Quotage

print available through society 6

FYI

Did you all know, that you can turn your Instagram photos into magnets? Woot! I take photos with Instagram almost every day, and I swear this is the best news since......um....?....

Anyway, there is this awesome site called StickyGram that has "got it going on"! In only a few short minutes you can arrange a collection of photos, load them up in your cart, and just like that, your photos are on their way! Costs are very reasonable at 14.99 for a set of 9, shipping is free anywhere in the world, and the site is super user friendly. 

These little photo magnet collections would make awesome Christmas gifts! I just ordered my first set to see what I think.....and am totally stoked! Can't wait to get them!

Just thought I would pass this along!

xo,

Barb

Introductions

 I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and a fantastic long weekend! I enjoyed my break ....and therefore am ready to hit it this week! I'm starting things off with a big photo shoot for the book tomorrow, and I will also get cranking on some new furniture pieces as well. I have been painting a lot.....and hope to get more done that I can actually show you, over the next week or so.

To tide you over though, I want to introduce you to my new shoes! I haven't bought a new pair of shoes since my 14.99 sandals at the beginning of the Summer....and I am not a big purchaser of shoes usually....but the craziest thing happened this weekend that I must tell you about. When I find myself in Virginia, I do not miss a chance to head over to the Jcrew clearance store, and this trip was no different.....that is until we drove up to the store and there were cars everywhere! You could hardly find a place to park....and I immediately knew that I had happened upon the sample sale that they hold only a couple of times a year. It. Was. Crazy.

I only had about 40 minutes before I had to meet a friend for lunch, so I thought I would just pop in....but let me tell you...from the moment they handed me my humongo plastic bag, and price sheet I knew I was in trouble. It was a bit overwhelming to walk into the warehouse and see box after box of clothes, jewelry, accessories, shoes......so I went for what I was most interested in, {and that which I usually can't even come close to affording}, which is the shoes. It took me about 10 minutes to find these beauties, in a soft brown Italian leather

  .... I knew by the time I went to the sorting table, had my paper marked, and then waited in line to pay, they were the only thing I would be walking out with. I loved them, and decided to make them my one find....but secretly hoped i would be able to go back and shop with no time limit. Well, I did get to go back....and I headed straight for the shoes again! This time I found one...yes, one.... of these gray suede beauties

...but after searching, and searching....and searching for the mate....I told one of the workers {who had been helping me look} that I hated to give up, but I just was tired of looking. He was so very nice and told me to leave my number, and he would try to find it for me. I thought...."hmmm, I don't know how you are going to do that, but sure!"..... you know what? He called me the next day, and said that he had found the mate, and they were waiting for me at the register! Is that not the coolest thing? If you could have seen this warehouse..... all the people, boxes, clothes and craziness....I mean, I don't even know how he found that shoe...but he did, and I think he is awesome for going that extra mile for me.

You know the other cool thing about all this shoe nonsense? Each pair was only 40.00...yeah, that's right.....and at this very moment, the boots are on the Madewell website for 178.00 , and the heels are on sale for 79.99 {original price 228.00!}

Gotta love it!

xo,

Barb

Grateful

image via pinterest

I will be, and I will be grateful for this week, this month, this year, this life, this abundance of goodness, this everything....the good, the bad, the broken, the ugly......because all of it shapes and molds, and brings forth transformation.

....

It has been a very busy past couple of weeks here at Knack, and this week, I will be heading out of town with my family to celebrate Thanksgiving. I want to take this week to completely unplug, reflect, laugh, love, pack suitcases, eat derby pie, shove some mashed potatoes down JB's shirt, have impromptu dance parties in the car, watch Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, hit the JCrew clearance store, wear fuzzy socks, and take a million pictures. 

I hope you all do a lot of the same, and I will be back next week!

xo,

Barb

Etcetera

It's the little things, like this tin full of awesome knobs....

that arrived in the mail...

from a bosom friend...

that I have yet to meet in person...

that totally rock my face off!

Have a rootin' tootin' weekend, yo!

xo,

Barb

Found Goodness

I have been on the hunt for some really awesome, fantastic, and mind blowing stools for my new desk area at the studio. Let's just say that while doing some ordering for Knack, I came across these babies.....and I think the red will do just fine. Two for me.......and how many for you? hmmm?

xo,

Barb

Quotage

FYI

 I had a little moment of "not so genius" yesterday when I quickly, and with all the confidence in the world, applied a "clear" poly to a white wallpapered piece. YIKES! Sure wish I had remembered that this particular can was used on a black project last time, and even though I love the shade of gray that came through......not what I was going for with this particular piece.

Fyi, note to self....good to know, and all of that jazz. I will be honest and say that I had to leave the studio for a bit.....since I have already spent many hours on this piece.......but, today I am back at it with fresh eyes, and it's all going to work out just fine.#New plan.

Here's to problem solving, and makin' it work!

xo,

Barb

Introductions

This past week was full of Open Studios, a speaking engagement, and an art show at Knack. All went very well, but kept me super busy. Since the studio had to stay set up in "pretty mode", there wasn't a whole lot of painting that went on. I am anxious to get back to the work that I love this week, and be covered in paint!

