The SoGood !

Hey There.

In my business it's all about the referral.  My clients are my greatest advertising.  I have been lucky enough to meet and work with many amazing families over the years each sharing the experience we had with their friends growing my business.  "Word of mouth" is ultimately the best way to connect on both sides.

Heard of the  SoGood ? It's a new app that helps the word of mouth get out there a little easier. I am all about supporting local business and  I want to be in the know when it comes to must haves around town.  The "Charlotte Directory" is an ever growing list of great resources you need to know about.  I would image it would be a great job to find the best of the best around town and then tell all my friends. That is just what founders Laura and Hillary are doing at the SoGood.  

At the SoGood  artists, designers, creatives and the like are showcased to add to your list of resources.  In the line up, one of my favorite jewelry designers - Addison Weeks.  Katherine Weeks Mulford and Lee Addison are graphic artists turned jewelry designers and creators of the brand. Their use of semi-precious stones set in 24kt dipped gold being their signature look.  I came across their gems originally at Slate Interiors and fell in love.  An amazing gift this Christmas - available at Splurge on Providence Road here in Charlotte and Granville at Phillips Place.  (check out their website here for other locations), and currently being featured at Slate - right when you walk in the door !

 photos by Taylor Mathis

Want to "get it together" in 2015.  How about a professional organizer !  Precise Style is also featured.  A Charlotte based residential organizing and lifestyle service committed to creating peaceful and efficient living spaces !!! Nice . . .

photos courtesy of their site

Planning a big event?  A wedding perhaps?  Ivy Robinson Events is also featured.  Love her design eye (and she planned a pretty gorgeous wedding for Charlotte's Emily Maynard) !

photos courtesy of Ivy's site

And at the top of the indulgent list - a personal chef !  Food Love's Nikki Sawyer Moore offers catering, cooking classes - even private intimate dinners !  Sign me up.

Take a look at some of the other categories they are building. So convenient to have on your phone when out for the day looking for the perfect gift.  At home, on the big screen, they make it easy to find help with bigger projects.

Artists You Need on Your Radar

Photographers

Architects

Your 4 legged Friends

Jewelry Designers

Event Planners, Party Places and Floral,

Designers and Local Taste Makers

Organizers

All Sorts of Foods, Cakes and Goodies

Body and Sole

Stylists and Personal Shoppers

It's all SoGood . . . .  and works something like this.  On the app or the website you search by category to find "SoGood  approved," businesses and products.  It gives you a quick bio and contact information.  The blog, on their website, elaborates a bit further and spotlights a person or business on the  line up.

Founder's Hillary Crittendon and Laura Martin have created a network of of artists, makers and entrepreneurs whose skills, art, good and ideas to serve one purpose . .  to make life SoGood !

I loved reading that this venture of theirs was literally a lifetime in the making.  Friends in second grade, they spent years bonding over the mutual love of design, music and all things French.  Just like your best girl friends, they relied on each other for advise from everything to boys, brands and college choices.  As adults they have turned their idea into a business.  They recognized the value of a "good list" and so do I, and so might you !

This is all about the best local has to offer.  Traveling to Charleston, Richmond, Atlanta or Nashville?  There is a list of there too and it's growing, including many travel destinations.

Download the App here !

My Current Obsession . .

Happy Sunday!

I have a current obsession.  Allow me to elaborate.  Yesterday I played with all the things I love, one is pondering new ideas.  I hate repeating things.  There are too many ways to be inspired and directions to go and being original is the goal.  But first of all,  I was up early just to get on the One Kings Lane site to snag a piece or two from Iris Apfel private collection that went on sale at 8 am.  It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to have something from a design icon.  Within minutes everything was spoken for.  I was surprised the site didn't crash.  But I hung in there and the piece I wanted, which was "on hold" suddenly became available (you have 9 mins to purchase).  I grabbed it.  A marble covered mask.  I know, a little odd.  I love it, not that I plan to wear it, (but you never know) I plan to frame it in some sort of amazing way (and Veronica - I will be seeing you!)  I also scored a cool, metal bracelet-like belt and her book "Rare Bird of Fashion."  

I love her.  She is a Rare Bird and a no-bull shit - 93 year old that doesn't worry what anyone thinks. She's a true original in everything she is, sees and does.  Get the book, her life is amazing.

So back to the obsession thing.  It's the look of marble and other semi-precious stones, hence the marble covered mask.  I say "look" because it's not just the real thing I love, it's the natural (and exaggerated, human tweaked)  patterns.   I want it in art, in wall paper, in jewelry, on counters, on furniture. This obsession of mine started originally with Kelly Wearstler (another icon I obsess over).   Her use of this material in it's true sense, on floors, on walls, on furniture is stunning.   Her layering is amazing,  her color tones I could get lost in.  Take a look at a few of amazing spaces and you'll see what I mean.

I love following her on instagram and somewhere along the way her images with their amazing color combinations, and patterns inspired me and became something I wanted to incorporate in the way of fabrics, papers and most importantly, art.  There was something rich and luxe about the movement of the patterns.

 Addison Weeks also started appearing in my travels.  I first got a look at her jewelry at Slate Interiors and have loved ever since.

Addison Weeks

My obsession only continued when I was introduced to Calico wall paper one trip to New York.   This was the first I had seen of this type of paper and after talking with the creators , Rachel and Nicholas and learning a little bit about the process, I became even more obsessed.

So much so, I used one of their papers on an install of my own . . .

Then Zoffany came along with their Quartz line of papers. Oh man.  Had to use.

We just recently back these built in cabinets with one of their papers then I went further in the space and added those touch of gold and metals to bring it all to life.

The new project I am working on will incorporate another pattern in the same Quartz book I love !  Stay tuned for that.  My new clients Leslie and Jef Pearce have just finished building their dream house.  Ultra modern and sleek.  I was thrilled to jump in (thank you Jill Pleune) to help pull together the look to go with the architectural design that Jef created himself.

Their master should be as luxe as Miss Leslie herself.

When it comes to art, marble paper was used way back when as a mat to frame a piece.  You remember, those tacky green marble mats surrounding a painting, print or photo.  Well get rid of those.  What I am interest in is the over piece resembling the look of anything marbleized on a large scale.

Give me any one of these vintage marble papers in the form of a large painted piece.

Keith, my artist husband, loves working in mixed media.  He has created encaustic pieces (using pigments mixed with hot wax that are burned in as an inlay) and has recently started working in ink.  The look is exactly what I am talking about.  This piece was one of his first encaustic pieces where he played with the movement of the wax, acrylic and metallic.  I love this one and had it framed in my office in the most gorgeous mint lucite frame (thank you V)

I am sure my love for this look will continue.  As like marble - it stands the test of time.

Stay tuned, Mekenzie shot the show at Hart Witzen Friday night, which will give you a better idea of encaustic and show off some of Keith's work!