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.

All images copyright, Jackie Von Tobel 2012 all rights reserved

I will be debuting each design here over the next couple of weeks so be sure to stop by and see what’s next!

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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……..

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Happy Leap Day

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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!

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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.

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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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Happy Thanksgiving

copyright Jackie VonTobel 2011

I know he's not a Turkey but he's as close as I could get! I'm on the road tomorrow to San Francisco with my Hubby to spend the holiday with two of my kids who are in college there. We will be having a scrumptious take out meal courtesy of Whole Foods and lots of fun trying to eat in my daughters itsy bitsy apartment. See you after the weekend.

Have a Happy Holiday!

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