Author Archives: Hannah B.

Host Gifts for Holiday Parties

As we are officially right in the throws of holiday party season, now is as good a time as any to talk about the “host gift.” As I learned recently, the trusty bottle of wine is not so trusty after all. Bring a bottle of wine to the wrong person, and you’re guaranteed a lecture about alcoholism and someone going to rehab. (It wasn’t fun, but it did make me a lot more aware of what I give to other people.) So today, I’m here to share with a few trusty gifts that will make you the favorite guest at any shindig.

Host Gift Ideas | Hannah & Husband

a potted Christmas Cactus

Really any indoor plant will do, but  a Christmas cactus is especially festive this time of year because (most of them) bloom bright pink or red flowers just around the holidays. One of our friends actually brought us a cutting from his own plant (which he’d gotten from his aunt I believe) that has livened up our kitchen for a couple years now.

Host Gift Ideas | Hannah & Husband

Love these organic tea towels by artgoodies’ Lisa Price

Breakfast for the Morning After

Throwing a party or hosting overnight guests can be a lot of work! One of the coolest host gifts we ever received was a basket of muffins for breakfast the next day wrapped in a beautiful tea towel. Bonus: add coffee and a bottle of Baileys. (If you know they imbibe, of course.)

Local Goodies

This year, most of the gifts we are giving have either been locally made or locally purchased. Giving things from around your own hometown adds a perfect personal touch and supports local businesses. If you’re in East Tennessee, one of my favorites to give and receive are Blackberry Farm products. (Their cheeses are divine!)

A Poem of Peace

Presented without comment.

Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem
by Dr. Maya Angelou

from the National Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 5, 2005

Thunder rumbles in the mountain passes
And lightning rattles the eaves of our houses.
Flood waters await us in our avenues.

Snow falls upon snow, falls upon snow to avalanche
Over unprotected villages.
The sky slips low and grey and threatening.

We question ourselves.
What have we done to so affront nature?
We worry God.
Are you there? Are you there really?
Does the covenant you made with us still hold?

Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters,
Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope
And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.
The world is encouraged to come away from rancor,
Come the way of friendship.

It is the Glad Season.
Thunder ebbs to silence and lightning sleeps quietly in the corner.
Flood waters recede into memory.
Snow becomes a yielding cushion to aid us
As we make our way to higher ground.

Hope is born again in the faces of children
It rides on the shoulders of our aged as they walk into their sunsets.
Hope spreads around the earth. Brightening all things,
Even hate which crouches breeding in dark corridors.

In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.
At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.
We listen carefully as it gathers strength.
We hear a sweetness.
The word is Peace.
It is loud now. It is louder.
Louder than the explosion of bombs.

We tremble at the sound. We are thrilled by its presence.
It is what we have hungered for.
Not just the absence of war. But, true Peace.
A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies.
Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.

We clap hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas.
We beckon this good season to wait a while with us.
We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.
Peace.
Come and fill us and our world with your majesty.
We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,
Implore you, to stay a while with us.
So we may learn by your shimmering light
How to look beyond complexion and see community.

It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time.

On this platform of peace, we can create a language
To translate ourselves to ourselves and to each other.

At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ
Into the great religions of the world.
We jubilate the precious advent of trust.
We shout with glorious tongues at the coming of hope.
All the earth’s tribes loosen their voices
To celebrate the promise of Peace.

We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Non-Believers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation.

Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.

Cold Season is Here

Has cold season (aka the plague) hit your house yet? I wouldn’t get cocky if I were you. If it hasn’t hit yet; it will. Last week, I was just a girl enjoying the ability to breath through her nose. Today, I am a sniffling, sneezing mess. (For the record, Husband is a fabulous caretaker.)

So today I thought I’d share a couple of the things that I carry in my purse this time of year to make things a little better.

Cold Season Essentials | Hannah & Husband

a hanky – to wipe your nose while still hanging on to a shred of femininity

a pack of tissues – for when you actually need to blow your nose

hand warmers – because you will be freezing until March

tea bags – I carry mine in that cute little case that way I always have my favorite on hand!

eucalyptus oil – This stuff will clear out your sinuses like nobody’s business–just put a couple drops in hot water and inhale.

