Creating The AphroChic Book

Hi friends!  I wanted to share with you an article I wrote for Home Furnishings Business Magazine's Fall Designer Look Book.  You can check out my piece on Creating The AphroChic Book on page 52 of this online publication.  And, if you have an iPad or iPhone, you can download the digital app and read it on there as well.  I hope you enjoy some behind-the-scenes info on writing my very first book!

Scenes From Paris: Maison et Objet

As I said yesterday, presenting at Maison et Objet was an exhilarating experience.  One of the most amazing parts was decorating the very first AphroChic trade show booth.  My sister came from Washington DC to help my husband and I style the booth.  It was definitely a family affair.  After days of waiting for bags to arrive with all of our items (note: I will never take United Airlines again.  They lose everything!) we had one day to transform a 10 x 10 white space into a little AphroChic showroom.  Here are some behind-the-scenes pics of how it all came together.



My sister and I made a trip to IKEA Paris.  The great thing is that it's pretty similar to IKEA anywhere else, and with the help of Google Translate we were able to figure out the French words for linens, frames, etc., to help us find items to finish off the space.



Angela is a talented designer who can do florals as well.  We filled the space with bright pops of color, including flowers to make it feel warm and bright.



Bryan also got into the design mix, hanging shower curtains, moving furniture, and helping to frame our wallpaper samples for display.

We worked with some of the furniture laid out in the design plan by our summer interior design intern, Ambra Hyman.



It started out like this.



And ended like this - really bright with lots of color!  Completely AphroChic.



Our Brooklyn pillows made quite a hit.



And The Beat Shower Curtain was particularly well received by Scandinavian retailers.



We also had a beautiful tabletop display with some nice natural touches.  I wish I could have brought these succulents home.

All-in-all it was one of the best times of my life!  I'm so happy my family was a part of this moment for AphroChic.  Together we are taking our brand to new heights.

{Images taken by Bryan Mason}

Scenes From Paris

I thought I would share with you some photos from my recent trip to Paris.  To say that it was an amazing experience is an understatement.  Being able to travel across the Atlantic to present my home decor line to an international audience was an absolute dream come true!  It was a fabulous time spent with lots of friends, old and new, family members and all of you who were tweeting with me along the way.  Here are just a few photos from my travels.



A look inside our lovely apartment.

This is the flower market I would see daily on Rue Houdon near the apartment where we stayed in Montmartre.  I absolutely loved the window display featuring old-school telephones.  The colors are beautiful.



My sister, Angela Belt, and I had so much fun peeking into floral shops in Paris.  She was the best to come all the way from D.C. to help us set up our booth!

At the top of the hill in Montmartre is the cutest macaroon shop.  I have to say, the pistachio was my favorite.




I also couldn't visit Paris without making a trip to Ladurée. 

The line of beautiful pastries is even more gorgeous in person.  I had two of the most delicious macaroons I have ever tasted!  Going is such an experience.





Every night we ate dinner in our little neighborhood.  It was so nice to feel like we had a home in Paris.

This J&B utensil holder caught my attention at one of the restaurants.  Me and my husband's initials!  I just had to snap a shot.

And this view I will put to memory.  A view of the Basilica, just a few blocks from our apartment.  Just stunning.

I will be back tomorrow with more photos from our experience at Maison et Objet.  I can't wait to show you more!

{Images taken by Bryan Mason}

Effie's Paper

A gal can never have enough good stationery. I am always on the hunt for cute cards to send with birthday gifts or thank you presents, and the stationery at Effie's Paper is bold, colorful, and just my style.



Kalyn Johnson Chandler is the brains behind this lovely card company, named for her grandmother, Effie Hayes. The collections of mod notecards are a fun and stylish alternative to e-cards, with cool names like The Jetsetter, The Urbanite, and Bon Mots.



Kalyn's love of pattern and design shows through in each card that is accompanied by a bright envelope in colors like fuchsia, teal, purple and coral.



You can view the complete collection at Effie's Paper. Have fun picking out your favorite!

New From Cushlab

Designer Rebecca Barton recently introduced some new pieces to her line of innovative cushions in her online boutique, Cushlab.  Absolute works of art, Rebecca uses felt in new ways to create cushions featuring fabulous floral designs, contemporary loops and even free-stitching that you can see on the Love pillow above.

Rebecca's popular Floral Cushion was just released in three new shades - grey;

fuchsia and yellow; and

sage green and thunder blue.

You can view the complete collection at Cushlab.  Enjoy!

