The new year is such a great time to think about things in a new and different way. So get ready because this blog is about to do just that.
The Nook and Crannies blog will refreshed in mid January. And by “refreshed” I mean new name, new team, new topics, and new look and feel.
I am so excited to announce my new collaboration with Kelly Henderson of B.R. Louise. She is crazy talented and creative which is why she is a make-up artist and hairstylist to many of country music’s A-list. Oh and she just wrapped a photo shoot with Glamour Magazine….no big deal.
It doesn’t hurt that her own personal style is so unique and adorable. So without further doting here she is…..
The new blog name will be Velvet’s Edge. And the content will be centered around all things that inspire us and our individual take on life, interiors, makeup, hairstyles, and fashion.
You can expect four series with blog post galore in between.
Here are the series:
1. The Catalog Adventures - This will focus on our crazy obsession with magazines, catalogs, and pretty much anything that comes in paper form.
2. Crush Worthy is a series devoted to things we are crushing on. Currently I am crushing on the color emerald green. Ever since I bought this lamp for my office I have been trying to figure out what else I can paint, cover, or remake with this color.
Expect to see a post about this color.:)
3. Girl Power - This name is still be decided but for now it is very self explanatory. This series will serve as a sharing from us to you on on how we are motivating ourselves to be those types of woman that dream and then go for it.
4. How2 - This series will consist of tutorials on hair, make-up, DIY for the home ect.
More updates to follow.
Make it a Happy New Year!
In the wake of the tragedy that happened last week I am not going to write an extensive post about my thoughts or my life but instead I am going to encourage the people who read this blog to pray or take a moment of silence for the lives lost in the horrible Connecticut Elementary school shooting.
God we ask for peace that passes all understanding.
It is hard to post about what has been going on with me after such a shocking loss. So I am just going to do the minimal words - picture version.
A little before and after room action. (This was a room that needed minor tweaks not an entire overhaul.)
Christmas dinner date with a guy who feeds me well.
This was Ryan’s creative wrapping job for my Christmas present. Amazing.
Christmas Party with my best friend.
Sunday gift wrapping night.
And a little Christmas decorating for a client.
With love,
It is no secret that I am obsessed with the latest and greatest in fashion and interior. Because I have one or two traditional bones in my body I don’t put all of the trends into practice. However, I still want to know they exist. I am a “need to know I could if I wanted to” type of person. My friends constantly send me fashion articles, recipes, and above all new ideas and pictures that are interior related. I literally soak this kind of thing up. As a matter of fact I got this text from a friend two days ago, “Do you have a subscription to House Beautiful magazine? If not send me your address bc I have a free gift subscription.” I guess it pays off to make your interest public. :)
All of this to say, I get to see a lot more of the topics I am interested in through sharing than I could ever do on my own. Some of the time I OOH and AHHH over something sent to me and then forget about it, and other times I am so stoked I immediately try it. This is one of the “try it now” ideas that was recently sent my way.
I am not promising this will work because it is about 20 line items down on my list of things to experiment with. But I couldn’t pass up sharing it.
Go here if you are looking for a unique way to paint a wall, pillow, piece of furniture.
Enjoy!
"Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
— Walt Disney (via
beandesouza)
The week is upon us. Time to enjoy our family and friends and give ourselves permission to eat as much pumpkin pie as possible. I started last night…..ooops.
Here are a few last minute details that you could quickly incorporate into your home for the holidays.
For other Thanksgiving decorative ideas check out parts I-IV of the “break and thank” series on my blog.
House numbers on a pumpkin.
-via Lowe’s creative ideas
Fun fall paper crafts
-via aplaceforus blog
Pumpkin and moss in any sort of standing vase, bowl or urn.
-via thegrowersdaughter blog
Thankful tree with descriptive DIY on the blog listed below.
-via jonesdesigncompany
Glitter pumpkins
-via pinterest
Free Thanksgiving printables
-via myblessedlifeblog
Paint dipped pine cones
-via factorydirectcraft
This is a free printable “thankful banner.” Click the Shanty Chic link below.
-via shanty chic
Enjoy!
OOOOOOH! It’s getting closer.
In part I-III we set the foundation for thanksgiving entertaining. We started with front door welcoming ideas that are sure to WOW right from the start, to centerpieces for your larger table areas, and personalized table settings for the entertaining over-achievers. Even executing one idea from each of the series is such an accomplishment.
We are down to the final list of to-do’s.
This “break and thank” post serves the purpose of getting your creative juice’s flowing on unique ways to serve your food choices.
Bonus: There are a few food (mainly dessert) recipes below!
Carved out pumpkin as a serving piece…..genius.
-via Pinterest
-via bhg
Cut the top off a cinderella pumpkin, add a plate to the top and walla.
-via the high heeled hostess blog
-via nancycreative
-via farmgirls dabble blog
Pumpkin pie martini…yum!
-via hostesswiththemostess blog
Candy from waffle cones (cornucopia.) If you have more of a neutral color scheme you could dip the cone in white chocolate and fill it with chocolates.
-via hostesswiththemostess blog
Carmel apple cider
-via tatertots&jello blog
This is an apple buy shaped into an apple. I have no clue how they did this but couldn’t resist posting it. You can click through to the flickr account I found it on below.
-via Laksmi W flickr account
Pumpkin pie with decorative leaf pie crust
-via homesteadsurvival blog
And a gift. The “how to” on this is linked below.
-via cookingclassy
Enjoy!
