Keswick Life

Lifestyles in Keswick and its environs

Business Insider

BUSINESS INSIDER: The New Guy – Local Guide Book Hires New Editor

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Adapted by Keswick Life

The Scout Guide announced recently the appointment of Ian Dillard as the new Editor of The Scout Guide Charlottesville, Virginia, the company’s flagship city guide that highlights select independently owned businesses, artists, artisans, and entrepreneurs in the area.

The Scout Guide Charlottesville features locally owned enterprises in a variety of categories, which include restaurants, apparel and accessory boutiques, services, and more. These businesses—and the people behind them— are represented through high-quality photographs on beautifully designed pages. Copies of the guide are available free of charge at participating businesses and other locations throughout the year.

“We are so excited to welcome Ian as our new Editor for The Scout Guide Charlottesville!” says Susie Matheson, co-founder of The Scout Guide. “Ian shares our vision and enthusiasm for small businesses in our community and we look forward to opening the doors to more small businesses that reflect our community as a whole.” “I can’t wait to get started working with all the amazing businesses in Charlottesville,” comments Dillard. “I have admired The Scout Guide since its inception when I was a student at the University of Virginia. I am excited to collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs and share our passion for living locally. The Scout Guide is an unparalleled guide and is a great platform for businesses to further brand themselves both locally and nationally. As Editor, I have the opportunity to be a voice for the known and unknown luxuries of Charlottesville, the up-and-coming businesses, and advance the network overall.”

BUSINESS INSIDER: Manning Brothers on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’

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By Winkie Motley

Bradford and Bryan Manning knew they were going on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” but they did not know exactly what the host had in store for them.

The brothers, who live with a degenerative eye disease called Stargardt disease, launched their clothing company, “Two Blind Brothers,” this summer to raise funds for blindness research and new gene and stem cell therapies that could slow or even reverse vision loss. Neither brother takes a salary from the company, relying on income from their day jobs in New York City.

“Instead of letting their diagnosis set them back, it became their mission to help others,” DeGeneres told her audience before welcoming the brothers onstage.

Bradford,, graduated from the McIntire School of Commerce in 2007. His younger brother, Bryan, graduated in 2013 with a degree in statistics. Both brothers now live in New York City.

“It was very surreal,” Bradford Manning said of taking the stage with DeGeneres. “In awarding Ellen the Medal of Freedom, President Obama remarked that Ellen makes you laugh at something, rather than someone. We really admired that. Learning how to laugh at yourself and have a sense of humor is very important for anyone going through unique challenges.”

DeGeneres, who regularly spotlights charitable causes on her show, questioned the Mannings about their disease and their company, which sells casual shirts in long and short-sleeved styles. Near the end of the segment, she informed the brothers that she would like to buy a shirt and jokingly brought out a giant checkbook. In it, there was a check for $30,000 from DeGeneres and publishing company Shutterfly.

Everyone in the audience received a shirt, and the Mannings walked off the stage knowing that they can now do even more to spur the research that could change their lives and the lives of millions around the globe.“We are overwhelmingly grateful,” Bradford Manning said. Most of the money, he said, will go directly to the research programs that the company supports, perhaps with some reserved for future marketing campaigns or other efforts to raise awareness and funding for promising new research.

Read more about the Manning brothers and the story behind their company In Keswick Life’s  June issue (www.KeswickLife.com) .

Watch the YouTube link for the segment of the Ellen show :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WMHWH_6i0U

Business Insider: Pillow Talk

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Written by Stephanie Peters

“Reprinted with permission of Equestrian Quarterly Magazine”

Keswick Life | October 2015 | Business Insider | Pillow TalkMerging the tactile qualities of leather and metal with an assortment of fabrics has always appealed to designer Janie Shrader.

“It is the combinations that I love and have always been drawn to the most,“ she said, while scanning her collection of original hand-sewn pillows – some ornamented with braided leather and others with weathered-spur accents – offers visual evidence of her claim.

Janie is married to Tim Ober, one of the equine industry’s most renowned veterinarians specializing in lameness. His practice is based in Gordonsville, Virginia; however as the U.S. Equestrian Team vet, he travels extensively to major competitions with the show jumping team. Janie manages the rehabilitation side of the business with a skillful team of people who, in a calm and relaxing manner, carry out the necessary steps to encourage a horse’s full recovery.

Janie is also the owner and principle designer of Shrader Leather, also based in Gordonsville. She is a charismatic, energetic woman who exudes a sense of outer calm and inner wisdom, and can discuss exciting advances in equine-therapeutic laser treatments as fluently as she can describe the art of making intricate leather tassels that add finishing touches to her in-demand pillows.

Her spacious studio is situated a few steps beyond the cluster of barns on the couple’s property. The interior is an organized shrine to discarded leather and distressed horse tack – once functional but now await reimaging as horse décor accents. Also nearby are belts, buckles, bits and weathered reins, along with remnants of wool coolers, kid’s garters, brow bands and spurs. It is a cornucopia of creative inspiration, and the only thing required is Janie’s creative ability to transform these orphaned treasures into desirable objects.

“My sewing machine was the big leap,” said Janie. “I used to paint, I was a graphic designer, and I designed museum exhibits. I knew I had the love of leather and metal, and I thought, why not learn how to do that. So I traveled to Oregon and took a leather-making class. I loved it so much I went back for another class. It was awesome.”

Janie tries to spend a lot of her time in the studio. “It’s perfect,” she said. I can open up the doors and see who’s in the paddocks or in the ring, and of course the dogs love to come and hang out.”

“My business has been a long time in the making. It’s nice to see it come to full fruition,” she smiled.

Reprinted with permission from Equestrian Quarterly magazine