Christmas Bells

Our first order of business today is simply to announce our store hours for the upcoming week. They are as follows:

Monday, December 24th: 10am-2pm

Tuesday, December 25th: Closed

Wednesday, December 26th: Closed

Monday, December 31st: Closed

Tuesday, January 1st: Closed

Thank you for being such wonderful customers and allowing us the time to celebrate the Christmas season with our families!

We also want to share with you one of our favorite Christmas poems. Written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Christmas Day in 1863, his poem "Christmas Bells" has since been set to music and become one of our country's most beloved Christmas carols: "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."

The last verse is especially uplifting and beautiful.

Christmas Bells

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet 
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
the belfries of all Christendom
had rolled along
the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to each of you! May this Christmas season be a joyful one for you and your families!

Beauty from Ashes

Anyone who read this post we wrote in September knows how very proud we are of Emily Little, owner of Little E Studio. In addition to her extraordinary talent, she has also shown amazing resilience in the midst of a very difficult trial; soon after she received her licensing deal with Creative Co-Op her home was destroyed by a fire.

She and her family have been unbelievably positive and upbeat, despite the loss of most of their possessions. This included almost all of Emily's artwork. We are happy to announce, however, that several pieces were salvaged and restored to their original state.

These pieces are very near and dear to Emily's heart. While she doesn't normally name each one she creates, these have been given special names to commemorate, in a small way, the journey Emily and her family have experienced in the past few months.

The first one is called "Best Seat in the House."  We love the bold colors as well as the bird silhouette. It's a classic Little E Studio design!

This bouquet of daises has been named "Beauty from Ashes." It's a simple, happy, uplifting image, especially when we consider that this beautiful work of art actually was brought forth from the ashes left behind by the devastation of a fire.

Emily named this stunning, vibrant cross "Answered Prayers." We know Emily and her family have had many of those and their faith in moving forward continues to inspire us. 

Those who have not seen Emily's work in person and are planning to stop by this week are in for a real treat. As beautiful as they are in photos, they're truly breathtaking in person. We're so glad to have them back!

Christmas Gift Ideas

It's easy to become overwhelmed by picking out wrapping paper, bows, ribbon, and tags for Christmas presents. Sometimes simple is better. We spruced up this little cardboard box by using CHALK PAINT on the lid and stamping it with black ink. Voila! A cute, unique gift box just waiting to hold a Christmas surprise!

Jennifer Utterback's art work is a Christmas surprise anyone would be happy to receive! Jennifer layers acrylic, glaze, oil, and even coffee to create beautiful abstract pieces.  

The earth tones she uses in most of her work pair perfectly with the reclaimed wood she mounts them on. We love the elegant, rustic look of Jennifer's art!

Of course, we can't talk about art without mentioning Ms. Kellie Montana. These "Mini Montanas" are some of our favorite ornaments in the store. We've never been able to make handmade ornaments quite this sophisticated looking, and they're a great way to add a little something special to your tree without all the work!

Speaking of ornaments, for those of you who follow the tradition of the Christmas Pickle (Weihnachtsgurke), C'est Moi has you covered! Hide this adorable ornament in your tree on Christmas Eve. The first person to find it on Christmas morning receives good fortune for the following year.

If you're still looking for Christmas gift ideas, these burlap flower pins are a new favorite. They each have a magnet attached to the back, so they can easily be moved anywhere in your home. You can use them to dress up a simple accent lamp...

or pin them to a scarf! Wherever you use them, they're too cute to go unnoticed!

Layered Stencils with Annie Sloan CHALK PAINT™

If you've never been to the Nashville Flea Market, you are missing out. We found this "beauty" of a frame tucked away in a stall there. It's actually one of a pair; we've already spruced up the other one, and it's definitely become the better half!

Our first step was to use the Annie Sloan Work Book to come up with some possible color combinations. As you can see, our first step was to mix Florence and Provence to create a beautiful Tiffany Blue shade.

Here's a look at everything we used, including the finished product (the back of the frame; we'll show pictures of the finished frame in a later post.) The list includes Annie Sloan CHALK PAINT™ in Florence, Provence, Country Grey, and Chateau Grey, as well as chip brushes, a roller (not pictured) and two small stencils. That's it! 

