Simple & Affordable Ideas for Adding More Art to Your Home!

I've always been an art lover. I love making art, I love looking at other people's art, and I love incorporating it into my home. If you know me, you might know I studied art history in college. This might make you think I'm something of an art snob, but that is totally not the case.

I truly believe art is in the eye of the beholder, and the experience we have with art is so personal. It's all about finding what you like, finding what speaks to you and finding what moves you. 

I like to think of myself as an art collector, but because I don't have a huge budget, I can't always be buying art. As much as I love to support local (and non-local) artists, I also have some simple and affordable ideas for adding art to your home! 

Prints from the Past 

When it came time to add some art to my black and white bathroom, I decided to enhance my empty walls with some historic photos. Did you know you can download images for free from the Library of Congress digital collection? There's a special section called "Free to Use" that has everything from historical travel photos, to vintage poster designs, baseball and other sports, historic portraits, holidays and so much more! 

I decided to play off the idea of black and white by choosing two contrasting images (one selected by me - the beauty queens above and one selected by my husband - Armistice Day below). Images like these can be downloaded in a high res file from the site and then printed at a local print shop or even ordered through an online printer. I popped mine into two simple frames and get so many compliments on them! 

This would also be great for a kid's room as they may have tastes or interests that evolve over time. Maybe you don't want to invest a lot in posters or prints because they could want to change them up in a few years. This is a great option and you can even swap out whatever you have in the same frames. 

Think Small

Who says art has to be huge? One of my favorite ways to add a bit of cheer to my home is by using framed greeting cards. Think about it. Cards are kind of like small works of art, right? So why not use them in smaller frames around the house?

I already collect lots of cards that people send me. This way, I can enjoy them on display.

It's even better if the card has been given to me by someone I care about. Then I can think about them each time I see it.

And it's super easy to swap out the cards, showcasing different ones in different frames whenever the  mood strikes me. 

Make (or Buy) Something One-of-a-Kind 

Two of my absolute favorite works of art are very personal. One is a small canvas etched with the date of my wedding. My friend Michelle at Knoxville's Me & Co. created it for me and it's truly one of my favorite things. Plus, it keeps my husband and me from ever having the excuse of forgetting our anniversary! 

The other is a new favorite from a new favorite friend who creates and sells gorgeous custom painted collage portraits. I asked her to create one of my three dogs and it captured their unique personalities to a tee.

She also creates portraits for families, kiddos and other pets. So much talent! Visit her Etsy shop here.

As much as I'd like to stroll into a fancy art gallery and purchase whatever masterpiece caught my eye, that's not exactly part of my financial plan for the moment. But I love the art I have. It makes me happy and it adds joy to my home.

I hope you can incorporate art into your home that does the same! 

Keep Your Eyes on Your Own Paper

My mom is a 4th grade teacher and she was recently administering standardized year-end tests for her students. A big part of making sure the test is carried out fairly is removing all distractions from her classroom, covering bulletin boards and just seeing to it that the students can completely focus on their exams. 

Another part of it is ensuring that their knowledge is measured...not what they can get from another student. She was sharing with me how she has to remind them to keep their eyes on their own paper...since it's really supposed to be about what they know and not anything else. 

Then I ran across the lovely artwork pictured above. How often do we get so focused on what other people around us are doing? Comparing ourselves, our lives to people we know or strangers on the Internet, whose lives seem more interesting or more exciting than our own. 

Life is too short and too precious to waste one second comparing or feeling bad about a particular hand we've been dealt. Let's keep our eyes on our own paper and find ways that we can shine as our unique little selves. 

To order a copy of the gorgeous print by the talented Emily McDowell, click here. 

Why Everyone Should have an Artist Friend

I have many wonderful friends in my life and they each fill different roles. Hopefully I fill different roles in theirs too. Some of my friends are great listeners that I can go to when I'm stuck in one area or another. Others usually are the ones who need a listening ear and feel they can come to me. Some friends are encouragers, some give me tough love. Some ask the hard questions and others are content to get together socially and not scratch too far below the surface. We can't be all things to all people nor should we try.

But there's a certain type of friend I think we all need in our lives. Everyone needs an artist friend. My artist friend is also my client, so saying he's my friend might not be exactly true. But when I meet with him, I always feel like I've been in the company of a friend.

Here are a few reasons why I think everyone should have an artist friend.

