|

Haven 2014 Recap

I’m back from HAVEN 2014 and I have sooo much to tell you!  So get cozy on your couch with a cuppa because I’m going to fit a whole 4 days into one tiny blog post.  Well, maybe not tiny, but hopefully by the end of this you’ll feel like you were there (if you didn’t get to come this year).Haven_conference_collage

My journey started in Boston.  Luke and the boys dropped me off and I met Jen from The Chronicles of Home.  We flew down together and talked non-stopped the whole flight there.  Jen is super creative and talented and does amazing home projects and upholstry.  We were supposed to be flying down with Kristin from Bliss at Home but there was a fatal accident on the route up from Connecticut.

So, we waited for her and Jennifer from Dimples and Tangles at the airport in Atlanta.  We had cocktails and salads while we waited –

Me_Jen

Can you tell we were so excited to be in Atlanta!  It was nice to have a catch up at the airport before going the hotel.

Oh, I guess I should admit here that the photos in this post (mainly are from my phone).  I just didn’t want lug my big camera around.  I also didn’t get a chance to take LOADS of photos because I was so busy chatting away.

Anyway, we got to the hotel and quickly changed for a cocktail reception to meet everyone. I found my dear friend Lucy from Craftberry Bush and Rachel from Shades of Blue Interiors and were pretty much inseparable –

Lucy_Rachel_Me_Haven

I love these ladies! They are beautiful on the inside and out!  So lucky to have them as friends.

After the reception, we went out to Maggiano’s for some yummy Italian with some lovely ladies I made friendships with at the last conference – there was a whole gang of us 13 in all but I caught up mostly with Wendy from Front Porch Mercantile, Daune from Cottage in the Oaks and Heather from Setting for Four.  Dinner took quite a while…

Once I got back to the hotel, Rachel (my roommate) and I stayed up soooooo late.  I mean really late.  2:30am late talking about what else?!?  Paint!  She loves painting and staining and refinishing just as much as I do.  I think she’s the only person who can talk about painted furniture as long as I can and not get bored.  We both fell asleep mid-sentence.

Ryobi_Party2

Morning and the first day of Haven was here before we knew it!  Chip Wade from HGTV’s Elbow Room was the keynote speaker and he started the conference off with a pivotal question, one he always asks when designing “What If?”

What if we could make this possible?  Or using our skills and talent what if we could do ___________?  The sky is the limit, right?

The first day I went to four sessions – including a furniture building workshop, working with brands and a tiling workshop.  Oh, you guys are going to be so proud of me because I used the tile saw!  I did!  I don’t even have a photo, but I did it so now I know I can tile our kitchen when we get to it.

We also went around and met so many fun sponsors and vendors.  Here we are taking a shower:

waterpik

That is Daune, Lucy, Rachel and I in the “shower”.  So funny! And here is the shower head Waterpik gave me in our shower.  As soon as I unpacked my bags, Luke put it up.  My boys love taking showers now and so do I!waterpik_shower_head

The last session I went to on Friday was taught by my friend Lucy from Craftberry Bush and Kristen from The Hunted Interior.  Kristen’s beautifully staged photos and Lucy’s artistic heart and soul made this class amazing.

Lucy
Lucy, Photo by Rachel

I loved hearing Lucy’s process on how she tells a story through her photography. Every project Lucy shares on her blog is beautiful and full of meaning.  I guess what doesn’t come across in these photos or my writing, is just how genuine and loving and sensitive Lucy is.  Like any true artist she wears her heart on her sleeve and her passion is apparent in all she does!

This beautiful feather is a very good example.  She gave this watercolor feather to me when I arrived:

watercolor_feather_handpainted_table

Hand written on the back:

“The meaning of life
is to find your gift.
The purpose of life
is to give it away.”
-Pablo Piccaso

This is such a beautiful gift and so full of meaning.  I will treasure it and her friendship always!

