The Art Market Gallery, a cooperative of over 60 regional artists, is an art lover’s destination for top quality, but affordable, original art and fine crafts that range from the traditional to the contemporary.  Founded during the Knoxville World’s Fair, for the last four years the gallery has thrived in its current location, which is a stylish, sprawling space situated in downtown Knoxville at 422 South Gay Street just a few doors down from the Mast General Store.

The gallery attracts locals and out-of-towners alike.  Its professional artists come from throughout East Tennessee, and all have been through a comprehensive jury process which ensures the gallery can continue to maintain the high standards of quality and creativity for which the Art Market has long been known.  Represented are painters and printmakers, sculptors and potters, photographers, jewelers, weavers, wood-turners and furniture makers, as well as fiber, glass, mixed-media artists and others whose styles and creations defy pigeonholing.

April is a busy month at the gallery.   Featured artists are wood-turner Janis Proffitt and painter Mary Ellen Bohm, both of Knoxville. The artists will be honored at the gallery’s April 2nd First Friday reception from 5:30-9 pm.

Beginning April 20th and running through May 8th, the gallery will hold its Annual Members Auction.  This silent auction allows gallery visitors to bid on original art and fine crafts for a chance to buy these artworks at a fraction of their value.  During the Rossini Festival’s Italian Street Fair on April 24th, the gallery, along with an outdoor booth in front, will remain open
until 9 pm.

With complimentary refreshments and live music, the gallery is a very popular stop on the downtown First Friday circuit.  In addition to spotlighting the works of the monthly featured artists and changing exhibitions of new works by their colleagues, these receptions provide an opportunity to mingle with member artists, patrons and collectors.

422 S. Gay Street, Downtown Knoxville

11 am to 6 pm Tue-Sat, 1 to 5 pm Sunday
Major credit cards accepted

865.525.5265

www.artmarketgallery.net
facebook.com/Art.Market.Gallery

East Tennessee’s musical history is as rich as it is varied.

Dogwood Arts Festival celebrates this heritage with Rhythm ‘N Blooms.

This weekend-long event features musical performances by locally-revered and nationally-renowned artists whose work falls under the broad banner of “Americana” music. A genre spanning country, blues, jazz, rock, bluegrass and folk, Americana is generally categorized by a strong sense of musical tradition even as it may expand beyond traditional musical boundaries. Produced in partnership with Knoxville Americana Music Foundation.

Bands

Ben Sollee &
Daniel Martin Moore

Carrie Rodriguez

The Old Ceremony Those Darlins

Samantha Crain

Dixie Bee-Liners

Yarn

The New Familiars

Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside

18 South

The Black Lillies

Elliot Brood

RB Morris & Hector Qirko

Shotgun Party

Kristin Andreassen

Kris Delmhorst

Soulgrass Rebellion Harpeth Rising

The Drunk Uncles
Rollin’ Highway Revue

Stephen Sebastian

…And many more to be announced!

Cleaning with Consistency

Owners John and Christina Fitzwilliam have been in the deep-cleaning business for almost two years. “I love to see my husband do something he gets excited about,” says Christina. She remembers the 60+ hours a week that John was required to work in restaurant management. After 17 years in the restaurant business, they were both ready for a change.

Christina saw some amazing videos showing some state-of-the-art cleaning equipment. “At first I didn’t know if the images I was seeing were real or had been edited,” she says. “The results were so dramatic that I was skeptical. When John got home that night we watched in awe one video clip after another. We saw carpet, tile and grout, concrete, stone, and most every surface we could think of become almost spotless.”

A few days later they traveled to Arizona to see this equipment first hand. “When we saw in person what we had seen on the videos, we were instantly sold,” says Christina. “Surface Doc, inc. was born the following week.”

Two years later, Surface Doc, inc. is going strong. “In the first few months, we would pray for the phone to ring. Now it seems the phone rings constantly,” says Christina.  Being the only deep-cleaning company in the Knoxville area with this equipment has given them a niche they are grateful for.

So, what makes Surface Doc stand apart from the other cleaning companies? Ask John and you’ll see his face light up. He’ll tell you that Surface Doc uses up to 3,000 PSI of PURIFIED water, which is four times that of his competitors. They use sanitizing hot water, up to 240º. Surface Doc is a GREEN clean company and the 15 pounds of vacuum ensures your floors are dry with no residue left behind.

Two years later, John and Christina have some of their own “unbelievable, but real photos and videos from previous job.”

You can see them at www.SurfaceDoc.com. Drop John a note or call him today at 865-567-1986.

