Friday, February 29, 2008

Display Evolution


When I am presenting a seminar, I build some pretty huge displays onstage.
No PowerPoint slide presentations for this girl – nope, I prefer to create real-life displays that can be studied and touched by attendees. (I am also terrified that my computer will go kaput mid-presentation....)Sometimes, I structure my seminars so that I can actually be building the displays 'live' during my presentation – but I tend to get out of breath when I do that! Besides, it requires me to do the unthinkable and actually turn my back on a crowd. Not liking that so much! As I did in Denver, often I'll build displays ahead of time and refer to them as I speak.

However, lest anyone get the idea that designing & creating displays is a completely foolproof, flawless process for me (or anyone else, for that matter), let me show you the design evolution of what I created onstage in Denver.

First, I had to form a concept in my mind. This is the Rocky Mountain region, and this was a gift & resort show. Lots of souvenir & resort products, and Western-style clothing, jewelry, accessories, & décor. So obviously the buyers who would be in my seminar didn't need to see a display that was Shabby Chic style. Make sense? So, I decided to create one display that was a bit more 'primitive country' in style, and one that was 'contemporary' in style. Sort of an 'Old West' meets 'New West' thing. Hopefully, these two styles would resonate with the majority of the buyers in my seminars. I made all of these decisions before I even left Seattle.

Next, I had to think about what kind of merchandise I was going to borrow from exhibitors to build these displays. Along the lines of the styles above, I decided to put colored painted furniture and possibly something from bark or barnwood in the rustic display, and black & polished wood furniture in the contemporary one. I never know what I'll be using until I walk the floor, shop the booths & showrooms, and start visually linking things together. But having a guideline helps me save time while I run breathlessly through a show!

On Friday night, we arrived in Denver, checked into the hotel, and headed straight to the DenverMart. Within one hour of walking two floors of showrooms, I had over a dozen of them agreeing to lend me something for my seminar. The next morning, the most excellent Mr. Deb (my hubby) helped me to gather up those products. Then we hit the temporary booths in two halls, and gathered another dozen products. Once we had them all, and the seminar room was available, we loaded everything inside. Then, I started arranging it onstage. Here is a shot of the first way I set it up:

Here's a great tip for displays: set it up, then photograph it. Look at the photo, instead of at the display itself. Somehow, you see it differently. Kind of like looking in a mirror, it changes your perception. You can critique your work and make adjustments.

Once I saw it through the camera's lens, I decided it was out of balance. It isn't always right the first time out, and that's okay. I asked Mr. Deb what he thought, he made a suggestion, and I moved some things. Yup, much better! Take a look:

Simply by rearranging a few pieces, shifting a bit, balance was restored. The eye goes right where I want it to – right smack into the center of each setup - not wandering off to the sides.

One problem with the 'before' was that the black furniture, the black screen and black coat rack in the right side setup were disappearing into the black background. In order to correct this, I needed something light to add contrast. Well, behind the black curtains, we discovered some round tables with wood tops. We set one up on its side so the wood was visible. By placing this behind the black screen, it makes the outline of the screen pop. It also coordinated with the wood table and brown tones in the display.

You'll notice that the displays angle inward. They lead the eye from high to low, and either left-to-right or right-to-left, depending on which one you are looking at. I built them so that they focused attention to center stage - where I was standing. This is a great way to build two window displays on either side of your store door - make the viewer's eye travel through the display, and land right smack on your entrance door.

Another adjustment was to add a bit of nature to the displays. I 'borrowed' silk greenery from the hallway planters (YES, I put it back!), but it could have easily been bare branches or wheat stalks or a tumbleweed.

Every product in those displays was available for purchase at the show.
(Ok, well, I lie. Obviously not the round table. And not the scarf, hat, jewelry, and gloves, which were mine. And the wine glasses and white china were - ahem – borrowed from catering. I think they kept wondering where all the coffee cups were disappearing to...) Using products from exhibitors gave me the opportunity to not only share great ideas, information, & inspiration about display, but to show these buyers some great products and send their business to the exhibitors. A win-win-win for everyone.

