Recent

Beer and Cheese Anyone?

, The Raspberry Umbrella....

The Feel of Crisp Air...   the taste of warm cider...the smell of blazing bonfires....the sound of cheering fans at football games.....Signs of Fall.  While I haven't encountered these yet, I'm convinced they're right around the corner.  With fall officially gracing our calendars as of this coming Tuesday, it's  time to tuck away thoughts of sand and seersucker; instead embrace longer hours of darkness and clothing that keeps us completely covered. Though I love Halloween, I believe it sometime steals the attention away from the season that contains so much beauty and charm; or then again, maybe Halloween is just a headliner for Autumn.   
        Either way, celebrating Fall, aside from Halloween is a great way to get your friends and family together.    We always hear about wine and cheese tastings, but I suggest leaving the dress or tie at home.  Instead grab your cable knit sweater and opt for a more casual soiree:  A craft beer and cheese party.   Craft beers have become ever-so-popular and there are some fantastic seasonal autumn picks to provide!
For your Fall Party, you may want to pick a game day!  Pick a football game that is central to your location so everyone has a common interest in front of the big screen!  Fill your house with autumn-scented candles to set the seasonal  mood.   Yankee Candle Co. has some Amazing fall scents!  Provide 3-4 different autumn beer selections. I suggest Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale (pictured above left) or Sam Adam's October Fest.  Check out your grocery's beer selection. You'll be surprised at the variety of fall seasonals.   Set a few bottles of each type out and have frosted beer tumblers available.  This way your guests can sample a little of each beer.  Near your tasting table fill large metal drink caddy's or buckets with the selected beers and ice so everyone can easily continue to drink their favorite seasonal.  
Cheese blocks on wooden trays or platters will look great near your bottles of "tester beers".  Whole Food's has an incredible selection of Cheese.   You can't go wrong with Smoked Gouda, Sharp Cheddar and Pepper Jack with these fall ales.  Choose 4-5 different kinds of cheese and provide wheat or multi grain crackers.   Fill large glass bowls with Caramel Pop Corn and Shelled Peanuts for gameday.   For your non-alcoholic beverage drinkers,  have warm cinnamon cider available .  When the big game is over, move outside into cool air if you can provide a bonfire or have a large chimenea.  Not an option?  Light a fire in the fireplace and put on some good music.   Try something fun like Louis Armstrong's All Tim Greatest Hits or Ray LaMontage's "Trouble" while everyone is mingling.  Both are fun and engaging for calmer casual get-to-gethers. 
   Keep decorations low key.  Opt for uncarved pumpkins-Try Blue and White or different shapes; which you can find at your local garden nurseries.  Set large white candles in hurricane jars and fill with cranberries or Pears.   
     This type of party is easy to pull off.  You'll have rave reviews and all the while you'll be sitting by the fire sipping an ice cold beer.   WELL HELLLLO FALL!
                                                                           
Read More

An art event for all tastes

The Raspberry Umbrella....
Individuals may have been mistaken for celebrities upon their arrival last Thursday to the grand re-opening of a unique boutique in the Factory at Franklin in Franklin, TN.   Photographers, a red carpet, bright lights, and the collections of nation-wide artists were revealed upon the entrance of Adornments.   The boutique re-opened it's doors in the new location with a delightful evening.  The family owned business specializes in custom jewelry and art.   Owners Lucinda   Harhsey, Alexis Anbari and Laura Lempke paired with Event Coordinator Margaret Tolbert of Details by Margaret to bring the public into a gallery of creativity and treasures.  Showcased items included Anbari's signature hand-beaded bags,  luxurious fiber art by Harshey, and Lempke's engrossing paintings.  In addition, both local and worldwide artist's and designers displayed their work during the elegant event.  
     Tolbert (pictured above left with business partner Jeanie Nuemeyer,right) displayed her knack for perfection by planning the grand re-opening for Adornments, which included delicious hor d'oeuvres and wine.  She also created an attendee-involved game where browsers could win gifts within the store by guessing which celebrity they had drawn.  I would encourage you to view some of Tolberts lovely events; everything from weddings to children's birthday partys on  DetailsbyMargaret.com!
     One of the showcased lines of the night was by Nashville Designer, Olia Zavonzina.  She had clothing from her fall line including evening wear and casual wear.  Celebrities have sported her garments on Good Morning America and at Oscar Parties.   I absolutely love her Bridal Collection which can be found on http://www.oliazavozina.com/
     A mix of pottery, dishwear, painted canvas's, and hand-carved wood were among some of the other featured lines in the store.   If you're in Franklin, you must visit Adorments ! The ecletic mix of art in all forms will satisfy your craving for something you can't find anywhere else.
Above right: Allison Sturterant, Dim Dugger and Artist Laura Lempke
                                
Designer Olia Zavozina shows one of her floor length dress
Factory Store Owners Annette Pacunas of Annette Charles Boutique and Cheri Dukas of Cheri's Unique Decor

Above  Alexis Anbari, co-owner and crater of indiviualistic wedding and event invitations


Invitation designed by Anbari



Event Attendee's: Spring Hill Resident, Annie Singer and Nashville Resident Amanda Lisle
Adornments Owner, Lucinda Harshey
Designer Olia Zavozina, Model Ginger Simpson, and Fashion Intern Morgan Kestner
Pottery and Woodturning Artist, Patricia Ferrell of Crofton, Ky stands next to her artwork. 
Read More

Be our guests!!!