Keller Williams Realty
Helping to make life worth living, one client at a time

This past February, Keller Williams Knoxville West won the award for the most successful new Keller Williams office across the USA and Canada! Team Leader and Broker, Sharon Laing, won the coveted “Black Belt” Team Leader Award (the top award in this category.  There have only been 12 awarded in the history of the company) and she remains the #1 Team Leader in the Southeast Region.   Along the way to earning these awards, the company grew from 21 agents to 121 agents, in the process selling over $91.7M in real estate in East Tennessee last year alone (all while the Knoxville market declined 13%). And although the numbers speak volumes, the true success comes when agents and, in turn, clients’ lives are changed.
“Our agents turn the stress, fear and uncertainty of difficult times and a turbulent market into confidence, strength and compassion,” says Holli McCray of Keller Williams Knoxville West.
The third largest real estate company in the United States and only 12,500 agents from becoming the biggest in the country, Keller Williams is built on the belief that clients choose agents, not companies. That’s why Keller Williams does not believe in charging agents for costly, national advertising campaigns. Instead, the real estate firm’s resources go to helping agents build their own brands. In turn, this agent-centric business model helps ensure a better buying experience for clients.
To maintain this level of service, Keller Williams offers various training courses in its West Knoxville office. These real estate training courses, which are taught by brilliant Keller Williams leadership, are available to each and every agent in the Knoxville market. The belief is that the more agents know, the better they can serve the Knoxville market.
Unlike other real estate companies, Keller Williams offers profit sharing, which was designed to reward agents for working together, creating an environment of sharing that enables agents to serve their clients better.  Committed to treating associates as stakeholders and partners, Keller Williams Realty has created a unique profit sharing program in which close to 50 percent of their profit is given back to the agents who help build it!  Keller Williams Knoxville West paid over $115k back to their agents in 2009!  These agents are vested in their profit share program after 36 months with the company. 
Keller Williams Knoxville West, a debt free company, is also constantly ahead of the curve where technology and marketing are concerned.  Baylor University houses the Keller Center for Research in Residential Real Estate Marketing for Keller Williams International and Keller Williams Knoxville agents are among the beneficiaries of this research. This means KW agents have the knowledge to help investors find better investments, help sellers sell for more money/less stress and help buyers purchase more wisely.

The Market of the Moment: Short Sales!  
Everyone wants to know what a short sale is these days!  Expert Short Sale Agent John Verdeaux calls it the “ultimate real estate win-win!”  From condos to luxury homes, short sales are the answer for anyone who can no longer afford their mortgage and may be facing foreclosure or contemplating bankruptcy.  Short sales can be the answer… and the commission is paid by the bank!  For more information on Short Sales, visit www.KnoxvilleForeclosureHelp.com.

Mission: To build careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living.
Vision: To be the real estate company of choice for a new generation of sales associates and real estate owners.
Values: God, Family, then Business

Spring Cleaning for Your HVAC System!

Rocky Top Air is your local resource for top quality heating and air conditioning services. Our professional team knows exactly what to inspect on your system to make sure it is operating at maximum efficiency so you will save money on utility bills.

With warm weather approaching, it’s a great time to do some SPRING CLEANING on your heating and cooling system! Rocky Top Air offers a complete 19 Point Precision Tune-Up that includes professional cleaning and a safety inspection to reduce the chance of unexpected breakdowns and make sure your system is dependable and safe. We identify existing or potential problems that can impact your system’s efficient operation such as draining/clogging issues, water leakage, filter changes, refrigerant levels (to avoid frozen coils), correct voltage draw on the motors, thermostat calibration, and tightening of loose electrical connections. We also clean the condenser coil and lubricate all moving parts (where applicable).

With newer, energy-efficient models now on the market, the professionals at Rocky Top Air can evaluate whether an improvement in your system is necessary to achieve additional cost savings and added comfort in your home. Plus there’s a LIFETIME REPAIR WARRANTY on the purchase of all new systems! Rocky Top Air provides reliability, efficiency, value, and performance you can count on!

For April and May, take advantage of a $40 discount on our 19 Point Precision Tune-Up at $49.95 instead of $89.95. If you need a new system, Rocky Top Air is designated as a Trane Comfort Specialist and provides a more diverse selection of Trane equipment than other dealers in this area. We also offer a variety of financing options to fit within your budget.

Please give us a call, 865.474.1511, www.RockyTopAir.com, 3035 Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919.