The first step was painting the board in the blue shade we created. Then, we placed Chateau Grey and Country Grey side by side in a small paint roller tray, applied the paint to our roller, and painted on the first stencil. We then followed the same steps with our second stencil, a peacock feather design. These stencils are inexpensive and can be picked up at any craft store, so they're great to experiment with!

Here's the finished product! You can see the shading of the Chateau Grey and Country Grey along with the layered stencils. This is a technique you can learn how to do yourself in one of our Advanced Workshops. They're filling up fast for January and February, so be sure to reserve your place soon!

We also have received some lovely new products; these screen printed flour sack tea towels are simply gorgeous. The vintage designs and vibrant colors have quickly turned them into a best seller. They would make a great Christmas gift!

Jewelry is, of course, a classic Christmas gift as well. We have plenty to offer; some of our favorite designs have recently arrived but they are moving quickly!  

Although we love the many rings, charms, and bracelets we received, long dainty necklaces like these might just be our favorite. We love the layered look, and they just seem to be made to mix and match. 

Don't forget to call us to reserve your place in one of our Advanced Workshops!

Waxing Poetic Trunk Show

This week is a wonderful time to stop by C'est Moi, as we will be hosting a Waxing Poetic Trunk Show from Thursday (Nov. 29th) through Saturday (Dec. 1st).

We have several sample books, so you can see all the beautiful jewelry they have to offer. Waxing Poetic has also sent a door prize; this year one lucky customer will win a Waxing Poetic bracelet! There is no need to make a purchase. Simply stop by the shop from Thursday through Saturday and register to win!



We will also be offering special discounts on a select number of Waxing Poetic charms we have in stock that will soon be discontinued. You won't want to miss them, because once they're gone, they're gone for good!

This weekend is the last chance to order Waxing Poetic jewelry if you want it in time for Christmas, so our trunk show is the perfect time to stop by the shop!

Small Business Saturday Specials!

As many of you know, this coming Saturday is "Small Business Saturday," which is a nation-wide effort to celebrate and support small, local businesses. We are very proud to be a part of the Brentwood business community and certainly appreciate all the support our customers have shown to us in the past.

As a small thank you, we are offering $1 OFF all Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ quarts and sample pots! This offer is valid only on Saturday, November 24th, 2012, from 10 am to 2 pm. This is a discount you don't see every day, so be sure to stop by to pick up some Chalk Paint™ for that special project you're working on!

In addition, we will be giving away a free Christmas ornament to each of our first 10 customers who spend $20 or more!  

If you would like to support other local small businesses, check out their specials on the Brentwood Home Page. This is a great way to get some of your Christmas shopping done while supporting your local business community. We all appreciate it!

Annie Sloan CHALK PAINT™ Painted Frames

Anyone whose been in C'est Moi is very familiar with Kellie Montana's amazing art work. That makes us especially excited to introduce you to her equally creative sister, Ellie! Ellie builds each of these frames by hand, then uses Annie Sloan CHALK PAINT™ to spruce them up. They're sold individually, but we love this pair together. On these she featured Chateau Grey and Aubusson Blue, topped with Annie Sloan Dark Wax. Fabulous!

Ellie's designs range from geometric, like this one on the left, to subtle and whimsical. The small flower pattern on the frame on the right is dainty, but the dark wax on top adds vintage character and makes it feel a little more "grown up."

Chevron is everywhere these days, but it can be somewhat intimidating. If you're not ready to commit to painting it on a wall or buying a large patterned rug, why not add it in small doses? Ellie's Chevron frame is the perfect way to add the latest style to your home without much commitment (or wall space.)  :)

When you're done perusing the frames, be sure to check out our latest items from Dash and Albert. These throws are made from 100% hand loomed cotton. We love the classic stripes, and they're the perfect thing to cozy up to on a cold winter night!

Christmas Whimsies

Christmas has officially arrived at C'est Moi!  All of our new items have come out of their boxes and finally hit the shelves. Be forewarned, though: our Christmas decorations disappear quickly, so you might want to come grab a few of your favorite things before they're gone!

That might include an advent calendar, a red feather wreath, Santa wine bottle cozy, ornaments...

or a few things with a little more sparkle. We love our whimsies with a little shimmer to them, and these decorative trees and miniature chapel definitely fit the bill. If you'd rather add some sparkle on your own, we recommend using German glass glitter (peaking out from behind the trees and chapel.)

