Woven Home Goes to College

It all started with a church pew....

 

 

 

We (Sarah and I) go to Black Dog Salvage about once a week to restock the Woven Home Space, and do a little sprucing.  Last week  during our visit, Koiner (the Market Manager) asked us if we would be interested in helping a church pew look more festive....and of course I said yes.  So for the past week we have been busy sewing sewing sewing!  This is a picture of the space today before we placed our college pillows, table runners and blankets. 

 

 

After.

 

(I really need to invest in a camera!  My iphone is just not cutting it!!!)

 

 

 

 

It seems like everyone in Virginia either has a connection to UVA (University of Virginia/the Wahoos) or to VT (Virginia Tech/Hokies).  So I decided to have a little fun with these two lines of pillows and use the universities' fight songs.  (WahooWah pillow on outdoor fabric $48)(Navy Trellis Down Pillows $48)

 

 

Hokie Hi blanket ($35) perfect for a cold fall game, or a summer picnic.

 

 

The ladder features our extra long (9') table runners($45) All of the orange Premier Print fabric is outdoor fabric which makes these table runners are perfect for dressing up a tailgating table on game day!

 

UVA monogrammed pillow ($58)

 

 

 

Assorted outdoor pillows ($38 each)

 

 

If you are in Roanoke, go check out our new line at Black Dog Salvage.  If you live no where near Virginia, but you like what we are creating, message me on Facebook.  Or leave a message here.

 

thanks

 

Rebekah

Less Than A Week

Last Thursday during our set up

I have to confess this week has been an emotional whirlwind!  It is really hard for me to know if I am making the right choices when it comes to Woven Home Virginia, and where and how I want to market and brand our little store.  I called Kandi last week right before I moved into Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke and asked her if she thought I was crazy investing in a space an hour away from Lynchburg.  As always she told me to not panic, and it was going to be great.  What was the worst that could happen?  Scenario 1: In 3 months I have to move all the same inventory out that I moved in....well at least I tried it....or Scenario 2:  I would have to hire another person just to handle our Black Dog Salvage space because it was such a wild success.  (To which I laughed and told her she really was my best friend because we must be on the same level of crazy!!!)  Well I have to report that less than one week in we are on the track for Scenario 2, and we could not have done it with out you our readers!  Thank you for your support!!!

Yesterday Sarah and I had to make a quick trip to Roanoke to replace all of the inventory that had sold since last Thursday! 

This is a picture of our space last Thursday.  Since then, we have sold the gray console table ($225) and one of the French Script Wing Chairs ($550)! 

Our new look.  We still have a French Script Wing Chair. ($550)  Yesterday Sarah and I added a Oak Drop Leaf Table for ($350). Do you see those wooden boxes between the wing chair and the table?  These boxes are one of my favorite items in our space.  I had them made from old barn wood they hold a large mason jar...perfect for a table setting...here let me show you. 

via Pinterest

I had boxes made in all shape and sizes for fit a variety of tables.  They range in price from $18-$42.

 

A few of my other favorite items...Vintage Purple Apothocary Bottles ($6-8 each).  Heart soaps from Turtleworks $6 for 2.  Gray Chevron Runner $35.  Pillows $48-$68 with down insert. 

 

Thanks for liking our new space!

 

Rebekah 

ps. We have sold a few other large pieces as well, but my camera's battery died while we were at Black Dog so I don't have pictures for you!  Note to self...charge the battery next time!!!  :0

Forcing Branches to Bloom

Here is an oldy but a goody from February of last year.  It is that time of year again to head out into your yard and cut some branches!
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Am I the only one who gets serious spring fever about now? It doesn't help that we keep having warm days only to head right back down into the twenties the very next day. Teaser! I love more than anything to have fresh flowers in my house and about this time of year it is easier than you might think to achieve that Pottery Barn blooming branch look for absolutely free! Just head outside and get to clipping.

Faux Plum Blossom Branch from Pottery Barn.
Faux branches have their place but why use them when you can have the real thing!!

February and March are the perfect time of year to start forcing branches. It can take from a couple days to up to 8 weeks to see blooms on your branches. Here is the process I use.

1. Find your tree or bush that blooms in spring. Forsythia, Dogwood, Crabapple, and Cherry are my favorite and all force easily. I used forsythia here and am cutting my Dogwoods to force into bloom next week. The forsythia took me about 3 weeks ( I cut the beginning of February).

2. Look for branches around dime size diameter with beginning buds and lots of them. Cut more than you think you'll need because some of them will not work.

3. Cut and put straight into a bucket of water.

4. I bring mine to the rarely used downstairs shower and give them a good bath in tepid water.

5. Cover with a trash bag and close the curtain. If you can't put them in a dark area then use a dark trash bag. The trash bag keeps the humidity up and moves them along quicker. Change your water every few days. A 65-70 degree area works best.

6. In one to eight weeks depending on the branch and how close they were to bloom at the time of cut, you will have your beautiful flowering branches!

It really is that easy. Step 7... show them off! Change your water every few days and they'll last from 1 to 3 weeks depending on the type of branch.

These shots were taken in my entry. Here are some things you should know....

1. We can't pick a wall color. Ever. Recurring problem.

2. There is another mirror in the garge with much better scale for this spot. I've been too lazy to hang it.

3. I've had this fabric draped over the dining room chair for 3 months. I'm going to use it very "soon".

4. The bookcase is going to get painted very "soon" as well. (Your "soon" and my "soon" might mean entirely different things :-)

Now, go cut some branches! Think how beautiful they are going to look on your Easter table and without spending a penny!

**UPDATE**
Re-reading this post actually made me feel good!  I got ALL of those things done in 2012!

See the painted bookshelf and new hall color here.
See the new mirror (and new entry bench) here.
See the dining room reveal here.

Kandi

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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