Roughly three and a half weeks ago, I had an inspiring ‘$14 Whole Foods plate meal’ meeting with an amazing group of women (+ 1.5 boys) that had very little to do with Tarter Sauce but a whole hell of a lot to do with getting off our asses and making a point out of our lives.
This initial meeting of the Tarter Sauce Club was an evening of expressing our ideas, passions, our shortcomings and brainstorming a way to get through it all to the other side and achieving pure awesomeness in our lives. I left feeling inspired, revitalized and with THE. MOST. FANTASTIC penguin shirt from Anthropologie (see below):
Awe-inspiring in itself, right?
I digress. Passions of mine discussed included design, writing, creative money-making and, with it, finding free time in my life (reason #1 this blog is here, excluding of course YOU, the wonderful reader. Of course.). My shortcomings/justifications included mainly my and James’ current insanely demanding career responsibilities (or for you Twitterers #sleepisforwusses) and sheer lack of any free time for me to work on this creative aspect of my life, which in turn is supposed to produce more magical free time…. I know, it’s a nasty circle of grown-up-ness/-ity/-ition (your choice there).
My homework included a very simple task: ‘Update Your Blog’
I mean… it HAS been about 5 months and 11 days (who’s counting?) since my last post and all. How difficult would it really be to sit down and write a few paragraphs, slap a few images together and hit ‘Publish’ right?
Riiiiiigggghhhht.
Our Tarter Sauce meeting was on Monday, October 24th. The next morning James left for an entire week for a shoot in L.A. and I was left in ‘single crazy workaholic mom’ mode. In the 15 days that followed, I’ve worked a total of 109 hours opening the new location of the men’s store I work for (J. Michaels Clothiers) and planning our grand opening event, threw together Halloween for my child, picked James up from the airport three times, and repainted Canyon’s room in step 1 of Super Hero Bedroom Transformation… AND IT’S NOT EVEN CHRISTMAS RUSH SEASON YET.
What I did NOT do was write a blog. I could blame it on all of the things above, I could blame it on the fact that when James is out of town that the only computer I really have access to is on my iPhone or at work (prob not the way to win ‘employee of the year’ award, writing a blog on the work computer). …see what I did there, threw in another justification amidst explaining the first few excuses? Did ya like that? Yeah, just making sure you noticed.
So here I sit, less than 24 hours away from our next Tarter Sauce meeting, doing my ‘homework’ last minute so I don’t get in put in the Tarter Sauce corner (a self-imposed punishment, I’m sure) and feeling really frustrated that my current lifestyle simply doesn’t allow for this thing called ‘free time’. Oh, did I mention that April (my partner in crime in Blend Nashville) is like 7 months pregnant now? Whoa. No painting and furniture transformations in her near future.
For those of you who have read our blog in the past, thank you for reading and for your patience. I mean… 5 months in between posts is a WEE bit ridiculous, no matter the current craziness of our lives. Hold tight and stay tuned, this is what I have in store for future blogs as time and lack of sleep allows:
* Vintage Comic Book Decoupaged Bedside Table Transformation
A $10 book find at an antique store is transformed into Canyon's new bedside table
* My Love Affair With Pinterest
The picture that began my 26 board obsession
* Canyon’s Vintage Super Hero Inspired Bedroom
A work in progress...
* Favorite Places to find Local Christmas Gifts
The ladies at Style Blueprint will have a GREAT feature on a local place in Nashville to shop this week, hee hee. : )
Til next time, thanks for reading and happy thoughts.
xo,
Miranda
Sooo…. I have this chair….
Origin: An AWESOME estate sale in Trussville, Alabama
Actually, this little guy is one of two I picked up on a trip down south a while back, the other one is ‘sans arms’ though and is a standard dining chair. Aaaand they are my ‘little project’ chairs (i.e. a new power tool had to be purchased) because the seats on these suckers I think were brought over on the Mayflower.
So, while the rest of the world watched the Oprah Surprise Spectacular, I instead read my new jigsaw manual front to back ONLY to look up when Beyonce ruled. the. world. for about 4 1/2 minutes.
She probably makes furniture on the side too... GAH
She. Is. AMAZING. But I digress…
Needless to say, you would think that after rebuilding seats, stabilizing frames, and priming, that finding fabric would be the least of my worries, right? Wrong.
As a practicing design schizophrenic, deciding on fabric for a piece of furniture is, I think, very similar to what Congress must go through to pass a bill… except, it seems, they can always ‘take it back’ if they change their minds so, actually, my fabric sourcing is most likely more involved than the future of America’s healthcare.
And, to make matters worse I am a CHEAP. ASS. The idea of buying something I am not going to use seems to tear at my inner being. So, I don’t just leisurely look for fabric. I stalk it. Me and my trusty iPhone literally go all paparazzi at the fabric stores and usually walk out with tons of ideas but no fabric (I think I have a commitment issue) because I always need to ‘mull it over’. April, on the other hand, rarely will walk out of a fabric store (or any other store/yard sale/side of the road) without having SOMETHING in hand.
So me and the Nashville fabric stores are like old friends and I wanted to fill you in on some of the fabrics I’m currently stalking for various projects in my head PLUS fill you in on a great deal available to those who are just as in love & cheap about fabric as I seem to be.