Many of our items are made with German glass glitter, including this reindeer ornament. It's not an ordinary glitter; it's actually made from crushed, colored glass. Glitters you find in most craft stores can't match its brilliance or its patina; it actually ages over time to give a worn, vintage look. 

While these miniature pine cone ornaments aren't made with German glass glitter, they would add plenty of color and sparkle to any tree, big or small. They're simply adorable! 

Finally, don't forget about Christmas Village! Tickets are still available for Friday (tomorrow) through Sunday. Be sure to buy yours online or at the door; find C'est Moi and you'll see plenty of Christmas decor available only at Christmas Village and new art by some of our favorite local artists. See you there!

The Annie Sloan Work Book

To be exact, we're talking about the Annie Sloan Work Book: For Your Colour and Paint Ideas and Inspiration. It's an understatement to say we're over the moon excited about this book!

It's not just about CHALK PAINT™; it's an interactive book designed to help you develop and define what Annie calls a "visual voice and language." The wire-bound pages lie completely flat and it includes an expandable band to hold items in place. These features allow you to sketch, paint, and keep fabric samples and inspirational photos all together.

The design of the book itself is both inspirational and extremely functional. It's meant to actually be used instead of just glanced at or flipped through, while her whimsical sketches are accompanied by some of her top tips and ideas, like this one:

We will be receiving our shipment of the Annie Sloan Work Book next week!  Be sure to stop by C'est Moi and get yours, as we're sure these will be flying off the shelves! 

Vintage Charm in Nana's Attic

We just received a new shipment of bedding from Pine Cone Hill that is sure to make you swoon! The collection, called Nana's Attic, combines "old world sensibility and new world chic." Vintage florals pair beautifully with modern colors and textures. We especially love the Candlewick pillow shams in Curry (yellow) and Paprika (orange.)

This cute chest of drawers got a makeover with Annie Sloan CHALK PAINT™ in Paris Grey. We kept it simple with just a coat of clear wax on top. Sometimes less really is more!

We're very excited to introduce you to artist Rita Ann "Rann" Woodward. Based out of Clarksville, Rann uses vintage fabric and paper to create a mixed media look with a touch of whimsy. Her artwork ranges from muted and classic... 

to bright and bold! The interest in this piece comes not only from the mix of colors but the texture used everywhere from the handlebars to the little bird nestled on top of the bicycle basket. The thought Rann puts in her work is apparent on every inch of her canvas!

Finally, we want to let you know that we are already preparing for Christmas! Christmas Village, that is. Christmas Village is Nashville's premier consumer show. It is a philanthropic project of Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club that draws more than 25,000 shoppers each year. We are proud to be one of more than 250 merchants participating this year. We are also very excited to be showcasing many NEW items, including collections that will only be available at Christmas Village. Art lovers will be especially excited at what they find when they attend the show! 

Christmas Village will take place on the following dates:

November 9, 2012  Fri 9:00am-900pm

November 10, 2012 Sat 9:00am-6:00pm

November 11, 2012 Sun 12:00pm-6:00pm 

General admission tickets are $10 and can be bought online. More information can be found here.

We hope to see you there!

A Barn Makeover

We're not sure exactly what to call this building, which sits just a few yards down from C'est Moi. But Tawnya has always had a little barn envy, so...

we gave her a makeover! We'll be focusing our energy on the inside in the coming weeks and months, but today it's all about the outside. We painted her in CHALK PAINT™ in Primer Red, to mimic the look of many of the old barns you see throughout Tennessee. Suggestions for "official" names are welcome. :)

Speaking of makeovers, take a look at this fabulous display of Kellie Montana's artistic talent. The dresser is painted in CHALK PAINT™ in Country Grey, with the trim and hardware in Chateau Grey. Kellie then used various colors of CHALK PAINT™ to create this whimsical birds and branches theme. We love it!

While Kellie went to work on her masterpiece, we watched several customers work on theirs during one of our workshops. Here they used blow dryers as part of a crackling technique. Ask about our workshop schedule the next time you're in the shop; there is always plenty to learn when it comes to using Annie Sloan ™ CHALK PAINT!

