Update your bathroom to a spa! {Revised}

This was originally posted back in May, but I'm reposting it with a few updates because these items are back on the Weekly Deals list in my Willow House e-outlet right now!

This will be a quick post -- I just want you to see the possibilities for a great budget bathroom makeover available due to our Willow House weekly deals on the e-outlet, combined with our Customer Special.

I grew up in Arizona, but really as a beach girl. Our vacations each summer were generally spent in San Diego enjoying sand and surf. Even now, sitting on a beach pretending to read is one of the most relaxing things I can think of. The sun, the breeze, the sound of the waves, the soothing colors... it's the perfect combination!

In the midst of spring cleaning, I love to get a fresh look in my bathroom. Here's a great way to do that without breaking the bank, just in time for summer visitors. Simply take advantage of three awesome deals available through Sunday night, May 7. The colors in this combination just make me think of the beach and of the spa.

Here's the look:

This week only, you can purchase these items at huge discounts as Willow House e-outlet weekly deals:

• Cabana Shower Curtain - regularly $69.95, now only $22.96
• Cabana Bath Rug - regularly $42.95, now only $13.96
• Cabana Hand Towels (set of 2) - regularly $29.95, now only $9.96

Wow -- that's $142.95 in bathroom makeover for only $46.88! But it gets even better! Add one of our beautiful new products to your countertop or spa tub ledge -- the Athena Crackle Vase adds a gentle pop of color -- use sunflowers for a friendly wake up, or white hydrangea for a gentle hello. The narrow profile is space-friendly, and the $34.96 price tag is wallet-friendly, especially since you can take advantage of our customer special after placing the Cabana products in your shopping cart, making the Athena Crackle Vase just $17.48!

This brings the grand total for your bathroom makeover to less than $65.00, for over $175 worth of beautiful products -- can I hear a ka-ching?!

It's easy to order! Just visit my website and click the link to my e-outlet. From there, simply search on a keyword from each item to find what you're looking for. And feel free to browse around -- so many beautiful products and many discounted on the e-outlet, as well. Happy shopping, and enjoy your new spa bathroom!



© Suzanne Jackson 2011.
{I'd love for you to share this post with friends, but please share the full link. Common courtesy dictates that you do not copy the post into your own blog without proper attribution. Thanks!}

Design 101: The gift of textiles

 

Textiles are the quickest and easiest way to bring style, color, pattern, and texture into a room. Whatever your taste, snuggly throws, cheerful crochet, fabulous fabrics, cozy quilts, and squishy pillows, are all a gift to the home decorator.

Jane Brocket, author

Our Willow House design team used lovely textiles to bring warmth and interest into this Birmingham loft. Heritage Wall Art hung from the homeowner's rustic ladder brings color and texture to a focal point. A neutral sofa is livened by the contrast of crisp stripes and soft scrolling on the Embroidered Scroll and Stripe Pillow and the Scrollwork Oversized Throw. A zebra-skin ottoman provides a surprising, yet neutral, element to the room. It's topped by the stylish Parisian Ottoman Tray, providing a base for the Heritage Hurricane and one of our new Demibottles and adding light, warmth, and color to the room.


All of these products (and more!) can be purchased through my Willow House online store, or through a Willow House in-home design workshop. Or, if you are a discount shopper, host a design workshop of your own to receive discounted and free products! Beginning August 1, 2011, our host rewards program has been improved even more!


Note: My August 2011 hosts receive DOUBLE HOST DOLLARS! Host a $500 party and select $200 in free products! Host a $1000 party and select $500 in free products! {This applies to both in-home and virtual parties.} Contact me today to reserve your date!

© Suzanne Jackson 2011.
{I'd love for you to share this post with friends, but please share the full link. Common courtesy dictates that you do not copy the post into your own blog without proper attribution. Thanks!}

I'm part of a fun summer linky party...

I jumped into a fun summer linky party over at Organize and Decorate Everything, sharing my impromptu Summer Squash Salad. Won't you stop by and check out the party, or even join the fun?

Refined Organic Tablesetting

Okay, so I'm going to be telling my age here, but when I first started feathering my nest, the hot decorating colors were mauve and wedgewood blue (makes me a bit nauseous to think about now). Country was all the rage, and I do mean country: I'm talking light oak, tons of dotted cotton ruffles, and geese.

Thankfully, we have so many more options when it comes to decorating these days. Lines are blurred between styles, so much so that they have morphed into rustic modern, refined organic, and more unexpected labels. It's quite freeing, actually. We can incorporate so many favorites into one room by tying in a single element using color, texture, or style.

Here's a great example of this fusion of styles.

