Looking forward to a season of change

A four decade’s old historic downtown landmark has relocated, but just temporarily.

Sweetwater Flower Shop, established in 1971, has become one of those iconic institutions not only in its hometown, but throughout Monroe County as well. They relocated recently to a new retail space within The Paris Apartment, located at 111 North Main Street in the heart of historic downtown Sweetwater, a popular shopping and tourist destination.

“Necessity has become the mother of invention,” says Sweetwater Flower Shop owner, Jack Wilson. “As a result of a fire at our flower shop in late August, and the generosity of The Paris Apartment owner and fellow entrepreneur, Debbie Oden, we were able to reopen inside The Paris Apartment just weeks after the fire.”

Visitors will be truly amazed by the fact that Sweetwater Flower Shop is not only back in business, but that it’s sporting a new look and feel.

“We’ve reexamined our business model and realigned it with changing consumer demands and shopping patterns,” says Jack.

While shoppers will continue to rely upon Jack and his talented team of designers for floral arrangements that are perfect for every occasion, visitors will discover many new items including jewelry, home décor items and women’s apparel accessories such as colorful and trendy scarves. And this is in addition to the creative floral arrangements and collectibles that have become so popular with customers over the years.


“As challenging as the fire was, I will remain eternally grateful to the outpouring of support from our customers and friends,” says Jack. “Their encouragement has served as an inspiration. I’m confident that people will truly be amazed, not only at what we have created within The Paris Apartment, but at the all new Sweetwater Flower Shop when it reopens in its former location in mid 2012. With a blank canvas, you can just imagine all the new possibilities. I’m particularly excited about the nearly 12-foot ceilings that will open up our first floor retail space to all sorts of new opportunities.”

Whether you’re decorating your home for autumn, preparing for Thanksgiving or Christmas, looking for that perfect gift, home décor item, or fresh floral for any occasion, Sweetwater Flower Shop remains Monroe County’s top spot for everything floral and gifts.

Sweetwater Flower Shop
111 N. Main Street in Sweetwater
423.337.6623
www.sweetwaterflowers.com

Upgrading Your Home Decor & Design?
Make your vision a reality at Andrea’s

Outgrown your furniture and home decor? Growing into a new space? Andrea’s Home Decor Boutique is your answer.

Andrea’s Home Decor Boutique is unique, eclectic by design, with a wide variety of home decor items, one-of-a-kind accessories from local and national artists, new and used modern furniture, and more.

“Inventory changes daily, and you never know what treasures you’ll find,” states Andrea Vogel, owner. “As we search out new items, and new pieces come in on consignment, each day is a wonderful surprise. I’ve always loved eclectic and interesting home pieces, and being able to work with them every day is a dream come true.”

If you have interesting home decor items and furniture that you’d like to sell on consignment, but don’t know how it works, it’s easy. Just drop by Andrea’s with your pieces to discuss the program and to see if they’re a fit for the store. If you have large furniture items, you’re encouraged to bring a picture by first, just to make sure the piece is a fit.

And if you love finding unique items at great prices, Andrea’s Home Decor Boutique is for you. Shoppers love the bargains and the consignment opportunity is a great way for folks to raise some money by making the best use of some items they already have.

Andrea’s is also offering monthly seminars, focusing on ways to decorate your home, organize your space, and make life better. The seminars take place in the evenings, and offer free babysitting and snacks. The seminar schedule is available online at www.andreashomedecor.com.

Whether you’re looking for new unique items for your home, gently used modern home decor and furniture, or to sell your own pieces, Andrea’s Home Decor Boutique is your answer. Enjoy the warm and welcome atmosphere, and come back frequently to see what’s new each week.

Andrea’s Home Decor Boutique is located at 149 North Peters Road in Knoxville in The Commons Shopping Center. For more information, call (865) 539-8228 or visit www.andreashomedecor.com.

Andrea’s Home Decor Boutique
149 North Peters Road in Knoxville
865.539.8228
www.andreashomedecor.com

Knoxville’s newest top shop

If you believe that home is where the heart is, then expand your horizons to include one of Knoxville’s most exciting new home-based businesses, Hemp Monkeys, the creative genius of two area women entrepreneurs and Knoxville natives, Amanda Keller and Amber Keirn.