Fabric Gallery & Decor – 2708 Franklin Pike
Although small and easily overlooked off 8th Avenue/Franklin Pike, this shop makes up for their size by the awesome diversity of fabrics and services they offer. Half of their shop is made up of various notions for curtains, valances, pillow forms, roman shades, etc so it truly can be a one-stop shop and they are always happy to help. My mom introduced me to this store years ago and its still always a stop for me when I’m in the Berry Hill area.
New Arrivals via their website. I am IN LOVE with the bottom right hand robin's egg blue and toffee one.
I love the handdrawn styling of this fabric, it would be great for pillows, curtains, valances, seat cushions... I'll stop there for now..
I like the negative effect of the leaves on this one. And the greys, lilacs, and aubergines are a nice twist on floral
I'd like to think this is what a microscopic image of a lime would look like... in my scientific opinion..
Not for the faint of heart of course but I WILL have a piece one day that is neon orange and turquoise. And it will BLOW. YOUR. MIND
The Fabric House – 4308 Sidco Drive
If Nashville has a fabric metropolis, this is it. Whenever a fabric store has a billboard off the interstate, you know they mean business. Tucked amidst the seemingly industrial area of 100 Oaks off Sidco Drive, the Fabric House is considered a favorite among Nashville designers and fabric connoisseurs alike. I would suggest you block out atleast a couple hours to tour the place as they keep hundreds of fabrics on hand and even thousands more available through special order, as well as trims, notions, pre-made curtains up to 108″ in length, and various decor pieces amidst the rows and rows of fabrics.
I love this French script on linen, although it would probably be a bit pretentious unless you have some sort of claim to the French way of life... let's all work on that together, field trip!
A brighter, cleaner version of the popular 'vintage sack' look. I would love to use this in a kitchen or cafe somewhere
A turquoise explosion! Of course, it's one of my favorites
Oooo, a waterfall of saffron! I must say, the mix of yellows and grays are becoming more and more enticing
Medallions = EASY THROW PILLOWS. Done and done.
Maybe its the near hundred degree weather, but this just screams cool, calm autumnal back patio mornings to me. Love it.
Refinement defined. I really need to just break down and buy like 5 yards of this b/c it would be amazing ON ANYTHING.
Very 'Greece meets lab rat maze' don't you think?
Textiles – 2717 Franklin Pike
This shop reminds me most of your local fabric shop, with rows of fabric bolts that greet you at the door and allow you to weave in and out all the way to the back of the store. I’ve always found the ladies here SO. helpful and the customers lingering about on any given morning or afternoon to be just as nice and willing to give you tips – it really is the least pretentious fabric place in town and my recommendation for any ‘amateur fabric lovers’ out there.
**PLUS, CA-RAZY DEAL ALERT** EVERY FABRIC in their store is 50% off now through July 2nd. EVERY FABRIC! And any of their ‘remnant fabrics’ are 75% off! I know, it’s like God Himself was looking down on me and my cheapness and just granted me justification to go wild. And wild I shall go. Well… we’ll see.. here are some I’ve had my eye on:
Feedsack stripes in all colors. With the discount, I'm pretty sure these come out to about $3.50 a yard or less
The ONLY place you would find recipes in my kitchen. Heh.
Pink & Orange together are H.O.T.
I'm big on repetition and these buttons are a simple, crisp yet novel look
It's PURE nostalgia of my childhood 3D viewer that makes me want to make this fabric work somewhere... still not sure where yet but SO. COOL.
Housewives of Warhol County anyone?
I'd love to see this on a pair of saffron yellow 'tea time' chairs
This fabric stretched A to Z style on a canvas or wall hanging would be awesome in a vintage styled nursery
In my professional opinion, Dr. Seuss belongs most ANYWHERE in a home.
My 'pretend Vintage Circus Kid's Room' fabric, part one.
Circus Stripes & Stars... i.e. part 2 of my made-up awesome Circus room
Sooo, who wants to have a kid solely so I can fulfill my Circus nursery dreams? Any takers?
Aaaand, for an entire new direction, pink and purple gingham in shantung silk. Two 'traditional' styles that I could TOTALLY. ROCK. OUT.
Just going through my iPhone trying to edit down my favorites for this blog has been pretty darn therapeutic. But do you see where my dilemma is? I can’t begin to decide yet what fabric(s) to use. Anyone out there have a favorite amongst the bunch? Or, make it CRAZY EASY for me and just commission me to do the chairs for you in whatever fabric/paint finish you’d like.
Keep these tips in mind though when out on your own:
- Have A Plan: It’s so much easier if you already know what you need fabric for, which room it’s going in, and how much you need. Otherwise, you WILL get lost in a sea of fabrics and they don’t hand out life preservers at the door, promise.
- Take A Camera: Pretty sure by now this is an obvious tip from me, but seriously having high def images to refer back to when you go back home to ‘mull it over’ truly does help… even weeks later.
- Ask For Swatches: Sometimes they’re free, sometimes they’re a buck but it’s always a good idea to have the actual fabric with you later to match up with other decor items if necessary. However, beware that most ‘swatches’ are literally little shrivels and oftentimes won’t have the entire print (or all of the colors) on the tiny swatch you do get.
