2015 Spring & Summer Market & Design Industry Events

There is a light at the end of this heavy snow burden winter: Upcoming Spring & Summer trade shows plus design industry events to attend. Time to get your head out from being buried in the snow, and mark your calendars with these upcoming market events happening in 2015! From trade-shows in New York City to Las Vegas and East coast showhouses -- to the largest interior design industry event - High Point Market in North Carolina, here is a list of a few events to save the date on - at least for the first half of 2015. For additional information on each of these events, just click their title to link to their site. And whether attending or not, you can usually also follow the events, by following their unique hashtags (provided if applicable)...

Save these dates!

MARCH

ADAC - Atlanta Decorative Arts Center

Atlanta, GA

9 Events happening from March 5 - March 26 (see site for details)

Atlanta Spring Gift, Home Furnishings & Holiday Market #atlmkt
Americasmart - Atlanta, GA
March 13 thru March 15 

Great American Bargain Book Show #GABBS
Americasmart - Atlanta, GA
March 13 thru March 15

High Point Market - Product Preview - TwitterChat #HPMKT
Global 
March 18 - 6pm EST

Charleston Symphony Orchestra League’s 38th Annual Designer Showhouse
Charleston, SC
March 19 through April 19

Architectural Digest Home Show #ADHS
New York City
March  19 thru March 22

Design Camp #DesignCamp #ADHS
New York City
March 18 & 19 at the Architectural Digest Home Show

DIFFA #DIFFA
New York City
Preview Party March 19 - Public viewing March 19-22 - Gala Dinner March 23

ASID Design Summit 
Chicago

March 26 

APRIL

Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Decorator Showhouse - Presidents Dinner
New York City
April 1

Houston Design Center Spring Market
Houston, TX
April 7 & 8

ASID - Design To Lead Summit
Washington, DC
April 13

Dream Home 2015 - Grand Opening
Design Center - Merchandise Mart - Chicago, IL
April 16

ASA 2015 Decorators Showhouse & Gardens - Château Soleil
Atlanta, GA
Open to the public from Saturday, April 18 – Sunday, May 10

High Point Market - #HPMKT 
High Point, North Carolina
April 18 thru April 23

Junior League Showhouse  #HPMKT
High Point, North Carolina
Preview Party April 17 - Public viewing April 18 - April 26

Design Camp #DesignCamp #HPMKT
High Point, North Carolina
April 20 & April 22

Design on a Dime - Housing Works Charity Benefit #DOAD
New York City
Preview Party April 23 - Public sale April 24 & 25

Dwell With Dignity - Pop-Up Thrift Studio #ThriftStudio2015
Dallas Design Center
Preview-Party: April 24

MAY

2015 Metro Designer Showhouse
Edgewater, New Jersey
Opening Gala April 30 - Open to public May 2 thru June 28

Legends 2015 - La Cienega Design Quarter #LCDQ
West Hollywood, CA
May 6 - May 8 

Brimfield - Spring Antiques Market #Brimfield 
Brimfield, Massachusetts
May 12 thru May 17

D&DBuilding - Spring Market 2015 
Upper East Side, NY
May 13 & 14

18th Annual Newport Harbor Home & Garden Tour
Newport Beach, CA
May 14 

International Contemporary Furniture Fair #IFCC
Javits Center, NYC
May 16 thru May 19 

JUNE

Canadian Home Furnishings Market
Toronto, Canada
June 4 thru June 7 

NeoCon 2015 - Largest Commercial Interiors Market Event
Merchandise Mart - Chicago, IL
June 15 thru June 17

Summer Luvin' - Sweet Salvage 4-Day Pop-Up Vintage Shop
Phoenix, AZ
June 18 thru June 21

JULY

Atlanta Summer International Gift & Home Furnishings Market
Americasmart - Atlanta, GA
July 7 thru July 14

Brimfield - Spring Antiques Market #Brimfield 
Brimfield, Massachusetts
July 14 thru July 19

Coastal Living Hamptons Showhouse #CLSHOWHOUSE
East Hampton, NY
July - September 2015 (check site for date & time updates)

Collaboration Nation - LVMKT & Design Camp

AUGUST

Las Vegas Summer Market #LVMKT
World Market Center - Las Vegas

Design Camp#DesignCamp #LVMKT
Las Vegas World Center
August 4 & 5

Happening Date of post:

Dwell With Dignity Thrift Studio - Kick-off Party #ThriftStudio2015

at Pirch - Dallas, TX

March 5 - 7pm-9m

By no means is this every industry event - but most are the pretty heavy hitters from around the country. Now the object is to fit in all the wonderful design events into your busy schedules - And check you area for local events to support, connect and be inspired by - for example, an art walk.

