I like to think of Chisholm Vineyards as my neighborhood vineyard. It's less than 10 minutes from my house, on the most stunning piece of land I've ever seen. And even as a Charlottesville newbie, I still always see a familiar face or two every time I go.

On Friday nights, the place becomes alive — the thumping rhythm of a live band; the smell of fresh, local food wafting from the visiting food truck; a group of kids chasing a giant beach ball through the sunset-drenched lawn; and at least one group of friends celebrating a birthday with clinking glasses and homemade charcuterie boards.

Since moving to Charlottesville, Chisholm has been one of the first places to give me that warm, homey feeling.

So to partner with Andrea, who has managed the vineyard and farm since 2013, has been so incredible! Andrea grew up on the land and moved back in 1991 when her grandfather was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

In 2007, Andrea's grandmother started the vineyard, with the first wine produced in 2012 — a Gigi Red Blend and Chardonnay. Two years later came the tasting room, and as Andrea says, "the rest is history!"

Which Chisholm wines are you most proud of?
I love our darker style Rosé, made with Chambourcin, and so do our customers. The perception has been that lighter Rosés are more appealing, but the trend is toward darker versions with more flavor and less intervention. Our signature wines are our Gigi Red Blend and Farmer’s Reserve. Both are unique and showcase our high-quality fruit.

What's one thing most people don't know about you?
Most customers are shocked to know I have six children! It is my balancing fate, since I was an only child. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Family is everything to me. 

What's your favorite thing about Charlottesville?
It is my home and such a beautiful place to live. I feel blessed every single day and would not trade it for the world. Although I love traveling and have a long list of places to visit, I will always come back to my home.

Who inspires you?
My grandparents have been my biggest inspiration. I spent so much time with my grandfather on the farm and remember so many of his antidotes and soaked up his approach to life. It would be a long book to write about his wisdom and how I try to embody that spirit on a daily basis. My grandmother is 93, and her ongoing will and strength keeps me focused. She has always been there for me and is the centerpiece of our life here today.

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day starts early, a homemade bulletproof coffee and then to work, usually at my computer. I do my best work in the first part of the day. In the afternoons, I go out and take care of business. There are breaks for children and eating, but the farm and the wine business are always on my mind. If it's not football or basketball season, I am watching shows about food and wine or reading anything I can about wine around the world. The more I learn, the less I know. I dream about it all, too. My family jokes about a t-shirt I wear that reads, “Never not working,” but the reality is that it really isn’t work at all. It is living and I love it. 

What's in store for Chisholm in the near future?
With the winemaking team at Early Mountain Vineyard, we aim to make wines with minimal intervention that are true to the terroir. In 2020, we will have a new “orange” wine or skin-contact Chardonnay that we are super excited about. This is an ancient method that leaves the skins on and allows for more depth and tannins. We would like to experiment with kegged wine that could be served on tap and purchased with reusable growlers. There is also a trend for simple packaging like cans, and I like the idea of keeping up with the desires of the customers. ​

When I first approached Lee Robison, owner of the Golden Shoestring in Roanoke, about collaborating, I had lots of ideas running through my head.

But I was most excited about the possibility of a styled shoot. I was eager to feature some pieces from the store's curated selection of high-end consignment clothing, and show off how beautiful they can look in a relaxed photo session. 

I had so much fun shopping the store and picking out the embroidered top (TINY by Anthropologie), embroidered dress (Umgee), and sandals (Talbots). My model JoAnn looked amazing in everything! 

When I met with JoAnn before the session, I told her that in addition to featuring some great clothes, I also wanted the images to really reflect the relationship she has with her daughter. I wanted her to be able to look at the photos years from now and hear her daughter's sweet giggle and feel the warmth of her hugs and kisses.

I'm proud to say we accomplished just that! I absolutely loved getting to watch them laugh and play. JoAnn and Lee — thank you both so much for spending time with me and helping me create some magic!

Tucked behind a Jiffy Lube on Franklin Road in Roanoke you'll find one of the Valley's fashion meccas: The Golden Shoestring. 

The high-end consignment store owned by Lee Robison takes designer brands many only dream of owning — Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade, and Chanel to name a few — and makes them accessible to every fashion-loving woman.
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If you grew up in Roanoke, you may have visited the store with your mom or grandma — it has, after all, been around since the 1970s — but if you stop in today, you will not find the same shop. 

When Lee, a former Macy's Buyer, took over in 2013, the store was old, tired and in desperate need of modernization. ​After much hard work, they are now computerized, actively involved in social media (find them on Facebook and Instagram), and have made eye-catching improvements inside and outside the store. Lee and her team of female employees have also hosted several events, including a fundraiser for rescue greyhounds, Elevate Your Image demonstrations, Royal Wedding festivities and an annual holiday open house. 

Laura: What kind of experience can customers expect at Golden Shoestring?
Lee: We get to know our customers and consigners on a personal level. For some people, we provide retail therapy in a unique boutique environment, and we want the experience to be memorable, fun and something they always look forward to. Our staff loves fashion, recycling, and helping others save money on designer brands. Each of us are from families that shared clothes with siblings and friends, so we love going green.

Laura: What does a typical day in the store look like?  
Lee: There is no real typical day, because we never know what items will come through the door. It can be a little hectic when three or four consignors show up with merchandise for us to evaluate. Some days we get brand-new items with $1,000 tickets on them. We love the stories behind the merchandise, which we pass onto our customers. We are busy bees helping our customers and consignors, posting Instagram and Facebook stories, freshening new arrivals, and moving items to our Last Chance area before donating locally.