guest blogger Archives - At Home in Arkansas

Welcome Brandy Thomason of Bella Vita Jewelry!

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Please welcome Brandy Thomason of Bella Vita Jewelry! I personally fell in love with Brandy’s jewelry one Saturday morning at the Argenta Art Market, where I noticed her table surrounded by people trying on her beautiful earrings, necklaces and other creations. At Home featured her work in our Fall Weddings issue (click here to see it), and while planning our guest blogger series, we just knew we had to have her. Here, Brandy gives you a beginner’s guide to making earrings. Start practicing now to make them as gifts, or better yet, gather a group for a jewelry-making party! This should get you started nicely, and don’t miss Brandy’s design and idea tips below for more ideas.

You’re a gem for stopping by Brandy!

Handmade Jewelry for the Holidays

Giving handmade gifts is by far one of my favorite things to do, especially for Christmas. Now, I canâ€™t say everyone on my list will be getting handmade jewelry this year (I donâ€™t know how much my Dad would like a necklace with a pair of matching earrings, no matter how much love I put in them), but the women on my list will be taken care of one by one with a special piece of jewelry designed by me.

In my opinion, the quickest and easiest pieces of jewelry to design and construct are earrings. So, we will stick to the beginner lesson of designing basic earrings and assembling them into wearable pieces of art

Materials and Tools:
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Wire Cutters
Head pins (the wire finding the beads go on)
Ear Wires (the wire finding the beads attach to and also the part that goes in your ear)
Glass Beads

First step: String a bead or beads on the head pin.

Second step: Position the round nose pliers above the bead and bend the wire back at a 90Ëš angle.

Third step: Rotate the wire around the round nose pliers so that it forms a loop, and continue turning the wire so a complete loop is formed. Cut the excess wire at the base of the loop.

Fourth step: Now, attach the earring drop to the ear wire. To open the loop, grasp the side of the loop closest to the opening with chain nose pliers and move this side of the loop toward you (imagine how a door opens). Attach the loop to the ear wire. To close the loop, grasp the open side with chain nose pliers and move away from you until the loop is closed and the end of the wire is flush with the base of the loop.

Fifth step: Voila! A fantastic pair of earrings ready to put on or wrap up as a special gift.

Brandy’s Design Ideas & Tips

To make a smaller loop with the head pin, work closer to the tip of the round nose pliers. If you want to make a larger loop, start the 90Ëš angle further back from the tip of the round nose pliers.

The more beads you choose to put on the head pin, the longer your earring will be.

Birthstones make great earrings and even better gifts. Go out to your local bead store and search for stones in the corresponding birthstone colors. If they donâ€™t have the semi-precious stones, ask to see the Swarovski crystals. Swarovski has a crystal that corresponds with the birthstone colors.

Add in some metal spacer beads to add dimension and a more finished look.

Go thrifting for bags of â€œjunkâ€ at flea markets, resale shops, estate sales, etc. This is an eco-friendly way of turning something old into something special and new, and you never know what you will come across.

Have fun and donâ€™t get overwhelmed, which is easy to do especially when you are new to jewelry designing and shopping for materials.

Please Welcome Fawn Chang, National Color and Design Consultant for PPG Pittsburgh/Porter Paints!

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

The next few weeks, we’ll be inviting some top-notch design experts to join our guest blog series. And this week, it’s the lovely Fawn Chang, CFSC, Allied ASID, IIDA, NKBA. We recently had the pleasure of meeting Fawn, who’s also a Feng Shui expert, at an event for Pittsburgh Paints where she covered what’s hot in paint colors right now. Lucky for us, she agreed to write up Pittsburgh Paints’ color trends just for you, so you don’t even have to leave your house to get some of the best design advice in the industry. Ready for a home redo? Check out what Fawn has to say about creating a color environment that works for you and your family, makes you happy, and is trendy to boot. (Scroll down for color swatches!)

We’re honored you joined us, Fawn. Thanks for stopping by!

What are the biggest color palettes right now?

The Surreal/Real Color Palettes reflect the fact that as human beings we exist between two metaphors of Earth and Sky. Each one of us stands with our feet planted squarely on the earth, and our head in the sky. When exposed to the ever-changing events of life, we will use these perspectives to look at the new world around us. The Earth represents all that is logical, tangible and knowable and through discovery and observation it creates the world we know. We all share this knowledge through our vast store of accumulated collective experiences. The Sky represents our aspirations. Just as we need to breathe, we need to dream. This dream-like field is full of the magical, exciting, surprising and uplifting.

We have two Earth palettes: Journey and Indie which are two expressions that reflect our reality and are linked directly to our cultures and origins.

Our two Sky palettes, Wonderland and Avatar, illustrate what could be, the creative side of things. Wonderland stands for our dreams of harmony; Avatar for our dreams of adventure.

Earth Palettes

Journey

http://porter.voiceofcolor.com/en/inspicafe/trends/trends_journey.asp

This is a design theme that represents lifeâ€™s most meaningful journeys: spiritual, cultural, philosophical. The spirit of this theme is the harmonization of urban, tribal, and mixed cultural references that create a melting pot of modern ethno-chic.

The Journey palette blends rich earthy tones which can be grouped together in saturated harmonies, or may stand separately as accents against dark browns and inky blacks.

Silhouettes offer an organic or human form, using dry, warm materials against clean and tactile surfaces.

Prints and patterns showcase an eclectic assembly of browns and inky blacks.

Indie

http://porter.voiceofcolor.com/en/inspicafe/trends/trends_indie.asp

The word â€œindieâ€ has come to represent fresh thinking and cutting edge creativity, as in indie rock bands and indie films. Our design story takes the name Indie as a reference to industry and the designs it influences. Basic machinery, standard materials, true craftsmanship, and even industrial packing serve as inspiration for todayâ€™s interior and product designers. In an era of fast fashions and cheap plastics, reverting to the backbone of design and engineering might be truly â€œindieâ€ after all.

The Indie color range is a carpenterâ€™s palette of railway blues, patinaed browns, and engineerâ€™s green.

Silhouettes are simplified, referencing the earliest versions of designs.

Indie materials are sturdy, honest classics: leather, wood, metal.

Sky Palettes

Wonderland

http://porter.voiceofcolor.com/en/inspicafe/trends/trends_wonderland.asp

The Wonderland theme is a blend of contradictions â€“ ornate and minimal, modern and vintage, classic and neo-classic. The overall look is soft, welcoming, and cozy (without appearing too casual) using calmer palettes and selective detailing.

The Wonderland palette is highly romantic and dreamy with four warm cosmetic shades and one sumptuous brown note.

Silhouettes that are rounded and circular in form prevail, while sheer and transparent pieces keep the mood light and airy.

From modern baroque to art nouveau and even a touch of rococo, prints and patterns play up the evolving art-based trend that Wonderland encompasses.

Avatar palette

http://porter.voiceofcolor.com/en/inspicafe/trends/trends_avatar.asp

Like an alter ego in a virtual world, the Avatar palette unveils a futuristic, cartoonish and fantastic version of reality. Art, architecture, furniture and fashion all succumb to this influence of playful fantasy.

Clean matte shades of green, yellow, and new blue vibrate together, exhibiting a luminosity stabilized only by flat black and white in this palette that represents the other side of reality.

Designs are made up of simplistic silhouettes and fun forms where color and/or quirkiness dominate.

Prints and patterns, often against backgrounds of white, are primarily abstract and boldly graphic.

