A Place of Distinction

Alameda This Weekend!

2009-06-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Remember that Alameda Point is this Sunday, June 06, 2009. I will be in space E9.

I will be bring lots of great items! ..... Glass, frames, lighting, garden, mirrors, fun smalls, shells ... come take a look!

See you there!

Kathleen

Alameda

2009-05-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

First of all, I want to thank everyone who attended the Pleasanton Street Faire! I believe that we all had a great time, and the weather couldn't have been more beautiful!

I also, want to thank all of you who have visited my website at www.rubylane.com/shops/aplaceofdistinction .

Alameda Point is the next show on the agenda. It will be Sunday, 6/7/09, and you will find me in booth E9. For more information and directions go to http://www.antiquesbythebay.net .

I am in the process of getting lots of things ready, and will hopefully have some photos in the next couple of days.

Sorry for the delay in getting more items up on my selling blog at www.chantclair.blogspot.com/ . I can't figure out a way to keep the pictures and descriptions in place! I am so "tech challenged"! As soon as I solve the problem, there will be lots to see!

Kathleen

Pleasanton Street Faire

2009-05-22T14:02:00.000-07:00

Here we go!

The much anticipated Pleasanton Street Faire.

I have been working, and working!

There will be an adorable romantic cottage settee and chair ... perfect to pile pretty pillows on, some great sconces, a fabulous big mirror ... painted white and gently distressed, lots of wonderful frames to put treasured pictures in, and some great tables.

Did you see last month's issue of "Country Living"? Lots of emphasis on white, and a great article on milk glass. As you might guess ... the booth will be mostly white with pretty silver accents. I have found some great pieces of milk glass, especially vases to put those wonderful bouquets of garden flowers in.

Have found some really great candlesticks ... both silver and crystal.I will also be bringing some really pretty and fun costume jewelry!

There is just too much to list!

You will find me in Booth 84 & 86 ... three booths down from Division Street.

For more information on the show go to www.pleasantonantiquefaire.com. To view more jewelry go to my store at www.rubylane.com/shops/aplaceofdistinction . I have add a new category "Brooches/Pins - Under $24". Check it out! Click on this category in the lefthand menu. My wedding jewelry category is also growing. Just enter "Bridal Wedding Jewelry" up in the "Search", when you get to my store. My selling blog is now up and I am gradually adding pretty and fun decorative items for your romantic home. Each post is a different category of items. Go to www.chantclair.blogspot.com .

See you at Pleasanton! ... If you can't make it to Pleasanton, by sure to stop by my booth #E9 at Alameda Point, Sunday, June 7!

Kathleen

Chantclair Selling Blog

2009-05-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

So many of you have asked to purchase items online, so here we go!

As you already know, I have a store online at www.rubylane.com/shops/aplaceofdistinction, on this site you will find a large selection of beautiful signed and unsigned vintage designer jewelry, an exquisite selection of vintage rhinestone bridal wedding jewelry, and unique and unusual upscale antique and collectible home decor.

To Ruby Lane's credit, they have set up certain criteria for listing in a store ... nothing past 1989, and nothing handcrafted.

So the delima became ... where and how I sell some of the fun and wonderful vintage home decor and decorator items that are perfect for a romantic, cottage, or French chic home that are a little more contemporary in origin, and/or have been gently distressed and painted to fit into today's home.

After a great deal of thought, I have decided to open a second blog ... http://www.chantclair.blogspot.com/. This will now be a selling blog where you can go to view items that are for sale.

This site will feature my beautiful starfish which continue to sell at a phenomenal pace, my little bead jars, gently colored and distressed small picture frames and mirrors, unique and unusual items to add beauty to your your romantic home. Each post will be named by the items that are available. A "Post" titled "Frames & Mirrors, will show only those kinds of items. A "Post" titled "Decorative Beauties" will cover the scope of unique smalls to used throughout the home.

Purchase will be easy. Simply email me at chanti111@comcast.net and give me the item number you are interested in, and I will set up an invoice. You will have three payment options:

- PayPal account and I will invoice you

- Credit Card

- Money Order on known bank

That is it!

This blog "A Place Of Distinction", will continue to be an information center of upcoming shows, hopefully highlights of items to be shown, and just some of my thoughts and observations.

As always, please be patient ... this is a "work and thought" in progress!

Kathleen

Books That Inspire Me

2008-08-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the books that I return to again and again for inspiration and reference.