1. Artist friends encourage creativity - There's something about being around creative people that inspires creativity in us. Artists look at the world with a unique perspective and they are always looking for opportunities to create. We spend so much of our time consuming what other people have created (TV shows, books, blogs, magazines, etc.), but how much time do we spend creating? I think we all have something wonderful inside that the world needs. But it takes tapping into it a little bit.

2. Artist friends see the value in all people - I witnessed this when my artist friend took as much time to speak to a 6-year old child as he did to speak to the director of an art gallery. Artists don't see people for what they can do for them. They see each individual as someone to collaborate with, whether on ideas, projects, stories, or just a great conversation. They know it's not about what others can do for them...it's about what we can all do for each other.

3. Artist friends appreciate enthusiasm - I'm learning more and more in life that a big percentage of success comes from being enthusiastic. I may not always know the answer or do the right thing, but I'm going to be enthusiastic about it...especially when working with my clients. Artists' lives can be solitary at times so when they come across someone who is excited about what they are doing, they appreciate it. Artists understand that sometimes enthusiasm is contagious and all it takes is a little spark.

4. Artists value ideas - What's the best idea you've ever had? Did you act on it or let it mull around inside your head for 20 years. It feels like society only values the ideas that make you rich. What about the little ideas that might improve the life of just one other person? Aren't those worth acting on too? Artists know this is true.

5. Artist give of themselves - Art is a very personal thing. And it's not easy to make a living or a life as an artist. They have to keep at it day after day, year after year. Or else they give up. But the ones who do make it understand that it's all about giving of yourself, emptying yourself out. Because they know there's plenty more to go around and they'll get filled up again in no time.

I always wanted to be an artist, but I ended up becoming a writer instead. Which is just fine by me. But I'm sure glad that I get to spend time with artists because they enrich my life in so many ways.

Any Wonderful Unexpected Thing

Beautiful Day Here by Andrew Saftel

“After the keen still days of September, the October sun filled the world with mellow warmth...The maple tree in front of the doorstep burned like a gigantic red torch. The oaks along the roadway glowed yellow and bronze. The fields stretched like a carpet of jewels, emerald and topaz and garnet. Everywhere she walked the color shouted and sang around her...In October any wonderful unexpected thing might be possible.” 

― Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Wishing you all sorts of wonderful, unexpected things this October and beyond! Happy Fall y'all! 

DIY Easy Affordable Art for your Home

Happy Thursday friends! I'm starting my day with an appearance on Knoxville's WTNZ Fox43 for a fun segment about one of my favorite things: art! Knoxville has a thriving art scene, what with all the talented folks in our area plus the Dogwood Arts Festival, First Fridays, etc. I'm a huge advocate for supporting local artists, but when budgets don't allow for art buying, we can do the next best thing and make our own.

For today's television segment, I'm sharing some easy, affordable and creative ways to add art to your home. I hope you get a little inspiration.

a page from a calendar I framed...cheery! 

My first idea is called "Finding Art in Ordinary Places." Art is all around us if we simply take the time to look. From a greeting card sent by a special friend to a vintage postcard collected on a memorable trip, if you like it, there's no reason it can't become art in your home. Another ordinary household object that can become a work of art is a wall calendar. I always save my calendars from year to year because they are just so beautiful.

{a framed greeting card & a framed vintage post card} 

Old books with gorgeous illustrations also make great fodder for framing...I blogged on this when my dear friend used botanical illustrations from a science textbook to decorate a room at his southern wedding/event venue! 

My next idea goes all the way back to the 18th century: silhouettes. Where this art medium was once seen as the poor man's version of portraiture, it is now tres chic! I've done some silhouette art before, also inspired by a calendar in homage to Gone with the Wind.

All you need is a photo oriented to the profile, a sheet of tracing paper and black card stock. I created this silhouette of my dog Leon in just a few minutes and I think it would be adorable framed or mounted on a canvas. Such an easy way to add a bold work of art to your home!

Finally, I'm sharing a beloved collage as inspiration for making DIY art collages for your home. Collage is another time-honored art form and I think collages make great additions to your walls.

My mom actually created this collage for me using old photos of all the grandmothers, aunts and ladies in our family. You could do a collage similar to this one or just use torn paper with bold colors and shapes. The best thing about collage is that you don't need any advanced artistry to make one!

There are so many ways to incorporate art into your home. These are just a few of the easy DIY art projects I have tried and I hope you enjoyed them!

Watch more of my WTNZ Fox43 segments here! 

