Our tote bags are perfect for everyday use, plus their 100% canvas is great for the environment! Customize your tote bag with your name and message. Choose from 42 stylish designs.
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Stumble It!
I rand across this great article about sleep and the clarity of colors, before you determine the hue of depth of color think about the amount of sleep you had the night before.
Read more from the WebMD Expert Blog
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Purple.
The 2010 Top Slipcover contest winners were announced this morning at the 10th Annual Slipcover Summit held in Nashville, TN. The winners were selected by their peers from the US and Canada. The custom slipcover industry is supported by the www.SlipcoverNetwork.com and instructors who volunteer their expertise at the Annual Slipcover Summit for professionals and amateurs to sharpen their skills in fabricating custom slipcovers.
1st Place - Contestant # N Emily Jane Creations Roebuck, SC
2nd Place Winner - Contestant A
Lisa Moore of Sew Classic in Glendale, AZ
3rd Place - Contestant # O Amy Johnston Ligonier, Pa
2010 Honorable Mention
Cheryl Valleroy, Benton, IL Charlotte's Custom Draperies, Waynesburg, Pa
Sheryl McAfee Indianapolis, IN
View all entries from the 2010 Slipcover Contest
We just finished a 2-Day workshop with Donna Skufis in Peoria, AZ. The workshop on Saturday was about making soft cornices and pelmets with chipboard, we use many of the techniques taught by Joanna Braxton combined with Donna's techniques using Sealah Tape in place of glue.
Sealah Tape: A double sided industrial strength machine washable adhesive tape.
Pelmet: A pelmet is a framework placed above a window, used to conceal curtain fixtures. These can be used decoratively (to hide the curtain rod) and also help insulate the window by preventing convection currents[1]. It is similar in appearance to a valance, which performs the same function but is made of fabric. A pelmet can be made of plywood or chipboard, and may be painted, or fabric covered.
Order your Pelmet Making DVD Today!Learn how to quickly and easily create a pelmet from start to finish using Joanna's chipboard method.
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
For Consumer Product Safety Information
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Read what the CPSC is saying about Roman Shade Safety and Roman Blinds Recall for Child Safety.
How will this affect small and home based workrooms across America. There has been a increase in sales with the Easy Release Break Away Roman Shade Rings and the Easy Release Bottom Device. The are said to protect any thing over 4 lbs, like a pet.
As the temperature rises in Arizona so does the excitement at Home Fashions U. National Educator Donna Skufis is arriving in Phoenix on June 10th and many of the Arizona Workrooms are attending the 2-Day Window Coverings Workshop in Peoria, AZ.
Friday evening June 11th Home Fashions U will be hosting a dinner and networking around the pool. The menu is growing and a big welcome to guest chief Jay Helser of Helser Brothers Drapery Hardware. Jay will be grilling his secret recipe Helser Hambugers. To join us around the pool you can sign up at the Arizona Window Coverings and Professional Workroom Meetup.
There are only a couple spots left for Donna's classes. You can sign up for the either workshop at Home Fashions U.
I have heard about the Helser Hounds, you will all get to meet the Home Fashions U hounds Gretta and Wilma. They are great pups and love hamburgers.
Vision10 International Window Coverings EXPO Surprises
Industry
For Immediate Release
Contact: susan@gracemcnamarainc.com
ST. PAUL, MN, May 21, 2010—Vision10: International Window Coverings EXPO, held May 12-15 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, was considered a success by both participating exhibitors and attendees. Although exhibitor and attendee numbers were down, reflective of what is happening in most sectors of the home furnishings industry today, the overall feedback was positive and most participants were optimistic about the future.
“We united as an industry during this challenging time and those participating reported positive results and appreciation of the event,” said Grace McNamara, president of Grace McNamara Inc., producer of the show and publisher of Window Fashion Vision magazine. “We heard from our industry suppliers, many of whose businesses were drastically affected by the poor housing market and the economy in general. Despite the fact that business has not improved significantly in the past year, most participants felt that, as an industry, we have made the turn. Certainly those attending had a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and positive energy. You could feel the ‘buzz.’”
