shabby chic

2012-03-01T06:59:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for the Southern Women's Show in April in Nashville, Tennessee. Our products will be featured at the Shabby Lane Shops Booth. Catherine Monceaux, owner of the online mall, will be on hand to distribute information about all the shops on the site. If you have not visited, please go to http://shabbylaneshops.com/
You will find great ideas for all your home, garden or gift giving needs! Please visit my website on the front page and leave a comment at my site if you can! The pictures I have posted above are examples of what we will have offered for sale at the booth in Nasville. The heart box is an example of French Beading and is completely handmade with copper accents. The Eiffel Tower bottle opener is part of a new line of hostess, shower and baby gifts that I am pleased to offer. Personalization is available for these items to make a special event even more so!
I am also offering quanitity discounts for weddings and larger events. I will be posting many new items to the website in the next few weeks, so come back often, and if you are in the Gainesboro, Tennessee area, please stop in and visit our room at Carol's Corner off the historic square in Gainesboro.

Oh La La! Love is in the Air!

2012-02-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that Valentine's Day is next week. It just does not seem possible but 2012 is already a good deal underway. We have been so lucky to have been spared a harsh winter here in the Southern part of the country, but it does give us a case of Spring Fever! I always have that anyway after the holidays are over and the trimmings are packed away, but with the weather as nice as it has been, I have been itching to get in the gardens, or Spring clean the home. Yes, I still do that! There have been some wonderful ideas on the web for small gifts as tokens for friend and family. http://youcouldmakethat.blogspot.com/ for a very pretty lavender sachet pillow. I have posted some girly gifts under my website in the French product section and have been busy hand stamping some Paris inspired gift tags that can serve as small gifts or tie on tags for a larger present. Foodies and crafters alike can really get inspired with the following ebook available for downloading at http://myblessedlife.net/ Whatever or however you decide to celebrate for Valentine's Day, enjoy the process!

Beautiful Fall Days and Too Many Projects!

2011-10-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I can't believe how long it has been since I blogged last about anything! We have been working on a new home in Georgia while still enjoying our present home in Tennessee. The new home offers the sound of a trout river on the rocks from all the rooms on the main level, and a good, (safe!) view of black bears coming and going on the riverfront. The town we are close to is very sweet with tons of art galleries and antique shops and we are just off State 197 which is part of the pottery trail. What is not to like about that? I have been busy working on the inside making it ours and I will be posting pictures later. One of the favorite things we have done is to completely wrap our master bath in beadboard for a country, shabby, chic look. I have been busy working on events for the Upper Cumberland Arts Alliance, and I have found a tutorial on crocheted rock covers. So far, I have made only two, but they are fun and if you have some pretty rocks they could make a nice paperweight for friends at the holidays. I am posting some photos of the ones I have made. I found the tutoria at www.purlbee.com/little-urchin-crochet-covered/ These were done by the very talented Margaret Oomen. Hope you enjoy if you attempt them. I have been able to done in an evening, and I am a novice crocheter!

Upcoming Shows for Artists in the Upper Cumberland Area

2011-03-13T16:59:00.000-07:00

Once again, Spring is here, or at least well on its way! Shows for artists tend to crop up and there are several really good events planned for the Arts Alliance. We will be participating in the April 2nd, 3rd anniversary celebration at Sutton's Store in Granville, Tennessee. This is an inside event, and members are encouraged to bring new artwork on April 1st, so we can display it. Also the Poke Sallet Festival in Gainesboro Tennessee will feature a new artists' market this year around the historic courthouse. You can find the link through the Gainesboro-Jackson County Chamber of Commerce link. This is a May 6th and &7th show. Also, the same weekend there will be a festival at Sgt. York Foundation for artists, and the booths are free this year. So....plan on attending one of the many events and taking advantage of the Mother's Day weekend buyers. April 4th is the annual meeting for the Arts Alliance at 4:30 p.m. at the Cookeville Putnam library. We have lots to discuss and some direction to talk about and decide on. It should be a good meeting, and a chance for you to add to the group. Heritage Day is May 28th in Granville, and we will be hosting an outdoor artists market, next to Sutton's Store. Also June 18th, we are planning an Alice Maiwald Memorial Fresh Air Festival to celebrate the life and vision of our past president. So....plan to come to as many as you can and stay active in the arts in 2011!

Upper Cumberland Quilt Trail in Jeopardy! Letter for your Representatives!

2011-03-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

Friends, Please feel free to use this or a version of this letter to contact your representatives and ask that they seriously consider their vote coming up for the USDA RC&D full funding issue! Let's see this go viral!

