Good News from the Retail Front

This is me on the left at the NYIGF trying to decide what fabulous French Farm products to bring into our shop. Not easy!

I’ve owned a small business for thirteen years with my husband Robert Ballard that specializes in fine gifts, home decor, French table linens, fine art and handmade oriental rugs. Quite a few categories, as they say in retail! A question we are often asked is how do we choose what comes into the shop, especially as the economy has been a bit brutal to small businesses this past year?

Well, the short answer is: very carefully.

We have been fortunate to have a loyal customer base, for starters. They have been the saving grace during this rough economic downturn. And, we work twice as hard as we used to, in all areas of our business. I’m not saying this for pity, just being honest. We are more choosey as our budget is tighter. Before we even go on a buying trip there are a few things we now do. We spend more time exhausting supplier websites as a large percentage of wholesalers now have websites for the trade only. This helps us narrow our choices and saves us time once we show up at a trade show. We are armed and ready, so to speak.

More than anything else, Robert and I attend gift/rug/textile/accessory trade shows across the United States. From my unscientific study after recently attending the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) in New York City, the good news from the retail front is that suppliers and buyers are more optimistic and less terrified (yes, terrified) than last year. After questioning many of our long-term suppliers about their business, the mood at the Fair was substantially more upbeat and positive. I liked that! Last year was a fearful time for so many small businesses (we were not excluded), so I loved finally seeing the light in the eyes of many wholesalers and buyers. It feels like a tighter “club” now. We are all going through this together and we are still standing.

For those unfamiliar, the NYIGF takes place two times a year in New York City at the Jacob Javits Convention Center and Passenger Piers 92 and 94, and attracts over 30,000 buyers from more than 85 countries worldwide. They come to walk the floors of the Javits and often make their final buying decisions right there. It’s not uncommon to hear people speaking several different foreign languages all at once as we walk down the aisles. It can be a thrilling experience.

According to Home Furnishing News, attendance at the NYIGF had increased 6.5% over last summer's show, indicating more businesses are starting to buy again. Also, there were 400 new exhibitors at this show, which is a wonderful indicator of growth in innovation. All of this is more great news for consumers and retail businesses.

The NYIGF is the chance to see up close what is being offered in the world of gifts, tabletop, books, kitchenware, and children’s toys. You name it, and it is probably represented here. It’s inspiring and daunting, and a good workout on the feet and legs as most trade shows take place in football size arenas with concrete floors. You sometimes see celebrities, as I did with author Ina Garten, also known as The Barefoot Contessa, who was touting her new mixes at her booth and signing copies of her cookbooks.

Other well-known designer names, like Jonathan Adler also had amazing booths filled with their new offerings.

All in all, the message was clear at NYIGF that businesses are working harder than ever to stay alive and viable. Seeing evidence of upbeat personal displays from many buyers and exhibitors really helped erase some of my inner fears and woes. I do believe the economy is slowly re-charging, and consumers and retailers need to hear that.

For the Love of Typewriters

My old Smith-Corona used as an art piece in my home office. My nephew, Will Mullany, gave me that photo of the UVA Rotunda for Christmas.

I thought I was alone in my love for old typewriters.

I was going to write a little memory post on these vintage machines, how vital they were to my days at the University of Virginia as I pounded out all of my English papers on them, or how it brought me joy and elation when I typed the perfect phrase or poem. I started collecting old Smith Corona’s recently just for the fun of it, and in the process found out I am not alone in my obsession with these lovely objects.

Along with the national trend towards recycling/re-purposing/renewing has come a fascination with vintage typewriters. Websites, blogs, Ebay, Etsy, and numerous history books and research papers are now easily accessible where you can learn everything from A-Z about the typewriter. Key in the search term “typewriter” on EBAY and 9,263 results come up. And that’s just Ebay.

Old, manual typewriters have character, sturdiness and a nostalgic appeal. There’s something about the sound of the keys clacking against paper, the ringing of the “return bell,” and even the delightful way the letters look and feel. No electricity is needed to enjoy this machine. Their simple yet elegant design is a bit deceiving as typewriters are truly an engineering marvel. They also conjure up memories of bygone days when the pace of life was slower and there was importance given to longevity and workmanship. Typewriters were designed to be work horses, surviving countless hitting of keys, and were easily maintained by the owner.

