This February, when we saw the cover of O, The Oprah Magazine, we were thrilled! Across the cover, the words “Express Yourself” are chalked beautifully by the oh-so-talented chalk artist, Dana Tanamachi (she is fantastic)! Oprah is wearing vibrant, gorgeous colors that help to complete the standout cover. Clearly, we couldn’t help but adore this issue as it’s everything Chalkboard China is about; getting creative!

We love the fact that Oprah loves chalk and believes in expressing creativity. We also love Oprah’s wise and powerful words that are seen throughout the issue. Imagine her wisdom chalked across a Chalkboard China vase — what a perfect and encouraging way to start your morning!

Here are a few of our favorite quotes from the February issue:

“I believe that each of us has an essence, a quality at the very core of our being that makes us who we are.” – Oprah Winfrey

“What else is as satisfying as leaving your mark on something and making it your own?” – Oprah Winfrey

“All I could think was, Did that really just happen?…The experience was more proof that this work is a joy, not a job.” – Dana Tanamachi on being the chalk artist for the cover of February’s issue.

If you haven’t subscribed to O, The Oprah Magazine or tuned into the Oprah Winfrey Network, connect with this fabulous icon here.

We want to know – who are some of your favorite women? Tell us in the comments below or share with us on Facebook and Twitter!

Entrepreneur Jason Goldberg and design industry veteran Bradford Shellhammer launched Fab.com with the mission to be the world’s most valuable design resource and they are well on their way with a recent Crunchies Award for 2012′s ‘Best Shopping Application’. They recently hit a whopping two million users and it didn’t hurt that they attracted high profile investors such as social media enthusiast and That 70′s Show alum, Ashton Kutcher, and The Washington Post Company!

Fab.com offers free membership, but it is invitation only so be sure to sign up today. Members receive exclusive offerings on daily design products which feature anything from furniture from the world’s leading designers and manufacturers to jewelry from hot new designers to fun stationary for your parties and events to even Chalkboard China!

We were so excited to be one of the first designers added to this young, growing, “Fab”-ulous website this year. And, from being featured on Fab.com.

We definitely love Fab.com and thank them for featuring Chalkboard China. We are ecstatic that the site has had so much success in such a short time and we look forward to working with them for years to come!

Not a member yet? Sign up for a free membership today and let’s get “Fab”-lous!

First of all, we’d like to wish all of our readers a very Happy Valentine’s Day from Chalkboard China! While we know you give love and affection to your sweetheart every day, Valentine’s Day is a special time to go one step further. Whether it’s picking up her favorite bouquet of flowers from the local florist or surprising him with a new watch from his favorite brand, showing your adoration on Valentine’s Day  for what you love can be so much fun!

This Valentine’s Day, in the midst of our love for all things social, we’re professing our love to one of our new favorite sites, Pinterest! Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that let’s you keep track of, organize and share all the beautiful things that you find online. You create different boards of you’re desire, perhaps a “My Style” board with fashion ideas or “Home Project” board with projects you’d like to do in your home, and then you pin photos from websites that relate to your board. You also have the ability to browse pinboards created by other Pinterest users which creates a fun way to discover new things from users who share your same interests.

Pins can really be anything. Maybe it’s a picture of a perfectly iced cupcake with a link to the recipe. Maybe you share a beautiful, seaside photograph from a photographer’s website that has colors that inspire you. Maybe it’s a board dedicated to your wish list of items from Oscar de le Renta’s new spring line. Whatever the photo and link may be, Pinterest lets you pin it in a board that you’ve created and share it with the world. Just like Chalkboard China, the possibilities are endless when it comes to Pinterest!

Be sure to follow our boards on Pinterest as we’ll be sharing fun ways to use your Chalkboard China, all the beautiful things that inspire us, interactive contests, and so much more! Don’t have a Pinterest account? Sign up today (It’s easy!) or see if your BFF has an invite she can send your way!

From wedding planner to radio personality to established author to TV star, Kimberly Schlegel Whitman is a woman of many talents! Kimberly is known for her elegant and original ideas when it comes to party planning and that is seen by her success in the industry.

Kimberly, a Dallas native, has often been featured in popular publications like Elle, Vogue, Brilliant, Vanity Fair, USA Today and more, but doesn’t shy away from her hometown and her roots. She has appeared in D Magazine, Dallas Brides and more and can be heard daily on 103.7 Lite FM’s Gene & Julie Show, which is Dallas’ number one morning show.

Not only do magazines and radio desire Kimberly for her expertise in the field, but she has had countless appearances on major networks and shows like Style Network, Fine Living Network, Tyra and more.

