I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a gorgeous Sunday than visiting my talented friends, colleagues and clients who were exhibiting their wares at one of the biggest trade shows in the world. This weekend featured the Stationery Show, Surtex (surface design) and ICFF–International Contemporary Furniture Fair all under the same roof.

I hopped on MetroNorth, arrived at Grand Central and took the 1.6 mile walk to the Jacob Javits Center across town. My mission was to see Malene Barnett’s exhibit at ICFF, which was stunning. Having just been featured in New York Magazine, Malene’s booth had a steady stream of clientele. I was fortunate to slip in for a brief congratulatory hug and high five.

You can see her carpet designs around us, as well as her cool logo and signage. Malene has traveled the world and interpreted it through her textile designs for the hospitality industry. She has truly reached the big time.

Anne Taintor and I go back to the days of exhibiting our wares at the Westport Creative Arts Festival, now CraftWestport back in the 80’s. Anne went global with her stationery items. Her tag line is “Making Smart People Laugh since 1985.” She reminded me that she is celebrating her 25th year in business. Her hilarious notepads, greeting cards and office supplies are my favorite gifts to give clients–all of whom are smart people.

At Surtex I saw Karen Embry who was participating in her 4th show at Javits. She and her work have matured so much since we began working together in 2002. Her style has developed from doing lots of things with whimsy and bright colors to establishing a branded look that says KAREN EMBRY. Kind of what I was talking about when I wrote about my 300th blog post. Karen really knows what she does well now, and it is clear to the buyer, which is the more important outcome of plying your trade consistently.

What I admire most about these three women is that they have put themselves out there and taken a huge risk. The cost of doing a show in NYC is sky-high. But the rewards can be equally heaven-sent. They exhibit not only talent, but also courage and perseverance. They’re at the top.