Thanks for stopping by!

Note: Lead image from Monika Hibbs - Design Love Planner

GETTING READY FOR FALL TRAVEL!

Finally! Fall has arrived, and so has the time to get psyched for my upcoming trip back east - back home - this coming Monday! Looking forward to this trip has made this past summer a little more bearable. I originally had the travel plans set in mind during the first of the year in my New Years Goals & Resolutions - and now it's time to get ready and fly on outta here! First stop: I land in Newark and pick up a rental car to drive down the shore to my hotel. After a long day of travel from Phoenix, I'll rest, unpack and unwind (or take this time to meet up with online friends who live in Jersey!) before heading south to Spring Lake to spend two days with my Godmother - I cannot wait! 

I can't wait to see, hear, and feel the ocean breeze coming from the Atlantic on the Jersey Shore 

I cannot wait to taste some REAL PIZZA!! 

And of course, I cannot WAIT to see my Godmother - my Aunt Lily - the lovely lady who brought me to New York City as a child - to see the Tree at Rockefeller Center, shopping on 5th Avenue at Saks and Lord & Taylor, lunch at The Plaza and Waldorf Astoria and even Ice Capades & the Barnum & Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden. As juvenile as some of these events may be now, it was those first NY experiences (in the 70's!) with my Godmother traveling to the City by Taxi (back then a Checker Cab) through the Lincoln Tunnel or over the George Washington Bridge to The Port Authority that I still very much cherish today. My parents never took me to NYC - so I know if it were not for my Godmother, I may never have ever fallen in love with the City. 

When I was single, I had traveled up to New Jersey to see my Godmother and I traveled to the City for the first time solo. My aunt nearly wept when she dropped me at the bus station so I could go explore the City on my own - She said it was time for her little sparrow to fly. The following day we went together and visited the Guggenheim Museum to see the Georgio Armani exhibit. Ironically, this tine I shared an experience with my aunt she had never been to - Although she worked in NYC for over 40 years, she had never been to the Gugg. It was FREEZING that night - we still took a horse & carriage ride through Central Park. Tourist-y things? Maybe - but you'd be surprised at how many people who even LIVE in NYC, never experience all the City has to offer - from history to culture - because they all work so hard to live there! Since that first solo trip (in November of 2000) I was going back regularly twice a year... until about '09...

Besides reflecting back on City experiences with my Godmother, we're also planning a little drive further down the shore - I'm hoping we can make it down to Wildwood & Cape May (both childhood summer vacation destinations) but I don't know if her health will allow such a long drive. Although I still see my aunt as only being in her 60s, time has past, and now she is in her 90s... but even if we only sit on a bench on The Boardwalk and talk - I'll be the happiest I've been for probably over two years now...

After my visit with my Godmother in New Jersey, I'll be staying on the east coast - but flying south to see my mom and friends in my home away from home: MIAMI! Although the first ten years of my life I grew up in Jersey, my core is from living in Miami for 33 years! I arrived in Miami during the peak of the Mariel Boat Lifts (which being Cuban, was very challenging and where I had my first experiences with bullying) but I was also part of the South Beach growth movement, as well as the rebirth of the Miami Design District. I was part of the uprising of Skyscrapers in Downtown Miami - plus the birth of sports teams like The Marlins, The Panthers, and The Miami HEAT. I could comfortably experience outdoor living and would frequently walk / run the beach or bike to the gym and bike to South Beach when I lived in Bay Harbor. I tolerated the traffic - especially when film crews and concerts started to block off streets - and I was a part of a metropolis making its mark with models and runway fashion shows... And oh - let's not forget working with the Colorsplash team (and David Bromstad!) or the tremendous vintage & thrift scores from North Miami to Ft. Lauderdale! Which has all now come down to - and I'm not kidding - CRICKETS here in Arizona. 