The Raspberry Umbrella....
        Arriving at your destination after hours in the car or plane, most likely one of the first things you'll want to do is refresh yourself in your long awaited guest room.  The last thing you want to find is a bedroom stocked full of sports equipment, office supplies and piles of clothing that obviously didn't have a proper place in the home.   Or worse, when you  go into your guest bathroom to wash your face, you find the only white towels to dry off with are fringed, nubby, and have spots of hair dye all over them.  "Welcome" is the last thing you're going to feel for your week's stay.   The room I just described said a lot about the people I was staying with at the time. At the end of the day, where your guests sleep at night will say a lot about you.   It'll say more than the touristy finds you show them over their stay.  More than the one-of-a kind restaurants you take them to;   More than the souvenirs you buy them.  IF YOUR GUEST ROOM ISN'T INVITING, DON'T PLAN ON INVITING THEM AGAIN. THEY WON'T COME BACK.   Plain and simple.
           When decorating a guestroom there are two routes I'd recommend: Clean and Fresh or Warm and Inviting.   Most likely your guest aren't going to share your same themed- passions.  A room plastered with Stephen Speilberg posters  isn't going to make your friend feel at home.   Instead, take the knickknacks out, store the clutter in the basement and begin with a clean slate.  I'd suggest a room with clean lines: A big white fluffy down comforter and pillows accented with light charcoal walls and a mini chandelier.   Or, if you want to go for the warm and inviting affect I'd try chocolate brown walls trimmed in white; A bright green comforter with yellow accents throughout the room and a large vase of gerber daisy's on one of the bed stands.  
         However you choose to decorate, their are essentials you need to include.  A gift or something that will immediately catch your guest's attention is a wonderful idea.   A small box of gourmet cupcakes or an item reminicient of  the city your home is in is an easy start.  I found some great antique looking magnents of famous places in Nashville like the Downtown Farmer's Market, The Union Station Hotel and The Pancake Pantry; all of which are possible places I'd take my guests during their stay.  This would be a cute gift to leave on the vanity.
            Make sure there are plenty of empty drawers and open closet space with hangers for your guests to unpack their suitcases.  It's always so lovely when there is some sort of bench or ottoman at the end of a bed to be able to leave a suitcase on for quick access. This keeps your guests from feeling cluttered in their room; not having to step over suitcases. The bench in the top left corner is the perfect example. 
           Fluffy pillows, and plenty of them  is a necesitity.   Leave a bottle of linen spray next to the bedside; but never spray it onto the bed yourself.  Leave that to your guest and their own aroma tolerance.  You can find these sprays at body shops and boutiques.  A collection of unique books, photo albums and magazines is always a nice touch for your guest to browse through during their down time.   If you have a frequent  visitor, include the person in framed photos around the room.   Photos are engaging and this makes someone feel like a true part of your home during their stay.
         Upon entering the guest bathroom, make sure there is a surplus of thick, plush towels  and wash cloths along with completely filled bottles of Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc.  If you feel like going the extra mile, provide travel size toothpaste, hairspray, etc. 
       Back in the room, create a soft atmosphere with bedside lamps or a mini chandelier.  Never use an overhead light as the only source of lighting in a room. 
      For some extra touches, add fresh cut flowers to the room; make sure their is an alarm clock on the nightstand and leave some stationery, possibly monogrammed on the vanity or desk. 
      I visit one of my college friends on a regular basis.  Every time I travel to her and her husband's home,  I  enjoy a shabby chic room with comfortable wicker furniture,  light that streams from a vaulted-ceiling window and my own flat screen tv.   This is a far cry from stained towels, a sweaky bed and clutter as described earlier.   A room can set the mood for a guest. Take advantage of being in control of someone's positive attitude and their delightful stay by creating a welcoming atmosphere!
Read More

Ahhhh apothecary.....jars, that is

The Raspberry Umbrella....
Once upon a time, before little recyclable orange plastic
containers existed, a pharmacist would deliver your cold serum in a glass bottle labeled with ingredients that would probably make the modern world laugh, or worse, cringe. Around a century and half ago, in addition to small bottles, larger apothecary jars were used as storage like they are today, though the concept of sterilization on the tools they enclosed was nearly non- existent.
Fortunately, times have changed, but the concept of apothecary jars for storage has resurfaced in the form of decorative purposes. Jars in all sizes and often intriguing shapes have given us an impressive way of displaying everything from boring cotton balls on the bathroom vanity to lemonade in pretty jar-dispensers.

