What I’ve Done

Examples of work or related experience

City Tile: Patios? Pati-Ohhs!

Posted by on Aug 12, 2014 in What I've Done

City Tile: Patios? Pati-Ohhs!

Today’s patios are more than just concrete squares that extend from the back of the house. They are more than wood decks.

Trends for modern patios include unique focal points, including staircases, garden features, fire pits, and more, all creating a new space that adds character, and more room, to your home.

You may want to make more of your yard or deck, but don’t know where to begin to create a cozy nook for your family to entertain or just veg out in the evenings. You have to know how you are going to utilize your new patio — entertaining, dining, relaxing, etc. — before you can add the details.

Once you know what you are likely to use the space for, you can then look at how you want to create the atmosphere.

  • Outdoor tile: The foundation of your new patio, you can cover an existing area, extend it, or create a whole new outdoor “room”. Outdoor tile can add structure, color and texture, and it sets the tone for the rest of the décor.
  • Outdoor lighting: From string lights to light posts, solar lamps to lanterns, you can use lighting to set perimeters to your patio and add ambiance.
  • Trends for this summer include sumptuous seating and bigger dining areas, and plush cushions for entertaining guests during the evenings. Also popular are transitional areas that bring indoor contemporary looks to the outdoors.
  • Although bold colors like cayenne, marigold, and oranges are popular this year, you will need to pair them with neutral shades to balance, or use corresponding colors to create tonal combinations. Popular color combinations include yellows and grays and tonal blues. Black and white is always in style.
  • Finishing touches: Black fences are commonly seen in Japanese-inspired gardens, and provide a dramatic backdrop, especially striking when contrasted with the white shutters. A black fence can also is a striking backdrop for plants, especially native plants with their gray-green colors.

Fire pits, specifically stone pits, are also popular, providing a focal point for your patio, as well as a center for conversation. They also function as a way to keep warm on cooler nights, roast weenies or marshmallows, and add lighting to a dark night.

[http://www.citytile.net/patios/]

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City Tile: Empty Nest is Potential Space

Posted by on Aug 12, 2014 in What I've Done

City Tile: Empty Nest is Potential Space

Your son or daughter has gone off to college or moved out, and you are feeling like the house is incomplete with the empty room.

For a little investment you can change that empty room into a home office, recreation or crafting room or even a guest bedroom.

Update the space with an accent wall painted in a fun, bold color such as emerald green, navy blue, or mustard yellow. You can also find fabrics for window hangings, plush pillows and rugs that add color or texture.

You can find inexpensive shelving to store all your files, knick knacks and other pieces, and depending on your renovation’s purpose, a bench by the window or arm chair in a corner can create a quiet space to reflect, remember or be productive.

A small bedroom can be transformed into a large dressing room with shelves, suspended rods, vanity table, full-length mirrors, and jewelry armoire. Or a study or library only requires shelves, comfy seating and great lighting to become a sanctuary.

Guest rooms or a futon in a home office can be great options if you want to retain sleeping arrangements for when your child comes home to visit.

[http://www.citytile.net/empty-nest-potential-space/]

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Uncle Dave Macon Days 2014 Press Conference Release

Posted by on May 12, 2014 in What I've Done

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 29, 2014

CONTACT

Samantha E. Donaldson

615.293.1755

Samantha@sedonaldson.com

 

Uncle Dave Macon Days award winners, new festival features shared with media at press conference

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — Today representatives of Uncle Dave Macon Days presented by Beaman Automotive Group and RAM Trucks announced the festival’s 2014 Trailblazer and Heritage Award winners at a press conference held at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.

Grammy-nominated, three-time IBMA Entertainer of the Year, Dailey & Vincent were named as the Heritage Award winner for their efforts to preserve the styles of old-time music. Awardees are recognized Saturday night of the festival and act as the Grand Marshal for the motorless parade the Saturday morning.

“We’re honored and humbled to be recognized for an American art form we both grew up loving and respecting.  I feel unworthy of such an award as this; it’s a passion for the music that comes natural from my heart and soul,” said Darrin Vincent of Dailey & Vincent. “I’m proud to be a small part of promoting and educating new people the world round, and am very appreciative of your kindness you’re showing to Dailey & Vincent.”

Leroy Troy, Roland White, and The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band were collectively announced as the Trailblazer Award winner for this year’s festival. The Trailblazer Award recognizes artists for their contributions to old-time music through preservation and performance.

More than 25,000 people attended the festival in 2013, and Uncle Dave Macon Days organizers are looking to increase that number with new features at the 2014 event.

“Running the festival has become more like a business; it has become a corporation in some sense, but the balance of all that, in working out each detail, is remembering that you don’t have to be a star to be famous. That’s what Uncle Dave Macon Days is about. Everybody’s contribution matters,” said Gloria Christy, president of Uncle Dave Macon Days.

The Mathilda Macon Folks Art Village, named for Uncle Dave’s wife, was a new feature from 2013. This year the arts and crafts village will be adding more demonstrations and hands-on activities for children.