And after the seminars, when Mr. Deb and I returned all of the products to exhibitors, we heard rave reviews from everyone – how many people had rushed to their booths & showrooms, saying 'I saw this thing in a seminar and I want to order five of them!' (That stone cross from EagleNest was apparently 'the' hot item. The showroom owner said I created a firestorm!)

Like I always say, show 'em how to make it look stellar, and they'll beat a path to your door!

Next post, I'll focus on one side of the display and point out a few more things….

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Traveling the Silk Road...



Is this not a gorgeous logo??? And if you think that's fab, you need to visit their store!

Silk Road Home Decor & Gifts is located in the Old South Gaylord Street Historical District of Denver, Colorado. The owners of this beautiful shop attended my seminar at the Denver Gift Show on Sunday. After I spoke, they came up and introduced themselves, then invited Mr. Deb and I to their store and to lunch. Well, how can you refuse a heartfelt and generous invitation from such charming people?! We couldn't, and so on Monday, we visited their store.

Silk Road is a colorful, rich bounty of inspiration. They have been recognized as a 'culture-spanning store' by Sunset magazine, which is right on the money! Focusing on International Style, which is all the rage in home decor right now (only this is SOOOOO much more elegant than Target's World Bazaar concept), owners Karla and Baki Akpinar search out local artists, foreign artisans, and unique products to bring global design to their store and your homes. Karla is also a seamstress, providing her detailled services to interior designers in the Denver area. And she's also a mom...which means this is one very busy woman!

Karla and Baki asked me to consult with them on some ideas for their store. I let them know just how much they are doing right - and really, they are. I suggested a few changes, ways of merchandising their glorious products differently, and some layout ideas. They had a few specific problem areas, and just needed to see them from a different perspective. Their responses were immediately 'OH WOW why didn't WE think of that?!' (which I am used to hearing!) and very enthusiastic about making changes. They treated us to a delish lunch at a nearby pub, and even chauffeured us to the airport. Talk about royal treatment! The thing is, this is just them...they treat everyone with generosity and kindness, helpfulness and gratitude. Such kind hearts, charming personalities, and smiling faces... truly, their personalities are as spicy and warm as the colors on the walls!

This store will be wildly successful, I know it - because these owners are dedicated to creating an inspiring decorating resource for their community, unlike any other. When you are in the Denver metro area, scoot over to the South Gaylord Historical District, and visit Karla & Baki at Silk Road. It's like taking a trip around the world and bringing home beautiful treaures from the four corners of the Earth...all in one afternoon!

Karla & Baki Akpinar, proprietors

Silk Road Home Decor & Gifts
1065 S. Gaylord Street
Denver, Colorado 80209
303.734.9582

http://www.silkroadhomedecor.com/

Edited to add:
Yesterday, this lovely package came in the mail...

When I opened it, I found a lovely card and a stunning brass & copper purse, sent to me from Karla as a thank you. WOW!

I saw these items in the store and wondered about their 'story'. Now I really I need to email Karla to ask her about it - I am certain these are handmade by artisans in a small village somewhere. What a generous gift! Karla, thank you so much! Honestly, I think I am going to hang this on the wall as an art piece....

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The Whirlwind Winds Down...


Three days of constant talking, running, hauling, thinking of on-the-spot answers to questions, and drinking considerably less caffeine than I am used to, has worn this Diva out!!! (Note to someone, anyone: Build a Starbucks on the corner by the Comfort Inn & DenverMart, PLEASE!) My voice is pretty much gone at this point...I think I may have said no more than three words to my dear husband on the whole flight home. I gave every last bit of myself in my seminars and consultations, and that's all she wrote, honey!

