1 Here I am with Beatrice Mwasi, the Founder and Director at Sanabora Design House Limited in Nairobi, Kenya. Beatrice spent nearly a month as a mentee at my company.
2 Beatrice participated in many meetings and got to experience the real nitty-gritty of my company. This design meeting included Katie Carroll - Associate Designer, Jessica Davis -
Deputy Design Director, Bedding, Kevin Sharkey - SVP, Exec Edit Director, Aaron Stewart - VP, Design, and Jeanie Park -
VP, Merchandising
3 Here she is meeting with Kate Lewis - AVP, Dir. of Standards - reviewing the Sanabora Design House Web site. The orange clutch is one of Beatrice's designs. You may recall, from previous blogs, that Kate is quite involved with women empowering women organizations.
4 Here she is with Leslie Robertson -
Designer - discussing new Christmas ornament designs.
5 Beatrice had much to talk about with Ayesha Patel - SVP, Style Director and Tanya Graff - Deputy Style Editor.
6 Ayesha's office is brimming with ideas and inspiration.
7 By visiting our photo shoots, Beatrice learned a lot about photography and new ways of photographing her products.
8 And who wouldn't love visiting our test kitchen? Here is Beatrice discussing a dessert recipe with Laura Rege - Recipe Tester.
9 Beatrice was thrilled to take part in our Mother's Day Crafternoon session. Here she is sharing a story with Kellie Feltman - Designer - Textiles.
10 And I was thrilled when Beatrice presented me with these lovely handbags from her collection.
11 During her time as a mentee, we were shooting a video for Home Depot at the farm and I invited Beatrice to come and visit.
12 It was a perfect day and Beatrice couldn't have been happier.
13 She loved meeting my dogs and was amazed by how much fur G.K. has.
14 She was given a tour of the stables.
15 Here she is with Betsy Perreten, my stable manager. With her warm personality, Beatrice makes friends so easily.
16 Beatrice showed Betsy her colorful beaded bracelets, her company designed, inspired by the Maasai people of Kenya.
17 Her earrings, too.
18 Having grown up with backyard animals, Beatrice felt right at home in the chicken yard.
19 She was curious about my rare breeds and took plenty of pictures.
20 The next stop on the farm tour was the Maple Avenue house where the Home Depot shoot was taking place. Beatrice told me that she just visited the chickens and I asked her if she had ever seen a Guinea fowl egg - they're quite pointed!
21 I introduced her to the crew. Here we are standing with Philip Leaman -
Videographer
22 Beatrice is a lovely woman who always made me smile.
23 We ate lunch outdoors on Martha Stewart furniture from The Home Depot. Tina Weber - Assoc Producer, Anduin Haven -
Director, Special Events, Kate Taylor - Set Decorator, Gary Nardilla - Cinematographer, Lisa Wager -
SVP, Video Executive Producer, Editorial Content, and Beatrice
24 A nice shot of Beatrice with Lenore Welby - Producer
25 At the end of her stay with us, Kevin threw Beatrice a farewell party. The guests were Maria Horton, Alexa Stark, Rochelle DiRe, Sarah Carey, me, Kevin Sharkey (kneeling), Beatrice, Alex Perruzzi, Trish Dipette, Kate Lewis (kneeling), and Aaron Stewart
26 Sarah Carey, Beatrice, and me
27 Even my granddaughter, Jude came to the party!