It's Time for Catching Up, and Exciting News

For a few months now, I have been contemplating a few really fantastic opportunities that have come my way. Do you all remember this post on my Facebook page back in October?......yes, that was October. It seems like just yesterday....so much has happened since then, and I am going to try to shed some light on that statement now that I have some clarity on things. There were so many things happening at one time..literally within days of each other.....I felt like I was in a dream. There were TV scouts calling about a network show {something I have said I would never do.....but was all of a sudden faced with}, there was a second book deal on the horizon, product sponsorships, and writing opportunities. Everything was happening fast, and to be honest ....I was a bit overwhelmed. It was all so exciting, but also very heavy and weighty as well. What was best for my brand? ....and more importantly...what was best for my family?After lots of talking, planning, organizing, considering, weighing options, and the natural process of elimination, here is where I have landed:1. I will be writing a second book!! Chronicle Books is amazing and I very much look forward to working with these great people again... and everything this second book will be. I will delve into lots more of my design process, color palettes.....and beautiful, beautiful photographs galore. Get pumped....because I'm super stoked about this project....and before you ask about a release date.....you all know that Chronicle Books are worth the wait....so, I will announce release dates when we get closer to time. For now, I'm writing my second book guys!!!!! A book that I hope will inspire you and make your eyeballs pop out of your head.....let's party!2. The TV producers quit calling...and that organically faded away. It wasn't meant for me...and I'm ok with that. But, I also know how these things work....they will call again ...and we'll see what happens next time. It will have to be a pretty sweet deal to get me on TV. I don't even like to have my picture taken.3. I am now a member of the FrogTape® blog Squad! I have loved and exclusively used this tape in my work for years, simply because of how it performs, and because I find it to be superior to other brands. I am super excited about joining the team and blogging about this fantastic product!4. I turned down another writing contract, that would have been a really fun opportunity....BUT, they wanted to retain all exclusive rights to my work. Been there, done that....not doing it again for any amount of money. Never ever give up rights to your work.....ever.5. As of this month, I am a dealer for Old Fashioned Milk Paint! Again, I have been using this product since the early 2000's and am happy to be carrying it at Knack. This company, and product have treated my furniture well over the years...and it is time to give it a proper place in my store. Some of you have asked if I will teach classes? do demonstrations? become all about paint? Nope. Nope. and Nope. I teach you everything you need to know about milk paint in my book Furniture Makeovers, and I simply wish to make a product available to you that I use and stand behind. I'm chill like that....but feel free to ask questions....I am happy to answer them.6. You will see fabric, wallpaper, and drawer liner designs from me this year! I have been talking about designing for some time now...and it is finally going to happen. I am really, really excited beyond words about this opportunity.....and you all better get ready for my design craziness.So.... as you can see, my plate is full. This is why I have not been painting as much furniture lately {although that is about to change}, and why I have been cleaning and organizing like crazy! Being focused, organized, and ready to go has given me such clarity and new creative direction.I am so thankful for my family and friends.....for how they coach, support, love and guide me through the many decisions I face.....and a huge thank you to each and every one of you who take time out of your day to come here and read my ramblings, leave me wonderful comments of love and support, and cheer me on in all of my ventures. I appreciate it more than you know and cherish every interaction.Here we go!xo,Barb

Kindness

image via pinterest

Kindness goes a long way.....even if it is not reciprocated.xo,Barb

The nature air that filled our lungs and came out in laughter

This past Saturday, Jon and I took our kids and a couple of their friends to the mountains for some much needed time out doors. We have had an extremely cold winter so far here in the south, with temps dipping down into the single digits. These temps just do not happen all that much here.....so when we heard that it was going to be in the 50's and 60's over the weekend, we planned a day of hiking and exploring.It was wonderful to be out in nature, listening to the water as it laughs and roars its way down the falls, carrying on with silly conversations, breathing in fresh air, laughing, stretching our muscles, exploring new towns, and celebrating being together.I brought my good camera along this time so that I could capture more of what I saw. I am so glad I made the call to bring it......it was so wonderful to capture these moments...and the beauty of winter.Winter sometimes gets a bad rap and is associated with cold, dark, wet, and bleak......but the evergreens, the glistening icicles, the bright green moss, the golden dried grasses, the dappled gray rocks, the charcoal mountains and the leathery wood all beg to differ with those opinions. I believe I agree ....xo,Barb

A beautiful soft gray desk named Corisande

Well, here she is......the first piece that I have painted in this New Year. I have worked on three others that you will see here soon....but this is the first official piece of the year.I have been so busy. End of the year book keeping, beginning of the year planning, running the retail shop, organizing, and new opportunities have kept me super busy this first month of the new year. It feels really good to have all of that squared away for now, and the fact that I am very cleaned and organized has really helped me focus on the full year that I have ahead. More on that soon........but for now....this sweet desk. I love the beautiful and graceful lines of this desk. The little curved legs, the carved fluting, and the all around soft curves of the design. Very attractive and versatile if I do say so myself.When I started on this desk....my initial plan was to use milk paint....and I really wanted a very heavy distress pattern. However, this piece is a mahogany piece and the pink tannins started rearing their ugly heads from the start. I had to change design directions, since I needed to use a primer to "tame the tannins". I have a favorite primer for these situations and it is called Fresh Start by Benjamin Moore. I had it tinted to the color of my paint so that I would not have to worry about white primer showing through. There are several reasons that I love this primer, but the thinness of it and the non chalky finish are the two top reasons for me. {not to mention it covers stains and tannins like a boss} It is never easy to have to add extra steps...but it is ALWAYS worth doing the job right and to the best of your ability.So, even though I had to change directions, and go with a less distressed finish... I love the character of this piece. The beautiful soft gray color combined with the wooden chunk knobs and the hand made paper by JuJu papers, take this lovely girl to the level of triple threat.Corisande is available on the shop floor, and in the online shop as well! Click here to make her yours!  {UPDATE: This girl is now SOLD!}A very special thank you to Julie Dodds of Willow Florals for the absolutely stunning floral arrangement that was used in this shoot.xo,Barb

