A Tale of Two Rooms

 

I’ve been working from home for the past few years and I truly love it.  I am much more productive and less distracted so I can get more done from home.  I am the type of person who works all day, every day,  so having my “stuff”  around me here is a great benefit.  Up until the last year I had my office and my studio in the same room and it tended to get cramped and very messy at times.  The office is right off my master bedroom and you can see it from there so I like to have it neat and tidy if I can.  So, after my daughter was gone at college for three years I decided to bite the bullet and take over her bedroom as my new art studio. 

Now I have plenty of room for my sewing machines, fabric, art supplies and everything else.  It is still very much a work in progress.  I am looking forward to putting up some Jackie Von Tobel drapery hardware from Helser Brothers soon so keep tuned. 

 

I did this room on a serious budget of $100.  I used all existing furniture that I had.  ( Yes, I can be a pack rat and had a lot of stuff in my garage including some old furniture I had made for my husbands office that he outgrew)   The only thing I bought was a few gallons of white paint and a couple of unfinished doors to serve as tabletops.  I slapped a coat of white paint on everything, including the floor, and called it a day! 

 

My favorite piece in the studio is a rolling cart that my sister Trudi gave to me.  I can roll it out into the center of the room and walk around it 360’ or I can tuck it neatly under my larger table so it’s out of the way.  I am also filling the walls with my kids art that they did as little ones.  I would much rather look at that than anything else.

 

I have tons of storage plus a huge closet that is far to messy to show you.  I’m sure I will fill it up in no time.  My office helpers above are hard at work fighting with each other!   Just like the real thing…..

 

This is what they can usually be found doing.

 

I love working in the new room.  It is so bright and sun filled and most of all it’s a constant reminder of my beautiful girl.  I left her yellow paint just as it was, warts and all.  It makes me smile every time I walk in there. 

 

You would think with all this new studio space that my old office would be perfectly organized and never messy but here is my desk today.  It’s just as crazy as ever but that’s how I like it.

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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

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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………………………………….

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Great New Products From Rowley

The standout product offering at the WCAA Inspire conference last week was the new line of button borders and button embellishments from the Finestra line by Rowley Company. These innovative products really pack a visual punch with their large scale and detailed profiles. The button borders are built to surround fabric covered centers but I can think of a thousand other uses for them as well.

The button collection comes in a variety of sizes and finishes.

Next on the Horizon – due out in October- are these fabulous grommets. Yes, they are functioning grommets and can be used in a number of innovative ways. What a great idea to add some style to a functional element.

I love the way they have used them as decorative elements on this pillow. Products like this get my creativity going.

They will be available in several finishes.

Can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

What would you do with these great new products?

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NR Designs = Gorgeous Drapery Hardware

Charleston Symphony Design House – Hardware by NR Designs

One of the happy benefits of traveling all over the US to speak to design professionals is having the opportunity to meet so many amazing and creative people.

Charleston Symphony Design House – Hardware by NR Designs

Last month I did a day long event in Atlanta and met a great gal who mentioned that she had a new line of drapery hardware. I promised to look her up after the event and we would talk about her products.

Of course I had good intentions but time got the best of me and I forgot to email her – lucky for me she tracked me down. To say that I was amazed with her products is a gross understatement – I was floored! The entire line was stunning, all based on organic elements and finished in beautiful custom colors. Inspired by nature it resembles realistic coral, bamboo, driftwood, twigs, palm leaves and more.

Each piece is first molded from clay and then cast in resin. What I truly love about the line is that it retains the hand molded details of the clay original.

Another important design element of the line is the use of ornate brackets in place of finials. Nancy explained that in Charleston where she works and lives there are many homes that don’t have enough clearance for traditional finials. She solved this problem by designing brackets that function as both with simple end caps at the end of the rod. I’d say it’s a design that works!

This bamboo bracket is stunning.

Palm leaves are arranged in a fan for this bracket. What a great choice for a beachfront residence.

Palm leaves up close

The driftwood collection is as realistic you would think it just washed up on shore. I love the barnacles!

These fish and waves pieces have a great whimsical touch.

Here’s a close up of the coral end bracket.

Nancy’s passion is working with designers to create custom designs to fit the specific needs of her clients. Her pieces are truly couture window hardware. By the way she is also a fabulous person and would surely be a joy to work with.

Please visit Nancy's website at: http://www.nrdesigns.org/

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