The moment you’ve all been eagerly awaiting is finally here! We’re thrilled to announce a fresh batch of upcoming book tour dates confirmed by our publisher, complete with a few brand-new stops. We’ll be sharing all the exciting details about what’s next at the conclusion of this post. But before we unveil the future, let’s take a nostalgic look back at our most recent adventures – the final captivating tour stops of 2012, before we hit the road again in January!
Following our exhilarating, albeit intense, week of travel in mid-November, we enjoyed a much-needed break over Thanksgiving. Soon after, we dove back into the whirlwind of author events, making two distinct appearances in the vibrant city of Washington, D.C., and one truly special stop in our beloved hometown of Richmond, VA.
Washington D.C.: Engaging with Fans at FLOR Georgetown
Our first D.C. engagement brought us to the stylish FLOR store in Georgetown. The cozy, intimate setting of the shop meant a dedicated crowd braved the crisp, chilly weather outside, patiently waiting for their turn to connect with us. Their enthusiasm and resilience truly touched us, and we remain incredibly grateful for every single person who came out. To make the wait more enjoyable, the wonderful FLOR team generously provided a delightful spread of popcorn, warm wine, comforting hot chocolate, and, without exaggeration, some of the most exquisite cookies we’ve ever tasted. Seriously, they were heavenly! Among the first to sneak in before the official start were our cousin Cat and my younger sister Carrie, who certainly earned their line-cutting privileges. Sherry later wanted me to clarify that she has no idea why she often adopts a pose that resembles a bull about to charge, head down and smiling intensely, but that’s just her unique charm!
To anyone who attended that evening, if you recall seeing someone who looked remarkably like me taking mysterious breaks to wander through the line and make phone calls, rest assured, it wasn’t me! It was my alleged doppelganger, Patrick, who was instrumental in organizing the event. Apparently, he was mistaken for me on multiple occasions throughout the night. Attendees kept asking, “Wait, why isn’t John upstairs signing?” As documented in Heather’s recap, this confusion proved mildly perplexing for those patiently waiting. I personally don’t see much of a resemblance, but the mix-up was convincing enough that even Patrick’s own daughter, upon seeing a picture of Sherry and me after the event, inquired why “daddy” was standing with “that lady.”
And if you spot our beloved dog, Burger, “photobombing” any other pictures from this particular event, it’s merely a playful paper cutout of him on a stick, lovingly brought along by Nickie and her friend. Fun fact: we still proudly display that paper Burger around our house to this day!
Memorable Encounters and Sweet Surprises in D.C.
Beyond the amusing doppelganger saga, the D.C. event was brimming with delightful stories and incredible people. We had the distinct pleasure of meeting Miss District of Columbia herself! And yes, she even allowed me the honor of wearing her crown for a moment – definitely a unique item to cross off the bucket list, Petersik! The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and positive energy, making every interaction a joy.
Given our proximity to Georgetown Cupcakes – the famous shop featured on the TLC show DC Cupcakes – we were treated to an abundance of sugary delights. Emily, Melanie, and Danielle brought us a dozen delicious cupcakes, some even personalized with our initials! Emily, having the advantage of working at the cupcakery, certainly knew how to spoil us.
Emily wasn’t the only one with fascinating “behind the scenes” stories. We also met Jeannette, who once worked as a production assistant for the popular show *True Blood*. This exciting revelation prompted Sherry to break out her most dramatic “vampire face” for a photo. In her defense, she believed everyone else was joining in, but we, alas, left her hanging with fangs out and all!
Being in the D.C. area also meant reconnecting with familiar faces from my past. Jenny, a former high school classmate, brought a thoughtful Cat’s Meow wooden keepsake of our old school. I’m genuinely surprised such a memento exists, as our school wasn’t exactly known for its architectural beauty! Bravo to Jenny for finding such a unique and nostalgic gift.
