located on Bandywood in Green Hills, this eclectic gift store is place to visit over and over.

Oh, while you are there, check out Jessica’s Ganiey’s dried floral selections.  She just put out her holiday wreathes and garlands and they, too, are 20% off!  Jessica used to work at Maitlands but she can found at Caldwell Collection putting her talents to good use!

Kitchen Towels by BirdKage are sold as a set for $25. With 20% this month, that's just $20!

Birdkage also makes these great aprons. At $42, these aprons come in the cutest bag, pictured below, making gift giving easy. With 20% off = $33.60

This is the cute bag that the apron will come wrapped in...for FREE!!!

L&E jewelry can be built to your specifications and usually falls under $50. With 20% off, you can't go wrong!

These collectible cars from Europe are as equally enjoyed by kids as by their dads! $48. 20% off= $38.40

Glass eggs sell individually for $8 each. With 20% off = $6.40 each.

Regularly priced at $60, these GoodmanSpalding earrings are just $48!!

This tomato shaped clay celadon bowl is made by a family in Northern Thailand using the same techniques passed down for the past 700 years! It takes 6 weeks to finalize each piece and the leaves are hand pressed into each bowl during this process. Most amazing is the price at only $55. With the 20% off discount, it's just $44. Smaller bowls start at just $32.

Pottery by Kirke Martin, a local guy now living in MD. He fires his pieces in an outdoor wood Kiln that takes 3 days to get perfect. These are made with love. Larger pieces are available at Caldwell Collection as well. Mug $24 and bowl is $22.

Small clay bowl with bird is just $38! With promo, Make that $30.40!

Notepads by Trabeautiful Designs are packaged with two pads in each bag. Ready to be gifted without anymore wrapping needed! $!8. 20% off= $14.40

I know that swiftwick socks may not be what you expect at Caldwell Collection, but these socks are just the bee's knees. Really. Buy them this month with your 20% off and be done with so many stocking stuffers. Great for your kids that are into sports, yourself, or your spouse. Everyone in my family LOVES these socks.

And, while these fall a bit more than the $50 mark, at 20% off, they come awfully close to that target… and they do make the perfect wedding present, or parent/in-law gift:

Vellum covered books, with the 20% off discount come in just above $50. These are beautiful and a few of them on a side table would be oh-so-pretty.

Ben Caldwell Pate and Brie serving pieces. With these on a cheese tray, you are sure to draw comments! $85 and $75 before 20% off.

Speaking of Ben Caldwell, did you see our FREE GIVEAWAY this week?  It the piece pictured below valued at $165.  Be sure to sign up for your chance to win.  Winner will be emailed on Saturday!  Click the picture below to sign up!

So many more great gifts are just through the doors at Caldwell Collection.  Enjoy your 20% off.  As an aside, if you are waiting on your Centerstone Card, it’s not happening this year.  So, while we are sad, our sponsors are all thrilled to have you come in and take advantage of their savings!

Find out more about our Sponsor deals AND see all the fun things we just added to the “Do.” section of THIS WEEK!

© 2010 – 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

* Remember to continuing checking out Nashvillest’s blog for continuing updates on our flood and what you can do to help.

Liza’s Top Five Gifts:

1) A leather and pearl Kelly Joseph necklace from Caldwell Collection.  I know I’ve mentioned these before, but I think they are gorgeous.  This month’s Glamour has some shots of similar necklaces so they are right on trend (but when would they not be?)  I love the understated elegance of the leather and pearl combination.  And, I kinda feel like these pieces of jewelry represent this country’s ails right now: leather representing us in TN and the pearl the coastal communities threatened by oil.

2) Ten passes to a yoga studio here in town. Sanctuary, Hot Yoga, and 12South Yoga are all ones that I can highly recommend but I’m sure there are other great studios as well.  (I just haven’t been able to try them all!)  The spiritual element of yoga, combined with the exercise, makes it the perfect way to center yourself in this turbulent time.  Add a pair of yoga pants from Lululemon, or a gift certificate to Athleta and moms everywhere will smile wide.