If you shop in high-end antique boutiques you'll find a variety of these jars, usually collectibles, sometimes over a hundred years old. The smaller jars are perfect for simple decoration but these authentic accessories come with a hefty price tag. Plan to spend nothing short of $80 in boutiques for a pale pink 4'' tall medicine jar that ranges 90 years in age. If you can stand rummaging through item-stuffed, musty antique shops or estate sales you may find an array of dirty jars for smaller prices. Washing the dirt is possibly worth the extra step. The value may be just as exceptional and your wallet won't take the generous hit.
Finding replicas of the age old jars can add just as much inspirational design to your space as the actual antiques. After all, sometimes it's hard to justify spending $60 bucks on a tiny piece of glass. There is an extensive inventory of replica's as well as originals on EBay. The pictured above left set of three French stenciled jars are actual jars from the early 19oo's found on EBay. I found a beautiful antique monogrammed replicated jar at Hobby Lobby (pictured right) for $9.99.
Larger Apothecary jars serve many "hard to store and display" purposes. Bathrooms are an easy way fill glass jars full of Q-tips, bath sponges or bath salts. (top-pictured set of four monogramed jars- Potterybarn.com). Try filling a tall jar with multi-colored glycerin soaps for a bright burst of color in a neutral setting or break away from clear glass jars and try a collection of colorful ones. (Pictured multi-colored set currently available on EBay).

Jars full of lemons in the kitchen may be a current trend slightly overdone. However, if you have control over your sweet tooth or inquisitive children, try filling a series of different sized clear jars with peppermint sticks, orange slices and lemon drops! My favorite jar display is an "apothecary jar" drink dispenser; quite possibly the most elegant way to allow guests at a luncheon or soiree to serve themselves!
The possibilities are endless with these jars. While I'm glad we're used to purchasing our headache medicine in disclaimer plastered-plastic bottles, I'm grateful we can use pieces of history to bring inspired style into today's often over-medicated world.
Read More

Hobb-knobbin' around

The Raspberry Umbrella....
When I was a child, running in circles and playing hide-and-go-seek, I was fascinated by the door knobs in my grandparents home. They weren't like the typical shiny brass knobs that filled my own house. Instead, clear glass engraved knobs accompanied every door in their 1940's home. What was even more intriguing were the key holes in each knob. I was told that skeleton keys were the only way to open these locks, but if you had one, it could open any interior door in the house.Obviously homes just aren't built with the charm and detail they once were. It's typical to see brass or cheap gold fixtures through out new constructions. If you're lucky, you may get silver plated or coated. Thankfully, there is someone sitting at a design desk somewhere, who also remembers the romantic door knobs in their grandparent's homes. These designers are recapturing the essence of hand crafted design. While it's not cheap to refurnish you whole home at once with individualistic knobs, it is an investment to work toward and then cherish. Decorative knobs can be found everywhere from Lowe's to high end boutiques. Be sure to measure the knobs first. Apparently, door knobs aren't one-size-fits-all. I was short of devastated when I got home with my hand-blown pink glass bubble knob only to find it didn't fit correctly.
There is no rhyme or reason to door knobs. Don't fill every room with the same one. Variety is available, so take advantage and mix it up from room to room. How many of your friends have pink crystallized glass knobs on their french doors? Mostly likely not many, if any at all! Be one of the first to have a conversation piece that will add the detail to your room that today's homes unfortunately simply lack.
Bubble Glass Pink knob, Enter/Exit Knob and Glass Flower knob all Anthropologie.com
Read More

