There is Nothing Like Her Spike Earrings

I am excited to introduce others to the artisan work of Houston local, Vandi Hodges.


I will be at TOOTSIES this Saturday, April 3rd doing a Trunk Show with Vandi and her collection known as Via Vandi.


Here is what is unique about Vandi's work . . . almost everything is available in both Sterling Silver and 24 Karat Gold Vermeil. What is Gold Vermeil? It is a process where you start with a silver base and put at least 2.5 microns of Gold over the Sterling base. And most people use 14 Karat Gold or 18 Karat Gold. Not Vandi. She uses a 24 KARAT Vermeil that is 3 microns thick and this makes the gold more durable and also a much richer color.


Her SPIKE earrings are the first two pictures. Want to see how they work? Well, put on your imagination cap. The front of the earring is the small piece, and it has a post behind it . . . this post goes thru the ear. The spike fits into the back of the post (sort of magically I might add). It's an earring in reverse.


This design is the PRIMARY reason I wanted to represent Vandi. I love good design and incredibly unique, in addition, is getting very difficult to find in the jewelry industry. Better to see these on an ear. Hopefully, you're own.






You can see more of Vandi's collections at the following retailers:

• The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
• The Houston Museum of Natural Science
• Kuhl-Linscomb
• www.viavandi.com

Now Finishing Book Number 8......and Loving it!

I was so busy this weekend. Who isn't busy on the weekend...this is not a unique statement, I am aware.


Here are some bookmarks that I whipped out this weekend on my....
SINGER
SEWING
MACHINE








And I worked on this book -
Known now as Book Number 8 - A Travel Journal for Paris. . . . I am a bit discouraged by my photography. I just cannot seem to get the idea for how to photograph books and the pages.
I love the Hermes ribbon on the bottom of the book.

I also got surprised with 5 bags of stuff from friends. My friend Katie gave me tons of the things below - 3 LARGE bags full. My mom gave me a whole bag of old cards, and my sister, Tara, gave me a ton of old millinery items.





One of the things I did was cover some egg cartons with paper, so they could hold a lot of "the bit and pieces," as my organizer Denise would say.


When you are on a tight budget and really need to organize, you try to use anything you can to make ends meet .


I did not even buy my new sewing machine, I traded it by putting a couch on CraigsList for a client.


Feeling positively thrifty these days, and that makes me feel good.


I am also saving like a mad person to
be in my expanded studio by April 1st.


Cross fingers, say the sign of the cross, and whatever else you can do!
See you soon!

100 Books....I've Got You Covered

I have been working on books....

thinking about books...

& buying paper.


Here is a picture of a page in a new book I have started.





People often ask me...where do you get all this stuff for your books?

Here is a list:

1. Katie & Co. - a stationery store on Washington - unique cards and where I get all my printed thing.


2. Chapparal - a needlepoint store on W. Alabama - the best vintage ribbons you will ever find in Houston.


3. www.lollishops.com/twigs and feathers - saw them at Silver Bella - you need to check them out.


4. www.speckled-egg.com - another Silver Bella find - look at their vintage liquor labels...the text and graphics are simply a project away for me.
   


5. The Guild Shop - on Dunlavy - sometimes I can score a whole jar of buttons or whatever for next to nothing.


6. Uncommon Objects - South Congress in Austin - Words escape me on this venue.


7. Stamps - I cut every stamp off of every letter - don't get many anymore.


8. And my best source is family and friends...people don't know what to do with old junk and are happy to part with it knowing it is being reused and repurposed and not just THROWN AWAY!

The Work of Artist Beth Benefield

Beth Benefield comes from an incredibly creative family. I should know - she's my sister. 

Yet, Beth, a Regional Finance Director for a very large accounting firm, has never quite made a business out of her creativity....until now. Inspired by the designs of Chan Luu, Beth sought out a way to make these types of bracelets herself. After countless prototypes, using many different types of leathers and beads, she has definitely perfected a very unique, high quality and attractively priced line of jewelry.

She has all kinds of leather "tie" bracelets - 2 stranded, 3 and 4 stranded. You almost have to try one of these on, because honestly, displaying them is hard, because they look best on the wrist. There are also some very simple designs, like the red suede bracelet, that look awesome all piled together in a mass grouping or simply by themselves. And they are perfect and affordable for that gift for your daughter's girlfriend, or the house sitter or whomever.

Beth will be at the show on February 12th and 14th.

Highlight of Katie and Co. - A New Stationery Store in Houston

I thought that one of the things I would like to highlight on my blog are other businesses that provide excellence in service. 

After being in retail for almost 24 years now, I think I am a good judge of a place to go where you can consistently receive it. 

Katie and Co. opened this year in September on Washington Avenue. It has a warm, inviting and personable atmosphere. Having been in stationery myself for five years, and having an addiction to paper so severe that I am still chasing the dragon of my first Crane order, I can tell you about many unique reasons to shop at this store.

First, the seating areas and tables are expansive, so you can actually really lay these books out and have space to breathe. There's room for more than one person at the table, and the fact that it is not cramped makes you feel more creative.


Secondly, you are not surrounded by "stuff." This store has a very loft-like surrounding that is clean and organized, yet with all these quaint pieces of furniture thrown throughout the store that make you feel you are in more than a store, you are in part of Katie's life. For instance, on one large wall there are doors hung with racks attached to them that hold cards (pictured above). One particular door was numbered 3843 (also pictured above) and this door was her grandmother's front door. 

Most importantly for me, the experience in this store is why I have followed them from store to store before Katie opened her own shop. The "Katie" of Katie and Co. is Katie Hackedorn and her co-worker, Michael Pollard. They have been in this business a combined number of 21 years. They know the vendors, the companies and are able to steer the first time bride to the third time mother-to-be to the right type of invitation or announcement that will help them signify their special day.

Michael and Katie will always "know" what is going on with your order. One of my pet-peeves is calling a store to check on something or make a change and it takes transferring the call to three different people and then they still aren't sure about the matter at hand. Also, they are just so darn nice.