Keep laughing - but I'm serious: Crickets outside and crickets inside, which Sephora (our cat) loves to chase and swat when they're inside the house - then like Scarface said, "Eat that Sosa (cricket) for breakfast!" (Scarface was filmed in Miami!)

I know my husband knows I WISH this trip was a one way ticket - to get back home - to feeling like I BELONG again - because God knows: I've been a lost soul living here in the desert.

My mom wants me to shop for a new wardrobe for her and I'm wanting to take walks on the beach, get some fresh seafood plus, see and meet up with old friends, and visit culture + history (like REAL Italian architecture and decor at Vizcaya) and eat some Cuban food! Italian too - nothing like moms sausage & peppers like she'd make in Jersey!!

I've pretty much run all my travel errands. Got caught up on social media updates. Had a few client projects these past few weeks I can now put towards my trip. Tuesday I had my hair cut & colored + highlights -- but it came out too dark so heading back for a fix on Friday morning (thank goodness I did the appointment early enough to fix!) Now I just need to confirm those last minute calls for meet-ups and pack up the outfits + accessories I pulled. The last time I was on a plane was when we moved here to AZ in November 2011 - This is going to feel strange - but it's all good and can't come fast enough!!

I only hope it all s-l-o-w-s-d-o-w-n when I get back east. 

Time will fly & I know I'm going to come back both exhausted and invigorated!  

Thanks for stopping by now - in all honesty - I probably won't be posting much once I get back east - taking in every moment with friends and family (plus maybe a little sharing on Twitter and Facebook!)

Going HOME: September 30 - October 8!

Season for Giving: Kids Christmas Donations for Hurricane Sandy

From cookies to coloring books, I've been busy trying to focus on Christmas "goodness" rather than the awful acts that happened last week. I think over the weekend, I baked every cookie my mom and I baked together when I was a kid! And in between baking, I wrapped up sending out holiday cards - especially to some online acquaintances that have become special people in my life this past year. I also had fun with a "pay-it-forward" project I wanted to do: Shop for super storm Sandy kids for Christmas. I had taken a little poll on facebook (since I'm not a parent) to see if I was on the right track - and hands down YES: Kids art supplies beat toys! My pay-it-forward came from having received a $100 cash gift from Jeff's mom when she was here for Thanksgiving. She said it was to go buy something nice for myself - but I don't "need" anything, and these kids do. I had planned to go shop (last) Friday, but with the news of Sandy Hook, I didn't head out until Sunday. I picked up some pretty good deals at Big Lots on artful activities for all ages from coloring books + crayons + colored pencils, charcoals & pads, art kits, water color paints + brushes + pads... and even a few cool journals for those writer tweens, some warm & cozy socks and a few toiletries. I donated all these goodies to "Stuff the Bus for Hurricane Sandy." Even if they don't make it to New Jersey in time for Christmas, the activities will be donated to a Sunday school church....

 

 

Kids Christmas Donations to Stuff The Bus for Hurricane Sandy

 

 Monday through Friday -- 8 AM - 5 PMBarker Bus Company
81 Chimney Rock Road #2
Bridgewater, NJ 08807

If you're local, call Peggy at 732-580-6475 before you arrive if possible.
 Out of town donations may be sent to Barker Bus's address above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Added in some throws & a card too...

 

A little tough to do this year (to be 'jolly') but doing what I can from here to help!

And so can you!

 

 

 

New Jersey still needs our help!

 

 

There are ways to help, no matter your location...

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Continuing Sandy Help: Support the First GivingTuesday!

Now that the rush and prep of Thanksgiving has passed, along with the store stampedes of Black Friday shoppers and Cyber Monday bargain hunters - Welcome the inaugural year for Giving Tuesday! This is a great way "to put the rest of the holidays in balance" as founder of Giving Tuesday Ilene Heissman stated in an interview at CBS News. What is Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday A movement to create a national day of giving on November 27, 2012, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. You can follow along on Twitter at #GivingTuesday, along with the dedicated facebook page at Giving Tuesday.

