StyleBlueprint » Fabu

Let’s Talk Trash

Elizabeth — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:38:42 +0000

Glance around your house. Are your wastebaskets an interesting complement to your home’s decor, or are they shabby also-rans lined with plastic shopping bags from Target?

Upon further inspection, this is a TJ Maxx bag.

For those of you who had the pleasure of hearing the Charlotte Moss lecture at the Antique and Garden Show, you may remember how she closed her presentation by railing on our propensity to disregard wastebaskets as part of our home decor. In Charlotte’s opinion, wastebaskets are as important a room accessory as lamps, pillows and tchotchkes. But for some reason, according to Charlotte, we think it’s okay to plunk down any old basket and call it a day. With no regard for style or sensibility, our trash cans pale in comparison to other home accessories.

Charlotte Moss, a dedicated trash master!

True to Charlotte's word, notice the lovely wastebasket under the desk. Source: Veranda Magazine

Is this penchant for drab, uninspired waste receptacles merely a regional affliction or is it, perhaps, more widespread? And what about the economy? Are our tiresome trash bins a reflection of a collective, recession-induced malaise? Charlotte didn’t say. Frankly, it’s all rubbish if you ask me. Her commentary on our lackluster trash collectors did get me thinking, though. If I gave my home the trash test, I’d only score about a 5 out of 10 when it comes to chic, statement-making cans. But here’s the thing. It’s not that I don’t want nicer wastebaskets. It’s just that the decorative, lovely-to-look-at ones are not that easy to find.

Smelling a challenge (or was that last night’s salmon en croute?) and armed with a sense of purpose, I headed out to see what I could find.

One of the best selections in town can be found at Harpeth Gallery.

Harpeth Gallery specializes in gifts for every occasion.

The scalloped edge makes this wastebasket so interesting.

This is a perfect basket for a bedroom or bath from Harpeth Gallery

Wastebaskets make unusual gifts, perfect when you’re looking for a gift for that hard-to-buy-for person. (With the royal wedding only two weeks away, I bet Kate and William will probably score some cute ones.) Here is a classic linen wastebasket with a single monogram from Ballard Designs.

I think Kate could get some use out of this one, Ballard Designs ships to the UK.

Fabu is one of our favorite stores for eclectic and unusual items. Owner Sarah Boyce says these wastebaskets can be specially ordered and are some of her best sellers.

what a great gift for a recent grad--UT anyone?

The classic look of a mirrored wastebasket is timeless.

Finally, it is time to show you a recent find from TJ Maxx in Brentwood.

This one looks more expensive than it is!

If you need an arts and crafts project for your kids, grab this one from TJ Maxx and add your own stencils.

This was customized by my daughter Leigh.

It’s time to say adios’ — time to take out the trash. Pickup is on Wednesday on Whitland Avenue.

FABU is fabulous!

Liza — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 06:01:26 +0000

This eclectic, fun store has been a StyleBlueprint favorite for many years.

Fabu always has interesting items - this fish platter is gorgeous

Make your way to Fabu’s little blue house located just west of the 46th Ave and Charlotte Ave. intersection — and be prepared to fall in love.

This unassuming building will have you wondering why you haven't been shopping here for years!

It’s a happy store with a constantly changing inventory of candles, napkins, jewelry, hats, chocolates, baby gifts, seasonal decor, clothes, lighting, furniture and more.

Lamps, mirrors, accessories.... Fabu has so much to offer.

Today, you can get a $30 voucher for just $15 through the StyleBlueprint Deal!!!

Click here for more details

We LOVE bringing you great deals to our favorite stores. The StyleBlueprint Deal: the Best of the Best.

Loving Lucite for Fall & Winter

Elizabeth — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:35:57 +0000

I don’t know if you feel the same, but I adore costume jewelry. The craftsmanship is divine and it’s something I can afford. Lucite has been making the rounds since the early 20th century without much down time. This post is about Lucite and why you want to scoop it up now.

Lucite is the chic choice this Summer with every major retailer from Macy’s to Henri Bendel displaying some version of this 1920’s jewelry phenomenon. Last spring’s fashion magazines had lots of choices from chunky, geometric necklaces to gorgeous stilettos and everything in between. Don’t’ pack up your Lucite once summer is over because trend spotters say it’s hotter than ever, especially for the Fall and Winter season. And just when we thought Lucite may start to wane , our favorite out-on-the town girls of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda wore these clear gems in Sex and the City 2, stoking the Lucite flame once again.

Cynthia Nixon

Why Lucite and why for Fall and Winter?.

Reason #1: It can be worn with anything in your closet, with any color and is perfect for casual or dressy.
Reason #2: Lucite can be layered with strands of pearls, chunky gold or silver chains to create texture and add a new dimension to your look.
Reason #3: Lucite is affordable to the average pocketbook with pieces available at discounters such as Forever 21 and even Target.
Reason #4: Your kid can throw it down and stomp on it, Lucite was used to make the early telephones and it isn’t breaking in this lifetime. Pretty compelling, huh?