The Denver Gift Show was a blast, let me tell you....
Many thanks to Evonne Eiseman and Carol Hash of the market staff, who took excellent care of me and Mr. Deb. They are such fun... Evonne is a brunette double for actress Diane Keaton - only not neurotic, just bubbly! Saucy Carol has some really cute clothes that I covet! These ladies both work tirelessly to make sure the shows are a big success, and they pull it off every time. I know he won't read this, but thank you, Wizard of Oz Craig for making sure the sound system was on its game. Except for one little ear-piercing snafu, which I think was entirely MY fault, 'the man behind the curtain' rocked!

I did get to meet Ray Gaulke of the Gift & Home Channel, and we had a great discussion about networking online and how it is changing business. Ray has asked me to participate in providing content for GHC, and I am excited about what we are going to do. Stay tuned...

I met so many wonderful people in Denver...attendees at my presentations, exhibitors who provided awesome products for my stage setup, show & market staff, and a few assorted characters (ahem...Woody, the jokester). I'll have several posts in the coming days to recap that and the content of my seminars. Which is hard, because I always include so much information in my presentations & handouts that it's quite a chore to condense them. But I'll try!

A shot of the stage setup and yours truly, yappin' away. (Thanks Mr. Deb, for the photos & video!) Take a gander at those yummy golden yellow walls...they painted the forum rooms and wow did it make a difference! Have you ever watched the Oprah show, and thought that the whole audience looks like makeup artists have gone out there and spiffed 'em all up? There, it's pink lighting. Here, it's golden yellow walls. Everyone in the room looked MAHvelous, dahlink! And there were LOTS of people in the room...

According to Evonne, I totally shattered the market record for attendance at a seminar. Twice. 147 people in the first seminar on Display (and it was at 8:30 AM, too!) and 89 in the afternoon session on Store Design. Evonne had to run out and make more copies of my handout while I was speaking, so that everyone could get one! I am always thrilled when I am interacting with a crowd of people who really are interested in these subjects. I mean, obviously they are MY passion, but to see retailers who realize the value of visual presentation in their stores makes my heart skip a beat. Thank you to every single person who attended my seminars in Denver - you made MY day!

PS: I just received an email from the Gift & Home Channel...we are on our way!
And I learned that I've already been mentioned in one of their blogs. Oops, I've asked that they make sure and correct my name on there! ;0)

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Channeling Success


I love the taglines in the ads for the Denver Gift Show: 'The Big Lines. The Hard to Finds. The One of a Kinds.' That pretty much describes me.... ;0) Today I was searching the DenverMart website for something, and re-discovered a resource that I really want to share with you all.

I also discovered something I didn't know! It seems that between my Sunday morning seminar on display design and my Sunday afternoon seminar on store design, someone else is takin' over my stage!

That's ok - it's Ray Gaulke, President of the Gift & Home Channel, who will be speaking about the many resources his new online television station offers to retailers and businesses around the globe. Videos, photos, experts, an online forum, polls, facts, all manner of great stuff to help you improve your business. I highly recommend them, and I had totally forgotten to mention it here. (Sorry, Ray!) Adding you to my links next!

I'm actually excited to meet Ray. I love chatting with leaders of large companies who are working to help small businesses succeed. First the President of GLM trade shows, now Ray. We all share a passion for being a resource to other people & businesses, and strive to work together for success - very inspiring.

Check it out here: www.giftandhomechannel.com


Edited to add: I received a very nice email from Ray, thanking me for this 'plug' of GHC. He was stuck at LaGuardia, facing hours of flight delays due to weather. I sure hope he can get to Denver!

Edited to Add: Yes, Ray was finally able to get a flight out of New York. I met him Sunday morning just before my first seminar - what a gregarious gentleman!!! We had time later to talk about GHC, and he's invited me to join them by contributing to their blog and via video podcasts. Hopefully very soon, I'll have news on that front for you. I am honored to be asked to participate! What a great way to connect with others and to share information.... if you haven't checked out Gift & Home Channel yet, hie thee over there!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Cherry Blossom Special


Today we 'spiffed up' our retreat space at Faded Elegance....check it out here!