Groove Crop Pant $86.00

3) Plant a tree to commemorate Mother’s Day 2010. My husband planted a Japanese maple for me a few years ago.  He got it at the Belle Meade Gardener and when it died, they did replace it although it had been a year.  The replanted tree, which is gorgeous, continues to be my favorite present yet.

4) An indoor garden from Flower Mart. These are gorgeous and the price, most under $100, is right on.  Unlike a bouquet of flowers, which of course is lovely as well, these indoor gardens will shine in your home for much time to come.  Flower Mart also happens to have a huge assortment of orchids right now – everything from teeny tiny ones (think bonsai orchids….if there is such a thing!) to huge double and tripe stalked orchids.  My pictures do not do these arrangements below justice, they are stunning and well worth the price.

5) A piece of coral from The Iron Gate in Franklin. This store has an incredibly varied array of coral available in all sizes and prices.  If you go to their website, the pictures there will convey why I am lusting after a piece of their coral.  Gorgeous.  Coral, while pretty to look at, also reminds you daily of the bounty and beauty of our oceans.

Elizabeth weighs in:

Three things always happen for me in the beginning of May: my birthday, Mother’s Day and the anniversary of my Mother’s death.  It is a bittersweet time, yet one filled with wonderful memories.  One gift I always received from my Mother on my birthday was a simple card that read, “Happy Birthday, Dear Elizabeth, I am so glad you were born (fill in the blank, as I am not going to fill in the blank) years ago.  This gesture on her part meant so much to me and as a Mother of three, I continue the tradition on my daughters’ birthdays.  Being a good Mom is far and away the most important work we will ever do on the planet.  The job didn’t come with a manual or even simple directions.  Motherhood takes every life skill we have ever learned — patience, creativity, empathy, discipline, responsibility.  The list is endless.  Even though Nashville is going through an incredibly tough time, MOMS enjoy your day.  Really enjoy your day.  You deserve it.

Elizabeth’s Top Five Gifts:

1) Gifts from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.  This book is a rare jewel and speaks so compassionately to Mothers everywhere.  I gave this book to my Mom on Mother’s Day many years ago after a friend gave it to me.  Lindberg speaks so poignantly about simplicity, caring for the soul and a woman finding her place in our hectic world.

2) A composter. Once a friend of mine told me I reminded her of Andy McDowell in the movie Sex, Lies and Video Tapes. It wasn’t that I was gorgeous or anything, it was that I was obsessed about trash.  I still am.  As I saw a man load up his truck with a brand new composter from Costco, I thought, “I want one.”  The flood has created tons and tons of debris, now I can do my part to reduce trash by composting and recycling more.

3)  More Ben Caldwell. As I slogged up to the Harding Art show, I spied Ben Caldwell loading up his treasures in a van.  His gorgeous collection of ladles, spoons and serving pieces caught my eye.  Once again my inner voice said, “I want one.”  Actually, what it was really saying was, “I want another one.”  Ben Caldwell amazes me with his craftsmanship and originality.  He continues to evolve as an artist adding gorgeous hammered copper bowls and metal sculptures in patriotic themes to his collection. Ben’s work is available at the Caldwell Collection on Bandywood.

4) LL Bean Bag. Call me boring, but every couple of years, I order a new LL Bean bag.  They are versatile, durable and darn affordable.  To me, my new LL Bean bag screams, “It’s time to go to the beach.”  Since I am heading to Destin (please let the oil slick miss our beach), I need a new bag.  I would like an extra-large bag with my initials in a snappy summer color.  I am loving the Cornwall blue one below.  Maybe because that was my favorite crayon in the Crayola box! (Don’t let her pants distract you…..)

