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As much as we shop major retailers, we are always on the hunt for cute, locally owed small businesses. When Ida Mae Home approached us about partnering with them we took one look at their quirky, fun kids bedding and felt like anyone who put lemurs on a kids quilt was someone who was speaking our language. And while our initial plan of a kids room makeover didn't pan out, we still found some adorable bedding and pillows to give a guest room a nice refresh. Nellie obviously approves and who are we to argue.  In addition to bedding, pillows and throws, Ida Mae Home has the cutest jewelry, bags, gifts, kitchen accessories, candles....you see where I'm going. You just have to see it all for yourself. AND you can join Shauna there this Saturday, November 16 from 11-12:30 for a Sip & Shop Event. See more of our favorite goodies and get all your holiday shopping done in one place. For more info, check out their Facebook page.
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Last year, we got a huge jump on holiday decor shopping because, well, stuff sells out and we wouldn't want y'all to have FOMO over these great finds. So, now this year....we started our hunt for holiday decor around the same time, mid October and it was pathetic. Nothing cute. Weird ornaments (a roast turkey? really?). Same stuff we saw last year. It was very depressing.
Well, as it turns out, apparently all our favorite retailers had just been holding back from us and once November rolled around, we found all the great stuff we had been searching for. It's time to start decking those halls, friends! 
1. Pom Bonanza Wreath--Anthropologie
2. Vintage Snowflakes Pillow--Pier 1 Imports 3. Flash Milk Glass Trees--CB2 4. Embellished Happy Holidays Pillow Cover--West Elm 5. Village Salad Plate Set--Pier 1 Imports 6. Retro Christmas Ornament Doormat--Pier 1 Imports 7. Sputnik Stocking Holder--West Elm 8. Noel Floral Lumbar Pillow--Pier 1 Imports 9. Claus Pommed Stocking--Anthropologie 10. Letters to Santa Mailbox--Pier 1 Imports 11. Clarence Monogram Stocking--Anthropologie 12. Bottle Brush Trees--Pier 1 Imports 13. Jingle Bell Garland--West Elm Shop more of our favorite holiday decor items here. This post contains affiliate links and we are compensated for purchases made via these links. If you've been a follower of SGD for a while, you are already familiar with the work of our next artist. Gina Julian's art was included in the HGTV Magazine story on Shauna's house last summer and featured on the cover. Needless to say, she is one of our favorites. Her studies on perspective and color seem simple on the surface but encourage you to spend some time and experience the impact of color and emotion. We recently caught up with this Franklin, Tennessee based artist.  SGD: Can you briefly walk us through your story? How did you get started and how did you get to where you are today? GJ: Like most creatives, I became interested in art when I was very young. I loved to paint and draw, and eventually took commercial art classes in high school. The skills I learned in high school landed me a job as a graphic designer, and from there I worked in the publishing world, in ad agencies as a senior art director, and also a web developer and designer. After 20+ years in the digital world I became interested in interior design and was invited to decorate a bedroom in a local show house. I loved creating my own art for my spaces, so I made an optical art (op art) painting to go over the vanity. That painting was eventually featured in a story on domino.com and the rest is history! SGD: Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? GJ: I don’t think it’s been terribly rocky, but there are always some challenges. My biggest challenge is that I’m a control freak (if you couldn’t tell from my art) which means I like to do everything myself. While this ensures that the job gets done my way, it can also make for some very long work days and nights. Also, I need very good light to make sure my paintings are precise, and there never seems to be enough daylight hours in the day, especially in winter.   