I love this inspiring video from artist, writer and designer Kathy Davis. I hope you enjoy it to.
My 7 Simple Secrets to Success by Kathy Davis
I love this inspiring video from artist, writer and designer Kathy Davis. I hope you enjoy it to.
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
I love this inspiring video from artist, writer and designer Kathy Davis. I hope you enjoy it to.
Monday, 22 October 2012
Lampshade Slipcovers
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
You're Invited - Let's Party in High Point
We are throwing a party with the help of our good friends at Minutes Matter & Studio at High Point Market. We will be showing off my new hardware line and serving wine paired with gourmet chocolates.
Visit the Minutes Matter booth at The Suites at Market Square G-4029 (first floor - disregard the booth number on the invite - its wrong)
We will be popping the cork at 2:30 and serving goodies until the cows come home so please come by and see us.
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
~ SLIPCOVERS ~ Home Décor Idea Book
Does it seem to you that life comes at you in fits and starts? For me its either sheer boredom or everything happening at once. That’s what’s going on around here right now. After two years of preparations and delays my third book, SLIPCOVERS, is finally almost ready for its debut next Spring.
It’s all dressed up with a new, fresh look and format as well as a nice, durable, soft cover so it wont weigh 8 pounds like my other books. I have a new editor and book designer for this one so I am really excited to see what they come up with for the interior design. I will share it with you as soon as I get the previews.
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Jackie Von Tobel for Helser Brothers, Inc.
Greek Key finial
It’s finally here! The Jackie Von Tobel for Helser Brothers, Inc drapery hardware collection. After many months of development the line is ready for its closeup. The entire collection is in stock and immediately available at the "made in the USA", Helser Brothers, Inc. plant in Phoenix Arizona. 
French Knot finial When I first began talking with the fabulous Helser Brothers about a collaboration it became clear to me that this was a fantastic opportunity to create a fresh new line that would address the versatility required for todays window treatment designs. It was a chance to think out of the box and design hardware that would be able to be used in many different configurations rather than having each piece be pigeon holed for one use.
Shield scarf holder ~ available with or without tassel Helser Brothers gave me carte blanche to design new, interchangeable elements that can be used in a multitude of applications just by changing the bracket to fit your needs. Finials can be used as tie backs or swag holders. Tab holders can be used as rod brackets and some can be connected together to build cornices. Individual, free hanging, “tassles” can be integrated into the window treatments designs themselves as trim or can be ordered attached to rings for a fun embellishment to your design.
Javelon finial with rod
My goal for the collection was to create simple transitional designs that would work just as well in a modern setting as in a traditional one. Each piece in the collection was inspired by classic motifs and familiar shapes with clean lines and sharp angles that give each design a rich simplicity. Each design looks dramatically different depending on the finish you choose.
Arrowhead, Trophy finials shown in liquid silver finish
Crafted from cast zinc, this hardware is lighter than typical iron products and has a sleek smooth finish that looks great in metallics as well as Helser’s beautiful hand painted finishes. The new “liquid silver” finish is a favorite of mine.
Exclamation Point finial
The new JVT line consists of:
8 finial designs
6 decorative medallions
2 free hanging tassel designs
2 ring designs with attached free hanging tassels
7/8 round rods
1 1/4 round rods
1 3/4 round rods
7/8 square rods
25 ingenious hanging brackets options that can make almost any installation possible!
25 spectacular, metallic, and hand painted finishes
and much more………
Pagoda finial with tassel
To request your free “to the trade only” catalog and finish samples please email Helser Brothers at Frank@helserbrothers.com
just ask for the JVT catalog!
for Press or Editorial inquiries please email me at jackie_vontobel at msn.com
Sunday, 13 May 2012
I'm getting ready for my second year exhibiting at Surtex in New York City next week. Surtex is a show that features artists surface and textile designs for manufacturers who apply them to their products like fabrics, wallpaper, home decor items, etc.
This year I will be showing with my agent Painted Planet Licensing Group instead of having my own booth. They will be at booth 520, 522. If you are in the city please stop by and say hello!
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Incredible Beauty and Creativity with Paper
It's 2:59 in the morning and I am up working on stuff for the Surtex show in New York in a few days. I just came across this fantastic video and it blew my mind. Watch it and see what you think.
Monday, 26 March 2012
The Jackie Von Tobel Collection for Helser Brothers
The Pagoda Finial – JVT for Helser Brothers
Something very exciting is on the horizon for those of you who love drapery hardware and are looking for something new and fresh to offer your clients. I’ve been working with Helser Brothers for two years to develop a new collection of drapery hardware and it’s finally almost ready to launch.
I’ve just finished all of the renderings for the catalog which will feature only hand drawn illustrations of the images in use instead of the usual photography. Of course the hardware itself will be photographed and shown in great detail so you can see exactly how it will look in your project.
