Bedroom of the Week

Soothing pink and white textures combine beautifully in this lovely bedroom from Karen Fletcher of Accents on Interiors in Houston, Texas.

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Sarah Palin as President

Please go here immediately and click on everything in the picture for gut busting laughs galore !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( hint - scroll over and click on everything more than once)
I almost peed my pants.

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AMBER ALERT - Las Vegas

Law enforcement officials are broadening their search for 6-year-old Cole Puffinburger, who was kidnapped at gunpoint from his northeastern Las Vegas Valley home Wednesday morning.

An Amber Alert was issued for the child at noon Wednesday. Puffinburger is described as 3-foot-11, weighs about 48 pounds and wears silver-rimmed glasses. He was last seen wearing a black John Cena WWE wrestling shirt, dark jeans and a black, zippered, hooded sweatshirt with white, black and blue stars decorating it, and tennis shoes with a white stripe

Up to three men knocked on the door at the child's home posing as police officers, police said. After entering the home, they tied up the child's mother and her boyfriend, then ransacked the house, police said. When they didn't find money, they took Cole Puffinburger and left.

The suspects are described as Hispanic, and one is described as in his 30s, weighing about 150 pounds with long, slicked-back dark hair.

Anyone who sees Cole Puffinburger is asked to call 911

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Come See Me at the World Market Center

If you are looking for some fresh inspiration I will be a featured speaker at a special event at 11:00 a.m. onTuesday, Oct. 14 at the new Las Vegas World Market Design Center. I'm giving a seminar on current window treatments trends and construction. It should be a fun and informative event and it's followed by a hosted luncheon. The schedule also includes an in depth seminar on choosing the correct fabrics for upholstery and draperies sponsored by Robert Allen in their beautiful new showroom. There will also be seminars taking place in several other showrooms and the day long event will be followed up by a cocktial hour. I'd love to see you there....


The World Market Center has been growing in size and showroom space since it's groundbreaking several years ago. The photo above shows it's current configuration which includes three enormous buildings and a new parking garage.


This model shows an approximate view of the completed project which will consist of 8 buildings totalling more than 12 million square feet of state-of-the-art exhibit space on 57 acres in downtown Las Vegas. It's hard to believe that this huge complex is going up in my own back yard after years of schlepping across the country to High Point!

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Since we're broke I'm thankful that:

As our country and the entire world are headed for a serious "financial slump" ( more like a spiraling nose dive) I am thankful for the following:

• I have been poor before and I am confident I could do it again in style.
• I am an expert seamstress and could make fashionable clothing and home decor out of a potato sack (do they still have those? - I might have to use hefty bags)
• I'm not a highfalutin gourmet - I can get by on tuna and crackers with the occasional pasta dish or peanut butter & jelly sandwich thrown in.
• I never got on the Starbucks train so I won't miss my expensive daily coffee fix.
• I don't drink alcohol at home so my happy hour won't be affected.
• I have already lost my girlish figure so shopping is not really a priority for me, I won't miss the mall.
• I work at home so gas is not an issue - I only need to make it a few blocks away to the local grocery store.
• I have enough crap in my garage for a thousand yard sales that could generate some serious cash if I ever got off my butt to sort it all out. That day may be coming!

Things I can't live without:

• Diet coke with crushed ice
• Work
• Scented candles
• Never ending home improvement projects
• The internet
• TV
• Electricity
• Air conditioning & heat
• Toilet Paper

Have a great weekend - Spend sometime being thankful instead of worrying.

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Window Treatments - A New Installation

I've shown many of my illustrations of window treatments to you all on this blog but I haven't posted many pictures of my designs. There are a couple of reasons for this. 1. I am a terrible photographer and all of my pictures come out dark, overexposed, or blurry. 2. I am a terrible stager and there is always something out of place in the photo. 3. I am so busy working that I forget to take good pictures until it's too late. Any of these sound familiar?

These photos are of a house that I am just finishing up. The draperies went in last week and they are still being tweaked. They are typical of many of my designs using layered construction and integrating unusual elements.


This treatment has an upholstered cornice base that has been embellished with a large ornate scroll made of resin and painted to match the interior of the room. This is part of a three piece wall decor arrangement by Uttermost. The matching piece is used on the other window and the center section is hung on the wall in the theater. I always try to impress on designers that they can look beyond the obvious for materials and hardware to make their designs stand out.


The raised side panels are hung over the top of the cornice at each side of the scroll work. I like to create interesting shapes in my designs that add architectural weight to the room as well as movement and variety. The key to elaborate designs like these is to create a harmonious balance that enhances the style of the room without becoming overbearing.




These treatments are in the great room and again are a typical example of my work. In this design scrolls and medallions are added to create an interesting shape to the bottom of the cornice. A large tassel hangs at the center to bring the eye into the middle of the window. Small medallions are mounted at the base of each pleat to balance the weight of the intricate scrolls below. A shirred border is placed at the top to emphasize the shape and to create a focal point at the top of the treatment.

On the other side of the great room this bay window is dressed with a more casual treatment that blends nicely with the formal cornices. This design repeats the same fabrics and elements; layered treatments, arched lines, and tassels at the center. By adding a decorative rod and rings the design is brought down a notch and it appears to be more relaxed.


Attention to detail when designing and specifying window treatments is the key to success. Small tassels wrapped around each pleat, a finished return, contrasting welting and trim - they all add up to a beautiful finished product.


Don't be afraid to try something new or unusual. Sticking to the basics can be a safe bet but sooooooo boring! Live a little!

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Tracy Porter - A New Look

Prolific home decor artist, ex model, and super mom Tracy Porter has branched out in new directions over the past year. Her new jewelry line is inspired by, among other things, decorative items she inherited from her grandmother including buttons and old fittings.


The collection has the same colorful palette as her home decor products but shows a more mature and sophisticated side to the designer.



I had expected to see frilly charms with birds and butterfly's but I was pleasantly surprised to find these classic, timeless, designs that would compliment almost any wardrobe.


Most of the pieces are over sized and chunky with dangling medallions, drops, and tassels.



These earrings are my favorite. I love classic motifs and unusual coloring.



I could see any of the main motifs in these designs as wallpaper or fabric patterns. You can really feel the influence of her experience in home decor in all of her pieces. They seem very architectural in their composition and the balance and symmetry are reminiscent of home design. Over all I think they are beautifully done and I may have to make some purchases. By the way they are all very reasonable! Christmas List - HHHHHMMMM??????

By the way be sure to check out her blog - here.

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