shop knack :: fall faves
We've been heralding fall around here for the past couple of weeks - stringing gilded leaves in our windows, sipping Pumpkin Spice Lattes, picking apples, the whole gamut. This past Tuesday, Fall answered. Cooler winds are blowing through Greenville, bringing that unmistakeable urge to be with folks you love, to share a meal, to gather.In honor of autumn's arrival, we've corralled some of our fall favorites from around the shop.
steps of growth
Is this not the truest thing? I mean to tell you, I love to repeat one of my favorite mantras... "never stop learning"....but it is a bit more challenging when the learning or "growth" is hard.
I love to learn fun things, or learn about things that I am interested in, but when the things I am learning propel me out of my comfort zone and force me to face the giant named Uncomfortable... I suddenly lose courage and wish someone else was doing the learning for me.
Yet, in the end, growth and learning always lead to the slaying of giants, increased faith, and peace.
So....grow on with your bad selves.
eye spy :: lighting + a basket
I always love a well designed piece that is functional and affordable, and so....I thought I would give you a heads up on a couple noteworthy pieces. This light from IKEA and basket from Target have successfully made it into my shopping cart....and therefore my home.I specifically love the cord detail on the clamp light. I am a huge advocate of the fact that details are so important, and love that this cord is a black and white fabric cord vs a plain black plastic cord. I also love the touch of gold on the neck of the lamp. To me, these two things set the fixture apart and make it desirable. The 19.99 price tag isn't too shabby either, and seals the deal.The basket is also on sale at Target right now for 19.99, and you just can't go wrong with a soft jute basket. {remember this post about my sisters house?} My first jute basket purchase influenced by my sister has successfully been made!{p.s. my friend Jennifer went to IKEA yesterday and bought me two of the fig plants as well! They are a really good size and super affordable at 12.99 ea}Happy shopping!
knack life :: festivals and fall
- beautiful new signs from Olive + Grey are getting us in the mood for dinner parties and gatherings
- gilded leaves all around our shop, heralding autumn
- our table display at Indie Craft Parade showing off our new tea towels
- a special sofa project
- back to work on #knackbook2 with a beautiful tabletop
- iconic flag banners hanging over the Indie Craft Parade
never settle
It always seems like big exciting things come in huge waves for me. Right now there are so many opportunities presenting themselves and it feels heavy, exciting, and overwhelming all at the same time. I feel like I can't breathe because I am so stinking excited and scared, and I fluctuate between the two constantly.It is important to remember, in these times, to step back and breathe. Never ever rush into anything, weigh out all of your options, talk with those who know you best {and who will most likely be affected by your decision}, and make the decision that is going to be the best and the healthiest. The best decision should not add more pressure but rather freedom....and this is where the rubber meets the road. There may be things that you really want to do, but they would not be best, even though they seem so exciting and glamorous....and that is where true courage and wisdom steps in.Not all open doors are meant to be walked through.
gettin buggy :: meet tympana
There is one thing that I love about Southern summers, and it is the cicada's singing in the trees as I drift off to sleep each night. Growing up on the West Coast I had never experienced this, and will never forget the very first time I ever heard it.The Cicada song is an unmistakeable sound, and when combined with the sparks of the firefly in flight it makes for a magical evening.I have wanted to do a bug piece for a very long time.....and I finally found the person to collaborate with on this piece! Angie Thompson { shop manager; mover and shaker at Knack} did an amazing job capturing the detail of the cicada with her beautiful charcoal strokes....and we couldn't be more proud of how this piece turned out!We were going to list miss Tympana in the online shop....but she sold before we could do that! We are already planning another one though...so never fear...more bugs are in our future!
furniture love :: meet little miss siolella
This 
This lovely little gal is my newest beauty.....that I can share with you that is :} I cannot even tell you how exhilarating it is {and completely exhausting too!} to be creating new furniture designs for Knack book two. Designing furniture is my passion, and still gets my blood pumping even after all of these years. I cannot wait until the day that I can show you these new designs I have come up with. I am creatively full, and completely challenged....and I love being in that place. So, whenever I actually have time to create pieces outside the work for the book it is an extra special day for me......and I hope for you as well.I think most of you know that I am a huge fan of FrogTape®. It is the only tape that I recommend in my first book Furniture Makeovers, because I truly find it to be superior to any other tape on the market, and it has been my only tape of choice for years now. I promoted this tape way before I received anything monetarily from FrogTape®......{ I was accused of working for them the moment I stated it was the only tape I used.....because everybody assumes in the blog world that if you promote something specifically....you must be getting paid to do so, right?} Not so with me folks. I am a small fish in a big pond and I only promote something if I can get behind it 100 percent. I have turned down so many promotional opportunities due to the fact that I could not honestly get behind a product or event. FrogTape® is a product I can get behind, and since I believe in this product and use it in my work on a daily basis, it felt very natural to say "yes to the tape people" when they came calling about 6 months ago.For this project I chose to use the new Shape Tape in the scallop design. Have you all tried any of the Shape Tapes? If not....you should! They are so great!I wanted to create something pretty, but not cutesy, and knew that this would be a challenge with scallops. So, as I am known to do...I chose rich colors and kept it simple. You can never go wrong with charcoal gray and gold can you? I don't think so! I finished off the piece by lining the drawer with pretty Rifle Paper wrapping paper, and attaching a brass floral knob that my dad brought back from his latest trip to India.I think Siolella is gorgeous, and I am so happy with her and her pretty scallops. I want to celebrate and give away a little happy......So, I will give a roll of scallop Shape Tape to the first two people who comment here on the blog! {United States only please}Here are a couple tips to remember when using FrogTape®:> don't stretch it too tight or you will distort the shape> use a squeegee after applying the tape to make sure that it is adhered properly> water activates the tape bond in order to keep paint out, and lines sharp. So, use a damp rag {not soaking wet} to wipe along the edges of your tape to activate the seal before painting. {do not do this with milk paint..... ever.}Let me know how you all like using shape tape in your work!{* gorgeous florals by Julie Dodds of Willow Florals}