It's a SMALL WORLD after all. . .

Ok, you asked for it... How did I end up having lunch in Timber Cove with Laurie and Tony from Sapphire International Ltd. (the makers of the Breganwood brand organic towels)?  Well, the connection started in Kansas City.  I was a keynote speaker for the Surface Design Association's annual conference (Off the Grid*).  I was the first speaker of the week long events which is my favorite place in the line up since after that I can relax and enjoy the experience without my nerves getting in the way.

Well, I believe it was the following night, I was approached by a lovely woman who said (paraphrasing) "I could have given your lecture."  Pardon me?  "Truly, your story of feeling fed up with mass market and leaving to do your own more thoughtful thing, that's me too!"  The conversation continued and I must admit our lives were pretty synched.  No, Jennifer Libby Fay doesn't have an organic cotton line of fabric, but she did design for mass market (like me) and she left that world to create her own-one-of-a-kind fine art.  She lived part time in Fayetteville, AK and part time in Bodega Bay, CA. 

Now, the odds of anyone attending the lecture in Kansas City knowing where Gualala, CA is were slim . . . but having someone actually live a mere 1.25 hours away in another small coastal town was really quite extraordinary.  So, how does this relate to Sapphire and China production?  Well, Jennifer's husband is a mover and shaker with his own green line of kitchen products.  Jennifer felt we should meet.  It was Bill who eventually introduced me to Laurie and Tony over Caesar salad with pacific salmon overlooking the coast at a restaurant midway between Bodega Bay and Gualala.  Laurie and Tony were on a business trip from Hong Kong and I had the good fortune of our chance meeting.

That lunch happened exactly 2 years ago today, October 18th, 2009.  As my hubby always says, "You never know where a conversation may lead."  In this case from Kansas City to California, Australia to China and then some.

*Note: They recorded the event and you can purchase a DVD recording of my talk and the others from the conference, in case you are interested.