One of the major draws for this antique boutique is that we vendors are required to come in at least once a week to clean, 'fluff', and restock our spaces. Nothing gets dusty or stale, it's always fresh and beautiful. Visual merchandising is an important part of any business, to be sure, but in the world of musty dusty antique shops on every corner (well, they are in my little town! wink), you have to stand out. Every person involved here goes above and beyond to make sure it is successful for everyone...which is refreshing!

So many great ideas and beautiful things for your home, wardrobe, and gifts to be found at Faded Elegance... and nice, sweet, really friendly gals. Everytime I meet someone new here, I am absolutely charmed by them! I met some ladies today who were just darling...thank you girls, for your kind comments. You touched my heart! I am really counting my blessings to be a part of this wonderful place.

Give Yourselves a Hand!


I'd like to thank each and every one of you for visiting my little blog here...it is such fun to read your comments, and hear that I have touched on a subject that gets you excited or solves a dilemma for you. I recently installed the 'Feedjit' widget over there in my sidebar, and now I can see at a glance where my visitors are coming from & going to. I've seen varied states and provinces and countries show up over there each day, and am so pleased at the diversity represented. I've always enjoyed meeting people at my seminars, and the Bloggiverse has really allowed that to happen every single day!

So, to all new visitors, I'd like to extend a hand of welcome and say 'Introduce Yourself!' by leaving a comment. Share where you are from, how you found my blog, and what other blogs you love to visit. I'm always scouting for resources to add to my bloglinks, so let me know if there is one you find particularly helpful. And please, to everyone, new visitors and long-time friends alike, let me know what subjects you'd like to hear more about.... I'll get right on that!

I'm always happy to address your specific questions via email (Debi@theDecoDiva.com), as well... just drop me a line!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Bring On the Bling....


It's all about the bling, I tell ya.
At the gift show and in hip boutiques, chandeliers glimmer and sparkle and look like the moviestar equivalent of a light fixture. And the prices! ACK!

Well, I've got an insider tip for you: Even if you don't sell lighting or antiques or home decor, you can cash in on this trend. Yes, ma'am, you can! And for not a lot of bling, believe me... let me show you how.

Below, you'll see two small crystal chandeliers hanging next to a larger one. OK, well, actually, the larger one isn't a chandelier. It's just a normal old six-arm fixture that I paid five bucks for at a thrift shop, painted it white and detailed the arms in pewter paint. I added a slew of crystals on the arms, the bobeches (those round 'saucers' beneath the 'candles') and up the chain. Topped it off with white lampshades with crystal beaded trim. (Those were four bucks each at Ross).

Some of the crystals on that 'chandelier' are plastic - yeah, plastic! Old Christmas ornaments is what they are! Added to that are sleek square real glass crystals that I took off of a third small chandelier like the two you see in the photo. They are attached with a simple wire ring, and it easily opens to let you remove the crystals. You can hang them in windows to catch the light, on tree branches or on vases, or on other light fixtures like I've done here. Or you can take the small fixture intact, and hang it from some ribbons as I've done here. You can even buy a light cord assembly and actually have light inside it.

These could hang in a display for apparel, jewelry, fragrance, cosmetics, glassware, barware, even for some chi-chi pet products. In your shop window, they exude 'hip factor' and will draw people in just to see what kinda' bling you have for them.

And the best part? Those small chandelier fixtures, with 24 dangling rows of sparkling glass crystals, are available at IKEA for about $15 bucks. FIFTEEN bucks. Not a lot of bling for a lot of bling, you get what I'm sayin' ? Make the trends work for you....as inexpensively as possible. That's my thing. "Fast, Cheap, & Easy" TM all the way!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Processing....

For the past two weeks, I've been busy working up a design concept for a new client, and I thought I'd share a bit of the process here...

