What better way to celebrate a love of decorative arts history and DIY than with a retro-inpired soiree? Amid the din of excited revelers and vintage recordings, we joined Amy Azzarito at West Elm to celebrate her new book, Past & Present: 24 Favorite Moments in Decorative Arts History and 24 Modern DIY Projects Inspired by Them.

With projects from the book sprinkled throughout the store, guests were encouraged to follow the map created by West Elm and visit them.

While Amy signed copies of her book beneath the gleaming Art Deco Mobile designed by CONFETTISYSTEM, Marketing Manager Ellie Levine and I started exploring. Doesn't the Gustavian Clock designed by Kate Pruitt make quite a statement?

Clockwise from top left: Art Deco Mobile by CONFETTISYSTEM, Wallflower Hangings by EmersonMade, Gustavian Clock by Kate Pruitt, and Grotto Jewelry Box by Erica Domesek

Some of the other projects were harder to spot. The Arts & Crafts Woodblock Lamp designed by Meg Mateo Ilasco looked so at home on the terrarium table that we walked by it a few times before we realized what it was!

Clockwise from top left: Arts & Crafts Woodblock Lamp by Meg Mateo Ilasco, Branch & Crystal Chandelier by The Wild Unknown, Tassel Blanket by Randi Brookman Harris, and Gothic Heraldry Pillowcase by Linea Carta

During our wandering, we also found some familiar faces, like Past & Present illustrator Julia Rothman, STC Craft Publishing Director Melanie Falick with Sun Young Park (illustrator of Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing, Alabama Stitch Book, and Knitting from the Center Out), and Grace Bonney from Design*Sponge.

And at one point or another, it seemed like everyone took a trip to the Smilebooth, ourselves included.

Congratulations to Amy on her lovely, albeit snowy, reception! See what some of these fantastic projects look like in your own homes by picking up a copy of Past & Present today.