diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/app.py b/src/wuttaweb/app.py
index 845b41f..88318b4 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/app.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/app.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class WebAppProvider(AppProvider):
         return self.web_handler
 
 
-def make_wutta_config(settings):
+def make_wutta_config(settings, config_maker=None, **kwargs):
     """
     Make a WuttaConfig object from the given settings.
 
@@ -93,8 +93,9 @@ def make_wutta_config(settings):
                          "section of config to the path of your "
                          "config file.  Lame, but necessary.")
 
-    # make config per usual, add to settings
-    wutta_config = make_config(path)
+    # make config, add to settings
+    config_maker = config_maker or make_config
+    wutta_config = config_maker(path, **kwargs)
     settings['wutta_config'] = wutta_config
 
     # configure database sessions
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/forms/base.py b/src/wuttaweb/forms/base.py
index c3567b5..ceaeeb7 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/forms/base.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/forms/base.py
@@ -746,17 +746,39 @@ class Form:
             kwargs = {}
 
             if self.model_instance:
-                # TODO: would it be smarter to test with hasattr() ?
-                # if hasattr(schema, 'dictify'):
-                if isinstance(self.model_instance, model.Base):
+
+                # TODO: i keep finding problems with this, not sure
+                # what needs to happen.  some forms will have a simple
+                # dict for model_instance, others will have a proper
+                # SQLAlchemy object.  and in the latter case, it may
+                # not be "wutta-native" but from another DB.
+
+                # so the problem is, how to detect whether we should
+                # use the model_instance as-is or if we should convert
+                # to a dict.  some options include:
+
+                # - check if instance has dictify() method
+                # i *think* this was tried and didn't work? but do not recall
+
+                # - check if is instance of model.Base
+                # this is unreliable since model.Base is wutta-native
+
+                # - check if form has a model_class
+                # has not been tried yet
+
+                # - check if schema is from colanderalchemy
+                # this is what we are trying currently...
+
+                if isinstance(schema, SQLAlchemySchemaNode):
                     kwargs['appstruct'] = schema.dictify(self.model_instance)
                 else:
                     kwargs['appstruct'] = self.model_instance
 
-            form = deform.Form(schema, **kwargs)
+            # create the Deform instance
             # nb. must give a reference back to wutta form; this is
             # for sake of field schema nodes and widgets, e.g. to
             # access the main model instance
+            form = deform.Form(schema, **kwargs)
             form.wutta_form = self
             self.deform_form = form
 
@@ -922,18 +944,13 @@ class Form:
         if field_type:
             attrs['type'] = field_type
         if messages:
-            if len(messages) == 1:
-                msg = messages[0]
-                if msg.startswith('`') and msg.endswith('`'):
-                    attrs[':message'] = msg
-                else:
-                    attrs['message'] = msg
-            # TODO
-            # else:
-            #     # nb. must pass an array as JSON string
-            #     attrs[':message'] = '[{}]'.format(', '.join([
-            #         "'{}'".format(msg.replace("'", r"\'"))
-            #         for msg in messages]))
+            cls = 'is-size-7'
+            if field_type == 'is-danger':
+                cls += ' has-text-danger'
+            messages = [HTML.tag('p', c=[msg], class_=cls)
+                        for msg in messages]
+            slot = HTML.tag('slot', name='messages', c=messages)
+            html = HTML.tag('div', c=[html, slot])
 
         return HTML.tag('b-field', c=[html], **attrs)
 
@@ -978,7 +995,16 @@ class Form:
         model_data = {}
 
         def assign(field):
-            model_data[field.oid] = make_json_safe(field.cstruct)
+            value = field.cstruct
+
+            # TODO: we need a proper true/false on the Vue side,
+            # but deform/colander want 'true' and 'false' ..so
+            # for now we explicitly translate here, ugh.  also
+            # note this does not yet allow for null values.. :(
+            if isinstance(field.typ, colander.Boolean):
+                value = True if field.typ.true_val else False
+
+            model_data[field.oid] = make_json_safe(value)
 
         for key in self.fields:
 
@@ -1076,7 +1102,7 @@ class Form:
         """
         dform = self.get_deform()
         if field in dform:
-            error = dform[field].errormsg
-            if error:
-                return [error]
+            field = dform[field]
+            if field.error:
+                return field.error.messages()
         return []
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/forms/schema.py b/src/wuttaweb/forms/schema.py
index a3a464b..4402fde 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/forms/schema.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/forms/schema.py
@@ -258,7 +258,12 @@ class PersonRef(ObjectRef):
 