5) Niven Morgan’s candles. You may have picked up on this from prior posts – I hate scented candles, with the Niven Morgan exception.  What a wonderful surprise I had while in New Orleans to discover his new collection, Jean Baptiste 1717.  My-oh-my, this scent is captivating and beguiling.  Niven Morgan’s Jean Baptiste 1717 celebrates New Orleans past and present and its founding father, Jean Baptiste le Moyne de Bienville, the aristocrat who established the city in 1717 as the capital of French Louisiana.  There are so many combinations from oak to jasmine that it is hard to describe.  I bought the body wash and lotion, now it’s time for more!  Available locally at Hot Pink in Brentwood and The Cotton Mill in Nashville.

Happy Mother’s Day

xxoo

Liza and Elizabeth

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

I must admit I ♥ Valentines Day, but it also stresses me out.  I mean you have Halloween, and then Thanksgiving, with Christmas madness coming next.  Throw in remembering my Mother-in-Law’s December 26th b-day, my Sister-in-Law’s January 19th b-day, my oldest daughter’s January 30th b-day and then my youngest’s February 19th b-day…..oh, and I haven’t even touched the surface of bff’s with January and February b-days..and my sweet Godson.  You see?  It’s hard enough with the b-day’s and then a cute little holiday?  And so it goes – Valentine’s Day is for me the holiday of perpetual good intentions with lousy execution.

The worst thing about Valentine’s Day is the the exposure to so many of those Pajam-o-gram commercials.  They make me wince.  I mean that guy patting the bed wearing the silk red boxers with the do not disturb sign…really? Does the sign come with the o-gram?  Oh- just writing o-gram made me see this commercial differently and now I hate it more.  Ewwwww.

So, let’s play make believe for a moment.  Here are some things that I would put on my own list of lusts for this day of love:

Nest Interiors

These heart accessories for the kitchen, from Nest Interiors, simply make me happy: year round happy.  (And they are offering free chocolate and champagne Thursday, Friday and Saturday while you shop!)  How about using that tea strainer with some of the loose variety from Partner’s Tea Co. that I wrote about yesterday?

Heart Measuring Spoons, Heart Tea Strainer, Coffee Spoons and Quotable Measuring Spoons by Beehive (all hand-crafted; lead free pewter and copper) Prices range from $26-67

Tory Burch

Online, I am DROOLING over these two items from Tory Burch (if you spend $300 or more online through February 15th, enter BDAY and get 25% off!:

Wild thing, you make my heart sing. Can we just pretend those are my feet? $325 by Tory Burch.

Pyrite Heart Cuff, $295. I love this as hearts are usually "too sweet" for me. But this one is tough, original, and fun while the heart makes is just a teeny bit sweet.

Judith Bright

Judith Bright designs always makes my heart race.  Her ENTIRE site is 15% off right now with the code: HEART Since she lives in Nashville, you can tell your guy to order it with the message “Can I pick this up?”  and my bet is that the answer is “of course”!

$113 but just $84.75 with that HEART code!

Homemade with Love

Lastly, I have had so much fun with my kids making valentines this week:

Art & Invention Gallery

I’m feeling all craftsy – really – and I think I want to make some grown up Valentines all by myself, with no more glitter being added to my house, as it is now EVERYWHERE.  Realistically, I’m still recovering from the consignment sale.  But, you could go for me, make me one or send me some pictures (hint, hint).

Make Your Own Valentines!  Join us at Art & Invention Gallery to create a Valentine’s masterpiece for the one(s) you love.  Decorate a card or wooden heart, or invent your own Valentine’s sentiment from our table of goodies:

If you supply the time, we will supply the materials!

Cost: $ 6.00 per card, $7.00 – $10.00 per wooden heart

Walk-ins welcome:

1106 Woodland Street
Nashville 37206
Phone: 615-226-2070

Friday, February 12,  noon – 8pm
Saturday, February 13, noon – 6pm
Sunday, February 14, noon – 5pm

Reservations a must for groups of 5 or more!

**There’s lots more I’d like to add, and I’ll gladly take anything from my 2009 list: Click here to see that list.**

For some serious Valentine’s Day sales, see one of our favorite local blog fashion sites Stella Shops.

