Celebrate Winter!

I cannot believe it’s been a month since I last wrote a post! Much apologies friends. With the holidays, my AMAZING trip to Montreal and getting back to work in this new year, I have completely neglected Flock South. But don’t fret, I have some wonderful posts in the mix and come Monday, Flock South will be back in the saddle. In the meantime, I will be catching you up on some of my past posts I’ve written for 12th & Broad’s Style Scout.

First up, Celebrate Winter! (all photos via Pinterest)
Halloween? Check.

Thanksgiving? Check.

Christmas? Check.

New Years? Check.

January? Throw all the festive décor back into the attic, go back to the norm and wait out winter.

This is the pattern we have for every year. We celebrate our biggest holidays in one quarter, decking every hall we can find and then poof! It’s over. So much, so fast and then nothing during the grayest days of the year.

I’m depressed just thinking about this cycle. Nashville, and most of the south, is not big on winter. It’s not cold enough to get snow and not warm enough for afternoon picnics in the park. It’s just miserable enough to keep everyone inside complaining on Facebook, dreaming of warmer days.

To add to the misery, everyone strips their home of any and all holiday décor the second the clock strikes midnight on the New Year. It took us how long to get the house looking nice for the holidays? And now we are expected to just chuck it all away and wait until spring to spruce up our homes? Again, depressing!
This past week, I have been in Montreal, Quebec. Where the days are ridiculously cold and the skies are heavy with shades of gray. Winter is harsh in this city, and it’s just the beginning. And yet, the city sparkles. At a high of 8 degrees, people are out walking the streets with friends, laughing and enjoying the day. The city is lined with interactive art (Luminotherapie) to make your daily walks more enjoyable, public spaces have fire-pits and Adirondack chairs, and the homes & local establishments are decked in simple winter décor. Montreal doesn’t hunker down for the darkest days of the year, it celebrates the season with gusto.
Instead of committing to lackluster days and a sadly decorated house this winter, try something different and celebrate this time of year. Winter is about slowing down and enjoying the simple things, not hibernating. It’s about cozy fires, good books, comfort food, hot drinks spiked with spirits and evenings well spent with friends and family. So stop complaining about the cold and make the most of this season.

Here are some fun tips to make winter more enjoyable:

1. Decorate your home for winter. Keep a few winter neutral items from your holiday décor out. My favorite winter items are pinecones, winter greens & berries, woodland animals, rustic décor, wool throws, sheepskin rugs and lots of candles.
2. Create a winter wreath for your front door. The Wreath Recipe Book has beautiful wreath ideas for every season of the year.
3. Invite friends over and have a winter cocktail party. Try the many cocktails listed from 12^th & Broads How To Survive the Holidays – One Spirit at A Time. You don’t have to have a holiday to enjoy a fab drink.
4. Build a bon-fire outside and roast marshmallows. Another great excuse to invite friends and family over.
5. Take a class at the Skillery, Craft Course Nashville, Abrasive Media or Camellia Fiber Company at Hey Rooster General Store.
6. Bundle up and have a picnic in the park. Pack a hot lunch or grab some take-out, bring a few blankets, (don’t forget the flask) and enjoy the fresh air with friends.
7. Go to the many art galleries, museums and theaters this city has to offer
8. Enjoy the winter menu at local restaurants, like City House, Husk, and Treehouse.
9. Go to a sports game or play a little sport of your own, like bowling at Pinewood Social.
10. Hike Radnor Lake, it’s beautiful in the winter.

Wrap it Up!

(Photo via Rifle Paper Co)

If you didn’t catch my post this weekend for 12th & Broad‘s Style Scout, here’s a recap:

Gift wrapping, you either love it or hate it.

For years I hated wrapping presents. I would wait till the last minute and rush the process. Wadded up, bulky, tons of tape and whatever paper was left on Christmas Eve. This is how I wrapped presents year after year. My gifts were easily recognized for all the wrong reasons.

It wasn’t until I stepped into my first paper store that I fell in love with gift wrap and stationary. I learned that gift wrapping was an art form and could be fun (and beautiful) if I would simply plan ahead.

(Photo via Rifle Paper Co)

Here’s what I have learned over the years:

1. Keep the Shopping Simple. Throughout the year, pick up paper, cards and various wrapping accessories at stores that you already shop. Don’t over think it. Some of my favorite gift wrap for the holidays has been found in the summer.

