Maison & Objet ~ Paris in January - Let's Go!!

I've been dreaming for years of taking a trip to the ultimate design show, Maison & Objet, held twice yearly in Paris but I never wanted to go alone so I put it off. I always thought it would be more fun to go with someone else who would be as excited about attending as I was. My friends Deb Barret and Susan Shultz attended every year and come back with such great inspiration, new products, and suppliers that they share with the attendees of the Window Fashions Expo and other WFCP events. I've been living vicariously through them for years but this year will be different. These fabulous ladies are putting together a small group of 12 lucky travelers to attend the Mason & Objet show with them!




I can't think of a better way to attend this show than with these two knowledgable ladies who have been every year for over ten years. They attend as trendspotters and industry insiders who have expanded access to the event and know the show inside and out. They have it wired and are now willing to share this priceless knowledge with newbies like myself!!!

They are offering a package deal that includes:

7 days /7 nights, January 18 - January 26, 2010, in the City of Lights

Airfiare from New York or Chicago, all airport transfers, luxury hotel accomodations (Double occupancy including breakfast)

All zone metro passes/carnets for 7 days.

Admission to Maison&Objet and Planet Mueble trade shows.

Welcome reception at M&O from show management

Exclusive M&O trend presentation with Q&A opportunity Priceless!

As-you-wish meet-ups for cocktails or dinner to review the day, compare notes, share stories, etc. ( This of course will be my favorite part!)

Pre-travel web session(s) with Deb and Susan to preview locations, M&O planning, travel details, our Paris faves and more

Cruise on the river Seine.

Free entrance to the Louvre or Orsay.

High Tea one afternoon in the Aubusson’s Grand Salon.

All taxes and service included.

And Deb & Susan's expansive knowledge of the city of Paris.

Visit Deb's website for more details and pricing.




We'll be staying at the Hotel d’ Aubusson, Four-star, double-occupancy Superior room in the heart of St. Germain (Super-convenient location and they've stayed in this hotel and love it!) Five minute walk to the subway, direct line to the show. Walking distance of the Louvre, Orsay, Notre Dame, Sorbonne; surrounded by art galleries, restaurants and shops.



I'm looking for a roomie so sign up quick. They have limited the group to twelve so we can still enjoy Paris without having to follow one of them holding a flag and yelling into a bullhorn everwhere we go! It should be a great intimate experience and a once in a lifetime chance to attend the show like you're a seasoned pro and gleen some great knowledge from these wonderful women.

I can't stress enough how great an opportunity this is. I hope you'll join me Deb & Susan for a cocktail as we cruise down the Siene.

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Las Vegas World Market &Traditional Home Magazine

Charlotte Moss & Me at the Traditional Home Magazine, Icons of Design Dinner

Does this first picture give you any indication of what a great time I had at the Fall market event here in Las Vegas?

The Opening Night Party & Concert

This Fall’s event was so impressive and larger than life it was hard to believe I was in my own backyard. The owners and organizers have worked tirelessly to set this market apart in every possible category. It is a very different market than High Point and I believe there is plenty of room for both. The Las Vegas market seems to be focusing on cutting edge design, technology and a foundation of quality education. Being an interior designer nothing could make me happier.

Tony Baratta, Candice Manroe , Margaret McCurry, Dan Carithers

Partnering with Traditional Home Magazine to celebrate their 20th anniversary, the Design Center hosted what I believe was a once in a lifetime series of seminars , live webcasts, and networking events, that brought the elite of the design world face to face with market attendees.

Timothy Corrigan, Laura Kirar, Vicente Wolf, Susan Salk

I’ve attended many design events all over the country and I have never had the opportunity to meet and interact so intimately with such a large group of A list talent anywhere else. It was a truly inspirational series of events. Randy Wells and Margaret Casey of the Las Vegas World Market Design Center did a fabulous job.

Nina Campbell & Me

Overall, the market seemed well attended with serious buyers. The mood was much improved over the last event in January when the full impact of the countries economic woes had just become clear. It felt as if the industry is on the verge of a comeback and in an environment where attitude is everything I think we’ve come a long way to turning a corner back to positivity.

The Effervescent Diamond & Baratta

Chinoiserie is still going strong - I die for these! Tozai Home

The usual hunt for new product was fun as always although there was a lot of merchandise that has been there for a few seasons. Manufacturers seem slow to turn over new designs in this slow economy and who can blame them? There were a few strong trends that came shining through.

Global Views

Strong Contrasts of color and black & white were everywhere as were mirrors of every shape, size and combination. The mosaic walls of mirrors at Global views were a stand out.

Global Views

Loved the wall mounted lanterns oin either side of this mirror collection. The bar cart is fab as well.

Global Views

Fantastic take on the sunburst mirror. It had a decidedly undersea creature vibe.