Elizabeth Weighs In:

Whew!  Liza, I’m exhausted after reading your list of “to-do’s” with so many to buy for during the early months of the year.  I have the same challenge, but mine occurs starting in September and ends in late October where EVERY member of my family, except moi, celebrates a birthday.  By the time my husband’s birthday rolls around on the 19th, we all suggest a nice pie — forget the candles.   Throw in an anniversary, some Halloween costumes, class parties and Thanksgiving.  By the time Christmas rolls around, I always feel like I am a day late and a dollar short.  And, I am.

But, let’s face it, holidays for Moms are complete hassles, eh, I mean blissful fun.  Yesterday, Liza said she was going to fore-go buying her kids’ valentines and let them make some at home (have you gone completely mad, Liza?) and I said, “Why the hurry?  Valentine’s Day is on Sunday this year!”  Wrong, all wrong – while that may be true I was suddenly reminded of school parties.  I had forgotten.  Moms are ramping up for Valentines Day right NOW…or yesterday.  I have three kids.  How had I forgotten?

Don’t get me wrong.  I love Valentines gifts – especially when I am the recipient of beautiful things.  Hopefully, if you like some of our ideas, they will find their way to your husbands or boyfriend’s email.  Next year, we may just add a Valentine’s gift registry so you are sure to get what you really want.

So, without further ado, here is my list:

Patricia Mathews

StyleBlueprint has not written about Patricia Mathews’ jewelry before, but I am a huge fan of her work.   Her line is sophisticated, lovely and reasonably priced.   A couple of years ago, I went to a home show she was having and found a ring which I did not buy.  It still haunts me as it was exquisite.  Here is one of my favorite pieces:

J.Crew

Liza loves those fabulous pink shoes, but I think if I wore them, people would whisper behind my back, “Cute shoes, but they are too young for her.” Here are my favorite shoes for Spring and they are from one of our favorite stores, JCrew:

$235 from J CREW. But, I just got this email and if you order online, and spend over $175, you can get 20% off with the code: SHHH - good through Saturday.

Fire Finch

I popped in Fire Finch in Hillsboro Village to pick up a new pair of readers (something I am not too young for!). Their supply of readers was low, but their supply of absolutely darling wallets and clutches was great.  What a great gift for Valentines!  Look at this pretty and pink wallet.   Also, their new shipment of readers is coming in next week.  At $20 a pair, they are the best in town.   By the way, I do NOT want readers for Valentines Day as they fall in the category of unromantic gifts, right up there with small appliances and grocery store roses.

Love this clutch from Fire Finch at about $100

Thomas Darnell

Finally, since everyone is bemoaning the economy and not spending too much cash these days, my last gift is expensive, really expensive.  But, I am absolutely, positively in love with Thomas Darnell’s roses.   The first time I saw his oil paintings at Caldwell Collection, I vowed that somehow, one day, I would own one of his fabulous works of art.

Darnell at work painting...you see why I want one, don't you? Fabulous.

Take your breath away. This is a painting by Thomas Darnell

Liza and I wish all you Valentine warriors and purveyors of Cupid’s dream, a heartfelt and wonderful Valentines Day.  Put your feet up and breathe a sigh of relief, “It’s over.”  Now, let’s get started on St. Patrick’s Day!

© 2010 – 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Ben Caldwell and his daughter

There are some artists who if I won the lottery, I’d buy enough of their work to consider it a collection.  Let’s see, I would  buy 20 or so of Kem Alexander’s concrete shoes, six or seven more of Hunt Slonem’s birds and, of course, a new painting from his Bayou collection and enough serving pieces and bowls from Ben Caldwell to dazzle and delight everyone at my next dinner party.  I already have three to four of his serving pieces — my first purchase being a large hammered spoon which he said his Mom used all the time, so I bought it.