Another memorable interaction involved Caroline and Katie, whom we hadn’t met before but had been eagerly anticipating Katie’s arrival. Her husband, Bob, had emailed us in advance, hoping we could surprise her with congratulations on her recent wedding. To help us identify her among the many “Katies” we meet, Bob devised a clever plan: he wrote his name on the bottom of a ceramic owl she intended to bring for signing. The surprise unfolded perfectly! Katie was genuinely shocked (and no longer puzzled by her husband’s owl graffiti), and Bob undoubtedly earned significant “husband points” that night. The humorous twist? We had actually bumped into Caroline and Katie earlier that evening while walking to the FLOR store. I nearly blurted out, “Is your husband named Bob?” but bit my tongue, thinking it too improbable to encounter the exact Katie we were searching for in such a random way. *Psst – Nice photobomb, Burger!*
Speaking of remarkable guys, we always make a point to highlight that men are indeed enthusiastic attendees at these events! Take Jimmy, for instance, who rode solo for the evening and even had us sign a toy wrench for his son. The adorable young fan pictured next to him isn’t Jimmy’s son, but another enthusiastic supporter proudly sporting his homemade “I Heart YHL” onesie. That look on his face perfectly captures the sentiment of, “Who put this shirt on me, and why is that man pointing a camera at my face?”
Beyond the incredible people, the D.C. events also provided ample opportunities for capturing truly “interesting” photos – and by interesting, I sometimes mean delightfully weird! This particular shot was taken by special request. The direction we received was, “Imagine there’s something scary lurking in the corner.” For me, it was so terrifying that I couldn’t even bring myself to look. I quite like how it appears as though I’m actively avoiding the amusing ridiculousness unfolding around me.
Sherry also made it a mission to snap a picture with anyone she affectionately dubbed her “twin” – typically someone sporting a blazer or a similar shirt. These ladies, however, hit the mark almost perfectly! (Although, technically, the photo with the lady on the right is from our second D.C. event via LivingSocial, which we’ll delve into next). Before we move on, for those interested in alternative perspectives, here are some links to other people’s posts about the FLOR night: Becky, Rhiannon, and Ms. Adams all shared their unique experiences.
Washington D.C.: Igniting Creativity at LivingSocial
The FLOR event stretched late into the night, concluding after 11 PM, which meant our drive back to Richmond didn’t get us home until around 1:15 AM. To say we were exhausted would be a considerable understatement. So, the initial thought of making the drive back to D.C. just two days later for another event felt a bit daunting. However, all traces of fatigue vanished the moment we arrived at the LivingSocial event space at 918 F Street. How could we not be excited? They had meticulously decorated their windows, featuring charming ornaments inspired by the very ones we crafted last year. It was an incredibly thoughtful and welcoming surprise!
LivingSocial, headquartered in D.C., has created an exceptional venue designed for a wide array of events, classes, and engaging group experiences. The building itself was truly impressive, and we couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy for the D.C. locals who have access to such diverse offerings – from art workshops and cooking classes to even live sumo wrestling (complete with sushi, no less!). Our purpose there was twofold: to sign books and, more uniquely, to lead two hands-on crafting classes based on projects from our book and blog.
We had put in considerable planning with the LivingSocial team beforehand, ensuring everything was meticulously prepared for our arrival. In addition to guiding participants through creating the paint swirl ornaments we popularized last year, we introduced a festive holiday twist to two existing book projects. Instead of gilding a lamp base with gold paint (Project #187 in the book), we taught attendees how to paint elegant hurricane vases for holiday centerpieces. And rather than painting wood for art (Project #140), we focused on transforming wooden candlesticks into charming additions for a holiday table setting. Each of the 90-minute sessions welcomed 50 enthusiastic and smiling faces – and we were delighted to see a handful of guys join the afternoon class! While I always enjoy a room full of creative ladies, it was particularly great to have some male representation in the second session.
Sherry and I approached this new endeavor with a fair bit of nervousness, primarily because (1) we had never taught a crafting class before, and (2) we hadn’t practiced our script at all! Our main goal was to be natural, have genuine fun, and avoid sounding overly robotic or rehearsed.
