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moving sale

It’s the final sale at the old virtu. Anything that’s not making the Great Move Across the Street will be deeply discounted.

Expect to find last of their kinds from each aspect of our vast collection. There will be jewelry, accessories, glass, ceramic and gift, stationery, wrap and ribbon as well. While the fixtures are making their way across the street, there may be components available for sale. You’ll have to join us at the original space to see what’s what.

Our super sale is on a first come, first serve basis. All items will be a final sale with no returns, repairs or exchanges.

Come at the ready with gift list in hand, as it’ll be a great opportunity to stock your gift closet. Consider this our Spring Cleaning Sidewalk Sale.

Our move has been a long time in the making. I cannot believe what I’m coming across as I gather our sale. It’s like finding old friends again. Friends that want to go home with you. See you soon.

Friday, April 4th 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 5th 10:00 am to 6 pm
Sunday, April 6th 10:00 am to 5 pm

Woo!

Hugs&Kisses

Love is totally in the air around here.

For so many years, I just didn’t get Valentine’s Day.
Don’t we love each other every day?
And then I realized what a great way to tell everyone,
beyond those nearest and dearest,
they each hold a special place in my heart.

We have sweet treats and dozens of cards for every one of your friends.
Come on over and take a peek while you’re out and about in the neighborhood. They’ll love you for it.

1. Adel Chefridi All My Love pendant, $95.
2. Chan Luu Cashmere & Silk Scarf $172.
3. Zoe Chicco Floating Heart necklace $220.
4. butterLondon Nail Lacquer $15.
5. Beth Mueller XOXO vase $22.
6. 2014 Valentine Collection featuring Snow & Graham starts at $3.75
7. Dana Rebecca Sylvie Rose earring $355.

As always, thank you for shopping independently local.

Your unending support is what keeps this community alive.

 

Join me by clicking the icons above.

Cheers!

 

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Heck yeah, we’ll give you free shipping this Cyber Monday!

Our website isn’t able to upload any option for this, so go ahead and enter FREE SHIP in the comments section and we will comp your shipping charges manually on our end.

Thanks so much for shopping small this holiday season. This Mom & this Pop wish you a most gracious holiday season.

Cheers!

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Please join us for some festive cheer on Saturday, November 9th from 10am to 6pm as we unwrap the delights of this holiday season from local stationers Snow & Graham.

This is the time of year when we really shine at Virtu. While I do like to enjoy my holidays one at a time, November 9th will be your first chance to check out the annual holiday release from our favorite local heroes.

In stock will be Flat and Letterpress holiday greetings, Tiny Cards, wrap, and all five of this year’s signature calendar editions. New for 2014 is a darling large format Fruits & Flowers calendar in a joyful color palette.

In keeping with our local roots for this event, Virtu will donate 10% of the day’s sales to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. I hope you will join us in sharing the gracious spirit of the season.

In an effort to do a little more good this season, we will also be accepting your excess Halloween candy. This year was quite a rainy bummer. Let’s send all those KitKats overseas to the troops through Operation Gratitude. A sugar filled care package is a welcomed sight.

Can’t wait to see you this Saturday.

 

By now, many of you know my passion for shopping locally. It seems as though some others have heard my lone and little voice. A HUGE and happy thanks to Independent We Stand for the opportunity to shout it out for independents everywhere.

I live and work in a six block radius. In fact, most of my life happens within that same radius. I live a bit from the store. The kid goes to school just around the corner, and dear hubs owns his own business right down the street. It’s no wonder that my nose gets a little wrinkled when I see long time independents go the way of the malling of Damen Avenue. So many of my friends have lost their leases to folks who are willing to pay an unrealistic and unbelievable amount, only to vacate those spaces just a few years later.

I am solidly committed to my community. Much as I know you probably are too.

This video is just a reminder to consider your purchases when possible. I know it’s tough. You’re picking up the kid and you forgot something that goes in tonight’s dinner. Head on over to your neighborhood family grocer, I bet they have it.

Sure, it’s easier to do your major buys elsewhere sometimes, hey, even I head to Tarjay now and again. All I’m asking is that before you get in your car to go into the dreaded downtown district or, worse, sign online to an A, B, D, E or Z… pop your head into your locally owned kid’s store, floral market, book store or boutique and you will surely find a real live, friendly person just waiting to show you what’s in store on your very own Main Street.

See you in the neighborhood!

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A dozen years ago, I opened the doors to Virtu, and what tremendous fun you’ve helped to make it! One of the greatest joys I find in doing what I do, is learning from each and every one of you.

Let’s celebrate together, shall we?

In honor of some of our favorite things that come in a dozen, we’ll be toasting all day long on Saturday, January 19th with sweets, sips, and savings.

