Knoxville

Fall To-Do List

Do you ever get to the end of a season and realize that there were so many things you planned to do but never got to? Us too.
There are so many fall festivals, holidays, and events going on and we've made a to do list of sorts to help get the ball rolling for your harvest plans. We love the idea of having seasonal bucket lists as well; things that aren't necessarily all planned out but a list of ideas for the occasional Saturday when you find yourself with no plans.

We suggest carving out an hour with your calendar ASAP to get things on your schedule.

Festivals: Click on the links for more info

Activities/Holidays:

Photo by Sarah Musgrave

Photo by Sarah Musgrave

  • Host a bonfire

  • Take a hike in the Smokies (not sure when trail to choose? Check out the Top 10) If you are looking for a family friendly hike with young kids, "Andrew's Bald" is perfect.

  • Plan and purchase or make Halloween costumes for your kids (Need some ideas? Here are a few)

  • Seasonal decorating (Southern Living's Fall Decorating Ideas)

  • Tailgate with friends before a football game

  • Finalize Thanksgiving plans

What kinds of things are on your to do list for this Fall?

Our New Home : The Hive

The past couple weeks have been quite a whirlwind for our little Knoxville business. For the past year and a half, we have been so grateful for the incredible clients we've met, the beautiful homes we've had the chance to work in, and the opportunities and relationships that have come our way. We've enjoyed all our meetings and markets in our 'mobile offices' all over town including KBrew, Three Rivers Market, The Smith home on Coker Ave, Remedy Coffee, The McLean home on Maplewood Dr, Old City Java, Olibea, MidMod Collective, and Nostalgia.

This week, however, we are over the moon to announce that Help You Dwell has a place to call home! It's called The Hive.

HYD now has a place to spend time preparing, planning, learning, and growing as a company. The Hive is a place for us to better serve you, our client. It's a place for us to be inspired, connected, and to collaborate with creative and innovative minds of other small business owners.

Photo by Emilee Stanley

The space is in the former KnoxTenn Rental building at 854 N Central St 37917 located right next door to Magpies Bakery. (We're also pretty pumped about having them as neighbors : ) Rebecca Ridner, a local stylist of all things lovely, is the visionary of the building and has created a beautiful space for women entrepreneurs. HYD shares a studio with one of Knoxville's most talented wedding photographers, Carrie Jo Pinckard of Texture Photography. Other women currently working at The Hive are Katie Roach, florist of The Katelier, Ali Daugherty, blogger and graphic designer of Freedom Crown, and Rebecca Ridner, prop, wedding and interior stylist.

One of the aspects of this space we love the most is the common area that we all share for hosting pop-ups, workshops, or photography sessions. The light is fantastic, the atmosphere is peaceful and inviting, and the location is in one of our favorite areas of the city. We look forward to hosting our first event, which we mentioned last week, HYD's first Boutique Clothing Pop-up on August 23 from 2-5pm. We'd love to show you around a bit as you peruse Colette's Closet of top of the line clothing at consignment prices.

Keep an eye out for announcements about workshops
and other events this fall at The Hive.

And come by to see us anytime you're in the neighborhood!

 

The House and Gardens Show 2015

We are so excited to be presenting at The Dogwood Arts House and Gardens Show this weekend!

 Our talk "The Ordered Home: How to De-clutter and Organize your Space" will be on Friday (2/13) at 11:00am. We will be manning a booth all weekend and we would LOVE to see you! The event hours are Friday 10am-9pm, Saturday 10-6pm, Sunday 11-5pm.

We are giving away a free closet makeover so come by and enter our drawing!

The Thankful List

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than to make a list of the many things we are thankful for. Here are each of our top 5.

Caroline's list:

Photo by Knox Heritage

Photo by Knox Heritage

1. My Knoxville Community. I'm thankful for my neighborhood, the kids down the street that stop by to say hello, the older gentleman that always waves when I walk by, and the neighbors that we have shared meals and stories with. I'm thankful for a downtown that is creative and encourages new businesses, the farmers market, and local festivals. I'm thankful for my church which is made up of a mess of humans that hurt each other but strive to confess and repent and live life together. I'm thankful for a city that feels like home to me.