Opening day saw lines at the registration counter demonstrating that people waited to the last minute to register, but they came regardless. Trade show traffic remained robust all day Thursday and most of the day on Friday, with Saturday typically being the slower of the three days. Somfy’s onsite party Friday late afternoon was a refreshing burst of celebration. Exhibitors reported that Vision10 attendees were serious buyers looking for new suppliers – the exact audience exhibitors hope to attract.
The announcement of the show moving to Tampa, April 14-16, 2011, brought enthusiastic response from attendees and exhibitors alike, many selecting their booth spaces before they left the show.
Sunil Patel of Orion Ornamental Art said: “We appreciate the efforts you and your team have made in the course of organizing this show, which also means assisting in keeping the industry vibrant and well positioned for future growth. The show did bring ‘quality interaction’ from visitors to our booth, and undoubtedly we would have missed out on many opportunities that were presented to us through our presence at the show.”
Added Orion’s Kay Blair: “We thought the show was super – lots of good traffic all three days. We introduced two new products, and we won WCMA awards for both! I think it was one of the best shows we’ve had. Grace is certainly to be commended for all her hard work in keeping this show going.”
From an exhibitor’s point of view, there is no better way to talk to such a high volume of qualified buyers face-to-face. Just ask Ben Kutell, Vertilux’s vice president of sales and marketing: “This show was a great success, perhaps among the best in recent years. Our new products were well received, and we had the opportunity to meet with many fabricators from across the country. At first, we were concerned about the reports of a possible low turnout. But in fact everyone in our booth was busy for the entire time. Possibly it was because of the positive energy or simply the total innovation of our product lines, but the show was great, and Vertilux looks forward to next year in Tampa.”
“Helser Brothers is thrilled to report that our booth was filled with source-hungry drapery hardware enthusiasts from beginning to end,” said Jay Helser, President, Helser Brothers. “I am not complaining, but a lunch break would have been nice.”
Interior Design Society National President and Window Coverings Association of America National Vice President Margi Kyle was excited to have attended. “What a show! The buzz is out,” Kyle said. “This was the best show in years. Great energy, many people, new people, and lots of interest all around. Attendees stayed for at least two to three days, because there was something going on all the time to hold their attention.”
The Roellchen family, which operates One Stop Decorating Center, Overland Park, Kansas, attended the show for the first time in 15 years and was amazed at the new products that they found on the show floor. “For example, we were able to find a new vendor that prints logos on screen shades,” noted president Steve Roellchen. “We have had many requests and until now we were unable to get the business. We also found a wonderful line of ready-made products for the home, such as place mats, napkins, table rounds, bedding, simple valances and drapery panels. We have had a difficult time getting the younger customer and we believe these products fill a very necessary void. It was great to interact with other dealers and manufacturers and talk about business. It was an incredible two days!” The industry show was definitely worth their while and they plan on attending again, possibly with some of their sales personnel.
“The seminars were absolutely fabulous!” enthused Carol Collins, owner of Denton, Texas-based Carol’s Custom Draperies and Interiors. “I wish there had been time to take each seminar. I have read the descriptions and handouts from each one and they were all chocked full of wisdom from their presenters. I will study the handouts and keep them for reference. My hat is off to Grace McNamara and her team. What a wonderful job, as usual.”
Similar sentiment came from Masterworks Creative Director & Design Principal Linda Basser: “Vision10 was terrific for me, despite it being a smaller show. I took seminars from Wednesday through Saturday, still had to scramble around on the show floor when I was not in classes, and loved networking with others in our field. Of course I loved being recognized in the Envision Design competition, but I also learned some new ideas from some of the other award winners. Coming back from the IWCE always pays off for me in sales as well, as my excitement and new ideas and resources is contagious!”
DraperyPro also exhibited, as it has done the past 13 years. Founder Dian Garbarilni notes that “the enthusiasm was there and so were many familiar faces. Hats off to all the vendors who participated and all the attendees who came to learn and seek out the products that will keep them ‘in the know.’ It's never been easier to create a buzz with new media at our fingertips. Thanks to Grace McNamara and her Vision10 team to offer this important window coverings trade show. We'll be in Tampa – let's plan to make it a great show!”
About Grace McNamara Inc.
