The wait is over and we are partying tonight!
I honestly cannot believe this very fun day is here.....I {as well as my family} have been working towards and waiting for this day for a couple of years! I cannot contain my excitement any longer....it's just bubbling and bursting out....and I am ready to spend hours celebrating with my people!I am having the entire event videoed and photographed....so I will be sure to share the goods as soon as I have them! I can't wait for you all to see all of the decorations....the flowers, the cakes, the confetti wall, the paper lanterns, poufs, tissue fans, the paper straws in stripes and florals, the wooden "woo hoo" cake banner.....and the balloons! I literally feel like a giddy little kid.....I can't wait to see it all come together today......and I just want to drink in the pretty.....Let's get this party started! In case you are unaware, the Furniture Makeovers book launch party is tonight May 3, from 5-9pm at Knack 11 Lois Ave. Greenville, SC 29611! I would love to see you there!I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.....and I will be back on Monday with some tidbits.....xo,Barb
Etcetera: Photography and Photo shoots
1. Aaron and Jon giving me their best straw smolder 2. Aaron doing his thing 3. Lily and Jon sketching on set 4. Lily providing some much needed entertainment 5. styling goodies all lined up 6. My metal organizational board for shoot lists and photos taken 7. Aaron is a blur 8.Aaron's face when I told him we needed to re shoot my styling! hah!
I told you all that I would have a post up today about my friend and book photographer J Aaron Greene....and I am late....but I am here....and I want to discuss a tiny bit about what went into the photography for the book....and how thankful I am that I had such a talented and organized photographer to work with! First of all.....I want to congratulate him on his recent award from the PDN Photo Annual! Woo Hoo!When I talk to people about the book and they ask what the hardest part was.....I think most people expect me to say the writing part, because writing has never been a strong point of mine, BUT actually the hardest part for me was the styling and photography! Can you believe it?!Let me clarify that. You know how during a cooking demonstration the chef prepares the dish ahead of time...and then when the tv show is being filmed they go through all the steps and then quickly pull out the steaming hot already prepared dish that is ready to go? Well......you can't do that with one of a kind pieces of furniture! I found that out really quickly as we tried to navigate through the waters of making sure that all the before shots were taken before the pieces of furniture were started, and then the shoots had to be super organized as only a certain amount of processes can be done at one time due to drying times and steps of progress. Neither I nor Aaron wanted to sit around and wait for things to dry so we had to be super intentional about what the shoots looked like and everything had to be lined up and ready to go.Even with the amazing organization {especially on Aaron's part} photo shoots were an all day affair and we had MANY long days! Some days I was "not feeling" the styling and I would arrange, and re arrange until I felt like it was right....and then there was the day that I requested a complete do over because I looked at the photos and did not like how I had styled them! Over 10,000 photographs were taken..{many were quick shots of my hands moving faster than lightening! but still LOTS}....and those had to be narrowed down to 450...which then got narrowed down a bit more for the final cut for the book. Let's just say that Aaron and I not only spent many hours shooting in my studio, but we also spent many hours in Aaron's studio looking at the computer screen picking out photos. I don't know what I would have done without the skills that Aaron possesses!I am also so very, very thankful for my friend Lily Wikoff....owner and designer at the fantastic Lily Pottery! Lily took many, many hours out of her busy schedule to be there for all of the photo shoots, sketch out vignettes, track down styling pieces, and be my second and third and fourth set of hands and eyes. Lily has enough energy for the entire universe and her styling eye is spot on. It was beyond helpful...like "I've got no words helpful"..... for me to have this friend on my team.I am so thankful for the many friends who helped out during the book process..I could not have made it through without my friends and family! I will talk more about all of them next week....as this whole process was an experience I will never forget, and one that stretched me and grew me in ways that I will forever be grateful.My heart if full of gratitude.xo,Barb Blair
Etcetera: It's Friday.....and I leave you with "Leisbeth" the little side table with flair
We made it to Friday....and what a busy weekend I have ahead! My daughter and I are headed to Charlotte tonight for a concert...and we also have some shopping and dinner on the agenda! We are so excited...Then......my husband and I will be finally painting the guest bathroom and getting all of the finishing touches completed on that project! I hope to talk him into painting the dining room as well! {shhhh!}I told you there would be three furniture makeovers this week....so I am here to keep my word and deliver the goods! This sweet little side table is painted in the most neutral and soft shade of gray...and has a chalkboard top....so the sky is the limit as far as design for the top. Have at it!Her name is "Liesbeth" and she measures 20" tall, 21 1/2" wide, and 28" long. I will only have her available in the shop here in Greenville, and not online....unless you want to purchase her with another larger piece and save on shipping.Have a great weekend everyone!xo,Barb
Etcetera: This week's work
I have been a little under the weather this week.....but have been trying to plug along....and I finally crashed today......it has been rough.Inspite of not feeling well......I am very thankful for another really successful and busy week at Knack! New furniture pieces were created and I am absolutely loving them! I have included a sneak peek of the newest collaboration piece by Annie Koelle and Knack!Hope you all have a great weekend!xo,Barb
Etcetera: Foundling
My favorite Christmas present this year was my custom date ring stack from foundling ! I wear it any time I am not working at Knack because I am so worried I will ruin it! My ring numbers are: 7 for Jon and I's birthdays, a 6 for our anniversary, a 12 for my daughter's birthday, and an 8 for my son's birthday.
I love the design of these rings and the fact that they are so thin and "stackable"! They are comfortable to wear, remind me of the important things in life, and garner compliments all the time.
Visit foundling's beautiful shop today, and pick up a treat for yourself or someone you love.
Etcetera: Start thinking about May 3....you will not want to miss it!
I know that it is a bit early, but as I plan for the Furniture Makeovers Launch party I realize {and have been asked lots of questions about!} that there are those of you planning to come in from out of town and need to start making travel arrangements...so I wanted to go ahead and put the date out there so everyone can start their planning! MAY 3, 2013!!I am having so much fun planning the events of the evening and can tell you that it will be like nothing I have ever done before! The food is going to be wonderful, there will be special prizes and gift boxes, we will have books for sale, I will be signing.....and it is just going to be a really great time. {if I do say so myself!}I can't even tell you how much fun I am having putting it all together.....and making special plans to have lots of treats to give away.Mark your calendars now....and plan to come....I am very much looking forward to seeing all of you on this very special night!xo,Barb
Etcetera: Makers Summit....was amazing!
Gorgeous photographs by Paige of Lightnest Collective
This time last weekend I was a nervous wreck as I was madly preparing my panel speech for the Makers Summit here in Greenville. Public speaking is not a strong point for me, and because of that, I spent several hours over the past few weeks getting speech coaching. It was the best decision I could have ever made...and helped me tremendously in overcoming my fear of public speaking. I highly recommend it! I still shook like a leaf while I was presenting, but having an outline and knowing what I was going to say made a huge difference in the way that I felt during the delivery! Remember one of my words for the year? COURAGE.I really can't say enough about this conference. I have spoken at, and attended conferences before....but this conference was different. It was the best conference I have ever attended and I have 5 pages of notes to prove it! The people, the discussions, the food, the packaging, the details, the everything... was done to perfection and I could not be more proud of my friends Erin, Elizabeth and Jen {who also run the Indie Craft Parade} for a job very well done. I am so glad to be a part of what these three talented gals do and am also very proud of it all happening right here in Greenville!I hope you all enjoy the photos! You can watch the awesome video here. Make plans to attend next year! You will not want to miss it....and it will sell out!Have a great weekend!xo,Barb