Governor Shumlin Celebrates GWD!

As the rain poured down over Vermont last Friday night, nothing could dampen the spirits of the GWD team as we celebrated the grand opening of our new factory and showroom with friends, family and Governor Shumlin! Check out the photo of the whole gang.

It was so gratifying to see everyone having a really lovely time in the new space. I think back to when I was just a little kid running around the old GWD and though our old spaced served us well for 25 years we were bursting at the seams and it was time to move on. Seeing my dad speak about this company that he and my mom built from scratch with the Governor standing by made me incredibly proud.

The food by Sugarsnap was amazing, the wine from Cheese Traders was delicious, the many babies who joined us were angels...all in all I'd say it was a perfect evening!

Fancy Fabrics on a Budget - Top Five Ways to Economize Your Decorating

So, it's a recession, right? Which means, among other things, it's almost nauseating to think about splurging big-time on that much-favored but higher end fabric for large scale decorating of your room.

Well, what about using the high-end fashion prints for accents? The interior design writers at About.com came up with some creative and budget-friendly solutions for how to pull out the bling in a room while still saving some cash. (Content courtesy of About.com)

Here were our favorites from their picks:

1. Valance or Cornice: Traditional valances use lots of gathers - and fabric. Nowadays both valances and cornices are simpler, some requiring flat panels of fabric which will generally require minimal yardage.
   
   
2. Drapery Border: The leading edges or center split of a pair of draperies are the vertical edges closest to the center of a window. Dress up this seam with a flat border of expensive fabric, sewn into drapery panels made of less-expensive yardage goods.
   
   
3. Flat Panel Cafe Curtain: Forget all the and measured pinch-pleats. Next time you need to cover the bottom half of a window for privacy or color consider designing a flat panel curtain. It's easier to sew, and won't get lost in the folds.
   
   
4. Pillow Front: A small accent pillow or a larger bed sham allows you to use expensive fabric on the front of the piece and something simple on the rest.
   
   
5. Border or Hem: A contrasting hem for a bed skirt, drapery panel, or a tablecloth, is one way to spread an expensive fabric around the room.