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I became interested in the graphic design/marketing field when I was 16. I was working at a garden center in Connecticut, and the owner asked if I would like to create the advertising campaigns. I replied, "Sounds good to me", knowing nothing about the industry, but thinking it would be better than the manual labor I was doing.

In those days, the early 1990's, we still cut and pasted advertisements to make "camera ready" copy. A few years later, I got really bold and asked the owner of the business for a loan for $4,000 so that I could buy a computer, a printer and a scanner. He agreed and loaned me the money, (interest free). A big THANK YOU to Dave and Cheryl Burnett for that opportunity! So, like I said, it was the early 1990's, I was able to design their newspaper ads and newsletters, all from the comfort of my own home! I was beginning to like the idea of working in my pajamas!

As time passed, I went back to work full time at the garden center as Marketing Coordinator. The entire staff worked endlessly developing the image, and keeping things timely and interesting. But most of all, we got REALLY good at selling things. We sold and sold and sold. People would get to the store and walk away with cartloads of plants, and soil amendments that even they didn't know they had to have until they got to the store. See, that is the art of marketing... It's called impulse buying, and once you understand that, you can sell an icicle to an eskimo!

In time, that garden center became one of the largest and most profitable garden centers in all of Connecticut. I handled a very large budget, created the campaigns, typeset all the newspaper ads and direct mail pieces and much more. I worked with many advertising sales representatives to get the best "bang for your buck". I was known to bring in all of the radio salespeople in during one meeting to tell them what I had to spend. This made them work harder for the sale. Looking back, I guess it was a bit bold of me, but oh well.

I worked with all walks of life, employees from managers right down to the heart of the business - the cashiers! I learned how to motivate them to give their best work, and more. I learned what to do and what NOT to do.

With all of the knowledge I had gained, and remembering how much I like to work in my pajamas late into the night, I decided to take another step forward and began my own business. That was September of 1997. I have been a "stay-at-home" mom to my beautiful children and operated this business as a way to fufill my need to design. I am always grateful for the opportunity that God has given me; to work at home while raising my children. I juggle the two effortlessly (okay, so I'm stretching the truth a bit), but I wouldn't have it any other way.

As I look at my children from across the table, I wonder what I did to deserve such gifts.