Thank YOU!

When I started this blog in early 2007, I could never have anticipated where it would take me, the people I’d meet or the experiences I’d have. I am eternally grateful that I’ve had the opportunities that Pigtown*Design has opened up for me. I thought I’d share some of them with you.

1. New Friends. In a few week period, I was lucky enough to meet two of my favourite “guy” bloggers, Chris from Easy & Elegant Life, and Toad from To the Manner Born. Their visits were supposed to coincide, but a puking puppy (not mine!) put an end to that. So I got to have two special events, although the one with Chris did involve a spot of B&E at a posh hotel!Here we are doing an architectural tour of the women’s room… not so bad for me, but a bit suspect for him! We’re actually counting how many different types of marble are in the room.

Some other bloggers I’ve had the chance to spend some time with are new friends Mary from BarnBug Studios, Natalie from WifeLife Natalie, Suzy from Baltimore Fishbowl and Emily from Emily Evans Eerdmans. I’ve also met a lot of others who have kindly introduced themselves to me. Thank you so much for doing that. It really makes me feel special!

2. Experiences – Because of the blog, I’ve been invited to some great events, and behind the scenes tours. Most notable was a day spent at Scalamandré visiting their showrooms and having a private tour of their passementerie division with the charming Ed Goodman. He regaled me with the funniest stories and insiders tales. I also got to know PR whiz and Baltimore native, Janice Langrall, who has since become a dear friend!

Ladew Gardens has invited me to two amazing events – their Garden Fest and their Christmas House Tour. We’re so fortunate to have a resource like Ladew in our area, and I am very lucky to have the chance to get to know this spectacular house and garden.

3. Press – On January 1, 2012, I will have my first by-line in the Baltimore Sun. This is particularly poignant and exciting for me, as that is where my father had his first reporting job many years ago. The article’s already on-line, in the Sun’s Home section, and you can read it here.

I was asked by Elle Décor to make a list for their “Design Insiders’ Weekly Finds” and I wrote about my current obsession for chairs. Since I moved into the new house, I’ve collected quite a number of them, including a Ghost chair from my friend Suzy and a Chinoiserie Gothic chair from pal, David.Along with two Billy Baldwin-style slipper chairs, four lyre-back folding chairs, two ottomans, and one down-filled wingback chair, I think this obsession’s got to stop!

4. Kindnesses – I am gratified by the kindness that bloggers and readers have shown me. When I mentioned that my poor Remembrance Day poppy was being held together with spit and scotch tape, two friends each sent me poppies. Now I can share them with some UK ex-pat friends next November. I’ve also received lovely parcels in the mail, beautiful cards, wonderful greetings and warm letters and e-mails. Thank you so very much. It means the world to me!

5. YOU! I am eternally humbled that you take the time from your busy life to read Pigtown*Design. I love writing the blog and hope that it shows. I am always so pleased when a shop owner or gallery owner tells me that someone who came into their place did so because they read about it in Pigtown*Design. I am happy to introduce you to new resources, books, ideas, homes, gardens and food. I love opening a dialogue that’s only possible because you participate with your comments and e-mails.

I hope that you will come along with me in 2012 to see what happens, where I go, and who I meet. And I hope that I have the chance to meet you and thank you in person for reading Pigtown*Design.

Thank you so very much!