A Grand Night

Grace & Steve, 2011

As some of you know, my daughter has been traveling back and forth across the United States and Canada since September promoting her book, Design Sponge at Home. Grace and her managing editor Amy have visited twenty-nine cities so far. That’s a lot of early morning flights, tight connections, smarmy morning talk show hosts, afternoon craft events and evening book signings.

@ Prince Books, 2011

The twenty-ninth city in the schedule was Norfolk, the closest she’ll come to home. Last night a whole flock of family, friends, Design*Sponge readers and even a few stray people off the street stopped into Prince Books to take part in an hour of crafting followed by an hour of Grace signing their books.

Crafting with Design*Sponge, 2011

Needless to say, my wife and I are very proud of our daughter and enjoyed this chance to watch her enjoy a little of the limelight.

My daughter has described these events around the country as a series of “big hugs” from her readers. The Design*Sponge community is congenial and supportive. Many thanks to those who you who were able to attend: Barbara, Zeinoun, Holly, Sally, Sonja, Kristen, Emily, Jean, Jan, Beth, Margarita and more than a hundred others whose names I didn’t know.

Yum, from Just Cubcakes, 2011

Special thanks to Carla Peay Hesseltine of Just Cupcakes, who provided custom-decorated cupcakes for the evening, and to the couple that traveled more than seven hours from western North Carolina to bring the pop-up photo booth. We’re especially grateful to Sarah Pishko and her staff at Prince Books, whose hospitality, flexibility and patience made for what we believe was a grand night for everyone.