I love to visit Velocity Art and Design and longingly peruse their inventory of fabulous furniture and accessories for the home. I'm a sucker for interior design stores and they're one of my favorites.

While Velocity carries many international brands, they also support local artists and artisans (which makes me love them even more) and have taken that support one step further with The Lab, a monthly forum for the creative literati of Seattle to connect with each other and the community.

From their Web site: Velocity presents The Lab: a series of events at our South Lake Union showroom which will feature guests integral to shaping our landscape here in the Northwest and beyond, while helping to foster opportunities for creative thinking, networking, and inspiration.

In the past they've featured artist Matte Stevens, local bloggers, and experts on running your own small business. This month's event is happening on Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 6-8 p.m. and is called Bring + Brag. It's an evening of speakers from the worlds of design, art and business talking about their creative endeavors.

Being in Velocity is inspiring on its own, but if you're looking to connect with other design-minded folks in Seattle, stop by for The Lab.

Hit me with your best shop: alisonbrownrigg@gmail.com.

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