Bamboo Trim! I've Died and Gone to Heaven

First things first, a huge thank you to Christine Price, owner/operator of  LaDeDa Salon for hosting me and to everyone who came out on Wednesday evening for the Open House.  We had loads of fun - if you mix gals, vino, sparkly bits, and monogrammed wares – you have a recipe for a good time.  I took many orders for custom glassware and as I expected, the beverage bottle was a huge seller but I must say the star of the show was the vintage, one-of-a-kind  jewelry.  I sold many of my favorite pieces, in fact, one right off of my arm!!  As I was packing things up, ladies were inquiring about when I was having the next show.  I’ll take that as a good sign. More to come!

Secondly, I want to have a minute with this little piece of awesomeness.  Seriously, shut up with that tortoiseshell-looking bamboo molding.  And custom-painted grass cloth.  I mean.

Really I just adore everything happening about this little situation.  Kudos to Kevin Isbell who is responsible for the design.  It is in the Dec/Jan 2013 House Beautiful.  Newell and his crew continue to be at the top of their game.  I very much appreciate that he is dialed into the blog world and has featured many bloggers in this month’s issue in conjunction with the features.  But what is up with the website?    Am I missing something?  Help me to understand why I can’t ever seem to access the pictures or the features.  Is there some sort of secret knock? As a magazine subscriber you would think that I could access the ding dang website.

So ya get a picture of a picture.  Dumb.

Anywho, I am one tired lady.  I need this wknd to recharge like nobody’s business but I have a little something up my sleeve that requires mucho energy.  So here’s hoping that coffee and vino push me on through!

kisses,  mrs. V

Giving Thanks and a Chez V Open House

Getting things together for this year's table

Hope your Thanksgiving holiday was all kumbaya and stuff.  Holidays can be hectic, especially for a stress mess like myself, but I have so much to be thankful for this year.  Even though 2012 will likely go down in the books as a bummer year for the Chez V household, some really amazing things have happened too.  Like this blog, for instance.  Can you even believe that I am still at it? Trust me when I tell you that that is no small feat for a person who is allergic to stick-to-it-ness.  So thanks to you, whomever most of you are, for coming by daily for a visit.  I promise to keep at it.  Hopefully better than before.

Mixed things up a bit this year using Villeroy & Boch and Limoges

Whilst I am in a giving of thanks state of mind, I must give thanks to a few folks that put me on the map, as it were, this year.  Thanks to Scot, Jenny, Alison, and Linda.  You know why, and y’all are awesome sauce in my book.

Continuing on in the spirit of small business Saturday I am encouraging any of you local Tri-State folks to come out to my Chez V Open House on Wednesday night.  I am a teeny tiny small business and I am so thankful to the folks who have helped support this little passion of mine.  It really matters.  As in helps to pay for medical bills and such. Big harry deal in a house in which neither of us is technically nor officially employed.    So thanks for that too!

Here is the deal for the rest of you non-local folks.  I have been getting a lot of questions about whether I have a website or catalog for the stuff I make and share via my various social media handles.  The answer is ‘not yet.’  Remember the whole teeny tiny small biz thing? Yeah, small.  So, if you like anything you see, just contact me here or shout at me via FB.  Most of my business is custom orders that come via word of mouth.  Think lots of etched glass monogramming, customized gifts and stationary that are perfect for the holidays, housewarming, birthdays, hostess and such.

He is Born urn

monogrammed pillows

Joyeux Noel hurricane

monogrammed beverage bottle - my fav item of the season!

I use mine all the time

But the fun does not end there.  Most recently I have delved into vintage, costume, and estate jewelry.  Helps to have an aunt in the antique and jewelry business!  So I have curated a truly fantastic one-of-a-kind collection to showcase at my holiday open houses.  Statement pieces that are even more chic today!  Stay tuned as I plan to continue to share those finds here at Chez V as well!  

love these two pieces

Wouldn't you be blue without these two?

Tomorrow I will share more pictures of available jewelry pieces.

All photos by mrs. V

kisses,  mrs. V

Little Details Tell a Larger Story

Alright.  We are just going to move right past the fact that I haven’t blogged in a few and get right to important things.  Details are on my brain - well, anyone who knows me well knows that details are always on my brain.  But right now, as I go back through my over large archive of magazines, poring over past holiday issues and devouring the new ones, my eye keeps returning to the little details that elevate a room.  Likewise, considered details caught my eye in the latest online releases of Matchbook and Lonny.  This is my take on what details worked and why...

The next few images hardly need an introduction.  Ever since the home of Mark D. Sikes first graced the cover of the Dec/Jan 2012 issue of House Beautiful, I have been a woman obsessed.  I will never tire seeing images of his West Hollywood home and Lonny’s most recent coverage does not disappoint.  This is one house that I could move right in and not change one single detail.  There is the right mix of everything that I adore:  natural elements, animal prints, Chinoiserie, stripes, masculine and feminine touches, gold, and copious amounts of blue and white.  His blog is equally perfect.

The considered casual elegance that Mark and his partner, Michael Griffin, have created no doubt make a guest feel immediately welcome, and in fact, probably feel right at home.

For me, the attention to detail is reminiscent of Scot Meacham Wood's home, seen below.    I imagine walking right in to Scot's to find a libation at the ready, and pick right up in the middle of a great and entertaining story. Who wouldn't feel right at home here, as well?  Don't ya just know that you would have a jolly good time.

In this regard, great design is less about design and more about the details that tell the larger story of the way in which we really live.

Image 1 & 2, Image 3-8, Image  9 & 10.

All layouts by mrs. V

kisses,  mrs. V