Style on a Budget

Does style require money?

Many people certainly equate the two -- believing it takes some (money) to have some (taste). But the truth is style (and here I mean really great style vs. the stuff that comes pre-packaged, ready branded and thus is "safe" vs. "authentic") is something far more intrinsic to one's attitude, confidence, spirit and thoughtfulness.

Here's a great example of what marks acceptable style from stellar style: a thank you. A phone call or email after you've been invited to a party is acceptable style, a hand-written note mailed the next day is really quite notable and gracious; a handwritten note on personalized stationery is stellar style. It's about acknowledging the effort one has made on your behalf. The very foundation of great style is built upon manners.

Life is short. Go ahead and be gracious. It doesn't cost much and it's oh-so stylish.

Craftsmanship Teams up with Wit

A nice mention from today's Contra Costa Times....
"Fete carries timeless treasures, perfect for home entertaining or hostess gifts.
Craftsmanship teams up with wit and utility and purchases are one-of-a-kind. The scope is wide, from handblown glassware and pewter salt cellars to monkey napkin rings and a pig butter dish."

We are bringing in some fun spring merchandise - we hope you'll stop by when you are in the area.

The Franco Files - #1

Whew. It's been a long while since I posted anything to this here blog and after getting caught up in the whirlwind of the holidays, post holiday sales, Bart and I escaped to Paris for a much needed break and a chance to visit the much heralded Maison et Objet show. Further posts to come on some restaurant recommendations but for right now, take a look at this email from Ian, the bald guy behind "Bald Guy Greetings" -- a line of cards that are filled with rapier wit, biting humor and a generally bleak outlook on the great truths of our time (that's why I like them so much).....

Hey Jackie,

Welcome back from your travels. (FRENCH: voyage)

I got your order and I'm so happy our cards started selling. I knew they would.

One question about your order though...

We only have cards numbering up to 077, but you ordered card 078.

While we appreciate your faith in us and we love that you know card 078 will be a zinger, I'm afraid I can't let you order it until I write it and print it.

Do you know what you may have meant to type? Other card numbers that are very popular that it could be are card 070 or card 058. Both just one number off.

Let me know when you have a minute and I can send your cards out today.

Hope all is well and welcome back. (FRENCH: bienvenue?)

And don't forget to let me know about card 078.

Without hair, (sans cheveux)
Ian Kalman
Bald Guy Greetings

Clowning Around

Fete had a great write up in the San Francisco Chronical this week and hearty thanks to Laura Thomas for reaching out to me to "get the story."

The response to the article was tremendous: not only did we sell out of those fabulous linen pillows, and have a run on the amaryllis bulbs, but I also heard from a former colleague at The Santa Fe Opera and now feel well caught up on the goings-on of that very special opera company.

If any of your are opera lovers, I recommend a visit to Santa Fe. The Company's Opening Weekend (generally the last week in June or first weekend in July) is sure to enchant with the incomparable Opera Ball. For those of you who are the type that think nothing of traveling to Seattle to catch The Ring, then the time to visit The Santa Fe Opera is during the latter half of the season when the Company presents its American premiere. Go. You won't regret it.

And don't forget to indulge with a visit to Ten Thousand Waves when you're there.

Wishes....

We Wish You a Merry Wishmas
There seems to be a fallow period, a lull, a lacunae (isn't that a great word? I hope I spelled it correctly) that falls somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas. For me, it seems to be a period where I reflect on the year that is rapidly coming to a close and the new one that is gathering speed and will land upon one's doorstep in a matter of weeks. Which brings me to all those things I wish for, my own bundle of hope for starting the year anew.

I was going to list here some of the things I wish for, but realized there are so many and yet only one wish I make to myself year-after-year it almost seems ludicrous to admit to it. Or admit to failing at it, is perhaps more accurate. Year-after-year I have wished to write more letters to people I care about. Yep, that's the simple goal. Nothing as demanding as training to run a marathon, learning to speak French, losing 10, 15, 20 pounds. My humble goal was and is simply to write letters.
To fail so miserably at this task required some revised goal-setting as in setting the bar lower, much lower. So the goal was then revised to writing one letter a month, and that was then revised the following year to joting a note, sending a greeting card which was then further revised to initialling a post-it-note and sticking it on an clever article or cartoon and sending THAT in place of said letter. I simply wanted to let people know I was thinking of them in some way that didn't involve email or the telephone. And truth be told, I fail pretty miserably at that, too. The biggest irony is that I set goals for myself and then work away at them like a dog with a bone until I achieve the goal -- and yet this simple one, perhaps the simplest of all, is my personal bete noire.

