Wednesday, November 30, 2011

CD Signing Benefit Party at R.H. Ballard

CD Cover

DEC. 4th, 2:00 - 4:00pm 
Come out and Support the Rappahannock High School Band at a CD Signing Benefit Party! 
 Meet & greet COL John R. Bourgeois (USMC) Ret.,  former Director of "The President's Own"
United States Marine Band & also 

the Grand Marshall of  
"Christmas in Little Washington" Parade
COL Bourgeois will be signing copies of his new CD


  "TEMPO di BOURGEOIS"
   
Profits from CD Sales Benefit the RHS Band! 

RHS Panther Band marching in Parade

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Winners of Our Holiday Giveaways!


We had a blast doing this special Thanksgiving Weekend promotion in the shop. There were almost 100 entries and the final drawing was on Monday, Nov. 28th, with Jan Clatterbuck (of the Rappahannock News) doing the honors of picking the winners out of our big shop jar. 

 Congratulations to all 5 winners of our 
Thanksgiving Weekend Giveaways!
 ________________________________________________

Sarah Green, Sperryville, VA: 
Grand Prize, Le Jacquard Francais "Sari" Tablecloth, 69" Square


Diane MacPherson, Washington, VA:  
Set of 4 Le Jacquard Francais "Sari" Napkins


Joanne Brennan, Jeffersonton, VA:  
Set of 2 Le Jacquard Francais Tea Towels, "Manosque" Strawberry


Paul Smith, Washington, DC:
Ted Pellagatta Photography Book


Fran Krebser, Flint Hill, VA: 
Rappahannock Granite Soap Dish



Monday, November 28, 2011

Vintage Smith & Co: Cool Art Gifts


We are now carrying a very cool group of vintage reproduction prints from an art company in San Francisco, Vintage Smith & Company.

They specialize in original, vintage, and reproduction vintage artwork including photographs, postcards, book plates, photogravures, maps, collage, and other works on paper evoking simpler times. These are an amazing and inexpensive art gift this holiday season, from $32. - $36. each.

My favorite pieces are the Nest with Blue Egg, Eiffel Tower, b&w vintage print of forks and spoons, and the Steinlein-inspired kittens sleeping with attentive mice & birds milling about. They also produce Signs of Wisdom, and my favorite is "Leap and the net will appear."

The cost is $32. - $36. each, and each piece is made in a black metal frame, glass, and hung with a quality cream-colored satin ribbon. Call for details or to order. Supply is limited.








Thursday, November 24, 2011

Shop Small Business Saturday
at R.H. Ballard Shop & Gallery





Earn $25. from American Express
when you make a purchase
of $25. or more at R.H. Ballard on

Use your American Express card
online or in our Main Street shop
on Saturday, Nov. 26th only
to receive this offer.


Register your card through
American Express here to be eligible and to learn more about this 
national event. 
________________________________________________________


 SPECIAL MARKDOWNS & DEALS
THROUGHOUT OUR SHOP
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY!
 
________________________________________________________

Shop Small Logo 
r. h.  b a l l a r d     307 main street    washington, va  22747    540-675-1411
shop & gallery hours: daily, 10am - 6pm


customerservice@rhballard.com

Shop To Win At R.H. Ballard!

___________________________________________________________
Thanksgiving Weekend Promotions!
Nov. 25 - 27 

Christmas Tree at Ballard's

Shop at Ballard's This Weekend and 

Enter a Chance To Win!*


French Tablecloth $215.
French Tablecloth 

Set of French Napkins $90.
 

2 French Tea Towels $48.
French Tea Towel 

Ted Pellagatta Photography Book $45.
 

Rappahannock Granite Soap Dish $59.
 

________________________________________________________


 SPECIAL MARKDOWNS & DEALS IN SHOP
THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND!
 
______________________________________________

*Offer in-shop only Nov. 25-27, one entry per customer with purchase of $25. or more. Five winners will be chosen at a drawing on Monday, Nov. 28th and notified through email/phone.
_______________________________________________ 
r. h.  b a l l a r d     307 main street    washington, va  22747    540-675-1411
shop & gallery hours: daily, 10am - 6pm

www.rhballard.com
customerservice@rhballard.com

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Unique Christmas Ornaments
at R.H. Ballard

 Look inside your ornament decoration box this year and you'll probably find many ornaments that you can attach to a particular person, place, time or family memory. Christmas ornaments are often given as a memory-gift ("this reminded me of you and our trip to....") or for adding to an existing home collection that has been lovingly collected since childhood.

Our fun and fabulous Christmas tree this year is filled with fun, quirky and artful pieces that make me smile. Some traditional, but many non-traditional designs. I really had too much fun decorating our tree this year. I think I love the spouting whales as much as the Eiffel Tower globes!