Brief Bio

Fawn Chang, CFSC, Allied ASID, IIDA, NKBA is the National Color and Design Consultant for PPG Pittsburgh/Porter Paints. Fawn travels North America delivering the exciting news about color and design trends and the positive effect living with color has on our lives. Fawn is an expert on color and design and its affect on humans and their relationships. Fawn is an Interior Designer, Speaker & Writer, and contributing partner for Pittsburgh Home & Design Magazine, and a Feng Shui Expert. For over 20 years, Fawnâ€™s designs have been the leading edge of the trend to live a healthier and happier life through conscious design of Home, Offices, Schools and more. She blends the best of East and West with her brilliant use of color, trends and styles and the impact they have on the humans who live and work there.

A Spring Fete by Apartment #34

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Today, the lovely Erin Hiemstra of Apartment #34 takes the reins with tips on setting the table for a fancy springtime party. Since Erin is a blushing new bride (Congratulations!!), she’s got party-planning down pat, having coordinated not only a wedding in Mexico, but also a hometown reception in Seattle. Check out her blog for oodles of interior design, fashion and wedding ideas, and read below for her simple but sweet spring/summer party how-to!

Hi, this is Erin from Apartment #34 and I’m thrilled to be a guest on At Home in Arkansas. Having just gotten married, I’ve spent a lot of my time planning parties recently. Now that the wedding festivities are done it doesn’t mean the parties are over. Now I’m turning my sights to the summer! There’s no better excuse to gather friends and family than a holiday and Memorial Day is our opportunity to properly welcome summer.

Well-planned parties are in the details. Your food will always taste better when beautifully presented in a setting that puts your guests at ease. It really doesn’t take that much to accomplish both.

A well placed flower arrangement in simple glassware and subtly sweet linens allow you to show your personality,

a lovely table will make your guestsÂ salivate,

gorgeous al fresco lighting will set your party apart,

And the addition of a personalized menu is the cherry on top of a stunning afternoon.

Happy hosting!
Mrs. E
Apartment 34

images via sunday suppers and haute design

Holiday interiors from The City Sage

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

A few lovely holiday scenes from one of our favorite bloggers, Anne of The City Sage, whose talents for writing and styling now also grace the (digital) pages of Rue magazine.

(images via The City Sage; click on each for a direct link)

In case you missed it:

P. Allen Smithâ€™s favorite holiday recipes, especially for At Home

A trio of seasonal project ideas from designer Eddie Ross

Wintry-white interiors from This is Glamorous

i heart valentine’s day

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Sending happy Valentine’s Day wishes to all of our readers today! Our gift to you? These great project ideas from Jerusalem Greer of Jolly Goode Gal. Which ones will you be trying?

I have a confession of the heart that I cannot hide anymore. Can you guess what it is? Yep. I Â confess, I love and adore Valentine’s Day. Â Not because of the romance (though I never turn my nose up at romantic gestures that happen to coincide with February 14) and not because of the chocolate (although that doesnâ€™t hurt either). No, my affection for what cynics refer to as a â€œgreeting-card holidayâ€ stems from this: Valentineâ€™s Day is simple. V-Day is a day that comes to us in the middle of winter, when there is not one colorful thing in bloom, when the skies are gray, and the temps are chilly, and brings us bear hugs, giant red foil wrapped candies and the cheerful happy colors of conversation hearts. Simple joys and small kind gestures, that is what makes Valentineâ€™s Day lovely to me. After all, isnâ€™t L-O-V-E Â what makes the world go round?

To spread V-Day cheer, here are a few of my favorite Valentine’s Day crafts. Some I have done and some are on my still-to-do list but all are happy, vibrant and the perfect antidote to the winter blahs.

Love Around the World

I adore maps. I have a fairly large collection of vintage maps and globes. How cute and easy would this be to make using old atlas or travel maps? Make it large or small, a poster or a card, but make one and pass it on to someone who needs an extra little boost.

Source

Youâ€™ve Won My Heart

How cute are these ribbons? Everyone is a winner with these adorable creations. Cupcake liners, paper hearts and craft ribbon combine to make adorable Valentineâ€™s Day prize ribbons. Not just for fashion, these ribbons would be the perfect way to embellish Â a box of chocolates, a simple greeting card or a small bouquet of flowers.

Source

Roll With It

Looking for a creative way to pass on V-Day greetings to co-workers and friends? Â Try this â€œRoll With Itâ€ candy-gram. In addition to Rollo you could also use Tootsie Rolls or Fruit Roll-Ups for kids.

Source

Iâ€™ve Never Felt This Way Before

All you need to know is this: Felt Heart Garland. Need I say any more? Whatâ€™s not to love?

Source

Love Letters

This is a great craft that keeps on giving. Our family has done this the past few years and we all love it. Each family member has his/her own mail box. Near the mail box and all around the house there are little stacks of note paper and colorful pens. We all write each other little love notes and hide them in the mail boxes, raising the little flags when a delivery has been made. Sometimes the notes are serious, sometimes they are silly, always they are special.

Source

Queen of Hearts

I have always loved the look of red heart playing cards mixed in with Valentine’s decor (perhaps it has something to do with Alice in Wonderland?) and have used them in a variety of ways over the years to accent my V-Day crafts. I love this garland that combines the hard straight lines of the playing cards and with the soft scrappy bits of fabrics to create an adorable accent piece.

Source

Welcome Holly Mang of Brick Street Botanical!

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

When we asked Holly Mang of Brick Street Botanical in Rogers to contribute some of her favorite holiday floral arrangements, we were looking for unique ideas that would make a festive statement. But we never guessed that they could also be so easy to do! Of course, Holly has much more up her sleeve as the creative mind behind her fabulous flower shop, but she was kind of enough to share some breathtaking ideas that can be executed quite easily.

Starting Paperwhites in Water and Rocks

A combination of unusual jars or vases full of paperwhites, popular during the winter and holiday months, makes an excellent holiday centerpiece that will last all season long.

Step one: Fill unusual jars and vases with small pebbles or glass beads.

Step two: Set paperwhite bulbs on top of the rocks or beads.

Step three: Fill with water a tad bit lower than the base of paperwhite. (Do not submerge bulb as it will rot.)

Step four: After roots have developed and greenery of paperwhite is an inch or two tall, change water to a mixture of one part rubbing alcohol and ten parts water. That combination will prevent paperwhite from becoming lanky and falling over.

Voila! Blooms will appear in three to six weeks!

Welcome Cara Wilkerson of Live the Home Life!

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

We’re excited to welcome Cara Wilkerson of the blog Live the Home Life, which we recently discovered and can’t stop reading. Not only does it offer lots of design advice, it also brims with practical tips like the one in this guest post on redesigning a space to sell. Here, Cara shares her insight on using color to warm up a house for potential buyers. Check it out, then head over to her blog for more!

Thanks, Cara!

Redesigned to Sell

Few will argue that this living room is lacking potential. However, when shopping for their next dream home, buyers may have a tough time envisioning themselves living in a space in need of a little warmth and character.

With a few simple tweaks, this room will have buyers bursting down the door.

On to the game plan…

First and foremost, letâ€™s send the lonely ottoman and rocking chair to storage. We have a few other tricks up our sleeve.

1. Paint & polish:

When prepping a home to sell, most turn to the almighty â€œneutralsâ€ to lend a helping hand. While it is true that neutral colors tend to be more widely appealing to buyers, donâ€™t be afraid to add a few strategically placed pops of color. For this room, warming up the space with a light, neutral wall color and bringing in an area rug, coffee table and wall art above the sofa will work wonders.

2. Frame it up:

Framing the windows with light curtain panels allow natural light to flow while giving the space a finished feel.

3. Accentuate focal points:

By painting the niche above the fireplace a shade slightly darker than the new wall color and adding a decorative vase, a buyerâ€™s eye cannot help but be drawn to this living roomâ€™s centerpiece.

4. Show off your space:

The purpose of staging is to highlight a propertyâ€™s best features and help buyers envision themselves living in a home. The area to the right of the fireplace is begging to be transformed into an inviting reading nook. Bringing in a cozy chair, side table, throw pillow and lamp will help a buyer visualize themselves relaxing with a good read.

