Holiday Vacation

I can hardly believe that 2011 is about to come to a close.  It has been one of the most incredible years here at AphroChic.  This year I left my job, started working on my company full-time, moved to Philadelphia, got a book deal, partnered with new retailers (you can now find AphroChic items at Busybee Design in Philly), and have watched my dreams come true.  It's truly been a blessed year, and I can only hope that 2012 will bring more incredible adventures for me to share with all of you.

I will be taking the rest of the year off to enjoy time with family, and meet some crucial writing deadlines for the book.  But, don't worry I am not going to totally disappear.  You can find me on:

- HGTV Design Happens (my latest post is all about David Bromstad's Art Basel Miami event)
- Tumblr where I give some behind-the-scenes on writing the AphroChic Book
- Instagram - I am so addicted!
- Pinterest - I'm even more addicted!
- Flipboard - follow the AphroChic blog RSS feed to read new and archived posts on your iPad and iPhone.  It's so much fun.

I hope you all have an amazing holiday, and I will be back in the new year with even more fabulous content, giveaways, and Style Talk interviews!  Happy Holidays!

{Image spotted on Gadabout}

My Favorite Elle Decor Room of 2011

I am absolutely thrilled to be among 30 design insiders who are featured on ElleDecor.com this week.  We were all asked to submit our favorite Elle Decor room for 2011.

For me, it was easy.  The rooftop terrace atop the home of Liza Bruce and Nicholas Alvis Vega has been a source of inspiration for me since it was featured in this year's February/March issue.  Check out why I love this room, and what other designers are saying about their favorite rooms for 2011.

Thanks Elle Decor!

{Photographer: Simon Upton}

Hampton Tomodachi Cutlery Winner!

I am so excited to announce the winner of the Hampton Tomodachi Cutlery Giveaway.  Today's winner is L. Zabeth!  Congratulations.  I hope these knives are helpful as you cook healthy meals for your family.  To claim your prize, please send your mailing address to aphrochic{at}me.com.

The winner of this contest was chosen via random.org.  Thank you so much to everyone who entered.  I will have new giveaways on the blog in the new year!

Tivoli Audio at Room & Board

This beautiful little radio is definitely on my holiday wishlist this year.  Room & Board has teamed up with Tivoli Audio, selling this award-winning radio on their site.  I absolutely love the old-school analog dial, mixed with bright and fun modern colors.  It also works with your iPod too, so it can go high-tech, or low-tech.  Cool huh?!  It's definitely tradition with a twist.



This Model One in yellow has my attention.  Don't you think it's the perfect shade of AphroChic yellow?

You can explore the entire Tivoli Audio collection at Room & Board.

Press: AphroChic in Le Rapport Minoritaire

We are thrilled to be in the holiday issue of Le Rapport Minoritaire, an online magazine dedicated to featuring designers of color.  You  can see AphroChic on page 26 and page 80 of Issue 2 of the magazine.



Thank you so much to Editor-In-Chief Tameka Pierre-Louis for this fabulous feature and for all that you do in recognizing the contributions of designers of color!

{Images via Issue 2 Le Rapport Minoritaire}

Hampton Tomodachi Cutlery Giveaway!

I have another pre-holiday giveaway for you!  This one from Hampton Forge offers another way for you to bring some bright pops of color home.  These knives are color-coordinated and labeled for hygenic and safe food preparation.  The idea is brilliant and so are the colors.



One lucky reader can win a set of Hampton's Tomodachi cutlery which includes an all-purpose knife, chef's knife, bread knife, and Santoku.  The knives come with blade guards and are dishwasher safe which is fantastic for easy cleaning.



So, what do you have to do to win?  Simply leave your first initial and last name in the comment section, and let me know why you need these knives in your life.  You have until 11:59pm EST on Friday, December  16th to enter.  Good luck!

On HGTV Design Happens: Color Crush - Red

Today I'm over at HGTV Design Happens writing about one of my favorite colors - red.  Check out my favorite red interiors, and my Pinterest board with more red spaces for you to enjoy.  Hope you're inspired!

{Image via Elle Decor}

Original Art: Collective Paper Aesthetics

I was struck when I saw photos from this wonderful exhibition filled with red and gold.  The work is that of architect and designer Noa Haim of Collective Paper Aesthetics.  Noa creates fascinating products and structures out of paper.  One of her latest exhibits included interactive projects where parents and children came together to create unique structures out of the paper game presented.



The imagery from the event is fascinating and beautiful.  A wonderful participatory project.  You can find out more about Noa's unique work and her exhibits on her blog.  It's chocked full of incredible paper structures.  Enjoy!

And The Winners Of The Poppin Giveaway Are:

Congratulations J. Starker & C. Sing!!!  So thrilled for both of you.  These pieces are definitely going to brighten your offices.  Please send your mailing address and your preferred color choice to aphrochic{at}me.com.

Thank you Poppin for hosting this colorful giveaway!

Giveaway winners are chosen randomly via Random.org.  The results of this giveaway are below. 

Modern Quilts by Luke Haynes

Have you ever seen something that just left you in awe?  Well, I was absolutely awe-struck when I discovered the work of Luke Haynes.  His quilts are like nothing I have ever seen before.  Using quilting as a way of artistic expression, Luke creates absolute works of art through simple scraps of fabric.



Some of my favorite pieces in Luke's collection include his very cool self-portrait above; this American Nostalgia quilt featuring President Obama;




this gorgeous quilted portrait of Frankie Manning;



and this lovely quilt he has termed The Boss.

It's amazing the imagery that Luke creates through fabric.  I am so happy to have found his work, and am definitely thinking about getting a commissioned piece of my own.  What could be a more wonderful family heirloom than an original Luke Haynes quilt?

David Bromstad Exhibits at Art Basel

Oh how I wish I was in Miami today. Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the world's largest art shows, begins this evening.  From December 1st - 4th, the international art world will meet in South Florida to view the work of the 2,000 + artists who will be presenting.  One of those artists will be the very first HGTV Design Star, David Bromstad.

David will be hosting an incredible 3-day event at the Z Ocean Hotel South Beach.  His first public art exhibition, David will be transforming the hotel lobby into his own personal art gallery, with his signature style and pop art.  If you are a blogger or member of the press in the area, you may want to check out tonight's special VIP event.  And don't worry, there will also be a public opening to view David's work on December 2nd and 3rd.

Open to the public:
Body, Money, Death
Z Ocean Hotel South Beach
December 2nd and 3rd, 2011
5:00pm – 8:00pm each day

For more info on David's event and the rest of Art Basel visit their website.  It's sure to be a fantastic four days in Miami.