- Always Buy Twice What You Need: Unless we’re talking about like $50+ yard fabric here, it’s always a good idea to buy more than you need… b/c you never know if you measured incorrectly (some of us SUCK AT MATH) or if you need to make a duplicate cut. Also, if you loved the fabric enough to buy it, having a little extra never hurts for a pillow or something down the road.
- Eavesdrop: TOTALLY justified as most of the time the people walking around fabric stores frequent them often and know more about fabric than you do. For instance, the little 50% off sale at Textiles I originally found out through eavesdropping… and my cheap ass proceeded to put back 3 or 4 fabrics almost purchased if it hadn’t been for my ‘listening skills’.
- Check/Ask About A Clearance/Remnant Section: Almost every fabric store has one. Sometimes they are pretty picked over, sometimes you will find a jewel of a deal. Usually fabric remnants aren’t more than a couple yards in length but that can cover a myriad of different things from chairs to valances to throw pillows to wall hangings. And they are dirt cheap.
But, for reals, DO. NOT. MISS. OUT on the 50% off deal at Textiles this month and be sure to checkout The Fabric House and Fabric Gallery & Decor and let me know what you find OR if you are outside Nashville or simply too busy and can’t make it by and are looking for something specific, let me know and we will be happy to source something for you!
xo,
Miranda
Many of you know we’ve begun making it a point to post some of the best ‘finds/deals’ Craig’s List in Nashville has to offer and we wanted to throw some more at you today.
But, some of these deals are SO. GOOD. I’m literally just gonna get to the point and post them asap so you get the chance at them before they disappear!
Pub Style Dining Table & Four Chairs – $25
$25?!? For 4 Chairs & The Table? 4 Chairs & A Table That Aren't Pea Green? ... or made of wicker? ... or circa 1978?? Craziness. Get. It. NOW.
Shoe Shelves From Local Boutique – $50 each
Two of these are up for grabs and would be in my dream closet immediately. Sorry ladies, don't think the shoes are included... but you could store SO MUCH MORE THAN SHOES... just think how fancy your garage could look.
Retro Pedestal Dining Table – $125
Perfect for a small eat in kitchen! Great lines and hard to find in such great condition
Shabby Chic Coffee Table – $65
So versatile and great curved lines. White is so kid friendly too, easy to sand and paint quickly if, heaven forbid, it comes in contact with a marker... or paint... or blood.. Hey, whatever your kids are into..
Steel Blue Tufted Leather Chair – $30
From personal experience, those nailheads on this chair cost more than $30. If I bought it, I'd paint the wood arms and legs either white or a soft grey and it would totally transform this chair from 'tired and traditional' instantly
Mitchell+Gold Cottage Sofa – $225
Mitchell+Gold ANYTHING is usually over $1000... this sofa probably was closer to $2K at first purchase. I'm not usually into 'used sofas' but this is such a great deal, even a professional cleaning to the thing would make it worth it for such a well made sofa
Vintage ‘Dirt’ Box – $20
Ok.. $20 for a 'dirt' box isn't really a 'deal', per se. But wouldn't it be SOO CUTE on a patio as a planter. I mean, how wonderfully ironic : )
Aaaaannnnd that’s it, folks. Short and sweet. I would totally keep going and/or give ya more to read but this is ‘pure business’ post because I want ya’ll to get your eyes on them as soon as your computer can upload ‘em. Cause, for real, some of these are deals too good to pass up. Enjoy! Thanks for reading : )
xoxo,
Miranda
In the aftermath of the ‘William & Kate’ weddingocalypse, it seems like every media outlet is straining to extract just one. more. detail about how the royal wedding and reception ‘of the century’ went down…
… and I don’t know about ya’ll, but I just don’t give a sh*t. Okay, okay Kate did look AMAZING and yes, yes I’m sure royalty has its perks but for all those millions of pounds spent (which, if I’ve done my math correctly, I believe converts to gazillions in U.S. dollars), the wedding and reception WAS. TACKY.
… like circa 1993 tacky…
Buckingham Palace or the Downtown Sheraton?? Your guess is as good as mine
I’m sure those tapestries are woven out of 20,000 Karat Gold and each plate cost more than my entire house, but I really expected a little more ‘love and care’ to go into the design of this wedding reception rather than dusting off the tablecloths from Princess Diana’s nuptials.
I think Donald Trump was commissioned to design this wedding... gah..
Maybe I’m being a little hard on the royal wedding planners but the setup looks more like the decor for Queen Elizabeth’s 85th birthday (coincidentally, her birthday was April 21st, just one week prior to the wedding… hmmm… it’s all coming together…), NOT that of two young, fresh, stylish people who plan to leave all the ‘royal rubbish’ behind and live in a cozy cottage, free of servants, after the big day ended.
I think though my expectations were set just a wee bit high as one of my very best friends, Erienne, had a wedding TO. DIE. FOR just a few months prior and, in my opinion, KICKED THE ROYAL FAMILY’S ASS in overall event design.