2. This sermon. Daryl Arnold from OBC in East Knoxville preached at our church on November 17th and I basically cried through the whole thing. Thank God (literally) that I don't have to work my way into a relationship with Him.

Photo by Katie Norrell

Photo by Katie Norrell

3. A home and a family. After working in the social work field for several years I often think of the many neighbors we have in our city who spend their nights on park benches and in tents. Many of these people are estranged from their families and holidays just become another day of the year to them. I'm thankful for a husband and family that love me in spite of myself.

4. Good Health. I have a few friends and family members that have chronic health problems and illnesses and it has made me much more mindful of how thankful I am to be in good health. I've watched as people I love have struggled with the most humbling grace and rawness and have watched in amazement at the beauty that seems to accompany brokenness.

5. The ability to make money doing something I love. It is uncommon in our world to have the opportunity to do what you love for a living. I still kind of can't believe that Taryn and I get to work together to organize, stage, decorate and meet amazing people along the way. What a privilege! 


Taryn's list:

1.  My family's health.  Matt, my kids, myself & both sets of our parents are alive & very healthy.  I am so grateful my kids get to know their grandparents & that Matt & I get to be active & involved in our kids lives.

2.  My people.  The close circle of women, men & children that I get to love & be loved by brings me to tears weekly, if not daily.  I am thankful that I am known & cared for by so many.

3.  Hope.  No matter the circumstances, this one word has carried me beyond what I could've imagined.  I'm thankful for a husband who never gives up, friends who remind me of my purpose & a God who calls me His.

4.  East Tennessee.  This place I get to live just continues to fill me with wonder, awe & curiosity.  The people, the artisans, the hills, the food, the rivers, the music, the art, the history - I am thankful to be a Volunteer.

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/bd/1d/52/bd1d52153960c836b30348c59cda8115.jpg

5.  Help You Dwell.  I have been blown away by my experience with HYD.  Any creativity that has been buried in me now has an outlet as part-owner of this little business & I just love it.  We have so much room to grow & the ground is fertile.  I am thankful.

Help You Dwell Pop Up Market - You're Invited!

Look for these signs (above) on Saturday! This Saturday, November 8th at 1721 Coker Ave. is Help You Dwell's first ever pop up market and we are so excited! Please come out and support local Knoxville artists and craftsmen along with Habitat for Humanity (10% of profits).

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Habitat, the Knoxville chapter has been up and running since 1985. 475 homes have been built through the organization in our city for people who find themselves unable to afford typical housing. Habitat builds homes using volunteers and home buyers, sells them at no profit, and the homes are financed with a 25-30 year, 0% interest mortgage. Habitat makes home ownership an option for people who have fallen on hard times, or who need a "hand up, not a hand out". The home owners are heavily involved in the building of their homes and pay a regular mortgage like anyone else. Check out the website to learn more about Habitat for Humanity and how to get involved in Knoxville.

Some of our vendors are set up to accept credit/debit transactions but not all of them so make sure to bring cash. We can direct you to a close ATM if needed :)

Can't wait to see you all and please share our flyer on Facebook or your website!

Caroline & Taryn

The Help You Dwellers


Meet Our Vendors Pt. 2

Ericka Ryba, Eric Savage, Blair Wright, and Laura Cottrell

Ericka Ryba, Eric Savage, Blair Wright, and Laura Cottrell

We are less than 2 weeks away from our Holiday Market and we are blogging today to announce the rest of our vendors.

Meet Ericka! We share a booth with her at Nostalgia on McCalla and often have a really hard time not buying everything she puts in it. Ericka is one of those people who has the golden touch--we are convinced that she is good at everything. Ericka sells her handcrafted goods under the name of Providence Road. In Ericka's words about the name Providence Road, " It actually started on a real road that I lived on from ages 3 mos. to 8 years old. Almost fifteen years later, and not a very direct route, I landed in Providence, RI. I remained in Providence through my post college years, abandoned my carrer trajectory, and started working on an organic farm. Thinking this was my destiny, I moved back down South to start a farm. Well...ten years later I'm back in school studying art and letting creativity reign. I love where I've been and am excited about where I am going (wherever that may be). Providence Road to me is the culmination of everything I've learned so far about the world and about myself. "

We have had the pleasure of knowing  Eric for several years through church. Eric could do stand up or have his own sitcom if he wanted to but we are glad he hasn't left Knoxville for stardom. Eric learned carpentry from his dad and they began making furniture together a few years ago. We love the headboard he posted on instagram several months ago.

