Introductions: A beautiful blue girl named "eleanor"

Well.....when I said I would get this post up "later today".......I had no idea it meant this "later".......but today was absolutely crazy, and I have just now sat down to blog and post pictures from today :} Shawew!Without further "ado" I would like to introduce you to "Eleanor". Oh, hey pretty lady! Miss Eleanor is hand painted in a custom milk paint color mixed by yours truly and finished off with a flat polyurethane and some smashing knob goodness.Miss Eleanor was available for sale this weekend at Open Studios.......and she was spotted......claimed....and is headed out the studio door tomorrow to see if she matches the paintings and the chase lounge in her new home......pretty sure she will be staying....but if not.....she will be in the etsy shop soon! I'll keep you posted!xo,Barb

Introductions: A giant desk for the Benjamins

I just finished this super large desk for some friends of mine! This is the second piece of furniture that I have been asked to paint for these guys, and I am super happy with how it turned out! Eric is a very talented artist, whose fantastic artwork is hanging on the wall in these pictures..... {and who you will be hearing more about in the coming weeks!} ...Eric and his wife Bekki have filled their home with color and texture. It is absolutely bursting with goodness!I love that this job called for lots of orange and green paint, along  with some heavy distressing on the desk top to show a wear pattern {Eric's specific request!}.... as if arms had worn through the paint over years of use and love......So fun......xo,Barb

Introductions: Masted ships, mustard paint, and a chair named "Argosy"

I hated the fabric and the look of this chair so much I almost did not buy it......but something in me whispered "It's gonna knock your socks off".....and so against my better judgement I purchased it, and brought it back to the studio! I am so glad I listened to that inner voice......because this chair paired with some mustard paint, and masted ship fabric from IKEA is in serious danger of going down as one of my favorites! I don't play favorites ....so that is saying a lot!I love this chair so much.......and the name is "Argosy". "Argosy" if you please. {350.00}xo,Barb

Introductions: A look back

This week is a really exciting week for my family, and for Knack. Over the past couple of weeks as I have prepared for the Grand Opening/ 5 year journey party, I have found myself looking back to the very beginnings of Knack.....how it all happened, the people that fell out and into place.... the three locations, the blessings, the hardships, the tears, and the laughs.I want to spend this week looking back, and remembering as I lead up to the big party this Friday night.....and I will culminate with my complete business story on Friday......all of my advice, and experience....in one gigantic post that has never been published before. I get asked questions about my story through emails on an almost weekly basis.....and I think this is the perfect week to finally sit down and write it all out from start to finish.......I hope it will be an encouragement and blessing to everyone who reads it.Today however,  is about the very first studio on Pendleton Street. The address was 1207 Pendleton Street, it was 2007/2008 and it was 600 square feet that I split with Lily Pottery. It was my first studio....ever.....and it will always be special. I loved this little space, because for the first time I had a place to work outside of my garage, I could actually meet the people buying my furniture face to face, it was a place to hold events and fun activities......and I began to see, and get a sense for where this thing could go...............and go it did......indeed.More tomorrow......xo,Barb

Introductions: Flukes and Spiky Flowers

Hello.....it's Monday morning and I am supposed to have a piece of furniture for you right? Well, I finished a fantastic green sideboard this past week......and with the whirlwind of getting the studio set up for First Friday's and many other things.....I FORGOT TO STYLE  AND SHOOT THE AFTER SHOT before the owners came and picked it up!! Seriously.....I have serious remorse....serious. Blegh.So........instead, you have to look at pictures from around the showroom....including these fantastic new "flowers" that I found...and fell in love with. These bad boys are grown locally.......and I forgot the name of them.Forgot. Forgot. Forgot.This is the word of the day for today.Furniture coming soon......including a really awesome sitting chair.....and it is all me.....with mustard paint and masted ship fabric to boot!xo,Barb

Introductions - Striped end tables and a giveaway winner

I am currently finishing up a custom job of which these sweet little end tables are a part of....but there is also a chest of drawers, a coffee table, a couch, and a sitting chair that are all going in the same room together. It has been a big job...and one that needed planning so that all of the pieces will blend, but not be bland and blah. I was given total creative liberty, and planned my designs based on the existing wall colors and fabric choices for the bedding, couch and sitting chair.I have used two different base colors of paint for all of the pieces....but then added in a few other complimentary colors with the detail work so that things are a little more on the design end and less on the boring end. I want all of my pieces to be more than just paint and distressing and with these guys, the off centered stripes add a little fun and a bit of masculinity to the feminine lines.I will show you the chest of drawers and coffee table next......they are not quite done yet :}**And now for the big news of the day......the winner of the Olive Box giveaway is......... commenter #18 Melanie! Melanie, please email me your info {barb@knackstudios.com} so that I can pass it along to Olive Box! Congrats!xo,Barb

Introductions- Olive Box launches today

Today is a super big day for my friend Grace. {Pink Olive owner, retail extraordinaire, and personal mentor!} One of the things I have always admired when walking into the Pink Olive stores is the selection of paper products. Cards, journals, calendars, note pads and books..... by all of my favorite artists and authors. Well, Grace has just launched a monthly paper club called Olive Box! Now you can have these favorite treats delivered to your mailbox every month!I received my first box {photos above} in the mail last week, and the hand selected paper goods and gifts inside are absolutely exquisite! A beautiful card, stickers, a scrumptious bar of  soap and two sweet little pocket notebooks. Part of the goal for Olive Box is to encourage more letter writing and snail mail.....so each month it will be different cards and gift items so that you have a variety of pieces to use personally, give as gifts, or simply to send a little note of encouragement to a friend far or near.I am completely on board with this plan and am so excited about the launch of such a great program. Visit the Olive Box site for more information, and to get yourself subscribed ASAP!Congrats Grace! You are awesome!xo,Barb

Introductions- Yellow nightstand....and beyond

Today I have a tale of two before shots. I am entering a whole new realm with some of my furniture designs, and I am going where I have never gone before. EVER. I am very excited about this idea/venture.....and am here to report that this little yellow nightstand is only half done......that's right......not even close to being finished......I will be revealing the final product very soon....and the fabulous name of this piece as well.......you will not want to miss the reveal.Oh....and p.s. this is only the beginning......infinity and beyond is where I am headed.Have a great Monday!xo,Barb