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Monday, July 14, 2014

Haven 2014 Highlights



I attended Haven 2014, my first blogging conference, last week.  I have to confess as the conference was approaching I was feeling pretty anxious about attending.  Like I am an amateur.  They are all pros.  Like I was a poser and would be found out.  

What should I wear?  

What does one (who's trying to not look like a total dork) bring to a blogging conference??  

Forget it!!  I'm not going. 

Wait, what?!? 

Really.  I felt like backing out.  Why do we let doubts and fears paralyze us from doing what we really want to do?  

source

I pushed aside those feelings and just went for it.  I'm s-o-o-o glad I did.  The other ladies (and few gents) there were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and helpful.

Here are some of the great things I would have missed had I given in to those fears:


Chip Wade, designer/builder/rock star of HGTV's Elbow Room, spoke to us the first morning.  He said to always begin a design with "what if?"  What if this could...?  What if we could...?  It obviously works.  His designs are taking-it-to-the-next-level amazing.  He also answered any questions we had...like "how can I get you to do a room at my house?!" Lol!  Seriously, I have a laundry room/deck situation that could really use his help.

Ready for this next one?


Oh yeah, that's the one and only Mike Holmes.  Mike talked to us about creating a safer and healthier home.  Thanks 3M Filtrete for sponsoring!

There were so many great sessions to attend that I didn't make it to all of them.  Just a sampling of the workshops I attended were hosted by these rockstars of the blogging world:  Andy Marzka of Adthrive.com (thank you, thank you, thank you for explaining ad optimization to me!!), Laura Putnam of Finding Home, Dusty Rogers of All Things G&D, Jen Schmidt of Balancing Beauty & Bedlam, and Erin Spain of DIY on the Cheap (thank you ladies for explaining the basics of blogging and for encouraging us along!)  I could go on and on because there were so many incredible speakers and workshops offered.  

I can't talk about Haven without talking about the gracious sponsors that help make it happen.  The sponsors were spreading the love when it came to swag.  If you've ever read a post about Haven that says to pack an extra bag to haul your swag back on the plane...believe them.


It's a good thing we drove ;)  These products were provided by:  +MinwaxUSA, +FrogTape, +OnlineFabricStore.net, Thompson Water Seal, +PureBond, +Ballard Designs, +ProcterGamble, +The Home Depot, +Southern Living, +Gorilla Glue, Duct Tape, Rustoleum, Sizzix, and more!  Thank you sponsors!!!

This post could go on at length about how great Haven 2014 was.  I'm sure I'll be talking about it for some time but to sum it up, if you're considering going next year...DO IT!  I promise you will not regret a minute of it.

So, I'm going to shut up now and just close with these:

+GMC Denali was a big sponsor too!  #thisisgmc






Three great project kits delivered to my room from +The Home Depot  Check back to see the finished projects!





Beautiful room displays by +Ballard Designs 

Ok, that's enough.  I'll be posting more great things from Haven 2014 soon.  Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY
STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING
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Saturday, July 12, 2014

Home from Haven Conference 2014

Whew!  What a whirlwind of 350+ bloggers all meeting in the same place with some AWESOME sponsors at every turn.

I just returned (a day early, sadly) from my first ever blogger conference, Haven 2014.  I mean, literally, I just returned and couldn't wait to start sharing.  It's getting late here but I want to give you a little teaser of the great things I brought home.

Check out the SWAG!



I know, right!  Do these sponsors know how to spoil a girl or what?

Everyone at Haven was incredibly friendly, helpful, and downright amazing.  I can't wait to begin sharing about it but right now, this girl needs some much needed sleep.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie


I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY
STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING
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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Collecting Needlepoint Pillows


Have you ever made a needlepoint pillow?  Maybe not?  Me either.  I'm too impatient.  I can appreciate the time and work that goes into making one.  I can only imagine the number of hours spent threading the yarn through each hole of the fabric.



So, with so much work and effort that goes into creating these, WHY would anyone simply give these away?  Oh, I know, they are making a donation to a cause such as Goodwill or Salvation Army.   And, I'm sure glad they do because I love collecting these beautiful handcrafted pillows.

These are just a few in my collection that I have sitting around my office.  The bassett hound pillow isn't needlepoint but a tapestry done by machine.  I loved it anyway.



I would hate to admit to the person that spent so much time making these pillows but I picked these up for less than $5 each.  Have you ever seen the price of a completed needlepoint pillow new?  Over even on Ebay and Etsy.  Five dollars is a steal.




So, thank you patient, talented needlepoint crafters wherever you are.  I, for one, truly appreciate your hours of work.  Rest assured, I will give them a good home...just keep donating them ;)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!!

Angie



I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS



STONEGABLE

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING
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Monday, June 2, 2014

Compass Table


I have been wanting to make a compass table for a while.  So, when I came across an oak table at a yard sale for $30, I snatched it up.