March 10, 2011

I am sending this messagel in the hopes that when a vote is taken in the next week or so, you will seriously look at the ramifications that not extending full funding to the RC&D program will have on already distressed and economically challenged areas in your state. I live in Jackson county in the Upper Cumberland, and there are many wonderful programs that are in jeopardy should the full funding disappear. We have been successful, in our county, to work with Kathy Daugherty and her team in Cookeville to implement and continue the quilt trail. This trail has be used to bring tourism dollars into rural areas with much success. There are many other programs at risk as well. Please vote responsibly for this area your state. There are few programs available that do as much good for the rural challenged areas as those of the RC&D. Thank you for your consideration in advance.

Regards,

Carla Khouri

Upper Cumberland Arts Alliance

Gainesboro-Jackson County Chamber of Commerce

Upper Cumberland Tourism Association

The Blue Heron Studio – Gainesboro, TN

The Creative Doll: I had to share this wonderful little movie

2011-02-13T05:04:00.000-08:00

The Creative Doll: I had to share this wonderful little movie

I could not believe this little movie was created with paper!

Enjoy!

The Creative Doll: I had to share this wonderful little movie

2011-02-13T05:02:00.000-08:00

The Creative Doll: I had to share this wonderful little movie

Shabby Chic,Country French Valentine Crafty Hearts Tutorial

2011-01-22T09:08:00.000-08:00

Inspired by shabby chic decorating, I decided to try some ornaments that were shown on the Sommerset site. I wanted to share how they came out for me:

Above, you will see the supplies I used to make the ornament in the upper left hand corner. I had some wonderful musical note fabric, that I purchased online from www.hayloftfabrics.com. I also used some black and tan ticking for the hanger from www.buyfabrics.com. I decided which graphics I wanted to use from Karen at graphics fairy - Bing. Karen has a wonderful source of graphics

I selected the designs I wanted to use, and then I put them together in a work document. I remembered to flip the documents so when the designs were transferred onto to fabric, they would read correctly, and not backwards. I used a tarp canvas for painting for my background fabric. After following the transfer directions, I cut each item out using pinking shears. I also made a template for a heart and cut them out with the same pinking shears of the musical note fabric. I sewed a seam on the outside of the musical heart fabric hearts, leaving a small edge open toward the upper right hand of the heart. I them stuffed the hearts lightly with fiberfill and closed the opening by machine. I used FabricTack glue and applied one of the cutouts of designs onto the front of the musical note heart. I cut a narrow band of the ticking stripe and knotted it at the bottom of each end. I then used the Fabric Tack glue to attach the hanger at each end of the ticking stripe. Voila! You now have a Valentine heart ready to use for your decorating or to give as a gift. You might consider making several of these and putting into a pretty heart shaped basket or box. Enjoy!!

Back to the Basics!

2011-01-10T13:52:00.000-08:00

Well, now that it is a good week plus in 2011, I have started to get back to the basics. Things I enjoy, like painting, and chores I have to do, like change the mall products, and list new items on ebay and my website. I have really enjoyed painting faces for a very good friend of mine, Linda, for her quilt class. She has 25 people taking her class, and I have agreed to paint the faces on the little girl's they will be appliqueing to their quilts. Linda runs the Most Amazing Quilt Shop in Cookeville, Tennessee, and it is exactly that! AMAZING. She has lots of wonderful fabrics and supplies, not to mention some of the best instruction. Thanks to Linda, I have finally learned an acceptable way to applique. It is wonderful to pick this needlework up and have something to do in the evenings that engages you completely. I will post pictures of the quilt and the little faces when I am able to travel thru our "winter wonderland" later this week. In the meantime, we will just have to enjoy a picture from our mountaintop! Have fun this week, and stay warm....

What are you doing for Christmas?

2010-12-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

2010 has been a year of challenges and opportunities for the Khouris, The Blue Heron Studio, and our family of extended friends and all of our beloved animals. Howard's father passed away last February after a long illness and we are still dealing with the changes that has brought. We take comfort in that he is with his wife, son and the Father who heals everything and everyone. We lost our sweet spaniel, Beauregard, of fourteen years early this December. This has been a heartbreak that we knew was coming, but still were not prepared. We take comfort in knowing that God holds you and your loved ones in the palm of his hand. My son, Jason, and his fiancee, Carrie look forward to an early summer wedding, and Carrie's two sons make everyone proud with all their scholastic and scouting accomplishments. I have been writing for the Shabby Lanes magazine, and I look forward to continuing that endeavor, and the new studio space is coming along nicely. I hope to have pictures to post in early January. There are plans for some great classes, and the studio is always available to people just wanting to get away from the urban scene. It's nice to let the days unwind at a slower pace and appreciate the smaller blessings that surround all of us. My Christmas wish for you is that you continue to inspire and be inspired with all your efforts, and that the Holidays envelop you and your families in the warmth and love of this special time all year long. Love to all of you!

