Trip to NYC for the Tabletop Show

I just returned from a wonderful Tabletop show in New York last week. It was a busy few days of meetings and I had a wonderful time reconnecting with old and new clients as we discussed exciting new projects and reviewed samples of beautiful new fabrics and tabletop items hitting markets in the coming year. I also managed to sneak in a few fun times with friends while in the city – dinner with friends, a museum visit, and even a K. D. Lang concert Saturday night!

Birthday Cookies

Last Friday was my birthday and so many people made the day and the weekend very special for me. My daughter Erin sent me a funny E-Card, I received beautiful topiaries from my Winget Art studio friends, and I was so excited when this HUGE cookie bouquet arrived from my dear childhood friend Meredith. Aren’t these cookies adorable? I love the little frogs and they were tasty, too! Thank you to everyone that made my birthday such a happy one!

Winget Art Softball

I was so excited when I received an email from my friend Susan Young about the Winget Art softball team! It turns out her daughter Catherine is on the team this year. As a huge sports enthusiast myself, it is such a joy to see the next generation of women getting into the game! Team sports teach so many wonderful life lessons to children – sportsmanship, teamwork, and self-confidence to name a few. Thanks for sharing your photos, Susan, and GO TEAM!!

The loss of a dear friend

Our Steele Creek community suffered a great loss this past weekend. Our friend and church music director, Cindy Furr, and her precious daughter Mackie were killed in a terrible car crash Saturday evening. It is so hard to make sense of such a tragic event and it has been a daily, even hourly, struggle to face this reality. In this time of mourning and uncertainty, I have been blessed to experience the amazing warmth of God’s comforting arms and through these moments, know that God is with us. Although tough, I trust that God is in control and will console us in this most incomprehensible hardship.

When I think of Cindy, I feel the warmth of her smiling face and positive outlook. As we remember Cindy, I know that her life and passion will live on through all of us that were touched by her loving presence. Please join me in praying for our community and for Cindy’s husband Steve as he has suffered the loss of his wife and daughter so suddenly.

Charlotte Observer Article

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me abide in your tent forever, find refuge under the shelter of your wings.
Psalm 61: 1-4

Prayers for Angie

A dear friend of the art studio is having surgery today. Her name is Angie and she is a wonderful woman with an extraordinary passion for life. Angie inspires all of us with her positive outlook and refreshing view of the world around her. She has currently been in the hospital for two weeks following her first surgery and when her doctor asked her how she was doing, despite the pain, she smiled and said that she was surrounded by loved ones and relaxing, so she felt like she was on vacation! Angie always has everyone smiling when she visits us at the studio. We all wish her a speedy recovery and hope to see her smile around the studio again soon!

Atlanta Gift Mart

I just returned from a wonderful weekend at the Atlanta Gift Mart. It was a very busy weekend of meetings, signings, and showroom visits. As always, we had a wonderful time catching up with many of our friends in the industry, sharing our newest designs, and meeting new friends at the gift signings. We were able to see so many wonderful new products that are soon to hit the market! Check out these photos for a sneak peak of some of the wonderful items coming soon.

A Package From China

Yesterday my family received a wonderful surprise in the mail. It was a box full of precious treasures, from our daughter Erin - and it came all the way from China! She sent a special gift for everyone, and a letter explaining the significance of each. The gifts included a scarf for her grandmother, a jacket she had worn on the Great Wall for her cousin, and a beautiful silk tote for me. One of the most precious gifts in the box was a special letter she wrote for my husband, her father, Al. It was wonderful to receive these tokens, as they each carried so much love. In a way we felt we were experiencing part of her journey abroad, through these items she had thoughtfully gathered while in China. Erin is now in Uganda, click here for updates on her travel blog.