April's Musings

Friday, May 20, 2005
“West Palm Beach, Florida
Home and Interior Design Show”


Warm and Warm. Cloudy with heat. A contrast to our Vermont air.

At noon we presented "Five Looks at Decorating" from spring to holiday, with some long pauses in fall and high summer. Fourth of July/Canada Day was fun. It was all about red and white, and red white and blue. I wrapped baguettes in printed red and white honeycomb tea towels, tucked in sparklers and noise makers, and added a little painted note with a name on it. Picnic on the floor with a periwinkle cloth and an assortment of red and white pillows. From large floral prints to checks and stripes and a tiny daisy print. Some cushions have fringes and buttons. That was the Fourth of July story. I mixed in the red fruits strawberries and cherries, and the blue, blueberries to speak to the occasion. A small lacquer tin held four roses and two sharp green variegated tropical leaves. It was very pretty—dramatic yet compact. The second arrangement was a tall vase with slender willowy flowers and branches in a cobalt blue vase with brilliant blue delphiniums and white orchids. The two bouquets were so different, yet each very effective and affecting.

I met Kathy Miller, a 75 year-old woman, who is a dried flower artist. She served in the white house for five presidents and their families. I think she started with Reagan. She is funny and charming (I got her book too), red haired, and she does presentations across the country with her husband. She regaled us with stories of the white house (132 rooms, all needing flowers!) and tips on drying flowers.

I finished the day at the gardens in West Palm Beach, visiting our store, seeing Tracy our manager, and two young mothers buying our turquoise tutus for their three little girls. Afterward we ate at California Pizza Kitchen (pear and gorgonzola) served by the most charming Christopher. His girlfriend Shannon loves our stuff. He is a Jamaican of Scottish descent. I guess he takes care of Tracy's guests. Well he took care of me and my posse: Public Relations Director, Chris Powell and Ruth Custodio, our Visual Director.