WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Normally when I get an early morning phone call it's either a telemarketer or bad news so when the phone rang this morning at 7:30 am my first thought was oh lord what is the problem this morning. Imagine how surprised I was to find Grace McNamara, president and CEO of Grace McNamara Inc., on the line. I tried not to act like I had just woken up but I was a bit fuzzy. She was calling, she said, to congratulate me as I am going to be recognized as the 2009 "Industry Rising Star" at the WOW! awards at the International Window Coverings Expo in Atlanta on May 13.

I am so excited and honored to be receiving this award and it will make my trip to Atlanta all the more thrilling. I am so glad now that I had decided to bring my daughter along. Now she can really see her mom in action!

Thanks to Grace McNamara and everyone at Visions magazine for thinking of me and giving me such a nice pat on the back.. Believe me, when you work as I do now, alone in your own self imposed bubble, it can sometimes be hard to gauge if what you are trying to do is having any effect. It is so gratifying to have my hard work recognized so I can be sure I'm not just doing this for myself. I truly appreciate this honor and I can't wait to get my Gracie!

See you in Atlanta.......







In other blogging news, three fabulously funny, knowledgeable and entertaining bloggers have joined forces to bring you the "hot off the presses" news, and hopefully the down and dirty gossip and rumor that make up the pulse of the design world. Broadcasting via podcast you can now hear them as well as read their posts on their new joint venture blog The Skirted Roundtable.

For those of you were witness to the original skirted table scandal of 2008, you will understand the deep meaning of the blogs name. One can only hope that this new venue will generate that same kind of spirited debate!

Check out Joni Webb of Cote de Texas , Linda Merill of Surroundings and Meagan Arquette of Beach Bungalow 8 as they dish about subjects as diverse as; The Skirted Table - love it or hate it? and Snarkery?

I for one will be an avid listener.



In the Fabric World: New book deals seem to be popping up everywhere. I'm taking this as a fantastic sign of economic recovery. Two fabulously talented bloggers have been tapped by Wiley & Sons for what sounds like a very interesting new concept in book writing.


Mellisa Averinos of Yummy Goods, designer of a new fabric line Sugar Snap is writing a book that will be a companion to one being written at the same time by Sandi Henderson of Portabello Pixie.

They will apparently be writing on similar topics and the two books will be published at the same time. I can't wait to see the finished product.

Wiley & Sons is the publisher of another blogger, artist and fabric designer, Anna Maria Horners new book, Seams to Me which is a great book for beginners.

It is an amazing world we live in, filled with the most talented and creative people! I'm just glad to be a part of it. Good luck on all of your new adventures girls and remember to enjoy the journey!