Making New Friends and Keeping the Old

Our new sign!

Can I just say I have the best friend and partner in the whole world!  (Okay the best two...I love you too honey!)  I don't think I have written a blog post since last October!!!  Thank you Kandi for keeping this part of our dream alive.   I am hoping to never be away for so long again.  It has been so long, I had forgotten how to log on!  I am hoping as I write this it will all come back to me just like riding that bike right?  :) 

So let me catch you up on what is happening with our little Virginia extension of Woven Home....As many of you know I agreed to be a part of a two month long Winter Market here in Lynchburg.  We had a blast, & we sold alot of furniture and pillows over those two months.  However, had it not been for my mother's frequent visits to Virginia, my family would not have put up or taken down our Christmas tree this year!  She was amazing. 

I know this may come as a shock, but  I have learned over the past few months that I really can't do it all, so although I loved sharing a store, I think I can cross that number off my bucket list!  My hat goes off to all of those great hard working store owners!  We are still passionate about getting our product into your home, so I  have made the decision to continue to supply product in a whole sale/consignment manner to our favorite places and we add another location  or perhaps locations to our list.

URBAN MERCHANT in downtown Lynchburg is one of my favorite local places to shop.  We just dropped off our spring line of pillows and covers last week.  For our North Carolina fans, we will be at the FINDER'S KEEPERS sale this spring and we can't wait to see you!

Today was a huge day for us at Woven Home, today we moved into a corner booth space at a "little store" in Roanoke called BLACK DOG SALVAGE....you may have heard of it because it has its own show on HGTV and the DIY network!!!!   The staff at Black Dog is amazing and so helpful.  If you are in Roanoke please stop by and see our new space. 

Here are a few pictures of our new space.  I decided bright and cheerful was for me.  After all the reds and greens from Christmas, pastel was a nice change of pace.  I also decide we would expand our inventory past pillows to include furniture, baskets, tool caddies, and vintage accessories. 

Spring pillows $48 with down insert, pillow covers $28 & Slubby storage bags $48.

 

 

I love these candlestick chairs!

 

 

 

Pillow covers

 

 

I decided fabric swatches would be a great additions to our space.  Many of our clients carry our pillow covers around with them when they shop for other "items" so I thought this might be a nice addition.  It is also nice to be able to take the fabric home with you before a purchase to make sure the fabric works with your existing home decor...We also include fabric swatches with each of our covers.

 

 

Vintage farm table and distressed chairs.

 

 

Pink depression glass plates and candlesticks. Barn wood tool caddies, silver plate trays and lavender sachets....

 

 

I love my friend Carolyn's company Turtleworks so much I asked her if I could have a few soaps and lotions for my space!

 

I hope you like our spring line....more pictures coming soon.

 

Thanks

 

Rebekah

 

Board and Batten Mudroom Progress

Guess what happens at my house when the husband books himself a 6 day guys only ski trip to Lake Tahoe?!?  Projects that have been but a glimmer in my eye miraculously begin with unbefore seen enthusiasm!  Hey... we take it how we can get it!

Confession.  Since we ripped out the coat closet and put in the entry bench it has been a little harder than expected to keep everything as tidy as I would like.  During the summer it was a breeze, but now that Old Man Winter is here and we all have 3 or 4 coats in rotation it is not quite as easy.  Solution... more hooks!  But, we couldn't just throw hooks on the wall around here and call it a day. 

I've been pinning and loving board and batten for some time now.  I think it keeps with the character of this house and it just looks amazing!  There have been multiple board and batten mud rooms floating around Blogland so it just took a little research and we were off to Lowes to gather supplies. 

One inspiration photo from Casa de Lewis.

From Casa de Lewis

We have a tiny little "mudroom" as you walk in from the garage just off the kitchen.  It isn't functional.  I did have a stool and tiny shelf and a pin board in there where I just piled things until they fell on the floor before I put them away.  I mean.... probably not the best method.

Here it is in all it 4'x6' glory.  On another note... any suggestions on how to get your dog to keep the food in the bowl?!?!

I just need a couple more things before the project is complete.  (One of my new years resolutions... finish Project A before moving on to Project B!)

Other projects that I am sure the  guilty sweet husband will finish up in the near future include the built-in desk for my vintage lockers AND getting the guest room painted (which I could totally do myself but I might as well milk it!).

Kandi

HAPPY NEW YEAR... and what's in store for 2013?

I LOVE a new year!   I always feel so full of possibility and resolve to be better.  Lots better! I will not be swayed by the fact I have made the lists and promises to myself for 20ish plus years now and not followed through!  You couldn't convince me in a million years that I might not finish even one of my goals! While it lasts I'm going to embrace the energy and excitement that the new year always brings me! 

Looking back at last January on the blog I see big things.  Huge room reveals and completed projects... seems like those are the kinds of things that go on in January.  We also made some "resolutions" for our blog... that like most resolutions, we didn't hold to very long. 

For us, this blog is a creative outlet.  We do not post every day... sometimes not even every week.  But, we still love it and you guys still read it so we will keep it up.  Who knows... we might even post like 2 or 3 times a week this year :-)

2012 was an insane year.  So much went on at Woven Home!  Our flagship Holiday Market, Finders Keepers Sale, published in our first real magazine, lots of new client business, emergency surgeries, and maybe even some growing families :-)

Who knows what 2013 will bring but I am so excited to find out what it will be!  We both have lots of projects going on in our own homes and lives that we will share as soon as we can.

But, right now, I'm going to go take my fat before  pictures, make a healthy grocery list, walk through my  house jotting down all the projects I'm going to complete, and then sit down on the floor and play with my kids! 

CHEERS TO 2013!
Kandi and Rebekah

PS. Here is a list of the top viewed posts of 2012.

Entry Closet Makeover: The Reveal! (Published in Cottages &Bungalows!)

Chocolate Silk Cheesecake

Roses and Ruffles: Pillow Tutorial

How to make a terrarium

C Room Revealed!

Bright, Colorful, Playroom Christmas Tree and Neutral Dining Room

Playroom

The upstairs of my house stays very traditional in its Christmas colors. But, the playroom goes wild!  Why not!  I was actually too lazy to put this tree up last year but it was the first one up (of the 5) this year.  I had every single thing on this tree already so not having to spend any money made it much more fun.

The only new thing added to the tree is the little bunting.  I made it from scraps of leftover stockings. I used the same method as I did for Harper's Birthday Bunting for cutting the triangles and just sewed them onto a pink ribbon.  Easy and adorable!

The tree skirt is just a 2 year peice of chevron fabric that will soon be turned into pillows for the playroom.  I'm already over some of the fabric in here.  I've got problems people, problems!
 

Dining Room

 

The dining room tree is very similar to last year. Dried hydrangeas (click here for a how to on drying your own), vintage lace, crystals from a old chandelier and a ruffled tree skirt made from inexpensive muslin. It fits perfectly in this corner and I love it in the new dining room!



 

All is all I didn't buy a single new Christmas item this year other than loads of fresh garland and wreaths. 

 

 My Kindergartner had his last day of school yesterday so we are off to find a Gingerbread cookie recipe (that doesn't make 5 dozen cookies!!!) and have Mommy/Gray Day (to put it into his words).  Excited to hang with my boy and even more excited that he is so pumped to hang with me!

 

Kandi

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Christmas Mantle

The mantle this year is only slightly different than last year.  More pared down I would say.   I went with real greenery and added a string of lights.  I bought 75 feet of garland (SERIOUSLY!!  I measured because I didn't believe them!) for only $55.  I thought that was a good deal and I really do like it a whole lot better. 

I actually truly hate these stockings. I've had them for years and after I finished up making stockings for the Woven Home Store I just haven't had the time (or made the time) to make some for myself.

I moved around all my string trees and pulled some antlers in along with some glittery apples, pears, and reindeer.  

So... this mantle is bound to change in the near future and I'll probably not do an update post on it... but I am planning a stocking tutorial soon so you can see how I made these babies!  I tried to spend zero dollars on new Christmas decor this year.  But, my imaginary mantle has neutral stockings, big lanterns full of candles and vintage mercury glass ornaments, and maybe some of those super awesome driftwood trees I've seen around this year... there is always next year :-)

I am glad I spent some extra time wrapping this year.  Am I the only one who hates to wrap?!?  I can shop all day but then I'm done.  I bought plain red and brown wrapping paper from Ikea, used some leftover Target paper from last year and added ribbon I already had on hand.  Made a world of difference and it's a step in the right direction!