To grasp the value typewriters have on the American psyche, in 2009, Pulitzer Prize winning author Cormac McCarthy’s Olivetti Lettera 32 (the same design I used in college) was sold at Christie’s Auction for $265,500. Also, Jack Kerouac’s Hermes 3000 fetched $22,500., and in June of this year, John Updike’s Olympia electric 65C sold for $4,375 at auction. Granted, these are famous authors’ typewriters that hold cultural and nostalgic value, but a nice amount of money none the less.

Just for fun, take a road trip to Metropolis, Illinois, and visit the Superman Museum where you’ll find the famous Lois Lane typewriter that was used on the 60’s television series. Or watch the current and popular TV series, "Mad Men," where secretaries use a particular IBM Selectric on their office desks, much to the chagrin of typing purists who blogged that these typewriter designs were not actually used until much later in the 1960s.

Here in Virginia, there is the well-loved Charlottesville Office Machine Company, just blocks from UVA and in business for over 50 years that specializes in restoration of old typewriters and hard to find parts and ribbons. There are also similar shops located in Harrisonburg, Winchester and Roanoke.

The vintage typewriter has such a rich history and there is much to learn if you want to begin your own collection, so I have provided several fun places to start the process.

Websites:
The Classic Typewriter Page
My Typewriter.com
The Vintage Typewriter Shoppe

Typewriter Sales, Restoration, Repair in Virginia:
Charlottesville Office Machine Co: corner of 10th and West Main Streets, Charlottesville, VA, (434) 296-7419

MrTypeRite: Harrisonburg, VA (Shenandoah Valley). 540-574-0643, or toll free 1-866-236-8967

Old Town Business Machines Company: 127 North Braddock St., Winchester, VA. Phones (540) 665-0424

Roanoke Typewriter Sales, aka Commercial Office Equipment, Roanoke, Virginia. Owner: Glenn Moore. 540-342-6840

A fun blog post on decorating with typewriters:

My Texas Nest: Using typewriters as design elements in your home, like bookends!

Fabulous photos of all types of vintage typewriters

Old Paris, New Bottle: A romantic-looking French liqueur bottle is testament to the power of great product design.

I love well-designed products and great packaging. 

After many years of choosing inventory for my shop, of handling and examining countless new products, I've discovered that a product's “first look” is a vital key to its long-term success. I really enjoy picking up a product and feeling the quality—the weight and texture of hand-etched leather, for example, or the nubby feel of embossed paper, the subtle shimmer of grosgrain ribbon. Great design does not come easily. There is often an enormous amount of thought and expertise that goes into any product  before it gets into a merchant's hands.

I recently came across a bottle of French liqueur that exhibits thoughtfulness and care in product design. Robert and I were at a casual gathering when the host, John MacPherson of the Foster Harris House B&B, in Little Washington, announced he had a surprise for us. He brought out a beautiful bottle of French artisanal liqueur called St-Germain and proceeded to make each of us a St-Germain champagne cocktail. We then found ourselves continually talking about not only the taste of this delectable French liqueur but also the look and feel of the mesmerizing bottle. Everybody had something to say about the pretty bottle.  I have posted a picture of it here, and as you can see there is nothing boring about this bottle, inside or out.

I am a serious Francophile, and everything about the shape and look of this bottle just oozed late-night Paris hotels, smoky Left Bank bars and curvy Art Nouveau Metro entrances. I have no doubt that every inch of this bottle was creatively considered: the glass weight, the feel of the bottle in your hand, the beautiful blue and gold labels. The front and back labels are pure French cleverness. They were designed in such a way that when you look through the bottle, you see a romantic French damask green and gold wallpaper that coordinates with the color of the liqueur bottle cap. 

They tout their liqueur on the bottle as “Parisian Life in a Bottle,” or “Vie Parisienne en Bouteille.” Mais Oui!  Great designs create beautiful illusions, and this one certainly does. This eight-sided fluted container gives the appearance that it has been around since the turn of the century, when in fact it was not introduced to the marketplace until 2007, with much praise and accolades for the liqueur itself: a Double Gold Medal at the 2007 and 2008 San Francisco World Spirits competitions.

How this liqueur is processed is unique. During a short period of time each spring, elderflower blossoms are handpicked in the foothills of the Swiss Alps by 40 to 50 specially trained pickers called “bohemian,” who transport the blossoms on bicycles to the processing facility in France. As no preservatives are used in this liqueur, you must drink it within six months for best taste.

