WITHIT in Action: Sag Harbor Tour, Hampton Holiday House and…

….DRINKS With Libby, and, and, and….

WITHIT,  is first and foremost a networking group for, just as it’s acronym says, Women in The Home Furnishings Industry Today…but what you possibly don’t count on, is the Gift of hard and fast friendship that you receive from so many of the women that you meet as you frequent the events planned by the organization. It’s like a pool of people have been handpicked for you and all you need to do is show up and fuel the connection that has been ignited by shared membership in this group. How cool is that?

I first joined WITHIT in 2008, and by the nature of the person who introduced me to the organization, the ever so lovely Kathleen Holterman, I knew I would be in good company. However, it would take me until 2010 to FINALLY manage it into my schedule  to attend their annual NYC  Inside Design Tour, blog on most recent tour here….of which I now plan as part of my April each year, followed by attending  the Leadership Conference that same year, held each August…ditto there. NOT to be missed.

What I didn’t anticipate this year was a 2nd Design Tour to follow in June. How lucky could I be???  Yes, it would be my good fortune to be included on what I have quipped as the Long Island Inside Design Tour as organized by Deborah Klein, of DK Inside Designer…who I met on that very first NYC tour, and have been friends with since.

The ever generous Deborah pulled together a fabulous weekend that was delicious on so many fronts that I hardly know where to start.  She seamlessly brought together a group of people that knew each other, Betty Lyn Eller, Alicia Connolly, herself and yours truly (yes, all WITHIT members/who spent the weekend together….TOO much to write about/include here)  and merged us on Sunday with NY based Designers that she does business with ,each that just knew Deborah, and toured us around Sag Harbor, orchestrated lunch in the park, a visit to English Country Antiques and then to the inaugural Hampton Holiday House before heading to the home of Libby Langdon for cocktails, photo opps and more time to mingle/get to know each other.

She used the Holiday House as the anchor,  to gather us all together, and created a day of it.

And before going any further, if you haven’t had a chance to visit the Holiday House, you still have until Monday July 21st to do so….it is worth it and it supports the cause of Breast Cancer Research.

Everyone tours these homes with their unique perspective, but the takeaway is the same…of being visually  and creatively delighted and inspired.

Personally for me it was my delight to see two of my Antiques by Zaar customers presenting rooms at the house. Thom Filicia, AbyZaar customer since 2002 and WITHIT Supporter,  happen chanced by for a visit and took the time for a photo with our group, and Design House of the Hamptons, customer since 2011,which positioned an Antiques by Zaar Chinese Greek Key Console  in their “ladies room”.

And of course a pleasure to support the work of fellow WITHIT member Libby Langdon, who took on the project of the hallway to showcase her new line of peelable wall paper, skills as a photographer and her carpet line.

After said inspiring visit it was off to Libby’s Long Island home for a cozy evening of cocktails. As we took over her living room, the energy and fervor was audible as the air filled with the dance of words as women that had only met that day became friends.

We were a group of 11, 4 of which held membership in WITHIT…. one of us being the 2013 president. Somewhere in the course of the chatter a natural opening came for Betty Lynn to espouse the benefits of joining WITHIT and participating in our events. IE, you want more of “this” then come on along and you will NOT be disappointed….and she had 4 in the peanut gallery supporting this, including our 2 hosts.

End of the evening we all left giving each other hugs and saying how great it was to get to know you/promises to stay connected…and with social media, an easy promise to keep.

Yes, we all had in common the bond that we work in some part of the Home Furnishings Industry. A more salient bond is  that most of us also share the common denominator of working solo…be it in home office or studio, and although dealing with people and product daily, we work in a bubble. On a day like this the bubble was broken for many of us as we joined with others that experience a similar working environment.

Deborah, you did good. Thank you so much for joining us all together and orchestrating all…taking us out of our respective bubbles and leading us through an inspirational day…and for some of us weekend.

And Libby, thank you for your kind hospitality in opening up your home to us.

I for one left the weekend feeling like I was on a cloud, with immense gratitude  for how my world continues to be enriched by the gift of friendship from my growing bevy of “gal pals”…and not to forget all the Design Inspiration.

For pix of the Design Tour Day, click here, and for pix of the entire weekend click here.

Ruth

P.S. My walk on a cloud continued for yet another two days as I extended my time in Long Island to visit Antiques by Zaar customer, since 2002,  come friend, Sylvia Muller, proprietor of the Mill House Inn in East Hampton….THE place to stay in the Hamptons…and, per new AbyZaar customer/old friend of the Mullers suggested, it  could also be touted as the Antiques by Zaar Showroom of the Hamptons for all the AbyZaar merchandise that has found a home at Mill House.

 

My Inside Design/WITHIT Weekend in NYC!