Interior design by Katherine Berschback SGD: What are you most proud of and what sets you apart from other artist? GJ: I’m most proud that my art is distinctly “me”. It speaks to so many parts of my personality and my life experience. I’m an adrenaline junkie and a natural born risk-taker. My use of flat color was inspired by doing web and interface design all those years. My love of bright color is straight from the crayon boxes of my childhood, and the straight lines are a direct result of my OCD tendencies. Precision is my jam, and I find it very relaxing to paint a perfectly straight line. You can see all of these things in my work, and I’m so happy that I can share a part of myself with others in this way. SGD: What advice would you give to someone at the start of his or her career? GJ: If you’re struggling to find a style that is uniquely yours, look to the things that make you, you. Find your passions and your quirks and figure out how to use them to your advantage. Do you have a green thumb? Perhaps nature should be your subject matter. Got a love of fashion? High fashion figurative works might be your thing. I took my love of exactness, graphics and color and turned it into my life’s work. I hear young artists all the time say “I just want to create beautiful things” or “I want to make people happy.” And while those are worthwhile endeavors, the only thing that’s going to set you apart from the crowd is to do something that only you can do because it’s a part of you. Others may try to copy you, but because it came from your personal passions and natural tendencies, they will always be poor imitations at best.  Interior design by Katherine Berschback SGD: What artists do YOU admire and why? GJ: I’m a huge art collector myself, and true to my nature I’ve noticed that I love two kinds of art: abstracts with a strong focus on color, and colorful realism or photorealism (gotta love that precision!). Works in my personal collection include art from: Mallory Page, Brian Tull, Christina Baker, Christopher Stott, Denise Stewart-Senabria, Tjalf Sparnaay, Rolando Rosler and Vita Kobylkina. My all-time favorite artist is Wayne Thiebaud, and I would die a happy woman to have one of his oil paintings in my collection. His use of color to create a halo effect on his subjects still baffles me to this day. SGD: If you weren’t an artist, what would you be? GJ: No doubt about it, I’d be a pastry chef. I am a sugar addict and my love of baked goods runs deep! Consequently, when I’m not painting my straight-lined op art I’m usually painting sweet treats like donuts or macarons just for fun. Food is a wonderful subject matter that everyone can relate to. Plus, you can eat the models when you’re done. :)  Gina launches a new collection of large op-art works today! Check out her website to see all the amazingness.
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With the cool weather finally blowing in to the Metroplex, we are having a moment with fall bedding. Duvets and quilts in rich colors and yummy fabrics like flannel and velvet. Plush and faux fur blankets and throws that make it even harder to get up from the couch or your bed and turn off the most recent Netflix binge. Recently we shared with you Shauna's guest room update with bedding from Serena & Lily and another recent guest room project on Instagram stories featured a gorgeous quilt from Anthropologie. So, if you are in the market for some cozy layers, rich colors and a surprise or two, grab a mug of cocoa and check out our favorite fall bedding picks.     Velvet Velvet is definitely not going anywhere, and we are so OK with that. From pillows to quilts and duvet covers, velvet is the affordable luxury that everyone needs. These are all available in multiple colors, so you have no excuse, really. 1. Belgian Flax Linen and Cotton Velvet Duvet Cover--West Elm 2. Crinkle Velvet Duvet Cover and Shams--West Elm 3. Velvet Tufted Quilt and Shams--Pottery Barn 4. Kantha-Stitched Velvet Quilt and Shams--Anthropologie    Prints Used to be that florals were reserved for spring. Not so much anymore. Both in fashion and in home decor, fall florals in rich colors make a bold statement in your bedding. Add in some texture like embroidery or fringe and our boho selves are in heaven. In an interesting twist, as we usually stick to white sheets all year round, these watercolor floral sheets layered with a faux fur blanket have us giddy with the prospect of an afternoon nap. 1. Helena Embroidered Duvet Cover and Shams--Pottery Barn 2. Meguro Duvet Cover and Shams--Anthropologie 3. Lani Floral Sheet Set and Gray Faux Fur Blanket--CB2     Blankets & Throws
We debate between the importance of warmth over softness when it comes to blankets and throws. While wool might be the warmest, there's just something about that faux fur that we can't give up. With blankets, layer on top of sheets but under quilt or duvet for maximum insulated warmth. Throws are vital too so have a basket of them in the family room as well as on the end of the bed for naps and that Netflix binge we mentioned earlier. 