The inspiration for the name Hemp Monkeys was sparked from the hemp cord necklaces popular with youngsters and college age students that is now a small, but very important part of Hemp Monkeys’ total product offering. Other products and services include custom Greek jerseys, t-shirts, handcrafted jewelry made from Hill Tribe silver, Milifori, African trade beads, Chevrons, Isle of Candle soy candles, Misty Mountain soaps and lotions, digitally printed signage, laser engraving and graphic design.

“Our minds are going nonstop 24 hours a day,” says Amanda. “We’re always coming up with new product ideas.”

“Hemp Monkeys is really the cumulative experiences of over 20 years of combined small business knowledge,” offers Amber. “Our diverse experiences have allowed us to focus on featuring many one-of-a-kind items that you won’t find in the local department stores or gift shops.”

Discover handmade jewelry crafted by Amanda and Amber. Knowing no bounds, their jewelry is fashioned from beautifully colored and shaped beads, semi-precious stones, bone and African trade beads. You’ll find natural soaps and lotions and some of the most creative t-shirt and Greek jersey designs you’ve ever come across.

Hemp Monkeys’ presence is primarily on the internet, but will be opening a small retail venue this month. Hemp Monkeys is proud to be part of the brand new Turkey Creek Public Market scheduled to open on July 15th. This market will be open Fridays through Sundays from 8 am to 5 pm.

“With over 700 vendors, this new market will become the perfect destination for treasure hunters and bargain shoppers in search of the ultimate shopping experience,” says Amber. “It’s a totally new and unique gathering place and we’re excited to be part of… this new retail phenomenon.”

You’re invited to visit the Hemp Monkeys, Amanda and Amber, and to discover the truly unexpected in Knoxville’s newest home-based business, turned retail location, soon to be located in East Tennessee’s premier shopping venue, Turkey Creek Public Market.

Hemp Monkeys
865.803.2053
www.HempMonkeysOnline.com

The Paris Apartment & Le Jardin Tea Room

It’s ooh-la-la!

By Wendy Jackson

The Paris Apartment just opened in historic downtown Sweetwater. If you haven’t stopped in and experienced this newly renovated space, you are in for a treat when you do.

So what’s inside? The Paris Apartment houses a tea room, a cupcakery and a shops section that will delight any shopper. “It is our desire to create a destination experience for dining and shopping,” said Deborah Oden, owner. “We want people to feel that they have slipped into a back lane of Montmarte – the arts district of Paris – and enjoy their escape and treasure hunt.”

The Cupcakery
“In addition to our tea room, we have a lovely cupcakery & coffee bar with a very European feel,” said Oden. “Our cupcakes may be taken to-go or enjoyed in our relaxing environment. We serve espresso, lattes and teas from around the world. We also have a wonderful selection of specialty teas and coffees which may be purchased in bulk to enjoy at home.

“As for our cupcakes, they are made from scratch with only the freshest ingredients. Our customers have described them as gourmet quality with a creative flair,” Oden said. “We have many different flavors and they change daily. In our case today, we have ‘I Love Paris’, which is a raspberry cake with a raspberry white chocolate truffle frosting topped with an Eiffel tower or French Poodle; German Chocolate; Orange Cream, which is made with fresh orange zest and filled with an orange liquor cream; Strawberries & Cream, which is a strawberry cake filled with a mascarpone strawberry cheese filling & topped with a fresh strawberry butter cream; Coconut Supreme; Red Velvet; Espresso Spice; Walnut Cream Cheese Spice; and Lemon Chiffon. Our cases are filled each day and we enjoy preparing cupcakes for weddings and special events.”

Café & Tea Room
“Our menu may be described as a fresh European café style,” said Oden. “We serve unique salads, sandwiches, paninis, wraps and soups. As we are a tea room, we have a wonderful selection of tea recipes from around the world on the menu. In addition to our regular menu, we serve afternoon teas Fridays and Saturdays, and high teas are available by special reservation with a 48 hour notice. We also host private events & showers and we enjoy adding the special touches that make our guests’ events truly memorable. As Winnie the Pooh said, ‘A Proper Tea is much nicer than a very nearly tea, which is one you will forget about afterward.’”

“As for the tea room itself, it is decorated in beautiful china such as Wedgewood, Spode, Fostoria, and Lenox,” said Oden. “We use it every day and have the tables preset as though our guests are coming to our home for a lovely luncheon. We clear the plates with their order and return them filled with their delicious food choice.”