“Kids will be able to assemble a bird house with the woodworking association, or they can make a clay pot,” said Teresa Owen, vendor director for Arts and Crafts and Food for the festival.

In addition to the new children’s activities, Friday will be the last day of the Macon Music Education day camp, and campers will be attending the festival from 10 a.m. to noon.

“Friday is all about kids. We’ll be starting the competitions with the beginning instrumental and continue with the junior championships for buckdancing and clogging,” Christy said. “Kids will get to watch kids performing old-time stuff, and kids will perform for other kids in the audience.”

New festival gate times were also shared at the press conference. Gates will open at 8 a.m. Friday with the festival beginning at 10 a.m. Gates will open at 8 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday, with festival activities starting one hour later.

Sunday will also have extended hours, with activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We will have an extended and enhanced Sunday with big name acts and a new antique car show,” Christy said.

Also new for 2014 will be the addition of food trucks representing the Nashville Food Truck Association, who will be selling meals and snacks along side the returning food vendors.

Christy announced RAM Trucks as the first national sponsor of the festival. RAM will join other returning sponsor, including, Beaman Automotive, Wilson Bank & Trust, Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation, Ole South Properties, Shacklett’s Photography, Ready Set Rutherford and Barker & Christol Advertising.

For more information, please contact Samantha E. Donaldson, publicity coordinator, by email at Samantha@sedonaldson.com or by phone at 615.293.1755; you can also contact Gloria Christy, president Uncle Dave Macon Days, by phone at 615.893.2369.

Additional information and future announcements can be found at the festival’s website at UncleDaveMaconDays.com and the festival’s Facebook page.

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Uncle Dave Macon Days 2014 Media Advisory

Posted by on May 12, 2014 in What I've Done

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        CONTACT

Samantha E. Donaldson                                                                                           615.293.1755

April 24, 2014

samantha@sedonaldson.com

 

MEDIA ADVISORY

Uncle Dave Macon Days award winners, festival changes announced at upcoming press conference

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — The annual Uncle Dave Macon Days press conference will be held from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Cannonsburgh Historic Village. Members of the media are invited to attend the announcement of the festival’s Heritage and Trailblazer award winners and new changes for the 2014 event.

WHO: Address by Gloria Christy, president of Uncle Dave Macon Days;

music provided by bluegrass band Dailey and Vincent, Leroy Troy and the Tennessee Mafia, Rob Pearcy and the Slim Chance Band, others.

WHEN: Band jam session begins at 1 p.m. with announcements to follow.

WHERE: Cannonsburgh Historic Village, 312 S. Front St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130

WHAT TO KNOW: A Q&A session will be held at the end of the conference, as well as times for individual interviews. Photos of the Heritage and Trailblazer award winners will be available.

CONTACT: Samantha E. Donaldson, 615.293.1755, samantha@sedonaldson.com;

Gloria Christy, president Uncle Dave Macon Days, 615. 893.2369.

For more information and future announcements, please visit the Uncle Dave Macon Days website at uncledavemacondays.com and the festival’s Facebook page.

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City Tile posts up for view

Posted by on Apr 21, 2014 in What I've Done

It’s always exciting to see the fruits of your labor ready for viewing, and the new posts for City Tile’s website are no exception.

Here’s the latest posts:

Buying Carpet – Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck

Capet has advantages over other styles of flooring because it offers comfort, warmth, sound canceling, and color. But when buying carpet, what do you need to look for to really get the most bang for your buck?

Don’t skimp on padding. It provides a necessary foundation including support, strength, and cushioning. It can help regulate the temperature in your home and lengthen the life of your carpet.

The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends a 7/16-inch padding with 6 pounds of density per cubic feet to support cut pile or cut loop carpeting. For Berber or thin loop rugs, look for a 3/8-inch pad or thinner, with 8 pounds of density per cubic foot [source: Carpet and Rug Institute].

Carpet comes in a variety of types including plush, Saxony, Berber, textured and frieze. These terms apply to its pile, which is the surface you see, created from yarn tufts that are either folded over into loops, cut straight across, or both.

Each has it’s own look, but your main concern is how your lifestyle will be affected by the carpet type. Sure the plush, thick pile will be great under your toes, but it will show foot track and wear differently than a shorter, stiffer pile.

Give some thoughts on where the carpeting will be going and how much it will need to stand up to. Then you can begin looking at the price range that fits your budget.

Carpet doesn’t have to be expensive to be luxurious, but you should not opt for something cheap to simply save money. Consider the replacement cost on a lower priced, but shorter lifespan pile carpet. Would you save money long-term by going with a more durable choice?

Children and pets could be incentives to look at stain resistant or repellant carpets as well.

While a neutral shade may be the choice for many carpet buyers, you don’t have to settle for sandy taupes or “greige”. If you want your carpet to be a focal point for the room, there are tons of options of color, pattern, and texture. [http://www.citytile.net/buying-carpet-getting-bang-buck/]

Trendy Décor Updates, Built to Last by City Tile

Looking to renovate your home this spring? There are several things you should know, including what you may need to budget and what trends are growing in popularity for 2014.