Ben Caldwell has been a resident artist at the Caldwell Collection (I know, Caldwell, Caldwell.  But, no relation.) forever and his work continues to evolve and amaze — in my opinion, the sign of a great artist. (See details at the end of this post for an upcoming event with Ben Caldwell at Caldwell Collection this week.)  For those of you that do not know his story, here’s a condensed version:  he is the prodigal son of some of Nashville’s most formidable art collectors, Dr. & Mrs. Ben Caldwell.  He was born in Nashville and actually went to University School of Nashville, a place where I also have a vested interest.  The Caldwell house was filled with lovely art and silver from all over the world and they adored local artists like William Edmonson, Red Grooms and so many more.

The perfect flower, Ben Caldwell

As in the case with many artists, he wasn’t in sync with the mainstream due to his dyslexia and decided to march to the beat of a different drummer.  He found solace and comfort in art, graduated from college and began painting.  A detour, which I am sure served him well, was his decision to learn to build musical instruments.  Then, another magical thing happened to Ben: he found a mentor and teacher in Terry Talley, a renowned silver and coppersmith master from Bradyville, Tennessee.  Through his association with Terry, Ben learned one of life’s most valuable lessons: find fulfillment in your work and the rest will fall in place.  Bingo!  Don’t we all wish we had found a mentor like Terry when we were young and impressionable?  Ben has defined his career as an artist and now has a lovely family more precious than any collection.

serving set in copper and horn, Ben Caldwell

Ben’s process is complicated as he starts with a large sheet of copper and applies powdered enamel to create a design. The enamel is torch fired to the copper section by section at temperatures between 1500 deg. F and 1800 deg. F.  This allows the copper to oxidize and mix with the enamel and change color.  After the copper cools, it is then shaped with a hammer.  It is then re-enameled and shaped while still red-hot until the final shape and color are achieved.  The true bottom line is that his copper and silver pieces are exquisite, gorgeous and acquisitions you will never regret purchasing.

Another scoop, but for coffee, Ben Caldwell

The Caldwell Collection will have an open house so you can meet Ben Caldwell and see his work on December 11-12th from 10AM-5:30PM.  To see more about this event, and special guests, click here. The Caldwell Collection is located in at 2205 Bandywood Avenue, Nashville, TN.

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Subscribers: remember our awesome deals this week: Trace Skin Care, Abernathy Road and Spruce!

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Hostess Gifts

1) Case of Wine. Buy a case of your favorite red or white in a comfortable price range.  You’ll get a case discount and have 12 bottles ready to give.  Tie on a bow and go.  I know it’s not particularly interesting, but it’s always appreciated and always used.  Just buy the case upfront so you’re not scrambling last minute.  Elizabeth’s favorite bottle of red wine is Plungerhead Zin at about $15 a bottle with a 98 Robert Parker rating!  Liza’s favorite $10.99 bottle of white wine is: Raimat Vina 24 from the coast of Spain, with a 90 Robert Parker Rating.  Liza thought she didn’t like white wine, but this one has convinced her otherwise.  See comments below for great deals at The Wine Chap.

Raimat Vina 24 2008

Plungerhead Zinfandel 2007

2) Match Sticks. The long sturdy match sticks are my favorite.  They are cheapest at Manor and a la Maison at just $3.50 per box.  Take two and wrap some fake berry garland around it, slip your calling card on top and voila!  Don’t be fooled by the picture, this box is just over four inches long x 2 inches wide.  Who knew luxury could come in the form of a match?

3) Ornament. Handmade snowman ornament by StyleBlueprint favorite Jason Parker Counce; available at Digs $14 and $24.

4) Specialty Salts. a la Maison, Ashblue, Whole Foods.  A friend gave me some Vignalta salt, from Italy, earlier this year as a Hostess gift and I think of her with fondness whenever I use it, which is about everyday!  For the Vignalta salt, click here.

