So, when my book launch for Yes: Transform Your Life with Color By Number was planned, the date November 8 was picked and no one seems to know why…? I embraced the idea, thinking the day would be historic and a double-celebration. But it didn’t EXACLTY play out that way….

I was happy to have a cushion day in between the election and the party, which was Thursday the 10th, but honestly, if it hadn’t been my party, I might not have gotten out of the house. But I have good friends who always come out to support me, even though they might not have been in a festive mood on Thursday, lots of planning had already gone into the night, so we had a party! (On the way there my Uber was stuck in traffic for nearly an hour trying to cross Fifth Avenue near Trump Tower protests… annoying and inconvenient but I was happy they were happening.)

My friend Sandra Hansel is an exec at Design Within Reach and she offered their New York flagship store to host the event and what a great place for a party. Chic, open and lots of places to sit. VDKA 6100 was kind enough to enlist their brand and expertise to help me create “Cocktail By Number” which I will say was what we all needed. Delicious cocktails! The book features four of my prints produced by artist’s platform, Twyla, and curator Heidi Lee Komaromi brought along my new Exactly print to show off.

Lots of pals, from curator Natalie Kates who brought along the Whitney's I.D. Aruede, to photographers Ruben Natal-San Miguel, Johnny Rozsa and Idris Rhuebottom + Tony Craig, to Vogue‘s David Byars (whose own new book, Our Time at Foxhollow Farm is in it’s second printing already) Regan Arts publisher, Judith Regan and her crack team were in full-force selling books and making things run smoothly.

My dog, Lamonte (which I share with my ex, art director Roswell Hamrick) is in the book and stars in the Paw By Number video (below), so he made a guest appearance and I have to say, he was kind of the hit of the party. Look at that face!

Besides signing books and drinking, there were two coloring tables with flower and Statue of Liberty blanks to color along with a chalkboard and giant blow-up to get creative with. I was happy to hear that the art therapy aspect of my book actually works. Idris told me the next day he went home that night and colored for hours.

Big thanks to everyone who made it a fun night, especially Alex Smith who captured the fun in these great pics. And that’s not the end of it. DWR is hosting another book signing during Art Basel Miami Beach next month and then two more in L.A. and Austin.

And stay tuned Wowlebrties and World of Wonder fans, there’s more exciting news coming with regard to my book too…. that’s all I’m saying.

(Photos, Alexander Kushak Smith)

I was asked to participate by curator Natalie Kates in a worthy art auction to benefit The Lower Eastside Girls Club of New York. The event was Wednesday night at the Highline Loft in Chelsea and all of the proceeds from the auction went to support Alphabet City Art School which offers free visual and digital arts programs to girls and young women in NYC’s Lower East Side.

I have to admit I didn’t know a lot of the artists (I know Linda Simpson but she wasn't there) but the ones I did know that were, like Scooter LaForge, were fun to hang out with. He was with Patricia Field, who told me April 12 is THE LAST day of her store. Pat just celebrated with an exhibit of a lot artists and designers at Howl Arts last Thursday night and the day after Rock Paper Scissors, a slew of the gang from Wednesday night including Girl's Club founder, Jenny Dembrow, and Pat all got to ring the bell at the NASDAQ, along my old pal Jody Morlock, who loaned her fab one-of-a-kind coats to DJ Donna D’Cruz.

Rowley's gold baby grand & Marticorena bench, left, mine on the right (Photo, Michael Mundy)

One of the hosts of the event Cynthia Rowley and I have something in common that I had to share with her. It seems she has a gold baby grand piano and so do I, and not only that, I have a hay bale bench, designed by my friend Gaston Marticorena AND SO DOES SHE. Not only THAT, we both use ours as piano benches too. We decided that we the only members of this VERY small club.

My date Susan Kilkenny also had a bit of coincidence. She’s at the home magazine and website, Domino, and the next day she was set to do a studio visit of artist, Nic Rad. She went to show me his work, and there was the man in person.

My own piece was a chalkboard screened with a color by number line drawing that is mean to be drawn on and erased by the purchaser, so I had to encourage bidding as you’ll see below. It was a fun night that raised lots of much–need dough.

In 2013 the LESGC moved into a permanent Center for Community on Avenue D – a 30,000 sqare foot program space! They are dedicated to the advancement of girls with mentoring, wellness, arts, academic support and career training programs. To find out more, go here.

Patricia Field & Scooter in one his own hand-painted jackets (with fringe eyelashes!)

DJ Donna D'Cruz in a Jody Morlock painted coat

Artist Nic Rad & Susan Kilkenny, in front of his work

**Elizabeth Winnel (my date Susan was the high bidder!)**

MY NYC BOOK LAUNCH AT DWR FEATURED "ART THERAPY" + "COCKTAIL BY NUMBER"

"ROCK PAPER SCISSORS" BENEFIT AUCTION FOR THE LES GIRL'S CLUB BROUGHT OUT A FLASHY ART CROWD