Press Update: Jeanine Hays Featured on Huffington Post Black Voices

Friends, I had to share with you some exciting press we received today regarding the book.  Check out this amazing feature on the Huffington Post Black Voices.  I am going to run and call my mom now.  I have to read this fantastic article to her!

Thank you Jessica Anderson for this feature!

Original Art: The Pairabirds: Art by Tabitha Brown

I absolutely love the Yearbook Prints series by artist Tabitha Brown.  I first discovered some of her prints on one of my favorite sites for inspiration, Pinterest.

Her illustrations are cool and quirky, featuring what I imagine to be a high school class, maybe from the Chicago suburb where Tabitha is from.

You can explore the complete series, and more of her work on etsy.

She offers some very cool and affordable art for any interior.

What's New What's Next @ NYDC

I am headed to the New York Design Center for What's New What's Next.  I can't wait to post about this fantastic event!  If you are going to be there, look for me at Roubini Inc.  I will be a Blogger Ambassador for Deconstructing Poltrona Frau at 7:45pm in Suite 706.  Can't wait to see you there!

The Winner of the David Bromstad Giveaway Is...

Congratulations L. Marquez.  You and your guests are sure to enjoy this incredible piece by David Bromstad!

The winner of this giveaway was chosen randomly via random.org.  Only entries submitted by the September 2nd, 11:59pm EST deadline were considered.  Any repeat entries were dismissed.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered, and to David and Penny Lane Publishing for sponsoring this amazing giveaway!  We will be sure to have more on the blog very soon.

A Walk In Your Shoes

Hi! Just popping in from Paris to let you know about a new series I have been featured in. My sister, Angela Belt and her husband Leon have created a video series, "A Walk In Your Shoes". Check out some AC news and what kicks I like to rock: angelabelt.com/journal/2011/9/6/a-walk-in-your-shoes-jeanine-hays.html. Enjoy!

Paris: Maison et Objet

Paris: Maison et Objet, originally uploaded by AphroChic.

Hi friends! I have arrived in Paris for Maison et Objet and am enjoying my stay in lovely Montmartre. Here is a photo from a beautiful patisserie not far from my apartment.

I will be away from the blog for most of the show, but be sure to follow me on twitter @AphroChic as I tweet about the experience. I will see you all back here on September 19th.

P.S. The winner of the David Bromstad giveaway will be announced when I return. Stay tuned!

{photo taken with my iPhone}

Decorate: 1,000 Ideas For Every Room in Your Home

One of the highlights of this week was meeting the lovely Holly Becker, author of the Decor8 blog, and her first design book, Decorate: 1,000 Design Ideas For Every Room In Your Home.  I was so excited when I found out that Holly was coming to Philadelphia as part of her US book tour.  I sat in on her moodboard demonstration at the Anthropologie in Philadelphia, and then got my own signed copy of her book.  Here are a few photos from what was an absolutely divine design evening in Philly.



These signs were throughout Anthropologie advertising the event.



Holly gave a fantastic presentation on how to create a moodboard for design inspiration.



Holly's board.



Anthropologie added some special touches for the event.  I love the creative use of these monogram branches.



I excitedly waited in line with Jaime Derringer from Design Milk to get my signed copy of the book!



Me and Holly after the book signing.

If you haven't picked up Decorate yet, it is a must-have for your interior design book collection.  The book is filled with beautiful photos, tips and tons of ideas on creating a beautiful home.  Holly really outdid herself, and I expect nothing less from an incredible design diva!

{Images via Amazon and my iPhone}

Original Art: Dandy Lion

During my visit to Brooklyn last week to scout homes for the AphroChic book, my husband, sister and I stopped by MoCADA, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art in Brooklyn.  While the main museum was closed, we were able to catch a beautiful exhibit, Dandy Lion: Articulating a Re(de)fined Black Masculine Identity, curated by Shantrelle P. Lewis.



Dandy Lion takes a look at the modern day Black man, challenging stereotypes about African-American masculinity, and introduces us to the "New Age dandy" - sophisticated African-American men who are not afraid of their identity, and who are gentlemen with a stylized "swag".



While the photo exhibit just ended at MoCADA, it is now about to go international, showing in Amsterdam in September and in New Jersey in October.  Check out One Nigerian Boy for more news on this amazing exhibit, and the book project that is in the works.  I absolutely can't wait to see more!

{Images via MoCADA, The Minority Report NYC, and One Nigerian Boy}