Kimberly has had four books published with her most recent project centered around tabletop design, event planning tips and even proper party etiquette. Entitled Tablescapes: Setting the Table with Style, the book has a primary focus on adding beauty to time spent with family and friends, which goes hand in hand with the philosophy of Chalkboard China. You can also read Kimberly’s everyday musings on her blog, which we have to thank her for featuring and loving Chalkboard China too!

To get you in the Valentine’s spirit, discover some of her ideas (and see how talented she is) for a romantically sweet Valentine’s Day party in a recent blog post. You can find more Valentine’s Day ideas here!

All in all, Kimberly is truly an entrepreneur, an industry expert, a distinguished writer and an all-around talented person that we are happy to call a fellow hometown happening hostess!

Do you have an industry expert that you admire? Share with us in the comments below.

While Pinterest is still a new and growing site, there are so many fun aspects to it. You can Pin your favorite photo from a link, you can Repin photos from the people you’re following, you can like photos that spark your interest and you can really use it as a bookmark for all the things that influence, excite and inspire your life. (For a little lesson in Pinterest 101 so you can become a Pinterest expert in no time, pinterest.com makes it easy here.)

Now, see how by Pinning your “Love Story” you can win Chalkboard China!

Contest Rules:

1. Sign up for Pinterest at pinterest.com or, if you have a friend using Pinterest, have them invite you!

2. Once your account is set up, create a board entitled “Love Story”.

3. After your board has been created, find Chalkboard China on Pinterest here: http://pinterest.com/chalkboardchina/ and Repin the photo of our Honeysuckle Cylinder Vase in our “Love Story” board onto your “Love Story” board. (We’ll see that you’ve Repinned it!)

4. Then, Pin pictures from anywhere and everywhere you please (even straight from Pinterest) that shares every important piece to YOUR Love Story. Basically, you’re building a board all around what makes your love story special through your favorite pictures and you’ll have it to look back on for years to come! (Example Pins that are part of your love story: 1. Sushi Rolls 2. A Stroll in Park 3. A Stormy Night, 4. New York City, 5. A Bouquet of Flowers. etc.)

5. We’ll share all of your stories with our team and the one that steals our heart will win Chalkboard China!

Stay tuned because we will announce the winner on Valentine’s Day.

Read some of your favorite love stories and wait for yours to be added to the list!

Valentine’s Day is also the perfect time to reflect on one thing we ALL can love: love stories! Whatever the love story may be, famous or not, they’ve been enjoyed and shared for ages and ages.

Here are some of our favorite love stories from the past and the present:

Romeo & Juliet

This love story is a classic! The original Shakespeare play is a beautiful tale of two passionate people finding love even though they come from completely separate worlds. Although the ending is tragic, the love story between the two is definitely swoon-worthy. (And you can’t say you didn’t enjoy the modern day movie version with Claire Danes and Leonardo Dicaprio!)

Ricky & Lucy

Was I Love Lucy a TV favorite for you and your family? The adorable, sweet and often comical relationship that was portrayed and developed between on-screen and off-screen couple, Lucille Ball (Lucy) and Desi Arnaz (Ricky), is a love story so many people still cherish and remember!

Elizabeth Bennet & Mr. Darcy

Pride & Prejudice is a beautiful love story by Jane Austen that almost every girl has curled up on the couch to read. Much like Romeo & Juliet, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy come from two different worlds — he is wealthy while she is in a class below him. But, Mr. Darcy finds himself falling deeply in love with the spirited Elizabeth, which results in a heart warming narrative we read again and again!

Edward & Bella

For our Twilight fans, this has to be one of the best modern day love stories out there! The unequivocal love between a vampire and a human is a whirlwind romance that no one can seem to get enough of. A series chock full of romance and suspense, the Twilight Saga truly is a love story with a bite!

Love stories of the past are beautiful to reflect on and whether yours is more like a Romeo & Juliet or closer to an Edward and Bella romance, at Chalkboard China, we love a good love story.

Watch for our “Love Story” contest and wait for yours to be added to this list!

The month of February brings us a ton of excitement — we discover if the chills of winter will be around for much longer on Ground Hog Day, we’ve got the Big Game coming up this weekend and Valentine’s Day is exactly two weeks away! With all of these fun holidays, it’s the perfect time for all of our Happening Hostesses to let their creative party planning ideas come to life.

Speaking of the Big Game, at Chalkboard China, sporting events are always huge, especially with our studio being smack dab in the heart of Dallas, a city known for their sports teams. But, this weekend, we’re focusing on the 46th annual Championship Football Game being held in Indianapolis. We are showing you how you can use your Chalkboard China to ensure the best football game party ever!

1. Forget the wine charms!

Drinks will be served at your Game Day party, so why not serve them up with a little fun and zero confusion? Write guests’ names across the base of each Chalkboard China glass and no one will get their glass mixed up. This is also a great idea if you have guests who will be meeting each other for the first time because Chalkboard China is a great conversation starter.

