Jess LC

Jess Constable is one of my favorite people in the blogosphere.  She is extremely talented, has a lovely blog dedicated to inspiring others to follow their dreams, and she creates the most stylish fashion accessories!  Her latest endeavor is the Lake Shore bag collection.



This tote is just perfect for shopping days in the city, or a day at the beach.



If you're thinking about doing a little shopping over Memorial Day weekend definitely stop by Jess LC to check out these fashionable bags.  Oooh, and be sure to check out the Lookbook featuring the lovely Anne Sage.

Have a lovely holiday weekend everyone!  I will see you here on Tuesday.

{Images via Jess LC}

Rue Magazine Issue 5!

The latest issue of Rue Magazine is nothing less than amazing.  The Rue ladies have done it again, blending gorgeous styling, beautiful interiors, and fun videos that you can't help but watch.





My favorite feature was Summer Lovin' on page 68 styled by event planner, Mindy Weiss.  The soft summer color palette of tiffany blue with bright splashes of coral and yellow is absolute perfection.





Mindy did not overlook any elements to create this summer soiree.  From the invitations to the dessert plates, everything works so beautifully together.





And how adorable are these models?  Seriously, I wish I could have had a day hanging out with these guys.



See the rest of Rue Issue 5 right here.  You do not want to miss it!

{Images via Rue Magazine}

Original Art: Emma Coulter

I was recently reading a few of my favorite Aussie blogs, and the work of artist Emma Coulter kept popping up.  One visit to her site and I fell in love with her beautiful style of abstract painting.  She had an exhibit earlier this month showcasing her recent works, Shedding Skin, and I thought I would share a few photos.



Filled with her signature colorful and bold style, oils, acrylic and pencil came together to create striking imagery on the canvas.



The drips and layers of color create such a gorgeous effect.



And I love the blend of colors that she uses.  How amazing would these pieces look in a living room or over a fireplace mantel?



You can see more of Emma's work and photos from her latest exhibition on her website.  Enjoy!

{Images via Emma Coulter}

AphroChic At Bungalow 5!

Reflection, The Vibe and The Beat Pillows

Last week the hubs and I headed to New York for an event we were holding in conjunction with modern furniture company, Bungalow 5.  We were absolutely honored to be able to show our textiles collection at Bungalow 5's new Manhattan showroom.


Champagne glasses lined up for mimosas.


Mini cupcakes and other delicious treats were served.

The day was filled with lots of design and some rather tasty mimosas to celebrate our Brooklyn Renaissance Collection and new pieces being offered by Bungalow 5.


Park Slope Pillow


Brooklyn Life Outdoor Pillow, Brooklyn Life Indoor Runner


The Vibe Pillow

Some amazing vignettes featuring Bungalow 5 furniture and AphroChic textiles were created by Luca Rensi of Bungalow 5.  I'm sure you can tell he has an amazing eye.


Left to Right: Interior designer Grant K. Gibson, Anh-Minh Le from Anthology Magazine


Left to Right: Sonia Langlotz from Bungalow 5, Sarah Coffey from Apartment Therapy

It was wonderful to meet with editors, and designers who stopped by including Sarah Coffey of Apartment Therapy who wrote a fantastic post following the event.  Interior designer Grant K. Gibson, and Anh-Minh Le of Anthology Magazine also swung by.


Left to Right: Angela Hays Belt from Room & Board, Nicole Lawrence

You can see more photos from the event over on the AphroChic Facebook page.  And if you weren't able to make it don't worry. AphroChic pillows and tabletop will be at Bungalow 5 throughout the month of June.  So, stop by the showroom to see some of their amazing furniture and our textiles in person.  And if you would like to meet with me about any AphroChic pieces you see at the showroom drop me a line at jeanine{at}aphrochicshop.com.  I will be scheduling appointments to meet with designers and retailers over the next month.  I hope to see you soon!

{Images taken by Jeanine Hays and New York Love Affair}

Nordic Design At Design Within Reach

I am loving the new Nordic Design Collection at Design Within Reach.  DWR is currently showcasing iconic works from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland.  Classic pieces like the Wishbone Chair, Shell Chair and Saarinen Coffee Table, stand beside exciting new designs like the Stacked Shelving System.



Nordic Design has always held a special place in the worlds of interior design and home decor, and now you can have some of these innovative pieces in your own home.



The Adaptable Table above is one of my favorite designs.  You can choose among 64 possible combinations to create a table that is just right for you.



The Onion Pendant designed by Verner Panton is such a beautiful piece of design.  I love the organic shape of the bent metal.



And this modular Stacked Shelving System is so clean and modern.  The design is so fluid that you can mix and match units any way you want.  The ability to customize makes the design even more fun and engaging.

Check out more from DWR's Nordic Design collection right here.  It's full of new and classic pieces that you are sure to love.

Have a happy weekend!

Original Art at Howkapow

I love finding out about new sites that support emerging artists.  Howkapow is a newly launched site by husband-and-wife team Rog and Cat How.  The two have curated a colorful online shop that offers work from new and independent designers.  At Howkapow it's all about promoting original works, and the shop has a great collection of original art for sale.

This Camera Print illustration by Andrew Joyce is one of my favorites.  It's modern and would look great in a black frame.

Tweed Tom's Retro Desk print harkens back to the kind of Mad Men style we are seeing these days.  I would love to have this in my office.  He also created the Casette Print above.  Isn't it beautiful!?

The Slipping Print in bright yellow, with those bold black and white stripes is such a striking piece.  It all works so well together.  This print is exclusive to Howkapow and is part of a limited edition series.

And the Moka Express Print in slate would be the perfect addition to any kitchen or dining room.  

Explore more unique designs and illustrations at Howkapow. 

P.S. - I am so happy to be back from vacation and back to blogging.  We had an incredible event at Bungalow 5 in Manhattan on Monday, and I will be sharing pics soon.  Thank you so much to everyone who came out to support AphroChic!

{Images via Howkapow}

Vacation Day

Source: elledecor.com via Jeanine on Pinterest

Hi friends.  I am on vacation for the next few days.  I have a crazy travel schedule that includes a quick trip to San Francisco, then to New York for our event at Bungalow 5, and finally back home to Philadelphia next Tuesday.  While I won't be here on the blog, you can still find me posting over at HGTV Design Happens.  My latest post features the beautiful trend above: Baskets As Wall Decor.  Enjoy!

{Image via HGTV Design Happens via Elle Decor}

AphroChic Event at Bungalow 5!

Are you going to be at ICFF or Blogfest this year?  If so, please mark your calendar for one more great event.  AphroChic is collaborating with a fantastic furniture company, Bungalow 5, for an event in Manhattan on Monday, May 16th.  You will be able to find AphroChic pillows and linens at Bungalow 5, place orders, and even blog directly from the event!  We are so excited about this new collaboration and excited to meet many of you.  To RSVP please email Sonial{at}bungalow5.com.  Hope to see you there!

Welcome Sponsor: Changing Spaces Design Blog

I am so excited to introduce a brand new sponsor on the AphroChic blog - the Changing Spaces Design Blog.  Author Beth Smith is passionate about design.  She started her own interior design and organization company in 2009 and in 2010 launched the Changing Spaces Design Blog.  Full of interior design inspiration, photography and travel posts, this blog has become one of my favorite daily reads.  Beth has a great eye and it shows with each post.  Definitely check it out over Mother's Day weekend.  Welcome Beth!

{Image via Changing Spaces Design Blog}

Original Art: I Missy You

One day as I was touring the blogosphere I landed upon the portfolio of fashion illustrator Missy McCullough.  Her bright and fun illustrations immediately caught my eye and I also loved the name of her site - I Missy You.

Her illustrations feature some fab women including Hoda and Kathie Lee from the Today Show, and the Janelle Monae print above that I am in love with. 

I also love this Siri print in soft pink.  It's so pretty.

You can find more lovely work at the I Missy You Shop where you can purchase affordable prints of Missy's work.  Starting at just $25, you can easily start a whole collection!

{Images: I Missy You}

AphroChic In Nesting Newbies Issue 5!

I am so thrilled to let you know that you can see AphroChic in Issue 5 of Nesting Newbies (Which is absolutely fabulous!  The best yet!).  A few months ago my husband and I got an email from two of our favorite people, Jodi and Lea of Nesting Newbies, to do a Philly Cheesesteak guide for the mag.  My husband, Bryan Mason, was thrilled!  We scheduled a time to meet up with another Philly blogger, Kristen Lubbe of Apartment Therapy to shoot some photos and basically eat cheesesteaks all afternoon.  I could only eat one, but Bryan tested a variety and then wrote up an insider's guide that you can see featured on page 38 of the magazine.



You can also see me cooking it up with Chef Lea on page 58 of the issue.  Lea is an amazing cook and taught me how to create some lovely treats for the next party I host.  I promise you are going to love them!  Seriously, they are yummy.



And if that wasn't enough, one of our fabulous sponsors, Ekofabrik, has the cutest new ad in Nesting Newbies featuring their new series of money pillows.  You must check them out.  The pillows feature prints of money from around the world.  The effect is beautiful.



There is so much to enjoy in the new issue.  I am about to dive back in.  Enjoy!

{Images from Nesting Newbies}

Style Talk: Heddie Chu & A Mother's Day Gift

Today's Style Talk interview is with Heddie Chu.  Heddie is the founder of Emerald Fish, a beautiful boutique in San Francisco that curates finds from around the globe.  Heddie has an amazing eye, and it shows in the items that she chooses for her shop.  Heddie and I chatted about global style, socially conscious design, and some fun items for Mother's Day.  Check it out!


Espana Vintage Tea Pot, Spain

How did you come up with the idea for an online boutique that brings about a global conversation?
I’m surrounded by friends from all over the globe, such as Pakistan, China, Chile, France, Korea and Portugal. Our lifestyles are quite eclectic in the sense that we incorporate our traditional aesthetics with the new world’s; this includes the way we dress, the way we entertain and the way we decorate. There is so much wonderful information to be exchanged between different cultures and all we get now is mostly bad news from the mainstream media. I wanted to create a platform where we can learn about another culture through objects and the story behind them.


Morjana Mixed Tea Glasses, Morocco

How do you curate these multicultural pieces?
The pieces come from my travels or working directly with the manufacturer of an item from another country. I also carry many items that are mainstream but designed or made in another country. My favorite items are the socially responsible items from Rwanda. Each basket comes with a story of the woman who made it.


Ugandan Hand Made Raffia Basket, Uganda

I see you also have a commitment to socially conscious design. Can you tell me more about that?
We are committed to promoting socially conscious design. We want to provide as much information and the stories behind these items to our audience so there is a connection on a human level. We need to connect to other cultures through an understanding and the process of learning through a design object is so much fun!


Burl Wood Salad Bowl, India

What new finds can be found at Emerald Fish?
Currently we are promoting ‘Stylish gifts for stylish mothers’ for Mother’s day. We will have new vintage jewelry and lots of cool tabletop items and objects of desire.


Today, AphroChic readers can get a special 20% discount on items from Emerald Fish for Mother's Day.  Just enter code MOM20 at checkout.  Thank you Heddie!

{Images furnished by Emerald Fish}