I Have

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I Have a New Baby at Home

After almost three years of working exclusively on a laptop to the detriment of both my eyesight and my posture I have decided to expand the family.



Meet my new baby, a double wide, super charged, 24" supersized window into my world.

Notice the comparison to my now dwarfed laptop (please forgive the gross fingerprints on the screen ). Now don't get me wrong, I still love my Sony and it has served me very well but it has seriously messed up my eyesight and has caused all of my back muscled to atrophy due to what I call "laptop fatigue". This occurs after years of sitting every day with your laptop on your lap with your body reclined in a cushy office chair and your feet up on your desk. Not the position one should spend 99% of their waking hours in. The extent of my muscle damage and fatigue are making themselves known by the shooting pains I am experiencing from trying to sit upright for the first time in years at the new screen. Hopefully the damage isn't permanent and I will be able to hold my head up on my own again soon! If not, it's a full body brace for me....

I'm in love with the new baby and we are bonding quite nicely. Check out the great picture on this thing! I feel like my eyes are ten years younger. Of course I still can't see the screen without my glasses. The new PC is a total pain in the butt though as it is Windows Vista - now I know what all of the complaining has been about. Why did they screw up the good thing they had going with Windows XP? It seems like it takes twice as long to do or find anything. I'm sure I will eventually get the hang of it but there are only so many new tricks that this old dog can learn.

In the meantime I can still go back to the old system on the laptop as soon as I get it repaired. Remeber that missing screw I mentioned when I posted about replacing my laptop keyboard? Well one of the reasons I had to spring for a new PC is because that loose screw is fouling up the laptop and I have to send it in for repairs. That little do it yourself project ended up costing my about $1000. So much for saving a buck!!!

Here is my new screen saver - one of my new fabric patterns called birds & branches ( great name huh?)
UPDATE -

In a world that is often times devoid of personal service and lacking in corporate accountability I was AMAZED at this email I received today.


Hi Jackie-
My name is Jeff and I work with the Windows Outreach Team. Sorry to hear that your experience with Vista hasn’t been what you had hoped for. I’m not sure if these tips will fix your specific problems, but nonetheless they should help speed up your computer a bit.
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/83ec0ffe-ee04-4d53-8b87-25d1f05c954e1033.mspx
Cheers,
Jeff
Windows Outreach Team


Well my new friend Jeff let me just say that in my few years on this earth and as an author who writes books teaching design professionals how they should provide exemplary customer service to their clients I am blown away by your quick and helpful response. I posted this blog entry last night around midnight west coast time and I received your email sometime between then and 10 am this morning. You were hard at work trying to solve my problem even while I was sleeping!

Now I am new to Vista but I am a die hard PC user (yes, I originally was a MAC but I jumped ship years ago) I am sure that most of the difficulty that I am encountering can be put down to user error and a learning curve. But how splendid to know that Bill Gates is monitoring his web hits regarding potential problems and sending helpful employees like Jeff to solve our problems and put our minds at ease.

My husband is a militant MAC head and thinks my loyalty to the PC is insane, but is Steve Jobs up late at night sending out helpful emails like this - I think not!

Thank you Jeff for your helpful tips and encouragement. I will think of you immediately next time I have a problem - Facebook me!

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New Fabric Strike Offs and The CHF Academy.

It's almost midnight here in Vegas and I am feeling guilty for not posting very much lately. I'm working like a maniac which is the norm for me but right now it seems even more intense than usual. I am having a great time with the fabrics design process. I just received a new set of strike offs in the mail today. It is so exciting to see the designs coming to life.




I'm working with Jeanelle's talented graphic designer Mandy over at Adaptive Textiles to make sure everything ends up the right size and in a workable repeat.



It is a process that requires a lot of trial and error to get things just right.




On another note I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to post about my trip to the Custom Home Furnishings Academy in North Carolina. I spent a weekend out there with this talented crew of designers who graciously signed up to attend my class. Thanks Girls! We had a great time!!!

