Make it Meaningful for Mom

tray | napkins | brass dish | floral candle | matches | tapers | necklace | ribbon

Who wouldn’t want to receive a lovely lacquered tray like this, filled with gorgeous goodies?  I know I would.  Wrap this sucker in clear cello with an over large satin bow, and you might just become BEST.CHILD.EVER.IN.THE.HISTORY.OF.EVER on Mother’s Day.  My momma likes to entertain as much as I do so this tray is filled with some lovely things she can use when throwing together an impromptu soiree.  Bright cocktail napkins, pink statement tapers and matches, a fragrant scent to welcome guests, and an unusual brass accent dish, filled with nuts or bright candies that beckons revelers with open hands.  And let’s not forget that fabulous necklace.  A hostess must always be fabulous!

This concept can easily be adapted to your momma’s tastes.  Forgo the usual hanging floral basket this year and put together something meaningful that lets Momma know just how much you understand and adore her!

As for me, I’d be one happy Momma if I could just go to the loo by myself for once.  #joysofmotherhood

kisses,  mrs. V

African Market Basket

My sincere apologies for neglecting you.  A quick update is in order.  I mentioned that the kuba pattern I hand printed was for a charity event. I was super excited to find out that the African basket containing the tablecloth (the fabric was sewn into a tablecloth) went for close to $300 in the silent auction. Yay!  I did not get a chance to take a picture of the finished presentation but I received the image above the other day which gives you an idea of the finished tablecloth along with the basket.  Speaking of the African basket, I have one of these baskets myself and LOVE it.  My MIL brought it back for me from a farmer's market in North Carolina. Right now it functions to corral my magazine overflow but I intend to take it to the farmer’s market this summer.  Beautiful and functional.  Win!

soooo many stacks and baskets full of magazines hidden behind the table and chair

Happy Humpty Hump Day!

kisses,  mrs. V

Kuba Cloth Progress

After trying my hand on a few fabric projects, here and here, I can appreciate why hand blocked fabrics are sooo expensive.  This is a very time consuming endeavor but one that I very much enjoy.  So I made significant progress yesterday on my kuba-inspired cloth but my back officially hates me.   Let me back up for a minute and answer a few queries on my process.  I draw an image on my block, usually a linoleum covered wood block; carve out the image; if printing on fabric then I spend some time figuring out my pattern – which involves sketchy math, wonky measuring, and copious amounts of wine; the actual printing part is tedious because I re-ink my block for each impression.  For this particular project, I used two blocks to create my pattern and did a simple linear repeat.  I could have done both images on one bigger block but I didn’t have one on hand so I used two small scraps of linoleum.

And here is where printing on fabric gets sporty.  My original intent was to create a simple rectangular border as this printed fabric will be turned into a table cloth.  But then I accidentally screwed up my own pattern and had to switch gears.  Next, I planned on an all over pattern, alternating my 1-2 pattern for each row.  For instance, row 1 is a 1-2 order.  Then row 2 in a 2-1 order.  So I carried on in that fashion printing all my 1-2 rows first, doing this to allow for dry time.  But then I realized that an all over pattern, while awesome, would take me FOREVER.  Plus, my ‘client’ came by yesterday to watch some of the progress and declared that she loved it as is – no alternating rows necessary.  So stripes it is – which works because it looks sort of like an African version of the Greek key in this manner.  Thumbs up.  But I still love the idea of the all over pattern and plan on doing it for myself and making some pillows.

I’m off to give my lower back a break!

kisses,  mrs. V

My Take on Kuba Cloth

I was asked to create an African inspired cloth for a charity event.  This cloth will be turned into a tablecloth to be included in an artisan basket filled with such goodies as a turned wooden bowl, live edge wooden cutting board, and some bottles of vino.  I decided to do a loose interpretation on Kuba cloth.  I took the scale down a bit and now I am in the process of printing - a long and messy but worthwhile process.  Will share more pics when it is complete.

kisses,  mrs. V   

The Good Outnumber You

No words.  So I am borrowing them.

quote taken from here

My thoughts go out to our friends in Boston and all of humanity, really.  Because I still believe, in spite of any barbarous act, that humanity is overwhelmingly good.

kisses,  mrs. V

Angie Hranowsky's Pink Bedroom

Geesh.  This week sort of got away from me, didn’t it?!  I know I said I was going to share some of my favorite scouting haunts with you, and I intend to, but what I got for you today is just plain pretty.  By now I am sure most of you have seen the latest issue of Lonny.  Have some thoughts on the whole new helm change but I’ll save those for another day.  Instead today I want to focus on Angie Hranowsky’s feature of her new home.  Love love her work.  Super love her new pinky-t bedroom.  No big shocker there.   Really dig how she used color and art (the art!) to put her personal stamp on a rental.  That living room is bananas good too!

I die for this vignette - especially that nudey nude

All images from Lonny

Here’s to Friday!!

kisses,  mrs. V

And the Winner Is...

Well hoo-ray!  Lindsay is our lucky little lady this morning.  Your cocktailing just got a little more chic!  Thank you to everyone who entered.  I am a gifty kind of gal so rest assured there will be mucho opportunity to getcha some Chez V love.  As I said on Friday, I enjoy making stuff and sharing it with my friends, and you, my dears, are quickly becoming just that!

Today is a scouting day which means I will be out and about looking for goodies and inspiration.   One question I get asked most often is where I do I find stuff.  The short answer is everywhere.  But specifically, I have some regular haunts that I scout frequently.  Tomorrow I will talk more about where I scout and the key to finding the good stuff.

Have a great Tuesday - most productive day of the week!

kisses,  mrs. V