A Blogger Shares Favorite Memories & Photos From Her Trip To France

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Take a deep breath. Close your eyes. And imagine you are strolling, cafe latte in hand, along the River Seine in France. Not a care in the world, just the knowledge that you are in one of the most romantic, beautiful places on Earth. Kasey Buick of Lola B’s One Girl Talks recently did just that, and she was kind enough to share with At Home some favorite moments from her journeys. Makes us want to pack upÂ and book a flight immediately, how about you? Tell us, what place in all the world brings you the most joy?

Thank you, Kasey, for letting us in on your little adventure.

Hello.

My name is kasey and i am so excited to have been asked here to guest post and

write a bit about my trip to France. You see…..i had been dreaming about travelling to

France for a long time. I’m not a privileged type of girl…i had to wait and save…..

oh….

and pretty much beg my husband to take a week off of work so that i wouldn’t have to

drag my children with me.

Can you imagine….waiting your entire life to go to you dream place….then having to bring

the children?

I think not.

Now…don’t get me wrong….i love.love.love my babies….but i much rather spend the week

in France with one of my best girlfriends.

So i did.

I had dreamed about this trip for years…..and so when i stepped off the plane…

i knew i wanted to take in every single breath….every sound….i wanted to taste

what the French tasted and so of course….i turned French girl while there.

Hello my name is Kasey….i am a french girl.

There really is so much to see in Paris….it can be overwhelming. My friend Kim and i decided we really

did not need to hit every museum….or peruse every church. We just wanted to envelope ourselves

with the fact that we were there and just walked.

Of course we wanted to see Le Tour Eiffel….and we did. I must say that the most

gorgeous view of it was from the top of Sacre Cour. We had to climb over three

hundred little teeeny tiiiiny stairs just to get to the top but it was worth it.

The view…….amazing.

We tried new foods….we drank our Caffe creme’s….we of course….had plenty of wine.

The food was not only beautiful….but the one think i sit back and remember is

how just sitting down for a meal is an experience in itself.

Eating is an activity.

You sit and linger….chit chat…..relax.

We had to remind ourselves that we were not in a hurry…we had nowhere to go….

and to take it all in.

Being in the moment.

Then having another glass of wine {or three}.

We spent three days in Paris then climbed on a train and headed south to the

beautiful town of St. Remy.

We perused a darling brocante …ate our lunch next to a river…

and just enjoyed meandering the south.

I loved seeing the fashion. I took so many photographs of people…

and even brought home this photo of Jean-Pierre.

I keep him in a little frame on my nightstand.

Of course my husband doesn’t understand….so i promised i wouldn’t

nag him about his nail biting habit anymore.

Imagine walking street after street and seeing beautiful flower shops on every

corner….the sights..the smells. I love how the Parisians wouldÂ walk everywhere and

shop for what they needed that very day.

Truly supporting the independants.

Thank you for letting me take through a bit of my adventure to France in the spring.

You can read more about my trip over at the place where i write on a daily basis…{here}..

and till we meet again…..

au revoir.

Holiday Fashion Finds for Kids

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Kelly Stamps of Kelly’s Korner has won over the hearts of thousands with her sweet sincerity and charm, inviting readers to follow her adventures as a busy wife and mother. For all you moms out there, here are Kelly’s tried and true sources for cute clothes for her adorable daughter, Harper. Plenty of options for little boys too! (PS- Have a look at At Home in Arkansas’ most recent kids’ fashion feature here.)

One of my favorite things is all the cute clothes out there for kids

during the holidays! I would dress my daughter in a different Christmas outfit the entire month of December if I could (and I almost do). There are SO many great places to find cute Christmas outfits. I thought I would share some of my favorite brands and sources and if you are on the look for that perfect outfit for a party or the Christmas play at church or your Christmas card picture, this will be a good place to look!