1. Wendover Wool Striped Blanket--CB2 2. Sophie Faux Fur Blanket--Anthropologie 3. Overlock Orchid Throw--CB2 4. Hilda Pom Throw--Anthropologie Don't miss these sales on Fall Bedding going on now! 25% off all throws and poufs at CB2 through 10/29 Up to 30% off bedding at West Elm (limited time) 25% off everything with code HOLIDAY25 at Pottery Barn through 10/29 And shop more of our favorite bedding here. This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated for purchases made via these links. We are gearing up for the holidays over here in the SGD office. If you are expecting house guests over the holidays, now is the time to get your guest bedroom and bathroom prepped for the invasion. I mean, the visitors. We've partnered with Serena & Lily to deck out this adorable guest room with their best-in-class bedding pieces from their Fall 2019 collection and now I'm seriously wondering why the guests get the good stuff?   First tip in styling a bed is to remember to layer. Sheets, quilt, duvet, throw. Especially if you keep your house cool at night, you want to make sure your guests are comfortable. If there is no ceiling fan in the room consider a small bedside fan. We love the Granada Quilt in this warm Terracotta color. Inspired by classic Indian botanicals, it is just the right weight for those early fall nights. Since the temps are still somewhat mild, we've layered the Positano Linen Duvet Cover in Indigo under the quilt without it's insert. However, when that cold front comes through, you'll want to pop that down insert into the duvet cover and snuggle down. Yes, you can use linen on your bed all year around, and the Positano has been washed to be extra soft just like your favorite pair of jeans. Best of all, the Positano comes in 9 yummy colors and you know how we feel about color. Styling Tip: When pairing a quilt and duvet cover, we usually get Euro Shams to match one piece and Standard Shams to match the other. In this bed though, the trim on the sheets was so pretty we decided to only do the Euro Shams in the Granada pattern.   Speaking of linen, the Positano Linen Sheets are seriously life changing. If you've never slept on linen sheets in the summer, grab a set now and hang on to them. For now though, we've traded in the linen sheets for these elegant Solana Sheets in Sky. Made in Portugal, they feature just a touch of texture with a fringed trim and washed for super softness. We've finished off the bed with the ombre plaid West Shore Pillow Cover in Coastal Blue. It's made from a cozy baby alpaca blend and again, so soft we're wondering how our guests deserve such luxury. There's a matching throw available too that is perfect for an afternoon nap. Styling Tip: Put the sheet on upside down so when you fold it back on to the quilt when making the bed, you can see the fabulous trim.   For the guest bath, think about the swankiest hotel you've ever stayed in and all the fancy items stocked in the bathroom. Your guests should have it just as good! Stock your guest bath with toiletry items, fancy soap, bubble bath, a hair dryer, and any other pampering treats. Make sure you have more than enough bath and hand towels available. We picked the Healdsburg Bath Towels in classic white for their unique fringed finish and plush Turkish cotton feel. Don't be afraid to mix up your neutrals and combine white and ivory. The coordinating Healdsburg Bath Mat comes in white, but we went Ivory to add an additional color layer.  So, that's it! Add some flowers to the bedside table and maybe a basket of snacks and your guest room is good to go! Check out all the great products from Serena & Lily and save up to 30% on bedding and beds during their SLEEPWELL EVENT through 10/28.
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links
If you've yet to venture to turn the page on the calendar, let me be the first to tell you that Thanksgiving is less than 6 weeks away. And if you are the lucky one who has "volunteered" to host the big dinner this year, congratulations! Maybe the bonus part of that position is that you can justify a new dining table that can accommodate the growing fam. We are big fans of the contemporary style of Arhaus; modern but classic enough that your dining room won't look dated in 10 years. Right now during their Dining Event, you can get up to 50% off of dining chairs with the purchase of a dining table. We are especially in love with the Recycled Metal Table with Lyon Base. I mean, this copper table top is AH-MAZE-ING! The recycled copper top that is hand hammered over 3500 times and held over an open flame to get just the right texture and patina. So good! Add the classic Gage Dining Chair or Jagger Dining Arm Chair (or both! We love to mix and match!) and your dining room just got legit. 
Need a swanky bar cabinet to complete the look? Go with the Raja with its fish scale bone inlay and storage for 10 wine bottles and 12 glasses.
They have some great tabletop collections too in case your dinnerware, glasses, flatware, etc needs some sprucing up, and it’s all 20% off. Check out our favorites below, and don’t forget candleholders, vases, greenery and the like to make your Thanksgiving table complete. Sale ends on 10/31.
