Habitat for Humanity, a great cause.

Our WCAA (Window Coverings Association of America) group had the opportunity to donate our time to a great cause. The Habitat for Humanity which builds homes for needie and deserving families, click on the link to learn more about this organization. Annas Custom Design is a member of the local non-profit group. We could donate our time for one of the nine homes in this project. I made the drapes for one of the single windows in the home. Johnny, my partner and Jerry Green from Dandelion Interiors, could volunteer their time to install the drapes we made , along with several other windows that were donated by other members of our local WCAA group. Jill Robson of Robson Designs by Appointment was responsible for organizing the project and was on hand to steam and dress the drapes in each home. This was the first time our group has taken on a project like this, but I hope it is one of many that we can volunteer for. In Tennessee every County offers Habitat Homes, if you are not volunteering in your community check out this great organization.

Holiday Season Dangers

It is that time of the year when we start to have parties and attend parties. I recently had a few friends over and did the normal thing, clean, cook, and clean some more. Before my guest arrived a ventured through the house and turned on small lamps and lit candles. I checked all the candles and made sure they were in a good location and had protection under the candle. I was sitting with my guest talking and laughing, something brought my eye over to a table I had in the corner. I looked and immediately jumped up and went to the table to blow out the candle; the holder I had put under the candle did not hold all the melting wax. I was just sick; my new silk table cloth was ruined. I left the wax to cool, after the party the wax was now cool enough to remove. I remove the top portion of the wax, but it had gone through to the interlining and the lining. It was at the edge of the table so now my lamp has a new location on the table. You can't see the wax, but I know it is there. So during your holiday season please be careful with you decorations. I have had wax issues before and could remove the wax. When wax is melted on silk it leaves a grease spot that is very hard to remove. I hope this warning will help you to have a safe and mistake free holiday. The trouble maker was this small candle holder on the right the cup was not large enough to hold the candle size "I" put in the container.

Looking for Inspiration

I am always looking for Inspiration. I recently attended a Sales and Marketing seminar by Jeffrey Gitomer in Vegas. While in Vegas we went to the World Design Center, what a great place. There were only a few vendors open, but they all had great inspiration. The first store was the Ethan Allen Showroom. I took pictures at most stores, but I failed to get a picture of the Smocked Pinch Pleated Draperies they had displayed, but I could recreate them with my drawing program, Studio.




Most showrooms were full of great items, they had displays of different drapery treatments all made with the same fabric. This was a great way to display the different type treatments, it was easy to look at the design instead of the fabric they were made with.






One thing I really loved is the building that was across the street from the World Design Center. It was perfect for the location, as you can see it looks like it is falling down, but no it is new and being built this way, I just loved it.





I also loved this bench in one of the showrooms the bench wrapped around the couch, what a great way to add seating in a room where you entertain.

Our Vegas Sales and Marketing Trip

The day was spent shopping, well maybe I should say our day was spent looking and being inspired. It was great, would you like to know how many stores have pocket books. Johnny asked, "How many pocket books stores were in Caesars Palace and the Bellagio, there are a lot". I think the bags/accessories we saw were a great example of what is to come in the Drapery Designs. Home design always follows fashion. I had my camera but I know the designer stores would have died if I had pulled it out. Gathered ruffles, rossettes, grommetts and zippers where everywhere. The color purple was in everyone's color scheme. Black was also very popular along with platinum. It is amazing how going on a simple shopping trip to pass the time before the seminar we flew in to attend was so inspiring. Store after store was so inspiring. After we left each store Vickie and I had to sit and write down our inspiration, it really makes me want to run back to the Studio and design and incorporate the ideas. We are going to our Sales and Marketing Seminar tomorrow and we can't wait.

When You Can't Afford Custom

In the current times everyone can't afford custom but they can afford to hire that Interior Designer for a few hours to help them pick all the colors and tell them key pieces they need to purchase. I recently helped my niece with her Window treatments in just this way. She is engaged and the wedding is in January, she and her fiance have already purchased a home and needed my help. I spoke with the bride to be's mother (my sister) and talked in detail about the things she needed to purchase and what to look for. The blinds we purchased at Lowes and had them custom cut to fit the windows, can everyone do this of course, and they can also install them, did it help that I do professional installs all the time, of course, I knew what sizes to give them and the key questions to ask. One of the key things on installing your own blinds is to cut away the excess slates at the bottom.


The drapery treatments were purchased readymades in the master bedroom and for a wedding present I installed them for the couple. Does having the drapes installed by a professional make a difference, yes it does, just ask my sister. I have been in many homes that had ready made drapes installed and one of the first mistakes I see is they did not press them. The store clerk told them that the wrinkles will fall out, I have yet to see this happen. So always press your drapes, just check your label first for the ironing instructions. Judy, my sister made the living room drapes, I gave her a few tips and she was on her way, she did a great job. I was able to go back and take some pictures after he moved in and everything looked great.

I know most never thought to have the drapes installed by a professional, or even hiring a Designer for some of the basic information, but that is a great way to have a professional look without paying for custom drapes. When I install readymades I ask the client to have the hardware purchased and ready to install, and to have the drapes pressed, I will not install unpressed drapes.