I spent a long time this evening trying to organize the disaster known as my tear sheets (basically, just the pages I tear from magazines because I find them inspiring or interesting or useful).  I read so many magazines that I have pages and pages and pages of tear sheets, and - despite several attempts - I have yet to find a successful way to organize them.  For a slightly obsessive-compulsive soul such as myself, the disorder drives me crazy!  Fortunately, I think I've hit upon the solution ... hence tonight's activity.  It's so fun going back through the tear sheets because it's almost a stroll down memory lane.  I remember when I tore out a house by so-and-so, or when a certain type of product was just hitting the market, or why something struck me a certain way.  All of this is to say that I stumbled across a column by Dominique Browning, the editor-in-chief of our dearly departed House & Garden.  Oh, how I miss that magazine!  I always loved Dominique's columns, but this particular one really hit home.  See, when I say I am slightly obsessive-compulsive, maybe I should just say that I can be really particular about things.  Reference my earlier posts about attention to detail!!  Everything has to be just so, or I feel off.   When I read this column, however, I decided that my problem is not that I suffer from OCD, but instead that I suffer from design-obsessive-disorder!  So enjoy this little excerpt ... and my own confessions ... 

"I've come to realize that the design obsessed are a different breed of cat.  I'd put myself in the 'mild' range, diagnostically speaking - though certain people who have had to contend with my urge to reupholster and rearrange their furniture might vehemently disagree.  But you should see what life is like for the truly afflicted.  Four A.M. [online] shopping trips for gueridons don't even put you in contention.  The design obsessed leave no stone unturned - literally.  Everything, and I mean everything, must be just so.  This means that the breakfast table is set with an interesting mix of gorgeous china; that the coffee cup, if that is the object with which your day starts, is exactly the correct shape for soothing the hand and holding the heat; that the morning playlist streaming from the iPod fits the mood of the day; that the bath oil for the morning soak comes in a streamlined bottle, so that the tub's ledge doesn't have that clinical CVS look; that your jewelry on the vanity table is arranged in a seductive way; that the family schedule is displayed in an elegant and readable manner; and that, when you finally get yourself out the front door (painted just the right shade of muddy green you see in France), the car you drive - which, by the way, happens to be the largest and most important accessory in front of your house - speaks to your aesthetic sensibility both in terms of looks and efficiency.  And that's just a superficial glance at what life is like before 7 A.M. ... Pity the design obsessed.  It is hard for us to understand how much it hurts them, literally, to see poorly articulated road signs, or badly appointed restaurants, or ugly storefronts."  

- Dominique Browning

Here's how I knew that this was speaking to me.  I have practically laser-level vision and it really, really bothers me if a painting is crooked.  My picture frames and objets (yes, I used the French on purpose) are placed at a certain angle, and I can tell if they have been moved.  I use a tape measure to make sure a pair of lamps on a buffet is exactly the same distance in from the end of the buffet.  When my twin boys were small, I had their daily schedule printed in baby blue ink and placed in a large silver frame on the kitchen counter so everyone knew exactly when they were supposed to be doing what.  I refuse to consider certain shampoo brands because I find their packaging to be so offensive.  I could go on, but I'll spare you further detail.  So what do you think ... should I seek professional help?         

Time for the party recap!  As I expected, the party was fabulous.  The invitation sets the tone, and as we've already discussed, this invitation was superb.  Holly from Salutations gives us more specific details about the invitation here.  Love, love, love!   

When I arrived at the party, everything was stunning.  I always notice the flowers first, and they were absolutely exquisite.  The enormous vase of tulips on the front table (like the stamp on the envelope - get it?) set the scene.  Make sure to notice the amazing Juliska globe pendants!   

As you moved back through the room, there were arrangements even more beautiful than the tulips ... and tulips are my favorite!  Elements and In Bloom Ltd. were responsible for the floral design, and the white containers are also from Juliska.   

Although I was a good girl and stuck just to sparkling water, the petit hors d'oeuvres created by Chef Paul Verica from The Club at Longview looked phenomenal.  Dina Berg Blasek, the event planner, was such a pleasure to talk to.  I had not met her before, but should I need event planning services in the future, I know who to call!  Of course, Brock and his two associates, Erin and Courtney, were as lovely and welcoming as always ... and the selection of china and other home goods at The Registry at Brock Moran Home is absolutely unparalleled.  Really, as a bride in Charlotte, your registry options were limited.  Almost everyone registers for something at Belk's, and you can also find fina china at Elizabeth Bruns, John Dabbs and Tiffany & Co.  But none of those stores come close to what Brock has put together.  If you are getting married (or just lucky enough to be purchasing new china), run - don't walk - to Brock Moran Home ... now!  Look at this spectacular place setting ...  

For that matter, between Brock, Erin and Courtney, you'll be in good hands at Brock Moran Home no matter what you are looking for.  Take a quick peek at some of the furniture and home accessories ... 

One final detail that no fabulous party is without ... a stack of favors!  Aren't they just delicious?  With Brock's signature wrapping, you almost don't need anything inside!

I absolutely love it when I see fabric, wallcovering, accessories, whatever in a high end setting that I can identify as not being from a high end source.  Don't get me wrong - I don't care about the price tag.  If you have an eye for design, you can find fabulous things at any price level.  It's just that - when I've spotted something inexpensive or widely available that is placed in a pricey or exclusive room - I feel as though I am in on a little secret!  I blogged earlier about the Southern Spring Home and Garden Show.  What I didn't tell you is that I went to the show with The Bachelorette.  We still have a few things to do to "finish" her renovation, but we are taking our time, mainly due to budget considerations.  Anyway, in one of the designer rooms, The Bachelorette spotted a couple of green recycled glass jugs ... just what she'd been looking for to add some color to her kitchen.  Well, I'm not shy about these sorts of things, so I just picked those jugs right up and flipped them over ... where I found the item tag and SKU.  Where were they from, you ask?  The tag proclaimed them to be Tar-jay circa 2009!  I thought that was hilarious.  Again, I couldn't care less that the jugs are from Target.  Target has done as much or more to democratize design as any mass retailer ... and you'll find many a Target item in my own home.  But seriously why didn't the designer take the tags off?   In my mind, that is a shameful lack of attention to detail.  But maybe I'm the only one who cares about that sort of thing.  

Well, that's not the only "secret" I've busted in the last few days.  The Bachelorette was at B.D. Jeffries, one of my favorite stores, to purchase some lamps that I had selected for her console.  The lamps are totally fantastic - I'll share a photo soon!   Anyway, while she was there, she saw a large swath of fabric laid out ... identical to the fabric I chose for her dining room chair cushions.  Well, B.D. Jeffries is not an inexpensive store ... but the fabric we bought came from Robyn's Fabrics and cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 per yard.  How about that!  It really is a fabulous fabric - if we hadn't bought the last of it, I think I would have bought some just to keep on hand - but isn't that funny. 

To digress for a minute, I really am a fan of Robyn's Fabrics.  It is a large store, open to the public, with nice fabrics in stock at reasonable prices.  While I love to shop the huge selection at the trade-only showrooms that I frequent, Robyn's is great for a client on a budget and in a hurry!  

But I can even top that B.D. Jeffries story ... I was reading the April issue of Elle Decor last night.  It was a good one, and I will definitely have more to say about it.

I'll often give my shelter mags a quick read when they first arrive, and then wait until later to really pore over and break down every detail.  So as I was flipping through, an advertisement for Julian Chichester caught my attention.  I've never specified any Julian Chichester pieces, but I hope to do so soon because they really do have great style.  But what caught my attention was the fabric on the chair.  Darned if that chair is not covered in another fabric that I also picked up at Robyn's Fabrics for The Bachelorette!  Check it out below on the Julian Chichester chair.  

Isn't that beyond hilarious?  We didn't end up choosing that fabric - it just didn't work with what we have - but it is really very sharp.  So here's the morale of these stories. 

(1) Remove all tags. 

(2) If you need an in-stock fabric with a high end feel sans the high end price tag, head to Robyn's.

(3) I am very, very observant.       

PS - Sorry, the green recycled glass jugs aren't available online or I'd provide the link, but they are currently in Charlotte area Target stores in the home accessories section (the one that changes seasonally, near the picture frames and floral items).  Oh, and Julian Chichester has some great items on closeout right now.  I'm lusting after the faux shagreen bedside table.  Yum.  Email me if you'd like more info!       

Well, maybe it's not the invitation of the year, but it certainly gets my vote for the chicest invitation of the year!   So here I am leafing through the mail ... which typically consists of catalogs, bills and a few magazines ... when I stumble across this. 

I got excited just seeing the envelope - deep chocolate brown, my name and address beautifully handwritten in silver, and a custom stamp from Zazzle.  I had no idea who sent it, but I knew that it had to be good!

Inside was this invitation to the debut of The Registry at Brock Moran Home.  I love the use of the different font/color/size to create emphasis.  Oh, and the invitation was done in letterpress.  As I said yesterday, be still my heart. With an invitation this superb, the party must be fabulous.  Plus, I've been collecting the Berry and Thread pattern from Juliska, so I'll be interested to meet the Juliska representative.  Stay tuned for a full report!      

I guess it's that time again ... time for the United States Postal Service to raise the cost of a stamp.  Really, I can barely keep up.  It seems like that happens all the time, so I just stopped paying attention.  Until now!   Last year the Postal Service issued a series of 42 cent stamps commemorating husband and wife design team, Charles and Ray Eames.  Yes, I know I don't need to tell you that Eames is one of the most revered names in mid-century design.  Anyway, I consider my (somewhat obsessive) attention to detail to be one of my biggest strengths ... and, for better or for worse, that attention to detail extends to the stamps that I use on my letters.  So I bought lots of Eames stamps, figuring that my stash would last me (at least on my "important" mail) until a chic new stamp was unveiled.  As you might imagine, that doesn't occur too often.  As it is, I have seven sheets of Eames stamps waiting in my letter organizer.  Well, now that the postage rates are increasing to 44 cents as of May 11, what's a girl to do?  It totally ruins the look when I have to use an extra 2 cent stamp!!!  I had better get busy writing letters between now and May 11 ... and then I'm turning to Zazzle custom stamps for my postage needs.  I'm going to blog about a totally chic invitation (down to the stamp) that I received last week, so you'll get to see a sample of Zazzle at its finest!