5) Granola Bark. At just $4.99, the dog lover host will be so appreciative that you thought of their four legged family member(s).  Plus, this won’t add an ounce of fat to a friends thighs…and they are a healthy treat for dogs made by local company Two Good Dogs.  We love local.  Available at Fido, The Green Wagon and Caldwell Collection.  See comments below for how to order a sample FOR FREE.  Granola Barks

Girlfriends Top 5:

1) DVD’s. How long has it been since you have seen The Philadelphia Story?  It’s just about the best movie ever made….and it’s great to watch with girlfriends.  The Philadelphia Story

2) Blackberry Farm Cookbook. I can’t figure out if the pictures are the best part or the recipes.  I guess that’s just like Blackberry Farm: is the food the best part or the warmth that envelopes you while there?  Available at Davis Kidd $60.

3) Lip Gloss.  I you hadn’t noticed, almost all of us LOVE lip gloss and are hugely happy anytime someone gives us some.  Trish Mcevoy, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier and Lip Fusion are my favorites, but there are tons of great ones out there.  You can hit Sephora at The Mall at Green Hills or at the new Kiosk at the Galleria.  Also, hit local stores Woo Skincare & Cosmetics, Private Edition, or The Cosmetic Market.

4) Be Green Not Mean. With the theory that you can never have too many bags, this one is particularly great.  Available at Caldwell Collection $28

5) Your Favorite Book. What was your favorite book you read this past year?  Liza’s was Love Walked In by Maria De Los Santos.  Elizabeth’s was  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows (don’t let the title scare you off; it’s an amazing book)  Who doesn’t love to read a good book with a nice inscription from a dear friend?

Teachers

We completely endorse gift certificates for teachers.  We polled many; all came back practically the same.  Here are our top 5.

• Starbucks
• Tickets for two to the movies
• Cheekwood pass for the year
• Pedicure
• The Parent-Teacher Store

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

image courtesy of funny site Post Secret

1) Hand-made Ceramic Bowl. Available in Nashville exclusively at Digs: $85.  This is the perfect size to hold a side dish on the dinner table, a pile of soaps in the powder room, or placed stylishly atop a stack of large books on a coffee table.  Digs Interiors also carries serving platters far larger (up to $350) in this same line as well as sauce bowls for just $25. (Digs JUST moved and opened next to the Crowe’s Nest on Bandywood.)  Allison Evans

2) Nashville by Design: Architectural Treasures. Bob Schatz’s latest book full of his fabulous photography.  Text by Christine Kreyling; With 170 pages and 244 color photographs, this book will not just lay dead on a coffee table.  It will be picked up, loved and possibly dog eared with time. Available at Caldwell Collection: $48.95

3) Cashmere. Cashmere anything, but how about cashmere slippers?  Bluefly currently has brown, grey and black by Kashmere for $60.99 reduced from $120.  MIL doesn’t need to know you bought them on sale.  Available in s/m.  White + Warren makes some eco-cashmere slippers and they are the cutest slippers featured here.  These are not dyed but retain the beauty of natural cashmere.  Available from SimplySoles.com for $175 in small, large and x-large, but sold out in medium.  However, medium is the only size available at the White+Warren Website — so we’ve got you covered!  Restoration Hardware may be the steal of day with their Cashmere Slippers on sale for just 34.99.

bluefly $60.99

White+Warren $175 eco-cashmere

Restoration Hardware $34.99

4) Sour Cream Caramel Cake. There are some that truly don’t need anything else,”stuff” wise, but they always love yummy treats.  What could be more tasty than a Leland Riggins Caramel cake?  Website states that 48 hours are needed to make the cake.  As the Holidays approach, I’d order a week out just to be sure.  Cakes can be shipped….$39.  Leland Riggins’ Dessert Designs

5) Terrarium. How pretty is this?  Includes all the plants inside and you don’t have to have a green thumb for these plants to thrive.  In fact, ideally, they will thrive without anything beyond the initial water as they make their own little eco-system in there!  20″ x 10″ this terrarium is quite large- don’t let the picture fool you $145.  AshBlue

6) Painting. A watercolor painting of the family, or the grand kids, by Susan Underwood.  These faceless beauties are total steals starting at $135.  See below.  Aren’t they great?  Email her your photo (check website for details) and get her your check by Dec 12th and you can give your MIL, or your own mom, a special piece of original art that she will surely love.  I’m actually ordering one of my husband with our son for his Christmas present.  I hope he doesn’t read this and ruin the surprise.  Ask Susan to open a paypal account so we can all pay online.  But a snail mail check is worth the time to get one of these lovelies ordered: www.susanwoodardwatercolors.com