Quick Backstory: Erienne and I have been friends since we were 8 years old. She moved to Los Angeles a few years ago and found her perfect match in Jeremy and they were engaged and planned to marry in October…. and then, 3 weeks prior to the wedding, THEY LOST THEIR VENUE. (–Enter O.M.G’s and gasps here–). Long story short, they got picked up by Tori Spelling (yes, THE Tori Spelling) to be featured in her new show, SToribook Weddings on The Oxygen Network and what resulted was shabby chic perfection.
So here’s a few (read, 30+… editing isn’t my strong suit..) of my favorite photos from the wedding which, save a couple of INCREDIBLE one of a kind pieces, IS TOTALLY DOABLE on a tight budget. Pay attention, Brits…
SKINNY BLOG NOTE: The images show a bit small here, but feel free to click on each of them to see an enlarged, more detailed and FABULOUS view. : )
Simple mason jars 'light the way'
Guestbook Sign-In aka 'Welcome to the coolest wedding you've ever experienced'
Bridal Party Boutonnieres Placed In A Vintage Box
Daisies, Daisies, & More Daisies - Such a beautiful and simple setup
Even L.A. needs a bit of snuggling in December : )
Bunches of Flowers Abound - Simple Items Used Repeatedly Provide A Cohesive & Homey Feel
The end of a church pew never looked so simply beautiful
Erienne (a brave soul) was escorted to the wedding by boat, manned by Tori Spelling's husband, Dean. Note the personal touch at the helm
The bridge to the wedding. So metaphorical and AWESOME at the same time
A collection of 'found' pews, chairs, benches, etc makes for a much more personal walk down the aisle instead of the standard folding chairs
Vintage windowed door frames flank the entrance to the ceremony...
The beautiful bride in her dress, made by her mother. Take that Carole Middleton!
This cocktail hour brought to you by THE MOST AMAZING VINTAGE CORAL SOFA
Remove the grass and add some walls and BOOM, you have my new favorite sitting room
Additional seating for the lucky guests
DON’T FORGET YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES
FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW!
Dinner... is served.
... this makes me want to ban all plastic folding tables..
Eat your heart out Buckingham palace. Pssh.
Do you see a theme here? Simply. Effortlessly. Beautiful.
Commence wiping the drool off your keyboard in 3, 2....
Right? Who needs a wedding cake when you have A DESSERT TABLE THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS. AHHHHH!!
This ENTIRE LOOK is really just a few flea markets/antique stores away... oh, and maybe one or two candy shops and bakeries... who wants to make a dessert table with me for, say, Memorial Day? lol
.. the best transition I could provide after those last few morsels
Old frames + fabric + chalkboard paint = DONE
A lovely furniture vignette welcomes guests inside
A shabby chic alternative to the standard 'photo booth' idea popping up at weddings
Tori Spelling & her husband Dean McDermott posing in the 'photo booth'
I really could keep going but a Hulu video is worth a thousand pictures .. is worth a 100,000 words? I dunno, I suck at math (see pound to dollar conversion formula above). But here are a few pointers to take away from this uber-fantastic personally-driven wedding:
- Keep It Simple. Turn everyday items into featured decor by finding new uses for them. I.E. Mason Jars, Old Wooden Boxes, Luggage Pieces, Mis-Matched Furniture
- Repetition Is Key. Group ‘like’ things together to make a larger impact. Similar items play off each other when placed together whereas by themselves, no matter how beautiful, they often can get lost.
- Make It Personal. Simple ideas like hand-written signs and menus, framed chalkboards for creative drawing sessions and hand-made touches throughout your event not only make your guests feel more welcome but truly make the event YOURS and not just another ‘day rental’
- “God is in the details” – Mies van der Rohe. ‘Nuff said.
Hopefully, by the time Prince Harry gets around to saying ‘I do’, the word will get across the pond that weddings, no matter how royal, don’t have to be gilded to be grand. We Americans wanna see a little personality and effort put forth next ‘go round. Donald Trump, you’re fired. You think the U.K. would sink to the bottom of the Atlantic if we proposed Tori Spelling design the next royal wedding? Well… looking on the bright side, William & Kate could take the throne a bit sooner because I have a feeling the Queen and Prince Charles would have a heart attack.
The. End. : )
xo,
Miranda
Ya like what I did there? Little play-on-words action? Block-N-Roll? Get it?? Yeah… you. are welcome. This stuff doesn’t just happen, folks.
For those of you not lucky enough to grow up under the alpha-masculine rhinestone-tastic era of Glam Rock, click below for your reference point:
Gary Glitter doing what he does best...
Now that we are all on the same page, let me introduce you to my new favorite thing: Letter Press Art.
Courtesy Hatch Show Print - Nashville, TN
Leave it to Americans to take antiquated printing techniques using wood blocks and rotary presses and ROCK. THEM. OUT. In an era of constant digital manipulation, it’s nice to know some people are still out there getting their hands dirty and doing it in style. And the best part?? It’s inexpensive awesome art. Priced regularly anywhere from $5-$35 depending on the size and style. Believe me, you’d be hard-pressed (pun COMPLETELY intended) to find artwork up to 18×24 (or even larger sometimes) for any less.
