SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival

For the first time since I graduated from SCAD in 1998 I had the Saturday of the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival off from the store.  How appropriate since this was such a big anniversary for the college. It was beautiful sunny and warm day.  We strolled through the park looking at the squares where students and alumni were drawing in chalk before the judging took place.  My son enjoyed some of the games they provided, we got a bite to eat in the shade, met up with friends and then headed home to gather our things for the movie in the park last night. 

The Sidewalk Arts Festival draws a large crowd and this year was no different.  My favorite part was a Cirque de Soleil like parade of people dressed in white puffy costumes prancing through the park. I was told that this group had a similar performance at the SCAD Lacoste campus. The SCAD 30th Years bean bag toss game was very clever too and my husband and son managed to spin several of the dots in between throwing bean bags at each other. 

d*s wedding

The lovely Grace Bonney is getting married today in Savannah.  I have had so many people ask me about Grace and the wedding that I have started to worry about random curiosity seekers. I hope that everyone is respectful and lets them enjoy their day alone with their family and friends. Grace is one of those really special people that is oblivious to her rock star status among design junkies. So I think it would surprise her to know all the wedding buzz out there. Fans of Grace & Design Sponge will be rewarded when their wedding appears on the pages of Martha Stewart Weddings so please avoid the temptation to hunt them down to see for yourself. 

Congratulations Grace and AC. 

 

SCAD

The Savannah College of Art and Design is celebrating it's 30th anniversary this year. Throughout the year, the college is showcasing people that have been impacted by the college in some way.  As an alum of the college and now business and community member I see the tremendous contribution the college has made in my life and in Savannah.  

Another honor was bestowed upon me yesterday.  I was given a 2009 SCAD Alumni of the Year Excellence in Service award for my work on the Alumni Executive Board and my contribution to fundraising events for the Alumni Scholarship, including the upcoming SCAD Alumni Tour of Homes May 8th and 9th.  

gardening

Spring brings many things to Savannah.  The city is alive with tourists and tour goers.  One of my favorite events in the Spring is the Savannah Garden Exposition.  In years past (7 years to be exact) I help plan the expo and I was also an exhibitor.  This year I decided to take a break. I was just an attendee and workshop participant. Because of my involvement I never really had the time to take it all in like a normal citizen.  It was really nice to leisurely roam around and look at the open air market, the exhibition gardens, the window boxes and container gardens.  

I attended a lecture and workshop with writer and horticulturalist Tovah Martin.  She was promoting her most recent book The New Terrarium.  I had emailed Tovah prior to the event with the hope that she would have time to visit my shop.  To my surprise and delight she found time in her schedule to stop by on Thursday.  I was so excited to meet Tovah in person and have one on one time with her. The lecture and workshop Friday was informative, funny and inspiring. I have been planting terrariums for many years, I even sold them in the store from time to time. I think it is always good to brush up on your skill set and get a different take on an old tradition.  It was also interesting to hear the origins and history of the process.  What I loved most was the variety of plants she suggested we experiment with.  I had always assumed you should use tropical, shade loving varieties. That is not the case.  I took lots mental notes and purchased a signed copy of her book for reference. If you live in a cold climate like Tovah terrariums are a nice way to introduce greenery into your home all year long. 

I would also like to mention a vendor that had really cool things. Farmhouse 1807. I had read about this couple in one of my old Country Living magazines but didn't realize it until we started to talk about shows. I was digging around in their booth and discovered a fantastic wire display piece from an old store. I envisioned it all planted up with flowers or filled with stationery in the store.  It is in my mobile storage unit (my truck) until I make a decision to keep it or sell it. 

yummy new rack cards

Thanks Meghan. 

where does the time go

Today is my store's ninth anniversary.  Thank you to my family, friends, staff (past and present) and loyal customers for sharing them with me.  

new cuteness

We have cute new business cards thanks to @home shop girl & aspiring SCAD Graphic Design student, Meghan Stein.  Look for our new rack cards coming soon.  

hope

Just when I thought all hope of ever having another feature published in a major magazine had been dashed forever, I got the amazing news that not one but two features I submitted last week are being picked up. Yeah!  One is a lovely house here in town and the other is Halligan and Adam's wedding in May.  I am keeping the details to myself until it is all set in stone.  I also spent the day with two photographers and their marketing person scouting locations for three produced wedding features for their portfolio.  I don't want to get ahead of myself but it sounds like my freelance career is starting up again.  Now if things could just pick up a little more at the shop....  

SCAD Alumni Tour of Homes

This is the promo piece for the SCAD Alumni Tour of Homes that I have been working on.  I hope everyone in the area can make and for those that can not I will be posting images afterwards for you to see.  My home will be on tour May 8.  Yikes!  

If you click on the image you will be able to read the copy or you can visit www.scadstyle.com  to read about the tour and all the very special events happening at the Savannah and SCAD Atlanta campus.  

boho magazine

I optimistically hit the news stand today and saw something I had never seen before. It was a new magazine (ok, it launched in August but it was new to me). Lately magazines have been folding left and right so it was a welcome sight. Boho Magazine is both beautiful and inspiring. The issue I purchased is their third so I plan to track down the first two soon. Their aesthetic fits the store perfectly so I am also going to figure out how to get them for the shop.

Their definition of a boho girl really hit home with me and I have no doubt it will hit home with many of you.

