Looks a lot Like Santa's Workshop

In spite of the fact that I no longer have feeling in my right index finger, things are steadily coming off the Chez V production line.  Fueled by coffee during the day and wine in the evening, I hope to emerge on the 24th with everyone’s name crossed happily off my list and perhaps a tree put up.

Love your busy but happy little elf

kisses,  mrs. V

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

Boo-bonic Situation

Happy Halloween and all that.  I haven’t fallen off the face.  You know, in case you were wondering where in the heck I’ve been.  It’s just that no one told me that ‘toddler’ and ‘preschool’ are code words for ‘contagion’ and ‘petri dish.’  Chez V has been hit with a near constant onslaught of illness since the start of school.  I was lulled into a complacent forgetfulness over the summer with a brief respite from illness but whammo blammo back right into fluey madness.  Seriously, every time I walk into that classroom to drop her off, it is a panic attack of germs.  If it isn’t barf, then it’s persistant runny noses, chesty wet coughs, rashes go long, or some crazy strepstaphmersa madness.  The most recent affliction has been some sort of viral situation that has knocked the Monster on her patoots.  There is always some kind of situation over here.  So, I am sleep deprived and on day 3 of lockdown with a total crankpants who sadly will be missing her Halloween party and trick or treating.  Boo!  What a total bummer.  And now I am a crankypants.  My nursing is beginning to lose its Florence Nightingale luster and taking a turn  towards Nurse Ratched territory. 

 

 

Clearly, I jest.  But I am one hair away from needing a rubber room myself.    Have I mentioned that along with generalized anxiety that I have a healthy pinch of germaphobe sprinkled in for taste?  I have washed my hands so much in the last few days that they are beginning to resemble rice paper.  I CAN NOT get sick.

This is my busiest time, and while I am finishing up orders from my last Open House, I am preparing for another Open House in Dayton.  Juggling the production line that is my kitchen and a sick kiddo is sporty to say the least.  For any of you who missed the Cincy show, I am having one in Dayton on November 28th.  If you are local to the Tri-State, I would love to see you!  Details below…

If you would like to attend, you can RSVP here with 'Open House' in the subject line.

On top of all that, I am due in Nashville in a few days to celebrate a milestone birthday that shall remain unnamed, albeit a month early.  Wild horses nor the bubonic plague could prevent me from going - fingers and toes crossed that the viral buboes skip over this lady.

In all seriousness, sending thoughts and prayers to those affected by Sandy.

kisses,  mrs. V

Latest Etched Glass Designs...

and Some Thoughts on Relevance and Creativity

As promised, here are some of the samples I made for the Open House.

  

Here’s the funny thing about relevence and creativity.  Us design-minded folks, particularly in blogland, are inspired and informed by many of the same sources.  So it should come as no surprise that we often come up with similar designs or concepts or get ape shit excited over the latest thing, immediately wondering how we can reinterpret it for our point of view.  But we should also bear in mind that some of the things that we love or similarly some of the concepts that we feel are overplayed have not even reached most people.  For example, I have been working on skull prototypes for the holidays for the last few months – skull motif block prints, wine glasses, rocks glasses, and ornaments.   Skulls have been popping up everywhere.  And I think a lot of us agree that they are very cool and inject a nice little edginess to any space, right?  I thought skulls would be a slam dunk.  But when I suggested via FB that skulls aren’t just for Halloween, my sis responded, ‘what else are they for?’ Accordingly, the skull stuff got a passing glance at the show.  Hmm, a bit of a reality check about the mass appeal of skulls at least for those who do not read blogs or pour over design pubs.

Then two days after my Open House where I debuted a lot of these new designs, I came across Southern Accents’ 2012 Christmas  Decorating Guide.  And there on page 88 and again on the back cover was an etched beverage bottle.  Just like the one I had at my show – although I must admit that I like my design better as it is more interesting than simple initials.   And here’s the funny bit, when I found these glass bottles I just knew they would be a huge hit for the holidays – I think they are super fun and perfect as a gift or for yourself.  Not only can they be used as intended for wine, water, or juices but they would make great vessels for flowers or foliage.  But most people walked right by the beverage bottle – except for one very discerning friend!  I am guessing once any of these gals happen to see the Decorating Guide that I will get more than a few phone calls.

from 2012 Southern Accents Christmas Decorating Guide

Similarly, I have been reworking the Mr. & Mrs. tumblers for more of a unique look than the very popular ‘stache and lips.  The original inspiration for the tumblers came from the MR & MRS font glasses that Furbish carries.  When I saw those, I knew something similar with a mustache & lips would be really fun.  Anything ‘mr’ & ‘mrs’ has been gaining momentum as we are starting to see the bigger box shops stock the monikers.  But I wanted a fresh look for this season so I went with a lipsmacker motif and a bow tie.  

As another iteration, I came up with a holiday bent on ‘naughty’ and ‘nice’ with a santa hat dotting the ‘i’ and a cheeky rendition of a nightcap glass with Mr. Moon donning a night cap.  Days after my first prototypes were completed, the brilliant Ms. Meares and her Furb crew released photos of limited addition Mr. & Mrs. glasses with red santa hats.  Gah!   So chic and so perfect.   Seriously, how many times can I rave about how she rocks everything she does and everything she curates?  I was instantly smitten and crestfallen at the same moment.  So much for trying to do something fresh.  I considered scrapping mine because let’s be honest, anything other than a Furbed rendition would be deemed a copy cat – and really mine are if you consider that the original thread of inspiration came from those first glasses that Jamie carried.  But dang, I put a lot of time and creative energy over the last few months into developing new designs for this holiday season and my Open House.  I do each piece by hand.  So, for now, given all that time invested, I am sticking with the Naughty and Nice cap glasses and Mr. Moon Nightcap even though  they are similar in feel.   But it's back to the drawing board...

All photos and layouts by mrs. V

kisses,  mrs. V