A great way to make people feel welcome is to personalize your place settings. This step is for the Thanksgiving over achievers. But if you are a “thank goodness I got at least one pumpkin sitting out” kind of person these pictures will serve the purpose of putting you in the spirit.:)
-via 2BSquared Blog
This Oh My Deer blog listed below shows you the DIY behind this place setting.
-via ohmydeer blog
-via pinterest
-via martha stewart
-via martha stewart
A thank you card at each setting is the perfect idea.
-via bhg
Enjoy!
In part one of this “break and thank” series I showed some simple front door ideas for having an inviting and festive home for Thanksgiving. Check it out here.
Table centerpieces are our focus today. Don’t limit yourself to just the dining room table. You can actually sprinkle these ideas on any table surface. My recommendation is to create a few statement areas and avoid doing little things everywhere.
Use a white cake serving piece and place smaller white painted pumpkins on and around the serving piece. If you want some color and texture you could add some green or brown colored faux moss from Micheal’s.
- via herz and allerliebst flickr
Apothecaries filled with pumpkins
- via Country Living
Pine cone centerpieces are a great idea.This idea can transition into Christmas.
-via shelterness blog
White runner, pumpkins, and candles down a longer table…..love.
-via homestories A to Z
Birdhouse candle holders (Target,) and pine cones are a perfect combo.
-via Pinterest
Love the height on the candles at the end of the table and the color scheme.
-via Pinterest
A lot of white and a pop of bright orange coming from somewhere other than the pumpkins is unexpected.
-via shelterness blog
-via bhg
Enjoy!!
It is that time of year that we are all reminded to take a break from the stress of life and focus on the the things that bring you joy and peace.
For me those things are my faith, my mom, my friends, and my ball and chain - Ryan.
This all sounds great but it is not easy. The closer the big day the more difficult it becomes to stay thankful and stress free. Because, let’s be honest, when families come together there is usually a little anxiety involved. So, if you are reaching that overwhelmed point of having to make your house welcoming and festive on the fly you have come to the right place. Let’s start with the front door and go from there.
So slow down, take a deep breath and remember:
- Gratitude turns what we have into enough.
-Take those empty planters and fill them with pumpkins. Buy two or three different sizes and make sure the larger is on the bottom.
-via pinterest
- Go into your garage and see if you have any old LARGE barrels or crates and fill them with painted pumpkins with a stenciled message of your choice. I would personally paint all of the fillers a mixture of taupe, white, and gray.
like this
-via Better Homes and Gardens
- Take that branches from those pretty trees surrounding your home (or your neighbors) and use clear string to tie them to the lights on your front porch.
- via pinterest
- Large planter and mums.
- via the sweet survival
Next steps to follow. :)
I am constantly seeking inspiration for myself and I often find it in the strangest places.
I like to think of myself as a “deep-friendship” kind of person. What I mean by that is I am fully invested in the lives of those who are closest to me. Although it’s very natural for me to engage in meaningful conversation with family and friends, I’m not so great at conversation with people I do not know.
Ryan, someone who is very close to me, has a knack for striking up conversation with random strangers. I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve rolled my eyes when he’s found out someone’s life story at a restaurant, bar, hotel lobby, gas station, etc. Two weeks ago Ryan went to Publix to pick up a few groceries. When he put the pecan pie on the register, Terry – the man bagging the groceries, piped up and said, “I know what you’re going to do! You’re going to heat up the pecan pie and put ice cream on it.” It’s important to know that Terry is a middle-aged man with down syndrome. As always, a one-minute conversation with a stranger and Ryan has made a new friend. Ryan came back to the house and told me about his new friend, but if I’m being honest, I only paid half attention…. Shame on me.
So to get on with the story, last weekend I was at the wedding reception of my best friends. I was having a great time until I slipped on a step, fell and sprained my ankle. No big deal. Happens to everyone at a wedding reception, right? A couple of days after the sprain Ryan and I needed to get dinner and decided to pick up something from Publix. For the sake of speed I had to use the motorized cart which was embarrassing in every way. On the way to check out Ryan spots Terry bagging groceries. Of course he makes a b-line to introduce me to “his guy”, as he says it. We exchanged the usual “nice to meet you’s” and that’s as far as I thought the moment would go. Terry insisted on taking our groceries to the car. Terry helps me into the car since it was still difficult to put any weight on my ankle and I was beyond humbled in this moment. Then, Terry asked me if it would be okay to pray with him. He took my hand with his left hand and Ryan’s hand with his right hand. In the middle of the Publix parking lot Terry prayed, “Dear Lord, please give this young lady strength so she can heal quickly. Thank you for your grace and for this day you have given us. Amen.” Needless to say I was brought to full blown tears. Here is a man who will forever have a more difficult life than I can ever imagine having and his biggest concern was to help me and pray for a healthy recovery. The moment was so simple but had such a profound impact on me.
If you’ve read my blog before you probably know my mantra. “Go hard after your dreams. Be open-minded. Love people.” After the moment I experienced with Terry I am inspired to really hone in on the “love people” part. Because the grace, care, and thoughtfulness that Terry showed me is something I want to share with those who cross my path.
Here is my week at a glance:
Beautiful wedding
Great friend in town from L.A.
Ryan presented at the ASCAP awards. Proud GF.
Bears vs Titans game in Nashville
Tile selection done for one of my homes….check.
Find: Master Bedroom lighting option that I am almost certain will be the final option in one of my homes but if not I might buy it for myself.:)
RH Canoe: Can’t wait to get this mounted this week in one of my bachelor’s homes. Pics to come.
Placed an order for 48”x60” Justin Gaffrey painting for a client on Friday and I can not wait to show you guys the finished product in a couple of weeks.
Have a great week!
