Chihuly at night

One of the nice things about living in the Nashville area is the “small town, yet big city feel.” We get to see musical talent and art exhibits without an overly crazy or impossible wait. Sometimes it’s so easy to access world class cultural experiences, I can hardly tell I’m not living on either coast. Well, that might be a bit over the top…

A prime example of this Mid-South small town benefit was the installment of Dale Chihuly’s glass sculptures at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Did I say easily accessible and not overly crazy? Well, that changed for us when we tried to have a dinner & art date night with some friends. The line of cars went down the block, around the bend and down another block…We had to try the following week, and a bit earlier in the evening. With better planning it was a success. Chihuly Nights at Cheekwood was so popular that the exhibit was extended a couple of weeks past its deadline!

The weather turned frigid on us but it was a surreal experience nonetheless. Not every piece or installation was cleverly lit, but each one was certainly unique and beautifully created. I did hear, however, that the exhibit was pretty spectacular during the daytime as well.

These photos were the best of the lot that I captured with my little digital doohickey. This post is so late because my doohickey decided to go all doodoo on me and not function properly. The last couple of posts have featured pictures taken with my phone (boo), and will continue as such until I save up moolah for another doodah (…doodah….).

luxurytyme.com

I have been in awe of Chihuly since my first visit to the Bellagio Resort in Vegas. A-freakin-MAZING. There are also great documentary films of his installations that you can get at the library. It’s mesmerizing, really.

function as one with Clothes4Souls

Remember the online clothing company that I painted the table cover for? 

You know… We did the Tomato Arts Festival together?

Well, now function as one is partnering with Soles4Souls new clothing charity, Clothes4Souls.

Check out Soles4Souls blog about the great new charitable deal.

For every shirt that is purchased, one article of clothing will be provided to a child in need!

Speaking of original art to buy…

If you’re looking for a quality original 5″x7″ painting, you can check out Paul Ferney’s commission project. I follow his wife’s blog, Oh Happy Day! and she posted about the project this morning. What a great idea… Send Paul a photo and $200, and he’ll send you a painting by December 1, just in time to adjust those Christmas lists. Hurry though, the first 100 people get the deal. After that, the price goes back up to $350. I love this guy’s style.

Jordan Ferney | Oh Happy Day!

If I had a studio, a nanny and a production assistant, I would love to dream up a venture to paint for people on demand. Hmmm, that’s three strikes so I guess I’ll have to keep living my own life.

A Positively Crafty Fair Find

There are times when I want so badly to be positive. I try to look at the situation from many angles in order to come out with something good to say, even if a day turns out to be only 10% of what I hope for.

Well… I must say, Saturday was a tough one. My husband and I have been wanting to take a trek down to quaint little Bell Buckle (and I mean, “downtown” is all of one cute block) that touts an annual art show, sponsored by the local prep Webb School that has been there since 1870. In years past I have seen indications of a juried exhibition, but this year the town was proud to host “over 500 other booths…with something for everyone.”

Silly me, I looked at the web site for the wrong year. Apparently, the Webb School Art & Craft Show used to be a bona fide show, even as recently as 2006, accepting juried applications for “high quality, hand crafted work in the traditional fine craft media.” What happened in the 34th annual show? It turned into a giant festival, flea market, bizarre bazaar of knock-offs, cheap goods and manufactured holiday notions. The art show? It was hidden in the park, and didn’t seem to attract a host of magnificent artisans.

Sorry, Webb School.
Sorry, Bell Buckle.
You need to rename the event, the “Bell Buckle 10% Art and 90% Craftlike Almost-Goods Fair.”

My ounce of positive? We found a very friendly craftsman that made wooden spoons, just around the corner from the doggy hair bows. My lovely spoon and oven rack tool are handmade from South American hardwood.

my new oven rack tool & spoon

Score! A lovely gentleman (whose name I failed to acquire) also gave us directions to the few artisan booths that were really a part of the Webb School Art Show (you know, hidden in the park). We found a few interesting booths, some good pottery, but not anything we wanted to come home with.

Oh yes, and it was a positively GORGEOUS day spent with my family.

Working in the closet

With the recent addition of a second child, we decided that while the kids are little they can share a room. This gave us the third bedroom to use as an office and playroom. So far it’s been a wonderful idea and I love being able to work on bills or email while the kids play in the same room. The one casualty, however, was a space for Mommy to paint. I have everything put away, scattered between the garage shelving and office closet shelving. I didn’t know that I would be needing any of it this week!

My new (well, temporary) closet studio – complete with TV tray for supplies, folding stool for brushes and cutting mat for my feet. Not sure why I chose the x-acto mat to stand on, maybe just because I ran out of drop cloth? I can’t remember because my brain has been a bit foggy for a few days! Just ask Pam (founder/owner/designer extraordinaire of function as one)… our conversations have been filled with, “what’s that word? ummmm…” I’ve been out of my normal routine trying to get some things going for this show. The good news is, she’s got great product to showcase for our Booth #101.

Painting a logo

Working on function as one table cover for Saturday’s Tomato Art Festival.

Wow, I can honestly say it’s like riding a bike. I haven’t had a project like this in quite a while and I’m really enjoying myself! I hope it looks great on the table… 100% cotton duck, pre-laundered to give it that “natural, earthy look.” The paint will look distressed too, as if I had stamped it on. I think it will go well with the organic cotton and recycled material Ts that function as one will have in the booth!

Livin’ La Vida Verde

Green! Honestly, I never realized how much I loved GREEN until I started to see things pop that match my new stuff. I chose these items as my favorites in Anthropologie as I was browsing on the last day of a visit from my friends. I didn’t know my pals were fishing for my preference for a reason!

ceramic measuring cups and magnetic timer

Maybe you can relate to, or just imagine, having friends that are so close they are family.

The lines get blurred in my family’s culture. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard the question, “are you all related?” If you spend enough time with someone you start to look like them. Not just hair, clothing, and make-up (all of which has happened over the years)… I’m talking about expressions, mannerisms and vocal intonation. Likes, dislikes, opinion, conviction. What I’m trying to say is that there are people in my life that fit the bill, and I was SO blessed to have them for 5 wonderful days.

I certainly can’t describe the feelings of that bipolar final day together. What I CAN tell you is that I walked away with a fabulous weekend stash! Ok, I really was quite emotional, but I didn’t want to let the violins eek on for too long. 

The goods…

A new Game of Things! Thanks, Matt & Lani, for introducing us to this game…and for making me laugh so much, it literally hurt.

Thanks, Trish, for the invaluable advice on the garlic olive oil. Seriously, this has totally changed our lives. Those Vinni bags were amazing, thanks for bringing the wine! I’ll look for that yummy Frascati, but I’m not holding my breath. 

My lovely husband took a trip to the superT and got me the large Green Pan skillet. Oh, sweet man… Another thing to make my experience in the kitchen even better! (Glad you got the pans, Jen & Priss. Pretty sweet, right?)

See how perfect this timer looks on my fridge, Jannell? By the way, those cute little van Gogh deals are souvenirs from my sister’s latest jaunt to Amsterdam.

Thanks, Jen, for the cute denim dress. Thanks for driving so far by yourself with the kids – and you never complained about being in that tiny room with both of them all weekend. Dude, you’re a rock star mom.

The darling “California mission tile style” measuring cups (from Lani) sit just above my sink. I can be reminded every day of my home state…and my homies.

Thanks for an amazing weekend, girls!