I love the brand Peaches ‘n Cream. I had this outfit for my daughter last year and it was just precious. They have SO many unique outfits for boys and girls. www.peaches-n-cream.com.

www.ragsland.com

is a great source for the cutest kidâ€™s clothes you have ever seen. I love their holiday collection; they have both a dressy line and a more casual and fun line.

I love to shop at www.kellyskids.com for cute outfits. They have both boy and girl styles for all year long. Their holiday line is just darling. I loved this long all for little boys. The best part is it is reversible so you will get more wear out of it.

A brand I have discovered in the last year is www.potatosaks.com. They have the CUTEST original dresses and outfits. I am in love with everything they make. This dress is just so fun and would be the hit of any party!

I have often bought the brand www.rememberngyuyen.com. Their clothes are quality-made and just look beautiful on children. They have a large variety of smocked clothes. They will monogram most outfits for a small fee.

One of my favorite secrets is to shop www.ebay.com for these brands and styles. You can often find outfits for a fraction of the price and especially when they are holiday outfits–they are usually only worn once or twice so they will be like brand new!

I also love to shop Etsy shops or other small custom web sites for cute custom outfits.

I bought a special birthday outfit for my daughter last year from www.sheshemade.com and I also have found the cutest custom monogrammed holiday outfits there.

A north Arkansas woman has a web site where she sells custom t-shirts. She has VERY cute Razorback designs along with a large selection of Christmas designs. They come in onesies, short sleeve or long sleeves and are a great price at $12 each. www.ifyousaysewgifts.com.

Whether you have one special Christmas outfit or an outfit for every day, there is no end to amazing choices when it comes to cute kidâ€™s clothes for the holidays! Happy Shopping!

Donâ€™t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a year-long subscription to At Home in Arkansas magazine! Click here for details, and to see our month-long Holiday Guest Blogger Series schedule.

In case you missed it:

P. Allen Smithâ€™s favorite holiday recipes, especially for At Home

A trio of seasonal project ideas from designer Eddie Ross

Wintry-white interiors from This is Glamorous

valentine’s day bouquet how-to

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Chris Olsen of Botanica Gardens dreamed up a sweet idea for giving flowers on Valentine’s Day! And it’s as easy to create as 1-2-3 (so you can grab what you’ll need on the way home and have it made right in time for a romantic dinner)!

Make someone feel special this Valentineâ€™s Day. Forget about giving the same old flower arrangement you give every year and instead add that special element of surprise. You can do it!!! You can easily make your own arrangement that will mean so much more then a grocery bought bouquet.

All you need:

Heart shaped cake pan
Floral foam blocks (2)
Lavender spray paint
Sweetheart roses (2 or 3 different colors)
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Hereâ€™s how:

1. Spray paint pan lavender or favorite color.

2. Cut floral foam to fit in container; hot glue to bottom of pan.

3. Fill pan with water. The bricks will soak up the water; fill until saturated.

4. Arrange rose buds by cutting stems about 2 inch long and pushing into foam.

Happy Valentineâ€™s Day! Good Luckâ€¦

Handmade Jewelry for the Holidays

Brandy’s Design Ideas & Tips

What are the biggest color palettes right now?

Earth Palettes

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Sky Palettes

Brief Bio

Love Around the World

Youâ€™ve Won My Heart

Roll With It

Iâ€™ve Never Felt This Way Before

Love Letters

Queen of Hearts

Starting Paperwhites in Water and Rocks

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-2223 aligncenter" title="Picture 6" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/hd_blog_post-36980.png" alt="Picture 6" width="464" height="347">

Redesigned to Sell

1. Paint & polish:

2. Frame it up:

3. Accentuate focal points:

4. Show off your space:

All you need:

Hereâ€™s how:

1. Spray paint pan lavender or favorite color.

2. Cut floral foam to fit in container; hot glue to bottom of pan.

3. Fill pan with water. The bricks will soak up the water; fill until saturated.

4. Arrange rose buds by cutting stems about 2 inch long and pushing into foam.

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