Pretty decent shape...the table, not my garage!  I did very little to the table besides a good wipe down with a damp cloth.  

I pinned several compass tables (see them here) to get an idea of the design I wanted.  This is going in my oldest daughter's apartment so I knew the color scheme needed to be gray, white, blue, and yellow.  Because of the table's construction, it was pretty much divided into segments for me.  Drawing out the compass is fairly simple if you think about it like cutting a pizza or a cake.  Divide in half, quarters, and then eighths.  



When it comes to DIY projects, I'm somewhat impatient and usually break all of the rules.  I'm an instant gratification kinda gal.  Like to git 'er done, now! 

 I had an old bottle of milk paint in cornflower blue.  I used that for the outer circle.  The inner circle was lightly spray painted with Krylon Bright White.  I say lightly because the can was almost empty and I needed to make sure I got the entire tabletop covered...somewhat.  Then, the compass star was painted using plain ol' craft paint in white (uh, almost empty bottle) and gray.  I think my rule breaking stems from living 30 minutes from the nearest Wally World or craft store.  When I get the hankering to do something, I don't want to take an hour+ running into town gathering the proper supplies.  


This step is after I sanded the top and began applying a coat of stain with polyurethane.  I had a can of Minwax Special Walnut on hand so I used that.  I loved what it did to the blue but it muddied the white.  And, I kid you not, the can of Minwax was...wait for it...almost empty.  

So, this is where I left it at the end of day one.  Guess where I headed first thing the next morning?  Yep, Wally World.


So, whadda ya think?  I think it was worth that trip in to town.  I finished by spray painting the pedestal and legs with Rustoleum's Ultra Cover 2x...love the coverage you get with that stuff.  I did go back over the muddied white on the top and then gave the whole thing a good distressing with sandpaper.


My daughter is excited about it too.  Now to find 4 chairs to go with it before the move-in date in July.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS






STONEGABLE

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING
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Friday, May 30, 2014

Pick It Fence Vintage Barn Sale


This morning, my youngest and I attended the Pick-It Fence Vintage Barn Sale, right here in our little town of Lascassas, Tennessee.  The Barn Sale is being held at a beautiful venue called Events at East 96 and there were LOTS of great vendors there.  I got a few pics, so, let's get to looking around!


J. Alexander Home's booth had these great vintage metal signs.  There is an aqua LAKE sign in the back that I really wanted...for the lake house that I don't have.  Oh well, a girl can dream.


The vintage cameras are from Rust Bucket Antiques.  Wait until you see his truck that he brought/drove to the Barn Sale.


I thought the Toms display stand would be great in a kitchen for coffee mugs in my daughter's new apartment.  She doesn't move in until mid-July, so at $40 each, I decided to pass them up for now.


Ok, so here it is!  This is "Rust Bucket's" awesome, vintage blue truck!  Yes, it runs and he drove it to the Barn Sale, loaded with all sorts of great rusty items.  If you look closely, you can see an old car seat hanging from the side of the truck.  Can you believe kids actually rode in those IN cars?!  Like the old saying goes, "It's a wonder we ever survived our childhood!"  Glad things have changed in that area.




Red, white, and blue are some of my favorite decorating colors to work with.  This booth definitely drew me in.  (Sorry, I didn't get the name of this vendor.)


Ok, if there's one thing I love more than red/white/blue, it's PLAID!  Love these vintage lunch boxes and picnic baskets.  And that red scooter!  This booth belongs to Polly of Blackberry House.  They had a store in Murfreesboro until recently.  Polly, an interior designer by degree, developed her own line of paints.  The paint line has grown so big, she sold her store and inventory and will be concentrating on just her paint and related products.  


Another shot of Blackberry House's booth, vintage ladder, succulents in vintage silver, and in the background, an incredible post office cubby...which had already sold.  



There were also some food trucks on hand.  It was still early when we left so I didn't get to sample any of their goodies.

If you get a chance this weekend, check out The Pick-It Fence Barn Sale in Lascassas, Tennessee.  The venue alone is worth visiting.
Swings for those tag-a-long husbands and kids!

The front barn, being set up for a wedding.
The new barn (where some of the vendors are located)

The property is owned by a local restaurant, Through the Grapevine, one of my favorites in Murfreesboro.  They host a lot of beautiful weddings, dinners, and other get-togethers.  If you're ever in need of a venue, be sure to check them out.

The main house on the property 


The view's not too shabby either! 

Great photo backdrop

Oh, so I guess you're wondering what I bought?!  So many great things to choose from but I ended up with these:


Delicious, fresh peaches from The Peach Truck!  My daughter and I devoured one before we even pulled out of the parking lot.  Yum!  Hoping to make a peach cobbler soon :)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS



STONEGABLE

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

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