Lucite has been described as a “great palate cleanser” by Gary Rose of Robert Rose, a private label design house—we totally agree.

I’ve always loved Bakelite, a close cousin to Lucite, but Bakelite is much more one dimensional than Lucite. After a quick search on the web and at stores around town, I found a treasure troth of Lucite.

My first find is from StyleBlueprint’s favorite vintage jewelry diva, Betsy Hindman of Plum Vintage Jewelry. I saw this necklace right after she bought it and vowed to “borrow” it for a summer party. Don’t you think it would look great with a white linen tunic and jeans?

Fabu had more Lucite than they even realized! These bangles look so fab with a classic black dress.

I popped by UAL on West End Avenue today to check out their sale. Ladies, tons and tons of things are on sale for 50% off. You heard me correctly–50% off. I bought a fabulous lime green Michael Kors cocktail dress for $150 dollars. While on the way out, I spied this great Lucite combo. (if you love big chunky rings, they have a new shipment in as of this week.)

available at Marti and Liz for less than $40

Local Halloween Decor + Pretty Fall Flowers

Liza — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:46:05 +0000

I’m not a gruesome Halloween girl. All the graveyards and skeletons kind of freak me out…just a bit. I’m partial to decorating my house for Fall and then throwing in some Halloween touches (like cute cats, black pumpkins and white ghosts) a couple weeks out. Well, a couple weeks out is this Saturday and I’ve scouted out some fun stuff for your house, all available locally from locally owned stores. So, stock up on pumpkins and mums, grab some bittersweet vine, orange mums and roses, and perhaps some white cabbages from Import Flowers (see pictures at end) and then add some Halloween Decor. When Halloween is over, you can take your ghosts and cats away and still be left with some seasonal decor. Be sure to see the end of this post for a fun party on Thursday, October 15th!

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.

Hostess Gifts that Travel Well

Liza — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:15:22 +0000

I just got back from a 10 day tip in the Western North Carolina mountains. For the first time ever, I added an extra bag, last minute, to our already overloaded car. I’ll call this my Merci Beaucoup bag. In it, I grabbed a few things from my gift closet for all those little get togethers that seem to pop up. We counted up that we saw 45 relatives this past trip, all traveling in from TX, FL, MD, VA, TN, AL and CO. Add to that the Nashville transported West that Cashiers becomes this time of year, and you have the possibility of running into at least 100 people! And it’s not that a hostess gift is necessary, but I do think everyone loves a little acknowledgment, whether here in Nashville, or on vacation as an appreciation of their efforts in putting the fun evening together. This last minute Merci Beaucoup bag addition was empty by the time we pulled away yesterday. I will forever be packing one in the future.

My favorite hostess gifts to travel with overlap with some of my favorite in town gifts as well. Here are a few to stock your gift closet with. If you don’t have a gift closet, consider purchasing a decorative chest, or small dresser to create this space in your house.

Cups

One of my favorites gifts for couples with kids, or for the young at heart, are these acrylic cups by Natural Life. For $12.50, I find them at Fabu and Katy’s Hallmark. Don’t they just make you smile? And they are versatile. Captions range from Be Happy, Joy to the World, Peace and many others. Each are wrapped four to a bundle and are ready to give just the same way they come packaged….just staple on your calling card and you are good to go! They can be used for morning juice, toothbrush holders, or little vases stuck next to a bathroom sink.

Candles

Who doesn’t just love a great smelling candle? They can be pretty pricey as well. And no, Target’s are not as good as everything else. For a great gift try the PaddyWax Eco Candle. Made in small batches in Georgia, these soy based candles won’t break the bank at $16.99 each. You can find these locally at All Seasons Gardening and Brewing on 8th Avenue. They just received a shipment in featuring 12 scents. Better yet, three scents are currently on sale for just $8.50. Time to stock up! All Seasons is located across from the Habit for Humanity Store on 8th between Wedgewood and Division.

Kitchen Towels

While it’s hard to buy yourself a $22 kitchen towel, this same fact means that one is always fondly received…and possibly used that night! My favorites are made in France by Le Jacquard Francais. Officially considered a tea towel, they are a large 31 x 24. You can find them locally at A La Maison on 8th Avenue (two doors down from Douglas Corner).

I hope you enjoy my favorite hostess gifts that are easy to pack. Make yourself a Merci Beaucoup bag and you, too, can feel prepared for whatever hits your social calendar while away.

Steeplechase Hats. Where to Go.

Liza — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:10:14 +0000

I’ve been scouting out places to find the perfect Steeplechase hat or a last minute Derby hat if you are lucky enough to be heading to KY this weekend. I have a range of $28- $378 here. They are all great it’s just what you want. Your outfit can truly come alive with a splurge purchase of a hat. Sometimes you’ve spent so much on your dress, you really just need a cute hat that does the job and then you can take it to the poolside. But, you do need at hat. Have fun looking at the following hats from Jamie, Pastiche and AshBlue (who knew AshBlue sold hats???). Store addresses can be found by clicking on the store name. If you go in, remember to tell them you read about it here, at StyleBluePrint.