Phew! Where has this year gone?

2010-08-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it is mid August already. Good intentions, ideas, and projects have been more plentiful than the time to implement them. However, when I look back on some of the year's achievements, I can see some progress. I have been working on the Upper Cumberland Quilt Trail project for our county, and I have painted eight boards that represent some of the heritage of our Tennessee ladies. I have just finished working on our home in Indiana, and have it on the market at this time. This is a great home on acreage with a pool, four bedrooms, two baths, and huge barn close to Evansville Indiana in Newburgh. If anyone wants details, email me, and I will send on to you. blueheron05@twlakes.net. I have been busy getting ready for Fall and Halloween on my website www.theblueheronstudio.com and have some really killer looks for decorating. I am currently taking an online art class called Collage Coterie, and I am loving it. Many cool graphics and way too many ideas. I will post some of my "creations" later, still learning a new camera system.

Spring will be here soon!

2010-02-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

I know, it's hard to believe that anything besides snow will be the norm, but Spring is really right around the corner. Now is the time to get ready, but it is tempting to curl up with a good book or a great movie instead. I have been pushing myself today to list a lot of new items for Spring on my website, www.theblueheronstudio.com, and I have managed to get some Easter/Spring/Garden goodies up and running. As usual, I am highlighting the vintage feel with Bethany Lowe and Vickie Smyers artist decor. I am also working to bring some French vintage home furnishings and garden items to the marketplace thru my website. It's never to early to think about Spring cleaning and decorating. I am thinking about painting the Blue Heron, and I am looking at a very pretty neutral color from Benjamin Moore called cottonwood. I am also thinking about a soft raspberry color for the dining room ceiling. Like any good nester, I have lots of projects on my to do list, but I think for right now, I'll just fix another cup of tea! Hope all of you stay warm and don't forget to DREAM!

Valentine's Day Vignette Inspirations!

2010-02-01T06:23:00.000-08:00

Once again, even though the cold winds are blowing and snow is still evident, it is time to "spice" things up with tokens of love and heartfelt items for Valentine's Day.
I have been working on several new projects both for people I know and care for and for the website, www.theblueheronstudio.com. I have made a small miniature scene that features bottle brush trees in shades of pink, raspberry, and cherry red, plus lots of glitter. I am not sure whether I love glitter or bottle brush anything more! After looking at sets of trees that were red and glittered and priced over $90.00, I decided to make my own. Or at least I decided to try! I took a set of very inexpensive dark green Christmas trees from the craft store, and allowed them to set in a glass container filled with bleach. They lightened to an ecru color. I then spray painted them the colors I liked. Voila! After drying, I also sprayed them with a glue adhesive and rolled them and sprinkled them with glitter. I used Martha Stewart's tinsel glitter. I made a base from chipboard and scrapbook paper and cut a circle larger than the cloche/bell jar I had. Using scalloped scissors gave a nice decorative edge. Then for more interest, I downloaded a picture of a cabin surrounded by flowers, pasted this onto a heart cut from scrapbook paper (heavy and double sided)and with a tab at the bottom, I placed this towards the back of the circle. I then put glue on the places I wanted highlighted with more glitter and glittered. Be sure not to mix your glitter colors together unless you want a custom blend. This way if you use individual papers or plates to catch your over glitter, you can save and put back in the original containers. Then I glued my "forest" of bottle brush trees on the base. Let your imagination run wild and have fun creating your own "Valentine's Day Vignette." This is a fun, nostalgic craft project that will keep you and your little ones busy on a cold afternoon or morning.

Shabby Chic for Valentine's Day

2010-01-16T18:15:00.000-08:00

It will soon be a time to express to your family, friends, and loved ones how much they mean to you at Valentine's Day. A wonderful way to creatively and economically do this is to make your own cards. Handmade cards can be individualized for that special someone. I am working on a jar that is recycled with paper graphics from the Graphic Fairy. If you have not seen Karen's site, then you are in for a treat. She has wonderful vintage designs for free downloads and every Monday there is a special acknowledgment of an artist that has used her designs. She is in the process of hosting another Artist Class in February which is a lot of fun with a lot of ideas for scrapbooking, tags, collage and other mixed mediums. If you order early there is a discount. This might be the ideal Valentine gift for you! Anyway, we are busy at the Blue Heron getting ready for February and Spring 2010 with lots of new products and ideas. A basic china painting class will be taught in Cookeville, Tennessee at the Cookeville Art Society in early March and there is a lot of activity to get new Lady Head vases produced based on the antique originals. Also being produced are the ever popular half dolls or pin cushions as they are known. Well that is the update for now. Just be sure to check out all the new items at www.theblueheronstudio.com and if you visit Shabby Lane Shops, be sure to vote in the Valentine contest for your favorite storefront. This is a great mall with a lot of very talented artisans. In the meantime, stay warm, toasty, and keep creating. As we make beautiful thoughtful items with our hands, we connect using the same actions as craftspeople and artists of the past and of the future. BELIEVE!