I had the opportunity to enjoy dinner which included a few margaritas with the wonderful Margie and Andy Nance who own and run the Academy and the uber talented Susan Schurz who is one of their premier teachers and a fabulous designer and manufacturer in her own right.



If you have not had a chance to attend a class there I would highly recommend it. It is well work the expense and will really set you up with the skills to excel in your business.

I'm going to bed now! Got to get up early and start working on fabric all over again.

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Last Chance to Register for the Party!!!

This is it!!! Today is the last day to take advantage of the 3.0 Presale Savings and it's also the last day to register for the Launch Party happening tommorow, March 31st at 1:00 PM (Eastern time.)

I know it's hard to imagine but now we will be giving away $8,000 worth of door prizes, even more than last week. Check out the prizes below! This is an opportunity, you just can't afford to miss. The event is FREE but there is a catch...you must attend the live online Webinar to win! Log on early, we will be giving away over $1000 worth of prizes during the first 10 minutes of the Webinar.

Door Prizes . . .

Yes you read it correctly, we are giving away almost $8,000 worth of door prizes! So join 15 minutes early for your chance to win in every session!!

1:00PM - Debbie & Casey welcome everyone & Session I Door Prizes:

• $197: Jackie Von Tobel Module
• $189: Studio Space Planning Module
• $100: Orion Designer Bag
• $ 49: Minutes Matter University Course Voucher
• $247: Studio 3.0 Upgrade
• $220: M'Fay Patterns - Designer's Digest & Workroom Manual (includes supplement 8)
• $ 50: IWCE/Vision09 Seminar Voucher from Grace McNamara Inc.
• $180: Three Design Directory of Window Treatment, by Jackie Von Tobel

1:15PM - Features & Functions of Studio 3.0

1:25PM - Session II Door Prizes:

• $197: Jackie Von Tobel Module
• $147: Quick Start 2009 for Designers
• $150: Orion Iron Art, Wood Art, Italian Collection, Tropical Collection
• $247: Studio 3.0 Upgrade
• $ 50: IWCE/Vision09 Seminar Voucher from Grace McNamara Inc.
• $ 65: One-On-One Studio 1-hour Training Session
• $247: Blog setup by Minutes Matter (New Service)
• $ 49: Minutes Matter University Course Voucher
• $ 59: DeGangi Group "Accessorizing for Design Professionals"

1:35PM - Merlyn demonstrates Studio 3.0

1:50PM - Session III Door Prizes

• $ 197: Jackie Von Tobel Module
• $ 65: Pate Meadows Laminated Designer Packet
• $ 147: Quick Start Class for Designers 09 by Design Success University
• $ 65: One-on-One Studio 1-hour Training Session
• $ 49: Minutes Matter University Course Voucher
• $1000: Creative Camp 2010 Voucher from The Custom Sewing Institute (Houston, TX)
• $ 247: Studio 3.0 Upgrade
• $ 395: Drapery & Window Coverings Full Conference pass (Jacksonville, FL)
• $ 398: Custom Home Furnishing Academy 2-Day Course (CHF)

2:00PM - Jackie Von Tobel discusses images and new fabric designs

2:05PM - Merlyn demonstrates how to create a rendering from Jackie's book

2:20PM - Session IV Door Prizes

• $197: Jackie Von Tobel Module
• $495: Society of Decorating Professional (SDP) conference Pass (Kansas City, MO)
• $349: Interior Design Summit - Spring 2009 ($349 value)
• $247: Studio 3.0 Upgrade
• $120: Two Design Directory of Window Treatment, by Jackie Von Tobel
• $ 49: DraperyPro one year memberhip to online forum
• $125: Minutes Matter Measuring System
• $ 65: One-On-One Studio 1-hour Training Sesson
• $ 55: Rowley Company's Finestra Decorative Hardware Sales Binder
• $600: Simplified Websites One year website hosting for customized website

2:30PM - Questions from audience

Register NOW or miss out on all of these fantastic prizes!!!!

www.minutesmatter.com

I'll see you at the party.....