It all started with a site visit to the location with the client, then some research of the brand images of the products to be represented. By combining those factors, I managed to develop a whole new expression of the brand image for this company & its products. (And while that sounds oh-so-thrilling to conceptualize and develop, it is a daunting undertaking!) Once I have a visual image to work from, I can move on to creating materials to show my inner 'vision' to the client. I begin with a 'masthead' style sheet:

This is the overall visual concept of what the brand is and how it is communicated to the customer. It is color, style, energy, and mood. (When presented to the client, it has typography on it. I've shared the pre-text version here, since I can't disclose who the client is yet.) That being said, I don't develop brand mission, iconography, or ethos. The client has already done that. I combine everything they use to define their brand image (taglines, colors, icons, labels, ads, etc.) and combine it into a visual plan for their space.

Along with that, I write up a design development report that outlines the way I approach their project. I discuss their brand image and target market. I discuss the objectives of the project - why a new space, or redesign of an existing space? And I present my choices with facts to back them up. I'm not a decorator choosing a color because it's the 'HOT' thing right now, I'm a designer helping the client market themselves through their use of space. I've become a member of their marketing & advertising team at this point. It's kind of like I'm pitching an ad campaign to them, really.

More of the process: I create a 'Materials' sheet, that specifies the tools used to express the brand...


The materials to be used for textiles, flooring, walls, trim, accents, lighting, cabinets, furnishings, etc. are presented here. It's taking the masthead sheet to the next level - 'let's look closer'.

Then I create a representation of the way I 'see' parts of this space when complete...

So by the time you see this image, you think of the masthead imagery combined with the materials sheet, you see this photo of a room, and you can begin to imagine actually standing in the completed room. I've just taken the client on a visual journey from concept to reality.

I prepare some perspective sketches, too, but I find it's so much more effective to create a 'picture' of a design for the client to see than to sketch it out. I use pages and pages of tearsheets from magazines and catalogs and actual fabric samples and all kinds of materials to create this 'virtual' image. If I were technologically brilliant, I'd do it all on the computer. I'm not, so I go the old-school route of cut n' paste: make a big mess all over the studio floor, move things around on paper a few dozen times, finally step back and say 'YES!' as the fully developed, 3-D vision inside my head emerges on paper for everyone else to see.

In all, I prepared five sketches, nine style sheets, and three floorplan/overheads for this design. And that's the third go-round. After one and two, the facility footprint changed and I had to start from scratch on the floorplan & sketches. I don't mind - each step leads to better ideas, clearer execution, simpler terms to relay the ideas.

Tomorrow, my ideas go from the client, whom I submitted them to, to their corporate office for approval. Once I get word to continue, I'll share more with you as this process unfolds. For now, it's classified.
(Which means I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you... thankyouverymuchMaverick)

This project really couldn't have come at a better time... One of the seminars I am preparing for the Denver Gift Show is on developing a Brand Image. I have lots of info already, but being immersed in the process right now has brought up many of the things I want to share about this vital part of merchandising your business and your products. I'm really looking forward to it!

Friday, February 8, 2008

Growing Pains

Here's where the blog really becomes helpful as therapy. Please understand. We finally measured our little retail space and it is reaalllly little. Try 640 square feet of actual retail space! Seriously! I don't even know how we've paid the rent, but we are ready to stretch out a little bit. Our reviews have been good, but I see that look on customer's faces that says, "This is all there is?" With furniture, we feel like we need a little more space to have some variety and hold people's attention. We have scoured our little neighborhood for suitable retail spaces (try it sometime, unless you are selling used cars, it will take about 3 minutes.) We asked the landlord for more space and that wasn't a short order either based on the other tenants needs and the possibility of moving walls and doing major construction. We haven't decided yet, but we are nearing a decision. If you see anything around 1500 sq ft and 12 bucks a square foot per year please drop by - preferably in the heights. We love our neighborhood and hate a commute. Maybe I will have to talk to the mayor about the lack of suitable retail here. I kind of doubt she will be interested in our little problems up here in the heights. We want to keep Tampa a welcome place for indy business - shop local folks - it does make a difference. As for the shuffling of our square footage, we'll keep you posted.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

The Sharin' of the Green...


