this week :: happenings
It is hard to think that another week has flown by yet again. So often I am reminded of how fleeting life is and how quickly it moves.This week was full of challenges and blessings, which is what all good weeks should be full of....right?There was coffee with dear friends....twice....at Methodical coffee and The Village Grind.There was the Makers Summit, which filled me to the brim with happiness for the creative community that I am so blessed to be a part of.There was brunch with a new friend (pictured above, Rachel Faucett) and then an after hours visit to my shop with that same friend where we talked more about how much we love our kids than what was in my shop....and that is a treasure for sure. Most people think I want to talk about the shop most of the time....but even though I am proud of that and love it.... I really want you to know me for who I am outside the shop.There were moments of greatness at the shop where I sent in proposals for new opportunities, met with artists about collaborations, ordered new product, and sent off all of the content for the new Knack website! (yippee!)Now it is late Friday afternoon....I am home.....and there is a pork tenderloin in the oven for dinner tonight which I will make bread, salad and roasted asparagus to go with. I will sit around the dinner table and catch up with my sweet family as we have all had a busy, and full week. Then it will be pajama time.....and maybe a movie.....or two...or maybe some reading....Happy weekending...and much love to you all!( UPDATE: if you would like to buy a t shirt like the one I am wearing, here is the link: www.lovethyhaters.co )xo,Barb
shop snippets :: weekend happenings
I thought I would share a few glimpses that were captured around the shop this week, and share a little bit about the activities of the weekend!First of all, I am very excited to both speak at, and attend my third Makers Summit right here in my home town of Greenville, SC ! This event always proves to be a wonderful time of creative learning and refreshment....not to mention....the PEOPLE! I always walk away with new friends and mentors and that is a wonderful thing! I have heard from several of you that are coming from all over the country...and I am excited to meet you for the first time, and hug the necks of those of you I have met previously on my travels!Also, First Fridays is tomorrow night from 6-9 pm here in the Village of West Greenville! Knack will be open as well as our other friends in the village: Lily Pottery, Art and Light, The Village Grind, Joseph Bradley Studios, Matthew Campbell Studios, Charlie Mae, The Station...and more! Art and Light is having a special show called "12 Friends Bit by Bit" and it is an event that should not be missed!The weather will be gorgeous and warm, so come on down to the Village and immerse yourself in the creative hub of the city!I hope you all have a great weekend!xo,Barb
spring flowers :: flower dreams
Spring is coming ....I can feel it in the change of the weather...the warmer days.....the light lingering a bit longer........and I am so ready for the green leaves to burst forth from their winter slumber, for the trees to explode with color from blooms that can no longer bear to stay trapped inside their pods.A season of new life after patience in dormancy is always such a refreshing season.xo,Barb
patience in anger :: peace and deep breaths
image via here
The older I get, the more and more I realize how true .....and ultimately peaceful this concept is. When I am really riled up, I can tend to be a hot head and I definitely speak my mind! What is in my mind ....should not always come out immediately though.
As I deal with frustrating situations with my children or spouse, weird people, unfairness, irresponsibility on my part as well as others, loss, change....or whatever it is....I am learning that it is totally ok to say "I need a moment" or "I need to go work for a bit until this anger subsides".
If I compare the two instances side by side, I always regret the heat of the moment things that are said.....but when I have taken time to step back, think, pray, and try to understand the situation it always ends in a completely different way.....and in a way that I am much more peaceful about.