I heart art: Folk Art Memory Box

I’ve always been intrigued by folk art. My aunt & uncle (some of the coolest folks I know) collect folk art and their home is carefully curated with face jugs, sculptures and paintings created by many different talented artists. While the southern beau and I were exploring Norris, Tennessee on Memorial Day, I stumbled upon this piece of folk art and had to resist a strong urge to purchase it.

Called a ‘memory box,’ every inch was covered with embellishments such as broken bits of tile, stones, beads and seashells. Part of why I liked it was because the tag listed its origin as Monterey, Tennessee, the small town where my great-grandfather is from. Maybe he (or someone in our family) even knew the artist who created this strangely beautiful object.

I’m sure this piece isn’t everyone’s style, but nobody can deny that a lot of work went into creating it. I wonder why the artist made it, what he or she was thinking about during the process and what he intended the purpose to be. I wonder if the artist would be happy with the asking price of $65 or disappointed it wasn’t more. I have to think the box’s creator must have been somewhat religious because of the prominent placement of the crucifix charm. My favorite part is the small lady figures on either side of crucifix…two southern belles, no doubt. I bet they have stories to tell.

In the south, every person and every thing has a story. I’ve said before that I think one of the greatest ways we can honor people is to let them tell their stories and just listen. You honor me every time you visit Southern Belle Simple, and for that I’m really grateful.

Any other folk art enthusiasts or collectors out there? I’d love to hear what you think about this interesting piece of art!

I heart art: Andrew Saftel

I’ve been a huge fan of artist Andy Saftel ever since I first saw one of his paintings hanging over the bar in my neighborhood Ruby Tuesday. His thick use of encaustic-like paint and the way he attaches found objects to the canvas reminds me of another favorite artist (and southerner), Jasper Johns. Saftel is from Massachusetts, studied art in San Francisco, but has called East Tennessee home since 1985. His work is highly collected and I often stumble upon pieces of it on display.

Chosen as this year’s Dogwood Arts Limited Edition Print, his work Scenic Road (shown above) was inspired by a postcard written in 1951 by someone who had taken a trip to the Smoky Mountains. It depicts a small ramshackle cabin in Saftel’s signature style, with whimsical shapes and patterns surrounding it. The postmark, taken from the original piece of mail that inspired the work, overlaps the words “Mama said let’s go home,” also from the card.

I love it because it reminds me of my people, where I come from, and what feels familiar to me.

In describing Scenic Road, the artist mentions the theme of “how people move through time together; how they interact and communicate with each other; how important the hand written word is; how handwriting communicates more than what is being said; what is lost between humans as time moves on; what replaces older methods and materials in our modern world; and how people find hope in different ways in the face of a complicated world.

I know museums are filled to the brim with art, and as a student of art history, I was taught to look at all different sorts of works and see something to appreciate. It’s just that there aren’t nearly as many pieces out there that I’d want to hang on my wall and look at every day. Andrew Saftel’s work is that for me. It just makes me happy.

You can purchase a copy of the work here for $100, printed in a limited run of 750. I know I plan to. To read more about Andrew Saftel or to see more of his amazing work, visit www.andrewsaftel.com.

50 Sketchbooks and learning I was a writer

I just got back from a great blogger conference in Nashville where I learned a ton of useful information, met some wonderful folks and was inspired to reach a bit deeper into my creativity stash.

One session I attended was led by Nashville writer Jeff Goins who spoke about falling out of love with writing and ways to rekindle the flame. He challenged us to write about our own experiences with this and share them today on our blogs. So here goes. Sort of.

I never really fell out of love with writing, but that’s because I didn’t know I was in love to begin with. I didn’t even know I was a writer. Am a writer. I thought I was an artist.

Since childhood, I always wanted to be an artist. I loved art and making it came pretty easily to me so that’s how I saw myself. I doodled. I sketched. I painted occasionally. I made collages. I adored art museums, art books, and art movies. Then, one day in high school at the home of an acquaintance, I saw in his room a shelf with row after row of used up sketchbooks. There must have been fifty at least.

I had barely filled one sketchbook, let alone fifty. I felt discouraged because this obviously said something about the lack of art within me and the abundance of art inside my friend. Fast forward to college and failure to get accepted into my school’s graphic design program. Just one more instance of seeing others do something with ease that, to me, felt like pulling teeth. Prior to deciding to attend a large state school, I was planning to attend a liberal arts college (I actually had several choices in mind), thinking that was the right path for me. I'm glad I ended up where I did because not only did I make wonderful memories, but I also met my southern beau. But I digress.