 



This day will be the first of its kind. Coinciding with the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national moment around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are synonymous with holiday shopping. Although there are several charities you can support with donations, considering Super Storm Sandy "just" happened, I'd strongly suggest this inaugural day of "Giving Tuesday" be of donations to help the Sandy Survivors in New Jersey and New York, who even though have dropped off from trending on twitter and not a hot topic in the news - these people STILL need our help.

While you decorate your mantel for Christmas, remember those in need.

 

While you pull out the totes of Christmas decorations, wrapping paper and cards out of your attic, basement or garage, remember those in need.

 

 

While you decide where to hang this years Christmas lights,  blow up Santa on the lawn, and place reindeer on your roof, remember those in need.

 

 

While you shop the malls for this years latest winter trend, remember those in need.

 

 

See more photos and learn how neighbors are helping neighbors in New York by hiring 5,000 people to help with the Sandy cleanup at U.S. News on NBCnews.com.

 

 

Besides donating funds or even blood to the Red Cross for this Giving Tuesday, here are just three of the many organizations to donate to for Sandy Help:

 

 

RESTORE THE SHORE

 

 

"Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday - THIS is the one that counts. Donate to RestoreOurShore to send funds to nonprofits working to help our neighbors rebuild. Spread the word, let's make it happen. #RestoreOurShore http://facebook.com/RestoreOurShoreNJ "

 

 

REBUILDING TOGETHER

 

"We ask you to make "Rebuilding Homes After Sandy" part of your first GivingTuesday. Go directly to the campaign here: http://igg.me/p/259293?a=1649322, or visit www.rebuildingtogether.org/recovery for more ways to get involved. Thank you!"
 

SECRET SANDY

 

 

Volunteer, donate supplies, send a gift or register to give at SecretSandy.org - A wonderful way to support this GivingTuesday by remembering the children affected by Sandy. Let them know that even though they may no longer have a home, Santa has not forgotten them this year...

 

 

Yordan and Joey wait with their parents in line to receive Red Cross relief items, like cleanup kits and diapers, in Jersey City at the bulk distribution of relief items in Jersey City, New Jersey on November 17, 2012. Photo by Gwen Eamer, Canadian Red Cross

 

 

What am I doing for this Giving Tuesday? I'm giving by helping to spread the word here on the blog, on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Facebook, and even on New Jersey & Long Island News Chanels (who didn't know or report about the day!)  And I'm happy to say, my donations I boxed up here in AZ and sent to New Jersey (read about: Clearing the Closet to Help Make Donations) made it to shelters on the shore this past weekend!! (Thanks to Betty Shepard "Rocking The Rescue" of Wisteria Cleaning in New Jersey!)

 

Even BEYOND this FIRST Giving Tuesday -

Please continue to Help Restore the Shore!

 

 

Thank you for stopping by...

and your support of Sandy Help + Giving Tuesday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



How Fall Closet Cleaning Can Help Make Donations

Fall closet cleaning can help with donations: for Sandy Survivors as well as your local community. After purging my closets last weekend, I was able to help with both. Last weekend, after Sandy had hit, I felt a major sense of urgency to help in some way. Being located across the country, I could have donated funds to the Red Cross. But since I have acquired so many home textiles and cold weather goods over the years, from working retail plus shopping thrift -- I felt the urge to purge. I started in one closet, and it led to another, and a cabinet here plus a trunk there. I was able to clear out four 40lb boxes of blankets, sheets, towels, sweaters, coats, jackets and even a few (new) toiletries (like soap & shampoo). I also added in a few (new) cleansers and cosmetics products the hubs has brought home the past year as gratis. Gratis are basically vendor product gifts, usually new to try or lines being dropped. I don't 'need' all this stuff like so many others are in need on the east coast now. So I asked Jeff to bring home some empty boxes, and I sorted and packed up these donations to send to a contact in New Jersey. Over this weekend, my contact (Betty Shepard of Wisteria Cleaning) and a few others are getting together to bring these and several other donations to shelters near the shore.