Chocolate never tasted so good!
The best chocolate in Knoxville is at Schakolad Chocolate Factory, where just about anything you can imagine is made out of premium European chocolate.
Gus Paredes and his family took ownership in November 2009 with a remarkable success. They have over 800 molds for just about any occasion that can be customized and personalized, and corporate logos can be incorporated in many different ways onto Schakolad’s chocolate.
Couples who are planning for the special day can also add a decadent touch and personalize truffles with an array of special ways including a chocolate fountain rental. Gus can work with all budgets.
Any occasion is a perfect occasion to enjoy chocolate at Schakolad’s. In addition to customized pieces, they offer more than 80 types of chocolates which are hand-dipped or made on-site at the store.
Truffles range in a variety of flavors with everything from Italian Amaretto to Key Lime, dipped fruits or pretzels, nut clusters or just plain dark, white or milk chocolate. Also, they carry chocolate-dipped strawberries all year round.
Diabetic customers or those who prefer to enjoy their chocolate without sugar or carbs will want to try Schakolad’s delicious sugar-free chocolates.
“Our customers say that our sugar-free candy is the best, and they can’t tell the difference from regular chocolate,” Gus says.
With the weather warming up, customers will also want to taste Schakolad’s gelato, which is a richly flavorful Italian ice cream.
They also do birthday parties and private chocolate events.
Store hours are from 10 am to 9 pm Monday through Saturday and from 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday. For more information, call (865) 675-2626, email turkeycreek@schakolad.com or visit www.schakolad.com.

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

Fog Force Bird Repellent
With warmer weather approaching many of us are anxious to enjoy our outdoor living areas once again. One of the free perks that Mother Nature provides for our enjoyment is numerous species of multi-colored birds, each with their own song to sing.

Birds, however, can become a nuisance, and in some instances a health risk when they nest in eaves, above outdoor fixtures and near patios. Most attempts by homeowners to discourage our feathered friends are usually ineffective and temporary.
But now there is an avian specific, non-lethal repellent, Fog Force, that controls their behavior. The repellent, methyl anthranilate, a totally natural product derived from concord grapes and orange blossoms, repels all species of birds, yet is not harmful to humans or pets.
This same active ingredient is a common food additive found in beverages, ice cream, candy, gelatin, pudding and chewing gum.

The best time to apply Fog Force is in the early morning or early evening. Applied with either a thermal or mechanical fogger, the fog will dissipate after only a few minutes.
Applied as a fog, Fog Force is a temporary irritant to the eyes and mucous membranes of birds. After several applications, the behavior of unwanted roosting birds is modified and they search out alternative nesting sites. Continued metering of product makes the area unattractive to birds and keeps them away.
To learn more about Fog Force, to ask questions or to find out how to purchase the product for application, call Steve Krawczyk at 865-919-1615.

Upholstery 101 for comfort and style

Spring has sprung and you have been diligent in re-feathering your nest. You have finished that remodeling project or purchased your new home, and you are ready to move onto the furnishing selections. Last month I showed you how a transitional style works in many homes and is popular in today’s interior styles, and how you can implement that style in your home. This month I am going to help you understand what quality upholstery terms mean so that you can best select the proper upholstery for your home.
First you must consider how the furniture will be used and by whom. A family room sofa needs to be more durable than seating for a single individual who only occasionally entertains. The anatomy of the furniture, as well as fabric and leather wearability and cleaning codes, should also be considered. The comfort and quality of upholstery is based on what’s hidden beneath the fabric. The frame, springs and padding are the bones of your upholstery.
Kiln-dried, hardwood frames are traditionally the best for ensuring long-term stability and shape retention. (Soft woods are rarely used as they are more likely to warp or split.) Quality hardwood frames are joined with some combination of dowels, screws, glue, staples and corner blocks… and the best examples use a combination of these methods. Springs should be “Eight-Way” hand-tied: A time-honored construction method using a series of coils, each tied from front to back, side to side and diagonally, eight times. This system creates even comfort and prevents “give” in the frame. This traditional method is believed to offer superior comfort.
Cushioning and padding refers to the way furniture “sits” and is influenced by the cushioning and padding in the seat, back and arms. No matter which method is used, cushioning must be evenly distributed and conceal the feel of the springs and frame. Most manufacturers produce a standard cushion using 1.8 – 2.0 density foam core with some form of synthetic wrap, often Dacron fill. “DENSITY” refers to a cushion’s resilience. The higher the density the firmer or more resilient a cushion sits.
“DOWN-BLEND” wraps are a popular method for producing a more sumptuous cushion. The down-blend is wrapped around a foam core to provide the look and feel of down without the maintenance. Down-blend is a mixture of down and waterfowl feathers. Synthetic fibers are also mixed with the feathers to give extra resiliency. A 10/90 blend refers to 10% down and 90% feathers mixed with 50% synthetic fibers. A 25/75 blend is 25% down and 75% feathers mixed with 50% synthetic fibers.
“SPRING DOWN” cushions use a series of spring coils that sit within a “skeleton” of foam. This unit is then wrapped in down or down-blend and encased in down-proof ticking. The result is seating that has some of down’s luxury, but with built-in resilience and firmness thus not near the maintenance of down.
At O.P. Jenkins Furniture Store we carry many manufactures of this quality. Our own private label is one; Sherrill, Bernhardt and Hickory White are just a few more we carry. You can visit me there and get all your answers and match your budget to the right manufacturer for your furnishing needs. To see more examples of our furnishings, go to carolhudson.asidtn.com or www.opjenkinsfurniture.com.