2. Make your team proud.

Whether you’re rooting for the Patriots or cheering on the Giants, with Chalkboard China, you can showcase your pride on any piece from our collections. Mark up our vases with your team’s logo, write the name of your favorite player on the base of a Chalkboard China Wine Glass or Champagne Glass for a conversation starter, include an inspirational, sports-related quote around the rim of a Chalkboard China Charger, the possibilities to share your pride for your team are truly endless!

3. Score with a Chalkboard China scoreboard.

This idea will create such a buzz and is a fun activity for all at your party! All you have to do to turn your Chalkboard China into a scoreboard is set up two Rectangle Vases or Large Vases side-by-side and chalk the score as the game progresses. Since the slate on all Chalkboard China is easily erasable with a paper towel and water, it’s easy to keep up the score of the game.

4. Don’t forget the snacks!

We know our Happening Hostesses will be serving up some mouth-watering snacks that go hand-in-hand with the Big Game! If your Game Day menu calls for many different eats and treats, use Chalkboard Daisy Vases, Medium Vases or Chargers to label your snacks with a fun, football-related name like Pigskins in a Blanket for Pigs in a Blanket, Touchdown Tater Tots for Chili-Cheese Tater Tots, Punting Poppers for Jalapeno Poppers, Winning Wings for Buffalo Wings, etc.

5. Keep little ones entertained.

While the football game will be the main priority for adults, you can’t forget the kiddos! They may or may not be as into the game as your older guests and that’s where Chalkboard China can come in to save the day! Set out a few Daisy Vases or Rectangle Vases along with a basket of colored chalk and let their little imaginations run wild. This will keep everyone happy during the Big Game!

Are you hosting a Big Game party this year? If so, will you be including Chalkboard China into your party decor? We’d love to see pictures so please feel free to upload them on our Facebook wall or tweet at us during the Big Game!

What an event, what an evening! What an honor for Chalkboard China to be a finalist for Tabletop Manufacturer of the Year at the 23rd Annual ARTS Awards. The ARTS Awards, presented each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, is the premier awards program for the decorative accessory industry and recognizes excellence from retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives and designers.

I can not tell you what an honor it was for myself and our company to be recognized, we have a ton of people to thank for helping Chalkboard China get to where it is today and those that will continue to help us keep up with the adventure. I first want to thank God for His amazing ways and His guidance in my life. He continue to open really cool doors for Chalkboard China and I give Him all the glory for all the talents He has given all of us. As for everyone that was in the room that night at the ARTS Awards, I was honored to be amongst you. As I listened to your acceptance speeches I began to feel like part of the family. By hearing your stories of 25 years of hard work and talks of ups and downs, you inspired me.

Allan Palecek was honored with the Academy of Achievement Award for his significant impact on the home décor and decorative accessories industry and I appreciated his comments about “Texas business women” and enjoyed hearing his words of wisdom about the industry and tales of his success. Cheers to you, Allan Palecek.

I want to thank the Dallas Market Center for everything you have done and all we will do together. Chalkboard China was born on the last row, back corner of the F!NDS temporaries just 3 1/2 years ago, proving there is not a bad piece of real estate to be found in the building. We could not be in business today without our retail partners nationwide and our showroom partners nationwide.

Thank you to John Walker for being one of the first to discover us on day one of our launch and to embrace us and represent us.

ARTS team and judges, we can not thank you enough for this honor and for taking the time to find out that we are passionate about giving everyone an opportunity to express from their hearts, from personalizing wine glasses and entertaining pieces, to a special message through art, all in chalk.

I want to thank my team, you know who you are, thank you all for going above and beyond for me and for Chalkboard China. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to the blog world and media as well as all of our fans and followers – thank you for loving to get creative with chalk.

Lastly, but most dear to my heart, my wonderful family. My husband, Ben, who is my secret weapon. He is the real reason Chalkboard China is where it is today. He has touched and perfected every ounce of this business. His ad agency, Agency Entourage has been amazing. They have built our entire following with their expertise in strategy and all things digital and social. Thank you to my sweet babies, Austin and Addison, who, at 3 and 2, can say “chalk-board chi-na” very clearly. I was 8 months pregnant with Austin when I launched the line, so we have all been in this together from day one.

Also, thank you to my parents for being an example of Godly business people and for passing on their entrepreneurial spirit that I can not ignore. I am thankful for my mother and grandmothers for passing on to me the heart for southern hospitality and an obsession for all things tabletop! My father and grandfathers for passing on their passion for business, manufacturing and marketing.

Chalkboard China has so many more people to thank! Follow us on Twitter @chalkboardchina as we continue to thank you for all you have done so far. We love you all. Cheers to being the Most Happening Hostess on Your Block and the Most Gabbed about Gift Giver!

