Life With 'The Shop'

INFO ABOUT SHOP HOURS click here

My apologies on being delinquent in posting more lately.  Since we had the soft launch in early May, we hosted a successful Grand Opening launch party.  I promise to share photos from that grand event soon.  In the meantime, I wanted to share a few photos from the shop itself.  In the last 2 months that we've been open, I've been trying to establish an idea of what customers are hoping for when they walk into the shop.

The local response has been overwhelming.  I'm amazed by the number of customers that have read this blog and are local!  I ask every customer that walks into the door how they heard about us and most people say from this blog or from instagram or Facebook!  The power of social media!

I have found that almost daily I am tweaking the displays within the store and constantly trying to optimize the way the products are displayed.

The benefit of a brick and mortar is that you can tell almost immediately what products are "staples" and extremely popular.  Some of the items literally fly off the shelves and have become extremely popular; for example, the Gurglepots!   They come in every color and they are great for water, lemonade or iced tea.  They're also great just sitting on a bookshelf for a flash of color or using as a vase with fresh flowers.

A few items are selling like molasses (uh, no I'm not about to share what those items are in case you happen to come into the shop and want to buy one of those items).   ha. 

This has been a dream come true but it is also a lot of work!  It's enjoyable and fulfilling but demanding!  I find myself constantly thinking about inventory, marketing, staging, staying unique and creative!   Yesterday, I was sitting at the pool placing orders for the holiday season.  I do love the flexibility in that I can be outdoors and still with family and 'working.'  No complaints, but my point is that I'm now always "on the clock."  My mind never shuts off from thinking about the business and the brand and continuing to make it great.  

Just recently, Vivid Hue Home was featured in New England Home Magazine's Summer 2015 publication for our urchin planters:

Under the Sea:  The Urchin Planters found at Vivid Hue Home get their organic shapes from spiky underwater creatures.  Farmington, 860-677-0301.  vividhuehome.com

I was thrilled to be included  (and a big thank you to Lynda Simonton from NE Home Mag).  

Thank you to all of the wonderful customers that have already stopped in to support the shop. Thank you for all of my blog buddies that have made the trip from outside of Connecticut to stop by and say hello!  Your support has been tremendous!  Promise to post again soon.

Cheers, 

Heather 

Hillstead May Market Event in Connecticut!

Today, I'd like to invite my local Central Connecticut friends to a fun event scheduled for May 9th and 10th.   

I am fortunate to live right in Farmington, Connecticut, the home of many historical landmarks, including the Hill-Stead Museum.  (For more on Farmington, read Farmington Dawn Lombardi Style ) 

Courtesy of Design Megillah

Each year, the Hill-Stead Museum welcomes the arrival of spring with a two-day gardening and crafts event.  More than 75 exhibitors set up booths all throughout the beautiful grounds of the Hillstead.  They offer amazing antiques and hand-made arts and crafts for the home as well as exquisite flowers, plants and trees for the garden.

Courtesy of Design Megillah

Courtesy of Design Megillah

While this in itself is enough to attend this event,  I am pleased to share that this year's keynote speaker is the wonderfully fabulous interior designer, Holly Holden!  Recall my previous post about Holly here. 

Courtesy of Holly Holden

Holly is a local Farmington, Connecticut resident (in fact she lives in my FAVORITE historical mansion on Main Street, Fox Hall).  I connected with Holly through my fab friend, Krystian Von Speidel (The Fanciest Tag Sale In Connecticut). 

At 11am on Friday and Saturday (May 9th and 10th), Holly will be sharing secrets from her newly published book The Pretty and Proper Living Room, A Guide to Timeless and Elegant Design in a talk titled "Six Secrets for Inviting Interiors," followed by a book signing and a la carte lunch in the Makeshift Theater. 

I would love for any and all of my local friends to join me for Holly's talk (and to enjoy a wonderful spring day on the Hillstead Grounds perusing the wares).  Admission to hear Holly Holden speak is $50 and includes admission to the May Market (all of the exhibitors) as well as lunch!


I will be attending with a few friends on Friday May 9th.  I'd love to have your company, too!
You can purchase tickets here.  I promise you won't be disappointed.   


Additional Information about the event directly from the Hillstead Website:

ADMISSION: $12 general admission; $10 museum members; free to children 12 and under, prior to May 4. $15 day of event. General admission includes entrance to all arts & crafts, home & garden exhibitors, daily demonstrations, live music, children's activities, self-guided tours of Hill-Stead Museum with its renowned Impressionist art collection, enjoyment of the museum's historic grounds and Sunken Garden. Fee for the May Market keynote speaker, Holly Holden, is $50 (includes general admission). SEE BELOW for details on all of the above.