First stop: Jamie. The place to go to drop some money on a hat that will make you hold your head high. Wear it again to a summer mid-day wedding, graduation, or a outdoor luncheon. Hats by by KOKIN are scattered throughout the store and KOKIN is the hat to have…no matter where in this entire world you live.

At Jamie: a stunner sure to wow. by Kokin, $348

At Jamie: My favorite hat of the day. by Kokin $378

At Jamie: I swore off pink a few years ago just b/c it was Paris Hilton's favorite color. This hat makes me want to embrace it again. By Kokin $328

Pastiche has a delightful range of hats to fit anyone’s budget. There were several gals hat shopping today while I was there. With a price range of $28-$358, you will find something here. The new location is next to Firefly and shares a building with Willow Pilates. The windows are full of Steeplechase inspiration.

At Pastiche: I love how airy this hat is. By Almar; $125

At Pastiche: By Frank Olive, this classic hat is $298

At Pastiche: if color is your want, this is the store to hit. $28 and up

Lastly, I have some hats from AshBlue. I adore this store. This is the best place to find that perfect unusual gift. It also happens to carry San Diego Hat Co. hats which are my favorite pool side, ocean side, va-cay, sporting event hats! I love these and most fold up for easy packing! All these hats are very reasonably priced. Wear one to Steeplechase and then put your ballcaps away and embrace your feminine side with one these on those bad hair days!

At Ash Blue: This hat is kinda Hippie girl meets Southern girl. I fell in love with it. They have ONE. San Diego Hat Co. $34

At Ash Blue: This hat is reversible (striped black and white on reverse side) and boasts an SPF 50. San Diego Hat Co.$45

At Ash Blue: pretty cute, huh? San Diego Hat Co. and just $32 with an SPF 50.

Happy Shopping! Want another place to go? Check out our post about Fabu right here.

Steeple Chase Hats at Fabu

Liza — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:06:12 +0000

Fabu is such a treat of a store. I hate to admit that I forget about it, but sometimes I do. However, this is a store worthy of remembrance for numerous things. But, I bet you aren’t thinking about Fabu as the place you should be looking to get your Steeple Chase hat. Well, you should be. Stop in there by April 5th and you can also get 20% off that great hat! While you are there, pick up some Easter Basket goodies and a fabulous scented candle as EVERYTHING is 20% off!

Speaking of hats and Steeple Chase, Fabu is having a Hat exchange weekend on April 16th – 19th. Customers are encouraged to consign a gently-loved hat or two (or more) to Fabu. The consignor will then receive a gift certificate to Fabu for the sale amount of the hat after it sells.

On April 16th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., Fabu is having a kick-off hat exchange. Shop and Sip…free food and beverages will be served. A percentage of the sale of the hats will be donated to Gilda’s Club and the Vanderbilt Childrens’s Hospital. The hats that remain after the sale will be available for pick up at Fabu Monday – Wednesday, April 20th – 22nd. Hats that are not picked up will be donated to Gilda’s Club for distribution to the members of Gilda’s Club. Men and children’s hats are welcome!

Fabu is located just West of the Charlotte Road/46th Avenue intersection at 4606 Charlotte Avenue.

Liza’s Local Finds for Valentine’s Day

Liza — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:21:25 +0000

What do I really want this Valentine’s Day? The same thing I always want but never seem to get for my birthday: a night at a hotel ALONE. Let me sleep in freshly pressed sheets, have room service and stay up late watching TV from my bed. Let me sleep until 9 o’clock and perhaps get a massage. I know: so not romantic and I love my husband to pieces but, I confess that it is always way up there on the want list. OK out of fantasy and into reality: I’m writing about what actually can be wrapped, given and appreciated.

So, here are Liza’s picks:

“His is Hers” sleep shirt: Available at Rebecca Vaughn, and designed by local resident Liz King. Really. I want nothing sexier than this. If you buy me a Pajam-O-Gram, you can sleep in the guest room. Claridge & King

KOBO Red Grass Candle. I love these. $34.50. Fabu

Dorsey McHugh. Local artist known throughout the country, has started a newline of mixed media work. One gem is this still life that has words written across the top. It’s hard to read in this picture, but across the top left it says, “Love- liking, affection, kindness, attachment, esteem…” Dorsey says this medium allows her to “weave words among the images. A new way to layer meaning and interest. Poetry and image sing together.” This would fit anywhere and into any decor. Buy this for your husband or wife and look at the layers of wonder for years to come. Dorsey McHugh

Judith Bright. Earrings from local designer. I love these and they are 15% off this week. What’s not to love? Love yourself and buy these for you! Reg $108, this week $91.80. Judith Bright

Happy Valentine’s Day!