According to Mortgage and Real Estate News, the average cost of a kitchen renovation is $21,822.  For a bathroom that number comes in at $10,042.

Before renovating you MUST determine whether you are making changes to add functionality or to add appeal. This will determine the level or renovation you are undertaking. If you want to update your kitchen to make it more to your individual tastes, painting the cabinets, changing hardware and only replacing your linoleum with a tiled floor may do the trick at a lower cost than ripping out all the countertops and cabinetry.

However, if you have no pantry and no storage in your kitchen, or if you want to expand the room you live in so much of time, then a full renovation may be in order to make your life more comfortable.

One on-trend update is a backsplash in a popular color such as sage green, golden apricot or dark plum.

Lighting through chandeliers, studio lights or even running through the cabinets are also being seen more and more. If you are looking for a smaller change, add more architectural fixtures over existing lighting casings.

With bathrooms, the uncluttered, minimalist feel is the up-to-date look. Think warm woods, sleek metallics, and cool marbles and tiling. If zen is your trend, you can look to the Japanese gardens for inspiration with colors and function.

However, if minimal is a little too, well, minimal for you, that’s okay. Imagine a space that is more like a spa, with plush towels, flattering lighting and relaxing benches or large tubs. This update has been added to bathrooms across the country.

In any case, City Tile has everything you need to get your house closer to the home of your dreams! [http://www.citytile.net/trendy-decor-updates-built-last-city-tile/]

Of course you can ALWAYS check out CityTile.net to see what new stuff I’ve got going up on flooring, home renovations and expert advice.

 

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Doughnuts need early start

Posted by on Apr 21, 2014 in What I've Done

Employees prepare thousands of baked goods for day’s sales; regulars know schedule well

“Sometimes I think they have doughnut alarm clocks.”

James Barry, an employee with Donut Country for 24 years, rolls dough thinner and thinner before cutting nugget-like shells to be filled with Bavarian cream and jelly.

After years of baking doughnuts, he has perfected the wrist flick with flour to keep dough from sticking to his work table.

Behind him a radio blares an eclectic techno rock song.

Donut Country opened about 25 years ago and now has two locations: Middle Tennessee Boulevard and Memorial Boulevard. The Memorial Boulevard store is open 24 hours during the week, and it has become a hangout spot for night owls.

Starting around 9 each evening, the bakers begin the process of making a variety of doughnuts, fritters, eclairs and cinnamon rolls.

“I used to cut these by hand one at a time,” Barry says. “Now we can do this faster.”

He is talking about a machine equipped with a giant roller line with cutouts of the doughnut and shell shapes. He can turn out dozens in a few minutes now.

Some things have changed in his more than 20 years, but “(t)he (dough) mix is still the same,” he says.

Once the dough is mixed, it is divided into batches. Barry and a team of two more then cut, proof, fry and finish hundreds of doughnuts each night.

“Monday and Tuesday are smaller nights, so we do about 2,000,” says Sarah Goodwin. “On a bigger night we’ll do double that.”

Known as the finisher, Goodwin’s quick-moving eyes roam the stacks of freshly fried cake doughnuts. She pulls out the “prettiest” ones, which will be left plain. The next best will be glazed, and the ones with any distortions or dents will be rolled into a Dutch mix.

“I’ve been working here on and off since 2001,” Goodwin says, constantly moving to pull symmetrical doughnuts into an awaiting container. “It’s a really good job. I’m the finisher. I fill and dip doughnuts. I also do apple fritters.”

The apple fritters aren’t just the run-of-the mill pastries. They are about the size of a salad plate.

“Those are giant apple fritters,” says one customer.

“They are, but around here, we just call them ‘regular’ fritters,” says Bruce Slovak, a Donut Country employee who serves customers.

Holding court like entertainers of yore, Slovak cracks jokes, breaks into song and makes a show of even the most mundane tasks.

“Sometimes it is slow, sometimes pretty steady,” he says stacking paper sacks for to-go doughnut orders. “We get a lot of college students. I’d say 60 to 70 percent of our customers are. We have some regulars.”

Regulars with doughnut alarm clocks wander in as soon as the first batch is ready. They grab some coffee and a few doughnuts and slip into a corner booth. Laptops, textbooks and ear-buds signal a late night study session.

“I love that this place is family-owned,” says Slovak, leaning against a glass display case. The warm aroma of frying dough wafts through the cracks of the open shelving behind him. “I love to interact with customers. You can be genuine, not fake, and shove sales down their throat.”

Slovak laughs and carries on with customers. Just through a rack of shelves the bakers keep the doughnuts coming in time with some classic rock tunes.

“It keeps us going,” Barry says. “We listen to everything from classic to country to techno.”

Sheets of cut doughnuts go into the “proofer” which allows the dough to rise. It must sit for an hour before they are ready to be fried and finished.

“You have to stay ahead of it,” he says.

Across the room Goodwin is packing up three dozen cake doughnuts for a veteran’s home.

Slovak’s infectious laugh echoes above the hum of the 80-degree kitchen.

“It’s just a typical night,” Barry says.

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