Fantastic Friday

gorgeous floral arrangement by Julie Dodds of Willow Florals

Today was a fantastic day...all around. I got my hands so dirty that my fingernails are solid black underneath, I finished my first furniture piece of the new year { I know.... I barely squeaked out one piece this month, but there are good reasons....promise!}, two more pieces are getting freshened up as we speak, and I feel so creatively inspired and challenged right now.The best part of my day though, came when I got a call from my husband saying that he had just been offered a wonderful position with a new company. You see, my husband lost his job 2 weeks before Christmas {yikes!}. It was shocking at first, especially since he had been at the same company for the past 17 years. He started this job, when my now 17 year old son, was just a mere 4 months old. December 19th would have been his 17 year anniversary and he was let go on December 5th. It was a great job, it was a flexible job, and it met our needs. The company went through a buyout and many changes over the last 5 years...and we knew it was a matter of time......but two weeks before Christmas? It was a hard day....let me tell you.....When that phone call came....there was a moment of instant panic, and my heart dropped to my feet... there were tears, not for me, but for my sweet man...as he dealt with his own fear.....and then complete and utter peace. These words: "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul" flooded my own heart and soul in that moment. The strength that came from this peace, fortified my being with the knowledge that the One who created us knows exactly what is best for us, and He loves us......and everything He does is good.One of the coolest things about being married to this man that I love so dearly is that in times like these....knowing how to love each other and loving each other well  make all the difference in the world. The desire to love someone even more...the desire to pour yourself out completely. Sometimes one of us is strong, sometimes we both are strong....but at all times, we have each other....and that is all that matters. We could smile through every day, plan, dream, be excited about new beginnings, talk about our fears, and look back with great appreciation.We are celebrating this weekend. Celebrating a new start, Celebrating goodness......celebrating family. We will be heading to the mountains tomorrow with our kids and a few of their friends....it will be good to get outside....to smell the freshness of the earth....and to stretch our limbs and imaginations.See you on Monday....with some {more} exciting news, and a new furniture friend!xo,Barb Blair

Choose wisely my friends

image via pinterest

This year has started off with some major mountains for me....some I want to climb, some I have to climb, and some I don't want to climb at all..........choose wisely.xo,Barb

Makeover Monday

I am in a bit of a holding pattern in the furniture department lately, and so I have not been painting at all these last several weeks. There are very good reasons for this, and these reasons will unfold over the next few weeks.I did however start the first piece of 2014 last week, and had hoped to have it ready for you all today....however, I ran into an issue with my design due to the tannins in the piece and had to completely change the design plan....and prime the entire piece. Grrr! It will be beautiful when completed....and I hope that completion will happen this week so I can show it to you all on Monday!For now though.....here are some makeovers for your Monday! Visit my online shop if you decide that you cannot live without one of these beauties in your home! Bring on the color!xo,Barb

I have a confession to make.....

.....or maybe it is more of an announcement......but either way...here goes!I have loved and used Old Fashioned Milk Paint in my work since the early 2000's. I will never forget the first piece I used milk paint on. {this was back in the garage days} It was a huge armoire, and I chose the color: Sea Green. I read the directions about how to mix the paint, but from there...I totally flew by the seat of my pants. I remember the feeling I got when the paint started to flake and peel away from the piece...."yikes! this is not like latex paint in any way"......and then I also remember thinking "just follow it through girl...you got this!" I have been hooked ever since and have painted hundreds of pieces with milk paint. I don't even know how many dollars I have spent on milk paint....but it is A LOT.....and it is worth every penny. I still have mad love for latex paint as well, and use it regularly in my work.....but today we are talking about my new ventures with milk paint.OFMP has been producing milk paint since 1974 right here in the United States of America, and is a family run company. Milk paint is all natural, and environmentally responsible. I love that about this company and product, but even more than that...i can honestly say that after 10 years of  using OFMP paint.... I have yet to be disappointed in a finish. I am so comfortable with this product and can stand behind its results 100%.Because of my relationship with this company, and my belief in their product.....I am proud to announce, that starting in February, Knack will be an official OFMP dealer! You know what that means? You all will now be able to scoop up a few bags of powdery goodness anytime you visit the Knack shop! Super cool right?! I will be sure to keep the shelves stocked with all of my favorites....I mean your favorites. {wink!} I am really excited to partner with this great company and continue to create finishes that are authentic and beautiful......and that can only be achieved with milk paint.Upward and onward.xo,Barb{the above images are from the archives....and some of you may remember the oldies but goodies. All courtesy of milk paint}