just a little something

to brighten up the day (as if you need it here in VA! beautiful, sunshine-y and warm)

i'm sure i'm seriously late in posting these great little porcelain bits from my favorite etsy girl, ashleyg.

i have one of her "bearded men" prints in the nursery. it's supposed to be representative of my bearded husband, but most people think it looks like Bin Laden ;o)

anyway, she has some miniature porcelain pieces with illustrations imprinted onto the surface. hang a bunch on a wall for instant wow! or be bold and wear it around your neck! I might just hammer a small nail in the wall in an offbeat place in my house and put it there. whatever you choose to do with it, i think they are just precious. enjoy! and happy shopping!

oh, and stay tuned for our March sale announcent! coming to you right here on Saturday. it's a biggie and shouldn't be missed!

FYI domino subscribers

so i've decided to quit whining about domino folding. i've grieved and i'm ready to move on. so, i was happy to read on maison luxe that you can choose which magazine you would like to receive for the remainder of your subscription. the default is apparently architectural digest...not one that tickles my fancy. so make sure you check out this link: Conde Nast, and call to make sure you get what you want. personally, i've gone with extending my cookie subscription. i highly recommend if you haven't read it ;o) and bon apppetit is another good option. i recently subscribed after years of not picking it up and it's a great read if you like food and wine and travel. and who doesn't! enjoy and happy shopping! k&m

recession-friendly gifts

if you're like us, you're looking for great gift ideas that are design conscious, economical and totally original. well, if the 20% off pillow sale at openhouse isn't what you're looking for ;o) i've found a great alternative: littlebrownpen. this adorable etsy shop is one of the most creative i've come across. they sell printable pdf files of calendars, small prints, stationary and book plates. you buy the pdf and print them yourself, as many times as you'd like!! $5 or $10 goes a long way like this!

a few of our faves:

rainy day recipes:


stationary set:


keep calm and carry on spoof calendar:

february sale

also, forgot to mention our february sale. 20% off of ALL in stock pillows. we've got a great selection from john robshaw, looolo, dermond peterson, k studio and more. check us out in richmond or online at www.openhouse-richmond.com. use the code FEB20 at checkout to receive the discount. it's only good until midnight on the 28th, so get over there fast!! and stay tuned for news on our march sale. which is a GOOD one :o) k&m

sunday

for years i've imagined having a large antique farm table in the dining room with white or black panton chairs. i love the juxtaposition of form-molded plastic with the natural, heavy wood. i'm always looking around online for a good deal (almost impossible to find). $250 per chair is just not recession friendly. as i was browsing i came across the most interesting place i'd ever found my lovely chairs: church. and since it was sunday, i thought it fitting to post these fabulous pictures from St Bartholomew’s church in Chodovice, Czech Republic. i love the old and the new together like that! how divine ;o) k&m

happy valentine's day

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19886988

it's taken my least favorite holiday of the year to get me back to the blog! i've never liked valentine's day. for those without a valentine, i've felt it to be such an exclutionalist (i don't think that's a word, but you get it) holiday; and for those with one, a insane excuse to spend money on things you would normally never buy. i don't even particularly like the color red. and there is nothing more generic to me then a dozen red roses. BUT, if i had to play along and my wonderful husband did feel the pressure of society upon him, these are just a few things that might be nice ;o) enjoy! and don't forget to check out www.openhouse-richmond.com to see a selection of our inventory for sale online. all pillows are 20% off through the end of the month! just enter FEB20 at checkout. happy shopping! k&m

http://www.saipua.com/flowers.htm


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17679025


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=20027620


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=20235459


http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Love-Concepts-Eating-Designer-Vogelzang/dp/9063692005/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234542272&sr=8-2


http://www.sixburner.net/menus.htm

handmade holiday preview party tonight!

the rain is subsiding and Christmas is inching ever closer. so get out to the Visual Arts Center tonight for the Richmond Craft Mafia's Handmade Holiday Craft Show. it's sure to be a hit. Tickets can be purchased at the door. so grab your friends and head out for wine and snacks and fabulous crafts! see you there! k&m

a different kind of family portrait

thanks to cool mom picks, i came across kiki & polly, a fabulous, alternative option for kid and family portraits. ever since LJ arrived, i've been thinking about starting an art collection for her. finding one work a year that represent ceratin milestones in her life or ours as a family. i've commissioned her first work that i'll share soon when it's ready. but these delicate line portraits might be the winner for next year. i love how the faces are left blank and that only certain objects are filled in with color. just lovely.

you can also find some great readymade items on their etsy page

buy local, buy handmade

so openhouse isn't the only gig in town to get handmade goods by local artists. of course we want you to buy from us, but if you're out and about on broad, stop by the fawn shop and check it out. the shop is only open this week at 201 west broad street, so catch it while you can! happy shopping! k&m

[photos courtesy of richmond craft mafia]

in the news...

check out the december issue of richmond magazine for recession-friendly gifts. you can find our fab blabla rattles mentioned along with other great gifts. they aren't available yet on the website, but come by the shop or send us an email and we'll get them to you in time for the holiday. happy shopping! k&m

this just in...

new holiday stockings from india rose. they are going fast, so stop by the shop or visit us online to grab yours. only 3 styles left to choose from. enjoy! and happy shopping! k&m

openhouse is now online!

hey folks! sorry we disappeared. little lucy james was born october 19th and things have been a little hectic! not to mention that we have launched our online shop!!!! we've been thinking about this for a while. and it's been a grassroots effort. with little to go on we've put up a little store to get to you all the great things we've been blogging about. it's not fancy, nor high-tech, but it's purpose is to promote indie designers and handmade items and we're psyched to have something up.

you'll notice that our site addresses have changed. www.openhouse-richmond.com is now the link to our web store. http://openhouse-richmond.blogspot.com has now become the only link to this blog. make sure to update your bookmarks.

we're back next week with lots of new arrivals, some intersting etsy finds and info on the new web shop. enjoy! and happy shopping! k&m

lorcom lane design

an interesting booth caught our eye at the ivy market a couple weeks back. lorcom lane design, a local richmond collaborative, was selling some stunning handmade items. napkins, runners, coasters, pillows and blankets lined their booth. all beautifully constructed with exciting patterns that you don't usually see. we're hoping that we'll have a chance in the future to highlight them in the shop, but until then, visit their etsy site to see more. perfect gifts for the holidays. enjoy! k&m

momentum resources forum in richmond

hi folks! happy friday. for those richmonders that follow the blog, we've got a great event to pass on, sponsored by our friends and fellow 5807ers, momentum resources.

check it out:

Detours & OnRamps, a forum supporting women on their quest for work-life balance.

this one day event will address the needs and issues of mothers, especially those grappling with their decisions to work-- full time, part time, or from home.

through networking with fellow working mothers, discussions with the companies leading the way, expert panels and sessions on the most common challenges working mothers face, the Detours & OnRamps Forum provides an opportunity for women to meet and explore a variety of choices.

visit www.onrampsforum.com for a complete agenda and registration information.

the event will be held at the University of Richmond on october 28, 2008, from 8:30am - 3:00 pm. register today and receive $25 off the $125 registration fee.

enjoy! k&m

this just in...

some yummy, snuggly wool totes from lotta jansdotter!

should be in the shop this weekend. enjoy! k&m