There were so many new designs to choose from this year.
If you are interested in any of these lovely pieces just give us a call at the shop!
The ornaments go fast so we do not post them on our website.

Here are just a few of our ornaments to get you in the Christmas spirit!
Which one of these designs speak to you?

Eiffel Tower Globe

Bejeweled Bug
Mercury Orb with Rhinestones
Glass Urchin
Roaring Brown Bear
Mercury Christmas Tree
Spouting Silvery Whale

Big Wolf Head

 White Horse in the Snow
 
Silver Lobster

Polar Bear Globe
 
 Recycled Tin Woven Star

Monday, November 21, 2011

Cal Ripkin, Lynda Carter & Friends
at R.H. Ballard Shop & Gallery

 Cal Ripkin with Robert and Joanie Ballard, photo by Lynda Carter 

This certainly was a celebrity-filled weekend at the shop! Cal Ripkin, Lynda Carter, and several of their friends (Florence Sloan and others) popped in on Saturday and Sunday to do some holiday gift shopping.

Lynda Carter and Kelly Ripkin (Cal's wife) have been wonderful customers for several years but this is the first time I had the courage to ask for a photo. Lynda is very sweet and funny and always has appreciative words, and she also offered to take the photos with Cal.

 
Lydna Carter and Joanie Ballard, photo by Robert Ballard

Lynda took one photo of us with Cal, and then Cal requested she take a second picture in front of our shop door so that the inside of the shop would be in the picture. That really made Robert and I smile, as you can see.

Another photo-op with Cal Ripkin, photo by Lynda Carter

Lynda said "This would be perfect for your holiday Christmas card!" We were definitely star-struck and it made for a very festive feeling in the air with the shop just recently decorated for the Christmas season.

Friday, November 4, 2011

A Big Art Fest Here in Rappahannock, VA



New Painting by Patton Wilson

The Artists of Rapphannock Studio & Gallery Tour

Every year on the first weekend of November we have a Big Art Tour, or what I would call a Big Art Love-Fest.

What this means is that a couple thousand people descend upon our little, lovely area and visit all of the art galleries and open studios to view amazing art, purchase amazing art, and basically have a fabulous time.

This area of Virginia has been called the "Soho of the South", and for good reason. Lots of artists live here and also make a living here. Not on the scale of Santa Fe, NM, but it's still something to write home about, especially in such close proximity to Washington, DC. Lot's of genuine charm, beauty and hipness exudes from this mountainous area, and it is filled with talented artists of all kinds: painters, sculptors, photographers, printers, glass-blowers, iron forgers, textile designers, potters, furniture designers, jewelry designers and more.

The Artists of Rapphannock Studio & Gallery Tour begins at the Fire Hall Gallery (yes, a real Fire Hall) in Little Washington, Va.  Here visitors pay a $10. donation fee and can view a representation of all the artists on this tour in a lovely gallery setting. The art tour supplies a beautiful and easy to read map of the entire area. There are docents available to help you with directions and such, although I must say it is pretty easy to get around here. There are helpful signs everywhere on the roads and at the specific art sites--every art site is well-numbered. You can enjoy your art outing and not stress out about getting lost. Check out their facebook page for more information.

Our particular gallery, R.H. Ballard, carries several Rappahannock artists who have made a solid reputation in the art world.  I love all of the artists we represent and think you will too. Here are a few of their works currently on display this weekend.




Jeff MacNelly (of "Shoe" fame) Bronze sculpture of Winston Churchill


 Nora Harrington, "Wood's Edge"



"Restaurant" by Vivianne de Kosinsky

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The Beauty of Grey & White

I have always enjoyed using vibrantly colored French tablecloths but there are many occasions where a neutral palette works beautifully too. Over the years, I've experienced customers who come to my shop having searched far and wide for that perfect tablecloth color. Lately, I have been able to present one current color trend which addresses their dilemma: grey and white.

I've seen this color trend grow over the past two years in both tablecloth lines I carry.  Each year more designs have been introduced with gradations of white, grey, graphite, and black.  I've discovered that these hues make it much easier to coordinate with contemporary and traditional decors. Numerous china patterns also seem to work well.

Using a full length tablecloth is not the only way to create the perfect setting. There are also several table runner designs that can create a unique look as well.

Here are several options I would recommend from the tablecloth experts, Le Jacquard Francais and Garnier-Thiebaut, two of the oldest and most prolific jacquard-looming mills in France. Their designs are always stunning and unexpected, and having personally used them myself for many years I can attest to their beauty and longevity. Can you tell I am passionate about them? You bet!

Take a peek below. Can you see any of these lovely designs working in your home? My favorite in is Villa Toscane as seen above and also in this table runner version here.

 Villa Toscane Table Runner in Marble