you all properly next month. I am really excited that Emily is an interior design major, and Victoria is a studio art major ....so each one brings different creative gifts and talents to the table. Both girls have sweet personalities and are eager to get in here and learn the ropes of being a creative business owner....and for that I am excited and thankful. It is going to be a busy Spring {think....book release!} and I am very thankful for the extra helping hands that I will have on my team.One of the big changes for Knack will be that I am bringing everything under one roof! For the first time in Knack history, I will no longer have an antique booth.....but will have everything housed right here in the shop.... at Knack. This new location {11 Lois Ave.} has proven over and over to be the perfect place for the growth of Knack. With the separate work space in the back and the gorgeous shop in the front, it is absolutely perfect for everything that I do here at Knack. Even though it is a very, very hard decision for me to leave Antiques on Augusta....{part of my heart is there, and I am forever grateful for the people and experiences over these last 6 years}...the time has come. I am very excited to have everything in one place, and to really develop the shop location into what I have thought about and planned for, for a while now.In addition to having the shop up and running, with regular business hours, there will also be a shopping cart added to the website so that you can purchase not only furniture....but also any of the other goodies that are available in the shop! I am really excited about this option....and you should be too! With the click of a button you can purchase the items of your choice! Woo hoo! No more emails and phone calls back and forth.....even though I will still gladly do that if you feel so inclined!I have a few secrets up my sleeve that will hopefully develop into full blown, tangible events so that I can tell you about those as well......For now....have a great weekend....and finish Christmas shopping if you have not done so already! These next few weeks will be so special and fun filled! Enjoy the Christmas season and treasure the time spent together!xo,Barb
Etcetera: Decorate Workshop Book Winner!
Hello friends.....I am a mucho grande tardy girl today! It was a busy one! Whew!BUT..... I wanted to announce the winner for the Decorate Workshop book.......and it is......MARTHA LEONE !!! Congrats Martha! Please send me your mailing address so that we can get it right out to you!Have a great weekend everyone!xo,Barb
Book Giveaway: Decorate Workshop by Holly Becker
I am so excited to be part of the official blog tour for my friend and mentor Holly Becker of Decor8 ! Holly is one of my very special people, and inspires the socks off of me! I am so honored and excited that the forward to my book was written by this fantastic lady.I ordered Decorate Workshop the very second it became available for pre-order and could not wait to get my hands on it! I also have Holly's first book Decor8 , and I have spent plenty of time reading through it, figuring out how to incorporate it into my home, and agreeing with everything Holly says.Decorate Workshop is such an amazing book. It is the complete guide to intentional living and includes every single tool you need to fine tune your home and make it work for you and the way that your family lives!I had major talks with my husband when I finished reading through this book. There are a few rooms in our home {ok, more than a few!} that have just become landing places for piles of papers and books, book bags, shoes, items that need to be returned to people.....and well, you get the picture:} I think one of the biggest things that I take away when reading Holly's books is the encouragement to use the pieces that I have, but also to make each room in the home comfortable, beautiful, functional, and filled with intention. I literally went out and bought three pads of graph paper so that I could draw out rooms, sketch, and make wish lists for the items that I would like to add to my home. It is that thought provoking folks.....and on top of being inspiring, it is empowering.I also love that all of the rooms and homes featured in Holly's books are very non intimidating and real. I really connect with many of the images and mood boards.....and think Holly's eye and taste are spot on and very approachable.I have met Holly in person and I can honestly say that her personality is the same.....warm, real, open, and honest. I can't say enough about how much I love this lady! {and her fantastic books}One of you has a chance to win Holly's latest book Decorate Workshop right now! Just leave me a comment and I will announce the winner on Friday! If you would like to keep up with the blog tour {and more chances to win} here is the schedule:
Tuesday, November 27 – Sacramento Street & A Creative MintWednesday, November 28 – Hooray & Design For MankindThursday, November 29 – Decorology & BloesemFriday, November 30 – The Curated House & Design MuseMonday, December 3 – Simply Grove & In Honor of DesignTuesday, December 4 – In My Own Style & This is Love ForeverThursday, December 6 – Justina Blakeney & MintFriday, December 7 – The TomKat Studio & Down and Out Chic
xo,Barb
Etcetera: Cranny is the best
What can I say.....my sister is incredibly talented and I just love the beautiful things she makes...her blog...her photographs.....HER!I have a set of her yarn trees that stay out year round { yes, I love them that much!}.....I will be selling the "do small things with great love" calendars at Knack starting TODAY......{or you can get them from Cranny's Etsy shop} I am thinking that I need the yarn letter book ends as well.....{ and yes that piece of furniture is a Knack original that I painted and wallpapered in the middle of my sisters living room in Portland Oregon when I was there for a visit!}.Oh how I wish we were together today......the miles between us are too many. I love you sis.xo,Barb