What does it taste like? Upon first sip, I was not prepared for the amazingly smooth, delicious taste of elderflower—think subtle, aromatic pear, apricot and lemon zest, and not gooey sweet like some liqueurs can be, but much lighter. That evening we partook of St-Germain with champagne & club soda, which gave it a bubbly touch.

For more information on St-Germain liqueur, I recommend clicking through their artfully designed website, done in their signature art nouveau/art deco style and filled with their history, cocktail recipes, photographs of the pickers, and retail locations that sell it in the United States. Yes, Virginia, there is a St-Germain near you. 

Here is a delicious cocktail recipe to imbibe:

St-Germain Champagne cocktail: Their signature recipe, this drink has a simple and elegant presentation.

2 parts Champagne or dry white wine
1 ½ parts St-Germain
2 parts sparkling water or club soda
Stir ingredients in a tall, ice-filled Collins glass, mixing completely. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Find more St-Germain cocktails, including the Pear Tree martini and the St-Germain mojito, here.

Michael J. Fox at R. H. Ballard!

Today we had a visit in our shop from Michael J. Fox and his wife, actress Tracy Pollan. They were both very sweet and down to earth, enjoying shopping and then strolling around town. Fox had a healthy tan, as you can see, and was all smiles. He told me, "You have a great shop." Thank you, Michael!

The House is a Big Story

I've always had a fascination with houses and architecture. As a young girl, I remember walking with my parents through any number of neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., and Old Town Alexandria, staring up at elegant brownstones and wondering, “What does the inside look like? Who lives there? What do they do? How do they live?”

While going to acting school and living in Greenwhich Village in NYC in the late ‘70s, I was also exposed to a wide variety of people and their living spaces—studios, artist’s lofts, old townhouses, duplexes, basement efficiencies, and even once the elegant Fifth Avenue apartment of my roommate’s great aunt (an eye-opener for a 19-year-old suburban girl). My curiosity about homes has not faded with time, and I have found that many people hold this same fascination.

There is a special book that I love reading again and again because it covers, in a unique way, the process people go through when talking about their own homes and living spaces.  The book, written by well-known British author Stafford Cliff, is titled Home: 50 Tastemakers Describe What It Is, Where It Is, What It Means (Artisan Books, 2007). I consider it one of my go-to books when I am searching for inspiration. It is a fascinating collection of essays by 50 people from all walks of life and their relationships to the places they call home. Cliff has written more than 60 books on the subject of interiors, architecture, design, lifestyle and food. For this collection, he contacted people from all walks of life and asked them, “What does home mean to you?”

What sets this compilation apart from your everyday “home interior book” is its focus on the creative and personal insights that designers, architects, writers, chefs, actors, journalists and even an Olympics sports figure apply in the creation of their own home environment. We get a revealing, two-to three-page autobiographical look at people’s emotional connections and experiences, which in turn have influenced the creation of the places they call “home.” There are also 123 lovely, color photographs that add to the exploratory aspect of each person’s personal space.

Several of the names in this book may not be immediately recognizable as they are mostly well-known within their fields of expertise, but many are familiar personalities such as Donatella Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, Lulu Guinness and Michael Graves. 

Donatella Versace states in her essay that she feels “totally at ease” within her house, and goes on to say that “culture, feeling, color” are the three elements that summarize her and her interiors. She always chooses “vivid colors” and rich, textured objects such as huge Chinese vases that she has scattered about her home and also painted in trompe l’oiel on her dining room walls. These vases seem to float “suspended between dream and reality.” She says her preferences for fashion and home décor need to possess this dreamlike quality.

It also makes sense that fashion designers are also fashion-conscious about the home. Tommy Hilfiger says, “Wherever I go, I’m always looking at houses and the way people live.” He embraces change in fashion just the way he embraces change in his home décor: “The pendulum swings back and forth in fashion and it’s the same for me in home too.”

Lulu Guinness, a fabulous purse and accessories designer, writes in her essay on how her travels as a young girl and her desire to be different were always at the forefront of her decisions about home decor: “When I finally got my own apartment, I had dreams of what it would be like. I knew that when I got something, it had to be different. I always wanted everything to be different from everyone else. On every level, every level. A very, very tiring thing to be.” Her essay focuses on her inner creativity and how it was the driving force in what kind of home she wanted for herself and her family.