For the last 21 years, Grace McNamara Inc. has published the premier
window-fashions industry magazine, Window Fashion Vision, and for the
last 10 years has produced the world’s largest window-fashions industry
trade show, Vision10: International Window Coverings EXPO (IWCE). For
more information, visit wf-vision.com
Donna Skufis is currently operating a one person fabrication studio in Walton, Kentucky, just south of Cincinnati, Ohio, Donna started her business in 1983. Serving retail clients on a part time basis, she offered design, fabrication and installation services convinced she could provide better service if she handled it all. After 5-6 years, it became apparent she was well suited for the fabricating and installation end of the business but not so much the designing. It was clear what she enjoyed was fabricating the treatments.
We are so excited that Donna will be sharring her talented ideas with Workroom Professionals in Arizona. To sign up for her classes today! Limited to 15 students.
___________________________________________________________________
Challenging Windows Bays, Bows & Corner's
How to make these challenging and difficult treatments. From the planning, analyzing and calculating the most efficient methods of construction, all the way to completion.___________________________________________________________________
Semi and Soft Cornices Using New Methods with Chip Board
Learn what products make the best soft or semi soft cornices. Hands on step by step methods are shared for the best soft cornices. How to achieve that hard cornice looking using flat aluminum bar or other products.
June 12,2010 9am-5pm Cost:$105Contact Claudia at 623-878-7350 with any questions and for the best place to stay in sunny Arizona.
Grand Prize Gift Basket from Goober Pet Direct! Silk Photo Pillow with your pets photos.
2nd Place Custom Collar from The Decorating Diva Pam Damour and a Pet Photo Pillow
3rd Place a Photo Pillow with your pets photo and a $30 value Online Photo Pillow Class
Welcome to the Lifestyles of pampered pets! You can vote on the pet by leaving a comment on this post or by sending a email to Claudia at homefashionsu@gmail.com. Vote by the entry number. Voting starts April 8th and ends at midnight April 15th. One vote per person or email address.
# 1- Move Over! You're hogging the bed by Alina
#2 Rufus before and after with the new slipcover by Tina
# 3. Eric loves to stretch out after a hard day of racing around the house by Lynn
# 4. Rusty love to lounge around on his masters bed by Suzanne
#5 Tillman the Pup! yep I've got the ball by Julie
# 6 Keno the Golden Doodle, loves the kids bed by Kearsten
# 7. Coco is a couch girl! Love the soft down pillows by Ian
As you can see these pets are hard to get in one photo, but check out their lifestyle.
Entry # 8 by Kathy
It's time to show your favorite pet to the world! Who rules the house? Fido or the pampered Feline, well we would love to hear about their lifestyle.
Contest Dates March 8, 2010 - April 8,2010
One application per pet. You must own the pet and have the right to summit the photos of your pet.
Does your pet have their own space?
Does your pet have a special bed?
Does your pet have a wardrobe?
Does your pet have special tricks he or she does?
Does your pet have a favorite toy?
Contest Sponsor Goober Pet Direct
Enter the Contest and Win! Click Here for Contest Application
Grand Prize receives:
Goober Pet Direct Gift Basket Featured in the Spring Issue of Home Fashions U Newsletter Beautiful silk Pillow with your pets photo on it.
Second Place:
Custom Collar from Pam Damour the Decorating Diva Beautiful silk Pillow with your pets photo on it.
Third Place:
$30.00 Gift Certificate to be used for a Photo Pillow Class Beautiful silk Pillow with your pets photo on it.
18x18 inch square pillows in Silver, Pearls, and Black Embroidery. 100% Silk.
Reversible with same color silk on back, hidden zipper and decorative welting.
Down Feather or Poly Fill inside.
ECO IMPACTOur products are made using hand loom silks. Hand loom weaving is tremendously better for the environment as the weaving is done by human hands and does not involve any machinery. As a result, hand loom fabrics produce ZERO energy impact and release 1 TON LESS CO2 in a year than the same job produced on a power loom. Power loom fabrics contribute large amounts of carbon emissions into our environment and one job on a power loom sucks up as much energy as 20 vacuum cleaners running all day.
Also, by using hand loom we support the rural hand loom weaving villages which are struggling to survive due to the increasing usage of power looms. Hand loom weaving uses nine times more labor than required by a power loom, thus providing many more people with a livelihood and means of survival.