Pure Sanctuary and Some Very Seductive Interiors

Today we have a smorgasbord of our favorite things. First up we have Pure Sanctuary's newest charms! These Regal Crest necklaces featuring brass initials lend an old world quality to modern jewelry design. Hand cast in their Los Angelas studio, Pure Sanctuary "makes sure each piece is made with the Love and Care needed to last through Generations."

Anyone who follows Tawnya's facebook page knows how excited we are about this book! Sera Hersham-Loftus is a London-based interior designer whose clients include Mick Jagger's daughter, Lizzie, and Courtney Love. She describes herself as a "makeup artist for interiors" and says her style is "Rock n Roll meets Victorian Goth." We definitely agree; it's far from pure and simple shabby chic design. She mixes elements like dark, rich velvet with lacy florals...and it works. We encourage you to come take a peek at Seductive Interiors. You won't be able to put it down!

These bride and groom collections from Murfreesboro artist Phyllis Reed have been selling out like hotcakes! She uses CHALK PAINT™ to create her pieces on top of old cabinet doors or boards. Phyllis also takes custom orders, so she can make the bride and groom resemble the "real deal," whether the bride is a brunette...

or blonde! Her custom orders come in different sizes as well. Be sure to look around for Phyllis' work the next time you come in!

Fall Decor

Autumn is here, but that doesn't just mean Halloween for us at C'est Moi.  For our store it means beautiful, vibrant colors and warm, rich textures. This display says it all. The dresser shows off a quirky combination of Annie Sloan CHALK PAINT™.  We layered Emperor's Silk and Provence over Arles and Chateau Grey, which peek through the outer layers and dark wax ever so slightly.

Our new Dash and Albert Gypsy Rose 100 % Cotton Hooked Rug adds an off-beat elegance to the vignette. The eye-catching accessory also comes in 100% wool, for those who need just a little more warmth under their toes this winter. 

Kelly Rae Roberts is an inspiring artist based out of Portland, Oregon. Her artwork, like that of Nashville's own Emily Little, is licensed and can be seen on more than just a canvas. These tin caddies, for instance, can be used for everything from organizing a craft drawer to holding silverware.

Her artwork says it all, doesn't it? This quotation by Norman Vincent Peale is the essence of Kelly's experience and work as an artist. Like Emily, she calls herself an "accidental artist," since she discovered her talent late in life. This little accessory imbues a wonderful sense of hope and inspiration; it reminds us that we should see the possibilities all around us!

Those are just a few of our new items this fall. We'd love to see you come to C'est Moi to discover even more!

Little E Studio

Create. Explore. Dream.

Those three words summarize what C'est Moi is truly about, and no one epitomizes that better than Emily Little, owner and creative talent behind Little E Studio.  Emily walked into the store a year ago and we immediately agreed to sell her artwork. We saw the spark, but we couldn't have imagined how big this little studio would become!

Through many twists and turns, Emily became an artist who specializes in using what she calls "oops paint," among other materials. She explains on her blog that a display of her art we had behind our register, combined with God's perfect timing, led her to receive a licensing deal from Creative Co-Op!!!  That means Emily's designs are being manufactured on numerous products! This is our Little E Studio display, near the front of the store. Can you tell we're just a little proud?

Why carry a boring black cup, for instance, when you can show off your artsy side? These colorful stoneware travel mugs are both practical and stylish!

Her birdcage silhouette is one of our favorites. These metal wall pocket hooks would add a cute, quirky touch to an otherwise neutral wall or room.

Perhaps, though, you're interested in something more meaningful. This tin prayer box makes a lovely gift for anyone who needs a little boost. Her heart and soul has gone into the design, making it a special creation for those whose hopes and dreams are as big as Emily's.

You can see more of Emily's heart(s) on this beautiful stoneware plate. We're having a hard time not buying all of these for ourselves! 

Emily's artwork has also been produced on comfy decorative pillows. The bright colors (it also comes in yellow, just like the painting in the first photo!) and bold design definitely make a statement. 

We hope you find time in your week to come by and see the culmination of Emily's hard work. We are so excited that C'est Moi has been a part of inspiring others and changing lives (we hope always for the better!) And don't forget to dream; you never know where it'll take you!