Lampshade Slipcovers

Have you ever wondered how to give your old lamps a new lease on life?  Slipcovers may be the answer.  I have a whole section on slipcover styles for lampshades in my new book but you have to wait until March to see them. 

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. 

~ 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. 

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

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! 

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. 

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!

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……..

Happy Leap Day

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!