Kandi

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How To Take Glowing Christmas Tree Pictures

Can I just say I'm still lost with my new DSLR Camera.  Even though it's not new anymore!  It's almost exactly a year old and we are still barely on speaking terms!  With that out of the way... I conquered something on my Pinterest to do list involving my camera last night. 

I had pinned this image from Unskinny Boppy last year (who hasn't pinned this?!?).  When going through my Christmas boards this year I decided I had to give this a try!  And, her tutorial really makes it a no brainer. 

The jist is you turn all your lights off except the tree and including your flash, turn your ISO up as high as it will go (I did 6400), turn your shutter speed down, and use a tripod or something to steady it on.  I'm going to make you click over to Beth's blog for the real in depth details (cause it's the right thing to do!).  There she will tell you specifics and you should check out some of her other great posts while your there! 

But, before you go.... here are some outtakes for your enjoyment...

{Note to self... Christmas trees are much  more cooperative than kids... }

 

Kandi





Dining Room Revamp Reveal!

 

 

It's done!  Finally!  We officially win two awards for this project:  1.  Fastest Start and 2. Slowest Finish. 

 

Let's look at a big before shot and break down the changes. 



 

Problems and Solutions....

 

1. Need window treatments.

These were custom white linen hand me down curtains (thank you Mother-In-Law!!) but were a little too short.  A band of Raymond Waites for Mill Creek in Felton Coral was the perfect solution for a punch of color and to add length. Super easy sewing project!  (Let me know if you would like a tutorial on this!)

 

2. Chairs were insignificant.

So, I actually really loved (and kind of miss) my simple farmhouse chairs.  But the new chairs are much more suited for this big room.  The chairs at the heads of the table were $25 each from Habitat and were recovered in drop cloth and piped in chocolate brown linen.  The other chair seats were recovered also.  Four in a Waverly over scaled floral (can't remember the exact print!)  and the other two in Raymond Waites for Mill Creek in Felton Coral.  Both of these are indoor/outdoor fabrics and stain resistant.  Essential for the kids!

 

3. Wall color too yellow.

It's not a giant difference.  But, this whole house was painted in a flat yellow tinged cream and we are slowing but surely getting rid of it.  It was a custom mixed color but I have the formula and you can email me if you want it.

4. Furniture on back wall WAY too small.

 

You can tell in the before picture above.  Tiny console table with an enormous picture over it and ity bity lamps. It was just all sorts of wrong.  But now I LOVE it.  I am most proud that all the big stuff here came from the Goodwill and was revamped!  You can see the buffet story here and more on the pictures later this week but they are stamped original botanical prints for $35 each at Goodwill! The mirror I had and painted it white from red.  And the lamp, which mimic the light fixture, were a Tuesday Morning find. Even the little pillows are from a little piece of hand done crewel (by the sweetest old woman) I picked up at a yard sale and turned into pillows. Obviously she had amazing taste.  She said she did this piece 20 or 30 years ago!

 

5. Layout needs tweaked for better flow.

By switching the china cabinet and wine bar it made it much easier to walk through to the kitchen.  Small change, big impact.

 

6.  Needed a happier, brighter color scheme.



 When you walk into the house you first see the new entry bench and then look into this room straight ahead and to the right. You can see this room from almost everywhere on the main level so it needed brightened up. 

 

The cost break down is pretty unreal.

I spent about $40 on fabric (discount remnants), $40 on the Goodwill dresser turned buffet, $70 on the art, $200 on the sea grass rug (Overstock), $50 on paint, and $90 on the two lamps.  Put it all together with a little elbow grease, a few hand me downs (chairs and curtains) and you get a whole room revamp for only about $500!  Not too shabby I would say.  Especially when you space it out over a year :-)

 

 It may have taken a year to get it where I wanted up but I love the results.  The pops of pink and green make me smile without being overly girly and I couldn't be happier to mark this one off the list!

 

Kandi

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