The second display area I designed for the recent Seattle Gift Show was the 'Green Products' Display. This was new at the last show, and response has continued to grow, as you may well imagine. Eco-friendly materials & manufacturing processes and free trade partnerships are high on the radar right now. This display area provides a jump-start for attendees wanting to find these kinds of products at the show. Any show exhibitor can bring us products, as long as they are 'green', and we'll make them look marvelous. And yes, it's free! (Funny story: everyone wants to give us products that are the COLOR green! It's so hard to keep a straight face sometimes...)

In designing this display, I carried through the theme of 'buzz' from the other display and the show collateral, as you can see in the photo above. Below, you'll see the 'beeline' across the backdrop (yes, it's bamboo, no, it's not real, yes, I know that it's not PC to use petroleum-based plastics in a green display BUT in my defense I am being eco-smart because these rolls of bamboo-look window blinds have already lasted for two shows and will for many more - and real bamboo would have splintered apart during the pack-up-n-shove process at show end) whew. Outta' breath.....

Anni & I took a bunch of brown kraft paper & paper bags (reused!) and twisted them into big tree branches. Even though I used a wire armature under the paper, the branches drooped more than I had planned. We just reasoned. "Oh, well, it's a willow tree!!!!!" To those, we pinned green leaves - cut from pages of magazines, catalogs, etc. from my oh-so-huge stash. I found every page that had any green on it at all, and cut out leaf shapes.

After pinning leaves on the branches, we had some left - so they were used in display setups, like this one for pots made from corn husks! It was a great effect and a terrific way to get the message across about recycle/reuse/rethink. I like to provide inspiration for display along with promoting the products in these areas, and I was told that many people were photographing both displays because they wanted to replicate the ideas in their stores. FABULOUS!!!!!

Here is a smaller branch, laying across one of the low platforms in front. (More product was added after this shot). In a positively shameless display of self-promotion, I cut small leaves from a few of my own business cards, and put them in very visible spots on the branch...

It's blurry but you get the idea. That lime-green leaf in the center is my biz card. Below is a shot of the display area from where the other display area was - they were right across from each other. (And at show setup, we were buzzing like bees between the two, artfully dodging flying forklifts. Whooooosh.......)

Many many thanks to Darlene, who sits at the display during the show, talking to attendees & exhibitors about the products in the setup. She is wonderful!!!!

Monday, February 4, 2008

How to Get THERE From HERE...

Display is marketing.
Marketing is brand-building.
A brand image is a visible expression of the values & mission of your busines, product, service. 'Bizness One-oh-One', people!

So, when you are displaying a plethora of products from various vendors at a show, how do you express & build a brand? Focus on the commonality. They are all at the same show, so go with the show brand. It's a 'One for all, all for one' sort of thing.... by making the whole look good, we make the parts look good. Get it? Got It? Good!

So, how do we do that? I'll show ya'...

Seattle Gift Show Collateral (Advertising materials) for the Winter 08 show.
I received these from the show production company the week before the show - usually I have more lead time than that, but it's ok. I pulled them out of the FedEx envelope and immediately thought to myself 'I have a piece of vintage fabric that looks like this....'. (Photographic memory does come in handy at times!) I went up to the attic to my fabric bins, and located it. Yup. Pretty darn similar. I let the fabric pattern and the collateral graphics bounce around in my head while I drank a Vanilla Coke, and in about ten minutes I had a plan. (Vanilla Coke jumpstarts creativity, I swear...)

Forget the fabric. Too fussy. (I had thought that perhaps I would scan it and print it to use in various ways. Nope) Stick with the graphic image. Go BIG, go BOLD, go COLORFUL. Make it POP. Catch the eye of the customer and draw them into the area....the whole POINT of display.
Also, make it inexpensive and easy to disassemble. I design & install this display, but I don't take it down. Show staff does that, so I try to make it simple for them to pack up. The props for this are all made of paper and a bit of wire, so they can be disposed of.

