GlamTribale Opens At Building Character in Lancaster, Pa

Our new GlamTribale shops at Building Character in Lancaster are evolving — but not according to plan. In the process of having a major crisis last Thursday night — when we had 24 hrs. to open for First Friday — my strategy for the spaces has changed quite a lot.

30 Dreadful Seconds

Imagine this. I was sitting on a chair painting the back wall a golden mocha color, engaged in a bit of a nirvana moment. Painting is almost as therapeutic as mowing the lawn — there’s something very tidy about accomplishing the task at hand with such clear signs of progress.

The table top was sitting on the pedestals away from the wall. Two full cups of coffee, a half-eaten muffin and a full gallon of paint sat on the unsecured table top — an action I will never repeat again in life. My business partner Robert was assembling the allegedly freestanding shelving units that went on the aisle when I heard a burst of profanity that wasn’t music to my ears. 

The shelving units which were destined to house the majority of our inventory weren’t freestanding at all. We bought them unassembled and just in to Ikea that day. The website made no mention of screwing them into the wall, nor did the illustration. 

Not believing what I was hearing, I turned around to see better what was going on, resting my elbow on the table top. That action sent the board flying into the air, taking with it a full can of paint, coffee and Robert’s muffin. 

I was horrified as my lovely vision of our new shop dissolved before my eyes. There was nothing to do but punt. On Friday I grabbed everything that I could from our brief stay at Hidden Treasures, including the bench that Robert bought — one I had no intention of using in such a small space. 

Disaster Strikes; Reconsideration Follows

In short order, my sense of what to do in this space took a major turn as I sat on the bench now covered with a quilt from my loft. The design boards as interchangeable wall segments created a strong sense of sanctuary. I could see clients sitting on the bench looking at jewelry and other gifts when we’re not there — which is most of the time. “Pad the bench, Anne!” 

We were ready for business on Friday evening, and I was thrilled to meet so many great people at Building Character. I have no doubts this will be a significant success for us, although I will be changing the space around yet again. 

I must bring clear collection statements to the space without cluttering it. Two gold towers covered with the stripe fabric will replace the planters in the back. The gold plant stand on the aisle isn’t working effectively as a display, but I like the idea of being able to sit and pull out trays of jewelry from underneath the table. We will have a special concierge and special order service operating out of Building Character, so now I love the idea of the bench as a place where people can review the total product collection while sitting down. 

I’m a person who likes to have everything perfect before I show it — but that’s not the case in our new shops in Lancaster. Give us another 2-4 weeks and we will be a total jewel out there. For now, I’m just emitting a sigh of relief because we look lovely and very promising and we will only get better with the signage and marketing that I’m working on. 

The photo of the bench and stripe fabric display is the first view coming around the corner and down the aisle. On Thursday it was a guy who turned the turned, stopped dead in his tracks and then smiled as he walked towards the space. The look of total pleasure and delight on his face was all I needed to know that we are on the right track. 

GlamTribale At Building Character Is A Love Affair in the Making

The other challenge is balancing out our inventory in pricepoints. When we first showed the GlamTribale Collection in Lancaster end of July, 2012 people were not only thrilled but mentioned that we are so well-priced. Since then I’ve developed our lower-priced Tribale2 collection and I feel that at least for now, we must lead on the aisle at Building Character with the lower-priced product. I want our reputation to be that of a destination for gifts in every price category — from a $25 present to $250. 

The most important consideration in any retail decision is traffic — as in clients and customers. Building Character has excellent traffic and it will only increase with the arrival of spring. The mix in the space is changing as Marty adds more artisans like GlamTribale to the mix. There’s a great opportunity for perhaps 7-10 of us artisans to band together as a group who expands the reach of Building Character’s current clientele. The great news is that several of us are already brainstorming possibilities of what we can do together. I will be writing about my new friends at Building Character because we can help each other succeed while nurturing joint projects that harness all our energies.

Truthfully, I am in love with the gem of a spot in Lancaster. Next week, I’ll share photos of our small shop in the doorway of Building C. It will be a feeder to this larger space but also the primary location for our coasters, planters and upcoming collection of poured candles. ~ Anne

Read more details about GlamTribale’s new Lancaster home at Building Character. Visit Building Character on Facebook. 

Click to read more ...

Building Character Lancaster, Pa Is New Home for GlamTribale Jewelry & Gifts

As of March 1, 2013 GlamTribale has a new home in Lancaster, one much better suited to our friends, clients and my personality. Lancaster’s Building Character artisan market at 342 N. Queen Street is open daily with easy parking on Queen Street or in the back plaza. 

I will personally be there on First Fridays and perhaps also on Girls Night Out, which is the third Friday each month. As we do at Giant Steps Gallery in Philadelphia, we will be changing out both locations — yes, we have two spots at Building character — with new inventory each month. We will not carry the same collections in both locations at the same time. And we will create special products unique to each shop.  Read more details about GlamTribale’s new Lancaster home at Building Character. Visit Building Character on Facebook. 

Below are some of our new blank inside gift cards with earrings — priced $25-$35 available at all GlamTribale locations and soon online. The cards are made of 100% bamboo or hemp paper and make a truly stunning gift.  ~ Anne

Click to read more ...

Denise Dvorakova Goes Brazil Style By Nicole Bentley for Marie Claire Australia March 2013

Denisa Dvorakova soaks up Brazilian ambiance authentic style in Nicole Bentley’s scrumptious editorial for Marie Claire Australia’s March issue. Jana Pokorny chooses muted print, sophisticated extravaganze that’s a welcome breeze from ’60s stripes for ‘In Living Colour’ shot in the Brazilian city of Salvador. 

