A Very Happy Birthday

I celebrated a milestone birthday over the weekend and it was simply amazing. A group of friends banded together to host the event, which was held in a recently re-built barn. The evening’s theme was Tweeds & Tartans, Tophats & Tiaras! The evening started with a ride down to the barn in a bunting-festooned Gator, with two bag-pipers leading the way.

The guests were great sports and many dressed as specified for the party!

And I was awarded numerous titles, including Lady Baltimore, Viscountess of the Discountess, Baroness of the Blog, Archduchess of Architecture, Princess of Pigtown and most wonderful of all, Queen of Hearts!

My friend Andrea made the medals, which were truly spectacular! I am planning on framing all of them in shadow boxes.

We were so pleased that HRH Queen Elizabeth II could join us for the party, and she was such a good sport about interacting with the guests.

Andrea was also responsible for the flowers at the party, which were just incredible.

Each one of the planning group was responsible for an aspect of the party. Stiles & Jonathan provided the venue and the menu, David & Chad provided the libations, Andrea did the flowers and decorations, Tracey found the entertainment, which included the pipers and the [Drag!] Queen, and Cat made the desserts, the most amazing pear-spice cakes for everyone!

It was such an amazing evening, filled with hilarious toasts from the hosts, loads of great friends, all of my siblings and their spouses, lots of fun and interesting conversations, and love all around. To my besties who planned the party… It’s a night I will never forget! Love you all to the moon and back! xoxoxoxo

Festival of Fabrics

Earlier this week, John Rosselli at the D&D Building in NYC hosted a Festival of Fabrics.I really wanted to go, but my work and pop-up schedule didn’t allow me enough time to go to NYC for the day. I am such a fabric addict, and there were so many clever ideas at the Festival, that I wanted to share them with you.

The staff at Rosselli created a festival-like atmosphere, complete with tented fabrics, balloons and popcorn.

I love these pinwheels from Right Meets Left Design

How can you not love these little sailboats by Le Gracieux Creative

And the bow of a sailboat peeking out from behind some flowers.

And another view!

How about this Venetian tabletop by Jenny Wolf Interiors!

And another view.

Here is the detail on the Sister Parrish cloth.

John Robshaw umbrellas hanging from the ceiling.

Detail of an umbrella

All in all, it looked like such a fun event, that I am already making plans to go next year!

POP UP!

Whew! Last week was a bit of a nightmare. I thought I was going to get the keys to the Pop-UP on Monday and could start leisurely loading in my wares every evening, since the Village only allows this during “non-working” hours. But after some delays, I didn’t actually get the keys until mid-afternoon on THURSDAY! This basically left Thursday evening and Friday morning to move everything in, set up the shop and be ready to open on Saturday morning. The Friday evening drinks party was scrapped!

My talented friend, Stiles came over to help me zhoosh things up after I’d done the initial unloading and display. And boy did he work miracles! Luckily for me, there was a wall of shelves in the shop, along with several movable counters and I brought in some six-foot tables.

Stiles had the brilliant idea of moving the fixtures to either side of the door and then running two of the tables length-wide down the center. We displayed the silver and china on the shelving and the silverware on the tables. I hung two of the quilts on the wall and plan to change them out every week.

Luckily, the shop is filled with light, so it all looks crisp and cool.

I was actually surprised at what I sold on the first two days – all of my huge pitchers, bowls, tureens, and platters! Luckily, I have enough to replenish and worked on Labour Day to add more pieces.

Thanks to everyone who came to see me and buy some goodies!

PS – A few people asked for directions. Cross Keys is a gated mixed-use development with offices, shops and housing. It’s a but confusing, and not well marked once you enter the property. So here’s a handy little map for you to use. You can enter through the gate-house or the bus & truck entrance and park on either the north or south side of the shops. There’s a beautiful court-yard that you have to walk through to find me.

I will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through September!

Announcing the PigtownDesign Pop-Up Shop!

For months, I’ve been watching a space at a shopping village close to my house play host to a revolving cast of pop-up shops. Last week, I signed a month-long lease for all of September for the second third Pigtown Design Pop-Up Shop!

After my recent trip to the UK where I visited the Wedgwood Museum, and realized how many pieces I of Wedgwood I have at home, and with my recent acquisition of a number of stellar Amish and Pennsylvania quilts, I decided that the theme of the shop should be Anglo-American! Amazingly enough, that’s my heritage – my father was British and my mother is American. I have dual citizenship throught the UK’s Right of Abode.

I will be selling a wide range of decorative items, including china and books (including some give-away Book Thing books!),

mother-of-pearl and French ivory-handled silverware,

a selection of cloches and domes,

pennants and bunting,

pillow covers,

silver,

tea towels,

and much, much more!

The Pop-Up will be at the Shops at the Village of Cross Keys in Baltimore, and it will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. I hope that you will stop by and check it out!

Heading Out…

My former housemate is getting married in England, so I am heading over for a couple of weeks. I’ve got a lot planned for the trip, which only really jelled this past week.

I am starting in London for a couple of days, staying at a great AirBnB where I stayed a few years ago. I know a lot of people would rather stay in a hotel, but since I’ve had great luck with AirBnB over the past few years, and I love meeting new people, this is what I like to do. A few years ago, I booked a stay on a canal barge in Regents Canal. It was marvelous!

The house I am staying in for the wedding is an old stone house with a thatched roof! The groom is an artist and the bride is an organic farmer, so the wedding is on an organic farm under a tent, so cross your fingers for warm and dry weather!

After the wedding, I head off on a road trip for a few days. As I said, the itinerary only settled itself over the past few days, when I found out that a good friend has relocated from London to Nottingham, where my father was born.

I eventually work my way back to the Cotswolds where my cousins live, and spend a couple of days with them. So excited to see them and relax for a bit. I have asked my cousin to find some great places to see. I’ve spent some time in the Cotswolds, so know there’s a lot to be found!

Finally, I end up back in London for a few days. I was lucky enough to score a great place in my favourite area of London: Chelsea. Sadly, the Chelsea Flower Show will be over by the time I get there, but there is a lot in the vicinity, including some great shopping!

I love the King’s Road and all it has to offer, and I am sure I will be heading to Sloane Square as well. Be sure to keep an eye on my Instagram feed and see what I am posting.

See you in a few weeks!