So, I gathered some red tissue paper, oversize yellow silk zinnias, and some wire, and made up four big ol' floppy poppy flowers. Grabbed some wire and yellow pompoms, and made some bees. Bought blue paper and black letters and black electrical tape (tho in my world it's always been called rifletape - one word - because colorguard makes the world go 'round). Once at the convention center, it all came together like this:

The blue paper covers the center of the backdrop. the pedestals, and some of the low platforms. This swath of blue is centered in the display and it lines up with the main aisle in front of it - with the red pop of color, this is visible from the opposite end of the show floor!

Poppies n' Bees, creating a BUZZ...

Buzzin' Bee...

Bee close-up! He was suspended on clear wire so he'd spin...and he did!

Bee Extreme close-up!

Result? A simple way to translate the theme & brand image of the show to the display. I even grabbed some of the flyers, brochures, and postcards, and used them:


The shot I took from down the aisle was too fuzzy to use, darn it. This is a cross-view of the display area, looking spiffy and bright even though it was relocated from the sunny bright lobby into the dark recesses of the main hall. (NOT my idea, I didn't even know about the change until I showed up onsite...took me half an hour to locate my skids of supplies and get started.)

Setup was an adventure, I swear. I thought I was on a reality show called "Survivor: Trade Show" and expected to have to attend tribal council at the end of the day to see a dead body carried out. Having been located in the lobby for the past five years, I am not used to the constant noise level and racing tactics of forklifts passing within mere inches of my feet. Products fell off of pedestals because of the shaking floors caused by weighty loads on the forklifts, and they kicked up wind that blew the heck out of my props. sigh. Hectic is the only word I can think of that even comes close...but we perservered and got it all done. I have a heckuva' list of things to change for the next show, beleive me!

My daughter and able assistant, Anni, says 'There is no Display without DRAMA'. Too true. I wish it wasn't, but it seems to be the way of the trade right now. D is for Deb, Diva, Display, Decorate....and apparently, Drama. sigh.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Fortune Favors the Brave...


This little fortune was lying in the middle of the walkway at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, stuck to the pavement after being dropped - or maybe blown? - there and then rained upon. Repeatedly rained upon.

(And in case you've seen the film 'the Wedding Planner' with Matthew McConaghey and Jennifer Lopez, I can tell you that this was at the same spot that Matthew and his fiance decide to call off the wedding, right in front of the big arched bridge. Useless trivia, I know...but since I had collapsed in bed last night after running myself ragged setting up the Seattle Gift Show for three days, I watched it again on TBS. And I enjoyed the films' scenery even more, since I had just been in San Fran.)

Mr. Deb snapped a shot of the fortune...and unfortunately, I can't zoom in without the print getting fuzzy. So let me tell you what it says:

'You will be showered with Good Luck'

Considering that we had been showered - and more - by rain for our entire visit to the City by the Bay, this was almost laughable. I do, however, take messages like this at their word, and I instantly envisioned the exact kind of 'good luck' I wished to be showered with. (And no, it had nothing whatsoever to do with the Lotto.....)

Saturday, I was at the Seattle Gift Show. I had a meeting - an important meeting. My friend, co-conspirator, & mentor Sue Kirby and I have a new business in the works, and we presented it to someone who can not only help us launch it, but have it be of great benefit to his business, as well. Let me just say that the meeting went FABULOUSLY! 'Showered with good luck' indeed. (Paired with lots of hard work, preparation, and enthusiasm!) I am encouraged & excited about the future of this project, and as soon as I am at liberty to divulge information, I will be thrilled to share it with you!

A little 'shout out' to my friends (especially Tracy & Tracey!), family (especially Mr. Deb!), and the wonderful women at 'Women Take Wing!' who are standing behind me, cheering us on. (figuratively speaking, of course...you don't haul a cheer squad into a conference room....) I just cannot express how much it means to me to have your faith & support. Thank you Thank You Thank you!