painted canvas buckets :: geometrics

A few weeks ago Angie and I were thinking about some new products that we could make and sell in the shop... and we have all kinds of fun and exciting new things we are itching to show you! {as we get them made!}One of the products that we decided on are these roll top canvas "buckets"! Angie cut out and sewed the buckets, and then we taped them off with FrogTape® in a geometric design and painted away! We have so many different design ideas for these little guys and are excited about creating a whole new collection of them for the shop. We are working towards getting all of them completed, and also creating some with handles and added design elements. It has been really fun for us to think of new projects that aren't necessarily furniture related, but still related to home.... and living with what you love.Our full painting tutorial of how we completed this first design is up over on the FrogTape blog, so check it out here! 

Simple Pleasures :: Plus Signs

We have been wanting to add a little zing and bling to the doors in the shop, and so we grabbed a roll of FrogTape® and some pitch black milk paint , and in about an hour we were done!What a difference a few well placed plus signs can make...... and how awesome is it that you can create any stencil you want using tape?! Pretty awesome indeed!The full tutorial will be up on the FrogTape® blog today, so be sure to check it out! Get creative, and see what walls or doors you can create big impact with! We had all of these simple materials on hand, and pretty sure you all would too! Make something fun today, and enjoy the change!

Striped Candle Cubes

We had a ton of fun creating these candle cubes made from wood scraps that we had left over from a previous table project. Everything gets saved around the Knack shop and workshop {especially wood scraps!} and when we were trying to decide what projects to make for the FrogTape® post this month, these candle cubes came to mind. It has been a couple of years since we have made any candle holders, and these were created with a lot more detail than in the past. Candle cubes are perfect for gift giving, and summer entertaining...and are SUPER easy on the budget! An 8 x 4 x 4 fence post is about $8... and depending on the varying sized cubes you create....you can make about 20 cubes per post! Woo Hoo! You can create away, and come up with so many interesting patterns.My full tutorial on how to make these colorful cubes will be up on the FrogTape® blog Wednesday May 21st, so be on the lookout for that! {I will try to remind you!} We have another project up our sleeve for this month as well, and it involves walls....so we can't wait to show you that one!Speaking of projects.......FrogTape® is running a contest promotion right now called Earn Your Stripes! To enter, you will need to create a project using FrogTape... showing before, during and after shots... and get your submission in by July 1st. Every entry will receive a roll of shape tape {which is totally cool}, but the GRAND PRIZE is $ 5,000.00 you guys!! {who couldn't use a little bit of that?!} So get on it, and create an awesome project using FrogTape! The official rules are here, the most FAQ's are here, and the entry link and further info are here!Hope you have had a great start to your week!xo,Barb Blairp.s. Isn't Angie the cutest in her thrifted cut offs and hat? Angie helped style this shoot and created the flower arrangement.....she's amazing like that!

Knack Stories

We are not sure if you all saw this video that the fantastic team at Traveling Storytellers captured a few weeks ago, so we wanted to post it again...{because Sam and Matt are so talented and we are so stoked that we got to work with these guys!}...and we also feel like this video is a perfect introduction for a new project we have been working on for the last two months here at Knack called.......Knack Stories. Angie, Jeanne and I got to talking at our March team meeting.....and we all agreed that the concept of Knack Stories was something we had all been thinking about in some way or another....so, we put our heads together and came up with a plan. Angie created the beautiful illustrations, and Jeanne wrote and edited all of the text.......and I, well....I created the furniture. Go Team!http://vimeo.com/90608302Every piece of furniture at Knack is designed and created with passion. Every furniture piece inherits a special new life, a new name, and blank pages to tell a new story. That story does not end when the furniture leaves our shop.....and we want to hear its next chapter.  If you’ve brought one home, we would love to hear about it!Here is how the story telling begins:+ What makes your piece special to you?+ Does your piece start conversations?+ How do you live with what you love?Please send us three to five photos of your piece (or pieces), along with a short paragraph telling the story of your home and what it means to have Knack in the mix. The email to send text and photos to is : barb@knackstudios.comPhotos should be

• Vertical
• 640 wide by 966 tall
• High resolution
• Naturally lit and bright
• Styled and beautiful

We can't wait to hear your stories, and feature them right here on the Knack blog! So....what are you waiting for?! Get to typing and photographing!xo,Barb

Decorate with Flowers || A Book Review

It comes as absolutely no surprise to those who know me well.... "I LOVE FRESH FLOWERS!" {yes, I am yelling that as I type it} To me, flowers make all the difference in the world. They add color, freshness, beauty, green..... life to every photo, room, or nook and cranny they are placed in. There is simply nothing better....So, when my friend Holly Becker and stylist Leslie Shewring teamed up to produce their new book "Decorate with Flowers"...published by Chronicle Books.....I knew I would be first in line to add it to my collection. I also happen to love having beautiful books in my home, that not only make my book shelves and coffee tables look fantastic, but that I can go to over and over for inspiration and relaxation.As I initially flipped through the book {because I was too excited to sit down and read it} I was drawn to all of the beautiful color, perfectly styled environments, and bright photos. Then, when I got home and actually sat down to spend time pouring over the book....I was absolutely thrilled that Decorate with Flowers is not only pretty styled photographs and beautiful color.....it is also FULL of tutorials and sweet DIY projects! Double goodness indeed.I was so inspired by all of the projects in this book, that I went out and bought a bunch of succulents and flowers to plant at the shop. Gracie and I spent a whole afternoon planting and creating with flowers....and now the shop is brimming with beautiful Spring arrangements.Thank you, Holly and Leslie....for a book that is beautiful and inspiring!Well done!xo,Barb 

Sweet As Honey

When Bonnie Christine.. of the lovely blog Going Home to Roost ... contacted me about participating in a blog tour promoting her new Sweet as Honey fabric line, I took one look at the fabric and said...YES !I had two chairs that were just beggin' for fresh paint and new fabric seats, and so this was the perfect opportunity for a new beginning....and a makeover!Here is what the chairs looked like before: {not horrible, but not hallelujah invoking either}Here is how many layers of fabric were on one of the seats: { three, and lots of straw and moss stuffing}I created custom {and very special} milk paint colors specifically for this project. I love how the tones blend with the fabric! Now, Isn't that somethin'?! It's amazing what a little paint and fabric can do!If you would like to follow along on the tour, and see all 25 projects, click here. Yesterday, Heidi from Hands Occupied created sweet little needle pouches, and tomorrow Caitlin will have a brand new project up on her blog, Salty Oat.Enjoy!xo,Barb

A Modern Tape Treatment Using FrogTape®

  My second post for FrogTape® is live! I took an armoire, painted the base in blue milk paint and then chose army green, pink, and gold latex paints to add a stripe pattern to the doors. The brass octopus knobs are bangin'.....and round out the design very nicely!The full tutorial is here on the FrogTape blog, so check it out....and this armoire is available for sale in the online shop here, as well as our brick and mortar shop on Lois Ave.!Enjoy!xo,BarbI received compensation to complete this project for using FrogTape® products. All opinions, projects and ideas are based on my own experience.

Milk Paint and Knobs Are Here

I know I talked about lots of exciting changes and happenings around here in my post a few weeks ago....but I thought I would let you all know that a couple of those happenings are tangible....and here!Milk paint is in the shop, and online here  As well as...... the first selections of knobs and hardware! You can stop by the shop, or purchase in the online shop here. Yippee!Hope you all are having a great Wednesday!xo,Barb