Leigh and I were thrilled when we were approached by a local TV station about doing a segment on our business. When asked which one of us wanted do the talking during the interview -- there was no doubt -- loud-mouth Caterina, of course!!! As usual, I always have something to say and Leigh would rather be off camera being the brains of the business!
We hope you enjoy!
Caterina
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Birmingham Chapter of WCAA host Scot Robbins
We recently had the pleasure of hosting the seminar "Roman Shades And Creative Cascades" with Scot Robbins. Scot showed us his techniques for producing beautiful roman shades and innovative cascades. This event was sponsored by the Greater Birmingham Chapter of WCAA. Everyone had a great time learning how to take our business to the next level with the help of Scot's vast knowledge and experience.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Hoover High Interior Design Class Visits Pate-Meadows Designs
About 20 students from the Hoover High Interior Design Class visited our studio on Tuesday. Teacher Teddie Butcher, organized the event. We met her when we spoke at the Alabama Association of Family & Consumer Sciences.
Hopefully they learned something in addition to how fabulous Caterina is!!!!
Our Picture Gallery is Updated
Hugs and kisses to Anna (Leigh's daughter) for uploading all the wonderful pictures that our customers have sent in. Be sure to check out our picture gallery with the all the new photos. Sorry we got a little behind, but keep sending in all those wonderful pictures!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
UNDER THE GUN - DOWN TO THE WIRE - BOTTOMS IN A CRACK. . . . . . .
OMG - We are pulling our hair out - still writing patterns, doing photography, making valances, new brochures, and on and on and on. . . . will we ever get these new patterns finished????? Oh, absolutely!!!! We always do!!! But if you are one of our loyal customers waiting to see your beautiful photos on the gallery - please forgive us and be patient - we WILL get it done - just as soon as we get the new patterns to press - just a few more weeks. . . . . hopefully. .. . . . . no - definitely!!! Then we can breath again!!!!!!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Getting New Patterns Ready
One big step in getting our new patterns ready for marketing is doing the photography. We have set up our own photography studio in our loft and take the pictures ourselves. Leigh has taught herself photography and Caterina does the staging. You know we are a bootstrap company!
Caterina painting our window for photography
All was going well last week until the dogs knocked over our camera and broke a $400 lens!! So we had to go to Lowe's and buy some construction fencing to keep them out.
Dogs on the outside looking in.
Cricket watches as Leigh snaps a picture.
Caterina painting our window for photography
All was going well last week until the dogs knocked over our camera and broke a $400 lens!! So we had to go to Lowe's and buy some construction fencing to keep them out.
Dogs on the outside looking in.
Cricket watches as Leigh snaps a picture.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Pattern Names
We sometimes get customers asking where we get the names for our patterns and, of course, there is a story behind each one. So here we will give a little background on the names of our patterns.
Cuff-Top Valance:
This was our very first pattern created in 1996. This design was based on a valance that Leigh had designed for a client's bay window and had entered in the Window Fashions Design Contest. She won 2nd place in the specialty window category. At first, we named our valance patterns with descriptive terms.
Pull-Up Valance & Lace-Up Valance:
More descriptive terms...BORING. So from then on, we decided to give the rest of our patterns real names.
Emily Valance:
This pattern was named after a dear high school friend of Leigh's that died of breast cancer in her mid-30's. In addition, Emily's mother was Leigh's home-economics teacher and played a part in Leigh's learning to sew.
Haley Valance and Kasey Valance:
These two were named after Caterina's two daughters.
Catherine Valance:
This was named after Leigh's daughter, Anna Catherine. We had already named one of our Southern Living Patterns "Anna". But she wanted one of our Show Home Patterns named after her, so we used her middle name "Catherine".
Claudine Valance:
Named after Caterina's mother.
Morrison:
Leigh's dad wanted a pattern named after him, but "Jim" didn't fit, so we gave it his surname or "Morrison"...he was happy.