In hindsight, I believe everything flowed remarkably smoothly. Miraculously, the timing for each project worked out perfectly. Although participants had to work with some swiftness, we successfully guided everyone through all three crafts within the 90-minute timeframe. What’s more, the creations dried sufficiently before they needed to be taken home after the book signing portion of the session. Aside from a few glass vases needing an extra coat of gold paint, nearly everyone completed their projects with impressive speed and skill – true #craftninjas!
We could probably still refine our “talk-and-craft-at-the-same-time” coordination skills. Sherry, ever the multitasker, attempted to complete the projects alongside everyone else and did a commendable job. Below, you can see her festive, striped candlesticks (which received one final coat before being declared finished). Sherry thoughtfully sent them home as a sweet surprise for a guy whose girlfriend couldn’t make it to the event. Our own painted ornaments are currently adorning our mini tree at home.
Ultimately, the crafting sessions were designed as an opportunity to connect with people, foster creativity, share laughter, sign books, and simply enjoy experimenting with paint. It was an added bonus when the projects turned out beautifully! Here’s a photo shared by Amanda, showcasing her three impressive finished projects. We especially loved seeing those who went “rogue” and used their metallic paint from the glass project on their candlest too – doesn’t it look fantastic with the raw wood? For an insider’s view, check out these wonderful blog posts from a couple of our “students”: one featuring hilarious drawings and another highlighting amazing cookie decorating skills.
Following each crafting session, we dedicated 30 minutes to the traditional book signing. After both crafting and signing blocks, several hundred more people arrived solely for the book signing portion. It was undeniably a packed day – we departed Richmond at 7 AM and returned home at 9 PM – but every single person we met was incredibly kind, and the LivingSocial team was simply outstanding. We had an absolutely fantastic time. Plus, Sherry finally got to sign someone’s spray paint can! Two, actually (though sadly, the other picture didn’t turn out). What a momentous occasion for a DIY enthusiast!
She also had the unique opportunity to sign her first mirror… with lipstick! Apparently, Jenny knew just what to say to persuade Sherry to use that vibrant hot pink lipstick. It certainly made for a memorable signature!
While I didn’t get to kiss any mirrors, I did have the rather embarrassing (yet hilarious) experience of signing a copy of my middle school yearbook. This particular moment was orchestrated by Jackie, who attended elementary and middle school with me (our older sisters were best friends). Thank goodness my 8th-grade picture was taken before I got braces, which unfortunately inspired a rather grim, closed-mouth smile in my 9th-grade photo. Good thinking, past John!
For more funny photos, we struck this pose with Mia and her friends, who also shared fond memories of Funland, the amusement park at the Delaware beach many D.C.-area natives grew up visiting. The instruction for this pose was, “Pretend you’re on a Funland ride.” I clearly need to work on my ride-simulating expressions, though in my defense, the hand I had raised was simply cut off in the shot. I have no idea why my initial instinct was to only put one hand up; perhaps the other hand was being sensible and holding on tight in case of an emergency!
Speaking of raised hands, here’s another picture where we posed as “bionworks.” What exactly is a bionworks, you ask? It’s a fictional animal my 10-year-old self invented, according to a drawing Sherry and I unearthed a few years ago. It simply stated: “Bear + Lion + Fireworks = Bionworks” and depicted a lion-like creature with fireworks for a mane. So there you have it; now you’re in the know for the next time a bionworks casually approaches you at a cocktail party!
Richmond, VA: A Heartfelt Homecoming at Mongrel
After all the excitement and fun at the LivingSocial events on Saturday, we made the relatively short drive back home to Richmond for our final event of the year. And boy, were we grateful for the mere 15-minute commute! This special homecoming stop was hosted by one of our absolute favorite local stores in RVA, Mongrel. This charming shop is a treasure trove filled with incredible cards, captivating books, unique gifts, whimsical ceramic animals, and just about everything in between. In fact, the very wrapping paper we used for the first project in our book was sourced from Mongrel! They don’t typically host book signings, so we were incredibly flattered that they chose to “get their feet wet” with us. The Mongrel team was truly awesome, and sweetly over-prepared for the event – they even had a bouncer on standby, just in case any of our enthusiastic blog readers got a little too rowdy!
