As I said yesterday, 7W was busy, especially up at PrintSource. It seemed to me that there were buyers in almost every booth. Now, PrintSource was only open for two days, and there were many booths of artists and studios from France, Germany and the U.K. Of course they combine this show with visits to regular customers….but still…. they must do fairly good business at the show to make it worthwhile. Those of us who have done (do) trade shows, peddling our artwork, know JUST how time consuming, energy consuming and expensive a proposition this is. You know who I’m talking to! So, it’s gratifying to me, as artist and agent, to think that a show can really pay off… We will come back to this subject in future posts!
On to some specifics. I had a fun visit at Zak Designs, always full of color!
sorry: a little out of focus!
At the other end of the color/design spectrum, I found some wonderful, more formal looks from La Villa Collections. They were previewing several striking and handsome collections with hand applied silver. Everything here is made in Italy: beautiful without being pretentious. It was the first of several showrooms highlighting the use of silver in dinnerware! It’s the details, remember?
And just down the hall was EuroCeramica with more beautiful silver, these all made in Portugal:
this one was stunning: silver border on cream.
I walked down Fifth to 41 Madison, “The New York Merchandise Mart” . It was opened in 1974, with 23 floors of showrooms of “leading manufacturers of tableware, housewares and gift products”. A long the way I passed all the buildings where I used to hang out: visions of dragging those huge portfolios on cold calls (not one of my better memories); dealing with stylists in bedding, linens, tabletop, wovens; my job with Karavan and our showroom at 295 Fifth…the highlight of that job was the trip to Heimtex and on to India to work in the factories. No, that wasn’t just a highlight of that job, but one of the highlights of my life experiences: our main textile supplier was up in Panipat, north of New Delhi. He is a truly unique and wonderful individual. Years after I had left the job, we had remained friends, and I will always remember his phone call on a very very snowy Christmas day, sending his best wishes to me and my family! It is memories, and friends, like that that make life good…
So…. on to meetings at 41. No, I can’t reveal those right now: we are negotiating with two different companies for two of the artists I represent.
But I WILL show you a sneak preview:
This is “Merry Merry Topiary”! This, and may others, are from artist Rebecca Harrell. All her collections will be previewing in July at the Atlanta GiftMart…I’ll tell you who the manufacturer is as the time gets nearer! It is adorable, has many pieces in the collection (some really unique shapes) and has already been well received by some of the majors! Way to go Rebecca!
One last image of Madison Square Park on a beautiful spring day:
Fort. The building is located o n 
I’m linking to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch and her wonderful Tablescape Thurday! Madison Square Park and was opened in 1974 as the New York Merchandise Mart. It contains 23 floors of showrooms from over 80 leading manufacturers of tableware, tableware housewares and gift products. The outstanding design and quality construction of the showrooms is unique in North America, and features include:y One Madison Avenue, a Rudin Family Project, is a modern style glass and steel building designed by noted a The building is located on Madison Square Park and was opened in 1974 as the New York Merchandise Mart. It contains 23 floors of showrooms from over 80 leading manufacturers of tableware, tableware housewares and gift products. The outstanding design and quality const