Letterpress printing transcended from function to art form in the early 20th century with the concept of vaudeville & concert posters but since has evolved into an entirely new and genuinely just cool art form… and for us people who consider a successful day to be a 100+ point word on Words With Friends wordsmiths out there, it makes for the perfect combination.
It’s as if Mark Twain, Andy Warhol, & Roy Lichtenstein got together and had a wildly creative love child…
..who liked to play with blocks with letters on them….
Here are just a few of my favorites… if I listed all of them, I’m afraid we’d be entering record breaking blog length territory..
'Eat' - Courtesy of RollandTumblePress on Etsy
Perfect for ANY nursery - Courtesy SycamoreStreetPress on Etsy
I love the idea of using letterpress for every day use. Invitations? Thank you cards? Business Cards? Spread the letterpress love, I say!
I would go to this book club.. - Courtesy of PressaRussa on Etsy
Wedding Invitations - Courtesy GoldenRectanglePress on Etsy
Whenever we get around to getting married, I’m pretty sure this will be at the top of my ‘crazy bride-to-be requests’ list. But, until then, I believe this one is more appropriate…
A new take on grandma's 'Home Sweet Home' - Courtesy RollandTumblePress on Etsy
Or, if you are feeling more local, check out Hatch Show Print down on Broadway:
A cool piece that features all of Hatch Show Print's Fonts
Stocked in their Broadway store - 11x14's at $15 each!
One of my favorites... I might be a little bias though due to my undying love of caffeine
A much cooler gift for your visiting guests than some coffee mug/keychain/ill-fitting t-shirt
Recession Proof Art - Fo' Sho
Hang with me, kids… there’s only 3,764 more to show you…
... okay, maybe you should just go see for yourself..
Reason #75,432 why I LOVE Nashville? Hatch Show Print is the oldest working letter press shop in the U.S. (since 1879) and it is open to the public so get off the computer and go check it out!
My favorite so far though? It’s courtesy of Roll And Tumble Press on Etsy and I’m anxiously awaiting it’s delivery from their shop in Arkansas (yes.. that state does produce things other than horrendous road conditions). It’s going in the hall directly next to my half bath downstairs : )
xo,
Miranda
Craig’s List is A. BEAST. It amazes us the amount of merchandise to be had/sifted through EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. If anyone needed to complete a dissertation on the concept of ‘Quality vs. Quantity’, a day on Craig’s List would be all the research you would need… well, at least to get an A+ in our class.
Check out what we found today. Hurry and pick up your favorites before the ever-disappointing ‘this posting has been deleted’ rears its ugly URL.
Full Size Vintage Shabby Chic Bed – $95
A beautiful addition to a guest room or any little girl's room that's ready to upgrade from a toddler or day bed.
Vintage Industrial Railroad Carts – $45 each
Rough(er) condition, we know. But these win the award for 'Best Potential' on Craig's List by far this week
… why would we showcase these beauties in their current condition?? Because at $45 each, they are A STEAL. A little sanding, one or two new boards, and slap some stain on these suckers and look at what they can become:
CRAAAZY Expensive Railroad Cart at Restoration Hardware – $1095
$1095 - $45 = TIME ENOUGH TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN
Antique Multipane Windows – $10 each
$10 each or $50 for the whole lot
Usually in antique stores, multi-pane windows of this size run about $25 each. Windows are to interior design as flour is to baking (or so I hear…. ya know, by people who bake…): they work EVERYWHERE and serve so many purposes.
For example:
How cool to replace the glass with a mirror. This would even be a cool look using the windows 'as is', no new paint required.
Or even this:
The perfect frame for old family photos
Or go all out with your $50 purchase, lol:
A greenhouse made from antique windows. Okay.. this might be going a little overboard..
Vintage Oval Dining Table – $40
Can we say 'Pottery Barn' for hundreds less??
Seriously, if I didn’t already have enough shit to work on a dining room table, this would be mine today. Great classic lines, in perfect shape, the only thing holding anyone back would be the hellacious jaundice-colored oak top with the distracting shiny finish (I don’t know about you, but when I sit down to eat I don’t think seeing my oak-toned reflection looking back at me would be very appetizing..).
Nothing a little sanding and a bit of stain/paint can’t fix though:
Pottery Barn’s Aris Pedestal Dining Table – $899
$899 or $40+A Half Day's Worth Of Work?...
Man, this is KILLING. ME. Someone I know should own this table immediately… and then invite me over for dinner so I can delight in your good fortune. I’ll bring the alcohol.
Don’t have the time/energy/know-how to make these dreams a reality? Give us a call/drop us a line/Facebook us/come by my house and we will be glad to turn these pieces into something that might rival your love for your children (or pets.. or close family.. whatever)
xoxo,
Miranda
Everyone has certain things in life they love that light up their soul and make them stop and realize the world is a beautiful place. For some, it’s Starbucks. For April, it’s ‘oops paint’ (destined to be featured in our ‘Favorite Things’ series, I’m sure).
Well I say screw rainy ass roses and whiskery kittens, what Barbara Streisand TOTALLY overlooked was antique insulators.
Sooo awesomely pretty, right?? Right.