I was compensated for this post and this post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
If you love puff pastry, tomatoes, and cheese, you’ll LOVE this tomato tart recipe. I found it in a magazine and tweaked it some to make it my own. Here’s what you’ll need: 1 puff pastry sheet, thawed 3-4 roma tomatoes, sliced ¼ cup fontina cheese, shredded ¼ cup parmesan cheese, shredded (you can also leave out fontina cheese and use ½ cup parmesan instead) ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded 1 egg, slightly beaten ¼ cup olive oil 1 tsp herbs de provence (or Italian seasoning) ½ teaspoon garlic salt 3-4 basil leaves, chopped Place oven rack on lowest setting Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and unroll the pastry dough. Fold over the edges ½ inch and brush with egg. Using a fork, poke holes in the dough. Sprinkle dough with fontina and parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. While the dough is baking, spread out sliced tomatoes on paper towels and lightly salt. Let drain for 20 minutes. After that time, blot tomatoes with paper towels to extract what water is left. After dough is finished baking, take out of oven and spread mozzarella cheese on top. Place tomatoes evenly atop mozzarella. Add herbs and garlic salt to olive oil and whisk lightly. Drizzle oil on tomatoes and place cookie sheet back in oven for 15 minutes or until edges of dough are golden brown. Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack for 5 minutes. Place tart on cutting board and slice into four equal parts. Serves 4 
How convenient that all of our favorite retailers are having their Friends & Family Events this time of year. Last week we shared our picks from the Serena & Lily Event (which runs through 10/14). It's the perfect time to spruce up your home for fall OR to start checking things off the Christmas lists. The World Market Friends & Family Event starts today for Members, tomorrow for everyone else. (But you really should be a member, it's free and you get loads of coupons.) 30% off PLUS Free Shipping online if you spend more than $75. And here's a bonus, everything in our picks is under $60! 
1. Multi-colored Felt Garland. These are perfect for decorating a tree, adding to a bowl on the coffee table, draping over a picture frame, adorning a lampshade, you get the idea.
2. Emerald Green Ceramic Peacocks. I don't know why, but these remind me of trinkets that my grandma might have had. Comes in a cute bedside table vase or bathroom trinket dish. 3. Finlay Dot Sculpted Towels. You might remember these from that amazing bathroom reno we did earlier this year. Still one of our favorite towel sets. 4. Art Deco Fan Ceramic Coaster Set. We love the idea of a Great Gatsby-esque bar cart and these chic coasters add the perfect touch. 5. Velvet Throw Pillows. The best thing about these pillows is not the amazing color selection, or the plushy velvet, it is the price point. $9.99 y'all!!! Before your 30% off! Gimme three of each! 6. Faux Eucalyptus Wreath. Sometimes Fall + Wreath = A Hot Mess. Which is why we like the simplicity and elegance of this door wreath. It doesn't have to be ALL pumpkins. 7. Brushed Gold Planter with Stand. You know those pots of mums you bought last weekend? Pop those babies in two of these planters on your front porch and wait for the neighbors to ooh and aah. 8. Multicolor Watercolor Foliage Napkin Set. Swap out your bright summer napkins for these muted earth toned watercolored ones. So many rich colors, they will go with just about any dinnerware you own. 9.Ivory Moroccan Wedding Blanket Throw. Unlike those snuggies that you hide in a basket when company comes over, you'll be proud to toss this handcrafted throw on any sofa and leave it there! 10. Shanghai Rice Bowl Set. They may be meant to be used for rice, but we can think of a dozen uses for these brightly colored bowls. Soapdish, trinket dish, serving dips or olives. Trust me, you can never have enough cute bowls. 11. Multicolor Patchwork Cadence Pillow. I mean, doesn't this pillow scream Fall? Pumpkin and cranberry and eggplant! So love. 12. Painted Square Hooks Set. Raise your hand if you've ever walked down a hall or opened a door or stepped in to a closet and thought, "Gee, I could sure use a hook there." 13. Evil Eye Coir Doormat. Not that we are superstitious or anything, but I mean, it couldn't hurt to ward off any evil from entering your home. Right?