O.P. Jenkins
209 W. Summit Hill Drive
Knoxville, TN 37902
865.522.9632
sales@opkenkinsfurniture.com

Profile:

Kim Jackson came to O.P. Jenkins Furniture Store nine months ago after a recent move from Rome, Georgia. She knows that she was created for two things… beauty and relationships. Here she finds the perfect balance of these two things.

Kim worked with Griffin Designs/Room Service in Rome for eight years. She got a great deal of her knowledge of furniture and eye for design from her mother, an artist and designer in Ohio. She graduated with a degree in Sociology and Psychology from Anderson College.

She enjoys the creative aspects of her work, but she especially enjoys connecting with her clients. “I know that for some people shopping for furniture can be a stressful experience, I know some clients know exactly what they want, and some are overwhelmed with the idea of design. I enjoy helping them sort through the process to find what works best for them.”

As the saying goes, March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb! We’re hoping there’s a lot of truth in this as we look forward to the return of sunny days and fun spring fashions!

From floral, to watercolor, to ethnic, prints are everywhere this season… already matched for you, you’ll have no trouble wearing the looks with confidence.

Glorious florals and other garden-inspired elements are trends this season; dresses covered in floral bouquets, handbags, shoes and necklaces with front and center flowers. Petal embellishment on cardigans and shirts bring a fresh, fun and flirty look to spring 2010.

Neutral shades are a soft and subtle knock-out… they’re elegant and so, so easy to work with. Champagne, blush, beige, grays and putty color tones are an essential as you begin to build your spring-summer wardrobe.

Remember that gray can look much softer on the skin than black or navy and its strength is to highlight lines and details… choose grays that emphasize cut, fabrication and craftsmanship. Perfect to pair with every color, gray can be worn as your basic, giving a fresh, softer change from your basic black. A great new trend that’s sure to be around for a while, spanning season after season.

There’s going to be a style that appeals to everyone… the fashion trends are so widespread. If you’re the classic, Coco Chanel type, try the feminine look. It’s showing up in blouses with flirty collars… tiered accents that lend themselves to a balance found in tailored, structured bottoms such as the skinny jean or a pencil skirt.

The ethnic look is strong, also, as worldly prints such as placed tie-dye and animal patterns are adding excitement to spring fashions. Guaranteeing a lot of “hipitude”… yes, that’s a mix of hipness and attitude… you’ll wear these pieces with your own style showing through!

There’s never a dull moment in our wonderful world of fashion – it’s fun, fast-paced and exciting as we gear up at The Lily Pad to greet you with our fabulous selections for spring 2010!

Remember… you can shop for three generations at The Lily Pad! It’s a great place to spend the day and enjoy a girl day together, taking a lunch break at one of our fabulous eateries in Sweewater and leaving with lots of happy spring fashions for each of you!

Blueberries: Add Flavor to Your Landscape
Niko Pantanizopoulos
Ellenburg Landscaping & Nursery

Blueberry pie, blueberry pancakes, blueberry compote… Blueberries not only add flavor to our favorite foods, but they also can add flavor to our landscapes. Blueberries are an intriguing plant because they can be dual purpose for a homeowner. They can be functional—as producing fruit—as well as ornamental with their attractive glossy green foliage, fiery red fall foliage, and beautiful delicate flowers. They are fairly easy to take care of, as well. Rabbiteye blueberries are among the best adapted, most disease resistant, and most low-maintenance for our area.

One thing that makes rabbiteye blueberries so well suited for our area is that they are not as picky about their soil pH as are other blueberries; a pH of 4 to 5.5 is fine, but no higher than 5.5. When you fertilize the plants, use a fertilizer formulated for acid loving plants (such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias), preferably a slow-release (such as HiYield®), and this will help to maintain an acceptable level of acidity in the soil. While rabbiteyes are more tolerant to fluctuations in soil moisture than other blueberries, it is still important to provide a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch at all times. Planting them in soil amended with peat moss helps maintain soil moisture, too.
Blueberries are peculiar in that they have very shallow feeder roots which lack fine root hairs. Such root hairs help a plant to absorb nutrients and water efficiently. Incidentally, plants of the Ericaceae family form a strong relationship with a class of soil fungi called mycorrhizae which break down soil particles and feed the roots nutrients in exchange for sugars from the plant root. Some of our soils don’t have a good supply of these fungi so it is a good idea to add mycorrhizae when planting your blueberry. Our associates can provide you more information about mycorrhizae and Biotone® products. Also, make sure the blueberries are situated in the full sun. Your biggest pests on your blueberries will probably be children and birds!