     This is a subclass of :class:`ObjectRef`.
     """
-    model_class = Person
+
+    @property
+    def model_class(self):
+        """ """
+        model = self.app.model
+        return model.Person
 
     def sort_query(self, query):
         """ """
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/forms/widgets.py b/src/wuttaweb/forms/widgets.py
index ee58a1a..837b6f1 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/forms/widgets.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/forms/widgets.py
@@ -33,14 +33,17 @@ in the namespace:
 * :class:`deform:deform.widget.TextAreaWidget`
 * :class:`deform:deform.widget.PasswordWidget`
 * :class:`deform:deform.widget.CheckedPasswordWidget`
+* :class:`deform:deform.widget.CheckboxWidget`
 * :class:`deform:deform.widget.SelectWidget`
 * :class:`deform:deform.widget.CheckboxChoiceWidget`
+* :class:`deform:deform.widget.MoneyInputWidget`
 """
 
 import colander
 from deform.widget import (Widget, TextInputWidget, TextAreaWidget,
                            PasswordWidget, CheckedPasswordWidget,
-                           SelectWidget, CheckboxChoiceWidget)
+                           CheckboxWidget, SelectWidget, CheckboxChoiceWidget,
+                           MoneyInputWidget)
 from webhelpers2.html import HTML
 
 from wuttaweb.db import Session
@@ -220,7 +223,7 @@ class UserRefsWidget(WuttaCheckboxChoiceWidget):
         users = []
         if cstruct:
             for uuid in cstruct:
-                user = self.session.query(model.User).get(uuid)
+                user = self.session.get(model.User, uuid)
                 if user:
                     users.append(dict([(key, getattr(user, key))
                                        for key in columns + ['uuid']]))
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/grids/base.py b/src/wuttaweb/grids/base.py
index aa2e413..0f2c812 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/grids/base.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/grids/base.py
@@ -1047,6 +1047,12 @@ class Grid:
         filters = filters or {}
 
         if self.model_class:
+            # TODO: i tried using self.get_model_columns() here but in
+            # many cases that will be too aggressive.  however it is
+            # often the case that the *grid* columns are a subset of
+            # the unerlying *table* columns.  so until a better way
+            # is found, we choose "too few" instead of "too many"
+            # filters here.  surely must improve it at some point.
             for key in self.columns:
                 if key in filters:
                     continue
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/templates/deform/checkbox.pt b/src/wuttaweb/templates/deform/checkbox.pt
index 92c9f62..c4536e8 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/templates/deform/checkbox.pt
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/templates/deform/checkbox.pt
@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@
               v-model="${vmodel}"
               native-value="true"
               tal:attributes="attributes|field.widget.attributes|{};">
-    {{ ${vmodel} }}
+    {{ ${vmodel} ? "Yes" : "No" }}
   </b-checkbox>
 </div>
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/templates/deform/moneyinput.pt b/src/wuttaweb/templates/deform/moneyinput.pt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..532a823
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/templates/deform/moneyinput.pt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+<tal:omit tal:define="name name|field.name;
+                      oid oid|field.oid;
+                      vmodel vmodel|'modelData.'+oid;">
+  <b-input name="${name}"
+           v-model="${vmodel}"
+           tal:attributes="attributes|field.widget.attributes|{};" />
+</tal:omit>
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/templates/deform/readonly/checkbox.pt b/src/wuttaweb/templates/deform/readonly/checkbox.pt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4988213
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/templates/deform/readonly/checkbox.pt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<tal:omit tal:define="true_val true_val|field.widget.true_val;">
+  <span tal:condition="cstruct == true_val">Yes</span>
+  <span tal:condition="cstruct != true_val">No</span>
+</tal:omit>
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/templates/grids/vue_template.mako b/src/wuttaweb/templates/grids/vue_template.mako
index edcdc24..1ed408e 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/templates/grids/vue_template.mako
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/templates/grids/vue_template.mako
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
                 <b-button @click="copyDirectLink()"
                           title="Copy grid link to clipboard"
                           :is-small="smallFilters">
-                  <b-icon pack="fas" icon="share-alt" />
+                  <b-icon pack="fas" icon="share" />
                 </b-button>
 
                 <b-button type="is-primary"
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/views/master.py b/src/wuttaweb/views/master.py
index 9187b23..a834b1d 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/views/master.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/views/master.py
@@ -989,6 +989,84 @@ class MasterView(View):
             self.app.save_setting(session, setting['name'], setting['value'],
                                   force_create=True)
 