That night was a fancy cocktail party hosted by Rust-oleum.  I enjoyed the prosecco, blueberries and St. Germain!  I only have these two photos (not taken by me) of that party.

rustoleum_cocktail_party

We chatted lots with Beth (Home Stories A to Z) and Kim (Sand & Sisal).  Afterwards we spent some time in the Southern Living Garden with Wendy, KariAnne (Thistlewood Farms), Daune, Heather and Suzanne (Shop at Blu).

Saturday morning started with a photo on top of this GMC Yukon 2015 with Daune.  Wendy took it of us (we couldn’t stop laughing) and then we went to Hobby Lobby.  My first time ever in the shop!  I had fun looking around the knobs and pulls.

GMC

Then I met Lucy and Rachel over at Anthropologie.  If you saw me over there, I was the one touching and taking photos of furniture! Ha! Ha!  I always think their staging and antique pieces are amazing.

Anthro

I wish this table and all the blue and white plates fit into my suitcase (but they didn’t).

I also would have happily brought home any of these pieces:

anthropologie_collage

Rachel and I both thought you could achieve the bottom cabinet by doing Greek Blue over a custom mix of Napoleonic Blue mixed with Greek Blue or Aubusson Chalk Paint®.  I guess we’ll see!

Then it was time to go back to the conference.  On the last day, I took some a-maz-ing classes. The first was Adobe Lightroom with Beth from Unskinny Boppy.  She is amazing.  She is so down to earth and made it all look so easy!  Well, I must tell you I edited a few of the photos in this post (the ones taken at my home) with Lightroom.

Another example on our landing with a pillow I won from Online Fabric Stores.

Online_Fabric_Store_Pillow

I still have a lot to learn but her class was wonderful.  Here is a link to her tutorial from the class.

Then I took Let’s Make a Book Deal.  This class was wonderful giving different options on self-publishing and the more traditional way to publish.  I took this class because one day I hope to have a book.  Right now it is a pipe dream but listening to the panel it made me feel it might be possible one day…  As you know, lately I’ve been feeling like I need to know what I’m doing.  Putting pressure on myself to know what the next step is.  Jen Rizzo said, “Think of your blog as a marathon.  It takes a lot of work.  It is a journey with a long path.”  Along the way you find your voice, your style and your brand.

That night we enjoyed an awesome party hosted by Ryobi and Home Depot.

Ryobi_party1

We didn’t want the party to end.  We didn’t want to say good bye in an elevator.

So we stayed up a little bit longer…

We (Lucy, Rachel, Beth and I) sat in the solarium and enjoyed a bottle of champagne until 3:30am.  I got 2 1/2 hours of sleep before it was time to get on a plane back to Boston.

At the airport, Kristin got to see the Better Homes and Gardens she’s in!  I know that feeling!  We had to take a photo after going through security!  We talked all the way home and it was so wonderful to reflect on the conference and also our few years of blogging together.  Looking forward to her visiting while she’s staying in Connecticut this summer.

Kristin_BHG

So that was my weekend at Haven.  I learned to much and made so many friendships.  I wish I could fit it all into one blog post, but I can’t.  I tried!  I feel so blessed to have spent the weekend with so many talented women.  Women who lift each other up and cheer them on.  True friends.

I was happy to come back home to my own haven.  My husband, one of the greatest in the whole world, had cooked and cleaned and played with our little guys so I could go away. I feel blessed to have this blog, to have this creative community and to have so much love in my home.

boys

 
Haven Alum
0 0 votes
Article Rating

Similar Posts

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

20 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
At Rivercrest Cottage
9 years ago

Totally enjoyed reading this post about Haven. It’s the first one I’ve read that gave me an idea of the sessions that were held. Maybe it’s just too soon and people haven’t recovered yet. Thank you for sharing your insight.

Julia@Cuckoo4Design
9 years ago

So nice to meet you at Haven. There are so many people I wish I’d have had more time to chat with and you are totally one of them. It was so much fun.

cassie
9 years ago

it was such an amazing time! i wish i could have stayed up saturday but i knew i’d be driving 10 hours sunday…. BOOOO!
so great to meet you- you are adorable!