7) Low Country Candle. From Spruce, in Brentwood.  Candles are a hard one for our mother-in-laws as the packaging is usually tiny and we want our gifts to be a bit bigger unless it is cashmere or jewelry.  These candles come boxed in a rather large and beautiful box.  I put my iPhone in the picture below so you can get a better sense of the box size.  Scents include: Spanish Moss (my favorite), Gulah, New Orleans and High Cotton.  Super eco-friendly and burns for 100+ hours. $50.  Low County Luxe Candle

8) Party to Go Tote. From Custom Embroidery.  This tote solves all the problems of how to carry loose items in the car in an organized fashion with no broken bottles!  Get it monogrammed for MIL to know how much you love her.  $30 includes that monogram.

9) Clarisonic. Skin Guru Tracey Harris introduced me to the Clarisonic and my skin has thanked her ever since.  Available at many local stores including Trace Skin Care, Maxwell Aesthetics and The Cosmetic Market. $195.  Clarisonic.

10)  Ornaments. Set of four glass ornaments, each encasing a different feather;  available at AshBlue for $24 each, or $96 for 4.  These just ooze “special”:

Happy Shopping!

© 2009 – 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Fabu

First off, these fun crows and eggs from Fabu. The eggs are $7 each and the crows are $12.  I know the pictures are terrible; they are from my iphone…..but you’ll get a good idea!

The Beveled Edge

Next, check out this cute Halloween Village at The Beveled Edge.   That’s my eight year old daughter staring in amazement.

The Beveled Edge also featured all this skeleton stuff which wasn’t overly creepy to me, just fun!

Caldwell Collection

Caldwell Collection has these magnificent witches, and many more, for sale.  There is even a HUGE one (maybe 3 feet big?) that you could buy and just bring out each October for the next few decades!  She is fabulous.  Witches start at $95 and the huge one is just over $300.  Drop by Caldwell Collection, on Bandywood, to see them!

a la maison

a la maison has lots of Halloween decor as I pointed out last week.  My favorite are these pillows, black on one side and white on the other, handmade in Nashville and just $25-$30 each!  These old style jars are filled with fun witches brew ingredients for $17.95.  I hear they have some more in a similar style, made by the same person, for $25 that have candle wax dripping and more fun ingredients!  I love these….

Jason Parker Counce

Speaking of a la Maison, Jason Parker Counce’s handmade witches and other creations continue to be available for purchase there as well as at his booth at Gas Lamp Antiques next to the 100 Oaks Staples. His booth is at the far back of the showroom. Check out these pictures from his booth:

Custom Embroidery

Custom Embroidery has some cute Halloween things as well.  They always have fun seasonal items.  They were closed when I went by, so here are some pictures from the outside looking in:

Import Flowers

Import Flowers has some beautiful Bittersweet that they just got in on Wednesday (it’s yellow in the picture because it takes about 24 hours for the yellow “shell” to fall away after taking it out of the box).  I was there as they opened the box!   Check out the box of bittersweet ($18 a HUGE bunch).  I love the cabbages as they last FOREVER (I got them one Thanksgiving and I still had them out at Christmas!  They will start smelling like cabbage after a few weeks though….)

*As a final little decorating touch, Lou Ferrel’s (owner Import Flowers) wife is having a “garage sale” from the trailer behind Import this Saturday.  Worth checking out if you are over there!

AND- Remember that EdgeHill Village is hosting a Halloween Block Party Thursday night, October 15th from 5-8PM!   Nest Interiors, located there, will also be hosting a Ransom+Scout Handbag Trunk Show from 2-8PM.  20% off all Ransom + Scout purchases!  Feel free to go in costume:-0!  Yes, I know I put the “0″ not the “)” as in “ooohhhh, if you dare!”  Featured Band: The Young Republic.

