The Effects of Efex™

Well, it's been a while, but we're happy to be back on the blogging track! Today we're officially introducing a product that has been on our shelves for a few months and has already had quite the response from our customers. 

Efex™ Decorative Latex Appliques are produced from original plaster moldings taken from pieces in England and France. Produced in New Zealand, they're the perfect way to add old world charm to furniture, walls, doors mirrors, frames, and more.  

Not only are they beautiful, Efex™ moldings are amazingly easy to work with. Most traditional appliques are inflexible, requiring a flat surface or filling gaps after they're applied. Efex™ flex to fit any surface they're applied to, which can include wood, plaster, metal, glass, and terracotta. All you need to apply them are scissors and contact cement. As soon as the cement adheres the latex to the piece, you're ready to go! 

Efex™ is the perfect partner for CHALK PAINT­® decorative paint by Annie Sloan and our other artist supplies, since the appliques can be painted, stained, or gilded. We love their versatility and the character they add to the pieces in the shop. If you haven't had a chance to check them out, be sure to stop by and take a look! We're sure you'll love them as much as we do.

February Favorites

Valentine's Day is upon us, so we're sharing several of our favorite little lovelies. They all make wonderful gifts any time of year, but would make the upcoming holiday an especially delightful day for anyone you love!

We've carried the TruBee line of honey for quite some time, but their newest product is too charming not to feature! Their premium raw honey is bottled in Italian glass wine bottles, topped with pure, unbleached beeswax. They're as versatile as they are pretty; these bottles of honey are fitting for loved ones and new acquaintances alike.

Every girl loves jewelry, especially on Valentine's Day, and these beaded wrap bracelets are no exception. The variety of color and material combinations is seemingly endless; each bracelet is unique, making it an ideal match for that special someone who likes to stand out from the crowd!

If you're a little more sentimental at heart, you'll admire Emily Little's latest work. She reminds us to appreciate the here and now, however long and difficult some days might seem. Just seeing this message helps us enjoy the time we have with those we love; the delicate, simple design only adds to the beauty of the message.

Amy Rankin's miniature pieces also make great meaningful gifts. Each of her paintings relate to her Christian faith or her favorite charities, to which she regularly donates a portion of the proceeds from her art. What could be more heartfelt than a gift that gives back to others?

Where Women Create Feature

It has been a couple of months since Where Women Create released their winter issue, but our excitement about Tawnya's feature has yet to wane! In fact, 2013 was a fantastic year, since Tawnya also became a licensed artist for Creative Co-Op!

Tawnya has had a life-long penchant for creating unique jewelry from collected treasures, but until recently her work could only be enjoyed by those lucky enough to own an original piece. The Embellish Collection by Creative Co-Op now produces jewelry based on her original designs, featuring broken rosaries, antique keys, and other hallmarks of Tawnya's distinct aesthetic. 

Her jewelry collection, as well as her role as a successful business owner, led the editors at Where Women Create to request to feature her in the issue that would be released in November. After many days staging, shooting, and editing photos and layouts, all we could do was wait. Finally, we were happy to see that Tawnya's feature did not disappoint!

Several pages of photos are accompanied by a detailed article, all of which depict the talent and skill that have made Tawnya the successful artist and business owner she is today. The winter 2014 (Nov/Dec/Jan 2014) issue of Where Women Create will be available through January, so make sure to pick one up and learn a little more about one of Nashville's very own entrepreneurs.

Farmstead Flannel

Baby, it's cold outside! Don't worry, though; we have the perfect accessories to warm you up this winter! Our first introduction goes to Farmstead Vintage Washed Flannels. Based in Historic Old Town Auburn, California, Farmstead's unisex flannels are each hand-treated with a special formula to create the distinctive soft look and feel of well loved, broken-in shirts. These one-of-a-kind finds are perfect for layering and adding a cool, casual look to your wardrobe. 

If Farmstead's flannels aren't enough to fend off the chilly weather, these fabulous handcrafted fingerless gloves by Tamara's should do the trick. Each set is unique and boasts charming appliques, buttons, decorative stitching, or all three!

We love the range of colors and designs; there's one for every personality and style. Tamara's gloves are made of high quality wool, so they make lovely Christmas gifts that would certainly be welcome this time of year!

Inspired Reading

Everyone knows fall is the best time of year to cozy up with a book, and we've been busy perusing some exceptionally inspired work lately. Zoe Ellison and Alex Legendre's A Life Less Ordinary stands out as one of the most beautiful books published this year. The first book from the owners of i gigi, one of England's most eclectic boutiques, A Life Less Ordinary includes Legendre and Ellison's journeys to becoming designers, inspirations, and stunning photography of their chic but practical design aesthetic.

Summers in France has been another captivating read. Designer Kathryn M. Ireland's journal-style writing and family photos create an inviting book that captures more than just her sense of style. It allows you to see how she actually lives with her designs. Ireland's tips and ideas are offered through the lens of her family's renovated farmhouse in the French countryside, providing plenty of gorgeous inspiration for your own home.

While many of us think of French decor simply as "shabby chic," Sebastien Siraudeau shows us a different view with his book, French Flair: Modern Vintage Interiors. He takes the reader through one hundred truly remarkable properties, all demonstrating a diverse mixture of traditional and contemporary elements. Siraudeau's advice for creating a home's history, in addition to the exquisite photography, make this a must read.

For a little lighter reading, pick up the latest copy of Flea Market Style, one of our favorite magazines. We love searching for and collecting one-of-a-kind treasures to give our shop and our homes their own unique stories. Flea Market Style offers fantastic ideas for taking vintage items and integrating them into home design. Needless to say, we read it cover to cover every time it comes through our door!

August Artwork

August has been a busy month so far for C'est Moi, and apparently it has been the same for some of our local artists. We just received this beautiful piece from Kellie Montana. We love the texture and muted colors she used! The picture simply doesn't do it justice.

Amy Rankin has also added to her collection at the shop. This piece, inspired by the Bible verse found in Joshua 24:15, rings true to her style in both beauty and inspiration. Anyone who admires Amy's work will certainly adore her latest artistic endeavor.

Those of you who have followed Emily Little's journey might think her latest piece is a bit of a departure from her previous work. You can see her hand, though, in the way she's captured the charm and simplicity of nature in this painting. Like Kellie and Amy's work, you'll want to come in the shop to see this beautiful piece for yourself!

Dreaming in Color

Everyone knows we love color here at C'est Moi, and this little yellow ceramic pig is just too cute for words. The top is hollow, so it can be used to hold jewelry, knick-knacks, flowers, or just about anything else imaginable!

Another colorful piece to arrive are these bracelets from Amazima. Like their necklaces, these are hand crafted by women in Uganda, who are paid fair wages for their work and are then able to better care for their families. We love Amazima's jewelry, as well as its mission!

Perhaps the brightest piece of news to share with you is that we will be hosting a very special workshop! Deneen Glidwell, the talented and creative mind behind Dreaming in Color, will be teaching how to use CHALK PAINT® by Annie Sloan to create a one-of-a-kind jewelry box, as seen below. Anyone 9 years old and up are welcome to participate! The workshop will be Sunday, June 30th from 10:00 to 12:30 and costs $85. We can't wait to see you there!