+    ##############################
+    # grid rendering methods
+    ##############################
+
+    def grid_render_bool(self, record, key, value):
+        """
+        Custom grid value renderer for "boolean" fields.
+
+        This converts a bool value to "Yes" or "No" - unless the value
+        is ``None`` in which case this renders empty string.
+        To use this feature for your grid::
+
+           grid.set_renderer('my_bool_field', self.grid_render_bool)
+        """
+        if value is None:
+            return
+
+        return "Yes" if value else "No"
+
+    def grid_render_currency(self, record, key, value, scale=2):
+        """
+        Custom grid value renderer for "currency" fields.
+
+        This expects float or decimal values, and will round the
+        decimal as appropriate, and add the currency symbol.
+
+        :param scale: Number of decimal digits to be displayed;
+           default is 2 places.
+
+        To use this feature for your grid::
+
+           grid.set_renderer('my_currency_field', self.grid_render_currency)
+
+           # you can also override scale
+           grid.set_renderer('my_currency_field', self.grid_render_currency, scale=4)
+        """
+
+        # nb. get new value since the one provided will just be a
+        # (json-safe) *string* if the original type was Decimal
+        value = record[key]
+
+        if value is None:
+            return
+
+        if value < 0:
+            fmt = f"(${{:0,.{scale}f}})"
+            return fmt.format(0 - value)
+
+        fmt = f"${{:0,.{scale}f}}"
+        return fmt.format(value)
+
+    def grid_render_notes(self, record, key, value, maxlen=100):
+        """
+        Custom grid value renderer for "notes" fields.
+
+        If the given text ``value`` is shorter than ``maxlen``
+        characters, it is returned as-is.
+
+        But if it is longer, then it is truncated and an ellispsis is
+        added.  The resulting ``<span>`` tag is also given a ``title``
+        attribute with the original (full) text, so that appears on
+        mouse hover.
+
+        To use this feature for your grid::
+
+           grid.set_renderer('my_notes_field', self.grid_render_notes)
+
+           # you can also override maxlen
+           grid.set_renderer('my_notes_field', self.grid_render_notes, maxlen=50)
+        """
+        if value is None:
+            return
+
+        if len(value) < maxlen:
+            return value
+
+        return HTML.tag('span', title=value, c=f"{value[:maxlen]}...")
+
     ##############################
     # support methods
     ##############################
@@ -1317,9 +1395,8 @@ class MasterView(View):
         Default logic for this method returns a "plain" query on the
         :attr:`model_class` if that is defined; otherwise ``None``.
         """
-        model = self.app.model
         model_class = self.get_model_class()
-        if model_class and issubclass(model_class, model.Base):
+        if model_class:
             session = session or self.Session()
             return session.query(model_class)
 
@@ -1344,33 +1421,6 @@ class MasterView(View):
         # for key in self.get_model_key():
         #     grid.set_link(key)
 
-    def grid_render_notes(self, record, key, value, maxlen=100):
-        """
-        Custom grid renderer callable for "notes" fields.
-
-        If the given text ``value`` is shorter than ``maxlen``
-        characters, it is returned as-is.
-
-        But if it is longer, then it is truncated and an ellispsis is
-        added.  The resulting ``<span>`` tag is also given a ``title``
-        attribute with the original (full) text, so that appears on
-        mouse hover.
-
-        To use this feature for your grid::
-
-           grid.set_renderer('my_notes_field', self.grid_render_notes)
-
-           # you can also override maxlen
-           grid.set_renderer('my_notes_field', self.grid_render_notes, maxlen=50)
-        """
-        if value is None:
-            return
-
-        if len(value) < maxlen:
-            return value
-
-        return HTML.tag('span', title=value, c=f"{value[:maxlen]}...")
-
     def get_instance(self, session=None):
         """
         This should return the "current" model instance based on the
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/views/people.py b/src/wuttaweb/views/people.py
index a19df57..78cf931 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/views/people.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/views/people.py
@@ -123,6 +123,12 @@ class PersonView(MasterView):
     @classmethod
     def defaults(cls, config):
         """ """
+
+        # nb. Person may come from custom model
+        wutta_config = config.registry.settings['wutta_config']
+        app = wutta_config.get_app()
+        cls.model_class = app.model.Person
+
         cls._defaults(config)
         cls._people_defaults(config)
 
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/views/settings.py b/src/wuttaweb/views/settings.py
index a20e1f6..aa28416 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/views/settings.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/views/settings.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ class AppInfoView(MasterView):
     model_name = 'AppInfo'
     model_title_plural = "App Info"
     route_prefix = 'appinfo'
+    filterable = False
     sort_on_backend = False
     sort_defaults = 'name'
     paginated = False
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/views/users.py b/src/wuttaweb/views/users.py
index 91ed2e0..5e28a26 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/views/users.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/views/users.py
@@ -207,6 +207,17 @@ class UserView(MasterView):
             role = session.get(model.Role, uuid)
             user.roles.remove(role)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def defaults(cls, config):
+        """ """
+
+        # nb. User may come from custom model
+        wutta_config = config.registry.settings['wutta_config']
+        app = wutta_config.get_app()
+        cls.model_class = app.model.User
+
+        cls._defaults(config)
+
 
 def defaults(config, **kwargs):
     base = globals()
diff --git a/tests/forms/test_base.py b/tests/forms/test_base.py
index 70cb51f..73e9d85 100644
--- a/tests/forms/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/forms/test_base.py
@@ -461,15 +461,10 @@ class TestForm(TestCase):
         # nb. no error message
         self.assertNotIn('message', html)
 
-        # with single "static" error
-        dform['foo'].error = MagicMock(msg="something is wrong")
-        html = form.render_vue_field('foo')
-        self.assertIn(' message="something is wrong"', html)
-
-        # with single "dynamic" error
-        dform['foo'].error = MagicMock(msg="`something is wrong`")
-        html = form.render_vue_field('foo')
-        self.assertIn(':message="`something is wrong`"', html)
+        # with error message
+        with patch.object(form, 'get_field_errors', return_value=['something is wrong']):
+            html = form.render_vue_field('foo')
+            self.assertIn('something is wrong', html)
 
         # add another field, but not to deform, so it should still
         # display but with no widget
@@ -525,20 +520,33 @@ class TestForm(TestCase):
         data = form.get_vue_model_data()
         self.assertEqual(len(data), 2)
 
+        # confirm bool values make it thru as-is
+        schema.add(colander.SchemaNode(colander.Bool(), name='baz'))
+        form = self.make_form(schema=schema, model_instance={
+            'foo': 'one',
+            'bar': 'two',
+            'baz': True,
+        })
+        data = form.get_vue_model_data()
+        self.assertEqual(list(data.values()), ['one', 'two', True])
+
     def test_get_field_errors(self):
         schema = self.make_schema()
+
+        # simple 'Required' validation failure
         form = self.make_form(schema=schema)
-        dform = form.get_deform()
+        self.request.method = 'POST'
+        self.request.POST = {'foo': 'one'}
+        self.assertFalse(form.validate())
+        errors = form.get_field_errors('bar')
+        self.assertEqual(errors, ['Required'])
 
-        # no error
-        errors = form.get_field_errors('foo')
-        self.assertEqual(len(errors), 0)
-
-        # simple error
-        dform['foo'].error = MagicMock(msg="something is wrong")
-        errors = form.get_field_errors('foo')
-        self.assertEqual(len(errors), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(errors[0], "something is wrong")
+        # no errors
+        form = self.make_form(schema=schema)
+        self.request.POST = {'foo': 'one', 'bar': 'two'}
+        self.assertTrue(form.validate())
+        errors = form.get_field_errors('bar')
+        self.assertEqual(errors, [])
 
     def test_validate(self):
         schema = self.make_schema()
diff --git a/tests/views/test_master.py b/tests/views/test_master.py
index d000693..023449a 100644
--- a/tests/views/test_master.py
+++ b/tests/views/test_master.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8; -*-
 
+import decimal
 import functools
 from unittest import TestCase
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
@@ -558,6 +559,44 @@ class TestMasterView(WebTestCase):
             view.configure_grid(grid)
             self.assertNotIn('uuid', grid.columns)
 
+    def test_grid_render_bool(self):
+        model = self.app.model
+        view = self.make_view()
+        user = model.User(username='barney', active=None)
+
+        # null
+        value = view.grid_render_bool(user, 'active', None)
+        self.assertIsNone(value)
+
+        # true
+        user.active = True
+        value = view.grid_render_bool(user, 'active', True)
+        self.assertEqual(value, "Yes")
+
+        # false
+        user.active = False
+        value = view.grid_render_bool(user, 'active', False)
+        self.assertEqual(value, "No")
+
+    def test_grid_render_currency(self):
+        model = self.app.model
+        view = self.make_view()
+        obj = {'amount': None}
+
+        # null
+        value = view.grid_render_currency(obj, 'amount', None)
+        self.assertIsNone(value)
+
+        # normal amount
+        obj['amount'] = decimal.Decimal('100.42')
+        value = view.grid_render_currency(obj, 'amount', '100.42')
+        self.assertEqual(value, "$100.42")
+
+        # negative amount
+        obj['amount'] = decimal.Decimal('-100.42')
+        value = view.grid_render_currency(obj, 'amount', '-100.42')
+        self.assertEqual(value, "($100.42)")
+
     def test_grid_render_notes(self):
         model = self.app.model
         view = self.make_view()