Nancy
9 years ago

So glad you had a wonderful time! Well worth the trip!

Shannon
9 years ago

I still can’t believe I missed it this year. Can’t wait to see you here in September!!!!

Kristin @ bliss-athome.com

Awh! It just feels like a blur now! Haven has come and gone. So glad we got to talk and spend time together! Can’t wait for our visit. That last photo of you boys is my fave. What a great sight to come home too 🙂 xo Kristin

Victoria
9 years ago

I love it! So happy you ladies had the best time. I am so going next year!

Rachel
9 years ago

Oh Danielle! I miss you!! We had so much fun! And you are probably the most thoughtful person I know. I was thinking of this as I was reading and noticing how you pay attention to the details and remembering everyone you met and spent time with… you have a gift of making others feel special and it means more because of how genuine you are. Love you friend!

Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home

So wonderful spending time with you! And I can’t WAIT to hear about your grand GMC adventure!!

Jessica @ Dear Emmeline

Looks like you ladies had a blast! Wish I could have been there. Maybe next year when I don’t have a 2 month old it’ll work out to come.

Beth@Unskinny Boppy
9 years ago

Danielle! Great recap! It was such a pleasure getting to finally connect with you over that 3 am bottle of champagne. THE perfect ending to a perfect Haven trip. Loved meeting you sweet girl!

PS My husband installed our showerhead ASAP, too! LOVE it!

Gwen
9 years ago

It is such a blessing to such an incredibly supportive and fun blogging community! I can’t wait for next year!

Alice W.
9 years ago

I absolutely loved this post Danielle! Loved seeing it all from your perspective. What an amazing opportunity for you. I can tell how everything you learned and got from it is just bursting out of you. I cannot wait until it is my turn to come meet you for Blog Podium! If you can believe it…you will only be the second blogger I will have met in “real life” when I come get you :). Hope we have just as much fun and get lots out of it!

JaneEllen
JaneEllen
9 years ago

So much fun to read all about what you did, the people you met, hung out with, talked with til wee hours of a.m. Not something you’ll do every day that makes the experience even more special to all of you. Nice to have supportive hubs also. Oh just reading all about it, seeing the fun photos of all of you, what a conference it really supposed to be about, the wonderful attendants. One of things I always love about reading blog posts is the generous, helpful, positive atmosphere all the time. It’s a very uplifting experience to share with… Read more »

Sarah
9 years ago

Oh my!! Looved reading this, Danielle!! Sounds like such an amazing experience!!! So nice to get away and connect/reconnect and be amidst those that share the same passions as you. I had no idea you had such famous friends, lol!! I mean, I should have known, you are such a sweetheart:) (And of course you look adorable in every photo!) That’s really cool that you even got to fly down with a friend, get that party started right away;) Love that feather that Lucy made for you, so thoughtful! You got to see Chip Wade?! That’s pretty neat, was he… Read more »

Wendy
9 years ago

Wonderful recap Danielle, you are such a sweet soul inside and out. Was such a wonderful time, I’m so happy we had a chance to catch up again! I came home very inspired! xx

Jackie at pleasure in simple things

Danielle – That conference looked like a blast! Sounds like so many friends, so little time!

Jen
Jen
9 years ago

Haven looks like such an awesome conference. I vow to make it there one day! Its great to get away sometimes, connect with your tribe, and recharge those creative batteries.

Marian@Gathering Branches

Such a great recap. Funny you and I share so many friends. And thanks for the light box link! That should prove very useful.
The Other Marian

Daune | Cottage in the Oaks

Danielle! It was wonderful! So glad to have gotten to spend time together…..it was a treat! =) I second what Rachel said….you are so thoughtful and remember the wonderful details. I love it… I can’t believe that Haven has come and gone. It goes so fast! Looking forward to following your big adventure coming up….you are going to have a blast! xoxoxoxo