Amish Country

parallel parking

Part of the pleasure of being located in North East Ohio, is being adjacent to the Amish Community nearby. My business has developed a need to visit this area at least once a week and the landscape is always changing.

down a chairmaker's driveway

buggy for pleasure riding and commuting

workhorses do all the field work that a combine would

During the growing season, every week, different vegetables and fruits are available at roadside stands. During the Winter, occasional snows transform the landscape.

It has become a joy for me to discover something different every time I visit the region. I have also gotten to know several of the business people that I do business with and have shared my knowledge of Judaism with them while I have learned about their faith.

There are many different varieties of beliefs in the Amish, which is divided into different "orders". Each order is led by a lay person who has drawn a "lot" to become the local prayer leader. Most of the orders do not permit their faces to be photographed. So, I have focused on the lush landscape and also have documented many factories.

I plan on sharing some of the factory shots in my next post.

April in High Point

I am excited about the many things that Twitter has brought into my life and business. One recent fortuitous turn of events has come about in relation to my next Market in High Point. I approached Carisa Bell, a Seattle designer who has not previously participated in High Point about the possibility of helping to design my showroom this market. She and I "met" on Twitter where she is @carisamarie11. I liked her design sense, her fresh take on urban decor and her interest in repurposing and recycled and "green" materials. It turns out that she also admired my furniture designs and thus a conversation was started. I was pleased to hear that she was not only willing to do the work but was enthusiastic about the project. In discussing needs we had for lighting and floor treatments, we first began to think about companies we knew, either in her business or that I had met in High Point. But, it occurred to us both that it made much more sense to approach people we knew on Twitter that have great products in those categories. That led us to very appreciative support from Zia Priven Lighting (@ziapriven) and also from Meredith Heron Design's (@meredithheron) new rug/hide line. High Point will be her debut. I am thrilled to be working with this group, and we will be featuring photos of the project as it comes together. Stay tuned and be sure to visit us in Salon, G-7013 in the Suites at Market Square building this Market.