Congrats to all of the 23rd ARTS Awards winners:

Manufacturers

Accent Furniture
Phillips Collection, High Point, N.C.

Area Rugs
Jaipur Rugs, Norcross, Ga.

Decorative Accessories
Creative Co-Op, Memphis, Tenn.

Home Textiles
Pom Pom at Home,Hollywood, Calif.

Lighting Fixtures
Corbett Lighting, City of Industry, Calif.

Outdoor Living
Loloi Rugs, Dallas

Permanent Floral
NDI, Brewton, Ala.

Portable Lamps
Currey & Company, Atlanta

Tabletop
Beatriz Ball Collection, Harvey, La.

Wall Décor
Leftbank Art, Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Green Manufacturer
Guildmaster, Springfield, Mo.
Tag Chicago

Sales Representative

East/Atlantic
Jennifer Jackson, J Douglas

Midwest/Southwest
Derrick Ricketts, Codarus

West
Michelle Korthuis, Elements in Décor

National/Key Accounts
Heather Steeley, Taylors on Ten

Product Designer
Randal Weeks, Aidan Gray Home

Retailers

International Retailer
Spectro Lighting Group, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Rising Star Retailer
The Mercantile, Atlanta

Furniture Store
Seaside Home, Coronado, Calif.

Home Accent Store

East/Atlantic
The French Basket, Florence, Ala.

Midwest/Southwest
MECOX, Dallas

West
Jak Home, San Francisco

Lighting Showroom

East/Atlantic
Elements-Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings, Carle Place, N.Y.

Midwest/Southwest
Southern Lights, Burnsville, Minn.

West
Valley Light Gallery, Scottsdale, Ariz.

-Candace Jean

Photo by Kuhl-Linscomb

Located at the center of Houston’s cultural, business, medical, high-end residential and design area is one of our retailers that we simply adore: Kuhl-Linscomb.

Kuhl-Linscomb, established in 1984, is owned by the husband-and-wife team of Pam Kuhl-Linscomb and Dan Linscomb. Kuhl-Linscomb has been raved about by popular publications, like Lucky, The New York Times, Elle Decor, Town & Country and many more, for being a must-stop Texas shop with a fabulous selection of everything for the home.

Not only are design and fashion industry leaders admiring this shop, but Kuhl-Linscomb has received countless awards. For instance, Lucky awarded Kuhl-Linscomb “Best All-In-One” shop because the store is “known primarily for its impeccable home decor.” Lucky includes “Kuhl-Linscomb also draws a loyal clientele with its masterful mix of sought-after items.” Due to her exquisite taste, owner Pam Kuhl-Linscomb was named “the best American designers working today” by House & Garden magazine. Another award Kuhl-Linscomb has received? The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston recognized Kuhl-Linscomb as the Pinnacle Award Winner, which is the top award in the retail category at the Houston Awards for Excellence.

And that’s not all! Find all of the fabulous awards and press Kuhl-Linscomb has earned.

The team behind Kuhl-Linscomb have elegant, fashion-forward ideas, including the many creative things they’ve done with Chalkboard China. And we can’t forget about their customers! The creativity using Chalkboard China that comes out of Kuhl-Linscomb shoppers is just some of our faves!

Kuhl-Linscomb is located at 2424 West Alabama in Houston, TX. The store carries all collections of Chalkboard China.

Have you shopped at Kuhl-Linscomb before?

Residing in a city we just love visiting, La Fleur Vintage in Austin, TX is a boutique “passionate about celebrating life’s significant moments and spectacular affairs.” Owner of La Fleur Vintage, Elizabeth Marvin, has created a store infused with a rustic, French-style that you won’t find anywhere else. Plus, the store is located in a restored 1940′s home on the quaint Kerbey Lane. How vintage chic is that?

Chalkboard China was very excited to find a retailer inspired by French vibes and vintage finds. Those are some of our favorite themes for decorating! And as much as we love La Fleur Vintage, it seems the love is indubitably returned, which we couldn’t be happier about.

“Chalkboard China is a perfect gift for anyone, even that person in your life who has everything, ” Marvin sweetly says of our product, “an ingenious idea with limitless possibilities for creativity, we love using Chalkboard China to display our Flower of the Week or perhaps to write a meaningful quote or thought…let your creative juices flow…your kids will love it too!”

La Fleur Vintage recommends Chalkboard China for bridal and baby showers. For Valentine’s Day this year, a gift they loved putting together was a floral arrangement in our large black vase. They said the husband brought the vase home (complete with a gorgeous flower arrangement) for his children to write and draw all over for Mom. How adorable and thoughtful is that?

Learn more about this fabulous store, which is famous for their unique vintage gifts, gorgeous floral designs and arrangements and so much more. Don’t forget to join them on Facebook!