FYI
I had several comments and emails about my design process after yesterdays introduction post, so I thought I would actually show you the drawings that go on behind the scenes. Sometimes I am just sketching designs that are in my head that are not necessarily connected to a specific piece, and sometimes I am actually drawing a specific design plan for a specific piece.......and then there are times where I don't draw it out at all and just create it based on what is in my brain. I think there is a need for all of the above.....I don't have to draw anything if I don't want to because my brain is wired to see it without drawing it out, and spontaneity can be fabulous.....but I think creating visual aids, reminders, and guidelines is a great way to make sure that the proper time and care are given to each design.Some of the designs pictured here have already been executed, and have found homes.....some have yet to be completed...some are half hidden because they may or may not be in the book....hee hee!...and some may get done in the next few weeks, especially the green one with the deep "V" pattern on it.......I drew that design plan last year....and I am going to make it happen......but it may not be on a chest of drawers. We shall see!It is super important to me, to truly create original and creative art with my furniture pieces.....so I choose to look at life and the everyday for my inspiration. It's where its at.xo,Barb Blair
Introductions
There are projects that come along, and even though I have purchased them because I love something about them..... I get stuck trying to decide how exactly I want to take them to the level of frabjous. I started painting this little armoire with one plan in mind...I was going to paint the entire thing with milk paint and leave it pretty plain....but for some reason I felt like I was just rushing to try to get the piece done and check it off my list. I want to fight against that mentality...so I literally put one coat of milk paint on the entire thing, rinsed out my brushes, and went back to the drawing board and spent a day drawing and planning out my design.I looked through magazines, fabric and wallpaper combinations, and stared out my front window mulling over colors and patterns....but the thing that finally got me going in the right direction was a beautiful mexican blanket that I borrowed from a friend to use in a photo shoot. It was lying there just staring at me and the many different colors and different sized stripes totally caught my eye. Immediately the light bulb came on in my head. I knew the stripes would be hard, and a bit tedious but I had plenty of Frog Tape on hand and I crave a good tough furniture challenge. I knew if all went well, the pain would be so worth it! I went back to the studio the very next day, executed "my plan", and this is what came out! Meet Tallulah! I am telling you.... with the turquoise, purple, yellow, cream, red, pink, orange, blue and green stripes.....the turquoise insides, and the pistachio green knobs..... Tallulah is a party waiting to happen!I'm here to tell you it was indeed worth it to stand back and enjoy this little beauty!xo,Barb
Etcetera
I wanted to share just a few photographs from our lake vacation this past week. It was four days of complete relaxation {minus my phone being gobbled up by the lake...but once I buried my head in my husbands chest, cried about the stupidity of it all, and got mad at myself for being careless, I was over it} and we had the most fun we have had in a while. The weather was so beautiful..... it was mid 60's to low 80's the entire time and very low humidity, which is a dream for this time of year here in the south!You know how you have those awesome trips where everyone gets along great, weather is perfect, the food is delicious, and the friendships and memories just nurture your soul? Well, that was this trip. We jet skied, went for many boat rides, tubed, wake boarded, kayaked, and water skied. You name it, we did it....and we did it until the last bit of sunshine peeked below the horizon.I tried something new on this trip! I was challenged by my friend "J" to try wake boarding and I literally had butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it! Every muscle in my body hurt from my very first wake boarding experience...but it was so worth every muscle pain. I was so afraid to try, and almost defeated myself before ever trying because I knew it was going to be tough. I have never snow boarded before because I don't like the thought of both feet being strapped down, so the thought of not only having both feet strapped to a board but then also being yanked up by a boat just had me questioning my sanity. I lived to tell about it, and I got up not once, not twice, but THREE times! It was so great to conquer that little nagging " you can't do this" voice in my head.....and to hear my friends and family cheering me on from the boat ahead. My husband and my son also got up on the wake board for their first time as well! Woot!One of my favorite things has to be the tubing though......that moment of sheer panic when you hit the "vortex wave of death" {created by crazy boat driving friend!} and go airborne.....yeah, it's pretty dang amazing! It was such good times. I am so thankful for the beauty of these memories that were just written across my heart forever.Have a great weekend you guys!xo,Barb
Found Goodness
I purchased several pieces from an estate a couple weeks back, and as I was prepping a fantastic little armoire and getting it ready to paint.... I discovered this handy dandy little accessory for helping gentlemen pick out their wardrobe for the day! I thought it was so simple in design, which I love by the way, and an absolute hoot! I can just see this poor guy standing in front of this little apparatus... closing his eyes, spinning the knob, and hoping he had the correct combination when it appeared!Don't we all wish standing in our closets and getting dressed could be this easy?xo,Barb
Quotage
This can be so true in our day to day lives can't it? I experienced a little chaos of my own while on vacation these past few days. We had the best time, and I will post some pictures in the next couple of days and some more details of our trip.....BUT, on the very first day my iphone fell out of my pocket as I was getting on the boat and it sunk to the bottom of the lake never to be found again. We dove and dove until our ears popped but the water was so deep and murky and we could not retrieve the phone. My phone was insured, so my new phone was waiting for me on my door step when I got home last night.....but unfortunately I did not, and had not ever backed up my icloud. {insert frowny face!} I never realized you had to back it up....my simple little mind just thought all my info was floating around somewhere in "the cloud" every time I synced my phone to my computer......... and therefore I lost everything! I mean everything....over 1,000 photos {this is the hardest part for me}, calendars, contacts, texts, important notes....etc.Ugh!Chaos happened, great changes are to be made. I will be backing everything up from here on out.If I miss appointments, and things are quiet for the next few days, its because I am trying to get my life back in order and figure out what end is up! Wish me luck!** UPDATE- Since I wrote this post, I found out I did not have everything backed up to icloud, BUT I did have everything backed up to my laptop through itunes!!! All I had to do was sync my new phone with my itunes and everything came back to my phone just like it was my old phone! I was amazed! I am completely back to normal, everything was recovered, I lost NOTHING, and stand amazed at technology! I am so aware that so much grace was given to me in this instance and I have learned some valuable lessons that I shall not soon forget! Thank you all for your love and thoughts! **xo,Barb
Etcetera
photo via Reclusive North here
photo available on etsy via jessica torres
We are headed to the lake for four days! There will be lots of boating, tubing, water skiing, s'mores, tennis, pool floating, and just a great time spent with family and friends.I will be back here on Wednesday!xo,Barb
Found Goodness
I am serious when I say that the moment I laid eyes on these beauties from Bloom Theory I was completely smitten by their styling, design, and just how well they have been executed. {I first spied them on my friend Holly's pinterest board, and it was all over after that!} This is high fashion for cameras my friends and you better believe I will be saving my pennies so that I can own one....and let it hug my neck!! The second and third photos are my favorites...so I may have a hard time deciding which one I love most. However, with my love for all things off center and asymmetrical I just may love photo number three a little bit more?.....but then again I seem to get tired of "floof " and ruffles, so the simple style of photo 2 may be a bit more practical? Then again the sequins would make me feel like having a sparkle party every time they hit my neck.....hmmmm....See what I mean? So hard to decide! Oh my, such pretty goodness is out there my friends.
xo,
Barb