Take that moment.
xo,
Barb
plywood wall shelves :: weekend project
We just made these awesome shelves for display at the shop, and I absolutely love them! The tools, materials, and time needed to make these beauties is so minimal but the end result is something so aesthetically awesome and functionally quite perfect.The full tutorial and materials needed for this project are available over on the FrogTape® blog! Check it out, and spend a couple hours this weekend creating fun new shelving for your home or office!xo,Barb
my new chai tea obsession :: the sophisticate's tea
I must start this love story by telling you that ...I cannot and do not drink coffee in any way shape or form, I have tried and tried but can never get past the "what the heck is in my mouth and when can I spit it out" phase. However, I have been an avid chai tea latte drinker for the past 5 or so years. My mom gave me my first taste one day when we were at Starbucks and I was hooked. Then I found out I could buy the Tazo concentrate at my local supermarket and make my own at home! That day was a big day for both my wallet and my drinking habit. Now I could have a chai tea latte every day! And so it began.....Now, I became quite picky about chai tea lattes.....(more like quite snobby)....and even though I bravely tried other brands...I never ever wavered from my beloved Tazo. I got to the point of not even trying other brands because I knew I would not like them. (so bad!)Well, my Tazo chai tea latte days were forever changed the day that my favorite little coffee shop, The Village Grind, opened around the corner from Knack! The Grind's sweet proprietor Lindsey told me I had to try their chai latte because it was the BEST and ....because I wanted to support my local peeps....I tried it. It was not love at first sip for me.....but rather a one eyebrow raising intrigue. How dare this newcomer tantalize my taste buds in this way. A slow love affair began that deepened more and more with each sip, and by the time I had finished my cup I was already wanting more. The smoothness, the lack of overwhelming sweetness, the fact that I could almost taste a hint of lavender (not really...but I swear it was there), I know the people who micro brew it, and the amazing fact that there are only six ingredients... and I can pronounce them all.People....I am a convert...and clearly you all can see what a huge momentous occasion this is. Truly....a big dealio.I can still enjoy making it at home, or I can stop by The Village Grind for a fresh and frothy tall one. If you are in Greenville, stop by the Grind for a hot one of your own, or stop by Knack for a bottle of concentrate so you can make your own at home. Our shelves look beautiful with both the chai tea and the black tea, and I am super happy to have it for a limited time at Knack! If you are not local, go to The Sophisticates Chai website and hook yourself up.Don't blame me when you can't go a day without it. I'll swear I never met you.xo,Barb
work to do
image found here
This is going to be a raw and real moment between you and I.I am known for speaking my mind, for being passionate, for taking risks, for not holding anything back....and all of these things are good and have their place....but like I have always told myself and others....strengths are also weaknesses....and we need to learn to exercise the strength side more than the weakness side.This quote literally hit me in the depths of my soul. What if my words were tattooed all over my body? Would I be a thing of beauty to look upon? Or would I want to hide from others.... to cover every inch of my skin with layers of clothing because my words are so putrid and ugly?I am striving (boy am I striving) to let my words always be seasoned with power, love, and intentionality.....but there are many days where I utterly fail. Thank goodness for grace and the fact that my words are not permanently engraved upon my skin.I've got work to do.xo,Barb
concrete and succulents:: spring is coming
I am home today, because of a little ice storm that hit us here in the south. There is no school, there is no urgency for me to rush to the shop....and for that I am grateful. I can stay at home with my kids (who are out of school), get lots of work done, plan, daydream, and just chill. An added bonus to this situation is that yesterday was my day off, and I spent it grocery shopping and cleaning my house....so I am icebound in a very well stocked and perfectly clean house. How often does that happen? Hot diggity dog!All of this ice makes me think about these pretty plantings that we did recently at Knack. I absolutely love these industrial concrete planters that we sell in the shop, (we have little concrete tea cups too!), and I really love seeing them with filled with fresh earth and succulents in all shades of green. seeing these plump and healthy plants makes me excited for Spring, and for many more plantings of fresh herbs and flowers. Fresh flowers and green plants are truly life giving for me, and I have made a vow to have them in the shop at all times.My current shop collection consists of a stag horn fern, two fiddle leaf figs, several air plants, and vases full of fresh cut flowers. I am forcing Spring to arrive, and currently pretending I have an entire greenhouse situation going on inside the walls at Knack!Think warm thoughts my friends! (especially those of you up north!)xo,Barb