Make Room for Baby

The 'HIGH POINT' of my trip!

Are they kidding?  They weren't!  Not only no photographs, we were  accompanied throughout the showrooms to guarantee we didn't break the rules.  Fortunately, the smaller showrooms were happy to be photographed, so I wasn't breaking the law and I am not writing this from a jail cell!

I am drawn to color and EDGE HOME  had a wonderful display of fun items.  Does this not look like there should have been a patchwork cribset right in the middle?  If you are a quilter, I know you have fabric that has been waiting for just the right project.  How about a patchwork bumper?

Up, UP and A GREAT WAY to furnish a child's room.

PETTICOAT - I find it refreshing that it is no longer 'a woman's light, loose undergarment hanging from the shoulders or the waist, worn under a skirt or dress'... much better from the ceiling!

Keep your ducks in a row!

My favorite showroom at the show was Design Legacy  by Kelly O'Neal. Their vintage 

fabric prints were the most unique at the show, and displayed in very creative vignettes. I was perfectly content with my vintage bamboo furniture at home, until I saw the prints that would make it really fabulous. 

All of their prints were 'larger than life'!

MIx it up, sums it up!

More Good News!

“Baby’s first comb & brush set”  is now available in kit form.  You just add the fabric, and stick it on.  The little tie tray can be sewn around the outside edges, or you can trim the fabric down, and just iron on the fusible side, and add the ribbons.  I call it “CBQT” which stands for Comb, Brush, Q-tip bottle, and Tie-Tray.  It makes an adorable gift and adds that special touch to the changing table.

The show in Springfield, MA was great.  I found out it is the home of Dr. Seuss!  Check out the pictures of the baby room for Horton the Who! 

Several designers were invited to design a vignette tied in with a Dr. Seuss book.  Sandra with  Country Chic Windows  did a wonderful one with a valance and shade, But check out her website for more on her beautiful work.  

I also have good news for designers and workrooms.  I now offer wholesale pricing. Please contact me.

A Great Summer, But Back to Work

I’m back from Jackson Hole, WY., after working on the new Rustic Inn, formerly the Wagon Wheel Cabins, (10 days turned into 2 months), then Los Angeles for my son’s graduation from Loyola Law School , the Bahamas, for a short snorkeling trip, and it is now time to FOCUS on Business!  

A quick note on the Country Living Experience... IT WAS FABULOUS!!  Met  “THE” HEATHER BAILEY , heard lots of successful women talk about starting their companies, even ETSY, and got to Pitch My Product.   Needless to say, we were all nervous, but it was well worth it.  Quite inspiring to meet so many women with so many different talents and products, and a passion for what they enjoy.

ALONG FOR THE RIDE
I realize that blogging was meant to be “frequently” and newsy... I will try this once more.  I am always running in five different directions.  Something we will talk about later, as I remember what I need to be doing right now!

The word “scattered” comes to mind, as in scatter-brain?!  So, come along for the ride, by all means comment, and please provoke me to keep it up.  I have gathered so much to share over all these years, I just need a push to get going.....push me!

SHOW TIME IN NO TIME!
Next show in Springfield, MA.  I hope the leaves are changing, I love the breeze of the palms around me in Florida, but nothing refreshes me like the smell of autumn.

Showtime!

Make Room for Baby arrived in Knoxville and was the darling of the show. Who doesn't like a pretty baby....or pretty crib set!

The Drapery & Window Covering Show is where workrooms and designers come to see what's new, re-connect with some of their suppliers, and get in on some great classes and forums. They even had a race to make slipcovers! It was fun for all.

Designers and workrooms rarely venture into cribsets because of the "headache"in constructing the bumper. There was the immediate, no thank you, "been there, done that", and I don't wish to do it again! "One minute of your time, pleease!"

...as I held up a finished bumper, unzipped the cover, pulled out the pillow insert from each "pocket", the light bulb went on, the "AHA Moment" happened. Then, the "why didn't I think of that" look .

We started talking design ideas, unlimited designer fabrics and embellishments that could now be done, even embroidery, fabric paint, or patchwork, just for starters, special bows, and finally having the ties in the right places to line up with the new crib designs, for that custom fit.

OUR COMMON THREAD
Whether a professional designer, workroom, or the arts and crafter... talking about creating something unique and special for someone special, got us all jazzed to add a new twist to the same old, same old.

While flying home, my head was flying, with ideas and a long list of "to do's. But, the Country Living Magazine was just around the corner!

WHAT'S TO COME...
I will catch up as quickly as I can. Fill you in on the incredible experience and speakers at the the “Country Living Magazine” event in Chicago, and the Window Fashion Show in Atlanta.

I can't wait to catch up with the past, and start posting fresh ideas and pictures of where I find them. And, looking forward to hearing from you sharing your finds and ideas with the rest of us.

Now you have an idea where and why I disappeared after just getting started! :)

Time to Deliver

Make a "to do" list, remember where I put my "to do" list, and how many "to do lists did I do?

Nothing like having a deadline to really get things pulled together...from business cards, to signs made, buying a crib, I had to make this a one stop shop in a box...actually 10 boxes!

And, don't forget my suitcase....Knoxville, Weather channel says... 50 degree days, no problem!

Being from Florida this will feel wonderful. The taxi driver assured me, it was cold for the evenings, but it may be an early spring.

Next morning, I look out the hotel window, expecting "brown", (Florida is green, all year, no spring colors, no fall colors, just lots of green) and what did I see?

WHITE as in Winter in Wyoming white! Good thing I took the hotel across the street! MAKE IT. . .PACK IT. . . SHIP IT. . . . “HELLOOO" FEDEX Where are my boxes?

Very hard to showcase crib bumpers WITHOUT THE CRIB!”

Do not fret, nor worry......God's got his own way of doing things, and his reasons are always better than mine! As the boxes came in, I had no choice but to work with what arrived, when it arrived, and everything was in the perfect order of setting up a booth. First things first, which is not the crib....that is the last thing, it is the best part, the fun part, but not the thing to start with.