Shopping
“Our shop line is ‘A European Lifestyle Boutique,’” said Oden. “We have a wonderful blend of home décor, gifts and entertaining items including unique dinnerware and stemware, antiques, unique handmade items and art. Words our guests have used to describe their shopping experience at The Paris Apartment are ‘delightful, one-of-a-kind creations’, ‘ooh-la-la décor’, and ‘a fabulous treasure hunt’. The shop is very eclectic and we have already been told that one must have time to really peruse through all the fabulous finds.”

“On our second floor we have My Sister’s Closet, which is a boutique within The Paris Apartment,” stated Oden. “It features wearable art, as well as new and gently used designer clothing and handbags. We have Channel, Coach and many other fabulous finds. We are accepting summer consignments.”

The Paris Apartment is located at 111 North Main Street in the former Morris Gallery Building. To learn more about this new gem in historic downtown Sweetwater, visit www.TheParisApartmentBoutique.com and www.leJardinTeaRoom.com.

The Paris Apartment & Le Jardin Tea Room
111 North Main Street
Sweetwater, TN 37874
423.351.0009
www.TheParisApartmentBoutique.com
www.leJardinTeaRoom.com
Mon-Sat 9am – 5pm

Goode Scents ~ Knoxville and Worldwide

By Wendy Jackson

Evelyn Miller and Debbie Shepherd started their business, Goode Scents, four years ago from their kitchens. Little did they know that their hand-crafted, all-natural soaps, lotions and bath products would be such a hit with consumers that they would have to open their own storefront to accommodate the demand for their products. And, the demand is huge! In fact, their aromatic soy candles were selected to burn at the 2010 Emmy Awards. The candles burned in the lounge, dressing rooms, and at the Governors Ball.

“Our store is located in Knoxville, but we also sell online and have several wholesale customers – one of which is located in Ireland,” said Evelyn. “We’re thrilled at the interest in our products. We love what we do and can’t say enough about how these products de-stress your mind and enhance your life. Our products are designed with happiness in mind.”

Goode Scents has a variety of tantalizing scents to choose from for every occasion and mood – whether you want to be lifted up, settled down, or if you want to add a little romance, or indulge in a bit of peace and quiet.

“We deal with aromachology, the psychology of the senses. Aromachology is why you may feel comforted smelling the perfume your mother used to wear or saddened at the scent of your late grandfather’s pipe tobacco,” said Evelyn. “We have many aromachology products, and they are designed to bring you pleasant experiences and memories. It is truly amazing what scents can do for you. They can lift your mood, remind you of someone special, lower your stress level, and even take you back to another day and time with your memories. If you want to inspire a certain mood in your home or business – burn a Goode Scents candle.”

In addition to Goode Scents’ line of products, their shop has vignettes. At the present six vendors offer everything from handmade chandeliers to handmade pet accessories.  The store also has fine art, children’s items, and painted furniture. If you haven’t stopped in at Goode Scents, you should. It’s an aromatic storehouse of goodies!

The Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild

Evelyn Miller and Debby Shepherd, owners of Goode Scents, are members of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild (HSMG). It is a non-profit trade association that provides reliable information about the benefits of handcrafted soap. It serves as the center communication point amongst soap makers and it circulates information that would be of benefit to soap makers. You can visit HSMG online at www.SoapGuild.com.

Goode Scents Candles Go to the Emmys!

We are proud to announce that our Goode Scents candles were selected to burn at the 2010 Emmy Awards ceremony on August 29, 2010. Why not be a star in your own home?

Goode Scents
114 Carr Street in Knoxville
865.851.9068

Schakolad Chocolate Factory at Turkey Creek, known for its handmade European-style chocolates, is offering unique items that capture the Valentine spirit with an array of edible chocolate heart truffle boxes, decadent and personalized chocolate gifts and the lowest priced Chocolate Dipped Strawberries in the area. That’s in addition to its assortment of chocolates available in nearly 80 varieties that can be crafted into almost any shape using one of more than 4,000 molds.

“Chocolate is a universal gift that is always the right size, the right color and will always put a smile on the lucky recipient,” explains owner Gus Paredes.