Alka Seltzer Plus – obviously

What else do you need? Vicks… Reruns…

… and hot toddies! (Click here for my recipe.)

hot-toddy

 What’s your sick day essential? Any tips and tricks for battling the dreaded cold?

12 Days of HGTV HOME Fabric: Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes with HGTV HOME's 12 Days of HGTV HOME Fabric Contest | Hannah & Husband

See this necklace? Check out the how-to on DIYNetwork’s Made + Remade!

Twas the weekend of Thanksgiving when all through the house, Husband & I were getting ready for a photo shoot with HGTV HOME!

Behind the Scenes with HGTV HOME's 12 Days of HGTV HOME Fabric Contest | Hannah & Husband

You may recall images like this little elephant blowing up my instagram. 

Behind the Scenes with HGTV HOME's 12 Days of HGTV HOME Fabric Contest | Hannah & Husband

Well she, along with several other fabric projects, are all part of the “12 Days of HGTV HOME Fabric” Contest! Here’s how to enter:

hgtv-home-12-days-fabric_facebook-tab_400x700

 

So you obviously can pin anything, but, to get you started, a couple of us from DIYNetwork’s Made + Remade teamed up with HGTV editors to create Pinterest-worthy projects using HGTV HOME products.

Here are some behind-the-scenes photos of the photographers at our house shooting the projects! As you can see, it was a dreary day, but you’d never know it from the final pics.

Behind the Scenes with HGTV HOME's 12 Days of HGTV HOME Fabric Contest | Hannah & Husband

Lest you think all photo shoots are glamorous, here are Crystal & Sarah crammed in our teensy guest room.

Behind the Scenes with HGTV HOME's 12 Days of HGTV HOME Fabric Contest | Hannah & Husband

Husband hanging Marianne’s embroidery hoop tree in our stairwell.

Behind the Scenes with HGTV HOME's 12 Days of HGTV HOME Fabric Contest | Hannah & Husband

Wreath by Liz & cookie cutter ornaments by Farima. As a side note, we’ve left the little tree there and put other ornaments on it. We’ll eventually use it to make a custom hedge, but I love the little front porch christmas tree in the meantime!

Behind the Scenes with HGTV HOME's 12 Days of HGTV HOME Fabric Contest | Hannah & Husband

So go create your own “12 Days of HGTV HOME Fabric” pinterest board, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #12daysofhgtvhome! The deadline to enter is December 24th so get to pinning!

Hers & His

Hers & His 12/10/13 | Hannah & Husband

Hers

Reading:

I am always the first to admit that I’m a huge Disney fangirl. At the moment, that fact is most apparent when looking at my stack of books. After all, what better way to get ready for the December 20th premiere of Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks than to reread all the Mary Poppins books? Don’t tell me I’m alone here!

Will you be reading Mary Poppins before December 21st?

If you want to read along, here’s my list…

Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins Comes Back
Mary Poppins Opens the Door
Mary Poppins in the Park
Mary Poppins from A to Z
Mary Poppins in the Kitchen: A Cookery Book with a Story

Wearing:

Do y’all remember when Lady Gaga used to just waste her crazy on things like giant eggs and Madonna bras? Well this holiday season, she has endeared herself to me forever. Sure her Christmas special with the Muppets was weird, but America loves a girl who will live out her childhood fantasy on television wearing an inappropriately sexy outfit! And, now she’s dressing as a Christmas tree. A CHRISTMAS TREE! Check out the detail shots on PopSugar. Who else wants their own version?

Watching:

The NYTimes has been putting out some really great short films lately. Last week, I was mesmerized by these star-studded, one-minute films. This week, I am swooning over Joanna Coles’ executive assistant Sergio Kletnoy. If you have ever fantasized about living in Magazine Land, you must check it out!

