Party wrap-up

Whew! Parties #1 and #2 are in the books, and both were fantastic!
Party #1: Ottawa Home Style and Wine Networking Evening
There was a great turnout of Ottawa decorators and designers at the Thursday party. Katherine Cornfield of girlaboutOtown talked about how technology is effecting the business of decorating and design. I totally agree with her that technology + decor = a good thing :-) Unfortunately, Katherine’s technology crapped out on her – hope your computer is back up and running soon!
Joanna Proulx also talked to us about how her business, Disturbing the Piece, evolved. Joanne finds old pieces of furniture and gives them new lives with funky fabrics. Check out these three beauties she brought along to show us. This back & white fabric is beyond soft and luxurious. I could have rubbed it all night long!

Love the bright green piping on this one.

And my favourite of the three – I’m still trying to find a spot for it in my house, because I want it! It’s gorgeous AND comfy.

Joanne is also an author, and recently sold the film rights to her book, Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet. Yay Joanne!
And the star of the night was Kellie & Warren’s beautiful home. On Hallowe’en night in 2008, a devastating fire destroyed their home.They lost everything that they owned and literally had to start over from scratch. The wood word on the bookcase in their sitting room represents both their new home and the new business they’ve started, ReNewHomes:

You can read all about the evolution of the house on Kellie’s blog, Renewal on Morris Street.
Thanks again to Kellie & Maureen for organizing such a wonderful party, and to Kellie & Warren for opening their home to us and being such lovely hosts.
Party #2: Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup
Saturday was the big Canadian Design Blogger Meetup in Toronto, and it was a blast! Totally worth the drive to TO, the $27 cab ride to Hotel le Germain, blowing up an air mattress with my own personal hot air, and sleeping on an air mattress on my aunt’s floor.

Proof that I’m full of hot air ;-)

NOT a comfortable place to sleep!

I showed up at the party alone, and left having made a great big group of blogger buddies, both old and new :-) Vitania, Staci, Shannon, Vanessa, Wendy, Dane, Tara (every time I read her blog name, I want cinnamon toast!), Grace, Jen, Emma, Christine, another Christine, and Amy just to name a few. I also met and talked to Lisa and Gwen from House & Home, and Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault from Cityline was there too. I didn’t have a chance to meet and talk to everyone, but the room was just electric with chatting and laughter and lots of ladies having a great time (and drinking some wine!).
There were great giveaway prizes from sponsor Delta, and a lovely swag bag for everyone that included products from sponsor GKHair, issues of Style At Home and House & Home, a free alphabet print from Lindsay at Penny People, a ticket to the One of a Kind craft show, and a coupon for 10% off eco-friendly store Pistachio.
To read more about the party and see pics of the party girls, go to the Canadian Designer Bloggers Meetup blog and check out all the links to the attendees blogs. Here are a few pics I borrowed from Jen at Rambling Renovators…

Me, Christine (Bijou et Boheme), Vanessa (Decor Happy), Emma (The Marion House Book)

Me, Tara (The Cinnamon Post), Vanessa (Decor Happy), Emma (The Marion House Book), Jen (Rambling Renovators), Lindsay (Aubrey + LIndsay)

And I have to show you Staci’s shoes that she wore especially for me :-) SEXY!!

 

Christine from Decor by Christine got in on the shoe action too:

A huge thank you to Vitania, Daniella, and Jen for organizing such an amazing event, as well as Hotel le Germain, Delta, and GKHair and everyone else involved for ensuring that we all had a great time. And a huge thank you to my fellow bloggers who made this Ottawa orphan feel so welcome :-)