“When customers visit we begin by offering them a sample of chocolate from one of the shop’s mixing machines,” says Gus. “With several options to choose from, our associates can offer suggestions and ask questions to help customers make a selection.”

Almost every product is made on site and does not contain preservatives, and is wax and paraffin free.

“We sell happiness in the form of chocolate,” says Gus. And that happiness at Schakolad comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They have chocolate for just about any occasion ranging from corporate logos, sugar free/low carb chocolates, wedding favors, gift baskets, private chocolate events, birthday parties and much more. Most chocolate items can also be customized and personalized to meet the customers’ needs. Colors can be added to the chocolate or a unique message can be applied.

Chocolate gifts celebrating weddings, anniversaries, a new home and a newborn baby are also available on site. Gift wrapping is also available. Holiday sales items are available online at www.schakolad.com.

Schakolad is open from 10 am to 9 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays. During Valentine’s week, they will open for extended hours to accommodate all of their customers’ needs. For more information, visit www.schakolad.com, call (865) 675-2626, or email turkeycreek@schakolad.com.

Schakolad Chocolate Factory
10944 Parkside Drive
Knoxville, TN 37934
865.675.2626
www.schakolad.com

Linda Parrent

If you’ve missed Linda Parrent’s smiling face and sunny disposition at Elegant Essentials, there is good news—she’s back! Not only is she back in the shop, she is excited about touching base with everyone and once again being ‘hands-on’ with the day-to-day activities of the shop.

If you thought her absence was due to a sabbatical in the Caribbean or some other grand adventure, Linda will tell you that the last few months were nothing of the sort. She had back surgery and was just recently released to return to work. “I am healing nicely and I’m thrilled to be back doing what I do and seeing all the faces that I’ve missed.”

The shoppers at Elegant Essentials will be pleased when they see all the things that Linda has lined up for the fall season. “We have the cutest fall and Halloween line coming in and people are going to love it. I’ll be bringing in really cute stuff like aprons, martini glasses, girlfriend things and lots more.”

Linda’s return also means that Chamilia Jewelry Parties are back in full swing at the shop. Elegant Essentials is the largest dealer of Chamilia jewelry in Knoxville. Be sure and book your party soon as the spots will fill up quickly.

“I’m excited to get the word out that Chamilia will be coming out with a children’s line and it is over the top. Adults and children are going to love it,” said Linda. “The children’s line is adorable and will offer Disney, little boys and little girls, different clasps than the adult line and more. They also just came out with a new line of necklaces and earrings that are phenomenal.”

If you thumbed through the July edition of Women’s Day you no-doubt noticed that Linda was featured in the magazine. Women’s Day contacted Linda for a series on ‘Women Following Their Dreams’. If you missed the article, you can find a link to it on the shop’s website at www.shopelegantessentials.com. The website is also a great place to stay current with all the happenings at the shop.

“Gift shops should be distinctive, and that’s what my shop is all about,” said Linda. “I’m always actively searching for things that are different, not typical retail stuff that can be found in other stores. I search high and low to bring something unique and different to the Knoxville market because people deserve it.”

Stop in and welcome Linda back to the shop as she continues her work to help Knoxvillians ‘Find a Treasure, Set a Trend and Make a Tradition’.

Elegant Essentials
7240 Kingston Pike, Suite 184
Knoxville, TN 37919
865.247.0157
www.shopelegantessentials.com

Spartina Accessories

Spa 9700’s retail boutique has long been the place for fabulous body care products made from the highest quality ingredients.  Many clients take home the very same products used in Spa 9700’s relaxing treatment rooms.  Couple that with beautiful and unusual pajamas, robes, spa slippers and many types of candles and other items for your home spa and it becomes a first rate destination shopping experience on its own.

But that’s not the end of the story.  Recently Spa 9700 has expanded its offerings of all types of accessories including handbags and travel bags, scarves, wallets and everyone’s favorite, jewelry.  Customers can be assured that the buyers have assembled the unique, quality items you would be proud to own or to give as gifts.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Spartina 449 is a beautiful linen and leather handbag and travel bag line created in Daufuski Island, South Carolina.  Its colorful, unique patterns have quickly become favorites in Knoxville.  New releases will arrive this fall.