2. Shop Local. Nashville has an incredible selection of paper goods & craft supplies. Make sure to check out Kore Nashville, Pulp Nashville at Hey Rooster General Store, Rock Paper Scissors, Hester & Cook, and All Seasons

3. Not a Big Shopper? Online Only? Choose 1-3 paper sources that you really like, check in a few times a year and buy a little at a time. My favorite online sources are Rifle Paper Co, Ferme Papier and 1canoe2 and Paper Source (many of the Nashville shops carry these lines).

4. Feeling Crafty? There is a plethora of DIY gift wrapping ideas on Pinterest. The options are endless!

5. Choose Your Materials Carefully. This is an important process. I have found that if I choose paper I love, I will love the process of gift wrapping. There are so many types of papers, varying in weight and finish. And oh, the accessories. So many choices! Find one that suites you. It will make all the difference in the world.

6. Make Room. Christmas is not the only time you wrap a gift. There are lots of other holidays and events. Create a space where you can store your gift wrapping items, and stock up on supplies

7. Make Time. You don’t need a whole lot of it, but you do need to set some time aside. The gifts have to be wrapped one way or another. Giving a little extra attention to detail isn’t going to cost you a lot of extra time. The key is to plan ahead with your supplies and set-up

8. Why All the Fuss? A well-wrapped gift conveys a message of love and thoughtfulness.

Need some inspiration? Looking for something unique? Here is my holiday gift wrap round-up for 2014:

Holiday Cards:

1. Foil Joyeux Noel

2. Ferme Santa – Hipster Mr. & Mrs. Clause

3. Merry Llama

4. Reindeer Mistletoe

5. Tis the Season to Be Jolly Card

Wrapping Paper:

1. Forest Path Wrapping Paper

2. Cursive Wrapping Paper

3. Dark Blue and Gold Star Wrapping Paper (in-store only)

4. Black and Gold Polka Dot Wrapping Paper (in-store only)

5. Floral Gift Wrap – Black/White

6. Graphite Lace

7. Winter Wonderland

8. Holiday Greens

9. Bitch Wrapping Paper

10. Holiday Dots Wrapping Paper

Gift Tags, Ribbon & Twine:

1. Merry Bitchmas Gift Tag Set

2. Foil Wilderness Gift Tags – Dear

3. Emerald Peonies

4. St. Nick

5. Pinecone Gift Tags

6. 3-in-1 Photo Card

7. Nutscene Twine

8. Heirloon Stripe Red Paper Ribbon

9. Honeycomb Paper Ribbon

10. Skinny Cream & Gold Ribbon

Playful, Modern & Simply Beautiful Holiday Decor

Photo via Stylizimo

“As the days become gray, our homes become the center of our attention. The mantle we had almost forgotten is now highlighted by a roaring fire and suddenly needs dressing. The rarely used dining table is now a perfect place for new décor. And all the projects we’ve been thinking about this past year are now in full production. It’s December, that time of year when we cozy up the house.” 

This past weekend, I published my first post with 12th & Broad’s Style Scout: Playful, Modern and Simply Beautiful Holiday Decor. I discussed Christmas decor, new found treasures and how to spruce up your holiday collection. And! I featured a partial round-up of my favorite holiday and winter decor for this season. Today I bring you the full round-up. All 42 fantastic items that will dazzle any home. Enjoy!

{From Left to Right} 1. Decorative Sisal Trees 2. Champagne Glitter Trees 3. Felt Trees 4. Wooden Cutout Trees 5. Gold Bottle Brush Tabletop Tree 6. German Glitter Village

{From Left to Right} 7. Glitter Star Garland 8. Mercury Glass Bulb Lights 9. Champagne Garland

{From Left to Right} 10. Luminous Dots Pillow 11. Faux Fur Pillow (white) 12. Northwood Pillows (penguin) 13. Northwood Pillows (moose) 14. Mongolian Lamb Pillow 15.  Faux Fur Pillow (blue)

 {From Left to Right} 16. Wood Penguin 17. Hand-painted Wanderlust Globe 18. Reclaimed Metal Reindeer Candle Holder 19. Mercury Cut Glass Hurricanes 20. Threshold Gold Bar Cart 21. Pinecone Wreaths