Our Artist Spotlight this month is Virginia based artist Juniper Briggs. Her new series, "In The Company of Beasts" is all about facing our fears. "By turning towards the qualities represented by each animal in the collection, we are able to befriend, nourish and even harness our fears, transforming them into fuel for personal growth." We love the energy and spirit of her work and are so excited to share her talent with you.   SGD: Can you briefly walk us through your story? How did you get started and how did you get to where you are today? JB: It’s interesting for me to look back and connect the various influences and experiences that have led to the type of work I make today. I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina in a community filled with artists. My friend’s parents included glassblowers, potters and painters. I learned a lot from them including how to incorporate creativity into my everyday life. I took painting lessons as a kid and always kept a journal with drawings and sketches in it. When I was seven my family moved to Bali, Indonesia for a few months. We lived on a Hindu Ashram in a hut overlooking the Indian ocean. I can remember being totally enthralled by our surroundings. The colorfully patterned sarongs, golden headdresses and tropical flowers were magical to me. Years later, those same elements found their way into my work. It wasn’t until recently that I even realized the connection. In college I studied abroad in Mexico, again falling in love with the colors and bold simplicity of Mexican folk art there. I then moved to Barcelona, Spain for a short time, working as an ESL teacher. I loved visiting museums there. I was especially drawn to the paintings of Pablo Picasso, who remains a huge influence over my work to this day. After college I thought I wanted to be a writer. I found an internship writing for a Fine Arts magazine in Southern California. This allowed me to interview and learn from a spectrum of contemporary artists as well as gallery owners and museum curators. It was during this same period that I first began experimenting and developing my own voice as a painter. I didn’t share my work though or even consider myself to be an artist. I started having these vivid dreams of different colors and compositions. I would wake up and try to paint these ideas that were literally swirling around in my head. It wasn’t until after moving back to the east coast and having my second daughter in 2013 that I started painting every day. There’s something about motherhood that seems to draw out that type of creative yearning. I needed something for myself and I turned to art. I began sharing my paintings on Instagram. I was humbled and encouraged by the reaction of others to my work. Slowly but surely I found myself here, as a full time working artist.  SGD: Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? JB: Once I finally figured out that I was an artist, things slowly but surely started to fall into place. It took me a long time to get here though. I felt pretty lost in my twenties. I did a slew of meaningless jobs that left me feeling really powerless. I’ve always been creative person but I didn’t know how to channel that creativity into a career. I was in my early thirties and a mother of two before I started seriously pursuing my art. That’s when I began painting every day and sharing my work. There was a lot of trial and error in the beginning, a lot of exploring and finding my voice. Sometimes it felt like I was going into battle with a brush and canvas. On the other hand it was incredibly empowering. Painting has always been an intuitive process for me. My mind is at its clearest when I’m working. It allows me to get out of my own way, which is a rare and beautiful thing. I feel like art gave me a voice that had been dormant for a long time. SGD: What are you most proud of and what sets you apart from other artist? JB: I think I’m most proud of the fact that I am a working artist. I don’t ever want to lose sight of the fact that this life I’ve managed to carve out for myself is a dream come true. Literally. When I first started out, I looked at other successful artists and thought, if only I could make a living at painting. It seemed so far off and unattainable. I kept that idea in mind though and kept going. Eventually I looked up and realized I had done it. I had achieved my dream. That’s an amazing feeling. There’s a quote that says something like, “Remember when you wished for the things you have now.” I remind myself of that whenever I get overwhelmed or stressed out with the business side of things. It helps put everything into perspective. I get to play around and make things with my hands for a living. It doesn’t get better than that!  SGD: What advice would you give to someone at the start of his or her career? JB: Make lots and lots of art. Stick with it. Find your voice and be consistent without being redundant. Make sure you have a website where you can show your portfolio and where collectors can acquire your art. Tell your story through social media. Collaborate with other creatives. Give yourself permission to succeed! Write down your goals and visualize them coming true. Work hard, stay curious and keep going. SGD: If you weren’t an artist, what would you be? JB: I don’t know… I would probably be a writer or an interior designer. (Basically I would be Shauna, lol) I love storytelling in every form. I think that is one reason that painting works for me. It feels like I’m telling a story on canvas. I have a half written novel that I may or may not ever get back to one day. I view interior design as a type of storytelling too. The way we connect to our surroundings tells the story of who we are.   Find Juniper and her work here:
Website: www.juniperbriggs.com Instagram: @juniperbriggs Email: juniper.briggs@gmail.com  Friends and Family Events are like top of our list of favorite things. And when it is a Friends & Family Event for one of our favorite retailers, that's even more exciting. Serena & Lily is known for their breezy, easy California coastal style and we can always find room for that in our designs. We've picked some of our favorite pieces for your home and for gifts. It's not too early to shop for Christmas, you just may as well buy one for yourself too because by December, you won't want to give it away. The Friends and Family Event runs through October 14. Get 20% off almost everything with code BEOURGUEST.
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