Michael Graves, famous both for his architecture and his product designs for Alessi and Target (his famous tea kettle has become iconic), speaks eloquently about how he developed his eye for design when living in Rome, Italy, and studying the history of architecture. He ultimately found that knowing more about the past made it easier to design for the present. He was heavily influenced by Italian buildings and artifacts and now fills his home with beautiful objects from his travels. Graves writes, “If you allow your mind to comprehend that about everything you see (though you obviously discard some things), you end up holding on to certain ideas for life.” In speaking about his house, he summarizes what many people have found to be true. “The house is filled with things that give me inspiration: books, artifacts, paintings, drawings, objects I’ve designed. The whole house is a big story.”

This book is ultimately a revealing and insightful exploration and may cause you to take a closer look at your own home environment and ponder how it came to be and what it really means. I highly recommend it.

References:

AllBookStores.com is a great resource for finding home interior books, including all 60 books by Stafford Cliff.

Recently published books by Stafford Cliff:

The Way We Live With Color (Rizzoli, 2010, $17.98).

The Way We Live With The Things We Love (Rizzoli, 2009, $45).

Enjoy a good read!

Joanie M Ballard

The Story of My Beautiful Worktable

Let me begin by saying that this won’t be my only post on the subject of “reclaiming,” “re-using,”or “re-inventing.” This subject matter is too complex and enjoyable for just one post, so let me start with something intimate and more near and dear to my heart: my worktable in my home (photo above).

Yes, my “work” table is inspiring to me, granting me moments of acute literary brilliance, alarming insights, artistic ideas and all of that. It’s where my creative life takes place, for the most part, and I get great joy from sitting at it every day, organizing things, daydreaming, drawing and sometimes just sitting. This table has character, weight, uniqueness and just plain joy. It is a big, fat baby of a table, and I adore it.

Let me tell you the story of how my special table came to be. As a Christmas present one year, my husband Robert drove us to a shop, not letting me in on the surprise until he parked our car in front of Architectural Old House Parts, located in Front Royal, about 20 minutes from Little Washington (see link at end of post). His Christmas present to me was waiting inside: the joy of personally picking out the parts for a new worktable that he was going to construct for me from “scratch.” It was a very merry Christmas to me that year.

Here are a few wonderful images of inside this great shop:

Robert knew I’ve always had a love for old architectural elements like distressed porch balustrades, hand-carved festoons, even rusty iron columns salvaged from churchyards. I’ve always wanted a table made from old house parts. This particular shop was bursting at the seams with objects “rescued” from demolition.

As we shuffled down a long hallway and into the doorway of the shop, I could see I would soon be in old-parts heaven.  According to Pat Campbell, the new owner and founder of Architectural Old House Parts, their inventory changes all the time—but you can count on finding very well-organized displays of antique eave supports, porcelain enamel sinks from the 1930s, both ornate and simple fireplace mantels, tons of doors, original brass fittings, turn-of-the-century tubs and clawfoot accessories, ironwork garden gates and lots of moldings and railings. Prices range from $9.00 for a porcelain knob to $250.00 for a substantial brass lock and key. Victorian doors can go for as low $95.00, and a 1950s glass lampshade for $25.00. Very reasonable prices for these unique items.

A great aspect of this shop is that most of what is displayed is actually taken from nearby areas, within a 50-mile or so radius. These house parts were taken from soon-to-be-demolished old homes or from partially demolished homes and storefronts. Pat says that contractors often arrive at his back door, stopping on their way to the landfill to drop off items they think he would be interested in purchasing.

Now, back to my exciting Christmas shopping spree and picking out the parts to my dream work table. 

I found a distressed white, seven-and-a-half-foot, solid hardwood, turn-of-the-century door. I wanted eight-foot, but none was to be found. This would do.

Next, the table legs: I got four corner newel posts that I decided could be turned upside down so the balls of the posts touched the floor. Then the table skirt: Robert decided some old hand-railings would do the trick.

Fast-forward to April of the following year, and Robert was still cutting, measuring, researching ideas and basically waiting for warmer weather so he could work in the garage. He created a wonderful "test table" for practice, one that we now use at our shop. But then warm weather came and he succeeded in putting together my dream worktable. 