So hear I sit once again on the boundry of a new year wondering if I should just admit defeat and think of a new wish. Or hope against all evidence to the contrary that this year will be different.

How about you? Any unfulfilled wishes that might come true for you? Jot a note, send a card, write a letter, post to the blog -- and let me know.

Jackie

The March of The Snowmen

These candy boxes -- like the dogs in the photo below -- are whimsical gifts for friends, family, co-workers. When I worked at a real job (i.e. in an office, with benefits) there was always a generous colleague who would have a stash of CANDY on her desk and delight in sharing it with those of us who liked to pilfer. Ah what little acts of mercy our colleagues show us when our sugar level is low. My favorite candy dispensing colleague was by far BB who used to bring in DARK CHOCOLATE. I nominate her for sainthood.

Do you have someone who is a treat and shares the treats? Why not give them something sweet in return?

Minding Your (Corporate) Ps & Q's

Dear Friends with Real Jobs,

It's that time of year again where we face the often daunting task of navigating the much beloved Corporate Christmas Party (I use the word Christmas for the alliteration, knowing "Holiday" is more politik). I, myself, have frequently been a no-show at these shindigs which is probably why I have my own store and am not rearranging the deck chairs on the Good Ship General Motors, Citicorp, Lehman Brothers....but rather rearranging the snug-fit on my regulation-orange life jacket.

Figuring out the time to arive, whom to schmooz, whom to avoid and how to balance a glass of wine mit appetizer without spilling food or drink down the front of one's carefully selected attire while keeping the conversation witty and intelligent, is a feat that can certainly be best performed by a member of Cirque d' Soliel. But acrobats we are not, simply corporate warriors trying to make sure we don't create a name for ourselves that has a life of its own. Or worse, out of a job by the New Year.

Here are my quick and dirty rules for attending your next Corporate Holiday Party:

1. Attend the party.
2. Make sure you talk to
- The CEO/ Owner or whomever's pocket is getting lighter by paying your salary; keep it brief, wish them well and even thank them for the opportunity to work in their employ -- and then move on.
- Your boss. You may have a love / hate relationship with him or her -- so grow up, put on your big boy pants and go have a conversation. Try to highlight something they did for you that helped you out (maybe they took the bullet aimed for your head?) and thank them. Don't spend too much time with either the CEO or your boss, less the knivesof the angry mob come out the Monday next for having brown-nosed.
- The assistants and gatekeepers to the above -- yes, make sure you ask them if you can refresh their drink. These positions cater to the people they support, so do the gals (sad but true, they surely are gals) a good turn and show them a small courtesy. They'll both appreciate and remember it.
- The person you hate the most, the one whom you've either been known to stab in the back or has been known to stab you in the back. Every fiber in your body will want to resist this and your ego will create lots of "perfectly reasonable" excuses of why you don't need to, but here's the reason why: working in business is a full-contact body sport and sometimes blood gets spilled. Show you are good sport, a team player, and more importantly, acknowledge that "enemies" not only play for the same team, but often create the opportunity for us to improve our own performance.
3. Show up 30 minutes later than the time for which the party is called (if you live in California) and don't be the last to leave.
4. Ladies -- it's business, so watch the length of the skirt (not too short), the cleavage revealed (none is optimal) and the height of your heels. Gentlemen, not too much aftershave, no T-shirts (I don't care if you work for South Park, its business so treat it with a modicum of respect); no torn jeans.
5. Conversation tips: guys -- in mixed company, lay off the sports metaphors and sport talk; gals - lay off the lipstick, purse, shoe talk. Remember -- you'll be a far more interesting conversationalist if you ask people about themselves rather than drone on about yourself.

Go out, have a good time and perch yourself securely on the rung of employment for having minded your corporate Ps & Q's.