The heart tree on Leonard Avenue made from 100% love

As I walked down Leonard Avenue the Saturday January 30th, aka Saturday-of-the-big-snow, Valentines Day was on my mind. Liza and I decided to devote an entire week to this celebrated day of Love since we both ADORE the holiday.  Hey, what's not to love about Valentines Day:  chocolates, flowers, sexy lingerie (hopefully!)  (OK - Liza is rolling her eyes right now; She hates the word sexy.) and jewelry.  Ahhh, the jewelry...... Contemplating all the things we could write about was mind-boggling. Just then I saw it  -- a Valentine's tree.  Handmade hearts nestled in the boughs of the snow laden tree; it was simply beautiful.  Don't you agree?   I had a camera in my back pack and took a quick picture.  Those aren't plastic; those are homemade works of art.

On the hills of Montgomery Bell Academy, where all the sledding was happening, I ran into the trees' owner, Martha Ivester.  "Hope you don't mind but I took a picture of your heart tree for the blog."   She smiled and said, "You know there's a great story behind the heart tree."  My heart raced: Yipee! There's nothing better to me than a blog idea with a good story attached.

Martha Ivester surrounded by hearts

The tree of hearts originated out of a woman's love for her friend who was battling breast cancer. She thought it would be fun to offer her a handmade gift, so she "hearted" her warrior friend's trees in the middle of the night for an early morning surprise.  The heart trees were so popular in the small town of Winchester, MA that they began showing up all over town.  Women would gather on January 31 and sneak around to friends' homes to "heart" them.  Smart women that they were, they had their husbands drive the get-a-way cars.  It seems the "hearts" really livened up the streets of New England during the dreary winter.  Certain streets became detours because the heart trees were so dramatic.  Helen Cabour, another Winchester gal, said that she started out "hearting" her tree about seven years ago.  She started out with 100 hearts and no one noticed.  Determined to get some attention, she then added a couple of hundred more and now, can taut a dogwood filled with over 1500 hearts!

Realizing the trend was here to stay, the local church, Parish of the Epiphany, began to sell "heart kits" to benefit their favorite charity. Each kits had fabric, a template for the 4 inch heart patterns and one important stipulation:  the purchaser had to make the hearts themselves, not just buy a kit. Woman all over town had "heart" parties where they would gather, drink wine, socialize and craft hearts together.  Since stuffing and sewing a heart is relatively low tech, I think the vino may have added panache to the hearts.

What a fabulous idea for Nashville. I can think of dozens of charities who can benefit from selling heart kits.  Nashville's kits could have special Titan hearts or celebrity hearts donated by song writers and country music stars.  Before you know it,  Nashville could become the "heart" capital of the US.  I mean, I know Northern women can sew, but in what region does a child's smocked dress meet the phrase "Did you make that?" most often?  Not the North.  I was always filled with shame while fessing up to buying my daughters dresses- the horror! It's true: Southern girls can use a needle! You know we are going to see smocked and monogrammed hearts.  That's OK- I say "BRING IT ON!"

Right now I have a person in mind that I want to "heart" in the middle of the night. I bet you do too.  If you like this idea, pass it on, or better yet, have a "heart" party this week.

Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester, MA

Mark some time this Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday to hit the Pears and Bears/ Kayce Hughes Warehouse sale - their last one.

Apparently - and we are so happy for Kayce - her business has grown to the point that she now is transferring all her clothing to a professional distribution center in Franklin, TN.  Nashville resident Kayce Hughes, continues to astound us with her timeless styles for women and children.  Many in Nashville have shopped these warehouse sales from the days when they were held in her basement.  Let's hope the new distribution center in Franklin will one day be the site of at least an annual sale, since it seems these semi-annual sales are over....sniffle sniffle.

But, since that is not assured - don't kick yourself for missing out on this sale.  Click here to see our post on her sale last Spring.  Not only is she offering free totes to moms, but most of her merchandise will be a whopping 80% off retail.  Pears and Bears, the darling children's brand found in high-end boutiques across the country, is giving you ONE LAST CHANCE to buy some incredible clothes at their rock bottom prices. Don't forget to shop for yourself through the Kayce Hughes brand, at the same up to 80% off prices.

Tell the girls working that StyleBlueprint said hello and that we will be by as well!

For directions and more info, read on below!  Click on this promo ad to see her line online.

Happy Monday!

We promise tomorrow the blog will not be about our amazing sale (get ready to read that word a lot!)  In the meantime, as in NOW, this post is one of pictures.  It's 9:30 10:30 Wednesday night and we still have SO MUCH work to do!  TONS!  We'll be up until midnight and then working hard all day tomorrow, but OMG.....amazing amazing amazing.  You don't want to miss this (but your small children do want to miss it as this is not their place....sorry, I hate it, but safety first and strollers will not be allowed).  We have a few tickets left for our cocktail party tonight which is the BEST way to shop as it's limited access, and you'll have wine:-)  For more details on the show, click here.

And, if you are a new reader to this blog, be sure to sign up emails (see right hand tool bar "Sign up for StyleBlueprint Email") as we're a pretty fun blog to read:-)

location: 3617 Central Ave, 37205  Friday Feb 5th 9AM-8PM

Again, we want to remind you that we will have stylists here to help!  Both Tina Adams and Rebecca Thompson as well as Melinda Nowers will be on hand throughout the sale to help you pick those perfect pieces.  These ladies are great so be sure to check out THEIR blogs!  Tina and Rebecca: tinaandrebecca.blogspot.com/ and Melinda has a great blog found at: thestyleexpress.com

And, of course our sponsors: The Wine Chap, Swiftwick, Edo's Give More Get More program, Knobstoppers, Pastiche, The Vanderbilt Women's Basketball Team, Kateelayne and Borders.

We have gobs of clothes in every size 0-14. And, yes, we have lots in EACH size.  While we have suits in every size 2-14 (sorry 0's but you have lots of cute other things!), size 10 has the best selection for suits.  So, again every size, but size 10's can really go nuts with high end suits sold here for $100-$300 (and we mean suits, 3 piece suits, 4 piece suits.....)

And, our Fiandaca dresses- straight from the store- prove that this is the place to get your cocktail dress to last the next decade.  Save your money and get a cocktail dress or floor length dress here.

SEND THIS EMAIL TO YOUR FRIENDS.  WE WANT TO BE SOLD OUT Friday night!!! This stuff is way to good to not have a buyer for.

Louis Vuitton top, new, $75

We have lots of Fiandaca gowns straight from the store. Avg mark down is 70%. $3000 gowns for $600-900. Anyone getting married? We have a gorgeous size 4 white Fiandaca gown that was $2000 and is $695 here.

Gorgeous size 12 Fiandaca. Really, if you need a cocktail dress or ball gown, and are size 2-14, we have Fiandaca, Bradley Mischka, Muna Couture and more!

Nanette Lepore Dress, size 6, $65

Prada, gorgeous, $300. Size 4

I promise this will be more organized! Still lots of work to do!

We have jewelry starting at $2.  We have top end designer clothes starting at $25!  Not everything is a STEAL, but everything is priced to move.  We have great suits all you attorneys out there!  Shoes, bags, jeans, dresses, fun tops, tee shirts, jackets.  It's all here waiting for YOU!  Check out our post yesterday for more pictures.

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