Fortunately, the bouncer’s services weren’t required! As always, everyone who attended was incredibly kind, enthusiastic, and genuinely fun. For example, Anna thoughtfully baked us festive red and blue cookies, reminiscent of the ones we enjoyed at every West Elm event. They were absolutely delicious – the plate, perhaps, not so much!
And how’s this for a truly thoughtful and practical gift? Rachel, a professional hairstylist based here in Richmond, presented Sherry with a box of high-quality hair-cutting supplies. Her goal? To significantly upgrade Sherry’s already impressive DIY haircuts for me! I’m particularly excited because, next time, I’ll get to wear a legit cape. Oh yeah, who’s fancy now?
This picture also never fails to crack me up. Jon and Randa both happen to share a birthday with me, so, in the spirit of the “Pregnant / Not Pregnant” photo Sherry took with a mom-to-be in Toronto, we decided to capture this moment. I briefly considered a “John / Not John” version, but given that Jon and I spell our names differently, it’s probably for the best that we stuck with this!
I also had the rather unique opportunity to sign someone’s shirt. While I initially felt a bit bad about it, Mary assured me it already had spray paint on it, rendering it “out of commission” anyway. I connected the existing spray paint dots into something resembling a Christmas tree, complete with a crescent moon hovering above it.
Sherry, however, one-upped me in the drawing game by bravely accepting the challenge to sketch on a sheet for Robyn. Robyn is undertaking a weekly photo project inspired by the one we previously created for Clara. Sherry’s masterpiece – which ultimately turned out to be a charming sketch of our book cover – would serve as the unique backdrop for her son Sawyer’s 41-week photo.
If you’re curious about how the photo turned out, here’s Sawyer in all his 41-week-old glory! I did manage to add the “Week 41” detail to the sheet, so I suppose Sherry didn’t get *all* the fun. You know me and fonts; #typegeek for life!
For additional perspectives on our Richmond stop, you can read our friend Brittany’s insightful recap or check out Megan’s hilarious post about her day at the event.
Reflections on 2012 and Exciting New Tour Announcements for 2013!
And so, that officially concludes our book tour stops for 2012! These past few weeks have been nothing short of an incredible adventure. While we’re eagerly looking forward to more action come January, we’re currently savoring a well-deserved month mostly at home, enjoying quality time with our little “bean” and the Burgs, and, most importantly, sleeping in our own bed. We recently calculated that we’ve already spent a staggering 41 hours just signing books – and that doesn’t even include the time dedicated to crafting sessions, presentations, event setup, or travel! Crazy, right? But honestly, every single minute has been absolutely worth it. The opportunity to meet so many of you and bask in your incredible enthusiasm has been truly priceless. We genuinely adore you all, a lot!
Oh, and speaking of that action in January, it’s so extensive that it actually spills over into February! So, without further ado, here’s the official, updated tour schedule for you:
Yes, you read that right! We’ll be heading to the beautiful Bay Area of California, hot on the heels of our Tacoma and Portland trips. And when we make our way to Charlotte, we’ll continue our journey down I-85 to include a stop in Atlanta as well. Woo hoo! However, it’s with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of our planned Grand Cayman stop due to some unavoidable scheduling conflicts. Boo! We were really looking forward to that one.
For complete details on specific locations, precise times, and crucial information on how to RSVP for each of these exciting dates, please visit our dedicated Book Tour Page. And a quick but important note: if you previously RSVP’d for the NYC event in November, your name is already included for this new January date, so there’s no need to RSVP again. Thank you, everyone! We genuinely hope to see many of you at our next nine stops, kicking off again in just a few short weeks! Until then, we wish a happy weekend to one and all! Suddenly, I feel a bit like Santa Claus. And to all a good night!