Click to read more ...

Giampaolo Sgura Captures Models Mirte Maas, Suzane & Suzana For Vogue Brazil February 2013 In Carmen Miranda Reloaded

Model Mirte Maas channels Carmen Miranda with the help of Suzane & Suzana. Stylist Anna Della Russouses every color she can to dress and accessorize the trio. Lensed by photographer Giampaolo Sgura, this Vogue Brazil shoot gives us heaps of fashion inspiration — a trademark of Anna Della Russa.  

Click to read more ...

Frida Kahlo As Sensual Goddess Gaia, Our Nurturing Earth Mother

‘Gaia’ by Frida KahloI swear I hadn’t seen this splendid ‘Gaia’ painting by Frida Kahlo until searching for visuals to accompany Benjamin’s GlamTribale blog post about the Mother Goddess’. 

It is truly magnificent and sums up not only Goddess Gaia but also the objectives of Anne of Carversville and our artisan projects. 

‘Two Nudes in the Forest’ by Frida Kahlo

Frida’s paintings command the highest prices of any woman artist. Her subjects are deeply personal: femaleness, nature, feminism, childbirth, abortion and her own crippled persona. In 2010 I wrote:

Feminine principles defined Frida Fahlo’s intellectual landscape. Suffering and perserverance mingle with a reverence for green beings, erotic flowers, and womanly bodies. Kahlo embraces a Cultural Creative lushness of an existence not defined by materialism but by nature and sensualism.

Click to read more ...

Carversville Coasters, 4/$25 Are The Perfect Country Gift

I never thought that when I wrote Smart Sensuality Angelina Jolie: Virtue Considered in Carversville’s Country Air, that I would be be looking at my own photography on GlamTribale’s first set of country coasters.

Carversville and Anne’s Life Journey

Life is so full of surprises. Indeed, the journey from Carversville and Manhattan to Philadelphia — and the world, really — was one not at all on my mind the day I wrote this first Anne of Carversville journal entry on this patio. Mine was a personal statement about virtues and civic values, along with my own role (or lack of it) in using my talents for others while supporting myself. 

I made many changes after June 2007 including giving up my beloved country house and leaving New York for Philadelphia. True, the economic meltdown hardly did wonders for my consulting career. But other changes were bubbling inside me as well — you could label it a call to action. 

Carversville Coasters, 4/$25

This set of four 4x4” Carversville coasters is decoupaged with my own photographs of the Carversville Inn and Carversville Country Store. The other two are scenes from Stover’s Mill Road and Fleecydale, running out of Carversville down to River Road. Fleecydale always reminds me of Chipping Campden in the Cotswold. (Read Chipping Campden, Carversville and an American Cry for Help)

These Carversville coasters are just one design in about 10 sets that we will be loading into the GlamTribale website this weekend. They arrive carefully packaged for shipping and also in our recycled tissue with eco-friendly burlap bad. Only the label fails the ‘green’ test and I’m working on that. 

I’ve personally shipped these decoupage coasters on a round robin, multi-state tour. They returned to me in tip top condition. The stone coasters are imported from Turkey, have felt protectors, and are triple-sealed for moisture. Don’t put them in the dishwasher and just wipe clean. 

This is a perfect country hostess gift, Bucks Country wedding present or self purchase. I will shortly share a second set of my photograph coasters shot in Bucks County but a reflection of country beauty everywhere in the world. 

Click to read more ...

Woolly Mammoth Tribal Necklace @ Giant Steps Gallery Philly

Justin Burok is our go-to guy at Giant Steps Gallery in Philadlephia. He sent me this photo yesterday, noting that it wasn’t Valentine’s Day red, but he so loves the Themis Woolly Mammoth Tektite Tribal Necklace.

So do we, Justin. 

A Special Necklace for a Special Woman

I’m thinking of our pop-up shop last September 2012 in Mt. Airy. A very athletic, attractive, grey-haired woman came through the door ready to buy. She tried on many necklaces — several more conservative — but she kept returning to this Themis necklace ($160).

“This is the story,” she said, looking at herself in the mirror. ” I want a necklace that will leave my daughter speechless, with her saying ‘Mom, where did you get that necklace!’ I’m tired of being predictable, so I want a necklace that will have people noticing me but also one that doesn’t push me out the window, because it’s just too adventurous. As for my daughter, she will be begging me to borrow the necklace, and I will say ‘no’. She will say where did you get it, and I will say ‘it’s rare, unique and only a very few will be made’.”

With that our new friend bought her Themis necklace truly fit for a queen, while her husband returned later to scoop up several other pieces as presents. 

New Limited Edition GlamTribale Designs

Hers wasn’t numbered and neither is Justin’s Themis necklace at Giant Steps Gallery. Initially I thought that using woolly mammoth beads, made from bones a minimum of 10,000-100,000 years old, from an animal now extinct, was enough distinction for one woman. 

I was wrong.

Understanding today how special GlamTribale Jewelry is to the women who wear it, I’m committing to make no more than five Themis necklaces of this design. To do one — which must then amortize all my design time into a single necklace — seems unreasonable. But I understand clearly that our ladies don’t want to see themselves coming and going, and I think five is a good compromise. 

New Hours at Giant Steps Gallery Philadelphia

You can try on the Themis necklace at Giant Steps, 229 S 20th St in Philadelphia, one block off Rittenhouse Square Park. Good news!!! Giant Steps is now staying open until 6:30 pm to reach retail clients coming home from work. Visit the Giant Steps framing and art gallery’s new website. 

For more information about the Themis necklace, visit our description page at GlamTribale. 

Shop other items from our Themis collection at Giant Steps or online at GlamTribale.