Susan Shaw Jewelry – Susan Shaw designs the latest fashion trends with 24kt handcast gold and sterling silver plated metals, cotton pearls and semi-precious stones.  She then combines these to create her beautiful jewelry collections.  Each design is handmade by experienced artists in her boutique factory in San Antonio, TX.
Artist Jay Jewlery – North Carolina artist Jay Schiavone has created fun and funky jewelry using recycled aluminum.  Chunky yet light as air, each piece is a definite attention getter.

Lodis – Classic leather goods with an edge.  LODIS stands for sophisticated, traditional craftsmanship and refined materials fused with a bold modern attitude and thoughtful attention to detail.  Spa 9700 has a great selection of the original slim wallet which has been “knocked off” by hundreds of companies.

And lastly, getting back to what a spa does, you can find organic skincare, Eminence of Hungary, along with the favorite of Hollywood, Sonya Dakar.  Complementing that are Youngblood’s Mineral Makeup and Cara’s custom blended makeup.  Who knew?

Spa 9700
9700 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37922
865.357.7721
www.spa9700.com

Bird watching is full of surprises.

Did you realize that chickadees are as fond of peanut butter as your four-year-old… and as prone to squabbling over it as toddlers are? Have you ever watched a cardinal feed a choice seed to his mate?  Listened to the joyous song of a sparrow after a rainstorm?

Backyard birds easily adapt to human activity, so it’s easy to entice them to your garden. Cardinals, goldfinches, house sparrows, blue jays, and doves are year-round… and migrating birds such as hummingbirds, robins, indigo buntings, grosbeaks, and bluebirds are delightful seasonal visitors.

Planting a garden gives us the opportunity to attract birds and butterflies. Luckily for gardeners, the very things we love best are the main attraction. These beautiful creatures not only find food in our gardens, but provide us with a valuable service; pollinating and helping produce the next generation of flowers.

Find a vantage point where you can see the whole front yard or backyard at once, and ask yourself a few questions. Are there places for
birds to hide from predators? Can they shelter from cold, wind, and rain? Is there food and water readily available?  Plants which provide shade, shelter and food include firs, hollies, hemlocks, junipers, spruces, pines, oaks, dogwoods,
rhododendrons and azaleas, roses, and berry bushes such as blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries.  These provide varying types of shelter including nesting sites and nighttime roosting places. Local garden centers can help you pick out the perfect plantings.

Bird feeders help supplement your native plantings. Three basic foods, small millet seeds, sunflower seeds, and suet, plus insects and worms, will satisfy every bird likely to visit your backyard. Treats such as dried fruit and peanuts may help
attract repeat visitors. If squirrels are a problem, add some powdered cayenne pepper to the birdseed; the birds can’t taste it, but squirrels hate it! Often, a feeder supplied with cracked corn will help keep the squirrels, crows, and other critters away from your songbird feeders, and you’ll have the enjoyment of watching them, too.

Be careful not to set up your feathered friends for ambush by predators. Position feeders at least five feet off the ground, under large trees or near shrubs or hedges. Keep birdbaths and feeders a safe distance from shrubs or bushy plants, which are favorite cat hideouts.

Don’t forget to provide water. A birdbath with pebbles at one end will provide both deep and shallow wading areas. A clay plant saucer placed in a partly shaded area, filled with river stones, gravel and a little water makes a perfect watering station for butterflies.

Hummingbird feeders will help attract these flying jewels to your garden, but remember that brightly colored flowers and insects are an
important part of their diet. Hummingbirds
prefer tube-like blossoms such as petunias, trumpet flowers, honeysuckle and columbine, and are particularly attracted to red and blue. Butterflies are attracted to three basic flower shapes: daisy-types, small flower spikes, and flat or round-topped clusters. They also show a strong preference for purple and yellow. Don’t hesitate to add a colorful piece of sculpture, a garden flag, or gazing ball to help bring their attention to your garden. You’ll find a nice selection of feeders and garden décor at the Mast General Store downtown on Gay Street. While there, don’t forget to check out the outfitters, mercantile department, and all those old-fashioned candies!

Fill your backyard with the sights and sounds of birds and butterflies this year. Turning your backyard into a haven where birds nest, raise their families and seek shelter takes a bit of planning, but is well worth it. You’ll soon find that it’s become a sanctuary for you, too.

Mast General Store

402 S. Gay Street
Downtown Knoxville
865.546.1336
www.MastStore.com