Because of the length and weight of the door itself, Robert decided to put together the final pieces in my workroom. Industrial bolts and other hardware were used to connect all the table features. I had called Mike’s Glass, in Orange, to custom-cut the glass top for my table. It arrived two weeks later and was a perfect fit. My guess is that this table, now with a glass top and several solid architectural elements, weighs at least 195 pounds.

According to Pat Campbell, the new owner and founder of Architectural Old House Parts, their inventory changes all the time—but you can count on finding very well-organized displays of antique eave supports, porcelain enamel sinks from the 1930s, both ornate and simple fireplace mantels, tons of doors, original brass fittings, turn-of-the-century tubs and clawfoot accessories, ironwork garden gates and lots of moldings and railings. Prices range from $9.00 for a porcelain knob to $250.00 for a substantial brass lock and key. Victorian doors can go for as low $95.00, and a 1950s glass lampshade for $25.00. Very reasonable prices for these unique items.

A great aspect of this shop is that most of what is displayed is actually taken from nearby areas, within a 50-mile or so radius. These house parts were taken from soon-to-be-demolished old homes or from partially demolished homes and storefronts. Pat says that contractors often arrive at his back door, stopping on their way to the landfill to drop off items they think he would be interested in purchasing.

Something nice to know: You can be eco-friendly and not even know it. Just re-use, re-paint, re-finish something from another era and you instantly have a great piece of furniture/lamp/archway to love and enjoy and pass along to the next generation. See this desk lamp below? Robert made it for me last year from an old railing post from a Wisconsin farmhouse and added a marble base, lamp components and linen shade. He is very creative guy.

I have, in the past, antiqued a few tables, a lamp and even an old chair. This takes lots of patience, which I am sorely lacking. I’ve always admired several of my friends who excel at it. It takes talent and time to see past a brittle piece of furniture and imagine what it could become. Hmmm, there is the beginning of another blog post, I think.

You don’t have to leave the comfort of your cozy couch to get what you need. There are a plethora of websites that cater to lovers of the show This Old House. Here are some websites that are fun, educational and worth a click-through:

 

OldHouseParts.net: Located in Front Royal, this is a personal favorite of mine—obviously. For Virginians, this is a must-stop for obtaining old pieces and elements for your next renovation project. Check it out.

MyKnobs.com: My friend Adrienne pointed me to this interesting website. I never knew the planet had so many historical knob designs. You’ll want to re-knob all of your cabinets, then re-knob again, just because you can. This site specializes in wonderful reproductions of vintage designs, and they have a storefront in Carle Place, New York.

BlackDogSalvage.com: This is a hopping place. These guys are located in Roanoke, and I want to go there now! Since their start in 1999, Mike Whiteside and Robert Kulp have filled a 40,000-square-foot warehouse with architectural antiques, commercial salvage and everything in between. They also sell on EBAY and have a Facebook page with loads of pictures to get your heart rate up.

Caravatis.com. Those living in Richmond are probably already familiar with this business, which has been a mainstay since 1939. Caravati’s Inc. is Virginia’s oldest supplier of architectural salvage and specializes in every aspect of old house restoration, remodeling and repair. They also have a unique and classy website. Caravati’s does fine antique restoration and carving, lighting and hardware restoration, among other things. You can also “chat” or give advice to others about anything regarding architectural salvage. They have a Facebook page, but you need to become a “friend,” not a “fan,” to see all they have to offer.

OldHouseJournal.com: This is a well-known and popular website about restoring old homes. A great resource for gaining knowledge about restoration, this site is fun to read. You can also subscribe to their colorful magazine.

HistoricHouseParts.com: This store was founded in 1980 and is located in Rochester, N.Y. They are experts in the field of architectural salvage and restoration supplies. Once you browse their enormous website, you’ll wish you could paw through this place firsthand. It is chock-a-block with everything needed to renew your home. A comprehensive yet entertaining website with lots of visuals and a great mix of antique and new restoration objects. You can learn a lot just browsing through their inventory.

Finally, one with no website: Mike’s Glass & Mirror, 13196 James Madison Hwy Route 15 South, Orange, VA 22960; 540-672-2626: Very quick, exact and clean, and they lugged the heavy 71/2-foot glass top up two flights of stairs and placed it gingerly on top of the table. I highly recommend them.

This was a fun post!

Joanie Ballard