If its old, wooden and architectural, Blair loves it.  He travels to the northeast for his real job but his passion is finding and repurposing architectural salvage and vintage furniture.   He brings things home you don't see often in East Tennessee.  He cleans them up and sometimes makes new things with them.  Corbels, balusters, newel posts and more are what you'll see from White Station Architectural Finds.

We met the lovely Laura Cottrell at church and have loved getting to know her over the past year. Laura is a mommy of two and somehow still manages to find time to create all kinds of art. We are particularly excited about her recipe paintings and her fall themed banners. I shamelessly bought about 10 of her handmade ornaments last Christmas...don't judge me.

 

ONE WEEK FROM THIS SATURDAY PEOPLE!! BRING EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

 

Help You Dwell's "Thank You" Giveaway!

We love our clients and followers and wanted to say "Thanks" by giving you the opportunity to shop on us at one of HYD's favorite spots in Knoxville to find fabulous home treasures...

Bliss Home - 29 Market Sq - Downtown Knoxville

Bliss Home - 29 Market Sq - Downtown Knoxville

Bliss Home - 29 Market Square & 7240 Kingston Pike www.shopinbliss.com

The shop is filled with an unmatched variety of casual contemporary furnishings, rugs, inspiring art and accessories.  We have personally shopped there for years, filling our own homes as well as purchasing unique gifts for others.  The staff is always warm, knowledgeable and helpful.  Bliss Home also proudly supports local artisans from around East Tennessee and the Knoxville area, which is near and dear HYD's heart.

 

For a chance to win the $100 gift card to Bliss Home, just 'Like' us on Facebook and leave a comment about which room/space in your house you would like to organize first at www.facebook.com/helpyoudwell.   We'll randomly pick the winner Monday morning and announce it on our Facebook page.

Beaumont Magnet Academy Welcomes You

It's Back to School Time in Tennessee!

And what does that mean to Help You Dwell??  Well, for one it means that one-half of the HYD outfit has free childcare again.  But more exciting than that, it meant that HYD got to be part of the preparation process for Beaumont Magnet Academy on Beaumont Ave. here in Knoxville.  This summer Beaumont underwent an administration transformation to breathe life, order & hope into the teachers and students of this amazing Knox County Magnet School.  The three women leading this campaign, Dr. Daphne Odom, Ms. Missy Beltrand, & Ms. Tracy Marsh have a vision for success for Beaumont that is contagious as you spend any amount of time with them.

Before

Before

Ms. Tracy Marsh, Asst. Principal, Dr. Daphne Odom, Co-Principal, Missy Beltran, Co-Principal

Ms. Tracy Marsh, Asst. Principal, Dr. Daphne Odom, Co-Principal, Missy Beltran, Co-Principal

Along with the exciting change in administration came the challenge of fitting three administrators into the spaces where only two had previously been.  After much consideration & a whole lotta furniture removal, HYD had these amazing ladies ready to roll.  And many thanks to the KCS painting staff for a stellar job on the walls.

The Beaumont administration also invited HYD to revive the front office space with color, organization & a welcoming atmosphere.  Since Beaumont Magnet Academy has a Fine Arts focus, HYD decided to bring life to the front office by showcasing the students' art right as you enter the school.  Our favorite find was the 30-foot long tapestry made by students several years ago that had been hanging out of sight.  It now hangs in the front office along with several other art pieces & a new lettering making staff, students, parents & guests feel welcomed as they enter.

This job was our longest yet.  We learned so much & enjoyed the process immensely.  It brought us such great pleasure to see the eyes of teachers & staff light up as they enter the front office.  HYD thanks all the Beaumont front office staff for your patience as we moved all your stuff, the encouragement you gave along the way & mostly your dedication to care for students.  You are all doing the work that matters.  Thank you!