The Ikat tablecloth is organic and fun, and the colors are trendy, yet understated. The flatware is classic; its clean lines blend with any style, and the damask stamp adds a special flair. The dinnerware echoes the tranquil look of smooth riverstones. The styling reminds me of what I call "grandma dishes," but with an organic edge. Can you see the delicate braided relief around the dinner plate edge? And what about the medallion stamp on the salad plate? Each of these little details add boutique style to everyday durability. I love the little bowl -- the tulip shape makes it so special. And the glass goblet brightens up the table.

For those of you who are interested, these are the brand new Willow House products (available beginning August 2011) featured in this post:

• Adelaide Flatware
• Riverstone Collection Dinnerware
• Salud Glass Goblets

Each of these products can be purchased through my design workshops, as well as through my online store. (Contact me for details on getting these products FREE when you host a design workshop or virtual party -- August 2011 hosts can get up to 50% of their total party sales in free products!).

{I love that some of the new Willow House Jewelry by Sara Blaine gives a nod to the details of our latest tableware... it's all Simply Good Design!}



© Suzanne Jackson 2011.
{I'd love for you to share this post with friends, but please share the full link. Common courtesy dictates that you do not copy the post into your own blog without proper attribution. Thanks!}

Barista bar a la Willow House

When Willow House launched its first catalog eleven months ago, I fell in deep like. Now, I do truly like all Willow House products and, like a mother with her children, I try not to play favorites. But there are a few products that have become my go-to's because of their extreme versatility and beauty -- and the French Wire Tiered Stand tops the list. The French Wire Tiered Stand did not come in my kit, but I used my very first host rewards toward this baby, and I've used it every day since I unpacked it.

Actually, my daughter used it first. The first morning after the French Wire Tiered Stand arrived, I came into the kitchen to see each tier holding a lovely variety of breakfast foods. She had placed bagels, English muffins, fruit, instant oatmeal packets, and more on the tiers, creating a vertical breakfast buffet. And she tied a lovely bow on top. (Where was my camera that morning?)

Besides using it to serve food, it also served as a great fall decor item in my living room. Leaves, gourds, and mini pumpkins brought autumn color inside, reminding us of all the wonderful fall traditions we enjoy as a family -- visiting the pumpkin and apple farms, trips to Dahlonega, Thanksgiving with family, and more.

At Christmas, I used my beautiful crackle glass ornaments and fresh pine sprigs, then the family added notes of gratitude on red and green paper. It was a great reminder of what the season is all about to help us keep the right focus.

But now, I think we're really hit the jackpot for this piece. We were kindly given a Keurig coffee maker this past Christmas. While there are some interesting K-Cup organizers out there, none of them really appealed to me. They seemed to take up too much counter space for just one thing, I didn't like the idea of the time it takes to put a K-Cup in each little holder, and the under-the-coffee-maker drawer style won't worker with our cabinets.

As I was putting away the Christmas decorations, I realized that my French Wire Tiered Stand would be available again. After sitting pretty for several months, she was ready for word duty again. I removed the middle tier so that the height wouldn't interfere with my upper cabinets (and now I use the middle tier for a bread basket, riser, or pie plate holder). I put our everyday K-Cups in the small upper tier (Green Mountain Breakfast Blend, if you must know). My Verde Berry Bowl sits on the large bottom tier and holds an assortment of K-Cups for guests. I pulled out my old faithful Southern Sayings dip bowl (Southern Living at Home) to hold snacks, and one of my mother's vintage Pyrex refrigerator dishes holds a variety of tea bags (which are much cheaper than K-Cup tea). Mama's old teabag caddy also stands ready for service.

I love the way everything is at our fingertips, but I can easily clear the counter for cleaning. In case you're wondering where all the creamer and sugar are, we store them in a cabinet above the coffee area. To save time and money, we buy large sizes and just use them right out of the container (until company comes -- I do provide prettier hospitality for them!). My personal barista prefers it this way and, since he makes me the perfect cup of coffee each morning, I'm happy to oblige!

{I linked up with I'm An Organizing Junkie !}

© Suzanne Jackson 2011.
{I'd love for you to share this post with friends, but please share the full link. Common courtesy dictates that you do not copy the post into your own blog without proper attribution. Thanks!}

FAQs for Willow House Jewelry by Sara Blaine

You have questions? We have answers!  I hope this list will be helpful to you as you explore Willow House Jewelry by Sara Blaine. Please contact me to ask any other questions you might have, or to request your invitation to become a consultant! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can sell the jewelry?
Our jewelry line will be available exclusively through Willow House Consultants.

When will the jewelry division launch?
We are conducting an exclusive limited launch in October 2011, followed by a full launch in January 2012.

