Just nine days away, there is still time to attend this wonderful event!  Tableau is held by International Furnishings and Design Association at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort in Scottsdale, AZ.  All proceeds go to support Ryan House (see previous post for more info).   Here is what you get for your support:

Public Preview/Day Event 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 11/14/09:  A chance to view approximately 18 over-the-top, lavish tablescapes by some of the Valley’s best designers!  Do you need ideas for your holiday tables?  Do you want to support a local nonprofit?  Then come on down!  The tables are highly secret and will be a surprise to all.  Only $25 per person with a chance to enter a raffle to win fabulous prizes.  Here is an award-winning example from last year:

Kaleidoscope - Best Use of Color by Adrienne Hart & Maggie Anderson of H2Originals

If  you want even more fun, join the festivities in the evening!  For $150, you will get to view all the tables, dine at one of them, enjoy a fun Monte Carlo night of playing games casino style, and another chance to win great raffle prizes.   Additionally, there will be a Hollywood glam type of fashion show–not kitschy Hollywood,  but really truly glamorous vintage gowns and dresses will be modeled.   Fashion by Robert Black will be presenting this sophisticated fashion show.  Here is a dress from his extensive vintage collection:

Madame Gres White Silk Crepe Dress - circa 1950s

If you want day event tickets, you may contact me directly.  However, the easiest way is to go to IFDA’s dedicated website, www.ifdatableau.com.  Click on the “Attend Tableau” button and it will walk you through the steps to attend either the day event or evening event.

Sponsors of this wonderful event include:  Arizona Foothills Magazine, Sources & Design, Forty, Rustic Stuff,  Repps, Fashion by Robert Black, Ford/Robert Black Agency AZ, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Scott Sandler Photographic, Southern Wine & Spirits of Arizona,  Steinway of Phoenix, Inside/Out, Dunn-Edwards, EuroDream Kitchens, and The Cookson Company.

Be sure to support these wonderful companies!

A local mixed media artist group I participate in created torsos representing different countries where women survive war.  We auctioned off these torsos October 30th at Art on Boston in Chandler, AZ.  We raised almost $1000 for Women for Women International, a group that counsels and trains women survivors of war.

The highlight of the evening was hearing the story of Rose Mapendo, a Congolese survivor who spent 16 months in a death camp.  If you all remember the movie “Hotel Rwanda”, this same genocide moved to the Congo where Rose witnessed the murder of her husband and she and her children were nearly killed, all for being Tutsi.

Rose Mapendo now represents Mapendo International, a group that relocates war refugees.   Currently  living in the greater Phoenix area, Rose’s story was well described in Phoenix Magazine by journalist Joshua Schoonover.  Click here to read Rose’s story.  Rose is a remarkable, kind and gentle woman and I have been blessed to meet her.

I will be getting back to traditional design blogging…”Designing a Mindful Life” is not only about great design, but I believe also about designing an honorable life for yourself.  If you are able to contribute in any way to these organizations that I support, or organizations that touch your own heart, you are designing  your own mindful life that becomes larger than your daily activities.

We always have a lot of fun at Halloween.  Here is a very small sampling:

Interior of Checker Medicar decorated for Halloween

Trick-or-Treaters welcome committee

The girls with their pumpkins:

Kristi

Stephanie

 

Hillary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween pumpkins:

Jonathan's pumpkin

A few of the pumpkins

I have created a couple of spellbooks for Halloween this year

How creepy and fun!  More to come!

A great new furniture/product line was launched last night at Inside/Out Furniture in Scottsdale.  Larry Lake, a fabulous interior designer, has started a new venture as a product designer.  While it is a little hard to see in this picture, this contemporary chair has a completely suspended seat that looks sleek and modern.

The frames come in a variety of beautiful colors.  The fabric choices are nearly endless.

In addition, Larry has also developed a line of rugs and accessories.   These furnishings and products are only available through your interior designer.  If you don’t have a designer, feel free to contact me!  You will be seeing more of Larry’s beautiful furnishings in upcoming publications.

Scheduled to open in Phoenix in 2010, Ryan House is a nonprofit children’s palliative care home.  This special place has captured the hearts of Phoenicians, and there are numerous individuals and organizations coming together to raise funds, donate time and services, and generally make this beautiful home happen.   I am proud to be participating in a great upcoming fundraising event for Ryan House to be held November 14, 2009.

Ryan House, designed and planned by Orcutt Winslow Architecture

Here is the fun part:  International Furnishings & Design Association (IFDA), Arizona chapter,  is hosting a party to raise funds for Ryan House.  This just isn’t any party…as an IFDA member, I am privy to some behind-the-door details, and this is going to be a spectacular event!  Tableau features fantasy tables created by some of the Valley’s best designers.  This event is open to the public during the day of Nov. 14th.  By evening, attendees get to dine at these beautiful tables, participate in a fun evening of Monte Carlo style gambling with lots of prizes and raffles.  Remember, all the proceeds go to Ryan House–this is a don’t miss fall event!

Here are a couple of pix from last year’s event:

“Let Them Eat Cake” by Celia Schauble and Linda Tully of Custom Coverings

“Dinner at Versailles” by Karen Wirrig of Karen Cole Designs

Again, go to www.ifdatableau.com if you would like to design a table yourself, to attend this event, or just to donate.

I will talk more about Ryan House in my next posting, but what could be better than combining Ryan House (support for ill children in the Phoenix metro area) and my favorite boutique, Frances?  Nothing!

The Care Card link doesn’t work above, but it does right here.

And it isn’t just Frances involved in this wonderful event–over 500 retailers are participating.  This is a chance to save a little money on holiday shopping (including Halloween, of course!) and to donate to a fabulous cause!

I know I have posted a lot about fundraisers lately.  As a designer in Phoenix, I, along with the construction/building trade here have been hit really hard economically.   Really, Phoenix overall has been hit really hard for the past two years (we felt it earlier than the rest of the country).  However, that means charities and nonprofits are also struggling.  Mision Mexico, Women for Women International, and Ryan House are all dear to me.  If these are not one of the causes you want to support, really try to give some of your money or time to one of your special causes–an hour here or there or even just $5 can really add up.

This torso is by artist,  Meredith Stewart, representing war survivor,  Shekeba, from  Afghanistan.  It is hard to tell in this picture  (another reason to come view this exhibit in person on October 30th) but it is completely composed of black buttons and beads.    There is a wonderful article about this gallery exhibit in today’s Arizona Republic newspaper.  Click here to read it.  Again, Rose Mapendo, Congolese survivor and human rights activist, will be speaking at the closing auction at Art On Boston on October 30th.

This beautiful torso was completed by Susan Feldkamp, a master beader and artist.  Her torso’s color was brown (we each were assigned a color to be used predominantly in our art piece) and  represents Lumnije, a war survivor from Kosovo.  Lumnije has become  self supporting through carpentry skills gained by participating in Women for Women International.  Susan included wood beads and vintage wood items  in her art to represent carpentry.

Be sure to come see and support this event on October 30th at Art on Boston in Chandler, AZ.  See earlier posts for more info.

I just learned of master pumpkin carver, Ray Villafane, from one of my daughters.  Click here to not only see fantastic carved pumpkins, but Ray even offers a tutorial on his site so you too can be a master pumpkin carver!