a very white house Christmas

I was so very impressed to learn that Savannah College of Art and Design was responsible for the design and decoration of this year's official Blue Room White House Christmas tree. Working Class Studio interns under the direction of Jonathan Osborne and ShopSCAD's Amy Zurcher and Kyle Millsap were responsible for creating the concept and actual handmade ornaments that were used on the tree.  See Amy's full post about the experience on the shopSCAD blog! 

Holiday Fun with ShopSCAD

So...still working on getting caught up here! I was honored to be invited down to join in the festivities at shopSCAD's Pop-Up shop in downtown Atlanta around the first of December...here are some photos of the incredible displays they fashioned in only two days! Photos taken by the marvelous Adam Kuehl...

Welcome...please do come in and warm yourself by the vintage faux firelogs!

Display of SCAD's Working Class Studio wares!

A view to the salon style Fine Art gallery wall and my very favorite item- the Chandelier by Virginia Wynne- decorated by shopSCAD with greenery, yarn, and a mix of happy shades.

A view to the bath and jewelry area...and the ghosts of shoppers past.

Amy Zurcher, Joe Bush and myself...happy together again!

The cozy bedroom nook with handcarved trees by Martha Enzmann, pottery by Irene McCollam, and

handmade quilts by Jen Jenkins.

My little nook filled with yarn wreaths and nests

Now, thankfully Amy Z. took some photos of the ornaments and wreaths I made for the occasion... main material this year being the humble pipe-cleaner...

snowflakes and baubles

little nests atop vintage spools

little birdies on a wire

mini yarn wreath ornaments

these are really easy to make- just cut out a donut shape from a sturdy piece of chipboard as your base and wrap your yarn and/or pipecleaners round and round like a wreath.

a few of my 2010 wreaths- i was trying to go a bit more mod this year!

many of these are now available at shopSCAD Savannah!

xo

P.S. Thank you shopSCAD for including me in POpUP! xox

*the magical new shopSCAD catalog*

Be prepared to be blown away...I know I am! The visuals in shopSCAD's brand new and 1st ever mail order catalog are beyond stunning! Available online here and soon in mailboxes nationwide! xox

View the catalog online now!

Etsy's Storque features ShopSCAD's Amy Zurcher!

Hooray for my bff, co-creator and Director of shopSCAD, Amy Zurcher for her fantastic guest post on the Storque today! (I think photographer, Adam Kuehl did an amazing job capturing the sweet spirit and wild creative energy of Amy and the shop-so I'm shamelessly reposting several of them!) 

PS. Thanks as always, Amy for sharing the spotlight with me...you are truly my greatest fan! xoxo

PPS...Since I've been in hiding, Amy started a new blog for ShopSCAD...take a looksee if you haven't already!

The Fabulous Mrs. Amy Zurcher at ShopSCAD, Savannah.

Amy holding an exquisite painting by, Monica Cook.

I find them both fascinating!

Interior shot of ShopSCAD, Savannah looking quite spiffy!

ShopSCAD, Savannah's Creative Team, Kyle Millsap, Amy Zurcher,

and Whitney Dail...arranging the larger than life puzzle that is the salon style wall o' artwork!

I love this photo Adam took of the beloved chandelier which has been added

to in layers over time by myself and Kyle! The art dolls featured are by Emily Marie Cox.

Photography by Adam Kuehl and courtesy of ShopSCAD

Used with permission.

xo

a few new works and a collaboration.

I've been making a little art in our hot garage. I'm not sure what I'm thinking working with hot wax out there these 95 degree days...but nonetheless....here they are. You can kind of tell I've got homes and nesting on the brain. Its all I'm looking forward to these last few weeks before we move to Indianapolis. I'm sending all of these down to shopSCAD tomorrow. xo

{This piece is actually a collaborative work between me and a little wren that had taken up nest in a flower pot right outside my window. It was amazing to me watch this busy bird working so hard day after day! I'd never had such a front row seat to a real nest building. Sadly, he (i think) abandoned it one day. I think there was a tussle with another bird or crow as I came home to find it all scattered about.  I was so sad waiting day after day to see if he would return. Weeks past and there was no sign  of him, so I collected up the remnants and added to his handiwork.}

Mixed media: vintage papers, ephemera, beeswax, wood construction.

Katie Runnels 2010- available soon at shopSCAD. 

xo

Man Shops Globe shops SCAD!

There was much excitement a few weeks ago when Keith Johnson visited Savannah College of Art and Design to shoot a segment for his new season of Man Shops Globe for the Sundance Channel. He was working with SCAD's design expert, Rebecca Gardner who presented him with a specially prepared showhouse of work by SCAD artists and designers. The displays were so incredible that I had to share a sneak peek of them with you here! The brilliant design team behind the magical displays are a few folks you will recognize...Amy Zurcher of ShopSCAD, and Trish Andersen and Maureen Walsh of Domestic-Construction. The new season premieres June 30th, 10pm e/p. 