The process of designing a full line of hardware has been so much fun, mostly because I am working with such a great group of people at Helser. For those of you who don’t know Helser Brothers is a family owned company run by two wacky brothers who love what they do and it is evident in their work, their exemplary customer service and the quality of everyone else who works with them. I’ve been working closely with their team to develop a classically inspired, modern and fresh collection that has something for everyone.
It starts off with a my rough design sketches like the one above for the Pagoda finial ( you know how I love the Chinoiserie!)
Those sketches then go to the CAD draftsman and he and the brothers Helser work it into a design that will fit all of their existing hardware elements such as poles and brackets, etc. From there they commission 3D molds of each piece to see how they look in reality and then the permanent casting molds are made. These molds will be filled with Zinc to ensure the sharpest and smoothest possible finish for each piece manufacturer. It’s been a long but very educational process.
I will be debuting each design here over the next couple of weeks so be sure to stop by and see what’s next!
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Happy St Patrick’s Day
Here’s some green for you. Take a look at those gorgeous tab posts holding up the bed drape. I wonder where you can get those?
Coming very soon; The Jackie Von Tobel Collection for Helser Brothers Inc.
We’re just putting on the finishing touches on the catalogue and the entire collection will be ready soon. I can’t wait to show it all to you!
In the meantime here’s hoping you are enjoying the luck of the Irish……..
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Craft & Hobby Association Show Here I Come
Show seasons is upon us! Last week was the Atlanta Gift Show and this weekend I’m getting ready to drive down to Anaheim, CA for the Craft & Hobby Association Show.
I have spent the last couple of days printing and assembling promo packets for potential clients. My poor printer gets a good workout doing these. I am putting the new studio to good use – if you look closely above you can see a teeny tiny part of it. I am just waiting to hang my window treatments before I take “official” pictures of it for the blog.
I can’t wait to see what great creative goodies and inspiration I can find at the show. They have a great seminar program so I will be in school quite a bit of the time but my agent, Jan, at Painted Planet Licensing Group, will be showing my portfolio of artwork to manufacturers at their booth ( # 1743 ). Stop by if you’re at the show.
Wishing You All an Inspiring Weekend!
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
New Office Setup for the New Year
Last year I graduated to a wide format monitor for my office and I instantly fell in love! So since I have just finished my new Studio ( I promise to post pictures soon!) I have more room at my desk. So, what could be better than one fabulous large monitor to work on? Two monitors of course…..
The Hubby and I went to Frey’s yesterday and I picked up a new friend for my monitor. Now I have twins. They are not identical though. The new one is smarter and brighter than the old one. ( I know you are not supposed to have favorites among your children but I can’t help myself)
Now I can put all of my tools and files one one monitor and work in Photoshop on the other without having to constantly rearrange my open files. Hallelujah! It is so fantastic I can’t even tell you. The Hubby accused me of building an evil lair from which I can dominate the world. I do feel a bit like Doctor Evil with all of my gadgetry surrounding me now.
Adding to the family doesn’t come without compromise though. I now have an unbelievable huge gaggle of cords, plugs, hubs, connections and drives. No matter how hard I try I cannot make them look good on my desk. It bothers me like you can’t believe. After all I like to make things look pretty and gross metal hardware and yucky black wires don’t fit that mold.
The cords on the floor are an even bigger problem (please don’t look at my dust – I need to sweep)
But just like with my real kids if I just look at the all of their good attributes and how adorable they are I can put up with the bad.
Stay tuned for a tour of the new Studio.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
New Projects for the New Year
I’m starting off the New Year like I ended 2011, by working. After a great weekend with the Hubby, family and friends in Del Mar, Ca, I am back in my office working on new artwork. January 10 will be the anniversary of my decision to delve into the world of art licensing. It’s been a fun and educational year for me, culminating with my agent, Jan, from Painted Planet Licensing taking my portfolio to the Atlanta art licensing show for the first time.
After a lot of trial and error I finally feel like I am slowly defining my style after a year of bouncing all over the place with no direction. I’ve never thought of myself as an artist. I’ve always related more to the title of designer so it’s hard for me to think of my work as art. I guess I see myself more as a decorative artist or product designer. Trying to compete in an industry filled with amazingly talented “real” artists is pretty daunting but I am no stranger to rejection and failure. They have been my constant companions throughout my various careers and I have always somehow come out ahead. Probably because I am so stubborn and just work myself to death until I get it right. Practice makes perfect!!!
My next huge project for this year is the illustrating catalog for the Helser Brothers Jackie Von Tobel Collection catalog for my signature drapery hardware line!!!!
I am thrilled to be working on this and we plan to launch the line at the IWCE show in Chicago in April. I can’t wait to see it all finished. This has been a huge undertaking for Helser Brothers and they have been fantastic to work with. I can’t wait to show you all the finished product line – it is Fabulous!!!!
I hope you are all working on fabulous new creations in your lives for the new year. May 2012 see all of your dreams and aspirations come true………………………………….