The same mirror in a gold finish, love it. Orange was everywhere, it was the color of choice for many vendors.

Global Views

Asparagus green was another color used in abundance inaccesories and furnishings. I loved these pinapple lamps and finials.





Of course for me the highlight of the show was seeing my new book for sale at the Potterton Books booth!



If you get the chance to make out here to market you will not be dissapointed! Hope to see you at the next show.....

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The Second JVT- Studio Module is Here!

Here are just a few of the 250 designs now available in the second Jackie Von Tobel module for Minutes Matter Studio. Now available at www.minutesmatter.com

Thanks to all the great people at MM who have worked so hard to produce these modules. I think they look great and I am so proud to be a part of such a great organization.

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Great Modern Upholstered Beds

Global Views entre' into the bed frame category

Market week has come and gone and I'm exhausted! I've got lots of photos to share with you but first I need to play catch up so here are a few great new beds to tide you over until next week.

Swarovski crystal nail heads were everywhere at market but looked best on this bed!
from the new Moderna collection from Rene Cazares

Traditional nail heads looked great as well.

Dimensional pieces were a new addition.

Long & Tall were the words of the day

Sweet dreams !

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Vicente Wolf & Tobi Fairley

Tobi Fairley, Debbie Baxter, & Myself

I'm having a great week ! I was able to meet up with my fellow design blogger Tobi Fairley who was in town for a conference along with her friend and fellow designer Debbie Baxter. We had a great visit, talked a bit about blogging, our careers, and the state of the industry. Turns out Tobi did her internship here at Yates Silverman a local firm. I had no idea she had lived in Vegas! She is as charming in person as she appears to be on her blog and I am so happy for the way her career is taking off. I'm sure we will see her become a powerful force in our industry.

Me & Vicente Wolf

Monday was the kick off of the fall furniture market at The Las Vegas World Market Center. This year they will be honoring another designer / blogger, the fabulous Vicente Wolf. I was thrilled to be able to meet him at a reception hosted by the Las Vegas ASID and the LVWMC . He is larger than life and just as charming and I admire his candid, real life posts about the design world. He speaks about common issues and obstacles that all designers face and shows that even the elite among our ranks share the same concerns that we do. I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with him and admire his comitment to educating and informing young designers about the realities of our industry. He will be honored Wednesday night as an Icon of Design; certainly an award he rightly deserves.

Vicente & His Assistant

I also had the great pleasure of meeting his charming assistant who's name - shame on me -I cannot find in my notes. Among her other duties she monitors Vicente's blog.

Thankfully my week of meeting friends and famous designers is just getting started. Wednesday I will be attending a few events where I am going to be meeeting:

Charlotte Moss
Diamond & Baratta
David Easton
Jamie Drake
Nina Campbell
& more

I promise to take pictures!!!!

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Betty Lou Phillips ~ New Website

If you are a Betty Lou Phillips fan , she has a new website where you can keep up with her numerous projects, books and products. The reigning queen of French & Italian design inspiration publications and I share the same publisher, Gibbs Smith Publisher.

Betty Lou's nine design books ~ an incredible achievement

When I began writing my first book and looking for publishers I went through my personal library and selected many of the books that I enjoyed the most and wanted to emulate. Several of them were Betty Lou's books and they led me to send my proposal to Gibbs Smith. So I really owe her a debt of gratitude for unknowingly leading me to my publisher.



Her work is classic, timeless and meticulously detailed and I am in awe of her soft treatments. The quality of workmanship is always superb.


I don't really have a favorite among her books - to me each one has it's own unique charm.



The one constant in all of her work is the timeless quality of the interiors. They could have been designed twenty years ago or twenty years from now. They are comfortable, elegant and soothing.



Her beds are all dressed to perfection and her draperies are luscious.


Antiques abound and add depth and character to her rooms


I've not yet met her in person. I had a weird notion when I began to write that authors, under the same publisher, would get together at book shows and sip champagne cocktails while discussing the current landscape of the design scene. Just one of the many misconceptions I had about what becoming a published author would be like!!! But thanks to the wonders of the internet I have exchanged a couple of emails with a few of them. I'll try to see what Ms. Phillips is working on next and let you know. In the meantime visit her beautiful website and tell her, Jackie sent you.

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The Design Directory of Bedding is Here Early!

I was very surprised to find out today through the great gals over at the Custom Home Furnishings Academy Forum, that my new book, TheDesign Directory of Bedding, is in stock and shipping at Amazon.com a full month earlier than the anticipated October 1st launch date!


Even Marty was shocked!! We were all geared up to start promoting the release here next week but now we are playing catch up. I've only received two advanced copies so far but as soon as I get my shipment of books I'll have a giveaway. Hopefully that will be soon.


In the meantime here are some pictures of what you can expect when you receive your copy.


Check it out here.

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