I kicked off the month of May at the Marla Cielo trunk show. I got a sneak peek of some of the products when I photographed them last month, but to see the whole collection on display in person was pretty awesome. Andrea Tobin is the mastermind behind the brand, creating handbags out of canvas that she paints with acrylic. I don’t know the first thing about fashion or design, but I do know that she’s got something really unique here. And that I’d very much like to adorn my apartment with her paintings (and, ok, perhaps my shoulder with her bags).

The event itself was nothing short of downright impressive. I, along with the others employed for the evening, got to dress in a Marla Cielo t-shirt. Whisk & Ladle worked the bar, Studio Feast served up some Korean tacos, and all the handbags, coin purses, and other accessories were beautifully displayed around the apartment while everyone mingled and browsed the collection. And best of all, I got to spend this glorious spring day hanging out on a patio in Manhattan, taking pictures. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Here’s Andrea with one of her bags: