Career Day at East Middle School

My neighbor had so kindly asked me to talk about what I do to a few groups of kids at the middle school. She knows I make curtains, and that can be a career, right? But along with that, Pam and I have this store we run and a few other hats we wear on any given day. Writing an actual speech is not me, so I rambled on about what we do, what I do, what I have done, and how I got there.


I showed them the storyboards for the MSSU Alumni Center (the mansion) and talked about the process of doing that as a non-college educated decorator (we have degrees, but not in design). I explained the use of the various computer programs we utilized to get the floorplans drawn and show the window treatments we have planned.

I finally went back to the beginning and encouraged any of them that felt they had an eye for design or a desire to create something to buy a few books and actually read the good information that is out there before they get too far along in their endeavors. It's all about being self-educated in this field, at least to begin with, then find the other education out there that is being offered for those who love to create. We need more upholsterers, drapery makers, and small business owners in this world. If not, we'll all end up with homes that look exactly alike---and all purchased from the big box store!

I guess that's my rant for the weekend, boys and girls of East Middle School, if you are reading this. Just create something for yourself, and if you loved the process, try perfecting it. You might just wind up with something unique.