Will we be able to display both home décor and jewelry at the same show?
No. We encourage you to hold separate jewelry and décor parties in order to maximize your party sales and booking opportunities.

Can jewelry items and décor items be combined on the same party order?
Jewelry and décor cannot be processed on the same party order.

If I just want to sell jewelry, do I have to sign up with the home décor division?
No, but we will not be taking reservations for Jewelry by Sara Blaine exclusively until after October 1. We are accepting Jewelry Kit Reservations now for Willow House Consultants who are enrolled in our home décor division. If you’d like to join our décor division for $49 today, you will then be able to place your reservation for the jewelry division on your Workstation.

Can I earn free jewelry when I sell Willow House décor products this summer?
Yes, if you are a Consultant who has purchased a Jewelry Kit Reservation. You must purchase a Jewelry Kit Reservation prior to the close of the month to be eligible to qualify for free jewelry in that month. If you wait until July to purchase a Jewelry Kit Reservation, you will not earn any free jewelry in June, regardless of your sales. You must be a Consultant in good standing at the time the jewelry is awarded. To learn more about Bling Bucks, click here.

Why do I have to pay for a reservation now when I may not be able to sell until October or later?
Purchasing a Jewelry Reservation Kit places you on a reservation list, giving you an activation priority based on the date of the earliest reservations. The kit is considered backordered and you may cancel your reservation at any time prior to shipment and receive a full refund. We require a paid reservation to measure the true demand for the opportunity and to build sufficient inventory levels to service that demand.

Do I receive free product when I purchase a jewelry reservation?
If you place a Jewelry Kit Reservation in June or July, you will receive $200 in free jewelry when you become activated to sell jewelry. This is in addition to any Bling Bucks you may have earned.

Will we always offer $200 of free jewelry when we purchase a reservation?
This is an incentive that is scheduled to expire at the end of July. After that, a normal Jewelry Kit Reservation will not include a free jewelry offer.

When will my account be activated and my kit ship?
Jewelry Reservation Kits will start shipping in the fall. Accounts also will be activated in the fall for Consultants to begin holding jewelry parties. Consultants who purchased a Jewelry Reservation Kit but did not attend Convention may be put on a waiting list. If there is no waiting list, a kit will ship within 72 hours and the Consultant will be activated within hours of enrollment.

How do I purchase jewelry samples?
Consultants can order one of each of anything in the line at 50% off retail. Consultants with paid Jewelry Kit Reservations can begin ordering samples starting in mid July, and can order samples until 30 days following their jewelry account activation and kit shipment.

When will the jewelry I order with my $200 + Bling Bucks be shipped?
Jewelry will be shipped in the fall.

Can a consultant be a Host?
Yes.

Are the commissions (profits) the same for jewelry as home décor?
Yes, all qualified Consultants have an opportunity to earn between 30% and 42.5% commission plus free catalogs and business supplies, bringing the total commission with BSC to between 35% and 47.5%. The new, bigger earning opportunity will begin in August and will be explained at Convention and posted on your Workstation.

Are the Host programs the same as with décor?
Yes. Like the commission program, we will be announcing an increase in the percentage of free product a Host can earn at Convention. These new Host benefits begin in August.

What about warranties, returns, etc.?
We will be announcing our program in detail at Convention and these policies will be posted on your Workstation following Convention.

What are the price points?
Most of our jewelry will sell below $100, which is in line with most of our direct selling competition. Unlike our competition, we will be offering Sara Blaine designer jewelry, not costume jewelry.

Where is the jewelry manufactured?
It is manufactured in Bali by the top designer jewelry manufacturer there. As with our home décor division, we’ve selected the best of the best.  They have been hand-producing Sara’s retail line for more than a decade. These are the most highly skilled and highly compensated silversmiths in Bali. Now they are Willow House artisans, crafting each piece as individual works of art for you and your very best customers.

When will the catalog be published?
In late September.

When will see the entire line?
If you attend Convention, you will see the entire line. It will not be showcased again until the catalog is released. Following Convention, those Consultants who wish to purchase kit-add-on orders will have Workstation access to thumbnail-sized images of the jewelry line. These images will be un-styled and are for ordering purposes only, not for public distribution.

How can I ensure a spot on the early October launch team?
Purchase your Jewelry Reservation Kit and attend Convention!

© Suzanne Jackson 2011.
{I'd love for you to share this post with friends, but please share the full link. Common courtesy dictates that you do not copy the post into your own blog without proper attribution. Thanks!}

Introducing.... Willow House Jewelry by Sara Blaine

Have to run out the door, so not much time to post, but did want you to see this...

And this...



 For more info, drop by my website and click on the pretty new button to the right!