Next week Creative Women is having an After Party (after our holiday sale) to thank some of the people in Vermont who have helped me start, stay with, and grow Creative Women. It was fun putting the guest list together and realizing how many people have been part of Creative Women. To them ... thanks.

Along the way (from beginning days until today) there's another group of supporters who have talked me through tough times, given me ideas/feedback (not always exactly what I've wanted to hear), even had enough faith in me, that they've asked me for feedback. That's great for the ego when someone you respect asks you for help. Can't invite all of you to our After Party, because you don't live around here, but thanks for all your time.

Today, I've been thinking about the media, and how much they have supported Creative Women. In the past week, three different magazines have featured us on their pages or sites. Over the years, it's been exciting to see our products selected by stylists with good taste ... and how helpful to our business.  So thanks,to all the media who has supported us. You've made a difference to me personally and to Creative Women.

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Then, they featured us, along with a number of other elegant objects, in a holiday room setting.  Take a look at Lonny.

and see our lovely Ethiopian table runner.

Today, Foam Magazine (from California) emailed to tell me that Creative Women is sharing space with other businesses that "care" in their Holiday Gift Guide. Take a little trip around Foam ... 

And finally, Country Business highlighted our Beyond Burlap runner ... a great holiday alternative to the red and green theme.

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Thanks media. Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving ... and know that Creative Women thanks you.

Ellen

I've never thought of Halloween as an opportunity to learn something about the design process, but looking back on last weekend, I now see Halloween differently.

I spent the weekend in Providence, RI with my grandkids. I volunteered to help the 3 kids cut their pumpkins.  From the start, I should have realized that pumpkin cutting had entered a new era. First, we went on line and got directions (I didn't tell them that I have been cutting pumpkins, annually, for the last 45+ years). Then we looked at pumpkin designing sites; there's been a lot of thinking outside the pumpkin in the last few years. Amazing designs ... way beyond a smiling or frowning face. And controversy ... do you cut off the top or make a whole in the back; do you scoop out the gook before or after you cut out your design?

Being a modern grandmother, and not wanting to infringe of their creativity, I suggested that each one create their own design and go about it anyway they wanted. So,

• one chose an oblong pumpkin (aren't round ones premiun?), laid it on its side, and carved a crescent moon, a star, and meteor;
• next one cut out three stars to light up the Halloween night;
• the third one, Mr. Retro, asked how I cut my pumpkins, when "you were young." I told him there was only one way ... triangle eyes and nose, and either a mean or happy, big mouth, with fangs hanging out of it. That suited his personality just fine.

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I drove back to Vermont that night; at 10PM, I got out the pumpkin carving knife and got going. The kids had challenged my pumpkin carving rut ... my pumpkin had to have a face (it's tradition and makes me feel good), I scooped out the gook after I carved the face, and I created a pumpkin face without any triangles. How freeing ...

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