Madelyn Valance and Eleanor Valance:
We couldn't leave out the Mother-in-Laws!
Melissa Valance:
Melissa was named after Caterina's sister-in-law. She was kind enough to let us use her kitchen for photography.
Julia Valance:
This was named after Leigh's sister. She provided her wonderful breakfast room for photography.
Dana Valance:
Dana is a good friend and fellow designer who offered her beautiful sitting room for photography.
Erin Valance and Marley Valance:
These names came about when Anna, Leigh's daughter, and her friend, Leslie, were helping out after school getting orders out and assembling patterns for us. We had two new patterns coming out and needed names. Leslie volunteered her middle name "Erin" and Anna volunteered one of her favorite singers name--Bob "Marley". Sounded good to us!
Abigail Valance:
Named after Caterina's precious granddaughter born in 2005.
Delaine Valance:
This one is named in memory of Leigh's dear sister-in-law who died at the young age of 45 from an extended illness.
Julie Anne Panels:
Julie Anne is a good friend and former employee at Southern Living Magazine. We did these panels in her living room which was featured in a past issue of Southern Living Magazine.
Cuff-Top Panels and Floppy-Top Panels:
We sort of reverted to those descriptive names. We'll have to do better in the future.
Speaking of the future...We will name one of our upcoming patterns after Missy, Leigh precious pomapoo that passed away last summer (see previous post). We're also planning on naming one after Tracy, our wonderful assistant (see previous post).
Cuff-Top Valance:
This was our very first pattern created in 1996. This design was based on a valance that Leigh had designed for a client's bay window and had entered in the Window Fashions Design Contest. She won 2nd place in the specialty window category. At first, we named our valance patterns with descriptive terms.
Pull-Up Valance & Lace-Up Valance:
More descriptive terms...BORING. So from then on, we decided to give the rest of our patterns real names.
Emily Valance:
This pattern was named after a dear high school friend of Leigh's that died of breast cancer in her mid-30's. In addition, Emily's mother was Leigh's home-economics teacher and played a part in Leigh's learning to sew.
Haley Valance and Kasey Valance:
These two were named after Caterina's two daughters.
Catherine Valance:
This was named after Leigh's daughter, Anna Catherine. We had already named one of our Southern Living Patterns "Anna". But she wanted one of our Show Home Patterns named after her, so we used her middle name "Catherine".
Claudine Valance:
Named after Caterina's mother.
Morrison:
Leigh's dad wanted a pattern named after him, but "Jim" didn't fit, so we gave it his surname or "Morrison"...he was happy.
Madelyn Valance and Eleanor Valance:
We couldn't leave out the Mother-in-Laws!
Melissa Valance:
Melissa was named after Caterina's sister-in-law. She was kind enough to let us use her kitchen for photography.
Julia Valance:
This was named after Leigh's sister. She provided her wonderful breakfast room for photography.
Dana Valance:
Dana is a good friend and fellow designer who offered her beautiful sitting room for photography.
Erin Valance and Marley Valance:
These names came about when Anna, Leigh's daughter, and her friend, Leslie, were helping out after school getting orders out and assembling patterns for us. We had two new patterns coming out and needed names. Leslie volunteered her middle name "Erin" and Anna volunteered one of her favorite singers name--Bob "Marley". Sounded good to us!
Abigail Valance:
Named after Caterina's precious granddaughter born in 2005.
Delaine Valance:
This one is named in memory of Leigh's dear sister-in-law who died at the young age of 45 from an extended illness.
Julie Anne Panels:
Julie Anne is a good friend and former employee at Southern Living Magazine. We did these panels in her living room which was featured in a past issue of Southern Living Magazine.
Cuff-Top Panels and Floppy-Top Panels:
We sort of reverted to those descriptive names. We'll have to do better in the future.
Speaking of the future...We will name one of our upcoming patterns after Missy, Leigh precious pomapoo that passed away last summer (see previous post). We're also planning on naming one after Tracy, our wonderful assistant (see previous post).
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