Now I know about 87% of you out there are thinking, “Umm… I’ll take the whiskery kittens” but stay with me here, people. These things are like jewelry for your home! They are the perfect finishing touch to a mantle, a windowsill, a side table, anywhere your life needs a little pick-me-up.
A perfectly simple vintage picture holder
Because of their innate insulating attribute, they make for an easy, safe, and interesting lighting choice too!
Antique Insulators Retrofitted Into Pendant Lighting
Turn upside down for hanging exterior votive holders
Parents in need of a safe and low voltage nightlight for kids’ rooms? Try inserting battery powered flickering votive lights (found at any hardware store or even Walmart/Target) into the bottom of the insulator. Makes for a colorful, safe, and easy nightlight.
Night Light - Before
Night Light - After
I was first introduced to these little baubles by my father-in-love, an avid collector of just about anything with a history. He had a handful sitting on top of his kitchen counter and, like a moth to a frickin bonfire, I was instantly drawn to these amazingly beautiful objects amidst the clutter man paraphernalia.
Me: Ummm, where did the pretty upside down vases come from?
Spud (aka father-in-love): … are you serious?
Me: Yes, I’m pretty seriously considering stealing them from atop your counter.
Spud: Do you mean to tell me you’ve never seen you an antique insulator?
Me: OHHH, an antique insulator. OF COURSE THAT’S WHAT IT IS (as I proceed to Google what the hell an antique insulator is)
Spud: Yep, I remember ya used to be able to climb up the telephone poles and pick’em clean off after they stopped using them. I picked them up there from the antique store for $2. You can have ‘em if you want.
I jumped up and down and proceeded to hug the man as if he had just given me keys to a new car. Seriously, I got like ‘Price is Right’ excited over something that cost less than a Tall Latte at Starbucks because I had never seen something so plainly beautiful. AND you’re telling me it had a function at one time too? S.O.L.D.
Glass insulators were originally made to keep telegraph and telephone wires electrically insulated from wooden telephone poles
I basically spent half of my childhood perusing antique stores with my parents and, for whatever reason, missed out on these suckers (most likely because some of them were still in use at the time or had just entered the stage of ‘now useless junk’ that many antiques must survive before they are brought back into the spotlight).
History Lesson: The glass insulators were introduced just prior to the Civil War and gained popularity over porcelain insulators at the turn of the century. Millions of these things were produced over the 20th century in a myriad of colors, sizes, and shapes and were phased out with the advent of cable wiring in the 1970′s.
Reasons Why No Home Should Be Without One (Or A Dozen…):
- They’re Cheap. Since being introduced to them, I’ve seen them top out around $8 (although some of the rarer colors can go for hundreds of dollars) to as low as 25 cents a piece. They seem to average around $3. The more reason to go towards that ‘dozen’ mark rather than settling for just one.
- They’re Plentiful. I spent 27 years of my life never seeing these things… then, after I found out about them, I literally see atleast 4 or 5 in every antique store/flea market I go to. More people are realizing these things aren’t junk and they are cropping up everywhere.
- They Come In Your Color Scheme. Yes, yes I tend to gravitate towards brilliant turquoise (note our logo… and our blog’s background… and the original color of my living room, since neutralized –sigh–). However, no need to fear! A myriad of colors are available (although the most popular and most easily found are the clear, turquoise, green, and amber)
Oooooooo.... Ahhhhhh..... : )
They Are Fairly Safe. Okay, I’m not going to say you can leave them out amongst a group of 3 year olds (they are glass, let’s be for real), but they are sturdy and thick little suckers. Plus, don’t forget they are insulators. I’ve dropped one onto my hardwoods before and the only thing damaged was my anxiety level (as within the split second it took for it to leave my hand and hit the floor, I was freaking out thinking ‘Oh no! I’ve had this thing like a week and already broken it, Spud will NEVER give me another one!) … but I digress.
- They’re gender friendly. My black and ivory fleur de lis parsons chairs in my living room? Not gender friendly. The handful of 5 foot tall twisted ivory sticks pluming out of a floor vase next to our mantle…. not gender friendly. The antique insulators sitting on my mantle? I mention getting more and James is like ‘Yeah, those are cool’. You know the secret ladies? Purpose. Or, well… a history of purpose. Most guys are pretty cool with junk sitting around the house if it has a sense of function and these beauties are the best case of form meeting function. Venus meeting Mars. Yen meeting Yang. … well, you get it.
- They. Are. PRETTY. Seriously, each one is like its own little piece of art. Where else can you buy art for 25 cents? And set anywhere amongst the presence of light, these things put on a show.
Just writing this blog reaffirms my mission to go find me some more. Fabulous paperweight? Done. Don’t have fancy china to show off in those glass front kitchen cabinets? Throw some of these up there and backlight them, mission accomplished. Bookends? Doorstops? There are endless options for these little glass nuggets.
Use as bookends or atop books on a shelf
A more inspiring alternative to a votive candle holder
Flipped over for collecting odds and ends...
Add a touch of whimsy to your Christmas decor when paired with antique mason jars and greenery
This just might be my project for Christmas this year… how awesome would this be on a tabletop or even outside??