Throughout the two days, visitors will experience gardening experts presenting seasonal demonstrations, knowledgeable Master Gardeners providing advice, musicians and dancers entertaining in the food court, and Monet’s Café and Bakery offering delicious sandwiches, soups, salads, and sweet treats. Additionally, treasure hunters will want to arrive early to be the first to Theodate’s Attic, where they will find a large selection of collectibles, linens, artwork, glassware, gardening books, jewelry, and more for sale.  Organized and presented by the museum’s dedicated Hill-Steaders volunteers, May Market includes self-guided museum tours of Theodate Pope’s 1901 Colonial Revival mansion.  Presenting Sponsor: Simsbury Bank.

All names will be kept on a reservation list for check-in at the event. THANK YOU!
To buy tickets by phone, contact Becky Trutter at 860.677.4787 ext 132 or trutterb@hillstead.org.

This major benefit event is organized by The Hill-Steaders, the museum's core volunteer group.

Holly Holden's 'The Pretty and Proper Living Room'

Holly Holden lives in one of the most prestigious historical mansions along Farmington, Connecticut's Main Street.  I have admired this home daily for several years as I cart my children to the town's elementary school.  Farmington is a quintessential New England town filled with tree line streets, friendly faces and many talented folks (read New England, Dawn Lombardi Style here). 

Holly's house, built circa 1803, is called Fox Hall.  It has sprawling gardens and immaculately manicured bushes.  It's set on a plantation of land that is impressive and breath-taking. 

Courtesy Holly Holden

 But this post isn't intended to be about Holly's fantastic homestead (though an entire post could be dedicated to it). 

I wanted to introduce you to interior designer Holly Holden herself and her recently published book, The Pretty and Proper Living Room.   

Holly's book started as a list of helpful hints she began jotting down for her daughter, Alexandra.  Holly had been designing stately houses for decades at this point so she was well-equipped to offer a suggestion or two.  What transpired was "The Pretty and Proper Living Room", a beautiful memoir of photos and tips on how to create the perfect "big girl" house.  It can be used as a reference guide to formal decorating and is an enjoyable and easy read. 

Holly's style is tailored and timeless.  Her work tends to convey a traditional old school elegance, one with flair and stature.   She has served as the head designer for three historic Farmington renovations: The Porter Memorial, The Barney Library and The Farmington Country Club.

Here are some of Holly's interiors:



Courtesy of Holly Holden

Courtesy of HGTV Blog Holly's Living Room at Foxhall



Courtesy of Holly Holden

Courtesy of HGTV Blog

Courtesy of Scully & Scully Holly at a book signing



Courtesy of HGTV Blog  Holly's Living Room at Fox Hall

Courtesy of Holly Holden

Courtesy The Pretty and Proper Living Room Facebook Page



Courtesy The Pretty and Proper Living Room Facebook Page

Courtesy of Scully & Scully

Of course, I must admit that I fell in love with Holly's personal affinity towards pink!  I'm a color person myself and she is always dressed to the nines in vibrant color!  So fitting that her book color is pink as well. 

If you're interested in purchasing or reviewing more about Holly's book, please visit her website here. 

Note: Vivid Hue Home was not paid for this review and is not endorsed for any sales of this product.  I just love the fact that Holly's a local in my home town of Farmington, Connecticut and is so talented! 

New England, Dawn Lombardi Style

Welcome to Farmington, Connecticut.  This is my home.  A quintessential New England town with tree lined streets.  The historic main street is bordered with white picket fences and colonial white houses.  It's home to Miss Porter's School and the Stanley Whitman House. 

It's also home to reknowned American Impressionist artist, Dawn Nolan Lombardi.   Dawn is originally from Northampton, MA and now resides in Farmington with her family.  Her work is featured in both private and public galleries around the country and, impressively, adorns the White House and Smithsonian Museum walls. 

Imagine my delight when I was able to score two original works by Dawn at our recent elementary school fundraising event.  I am beyond thrilled.   This oil painting represents the New England quaintness of Farmington's Main Street. 

The details are exquisite (hard to convey here). 

I love the pop of color that the second painting brings to my sunroom. 

The colors are vibrant and brilliant. 

For Connecticut locals, I hear that Dawn's work will be displayed in the Farmington Starbucks in the very near future.  Keep your eyes out, it's worth the iced latte to view these babies close up and in person. 

Another example of Dawn's work:

I encourage you to read more about Dawn here.  Dawn is also available for commissioned paintings.

PS--Did you hear that butterflies are coming our way?  Check out some of Vivid Hue's other posts here: 

Butterfly Mania