skip to main |
skip to sidebar
It really was only a matter of time before the magazine editors found out about our resident design genius/darling,
Karen Lampard of Café Paperie & came calling -
Here they come!
First up, a full page article in the June issue of Romantic Homes Magazine & then - many more features to follow. Oh, so well-deserved.
She had us in awe from day one when she ingeniously invented her signature, elaborately decorated, paper cake slices that open up in the back for gifts. It was love & petite magique at first sight!
From there the most fascinating, paper objets d’art, started pouring forth from her infinite imagination - the list is almost unbelievable - you might want to sit down for this - & remember, they’re all made from PAPER:
A triple decker sandwich complete with pickles & crinkle cut potato chips; 8-inch high, yarn topped cupcakes; books with designs cut into the center pages, ie: bird’s nests with birds jumping out, elaborately wild floral designs with branches shooting out, Alice in Wonderland characters leaping out; then she went on to constructing full scale (paper) birdcages, all hand-cut with perfect narrow strips duplicating the bars of real birdcages so precisely that customers naturally assumed that these were all laser cut so we patiently explained over & over “No, an artist actually HAND-CUTS each of these with itsy bitsy, teeny tiny scissors”. Say What? Yes, that’s our Karen! The only thing laser here - is her focus!
Week after week, month after month, year after year, she has poured her heart & soul into every single solitary project & brought in one, right after another, of the most over-the-top, fabulous & imaginative works of - pure artistic genius that any of us has ever witnessed. Her work is not of this world. I say that alot!
And just when we thought we’d seen it all - this past holiday season, she donned her haute couture, designer chapeau & dove into the fashion world of Coco Chanel, & Voila! Karen’s runway ready “Little Black Dress” made its’ debut. (All out of paper, mind you! Coco was smiling down) She could have retired right there! Mais, no! She went on to 3 other, equally magnificent fashion creations, including the multi-ruffled, snow white fantasy gown that was made from over 700 coffee filters! That’s right - 700! (That checkstand purchase made history! “Excuse me ma’am, but exactly how much coffee do you drink each day?”)
From that she launched into her French boudoir line of, extremely elaborate, Parisian Corsets! So tres chic! From there she designed her unique line of whimsical & remarkable, Kites! So tres fun!
That takes us to Summer 2011 when she launched her entirely new lines of: paper & duct tape (!) haute couture bathing suits & bikinis, followed by her outrageous straw hats & opulent purses covered, of course, in vintage paper & velvet roses!
Oh Mais Oui - this gal is one red haute designer/artist extraordinaire & it’s only a matter of time before she’s snatched up to run a major design firm in New York, London or Paris. (Please don’t go!)
Until then, Vignettes is proud, honored & blessed to have the most
talented woman in the universe under our roof & I’m the lucky one to have her as my dear, dear friend.
If you want to meet her, come to one of our events & she’ll be the one that’s talking up & complimenting every other designer & dealer in the shop on their work!
Did I mention she’s also the most humble, grounded, lovely person on the planet?
Mais Oui - that’s our Karen…
Ground-breaking, risk-taking, artist extraordinaire who’s heart, soul & boundless imagination is lovingly wrapped, folded, woven & tucked into every single, solitary piece of her astonishing work - & therein lies the profound magique.
It’s long over due to pay special tribute to my Dad who had such a huge impact in my life.
His special manner of reserved, quiet dignity & the way he lived & carried himself always spoke volumes to me of a true Gentleman, a man of honor & of the highest character.
I was always so proud & supremely blessed by the time he would take to spend with me.
When I came along, the little family was really rooting for a boy, (they even had a boy’s name all picked out) & so, it was a shock, to say the least, when I came barreling into their world.
Not to worry, my Dad rallied & I became the tomboy he hadn’t seen coming!
We went on weekly walks & long hikes collecting driftwood & shells, he taught me how to ride a bike, play competitive tennis, throw a fast ball, mow a lawn, map out a plan to sell the most Girl Scout cookies in our community, drive a stick shift at age 12, develop my love of writing & got me my first job in sixth grade, as a check-stand bagger/box-girl at ‘Toyland’ at the Navy Exchange. I loved it there & have never been more proud of my work! We went to work together over my school vacations & as he went off to his office as Procurement Supervisor, I went to my check-stand. Nothing could have made either of us prouder.
Thru him, I learned my work ethic & of always, always staying the course.
When I filled both sides of my Girl Scout sash with patches, he was there - smiling,
when I played in tennis tournaments, he was there - cheering, when I attempted to speak only in French on the weekends, he was there - chuckling, when I graduated from College, he was there - beaming. Thru all my victories & defeats, he was there - standing in my corner.
Thru out my life, he provided a steadfast calm & unwavering show of strength & class, my mighty oak, never wanting or requiring any fanfare, special attention or fuss made over him. He was my quiet cheerleader, always rooting for me, believing in me & was most content to encourage & stand tall behind the scenes - where I always looked for him.
Now, whenever I smell fresh mown grass or night blooming jasmine - I’m instantly taken back to warm summer evenings long ago, when a kind-hearted Father took the time to play catch, back & forth across the street long into the night, with his youngest daughter.
*******
So here’s to my humble hero - the world has so few,
For giving, teaching & showing me - always in the quietest of ways,
Life’s most powerful & noble lessons…
Here’s To You, Dad
For our French Riviera themed, summer kick-off party last month, only the amazingly creative Susan Darnell could have come up with the idea of a spot-on tribute to the Cannes, France - Film festival.
Her labor of love consisted of a FABULOUS, custom-designed, ballroom gown, constructed entirely of FILM & elaborately displayed on a mannequin!
We’re talking head-turning, over-the-top celluloid whimsy!
(This just might be our most outrageous mannequin display - ever & we’ve had some doozies!)
The stars in Cannes this year had some amazing designer gowns on but they had nothing over this Kodachrome darling.
At every one of our themed events, Susan rises mightily to the occasion with her tres magnifique custom creations, & this, of course, was no exception.
When you get a chance - come in & see this starlet’s remarkable stateside debut. She’d be perfect to showcase in your home theater & she’s definitely ready for her close-up.
Thanks to all of our loyal friends, fans & followers
for nominating us into the top ten of the
‘Union Tribune’s 2011 Reader’s Best Poll’ for
BEST ANTIQUE STORE!
We do have the hardest working dealers in this business & they scour the countryside for you on a daily basis so we really appreciate this nod of approval. (Plus, we have frequent themed events & soirees & if you haven’t been to one, you need to make it a point to attend!)
Now, the voting begins to narrow it down to the
TOP THREE city-wide.
Put your vote in at:
www.sdbestpoll.comunder the shopping category.
Merci Beaucoup to all!
We’re all stocked up for the summer entertaining season when life & dining officially moves to the outdoors. C’est si bon!