Hers & His 12/10/13 | Hannah & Husband

His

Reading:

Uh, it was championship Saturday. Give me a break. And Go Spartans! (I NEVER thought I would say those words.)

Otherwise, make sure you are following @RealTimeWWII on Twitter. Follow along while they “live” tweet the war. Japan has just bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States has declared war. Whether or not you’re a history buff, it’s worth a spot in your feed.

Listening:

This is one of those recordings I just keep going back to. Darryl Brenzel’s “Re-(w)rite of Spring” – a jazz rewrite of Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring”. If you know and appreciate the original, this is going to blow you away. Check it out: http://open.spotify.com/user/123470565/playlist/5vkkn1q7wQxFYUKodHmnZf

Watching:

Did I mention football? Has Hannah had enough football? Why don’t you ask her how much she loves football?

Jingle Bells for Your Front Door

Jingle Bells for Your Front Door | Hannah & Husband

For one reason or another, I have a newfound obsession with jingle bells. I was cleaning out my studio the other day when I found a jar of full of them, and I couldn’t resist. I decided to make a little winter door decoration perfect for the flurry of guests that come & go during the season.

Here’s what I did…

Jingle Bells for Your Front Door | Hannah & Husband

 

First, I crocheted five strands with a chunky cream yarn. Then, I made some fluffy pom-poms and tied them on to the ends.

 

 

 

 

Jingle Bells for Your Front Door | Hannah & Husband

 

Next, I tied jingle bells onto some jute rope (also found in my studio), and reinforced the thread I used to tie them on with some hot glue. You could do this step several different ways; this just worked best for the things I had on hand.

Jingle Bells for Your Front Door | Hannah & Husband

 

Laying out all the strands to the desired hanging lengths, I tied all the ropes together with a hair band at the top.

Jingle Bells for Your Front Door | Hannah & Husband

 

Next, I made a loop out of the jute rope for hanging.

Jingle Bells for Your Front Door | Hannah & Husband

 

With hot glue, I attached the base of the loop to the hair band.

Jingle Bells for Your Front Door | Hannah & Husband

Finally, I used hot glue and repeatedly wrapped the jute rope around to secure the top.

 

 

Christmas Comes to Tennessee

[cue Andy Williams] “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Christmas has officially come to East Tennessee! This weekend Husband and I knocked out a ton of Christmas shopping, watched a Christmas movie, decorated the tree, and drank our fair share of hot cocoa.

Hannah & Husband

Vintage Santa in the window of the shop Nothing Too Fancy. We bought a cute gift there for Husband’s brother.

tv-hannahandhusband-1

Retro vignette downstairs from Coldstream Market.

storytime-hannahandhusband-1

Our friend Caryn is the story lady at Union Avenue Books. She and her husband, Mark, do the most amazing chalkboard lettering.

unionavebooks-hannahandhusband-1

This month, Caryn also has a fab window display that includes a beautiful white silhouette or the Knoxville skyline. Do you see the Sunsphere?

Fell in love with the shop Rala and spotted some works by one of our favorites: Emily Winfield Martin.

Fell in love with the shop Rala and spotted some works by one of our favorites: Emily Winfield Martin.

Homemade hot chocolate and a decorated tree. What else do you need?

Homemade hot chocolate and a decorated tree. What else do you need?

Wrapping packages and making gift tags

Wrapping packages and making gift tags

My book club is having a special Christmas party on Tuesday where we'll be exchanging our favorite books and making pom-poms… Can you guess my favorite book?

My book club is having a special Christmas party on Tuesday where we’ll be exchanging our favorite books and making pom-poms–so naturally the wrapping had to fit!

How are you feeling about the holidays?
Did they sneak up on you this year?

December seems to be passing so quickly, but I can honestly say this may be the first year I’ve felt so on top of things so early in the month since we got married. Although with my job, I’ve really been celebrating since mid-October! Is that cheating?

