David's World

I couldn't be more thrilled about today's guest Inside the Design Studio! Andrea Bonner is one of those people I feel like I met as soon as I came to Houston. She was the Regional Director of Fashion Group International and helped to connect me to the burgeoning fashion scene here in Houston.

Through the years, Andrea has been a client and most importantly a friend. We've had many shared experiences from our work on various task forces and educational committees to teaching at Interlochen in Michigan in the summers. Andrea is one of the most stylish and fashionable people I know. She has an innate ability to spot a gem and make it shine. 

Mindset matters. Let me tell you from experience. It can be absolutely life-changing. Two years ago, I was in a bad place.  I felt like I had worked so hard for so long but wasn't seeing the results I needed or wanted to see in my life and career. From the outside, everything looked fine, but on the inside, I was dying. 

Enter life and business coach Tina Marie St.Cyr.

A quick catch up with our good friend Carla Russell. A fabulous mother, traveler, and fashion-savvy Houstonian. You're going to be seeing a whole lot more of her around the boutique (well, as soon as Corona lets us) because Carla is coming on board our team to help us with all things brides, mothers, and debs! 

I'm especially excited about this edition of Inside the Design Studio. Paul Hotze is one of my favorite people, hilarious, a fellow entrepreneur, and an all-around great guy. We have more than shut down State of Grace on several occasions commiserating on the life of a small business owner. 

I can't exactly remember the first time I met Laura Max Rose, but somehow I can't imagine life in Houston without her.  I've known her mother, Leisa Holland-Nelson, for almost as long as I've been in Houston, so it makes sense that Laura would make it onto my list of favorite people. She's got an inquisitive mind, a talent for interviewing (hence her latest project), and a genuinely compassionate and empathetic world view that is inspiring. 

Fun story, I met Christina Greene when we were booth neighbors at an outdoor creative “flea” market back when I first started my business in Houston. She was working for another designer at the time, but it wasn’t long before she had contacted me to let me know that she was starting her line. Through the years, we have carried her line in the store and her work has been a client favorite for sure! I’m super excited that we are re-introducing her line back into the store. Her new Geometric Collection has so many interesting pieces that I can’t wait to pair with our clothes!

Within the last decade, Keely’s name has become synonymous throughout Houston, Texas and the South for her chic style, exquisite taste, flair for fun, and the ability to flawlessly execute life’s most cherished events. Her namesake firm, Keely Thorne Events, boasts a talented and carefully curated team of event planners who all share in Keely’s thorough attention to detail, boundless creativity, and sincere passion for the event planning industry.

We're back with another of our "Inside the Design Studio" series! I've known the ladies at Kaira Jewelry for years, but I didn't realize that they were starting a jewelry line until a few years ago when their jewelry popped up on set for a magazine photo shoot we were doing. As soon as I realized who was behind the gorgeous gems, it made sense. 

Kaira Jewelry is a Houston-based design house, specializing in diamonds and gemstones. Kaira was born with the intention of creating an experience between their customers and precious stones, while offering one of a kind pieces for one of a kind people. Kaira personalizes each visit with clients according to style, character, occasion and desire, ending in a one of a kind adventure.  

Let’s give it up for the strong mamas out there. I know a lot of them and I’m proud to call them my friends. I knew of Rachael’s work atA Fare Extraordinaire before we ever met. Now, our kids go to the same school and I’ve been so thrilled to see her build her latest venture,The Revaire! If you haven’t had a chance to check out Houston’s coolest new venue, you should. Not only is it great for a good (BIG) party, but it’s also an increasingly rare instance here where an older building, a WW2 ammunition plant in this case, gets repurposed and not torn down for yet another parking lot. (End Rant)

I'm interrupting my interviews with other people for special edition of Inside the Design Studio. Several of you kept asking about my history or if I was going to write about myself. Well, here you go! If you do know me, you may know all of this, but I did try to find something new that most people don't know. Enjoy! 

Fun fact about my next guest on Inside the Design Studio: Natalie Dawley of Two Be Wed and I shared an office space when I first got my start here in Houston in 2010. Since then, we’ve done weddings, events, photoshoots… you name it together. She’s a lovely person inside and out and I’m super pleased to be featuring her today!

I’m super excited to introduce this new blog series! Not only do I get to talk to some of my favorite people but I get to introduce you to them too. I’ll have to admit, the questions that we asked were really selfish, so I could get info that I didn’t know. Isn’t it great to be in charge? Hopefully, you’ll find these just as fun and informative as I do, and it will give you a glimpse behind the scenes of what it’s like to be a creative person and/or small business owner.