For this event, we’ll do a special DIY project that’s different from those done at the other book tour events. We’ll be teaching people how to make their own gorgeous holiday wreaths using all sorts of local flora and odds and ends that we’re collecting from our favorite shops. Each attendee will go home with a stunning wreath to use in their own home or give away as a gift (we’ll provide a range of pretty ribbons for hanging the wreaths or tying gift bows). After the craft class, I’ll be signing copies of Design*Sponge at Home (which you could use for another nice gift), and we’ll have drinks and treats to celebrate the end of the book tour. We’ll also have a gorgeous backdrop designed by our own Halligan Norris, against which you can take photos of your friends.

Since this is our final East Coast event, we’re opening it up to not just 30, but 75 people! So if you’re interested in joining us, please sign up below. (There will not be a general admission after the craft; this is one big craft class event). Last time, the tickets sold out quickly, so please order now if you’d like to reserve a spot. The details are below. We hope to see you there to celebrate the end of our tour! xo, grace

Event: Design*Sponge Holiday Craft Event + Book Signing/Celebration
Date: Thursday, December 1st
Time: 6–8pm
Location: Anthropologie Home Office/The Navy Yard/Building 543/Philadelphia, PA
Details: We will be making holiday wreaths to take home as gifts (materials, tools and ribbon will be provided), and there will also be books for sale and to be signed (these are the special Anthropologie edition books with 16 extra pages of content).
Charity: We’ll be collecting art supplies for Fresh Artists. Please bring a new art supply (pens, markers, crayons) with you to donate to this fantastic local arts charity.

RSVP: There are only 75 spots available. Tickets are $40 each and include all your supplies, drinks and food. Please reserve your spot here if you’d like to attend; we expect the spots to close quickly.

**We have sadly had to postpone our Toronto event until early 2012 due to scheduling conflicts. I will update with more information on the new event/date ASAP. I’m so sorry for the change in schedule, but we’re looking forward to getting to Toronto right after the holidays!

Event: Crafting Workshop and Book Signing/Party at Prince Books
Date: Thursday, November 17th
Time: 6-8pm (6-7pm for the craft project, 7-8pm for the party/signing)
Location: Prince Books (109 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510)
Details: Come join the D*S team from Brooklyn and Virginia as we celebrate the launch of the book by recreating one of the stamping projects from the DIY chapter. All you need to bring is your own tote, clothing or fabric to stamp on. We’ll provide the rest. This event will benefit the local arts charity, Arts for Learning. (Please note: Books will also be available for sale through Prince Books)
RSVP: Space for the craft event is limited to 30 people so please RSVP HERE soon (The craft fee for this event is $25 and includes snacks, drinks and craft supplies). You can also RSVP for the main party/signing right here (if you buy a craft ticket you don’t need to buy a party ticket).

*Illustration by Julia Rothman

Event: Craft/Book Signing/Celebration at Anthropologie

Date: Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Time: 5–8pm (5–6pm craft workshop/6:30–8:00pm signing + celebration)

Location: Anthropologie (Stony Point Fashion Park, 9200 Stony Point Parkway, Richmond, VA)

Details: We will be teaching all craft-event participants how to make their own custom wooden wax seal! Craft guests will watch a demo, make their own wax seal and leave with the seal they made, along with sealing wax and stationery to test on. Afterward, we’ll get together for the larger celebration of the book launch, where you can buy copies of the book and have yours signed! Drinks and treats will be served. Proceeds from this event will benefit the local arts charity Art 180.

We will also have a custom backdrop designed by Lauren O’Neill against which you can take photos with your friends and fellow guests!

RSVP: The crafting event is limited to 35 people, so please RSVP HERE soon ($10 per person for the craft event, your ticket is good for the signing/celebration, too). The main event will fill up quickly, so please RSVP HERE for that soon, as well.

*Illustration by Julia Rothman

In addition to our evening event, we’ll be doing a fun lunch-time event earlier in the day with Richmond Magazine. I’m so excited to have two events in town! I’ll be making a 20 minute presentation about the book and we’ll all have lunch together and do a Q&As with attendees. The space can hold up to 400 people, so if you’re free I hope you’ll come join us!

DAYTIME Event: Luncheon event/Q&A/Talk sponsored by Richmond magazine

Date: Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Time: 11:30-1:30pm

Location: Plant Zero Arts Center (3 East 3rd Street, Richmond, VA)

RSVP: $17-$27 tickets are available here (Ticket sales will benefit the School of Richmond Ballet’s Minds in Motion Scholarship Fund)

West Elm is hosting a huge sweepstakes with us! Enter here for a chance to win a $2,000 shopping spree and trip to NYC to shop with me and the D*S team!

Event: Crafting Event/Signing/Party at West Elm
Date: Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Time: 6:00–8:30pm (6:00–7:00 craft workshop/7:00–8:30 party, open to the public)
Location: West Elm (Hill Center, 4019 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215)

Craft Workshop: I will be demonstrating a project from the book using freezer paper to customize your own cloth-based products. Then we’ll all make them together!
Craft Fee: $45 per person (This includes all of your craft supplies and a signed copy of Design*Sponge at Home!)
RSVP: This crafting class is limited to 25 people, so please RSVP here soon if you’d like to attend.

Book Signing + Party: 7–8:30pm
Details: After the craft event, we’ll celebrate the book launch with a party (drinks + treats will be served) and book signing. We’ll also be supporting a great local arts charity, Pencil Foundation. Local artist Chelsea Petaja will be creating a custom backdrop against which you can take photos (thanks to Smilebooth) with your friends! Chelsea’s husband (and amazing photographer) Tec Petaja will be shooting photos, too!
RSVP: RSVP recommended, just click “I’m going” on West Elm’s event page for San Diego

*Illustration by Julia Rothman

West Elm is hosting a huge sweepstakes with us! Enter here for a chance to win a $2,000 shopping spree and trip to NYC to shop with me and the D*S team!

Event: Crafting Event/Signing/Party at West Elm
Date: Thursday, November 10th, 2011
Time: 6:00–8:30pm (6:00–7:00 craft workshop/7:00–8:30 party, open to the public)
Location: West Elm (Mission Valley West, 5080 Mission Center Road, San Diego, CA 92108)

Craft Workshop: I will be demonstrating a project from the book using freezer paper to customize your own cloth-based products. Then we’ll all make them together!
Craft Fee: $45 per person (This includes all of your craft supplies and a signed copy of Design*Sponge at Home!)
RSVP: This crafting class is limited to 25 people, so please RSVP here soon if you’d like to attend.

Book Signing + Party: 7–8:30pm
Details: After the craft event, we’ll celebrate the book launch with a party (drinks + treats will be served) and book signing. We’ll also be supporting a great local arts charity, Rare Hare Studio. Local artist Heather Balliet of Amorology will be creating a custom backdrop against which you can take photos (thanks to Smilebooth) with your friends!
RSVP: RSVP recommended, just click “I’m going” on West Elm’s event page for San Diego

*Illustration by Julia Rothman

More about Shelly: Shelly Leer owned an upholstery business in Indianapolis for fifteen years. Now she’s teaching classes including Beginning and Intermediate Upholstery, Bench and Ottoman classes, Sewing Machine Basics, Pro Pillow Workshops and still to come, Headboards. She writes a weekly DIY column in the Indianapolis Star and is thrilled that her simple slipcover project is featured in Design Sponge at Home.