Part One: The Presentors           

 “Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.” Danny Kaye

….last weekend in NYC, as part of the WITHIT (Women in the Home Furnishings Industry Today) group, of which I’m a member, I was priviledged to be up close and personal with more than a handful of people that do just that…throw “paint” on their life canvas.

The kick off for the weekend was a Salon Performance/Cocktail party/Cooking Demonstration by Hollywood Music Awards Best New Country Artist Cooper Boone.  Cooper espouses that he has two

Nothing like having a private concert in Cooper's Kitchen.

passions; music and food, which he merged together seamlessly….preparing in front of us, a couple of his favorite party fares and offering a selection of songs as dessert. Before each song we were given the story behind the song (all of which he wrote) which simply added more depth to the already enthralling evening. His personablness, energy and passion simply set the stage for so much more of the same in days to follow. And if you’d like to see some photos of said event, click here. Yes, we did have fun!

NOTE: For those in NY this week, Cooper is performing at The Bitter End, with all proceeds from the concert going towards Nashville Flood Relief. Click here for more info/to get tickets.

Sunday morning our first order of business was to enjoy a

Can you guess what she's holding? Yes, a rug sample, made of recycled biycycle tires.

brunch at the HK Restaurant…which we dutifully did, prior to meandering through the Hells Kitchen Flea Market on our way to the Javits Center for the ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) Show. Special tours with the British European Design Group and Interiors from Spain Group, again, adding depth as we learned the stories behind many of the exhibitors showcasing their product with respective groups. Did grab a few photos, which you can see here.

For dinner Sunday night the Green Table restaurant in Chelsea Market was closed to the public as our WITHIT/Inside Design tour attendees held a private dinner party. Although I chose not to attend (opted to spend evening with my husband at his Long Island apartment) I understand it was a wonderful night.

Monday….talk about it being “A Day!” 

Artspace was where we all convened at 8:45 Monday morning. Located between 6th and 7th Avenues, in what appears to be an obscure place, a ride up a rather primitive elevator  (one of 3 such elevators we would experience during the weekend) to the 5th floor, would take you to the work home of 3 very special and talented artists. 

Laura Loving kicked off the morning, sharing with us her love for all things joyful (says her clients are creative happy

Enthralled audience listens to Laura share...

people…I like that) which she illustrates so clearly in her vibrant and lively artwork. Yes, color and more color, with NYC offering her much inspiration. Isabelle Higgins then took us to the land of textiles and the depth and warmness  of her personality which she expresses in the texture of fabrics. And from there we were delighted by Russian born artist Michael Glickman, the power and personality behind Fabrika.

Lunch was a double delight…venue of the City Winery serving well as stage for the 2011 Color Trend Presentation by Doty Horn of Benjamin Moore, and hosted by Country Living Magazine.

The weather continued to co operate for us and we were able to wend our way by foot to the Franklin St. location of Urban Archeology, where were given a most delightful and informative private Studio Tour. For photos of lunch and Urban Archeology, click here.

And yet there was more for us….

Roberto Dutesco, the energy/life behind the Wild Horse of Sable Island Gallery was up close and personal as he shared

Roberto Dutesco sharing the philosophy of his photography.

with us how his photography is simply an outlet for his life philosophy. He expressed unparalleled enthusiasm for a new project in the works, of a “Mobile Musuem” exhibiting his Wild Horses, with proceeds going towards the building of kindergartens in Indonesia.

And to anchor the day we found our way to the Broadway location of Safaviah, the host for Cocktails, followed by a Green Design Conversation with Thom Filicia, who is serving as spokesperson for the Sustainable Furnishings Council. With the popularity of his public persona (appearances on Oprah, Ellen and the View, just to name a few) he serves the Council well….not to mention his status as one of House Beautiful’s top 10 designers etc etc etc., adding punch/power to his name. Click here for photos of our time at Sable Island Horse Gallery and Safaviah/Thom Filicia event.

Was Thom's birthday on Monday. We "released" him after some photo ops.

Just writing this out reminds me of the amazing program we were so priviledged to experience in the grand city of New York.  The common thread of each event/presentation was a personablness (realness if you will), sense of passion and depth (yes, I know I’ve used that word extensively here, but it works), which was nothing less than inspirational.

And all of this came to be under the fine planning and direction of Betty Lyn Eller, the chairman of the planning committee.

Thank you Betty Lyn and WITHIT for giving such a window on Design. I had high expectations and they were met and more.

Ruth

P.S. In the interest of sharing the wealth of this weekend with my audience I will be offering a number of giveaways…just wanted to set the stage here by giving a synopsis, one which I’ll refer to going forward in subsequent blog giveaways.

But first, Part 2: The Participants of this Event, by way of introducing you to some of my fellow WITHIT members….look for this next week.