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Liza, we may be on to something – a back and forth dialogue – kind of like our own chat room blog!  When I got the email from Liza saying she was starting the post on Chair Therapy, all I could think was “thank goodness”  because between states of exhaustion and euphoria, I wasn’t quite sure where to begin.  Admittedly, I became a little obsessed with the home tour project because I truly wanted to get my house de-cluttered and finally finished.  After a large renovation three years ago, I hit the wall unable to spend one more dollar or make one more decision.  The home tour gave me an excuse to move forward.  I love the creative process of finding and then doing (as you can witness by this blog).  However, if I  have to choose between aesthetics and practicality, the former wins every time.  Sometimes beauty over sensibility really can get in the way.  But, when you commit to your neighborhood home tour with three small kiddos underfoot, you better have some darn good organizational skills along with tons of loving, supportive friends and family members.  And, as I found over the last couple of months, I have both.

I jokingly said, ”If I could put my kids in Ziplock bags, this home tour may have been a lot easier!”  Hopefully, some of the ideas below will inspire you to re-invent some areas of  your own homes.

But, on to Chair Therapy 2 and gorgeous blooms by Jessica Gainey.  Before pictures are found at Chair Therapy, the original post.

Chair # 1

The beautiful carved rosewood chair was upholstered in a simple linen fabric with my initials.  Karen Bone did the initials and Stan Paul (one of the best upholsterers in town) re-glued and upholstered the chair.  He added a double row of welting to give detail and definition to the chair.  And to give credit where credit is due, Roger Higgins gave me the original notion to initial the chair.  Thanks, Rog.  The end result is stunning.  Don’t you think?

simple, yet beautiful in a small space

a closer view of the monogram

Chair # 2

Purchased from a back barn at the Nashville Flea Market for $15 per chair.  I also found the fabric at the Flea Market and loved the William Morris era feel of the design- understated and uniform.  The chairs were lovingly painted by my husband and upholstered by Stan.  He added the studded nail heads, called turtlebacks, to complete the look.  The chairs work with my large Arts and Crafts style table and complement the large sideboard.

I love anything that says Arts and Crafts..

A closer view of the nailhead detail

Chair # 3

A great chair with a folk art influence and as a neighbor said, “It reminds me of a croquet set.”   The chair is all of that, BUT, it is not finished.  It was upholstered in Sunbrella fabric for durability since it works on my front porch or can go in the downstairs playroom where hordes of children reside.  By the way, you can pour motor oil on Sunbrella fabric and it WILL come out.  The chair needs detail so I will haul it over to my neighbor Linda Gore and get her opinion.  With a couple slaps of paint, this chair will come to life-PROMISE.

a great addition to the playroom downstairs

The Blooms

Jessica Gainey arrived at my house in the pouring rain with a car full of flowers and two rambunctious boys.  I love the female species as we juggle, cajole and multi-task through this world to get our needs met.  After a couple of Oreos, the boys were good to go and couldn’t wait to see the house where their Mommy did the flowers.  Isn’t she adorable next to that FABULOUS arrangement?

One arrangement was displayed between my dining room and new family room.  It stood tall and beautiful and added a drama to an otherwise mundane space.  The colors she selected worked perfectly with the umber colored roses and unusual crocismia on the dining room table .  The smaller arrangement she created was sweet, simple and complimented Granny’s gorgeous silver heirloom vase.

perfect!

Once again, Jessica’s cool, collective nature and artistic talents won my absolute approval!  Jessica is available by appointment or can be reached at the Caldwell Collection.

In the upcoming months, I will write a couple more posts with some great ideas to improve and spruce up your home.  Happy Fall from the StyleBlueprint team!

Resources:

R.Higgins Designs

Karen Bone Embroidery

Stan Paul/Davis Upholstery - Phone: 615.883.8984

Jessica Gainey/Eastland Flowers

Trace Skin Care, click to find out more about achieving beautiful skin

© 2009 – 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.