THE FIND - a Blogoversary Gift for YOU!

It's difficult to believe that I've been blogging for almost a year. My first post went up on June 24, 2009. I've met wonderful people during this busy year, learned a great deal, shared ideas, and enjoyed a creative outlet like no other!

To celebrate my first year of blogging, I'm hosting a giveaway. Actually, I've accepted a generous offer from Stan Williams, The Elegant Thrifter. He's providing your gift: a copy of his book, The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details.


Among many other accolades Stan's book has received, Apartment Therapy Boston named The Find #1 on a list of the 5 best design books of 2009. Read it here. The closing Stan uses for every post he does is "Always Frugal, Always Fabulous," and that really sums up his approach to design ... and to life!

Many of you know Stan already. He pops in on our blogs from time to time and often leaves generous comments. I'll admit now that I didn't quite realize at first that he's a BIG deal in the world of fashion and design. Before taking a sabbatical to work on his book, Stan was fashion director at Maxim for 7+ years, where he was in charge of men's fashion and grooming coverage at the largest men's general interest magazine in the country. Before joining Maxim, Stan worked at Fairchild Publications for nearly 10 years in several editorial capacities, lastly as features editor at DNR. (DNR is the menswear equivalent of Women's Wear Daily). He has a journalism degree from University of Missouri-Columbia's journalism school and lives in New York City. His writing style is smart and witty, and his design sense is quirky, clever, and fun!

If you do a quick Google search, you'll find Stan being quoted in articles in all sorts of publications, from fashion magazines and blogs to USA Today and The Washington Post.

Here's what randomhouse.com says about The Find:

Sometimes you’re looking for it, sometimes it just finds you.

Treasures of home décor abound at flea markets, thrift shops, and garage sales. But how do you know a find when you find it? In The Find, Stan Williams and some of today’s most clever style makers, including Simon Doonan, John Derian, and Real Simple’s Kristin van Ogtrop–all diehard devotees of New York City’s Housing Works–show not just what to look for, but also how to look at an object to identify a great piece. The trick is to see beyond nicks and wobbles, color and intended purpose and to focus on potential. For example, a vintage leather trunk encased in Lucite works as a stunning coffee table. Pages from old books wallpaper a foyer. A cushion fashioned from a baseball diamond’s home plate makes a garden chair comfortable. The Find includes chapters on furniture, accessories, small spaces, and entertaining. From a suburban ranch to an East Village studio in New York, each abode illustrates unexpected ways that secondhand items can make statements (or space) throughout a home. Elegantly photographed, filled with practical sidebars about refurbishing, styling, and treasure-hunting, and replete with the quirky sensibility that has made Housing Works one of the most popular destinations for great things, The Find is at once a handbook and inspiration for vintage decorating. Secondhand does not mean second rate when there’s always something special to be found.

Stan called David Jiminez after seeing his house featured in House Beautiful when he was visiting family in Kansas City and found his email in the back of the book. His pal Ruth Handel looped him into Jonamor Decor, and Stan featured two of their interiors in the book. He knew there were people he wanted, like John Derian. He also called on his old friends from the fashion world whom he knew decorated with thrift and vintage: men's designer John Bartlett, GQ's creative director Jim Moore, and Mark Ciolli, principal of Carl and Co., a successful decorator.

Here's an interview Stan did for CHIC .TV:




To get an idea of Stan's breezy writing style (and wicked sense of humor), check out his other blog, Hooch Bags by the Elegant Thrifter HERE. Vintage evening bags, funny money, (candy) smokes, a little nip here and there -- I'll let him tell you about it!

OK, here's how the giveaway works. The winner's autographed and personalized copy of The Find will be shipped directly from Stan.
You have through the end of the day on June 25th to enter.
Nothing to buy! You don't even have to follow Affordable Accoutrements, subscribe, or have a blog of your own.

Just leave a comment on Stan's June 16th post, HERE. Let him know you stopped by, OK?
Come back and leave a quick comment for me on this post, making sure I have an e-mail address I can use to reach you when you win Stan's wonderful book!

That's it -- a comment for Stan and one for me and you're IN the competition!

Thank you for visiting and thank you for participating in the giveaway.

See you soon!