In the morning it’ll be bagels and mimosas, in the afternoon you can enjoy prosecco and donuts from our neighbors at Glazed & Infused. I’ll also have milk on hand for those in the need.

More importantly, guests will receive 20% off all full priced merchandise. Discontinued collections will be 50% off.

There will be goodies for all my friends so, please, come on over and say hi. We’d love to see you.

Cheers!

On the way to my local community bank this morning, I passed by a growing number of large, corporate retailers that have replaced some beloved indie friends like Embelezar.

Local and lovely is what keeps this neighborhood alive. You have a choice where to shop this season and every day. Consider keeping your money well spent in neighborhood stores like myself, Roslyn, Stitch and p45 before we get overshadowed by a corporate riff of what we do best.

For every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. In a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home. Unless, of course, you are shopping locally on our website. Be sure to check the “local in store pick up” option and we’ll have you wrapped and ready to go.

When you shop those other behemoths from A to Z online you are taking money out of local resources and putting it into the coffers of corporate tax loopholes. And did you know that A owns Z along with D & E and so many others?

Locals Love You More and I’m fighting to Keep the Cheer Here! A huge and happy thanks to The 3/50 Project for all of the awesome resources.

Cheers to you for a gracious holiday season!

A season of simple joys is beginning right now at Virtu.

Rounding out our month long series of events, it’s time, once again, for our 8th Annual Winter Wonderland event.

All day long on Saturday, November 10th from 10 until 6, we will unwrap the delights of the season from our friends at Snow & Graham.
Won’t you please join us?

On hand, we’ll have an extensive selection of holiday cards, wrap, gift enclosures and all five of this year’s signature calendar editions.  New for 2013 is an elegant long form Botanical calendar in sophisticated shades of gray, green and white.

This Saturday’s event is a great way to start getting some ideas for you and for your friends. Feel free to fill out a Wishlist while you are here. You never know who might be calling….

Just in time for our fun festivities, brand new collections will arrive from Chan Luu, Ananda Khalsa, LuLu, and Rag&Bone Bindery.

In keeping with our local roots, I will donate 10% of the day’s sales to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. I hope you will join us in sharing the gracious spirit of the season.

Kick off the holidays and do a little good while you shop.

We’ll have a special treat for the first 25 guests who make a Snow & Graham holiday purchase.

For a super special treat, Ebony Snow Chafey, Creative Director of Snow & Graham, will be on hand in the afternoon – ComicCon style – to sign her beautiful designs for you.

I’m looking forward to sharing a spectacular season with you.
Cheers!

As a woman, as a mom, as a business owner, as an American, come Tuesday I will join you in the right to voice our opinions and cast a vote for the next president of our United States.

What better way to rock your pride than this awesome Tshirt from Chicago’s own US of Awesome?

The first in a series of designs we hope to carry, the states are stationed within a heart worn right over your own. It’s like having a petite personal pledge.

Just a few shirts remain in assorted unisex sizes. Long sleeved waffle tees are $35 while the remaining short sleeved shirts are $30. And, yes, there is a wee tee for the little ones with a Happy Sam emblazoned upon a light blue shirt.

Come on over and grab one before Tuesday is here.

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Howdy, folks. It’s been a while.

On the always exciting odyssey of owning my own business, all while trying to balance family life, I let the little blog that could fall asleep. It’s time to wake it up and I’ll tell you why. We’ve got SO much fabulosity happening around here, I can barely keep up.

Between hiring an awesome new assistant and preparing for holiday season with a slew of events, I could blog blog blogitty blog all week long. But that would put me right back out of balance. Join me on the journey, I’ll try and stay focused, and let’s let the season begin!

Calendar of events

  • October 18th Donald Jackson (aka the hubs) opens at the Tasting Room 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Due to liquor laws, you’ll have to leave your kids at home for this event.
  • October 19th through the 21st we will host an original Virtu signature, Dahlia Kanner at the store. Dahlia’s jewelry has been with us since the day we opened our doors twelve years ago. Come and see why she is one of our most highly collected jewelers.
  • October 27th Halloween’s a happening all over the neighborhood from Red Door to Wicker Park and all the stores in between. Trick or Treat along the Damen promenade from 12 to 4 for dogs and kids alike.
  • November 2nd through the 4th marks the return of the ever sparkly work of our finest jeweler, Anne Sportun. We’ve timed our trunk show perfectly for you to fulfill some holiday wishes.
  • November 10th will be our annual Winter Wonderland with Snow & Graham. Local and lovely, we will unwrap the entire holiday collection from our favorite Chicago stationer.

Stay tuned for details on these and more great fun right here at your friendly neighborhood Virtu. Remember to check us out on the, er, web as we are constantly building our collections for your shopping pleasure.

Cheers!