 

HGTV Handmade: Behind the Scenes

HGTV Handmade Behind-the-Scenes | Hannah & Husband

Back in October, I posted several pics on Instagram from a secret project we were working on at HGTV. This week, I’m so happy to be able to share these behind-the-scenes photos from the making of the first video on a new YouTube channel called HGTV Handmade. I did the styling for the shoot, which was in a loft in downtown Knoxville. As someone who usually live in the world of still photography, it was so cool to watch the camera guys in action.

You may recognize that handsome man in the headphones!

You may recognize that handsome man in the headphones!

HGTV Handmade Behind-the-Scenes | Hannah & Husband

HGTV Handmade Behind-the-Scenes | Hannah & Husband

Meg,

Marianne,

Karen,

Julia,

and Ann

These girls were so much fun! They each already have their own YouTube followings, and will now be lending their voice to the new channel with weekly how-tos starting in January. Here’s the short that was created the day of the shoot. Check it out!

What did you think?

Click here to subscribe to HGTV Handmade on YouTube and then watch all the gals’ behind-the-scenes vlogs! 

Cleaning Up the House

Who said housework has no glamour? This gal! I’ve gotta tell you–you can streamline, you can organize, but cleaning your house will never be as glamorous as vintage ads make it look. And, trust me I’ve tried. These gals have a serious case of the clean-up crazies!

There are the ladies that look like they sniffed a little too much cleaning product.

The ladies who seem to be a little too excited about their cleaning products or tools. (If you have ever laid down beside your vacuum like the lady in this vintage Hoover ad, please comment below.)

And then, there are just the women that lie to you.

What’s with the crown?! Have you ever gotten a crown, tiara, or sparkly jewelry for doing housework?

(Speaking of crowns & tiaras, we should probably just take a moment and watch this clip. You know you were thinking about it too.)

So back to the story:

This weekend, when the family all went home and the turkey had been packed away, I went to town. You  might call it my own version of cleaning crazy. I like to call it…

I don’t know what it is about this time of year. Maybe it was the fact that we had a crowd for Thanksgiving in our tiny little dining room, and I got closterphobic. Perhaps it’s the fact that the holidays are starting–that special time of year where we put brightly colored, sparkly things on top of our already brightly colored, sparkly stuff. Or maybe (and this is probably the most likely) it was the fact that we had a photographer arrive at our house at 9am yesterday to do a fun photo shoot for HGTV HOME.

The Great Christmas Clean-up of 2013 | Hannah & HusbandThe point of the story is I went crazy. Two trash cans plus the entire bed of Husband’s truck were piled high with stuff we are throwing away. The back of my wagon has been filled with things to take to Goodwill. The pantry has been cleaned, my studio has been cleaned, and we discovered an extra room upstairs. There were clothes I’ve had since middle school, appliances we got for wedding presents that have never been used, and a pile of videos that I assume were there for decoration because we haven’t had a VCR since 2007.

What does this have to do with crazy vintage cleaning ads? Maybe those ladies aren’t so crazy after all. I got a little high with every bag of trash I took out. We pride ourselves on the things we choose to fill our lives with–the books, the music, the well designed coffee grinder. Cleaning will never be glamorous, but it can make you feel awesome. (Maybe not lay-down-with-your-Hoover-awesome, but awesome just the same.)

If you’re buying gifts this holiday season, consider what you already have in your own home. Get rid of some stuff before you bring more in. Give it away, throw it out, sell it to your neighbors. You’ll thank me later.

 

 

Thanksgiving Snapshots

Turkey in the Straw | Hannah & Husband

Our Turkey in the Straw is finally done! Click here for instructions on how to make him yourself.

Hello! Hello! How was your Thanksgiving? Our holiday weekend was filled with friends, family, and So. Much. Food. (Everyone says that, don’t they?) We host Turkey Day at our house every year, and I have to say that this year the highlight for me was this pie crust–the first one I’ve made myself in about 9 years. Why did I ever stop?

Other highlights documented below from the day of the feast include…

hannahandhusband-thanksgiving

 

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Hannah & Husband weekend without a little time in the mountains, right?

hannahandhusband-friday

 

What was the highlight of your weekend?
Did you travel or cook a homemade feast for the family?