{From Right to Left} 22. Diptyque Red Tubereuse Candle 23. Tobacco & Patchouli – Paddywax Apothecary 24. Côtes du Rhône Three Wick Candle 25. Izola Candles 26. Woodland Truffle Classic Candle 27. Welton Parfums Kelly Hoppen Candle No. Iv

{From Left to Right} 28. Ferm Living Paper Balls and Stars 29. Birch Reindeer Ornaments 30. Wire Ornaments 31. Set of Three Heart Ornaments 32. Stuffed Ornaments – Squirrels and Pinecones 33. Foiled Gold Ornament

{From Left to Right} 34. Breathless Paper Coasters 35. Gilded Dapper Animal Mug 36. Set of 5 Matryoshka Nesting Dolls 37. Hello Darling Dish Towel (set of 2) 38. Festive Fair Isle Cheese Board 39. Fox Love Tea Towel

{From Left to Right} 40. Lodge Stripe Wool Throw 41. Italian Wool & Alpaca Cable Knit Throw 42. Faux Fur Snow Leopard Throw – Stone White

Anita Schmadtke Designs

Anita Schmadtke, a talented Nashville based jewelry designer, founder of Anita Schmadtke Designs and a dear friend of mine.

Anita and I go back to my store days at Nest. When you own a store, you get a lot of artisans trying to sell you their wares. And to be completely honest, most of the designs were terrible. Good people, just poorly made products. So by the time Anita had walked through my front door, I was a bit jaded. In fact, I was annoyed before the poor woman opened her mouth. Which is terrible because Anita didn’t even want to come in. Her friends pushed her into the shop (that’s what good friends do, right?) after having lunch next door. Just thinking about that day makes me giggle. Annoyed shop owner and nervous artist, the odds for a sale were not good.

But then she showed me her jewelry…

I almost fell out of my chair with surprise. Beautiful, minimal, well-crafted hammered silver with a unique twist. I had been scouring for this style all year, and no one could pair it down to the level I wanted without feeling flat. I was seeking a modern, sophisticated style that was chic, but not pretentious. Something artists, designers and taste-makers would wear whenever they wanted, with whatever they wanted. This was before minimalism was a big trend in jewelry. Everything was chunky and overly bright. Anita had something new….she was designing modern wearable art.

As you can probably guess, I took everything she had and sold her jewelry immediately. Every day, all day. I could not keep her jewelry in stock. I sold her beautiful wares until I closed my doors. Not only did she stock my shop with lovely jewelry, she became a very good friend. Cheering me on and standing by my side through so many adventures.

That was almost five years ago, and she is still making gorgeous jewelry. Her pieces can be found here in Nashville, as well as local boutiques and museums throughout the US.  I can always spot an ASD piece on the street. There is just something so special in the simplicity of her designs. And now she is implementing brass and copper into her pieces, creating a whole new level of goodness.

This Friday & Saturday, you can see Anita Schmadtke’s jewelry at the Holiday Market at Studio Be. She will be featuring new designs, as well as her classic earrings and necklaces. This is a great opportunity to pick up locally made gifts for the holidays.

If you can’t make it this weekend, you can always stop into Art & Invention in East Nashville or Katy’s in Belle Meade. Both stores keep a large stock of Anita’s jewelry. And if you would like to know where ASD jewelry is sold outside of Nashville, you can contact Anita on her Facebook page here.

Whatever you do, make a point to see this jewelry in person. You will not be disappointed!

Holiday Wreaths

I’m feeling the urge to make a holiday wreath today. There is just something so therapeutic about trudging through the woods, gathering bits of nature and then combining them into something beautiful for your home.

Gone are the days of big bows, cheap bright colors, and fluffy fake holiday wreaths. This season the trend is clean lines and soft color palettes. Using fresh flowers, botanicals and fruits. A welcomed change.

Looking for inspiration? Check out Alyssa Hoppe, Moon Canyon Designs, Annette Joseph and Gardenista on Pinterest. Or pick up my new favorite book, The Wreath Recipe Book.

1. Unique Holiday Wreath by Alyssa Hoppe (DIY on Design Love Fest)
2. Metallic Pinecone Wreathy by Papier D’Amour
3. Thanksgiving Wreath by Emily Thompson
4. Citrus Winter Wreath by Sarah Ryhanen
5 & 6. Wreaths by Moon Canyon Designs