What I didn’t realize was all that time my true passion was right under my nose. I might not have drawn enough for fifty sketchbooks, but over the years I’ve certainly filled fifty journals (including composition books, spiral notebooks, and the like) with my loopy cursive writing. From my first purple locking diary at age 7 to file after file on my computer’s hard drive, I’ve always written. None of this content is profound or even very exciting, but it serves to document my experiences over these past 29 years.

Jeff Goins said that to be a writer, we must say and believe as much about ourselves. Maybe for you, it’s something totally different. Maybe like with my experience, your passion is something you’ve done for years, but it feels so natural that you don’t even realize it’s what you are. Maybe it’s time to say it and believe it about yourself. Who knows where it might lead you?

{If you made it this far, thanks for reading…I know this post strays a bit from the typical southern flavor SBS is known for, but I appreciate your thoughts if it struck a chord with you.}

Vintage Affections in Sweet Style

I know Valentine’s Day has already come and gone, but the world can always use a bit more love. I found this adorable vintage card on Flickr and can’t believe it only cost a penny when it was new.

Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day card or memory? It could be from this year or maybe another, long ago. What do you say we have a little love fest and share some stories?

Fashion + Art = Inspiration!

Art and fashion are closely linked in my mind and when I saw these wonderful creations on the collage site Polyvore, I wanted to share them. Georgina, an art lover and former art history student got inspiration from different works of art and created fashionable representations of each.

Maybe fashion (or art, for that matter) isn’t your thing…but these just serve to show that you can take inspiration from all sorts of places and allow it to come to life in different ways.

I once said I wanted to dress like a cupcake would feel, but maybe I should dress like a painting instead. Happy Monday, sweets!

 

Jasper Johns by georgina-m featuring a leather tote

 

 

 

Sonia Delaunay by georgina-m featuring a cord blazer

 

 

 

Andy Warhol by georgina-m featuring a one button blazer

 

 

 

Mark Rothko by georgina-m featuring fitted dresses

 

 

Andy Warhol by georgina-m featuring heel booties

Elegant DIY Framed Art

It’s true I’m a huge art lover, but I’m often appalled by the price of framed art I see in stores. When I spotted these wonderful framed pieces that my friend created on a dime, I just knew I had to share them. He wanted a set of botanical prints that looked great, but didn’t break the bank. His solution? Buy a science book with lots of pretty color plates and use them to create one-of-a-kind art.

I’m sure some librarians would cringe at the thought of cutting up a beautiful book, but I can’t think of a better way to enjoy those gorgeous images than by putting them on display. My friend took these to a frame shop, but you could easily buy ready-made frames to save on cost. Even mismatched frames can be spray painted the same color to create a unified look.

I really enjoy thinking outside the usual to bring a little lovely in your home. Have you done anything lately that made you feel like a DIY rockstar? I’d love to hear about it!

Southern Belle Simple Loves Pinterest

I’ll never forget meeting my fabulous friend Kristen at the Blissdom blogger conference last year. We were chatting and getting to know each other when she ask me if I’d heard of Pinterest. It was early 2011 and I had no idea what she was talking about. Little did I know….

A year, 21 boards and almost 500 pins later, I have embraced Pinterest with a vengeance. The virtual bulletin board of sorts is a wonderful way to keep track of projects, inspiration, recipes and just beautiful images.

If you are using it, find me please! If not, let me know and I’ll be happy to send you an invite.

Happy Monday friend! 

Bird-Brained with Southern Belle Simple

In honor of January 5 being National Bird Day, I thought I’d share a few items that have recently caught my eye on Etsy, all sweetly sporting bird motifs.

This gorgeous cockatoo stencil if you like your birds big and bold.

Soft and sweet, this bird pillow comes in an assortment of colors and I love the little crown.

Maybe you’ve recently added a baby bird to your nest…this sterling bird necklace captures the sentiment for sure.

Or perhaps you have many secrets and need a place close to your heart to keep them…I’d love this antique silver purse necklace…wonder if it comes with a few secrets of its own?

Don’t the little chirpers in this sweet bird artwork seem to be enjoying themselves? I love God’s feathered creatures so much.

Finally, handcrafted pottery in the form of this tiny bowl with a bird perched on the rim. It’d be a perfect place to put rings or loose change.

I hope you’re enjoying today…we’ve almost made it to the weekend! Happy Thursday friend.

Chic is…

I just finished watching this video and it really made me think. In it, Jared Goss, curator of modern art for the Met, speaks about different works of art throughout history and whether or not they are chic.

Chic is definitely something I am guilty of aspiring to, although by Goss’ definition (and perhaps this is true), being chic must be effortless and unsought-after. Goss says it just has to be.