For today though, I want to introduce you to my newly filled and styled booth at Antiques on Augusta! I spent most of the day on Friday loading and unloading from studio to the booth.....and then trying to arrange and rearrange. I swear that sometimes I lose my brain, and cannot style the way that I want to....but thankfully my friends Barry and Sam stepped in and saved the day! They helped me move one piece, and then it all just clicked and came together magically after that. Thank goodness for fresh eyes!  

This week I will be busily getting ready for the first big styled shoot for the Knack book! The photo shoot will take place on November 29th.  I have much work to do, and many supplies and styling accessories to pull together, but I am going to enjoy every minute of it. I will also be working on a couple new furniture pieces for Knack.  From here on out, the book will fill my plate....and I plan to devote all of my creative time and energy into producing something really special. It is important to me to create this work, not only for others, but for my children...and their children.....and hopefully many generations of creatives to come. 

Have a dandy Monday!

xo,

Barb

oopsie......

In the craziness of this week, I forgot to let you all know the winner of the Stacey Winters heart photograph contest! Stacey took care of drawing the name and making all of the arrangements....all I had to do was announce.......For goodness sake.......

Well....Rebekah from Honey Suckle Life is the winner! Congrats, girl!

xo,

Barb

Etcetera

Where do I even start with how beautiful last night was? We had a wonderful turnout, with a packed studio for most of the night....super delicious food made by my dear friend Renee, music, and beautiful, colorful artwork everywhere! However, I think the best part of the night for me was this:

...After everyone had gone and we were all about to say our goodbyes...{which was took forever because we didn't want to let each other go!}...Elizabeth Foster wanted to sit down and sing with my daughter Brynn. We have Elizabeth's cd, and Brynn knows almost every word of every song. So the two of them picked a song, Elizabeth got out her guitar, and away they went. By the end of the song everyone was in tears....it was the most beautiful thing to hear two voices...one of them my flesh and blood....singing a gorgeous melody. My little B has not stopped smiling.  It. was. amazing.

Thank you  Elizabeth, Sarah, and Julie Lee for your music, your faith, and what you have invested in all of us who were lucky enough to spend an evening with you.

Have a wonderful weekend, my crazy friends!

xo,

Barb

Found Goodness

...so sorry for the late post, but it is crazy busy in here today as we hang the artwork for tonight's show! It is looking amazing!

xo,

Barb

Quotage

via pinterest

Word.

xo,

Barb

FYI

hello, this is my place.

the most beautiful man in the world

new chair. couldn't get enough of the color.

favorite spot.

turquoise bed

my friend morgan found this for me, and delivered. now my dining room wall will say "eat".

my work table

more flower goodness

...just a few snippets from the open studios weekend that I just had at Knack. It was beautiful outside, colorful and happy inside, and just a really great weekend.

xo,

Barb

Introductions

Meet "Evenrue".

She's a gem of a gal, and these knobs were made for her. 

Stoked.

xo,

Barb

hey!

I'm the Stacey behind Stacey Winters Photography. Along with photography I enjoy creating handmade items and am a huge fan of Barb...in every single way! As a guest blogger over here at Knack I'm going to share some photography tips that I have gathered along the way.

Usually the first question I get is what camera are you using and what lens do you go to most often so we'll start there. I work with a Canon 5D and am in love with my 100mm macro lens. I use it for most everything aside from people portraits. For portrait sessions I bring my 35mm, 24-105mm and 200mm. 

an iPhone photo, boca sparkles added in picture show then filtered in instagram and printed on 5x5 metallic paper

For my everyday carry along the iPhone is quickly becoming an addiction especially when mixed with instagram or picture show. I've recently started printing them and plan to add them to the shop soon.


Capturing an image in natural light is essential for me. The early morning sunlight is quite beautiful. I work in a room with a large window that gathers the light and pours it in for inside objects. Just by stepping out my front door I see nature up close and am awed by the tiny details. Experiment by moving around the subject rather than moving the subject to see how the light is enhancing the item.

A few more things I do and use:

• It's always good to frame your shot and then take one step closer.
• When shooting a product you can make it personal by just holding it in your hand and having a little bit of yourself in the frame. 
• Printing for me ranges from home printer (an Epson Stylus Photo printer) to Costco to WHCC. If the colors on your computer are not matching your prints you'll want to calibrate your monitor.  
• Working in Photoshop or beginning in Photoshop Elements is a fun way to play in the "digital darkroom."
• Once you feel comfortable in Photoshop applying actions to your images can enhance your already beautiful images.
• Don't delete anything in the camera until you've gotten home and taken a look at all the images, sometimes a little gem is in there when you see it on the big screen.

Oh Goodie...A Giveaway!

♡

In celebration of Knack's love of photography and creative ventures I'm offering the 5x5 heart balloon print in a giveaway. Leave a comment here along with your contact info by 11.9.11 and a winner will be drawn. 

Thank you so much Barb! It was a treat to be your guest today!!

..

finished product....

I couldn't resist posting these finished shots....I just love the way these guys turned out!

Ok, I'm done now! :)

xo,

Barb