Gratitude

2009-12-21T18:41:00.001-08:00

This post is all about gratitude that should be expressed every day, not just at this particular time of year at the Holidays. My husband and I have been so blessed to have made the acquaintance of Dr. Harry Horne and his lovely wife, Marilyn, a little more than one year ago. We live in a very rural area in Tennessee and at that time, medical facilities were limited and certainly overtaxed. At a public hearing for a zoning variance for a home that was being considered for a medical clinic, my husband spoke positively for the change and addition to our community. Little did we know that this would bring this wonderful man and his family into our lives. He has been instrumental in changing a difficult relationship between my husband and his father at a time in their life together, when goodbyes are looming larger than hellos. He has been able to prove that medicine is not just "institutionalized and uncaring." He has been able to prove the exact opposite and that good medicine can heal the soul and the spirit, as well as tend to the physical aspects of the human condition. His capacity for love and caring of his fellow human beings is as large as his acumen of medicine. This is a tribute to a "Prince" of a man and a damn fine doctor. Thank you, Harry, for being you!

What do you want for Christmas?

2009-12-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

Besides world peace and a cure for all disease, what is on your Christmas list? Not to make light of the current situation, but, has everyone adjusted to the "new normal" that we all hear about on the news, or are there any holdouts for old fashioned Christmas consumerism? Actually, a year later, a year older, I just think a nice peaceful holiday is all that I want this year. Maybe just to curl up, and appreciate being warm while it is blustery outside with a wonderful cup of tea and a great old/new book. I am really finding it hard to drag out all the tinsel and Christmas decorations. I feel that I have Christmas in my heart, and I enjoy seeing it everywhere else, but I am feeling that it is kinda nice not to have to prove to anyone that my cookies are the most delicious, or my decorations the most creative. I don't have to go to the most or the fanciest parties, or host them either. Am I a scrooge? Or am I just being myself? I look around and I am so appreciative of the good things in my life. I have a loving partner, wonderful family members, cherished pets, and relatively good health. These are gifts enough for me this year. Still.....cashmere socks are always nice!

Support the Arts!

2009-10-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a great seminar that was sponsored by the Tennessee Arts Commission in Paris Landing, Tennessee. As an active member in the arts community, we are facing unparalleled times of change and challenge. It is up to us individual by individual to support the efforts of both the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Tennesseans for the Arts to continue their work that enhances and promotes arts as both a cultural part and a way of life for many in our beautiful state. Local and regional art councils and alliances are also helpful in supporting individuals that are either doing this as a part time or full time line of expression or livelihood. One great organization that I support is the Upper Cumberland Arts Alliance. I would encourage you to check out their website and very reasonable membership. With Christmas coming quickly, I would also encourage those of you giving gifts to consider one of a kind gifts with the gift of art from an artist or perhaps gifts of classes or memberships in a guild or alliance. I would love to hear from those of you with other connections to the arts. Just comment back.

Fall is Finally Here

2009-09-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

With crisper autumn temperatures, and falling leaves, it's easy to notice fall is here in the Upper Cumberland area of Tennessee. Along with the show from nature are many festivals that have something for everyone. This Saturday, in Granville Tennessee, there will be a heritage fall festival. This will be complete with food, entertainment, crafters, demonstrations, and a quilt show. There will also be an unveiling of the quilt trail which is the first for Jackson County. I was asked to produce these large boards for two of the Granville businesses, and one in Gainesboro. This will connect with the other fourteen Upper Cumberland counties and continue other quilt trails which follow rural areas through our county. The last issue of Mary Jane's Farm, a magazine devoted to those who appreciate rural living had a very nice article on this type of quilt trail. This seems to be another way for crafters to display their work. I will be posting pictures on my website www.theblueheronstudio.com soon for all to see!

Summer Sales

2009-07-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

Enjoy getting ready for Fall and Halloween with sales on many vintage inspired, shabby chic decorations for the upcoming months. Visit our retail store in Gainesboro, Tennessee at Pappy's Picket Fence on the Square or shop securely online at www.theblueheronstudio.com.

Bookmark our page as our selections change often!

Check out our specials on Flea Market Fridays!