The chic-est person I’ve met lately is for sure Ms. Beverly Bremer of Atlanta. I met her while on a visit to her eponymous silver shop in Buckhead and if you haven’t been, it’s a must!

Do you consider yourself chic? If yes, what makes you so? If not, do you know anyone truly chic? Goss speaks about a certain ‘veneer of perfection’ that accompanies chic-ness, and that goes along somewhat with the experience we try to create here in the south. Probably the reason I’ll never be chic is that it requires understated elegance and I’ve always fancied myself to be a little over the top.

Just a few of my thoughts on this loverly afternoon. Now share some of yours! Happy Thursday friends!

Barking Mad

Do you ever feel like there are so many things are whizzing around inside your brain at one time that it’s difficult to contain it all? This is pretty much what I’m experiencing right now and these whimsical silhouettes sort of capture that!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful week & hopefully managing to steal a few moments for a cup of tea…on the table, not on your head! Happy Thursday!

{Both prints are available from Barking Mad Arts on Etsy}

Sculpture with a Point

As a child, my favorite thing about school starting each fall was picking out school supplies. There is something about crisp new sheets of paper and perfect pencils that makes a person feel reborn. When I ran across these pencil creations, I thought they fit perfectly as today is the first day of school for many folks. My No.2 pencils never looked anything like this!

These intricate creations remind me of my grandfather who sometimes whittled and would always sharpen pencils for me with his pocket knife, which pleased me to no end.

I love people who can take an ordinary everyday object and turn it into something magical. Who would have guessed a simple pencil could be transformed in such a way. Have any of y’all seen this before?

The King (Pencil) says “Have a hunka hunka good Monday!”

{Pencil art by artist Dalton Getty via UK Daily Mail}

Happy 4th of July, 2011!

“When an American says that he loves his country, he means not only that he loves the New England hills, the prairies glistening in the sun, the wide and rising plains, the great [Smoky] mountains, and the sea. He means that he loves an inner air, an inner light in which freedom lives and in which a man can draw the breath of self-respect.”

-- Adlai Stevenson

{image by Jasper Johns, via}

I Heart Art: Mark Boomershine

I recently saw the work of Atlanta artist Mark Boomershine for the first time while shopping at a great vintage/consignment boutique. I was drawn to his bold use of color and cheeky subject matter. His Back on the Wagon painting  caught my eye as did his interesting last name.

These first few images are part of a series entitled Barnyard Menagerie and I just can’t look at them without smiling. As a southern girl with farm roots, the barn painting is probably my favorite, but they are all so wonderful & fun. Sometimes when I tell people I majored in Art History in college, they assume I’m an art snob. Hardly! I just know what I like…what speaks to me. 

These pieces definitely speak to me!

While walking around the shop in Atlanta, another fabulous painting caught my eye, but only on closer inspection did I realize it, too, was a Boomershine. The Rhett portrait is from the series called People I Grew up With and includes the likes of Wonder Woman, Clint Eastwood and others.

Any art lovers see influences of Jasper Johns or Robert Rauschenberg? Something about the vivid colors and use of text brings those two artists to mind.

You simply must visit Mark’s website and take a look around. I promise you won’t be disappointed. He so graciously granted me permission to use his images and seems like a very cool guy.

Hope this post added a shot of loveliness to your Monday!

Have a Lovely Weekend Friends!

and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Cor. 13:2

{image via}

I heart art: CitizenKG

I’ve always believed that photographers make the best bloggers and since I’m not much of a photog myself, I decided to do the next best thing: befriend talented photographers and shamelessly use their gorgeous images in exchange for friendship and the occasional cupcake or two.

This set of images is from the super-talented and oh-so-sweet Ms. CitizenKG, who I met at Blissdom last month. I think we recognized each other’s deer in headlights expression (being newbies and all) and by the time lunch was over, I felt like we were old friends.

Ms. K is just a fountain of creativity, from her fabulous photography & her sweet etsy creations to all the yummy recipes & adventures that she catalogs on her blog. She just stitched an adorable stuffed pig that I’m totally in love with.

These images are from a set called “the things we leave behind” and they were taken on an abandoned property in Arkansas. If a picture is worth a thousand words, these speak volumes. It’s definitely something to think about…the imprint that we leave on our surroundings after we are long gone away from them. Show Ms. K some love…just don’t start cozying up to her with the intention of stealing her photos…I already beat you to it!

Happy Hump Day Friends!