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Sneak Peek - JVT Fabrics

I've been burning the midnight oil on my fabric designs for the past month and things are beginning to come together. I have thrown out twice as many patterns as I have kept but I'm narrowing down the final selections. We want to have 40 distinct patterns available in the collection available in several color ways all on organic grounds.




It's quite a challenge to try to create designs that are classic but still address current trends. I think this may be one of the most difficult projects I have ever taken on but it has also been very rewarding.




I've learned many new skills on photoshop, although I still have a lot of room for improvement and I've learned a bit about using watercolors. It's also given me a whole new appreciation for the talented designers who have created all of the beautiful fabrics that I used over the many years of my carreer. I had no idea the amount of work that goes in to creating one pattern. The man hours are staggering!


I am supposed to receive a new batch of test strike offs on Tuesday so I will share them with you then. We are experimenting with different ground cloths and colors right now and then I will fine tune all of the motifs and we'll be ready for a final print.


The first patterns of the collection will be unveiled at the International Window Fashions Expo in Atlanta May 12. I can't wait!!! I hope many of you will be there to help me celebrate.


On another note, I know I have been drowing you with shameless self promotionlately but:

Don't forget to register for the Minuites Matter 3.0 and Jackie Von Tobel module launch party on Tuesday, March 31st.

You must register to win one of over $5000 in free products that will be raffled off during the event.

Click HERE to register!

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Minutes Matter Jackie Von Tobel Launch Party!

WOW! We already have hundreds of people registered for our BIG online event on March 31!

We are hosting a live, online, Launch Party for Studio 3.0 & Jackie Von Tobel Modules on Wednesday, March 31st at 1:00 PM (EST).

We will be revealing all the new features of Studio 3.0 and you'll be the first to preview the first Jackie module. Over $5,000 worth of door prizes will be given out during this live event (must be present to win). Merlyn Corcoran, and Caterina with Pate Meadows will be joining us as guest panelists.

Unfortunately, the class will only hold 1,000 attendees. Due to this restriction, we limited the number of private invitations to a select group of 7,500 Minutes Matter Fans and let me tell you the excitement is buzzing!!!

Register Now!!!

Would you like to know what the buzz is all about?

We are preparing for our biggest release ever! Over 3,000 hours have been invested into designing, developing, and illustrating Studio 3.0. Here are a few of the exciting features and functions we will be revealing during the party . . .

~ Studio 3.0 ~

• FREE!! All M'Fay & Pate Meadows Images Included: The latest illustrations from M'Fay Patterns & Pate Meadows collections are INCLUDED in Studio 3.0. Other software companies charge hundreds of dollars for a single M'Fay module; the result is a cost of nearly $5.00 per design!
• Exclusive Photo Scale Tool: This unique tool automatically adjusts the Drawing Scale just by knowing a dimension in a photograph.
• Exclusive "Step System:" A systematic process to quickly create renderings.
• Custom Index: Add your own custom design(s) or image(s) to the Main Index.
• Applied Trim: Trim has been applied to many of the Quick Designs to make illustrating even faster.
• One-Click Trim: Add trim to the drapery panel lead edges in only one click.
• Sleek New Look: Studio 3.0 has a new customized look. This sleek new design includes ribbon toolbars similar to the 2007 version of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Quick Access Toolbar: Customize the toolbar to include your favorite features and functions.
• Icon Preview: Thumbnails images magnify when you hover over the image with your mouse without decreasing your workspace.
• Automatic Backup: Studio 3.0 includes an Automatic Backup feature to prevent accidentally losing your project.
• Ruler Bar Settings: Ruler bars can now be set in either feet, inches or centimeters.
• Professionally Illustrated Images: All Studio images have been completely re-illustrated to bring you fabulous, totally new, designer images.
• Pre-filled Images: All images are pre-filled with a neutral color palette to create a bigger impact when using the innovative "Design-in-5" technique.
• Drop Shadow Tool: Easily add a drop shadow to Studio images.
  
  ... we've saved the best for last ... the release of a Jackie Von Tobel Window Treatment Module!