Boho Girl

Free. Radical. Independent. Her style is her own. It's personal, existential. Her only fear is convention. Her weakness, shoes. The bump on her nose adds character, the scar on her shoulder adds strength, the curl in her hair adds attitude. There is no such thing as imperfection, just originality. Unmovable, unshakable, unstoppable, she is America's next top role model. Someone both inspired and inspiring. She embraces her spirituality, aspires to her dreams, lives through her passions. She is a world changer. She is bohemian. She is a boho girl.

martha stewart weddings blog mention

Grace Bonney, of Design*Sponge was gracious enough to mention my shop in a recent post about her upcoming Savannah wedding.  She posted images of vintage bits and pieces she plans to include during her special day.  I look forward to seeing how she uses all the items she has selected.  

click here to read her post

more spring goodies have arrived

Hope you can hop on by, we have been unpacking loads of new things for the shop including these sweet felt bunnies.

they're back

I am happy to report we are no longer out of the All Out Of grocery lists. We also received voucher booklets for friends, coworkers, lovers and new parents as well as, new sticky notes, the pro/con pad and slang flashcards.  

welcome spring?

The weatherman is reporting that our temperatures will fall to the low 30s tonight. I know it sounds like balmy weather to anyone over the Mason Dixon line but we live in the south for a reason. WARMTH! Even though the temperatures are falling Savannah is preparing for the hoards of tourists that descend on the city in late February and continue coming through the summer. Spring merchandise is already arriving at the shop and we have been rearranging the store in the hopes that this season will prove better than the last. Here is a peek at some of the new products. (Please excuse the cheesy styling, the photos came from one of my vendors not me.)

say it isn't so

Just two-weeks after installing a new publisher in a last-ditch effort to save the magzaine, Conde Nast informed staffers Wednesday morning that the beloved shelter title Domino will fold.

Huffington Press Jan. 28,2009

my tiny greenhouse

Over the weekend my husband and son poured the footings for my new (old) greenhouse in the garden.  I found the roof in Statesboro, GA.  It is a recycled sky light from an old building so the dimensions are quite small but just enough for our little courtyard.  We needed a place to store garden tools and plants when it gets cold (yes, on occasion it gets that cold).  Our house is on tour in May and this is one of many little projects we are working on to get it spiffy in time.  

another one bites the dust

HC announced that their December issue was their last.  I hope this all ends soon.  It is getting really depressing.  

amazing

getty images ap

HELLO HANDSOME

photo courtesy of Essence Magazine

goodbye country home

After a long day buying for the store at the Atlanta Gift Show I was checking my emails when I read in the subject line of one "Country Home Folds." The email was from a fellow freelancer letting me know that Country Home magazine was closing it's doors after 30 years. It all came as a big surprise to me and the staff. I had just received my field editor's newsletter. I was gearing up for a new year of projects and house scouting. At first I was in shock. I had been a reader of this magazine for close to 20 years myself so as a fan I was devastated. As a friend and colleague of some many at Meredith Publishing I was heart broken. What would all these people do? There were 40 people laid off at Country Home and an additional 210 throughout Meredith Publishing. The publishing world has taken quite a hit during these slow economic times. Cottage Living folded last month and Country Living is being re-organized so I don't think we have seen the last of it.

And what of the void in my life? I had the good forturne to have projects published in Country Home and they photographed my home last year for a feature. I can only hope it will end up in another Meredith publication. I will hold on to the contacts I still have at in the hope that some work may come my way this year.

It is a sad day for those of us that were faithful followers of the magazine. I looked to it for constant inspiration and ideas for my home and shop. Matthew Mead, stylist supreme, was a source of delight for me in each issue. Maybe when all the dust settles and the economy makes a turn for the better we will see some new comers to the publishing world. I can only hope to see some familiar faces when it does.

serious business card envy

As I was getting caught up on recent posts on the Farm Chicks blog I was overcome with envy. A few photos down I noticed their unbelievably clever business cards.  As you can tell from the picture above, they are perforated and when assembled stand up like a vintage game piece.  YUM, YUM, YUM.  

to market, to market

Even though the financial forecast for 2009 does not look much better than the latter part of 2008, I am trying to be optimistic about the coming year. Catalogs and postcards for new product came flooding in to the store as the holidays were coming to a close. I reviewed each one with a discerning eye and wrote many notes. My goal? Focus on the products and categories that keep my customers coming in time after time. Stick to the origins of the shop - a mix of hand selected vintage goods and new products that compliment those vintage goods. It has been a winning combination for almost 9 years now so hopefully our special equation will set us apart from the big box stores.

With computer print outs, notes and wish lists in hand I am off to market later in the week to order items for spring and fall of this year. I expect our spring orders from the July market to start shipping in a couple of weeks so I am looking for any additional items that complete the overall look. Call me crazy, I am really looking forward to seeing the new Christmas goodies for 2009. You would think I would be over the whole season right about now, but if you know me well you know how much I love it. Wish me luck.

The bags above are part of our spring tote collection. They are our new feel-good, do-good totes. The manufacturer purchased 265,750 meals for hungry children in India through the United Nations World Food Program with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these bags. So if you make one a part of your life your contribution will be a part of the cycle.

Sale

We are having a 50% off sale on all our holiday decorations & 25% of our vintage ornaments. Hope you can stop by.

Savannah Magazine Feature

For my far away friends...here is the feature I did for Savannah Magazine. If you click on each page it will blow up really big and you can read the copy. I hope you all like it.

On News Stands Now

Last month I was approached by the style editor of Savannah Magazine about my collection of vintage Christmas decorations.  To my delight they wanted to do a feature about the way I decorate for the holidays and they wanted me to style it as well.  It came out today and I got the cover!  Quite an honor.  I hope you pick up your own copy when you see it on news stands.    

Holiday Open House

Your are invited to celebrate the season @home Thursday, 

December 11 at 6 o'clock.  If you are on our mailing list, check your mail boxes later this week for our postcard.  There is a special discount for those of you that bring in your postcard the night of the party.  We will be serving our popular punch, homemade goodies and yummies from Back in the Day Bakery.  

See you there.