Insulator Christmas Tree! SO. COOL
Convinced yet? If so, welcome to my world. And for taking the time to get ALL THE WAY to the bottom of this blog, check out this Craig’s List Ad for THE BEST DEAL I have ever found on Antique Glass Insulators (over 300 for 25 cents each!) Hurry, before I buy them all up!
Not convinced? It’s cool, to each his own. I hope you and your weird ass whiskery cat are happy together.
xoxo,
Miranda
We could make entire careers out of trying to get into people’s houses. Heck, half the fun of the job we do is getting to see the transformation of our clients’ spaces. So we take every opportunity possible to see what lingers behind the front door. Having an Open House? We’re there. New development in the works? We’ve been through the model homes ATLEAST once. Halloween? You really think I’m not totally peeking into your entire first floor view as you hand my kid a Snickers bar? Think again. Heck, if you really have something interesting going on, we might just ‘trick or treat’ your house twice. Kids can be useful little things sometimes.
It goes without saying that designers are kinda the less creepy version of ’peeping toms’ in America. We have this deep, dark (okay, not so dark) urge to see WHAT. IS. GOING. ON. in there.
And that’s why God gave us home tours. Yes, home tours are glorious events held throughout the year that not only allow you into some of the best pieces of residential property in the city, but LET YOU HANG OUT AND TAKE PICTURES.
And pictures we take, my friends…
And sometimes, if you’re lucky, there’s food involved too.
And this year, it seems, Nashville is kickin’ off the home tour season right with all kinds of jam-packed ‘peeping tom’ weekends throughout the city. So we decided to give you a list of the top tours we are (so far) aware of with all the fantastic details for each as well as links to buy tickets (hey, they don’t just give this stuff out for free…although most of the time the proceeds go to charity or towards the neighborhood partnerships to keep these communities in enviable conditions).
City Lights Downtown Tour – Thursday, April 14th, 6pm to 10pm
- A fully integrated tour of the downtown circuit, with stops at the top high-rise condos Nashville has to offer (Encore, Terazzo, & Icon) complete with food and beverages from favorite local restaurants. Parking is included.
- Tickets: $25 each
- Where To Buy Tickets: http://www.nashvilledowntown.com/live/city-lights-downtown-home-tour
12th South Neighborhood Home Tour -Saturday, April 16th, 11am to 5pm
- Tour seven individual homes in one of Nashville’s new prime residential neighborhoods (not to mention my FAVORITE place to spend each extra ounce of my time). Each home is chocked full of architectural character and is a stone’s throw away from some of the best shopping and dining found in our ever-growing cooler city.
- Tickets: $10 each (free to military, fire and police personnel with I.D.)
- Where To Buy Tickets: www.12SouthTour.com
8th Annual Downtown Home Tour – Sunday, April 17th, 12pm – 6pm
- Most likely the best ‘bang for your buck’ of the tours listed. This is a self-guided tour of the more prominent and even some of the ‘best-kept secrets’ of downtown core living. Ticketholders can park free in the 501 Church Street parking lot and free shuttle service is provided by the Park It! Express shuttles.
- Tickets: $10 each
- Where To Buy Tickets: http://www.nashvilledowntown.com/live/live-it-up-downtown-home-tour
- Home & Garden Tour & Street Festival – May 7th (10am to 5pm) & May 8th (Noon to 5pm)
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This will be perfect inspiration for anyone with a patch of dirt and a green thumb as this ‘twofer’ will have a myriad of homes on the historic registry as well as the accompanying gardens. With a weekend street festival to boot, this will be one of the best opportunities to tour one of Nashville’s most elite and exclusive communities.
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Tickets: $15 for Adults; $10 for Kids 12 & Under
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Where To Buy Tickets: http://www.rwena.org/
For those of you home-tour-aholics out there, we assure you this is just the beginning of what’s to come. But any one of the above events will be a great and inexpensive way to get some great inspiration as well as fill the never-ending curiosity of ‘what’s behind door #1′ in your favorite neighborhood or building. Give us a head’s up if you think you’ll be able to make it out to one (or more!) and we will be happy to guide you along and share in your ‘oohs, aahs, and hallelujahs’. Seriously, this is kinda our religion…
xoxo,
Miranda & April
We spend a lot of time on Craig’s List…
Leaning tower of furniture anyone?
Like, A. LOT. This is just half of a storage unit we currently have in our possession not including what we have stuffed into our own residences. Now, to our credit (and sometimes we think our own detriment), we do have to keep massive amounts of inventory on hand for our staging projects… however, this more or less justifies our unhealthy obsession constant sourcing for new projects and Craig’s List, my friends, is a virtual smorgasbord of deals.
The main problem with Craig’s List though? 97% of the items listed are CRAP… or listings for mattresses (note: Mattresses are best bought new… and somewhere that has a business license…) Seriously, sometimes we are amazed at what people really think is valuable enough for the 5 minutes it takes them to upload it.
So, pounds of patience or a serious dose of luck is required to really score big. UNTIL NOW! Every week (or as often as possible), we’ll post some of our favorite (still listed) finds here for your viewing and, perhaps, buying pleasure. Fabulous potential filled furniture and decor at fabulous prices?? Yes, yes… you can add us to your Christmas card list.
