I am so happy that I had the chance to meet Rachel Ashwell at a Country Home magazine "Be Creative" event in New York City way back when. I love her Shabby Chic/faded rose/soft color world and am so happy that her brand continues to thrive. Did you see her contribution to the Feburary 2011 Country Living magazine? I'm with Rachel, off-white canvas sofas are timeless!
You can see her at the event in the distance, signing books for a few ladies near a table she had decorated with layers of lace, ribbon, roses and feather plumes.
After I took this photo, I walked over to her with one of her books (Shabby Chic) and she was as relaxed as can be while we talked about the event and she signed my book. No lines, no security, no restrictions. A bunch of women at a beautiful event, enjoying the sun and sharing notes about living a creative life.
A few years ago, Country Home magazine hosted a "Be Creative" event in New York City's Central Park. The day revolved around presentations from design icons, knitting classes, cooking demonstrations, live music and and design seminars. Rachel Ashwell (founder and creator of the design style Shabby Chic) gave a personal lesson on how to bring Shabby Chic style to your gift wrapping. Her suggestions and displays were beautiful - pastel wallpaper used as gift wrap, vintage images reproduced as gift tags, pink tissue paper shredded to become stylish "fluff" to nestle around treasures. And most importantly, she stressed that gifts should be thoughtful. That price, labels and trends should not factor into gift giving. She emphasized that by considering the person - her style, her family, her interests - and finding some sweet object that you think she would love (a vintage ornament wrapped in a Chinese take-out box or a family photo preserved under glass) would be the greatest gift of all. Thank you, Rachel!