The lion, the witch, and the incredible walk-in wardrobe

The Raspberry Umbrella....
In an ideal world, Nick and Jessica would've never filmed a ridiculous (yet dangerously entertaining) reality show which would eventually result in divorce. In a perfect world, we wouldn't be subjected to hear Kendra Wilkenson's infamous and relentless laugh on E! network over and over again. In an absolutely flawless world, every last person would have their dream closet right out of an episode of Cribs.... If only the world wasn't hopelessly flawed.
Luckily, there are options to make your own dream closet. While it may not exactly be the immaculate vision pictured top right; Though it may not be worthy of a California Closet's advertisement....Your closet can be your own beautiful, organized, budget-friendly utopia.
One of my friends just bought a house where she is lucky enough to have an extra small spare room after the guest room to use as a closet. That's right, AN ENTIRE ROOM! There are so many things to fill a closet up with besides clothes. After all, this is the room where the "Should I Wear the play-it-safe black dress?" or the "I'm going to turn every head in the room red dress" decisions are made. This room should be your personal escape. So paint your closet a color you love, but nothing too drastic. This is the palette for your collection.
Most likely you won't be able to surround the walls with enclosed shelving. Instead hang "hanger shelving" and leave room to build a few stacked shelves to display shoes and handbags.
Your Must-have closet accessories include:
-Wooden Hangers. This is going to take your displayed clothing from a "disheveled TJ Maxx rack look" to a "fresh off the Kate Spade shelf look." Buy them in bulk online where you'll get a discounted price.
-Lighting. Get rid of the overhead light. Nothing too bright. The ideal lighting would be the toned down flawless look the bulbs in the Gap Dressing rooms give illuminate. They're forgiving brightness makes almost any outfit a ten. A must have for your room is a mini-chandelier. (Pictured 39.99 from IKEA.com) Now you're in your personal boutique with this elegant piece.
-Furniture is imperative. Maybe you need a chaise lounge to pass out on from your too-tight pants or a "pondering chair" to browse fashion magazine inspiration. Either way, choose something that flows with the room's colors and overall theme and most importantly, something comfortable. Chaise Lounge- Ballarddesigns.com and Vanity Chair- Potterybarnteen.com. Lastly, stack your Harper's Bazar Magazines and extra handbags on a ottoman. Choose a color that compliments and a pattern that contrasts your seating.
-It's possible the single most important accessory you'll have in your closet is the mirror. Purchase a floor-length over-sized mirror with a thick frame to take up one of your walls. With one of these you'll get the full vision of your fabulously dressed self, and if the room is small, the mirror reflection will create the illusion of an even larger closet.
-Artwork. Decorate any unused walls with Fashionable art pieces. You can order vintage Vogue Covers on art.com. I personally like these pictured Fashion Barbie collector sketches.
-If sq. footage permits, you can add an armoire or vanity to your room. Display Jewelry on an antique mannequin. With the combination all of these pieces and your individual touch, you're sure to have the most coveted closet around. And why shouldn't you? You have the space. You have the wardrobe. Now you have your own clothing playground. Let the games begin!
Read More

Temptations in the Garden of Good and Retail

The Raspberry Umbrella....
Lock me up and throw away the key. If you don’t, I’m sure to commit this crime again. I’ve previously spoken of my weakness for impulse dress shopping and I must say I can’t be held completely accountable for my actions. Everyone has their weaknesses; In the Garden of Eden, Eve’s weakness were pretty red apples. Personally, I would’ve passed up the apple for the nearest palm tree. Palm leaves or some other tropical plant could’ve resulted in a perfectly lovely dress, if put together correctly. My view is: If there’s a marvelous dress on the rack, I don’t have to have an event to attend like a swanky soiree or Wedding # 76. If it’s fabulous and fits like it was made for me....Darn it, it needs to be hanging in my closet. End of Story. THERE WILL BE A SOIREE. THERE WILL BE A WEDDING to attend and I WILL have the perfect dress strapped over a crisp wooden hanger when the time arrives.

This is a very logical way of thinking. I buy with in my means (most of the time) but refuse to sacrifice the opportunity to own “The perfect dress”. I was lucky this past weekend to score the top right brownish-bronze mini cocktail dress with burnt orange piping at What’s in Store in Downtown Franklin. Amongst the array of boutiques on Main Street, What’s in Store values fashion and the current status of the economy. Their modestly middle priced clothing, jewelry, handbags, and hats can’t be found any where else and celebs like Taylor Swift and Jessica Simpson have graced the doors. A rarity sprung among Franklin’s “High and left your wallet dry” shops, What's in Store even advertises coupons once in a while.
Quite possibly one of my favorite boutique dresses is the pictured right ivory “puff dress” as I like to call it. I would have never chosen this party dress on my own, but when I went into The French Shoppe last Spring on a sales call the exuberant owner prompted me to try it on. Uncertainty clouded my reflection in the mirror and visions of 1980’s bridesmaids came to mind. Convinced I would fall under the spell of the subtle sparkles and pompous puffs, the owner told me to take the dress free of charge. If I didn’t like it, I could bring it back the following week, no questions asked. He was convinced the only thing I’d be returning to the store with would be my debit card. He was right. Six days, Two hours later I was the proud owner of a piece of fashion I’m convinced no one else in Nashville owns. That was over a year ago. I still haven’t worn it. The uncertainty still surfaces when I try it on. Confidence is the only accessory to be worn with this dress. I’m at 99.9; “Puff Dress” takes 110%. I’ll be sure to post pictures when I get the courage to display this individual piece in public. Until then, it’ll hang nicely on bar snuggled with my collection of “Worn” and “To Be Worn.” A collection of femininity; bright and subtle pieces, individualistic; Many Expressive, though some subtle... A collected collaboration worth the wait of wearing.
Read More
Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )