How is the blog only three??

It seems like it’s much much older than that?

A few weeks ago I attended the Highpoint Market in High Point, North Carolina and whoa… I think I want to go back to school for interior design. I think I DO want to know the difference between Rococo and Georgian… in excruciating detail, too :)

My pictures aren’t fantastic because I didn’t know the exact etiquette of the show… I thought a flash or our good camera would certainly bring too much attention. Around every turn a new genre of furniture and style feature… and booze. We enjoyed cheese and wine but really, I was getting punch drunk on design :)

Julian Chichester Designs

Julian Chichester…

Julian Chichester…

I snapped this as we ran by…not sure who they are

Rachel has the catalog from this company… can’t remember the name. Their items were so wonderful. The wood was stained with deep shades of gray. Clean lines and simple design.

I think this is DK Living or Barreveld International?

Bohemian Chic at Bobo

Really fun stuff by Go Home Ltd and really pushy, yet entertaining, sales rep who was trying to get us to drink drink drink! :)

Lamps and fun 70’s inspired decor by Arteriors Home…

Arteriors…

Arteriors…

Arteriors…

Amy Butler designed rugs by Chandra Rugs… I want one of each, please.

And you know the day is almost finished when your bags are full and your partner in crime looks exhausted :) Those are Rachel’s feet in one of the two pairs of shoes she carried around all day.

We actually started the day with a Designer luncheon with Michael Payne, host of the HGTV show “Designing for the Sexes”. He’s launching his new line of furniture and interiors. He was showing us pictures of cars, architecture and chairs… and from his slideshow, I do believe he may live in Pasadena (a few houses looked familiar).

Here’s one pic of him and a few of our luncheon friends. Michael explained that nothing in design is new… someone is always knocking off someone else… including mother nature. He showed several slides of leaves and flowers and how he incorporated nature’s designs into his own line.

The outside of the Market was impressive, too… gorgeous buildings… almost 150 in total in the area. All dedicated to furniture, furnishings and decor. At the end of the show, we sat on the balcony of the Showplace, sipping wine and looking down at the buildings… I could have easily been at the LA or California Mart in Downtown Los Angeles. It was great.

This year, the High Point market turned 100 years old… they had a Beatles cover band called 1964 The Tribute and random food in small quantities… all under a huge tent. It was fun to see all the sales reps in bad suits cut loose after the busy day ;) There were catalogs and complimentary bags strewn everywhere…

And a short video of 1964, the tribute…

The nine hours we were there felt like 20… it’s such an overwhelming experience and really taxes all of your senses. (See us getting giddy and stupid/silly at the LA Mart back in ‘06 Here). We only went for one day so I still feel like a complete newbie. I’ve been to shows, but nothing like this. It was my “first time to market” as the other designers would say.

Next time, I’m getting a hotel, bringing a pack mule to carry my catalogs and going to the market every single day.

Sidenote… I found this a little sad and strange… Every entry to every major building had a large magazine rack filled with assorted design periodicals… alas… nobody was picking up the “Rug News” as it was full in every rack that I saw. I’m sorry Rug industry!

I *heart* furniture

Here are just some of the entries… they are all so amazing…

Completely unaware of Peeps Shows 1 or 2, I’m pretty sure I must compete next year… Peeps are awesome… especially as retaliatory devices. Happy Easter :)

Hello to Teddy from Meg :)

In the process, we have been researching real estate and found a lovely townhome that we want to call our own (And watching every episode of Property Virgins and My First Place on HGTV!!). So, we purchased one… but it’s not finished yet. The fun part is… we got to pick the flooring, cabinets, where all the computer cables run and in the meantime, I can pick out back splash tile and paint color to my heart’s content! So fun.

I went to Border’s yesterday and purchased some wonderful magazines and met a few other fellow bloggers… that was inspiration to get back on the blogwagon. (I *heart* puns, remember?).

So, here’s to a creative gorgeous spring weekend… hope you all feel inspired to enjoy and create!

After a brief photo shoot…

They were consumed with joy. Very lemony and fresh. We recommend them.

Ring in Spring with a donut ;)

Also, I would call this art journal #39 & #40 since the donuts were placed in front of my 2 recent art journal entries :)

And the matching bag on etsy…

And a lovely “steamy” Valentine’s day story!

Cary Starbucks brews up ‘burning’ love Starbucks wedding Posted: Today at 2:30 p.m. Wral news

Cary, N.C. — It was love at first scald when a woman spilled hot coffee on a man at a Starbucks restaurant in Cary. One Valentine’s Day later, the accident-prone customers tied the knot in the same store.

Laura Strain came to the Starbucks, at 1217 Kildaire Farm Road, in March 2008 to treat herself to her first cup of coffee from the chain. Instead, she ended up spilling the coffee on a stranger, Allan Tortorice.

“He’s wearing my coffee, and I’m having a fit, because I was very concerned that hurt somebody, first of all,” Strain said. “He was all dressed up, and it (coffee) was everywhere. His jacket was open on his shirt, and he was sort of holding it so it didn’t burn him.”

The accidental encounter, though, started a romance between the two.

Strain gave her phone number to Tortorice, so he could contact her about dry cleaning and medical bills. Instead, Tortorice asked her out to dinner, and the romance steamed up from there.

“It’s what they call burning love,” Strain said.

On Feb. 14, a pastor married Strain and Tortorice at the same Starbucks store.

The bride wore a knee-length, white and pink dress and a hot pink shawl – for Valentine’s Day.

About 25 guests attended. Meanwhile, the store stayed open, customers ordered double mocha lattes, and the scent of brewing Colombian coffee filled the air.

That was a lot of puns… we do the drive-thru at that Starbucks all the time. Love it! Sweet story, too. In order to completely exhaust all puns, they should have changed his name to Joe.

Happy Heart Day! We celebrated with ice cream sundaes :)