One of the benefits of being a part of boutique shows is that I get to meet other business owners, many of them also mom-preneurs who have an idea, inject their creativity, and are making it happen!  I have already picked up some pretty cute stuff for Christmas (and for myself!), and am so excited to give something that is so original with great quality to my friends and family.  I want to introduce you to some of these women as well as I think you will enjoy them as much as I do!

Maisydaisy “charming accents for your little princess” at maisydaisy.com – Lisa Steele has quite an idea for girly-chic design.  From hair accents to clothing items, she has a really fun look that you may have already seen in area boutiques.  Lisa will even come to your home and do trunk shows for you and your girlfriends – how fun would that be?!

Alley 13 at alley13.com – Allison Krupp has created a line of knit hats with interchangeable flowers for little and grown-up girls alike.  I was so excited to purchase my own chartreuse hat with a funky black flower – and have I ever gotten great comments on it!  All kinds of designs, you really have to try one on to find the perfect fit for you.  If you can make it to the Sassy Mei event next month you can pick your perfect winter accessory!

Cloudy Day Creations at cloudydaycreations.blogspot.com – Dani Cloud is a sweet mom with a sweet touch on hair bows, clippies, and hair accessory hangers.  A perfect match for moms who are looking for clean but fashionable design for their little one.

As I participate in more boutique events I’m looking forward to being introduced to more great women with great ideas.  Check back soon as I share who I’m meeting and where to get your hands on the new great gifts for this holiday season!

Many of you know I am a mental health therapist, and over the past 12 years in private practice many little (and big) faces have come and gone through my door. If you were to come to my office, you would see sitting on my small green couch a very sad and worn looking pillow.  I purchased it about 6 years ago, and have been trying to retire it for the past 2 years – but it has been reclaimed from the storage cabinet, out of the hefty bag destined for the dumpster, and retrieved from the back of my car.   Why?  Not because it looks pretty, I can assure you that! I think is has much more to do with all those who have held that pillow being comforted by the cool satin against their skin - and it’s just the right size and “poofiness” to hug and hold. The sheer fabric with inlaid velvet flowers is no longer there after hours of being traced with a finger or pet like a kitten.  Two of the four tassels remain, and I remember fondly the time when a fidgety 7 year old was giving his hands something to do, and accidentally pulled off the tassel and quickly said “Let’s tape it back on – I really like these things.”

We all respond to texture, the tactile value of an object.  Our favorite sweater or cuddle blanket has usually been chosen because of how it feels, and how good it makes us feel.  This is why you will see textures celebrated with Sorrisi pillows.  I have taken an extra measure of time to choose interesting fabrics and trims for each pillow so they are as fun to feel as they are to look at.   From ostrich feathers on the Diva pillow, to a soft furry teddy bear with satin paw pads, to a vinyl red truck – each pillow has quite an extensive and varied list of fabrics and notions especially chosen for your child’s little fingers to trace, pet, hug and hold.

As I sit here writing, I am aware of the brisk wind whipping through the trees and the leaves falling, and yet I remain contentedly cozy in my favorite chocolate brown fleece camping shirt.  Ah . . .

I could not have asked for a more perfect evening!  Hosted at Marie Haggins Accessories in Kent Station, the venue was absolutely perfect.  My good friends, Norm and Vandy Laurie with their friend Allen provided very cool tunes, there was plenty of great food and beverages, (thanks in part to Panera Bakery, Wild Wheat, and Top Food donations), the evening was perfectly warm, and people sauntering by could not help but step in to join in on the fun.   Friends, key people in the development of Sorrisi Décor, and visitors mingled as thank you’s were made and names were drawn for exciting giveaways.  The pillows were a huge success, and most of the sales included the recent addition of embroidering the name on the pillow for an extra touch.  I was so blessed to have Medical Teams International there, with Kathi Karnosh and Kelley Charlston answering questions and being available to visit with all of us.  For all of you that were there, thank you!  And for those who couldn’t make it, you were missed!  It truly was a perfect launch for Sorrisi Décor!