"The Paris Apartment" by Claudia Strasser, is one of these books. It is what Paris Style is about, showing a blend of multiple periods. It is a jewelry box of rich color and design.

"white on white", by Stephanie Hoppen is an amazing book illustrationing the use of all the "shades" of white along with wonderful taupes and muted pastels. Through the use of furnishings, accessories, food, flowers, and the four seasons, this book creates rooms ranging from country to ultra modern.

"Romantic Style", by Better Homes and Garden is a treat for the eye from start to finish, showing room after room ranging from simple cool and white, to the warmth of the Tuscany wine country.

Finally "Antiques from the Garden", by Alistair Morris. This book is a feast for the eye with photos of fabulous garden pieces from around world. It gives you just a taste of the amazing artistry through stone and metal done in the 1800's through the early 1900's.

The common thread, or theme, through all of these books is the mixing of periods ...Victorian, Art Deco, Paris Apartment, Hollywood Regency, Shabby Chic...they will all blend together creating any mood you desire.

With a little imagination and color, anyone can create a room of their dreams. Someone once told me "that just about anything will go together as long as you love!"..I find that with few exceptions, this truly is the case.

So put your imaginations to work! My motto is "Just do it!" You will truly be amazed at the results.

In the meantime, don't forget to visit my website for more fun items www.tace.com/place , www.rubylane.com/shops/place , and "aplaceofdistinction" on ebay.

My next show will be at Alameda Point - Antiques By The Bay, September 7, 2008, space #K-7. Besure to stop by and say "Hello"!

2008-08-18T21:50:00.000-07:00

Beautifully designed rhinestone jewelry 1920's - 1950's, gorgeous vintage accessories, amazing architectual pieces, stunning lighting and mirrors, unique furniture, amazing victorian bamboo, unusual table top decor, Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, French Paris apartment, pre-1900 French garden...you name it...I love it!

My antique business started over 30 years ago under the name of CHANTECLAIR. I specialized in pre-1900 textiles, ladies' accessories, jewelry and porcelains. Interestingly enough, my early background was art and architecture, so when salvage pieces came on the scene, it was an easy transition, but it is like losing a lover, how could I truly give up the other things?!!

Subsequently, I opened another division of my business called "A Place of Distinction". It is here that I indulge in all of the pretty and feminine things!

I say I am going to pick just one area and specialize in that, and next thing I know, I am looking down the road at something else! For most of my life I have criticized myself for being like this, and now finally, I have decided that it is alright to enjoy such a diverse world and want to be a part of it!

The bottom line is that I love owning and enjoying these wonderful items for a little while and then selling them to make room for my next "Love Affair". I can't pass up an object that is just plain quirky and unusual, and I adore the elegant and simple. I'm not above adding a little embellishment, and going a little "green"...finding new uses for old objects..."Objects Nouveau"... just to indulge my creative side!

I wish I had a house with a thousand rooms so that I could do each one differently, and I wish I had a store that could house all of the wonderful things I want to own for a few minutes and then let someone else enjoy for a lifetime!

My parents were artists, so growing up, I tended to be very visual oriented. For many years I worked as a make-up artist and was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel the world from New York to London, Miami to Caracus, and San Francisco to Mombasa. The bottom line is that it has given me a wonderful opportunity to see the world, from the bright lights of Broadway to the jungles of South America and Africa. With it has come an appreciation of what makes art, the difference and beauty in textiles, the stunning diversity of architecture, and the amazing artistry in cemeteries of the past. Ornate ironwork and granite pieces produced in the pre-1900's are now prohibitive in price to produce today, and are highly sought as magnificent works of art.

The purpose of this blog is to pass along a thought on these things from time to time, to introduce you to my websites, to sometimes discuss one of these items, and to give you a schedule of some of the places that I show each month.

I am based in California, but do get wanderlust from time to time...however with the price of gas, I tend to wander a little less! In the past you mught have found me in Sun Valley Idaho, Aspen and Vail Colorado, or Marburger Farm Texas.

The world is the most amazing place, and I feel like a kid in a candy store!

I hope you will take the time to visit one of my sites... www.tace.com/place , www.rubylane.com/shops/place , or "aplaceofdistinction" on Ebay starting at 7:00PM each Wednesday.

If you live in Northern California, you can find me the first Sunday of each month at Alameda Pointe "Antiques By The Bay" in space K-7.

More shows are being scheduled, so be sure to check back!