{Photos by Adam Kuehl.}

The exterior of the showhouse - SCAD's Smithfield Cottage- was adorned with more of those amazing giant fabric lanterns by Karen McVay Butch and Martha Enzmann!

The porch was a showcase for the colorful pillows and puffy frames by SCAD's Working Class Studio.

A peek into the library reveals a surreal vignette composed of a painting by Gregory Eltringham, pottery by Irene McCollam, antique chairs and table, cozied under another McVay-Enzmann Lantern.

A peek into the parlor reveals a collection of handcrafted pillows by several different SCAD-related artists including Working Class Studio, Paige Hathaway Thorn, Domestic-Construction,  Amelia Allen, Lauren Vass,  Laura Davis and Jessica Rogers. Pottery by Irene McCollam. Handmade bowls by Christine Gentz (acrylic woven, left) and Kara Firstenberger (right).

The dining room table-scape is a mad, bountiful collection of artwork, design and vegetables! The original drawing on wall is "Cash for Gold" by Stephanie Howard.

Detail of dining room table display. Melamine Dinnerware by Working Class Studio, Silver Teapot and Goblet Assemblages by Adam Smith, Bird in a Bell Jar Assemblage by me!

Large paintings by Summer Wheat, Modern Lichen Lounge by Christine Gentz, Wall decals by Laura Davis. Ceramic sculpture by Monica Cook!

Bomb lamps by Joel Green

The Ultimate Table and Woven Chairs by Christine Gentz are highlighted by four hanging knitted Tree Cozies by Karen McVay Butch. Photo in the background is "Ribbon" by Jade McCully.

Watch the season premiere of Man Shops Globe

June 30th at 10pm on the Sundance Channel!

Kipper Millsap has a Dandy New BloG!

I've been meaning to tell you to be sure to check out my favorite Man-Craft Magician, Kyle Millsap's new blog: Kipper Millsap! Remember Kyle's adorable place from back when? He's also the Visuals Manager at shopSCAD...so you know he's swimming with creative ideas...and he's sharing them!! So, scooch over Mr. Oldham, and make room for your new bff....Kipper Millsap! xo

Kyle's own collage header shows off his mad vintage-inspired graphic design skillz! I adore his style!

Visit Kipper Millsap to learn how to build your own display pegboard!

Kyle's Millsap original bedazzled bow-tie.

Learn how to make your own just in time to make Father's Day Fabulous!

Kyle Millsap. Hello, handsome.

Kyle is the only man I've ever met who can completely rock

a brooch and he can show you how!

xo

SCADStyle Party Lanterns

While I have simply nothing going on in my life other than trying to sell our home and working out of our hot packed garage for the time being...I thought I'd share with you some magical scenes from my best friend, Amy Zurcher's life. These are photos she took last weekend at Savannah College of Art and Design's SCADStyle Party in Savannah. The amazing giant lanterns were made through a collaboration between artists, Karen McVay Butch and Martha Enzmann. Aren't they incredible!? xo

Photos by Amy Zurcher!

The lanterns appear to be made from a mix of fabric created by SCAD's

Working Class Studios and the artist's own handmade prints and patterns.

Lovin' from the NYT...

Woowhee! Check out this super article from Brooke Hodge about shopSCAD in The New York Times today! Amy kindly shared our story with the writer and once again shared the limelight of shopSCAD glory with me...and she needn't! She has taken the shop to an entirely new level of awesome-ness since I was there! (Speaking of which...a print catalog that is so fabulous it blows my mind is under construction as I write this-consider yourself warned!) Unfortunately, Amy's last name was misspelled a-gain. {New note: it has been corrected!} Its Amy Zurcher..."enterprising retail director" eXtraOrdinaiRe!!  Soon to be a household name so's you better get it right! xo 

My friend, the stylist and some pretty Perfect Porches

A fantastic new book, Perfect Porches, by Savannah College of Art and Design President, {the prolific} Paula S. Wallace is now available! My dear friend and shopSCAD director, Amy Zurcher worked as a stylist for several of the shoots involved and we've been anxiously awaiting its debut! I'm so thrilled Amy was chosen to help with this project as she is an incredibly talented stylist and only a handful of friends, employers and customers have known this for years! Congratulations, Amy! I believe that All your creative contributions should be preserved in print! xo

Perfect Porches can be purchased at shopSCAD!

The ever talented Chia Chong and Adam Kuehl are 

responsible for the beautiful photography!

Image from Perfect Porches

Image from Perfect Porches

Savannah College of Art and Design President and Author, Paula S. Wallace.

Isn't she incredible!? This is one of my favorite unguarded press shots of her.
Learn more about her here!