After brainstorming with friends, painting bookshelves, creating pillars, and adding A LOT of toulle,  Sorrisi Décor made its event debut at the Women, Wine, and Wow event in the Kent Showare Center on Friday, May 8^th.  Hundreds of women came from the surrounding area to visit the booths, have appetizers (although they ran out awfully quick) and a glass of wine, watch presentations, and enjoy an evening with friends.  I was blessed to have the official help of my friend Stacy Walker, and the unofficial help of many girlfriends walking around with their Sorrisi bags telling everyone about “these great pillows they just had to see!”   Great feedback, good sales, and a fun evening with friends – overall, a pretty fun night!

Our dental team arrived in the town of Tominan, Mali after working the previous week in the city of San. We knew the need continued to be great and we had four days to treat as many patients as we could before returning home.

Villagers soon gathered and we learned one lady walked 15 miles to seek treatment for a painful tooth. Soon a patient was called and it was apparent that the man had a severe abscess and that it was draining from the inside to the outside of his cheek. Dr. Bill Melby from Molalla, Oregon and assistants Becky Dickinson and Kathi Karnosh immediately began treating the infection. The man was Kalifa Kone’ from the village of Kiribara and we learned he had been suffering for two years with abscessed teeth.

Dr. Melby realized how serious his condition was and knew that without help, Kalifa might not have long to live. Much of the infection was drained, but it was important for Kalifa to return morning and night for additional treatment.

On our last day Becky Dickinson, an oral surgery assistant from Huntersville, North Carolina instructed Kalifa’s wife on how to care for the effected area and explained to her the importance of taking the prescribed antibiotics. Kathi Karnosh gave toothbrushes to his wife for their seven children and through an interpreter explained the importance of oral hygiene.

At a goodbye ceremony,The pastor of the local church assured us that Kalifa’s health would be monitored and that the congregation would pray for his recovery. Most gratifying of all however, was the heartfelt thanks and smile from Kalifa and his wife as we shook hands and waved goodbye.

It all began late one night as I was lying on the floor, desperately hoping that my 8 year old wouldn’t look over the side of his bed to see the tooth fairy looking an awful lot like his pajama-clad mother.  For those of you who are parents, you have probably been there yourself.  My son had lost his tooth, and then had done such a fabulous job hiding it under his pillow that even combining efforts with my husband didn’t lead to success in discovering his pearly white.  Instead, we were quite successful in causing enough commotion to bring our son to a very alert and curious state – which was when my husband made a quick exit and I hit the deck.  I was there for a full 20 minutes.

You can imagine many things in a still 20 minutes, such as . . . “we should create a fun and special place, a designated place, to put such treasures as a lost tooth.”  In fact, I was busy creating pillows for nieces and nephews for the upcoming holiday, why not create a pillow – one that would match each of their interests, and would incorporate a pocket for the lost tooth and deposited money?

With the upcoming holidays I had also been reflecting on my many blessings, as well as how many there were in need.  One particular area of need that was heavy on my heart were the recently adopted orphans I had worked with that were too embarrassed to smile because of the deplorable state of their teeth.   Nutritional deficits, lack of hygiene and access to dental care had taken their toll – and at the happiest time of the year, these little ones were trying not to smile.   What could I do that might help, even a little bit, to bring back their smiles?

That’s when Sorrisi Décor was born.  To take my intuition as a mom, my love for creativity and design, and my hearts desire to take away pain and bring back a smile – wrap it into one big idea, and you have Sorrisi Décor.

When you’re a parent, 20 still minutes is quite a gift!

As Sorrisi is able to send teams to Liberia and Mali, we will include blogs from the volunteers that make it all happen. We can’t wait to find out what the donations from Sorrisi will be able to accomplish in these regions, here the stories of the locals, and the experiences of the volunteers. Can you imagine practicing dentistry in an outside tent, limited water and electricity, and a suitcase of supplies – all the while being surrounded with the locals watching your every move? Soon you’ll be able to hear firsthand what the purchase of your cute pillow is accomplishing half way around the world!