 

How did I organize my donations? I started in a pretty cleared space: a spare room that is to become our guest room (next week!!)

 

After clearing pillows off floor, I started to gather donations from the closets, and stacked into category piles on the floor...

 

What started out as a few items quickly GREW. The mind set was to take the emotion out of it: These people NEED these things far more than I do. Some of the stacks I sorted were:

 

Towels

 

Textiles

 

Yes - I also sent an extra American flag I had..

 

Sweaters & Scarves...

 

Knit tops like tees & tanks: GREAT for layering under sweaters to help keep people warm in the winter...

 

Pre sorting like items together made it easier to fill the boxes with...

 

All clothing: Knit tops, sweaters, scarves, socks, bras, underwear (NEW), 

jackets and coats...

 

Blankets!

 

Towels and toiletries...

Sheets, sheet sets, and pillow cases...

But while I was purging my closets, I had also come across some other items I really don't need (like extra hangers or tea-light holders). However, not all of these items wouldn't necessarily be items needed at the shelters right now - so those items I took to donate at  another thrift store chain I learned about here in Arizona called Savers.

 

The extra donations not as urgent to send to New Jersey were separated and I donated these locally.

Then I built the boxes Jeff brought home...

 

I lined the boxes with kraft paper...

 

Lined...

 

Sorted...

 

Added a message to each box...

 

To let Betty know what was in each box. but without spelling it out, I used: C for Clothing, B for Blankets, S for Sheets and T for Towels...

 

Jeff brought them to UPS, sent ground...

And now the space is clear again, ready to get a makeover as a guest room, the closets are cleaned out and better organized plus this was a great way to help both the Sandy Survivors and my local community by donating to thrift.

 

Yesterday, I contacted a local shop I frequently visit, to ask them if we could team up to collect 6  categories of items to donate to Sandy Survivors: Sheets, Towels, Blankets, Coats, Socks & Sweaters. I'd like to be able to announce it this week to let locals know, but I haven't heard back yet from the shop owner. It won't cost them a thing to do, it won't take away from their business and it can give a means of others also helping with donations from afar. I'd be there to collect them, haul them home to sort and pack 9as I did here) and ship them to New Jersey, where they will be transported again to shelters on the shore in need xo

 

I can't BE there physically right now, but I'm focusing on what I can do from here.

 This probably hit me so strongly not only because I was born & raised in New Jersey, but also because along with friends, I have family there. One of which was my Godmother. She lives in Spring Lake, and the last time we had spoken was the morning of the storm... than I heard nothing from her, until yesterday. I had been calling every morning & every night, last night, I was able to speak with her and hear HER say, "I'm alright."

 

 

 I'm SO happy she's OK!!

But still, so many aren't and people still do need our help...

Here are some stories and info about other people donating to Sandy Survivors:

 

 Donate goods & supplies in Collingswood/Camden County area: Collingswood Farmer's Market, Saturday, Nov. 10 from 8am-12pm. Reader Tricia B. is coordinating an amazing donation effort using goods dropped off at the market. Check out this photo she shared - way to go, Tricia. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Collingswood-Farmers-Market/107197919352172

 

 Truck filled with donations from the generous Collingswood community. Credit: Tricia Burrough

And of course, Betty Shepard of Wisteria Cleaning in Wilingboro NJ, Rocking the Rescue!

 Rock the Rescue in Ocean and Atlantic Counties. 

Shared from Betty Shepard today: 

"Rocking the Rescue continues! JoAnn's SUV is packed with diapers, baby wipes, paper towels, food, coats, sweaters, new bedding & clothing donated by the members of the Moorestown Lunch group of BNI. Donations rolled in from twitter and Facebook friends."

 

Donations are piling up! This is wonderful to see.

Maybe some stores like Office Max or Staples could donate banquet tables, shelving or carts to help sort and organize drop off locals. I love the way everyone there is helping each other out!! And besides donations, don't forget about the displaced pets who are lost and need to be reunited with their owners. Learn more at: Hurricane Sandy - Lost & Found Pets.

 

Thanks for stopping by...