1. Pair of Hot Pink Mid Century Chairs – $175 – These were kinda the catalyst for the entire post b/c we felt it was a disservice to the greater Nashville area for these chairs to go unsold. Yes, they are hot pink. Yes, they are girly. YES, THEY ARE AWESOME. Boys, get over it… we’ll get to the manly stuff in a bit.
Pair of Hot Pink Mid Century Chairs - $175
2. Antique Tack Trunk – $350 – Yes, this one is a bit costly but would make for an incredibly unique and functional coffee table. The perfect amount of ‘weatheredness’ (spell check doesn’t appreciate our new word…) and would be a great conversation piece. OR, what a cool toy box this would make in a little boy’s room.
Tack Trunk Turned Coffee Table? - $350
3. Antique Coffee Table – $15 – Really, do we need to say more? $15?? You can’t buy a jumbo pack of toilet paper for that much!? This is a great size, shape, and even if there is a bit of wear and tear, it can probably be fixed with a coat of paint and some polyurethane. Just imagine this beautiful table in bright white… or a subtle grey… or CERULEAN! Oooooh, the possibilities : )
Antique Coffee Table - $15 = DEAL.
4. Vintage Four Drawer Dresser – $50 – Yes, it’s a bit ‘Viva Las Vegas’ at the moment but this French Provincial style is classic and, toned down a bit with a coat of paint and maybe even some new handles (although that part isn’t ENTIRELY necessary), it would be beautiful in a little girl’s (or even a ‘big girl’s) room; also as a changing table in a nursery. NEW COLOR IS SO INEXPENSIVE PEOPLE!
Vintage Dresser - $50 - (Before...)
Aaaannnnd, here’s a little ‘After’ option:
A potential 'After'. It would be even more beautiful in a light ivory or buttercream color too!
5. Vintage Industrial Cart – $165 – These suckers are usually several hundreds of dollars because anything ‘industrial’ is really hot right now. What’s great about these things is they already have wheels built into the bottom, they’re sturdy as hell, and you aren’t going to cry if it gets knicked up by your drunk buddy or kid (we hope your drunk buddy isn’t your kid…). Throw a piece of plexiglass or painted plywood on top and you got yourself a pretty kick ass table, with storage capacity!
Vintage Industrial Cart - $165
6. French Country Table & Four Chairs – $150 – This is a great example of how a little imagination can go a long way. It’s difficult to find an entire dining room table set for $150, especially a quality wood set. The mismatched chairs aren’t an issue, as they are all in the same ‘French Country aesthetic’. The table looks dated right now because of the ‘blonde wood’ top. But, staining all four chairs and the top (ONLY the top, not the beautiful white legs) of the table a nice deep Espresso or Walnut color will not only update this set but also make all the pieces blend together. The contrast of the dark table top with the white legs will change your dining experience. TRUST.
French Country Table & Chairs - $150
Here’s an example of what it could become:
This table? Yeah, its $1895... your choice.
See, who needs Pottery Barn or fancy furniture stores when you HAVE US, right? We’ll post more fun stuff as we find it. Does anyone have a piece of furniture they’ve debated on ‘Craigs Listing’? Looking for something to fill a space in your home or office and need our help looking for the perfect piece at a great price?? We’re here to help!
xoxo,
Miranda & April
Soooooo, this is what Nashville looked like last weekend…
Centennial Park circa the prettiest day on Earth
… aaaaannnd this is pretty much how it felt when going outside this entire week…
Cold. Rain. Sucks.
Needless to say, ‘Spring’ has sprung in Nashville and here’s hoping for better weather soon as ‘some of us’ have garages (okay even storage units…) FULL of projects that have been waiting for a little lovin’ all winter* and Spring’s break from itself this week did not fit into our calendars.
*S: (n) hoarder (a person who accumulates things and hides them away for future use)
Blend Nashville overall has kinda been on hiatus since the holiday season (or as us lucky people in the retail industry call it, the ‘devote your life and soul to making sure everyone ELSE has gifts while you struggle to ensure your own shopping, baking, decorating, child’s happiness can be fulfilled sometime between the hours of 11pm and 5am before the clock strikes twelve on Christmas Eve night’ …season…) Suffice it to say, it’s kinda difficult to fit in any of that ‘owning your own business’ malarkey amidst the season of giving. We quite frankly haven’t had any real time to devote to what we truly love: beautiful, budget-friendly design.
Not to say April hasn’t been gettin down and dirty here and there:
'Night Owl' Chair
'Easy As 1-2-3' Footstool
So we’ve decided to kick it up a notch and start this here blog, see (hey, it makes us feel somewhat productive..) and the ‘plan’ is to provide both of you readers out there (Hi moms!) tips, tricks, tours, and some sort of inspiration to make your home a better place with a REAL budget in mind (we promise to never post one of those ‘oh hey, check out this AWESOME pillow we found at Pottery Barn for ONLY $89!’ blogs… for real, do you know how many chairs we could buy for that?).
So check back soon, friend us on Facebook, or drop us a line if there is anything specific that’s been troubling you (preferably design wise, we can’t promise the best advice elsewhere in your life). We’d love to help show you the potential in your space! : )
x o,
Miranda & April