~ Jackie Von Tobel Window Treatments (Module 1) ~

In addition to launching a new version of Studio, we will also be releasing the first of four modules from the must have resource, The Design Directory of Window Treatments by Jackie Von Tobel. Studio will be the ONLY graphic software program to offer these illustrations! Now you will have the ability to customize Jackie's renderings to meet your client's needs! All four Jackie Von Tobel Window Treatment Modules will be released throughout 2009. Module 1 includes . . .

• An assortment of designs taken from The Design Directory of Window Treatments.
• Over 250 designs are included in this first module; making it less than .69 cents per design!
• Important: Studio 3.0 upgrade is required to install the Jackie Von Tobel Modules. Studio 2.0 and Studio Lite 2.0 users are not eligible to add the Jackie Modules to their existing program.

Order TODAY . . .

Studio 3.0 (Upgrade) *SALE: $197* (Retail: $247)

(Use Promo Code: prelaunch3.0)

JVT (Module 1) *SALE: $167* (Retail: $197)

(Use Promo Code: prelaunchJVT1)

*Remember only 250 Raving Fans will be able to order at these prices!* Note: If ordering Studio 3.0 & Jackie's Module, be sure to use both codes during checkout.

Upgrade: Click Here To Buy Now!

Have you been thinking about purchasing Studio? Now is a great time to get on board! Not only will you receive our latest version Studio 3.0, you'll also have the chance to pre-order the first Jackie Von Tobel Window Treatment Module at the introductory offer!

New Purchase: Click Here To Buy Now!

Door Prizes . . .

Don't forget, we are giving away over $5,000 worth of door prizes! So join us for your chance to win!!

Prize #1: Jackie Von Tobel Module ($197 value)

Prize #2: Studio Space Planning Module ($189 value)

Prize #3: Orion Designer Bag ($100 value)
Prize #4: Minutes Matter University Course Voucher ($49 value)
Prize #5: Studio 3.0 Upgrade ($247 value)

Prize #6: IWCE/Vision09 Seminar Voucher from Grace McNamara

Inc. ($50 value)

Prize #7: Jackie Von Tobel Module ($197 value)
Prize #8: Nika Stewart's Email Newsletters for Designers book ($179 value)

Prize #9: One-On-One QuickBooks 1-hour Training Session ($65 value)
Prize #10: Minutes Matter Measuring System ($125 value)
Prize #11: Studio Space Planning Module ($189 value)

Prize #12: Rowley Company's Finestra Decorative Hardware Sales Binder

($55 value)

Prize #13: Quick Start 2009 for Designers ($147 value)
Prize #14: Orion Iron Art, Wood Art, Italian Collection, Tropical Collection

(2 Sets of these 4-color selectors; $150 value)
Prize #15: Jackie Von Tobel Module ($197 value)

Prize #16: Creative Camp 2010 Voucher from The Custom Sewing Institute

($1,000 value)

Prize #17: Studio 3.0 Upgrade ($247 value)
Prize #18: One-On-One Studio 1-hour Training Session ($65 value)
Prize #19: Minutes Matter University Course Voucher ($49 value)

Prize #20: Jackie Von Tobel Module ($197 value)
Prize #21: Minutes Matter Measuring System ($125 value)

Prize #22: Studio Space Planning Module ($189 value)

Prize #23: Interior Design Summit - Spring 2009 ($349 value)

Prize #24: Studio 3.0 Upgrade ($247 value)

Prize #25: Jackie Von Tobel Module ($197 value)

Prize #26: IWCE/Vision09 Seminar Voucher from Grace McNamara

Inc. ($50 value)

Prize #27: M'Fay Patterns - Designer's Digest & Workroom Manual (includes new supplement 8) ($220 value)



Check out the new Minutes Matter Blog here.

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Bedding Book - Finished Cover

My new book, The Design Directory of Bedding, is due to hit stores on October 5 and I just received the finished image of the cover! I've written in the past about the process of designing the cover and how many versions are produced before you find one that everyone can agree on.



Here are just a few of the covers that didn't make it!

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