First, I'd like to thank the Academy. Ha!

Honestly, I would like to thank the team of people who made MAZE Home's Oscars Week such a success!

We're still floating - and still recovering!

The story began when we were invited to sponsor a luxury gift suite at the W Hotel Hollywood for the nominees and presenters of this year's Academy Awards. We were honored to be asked! The organizers had noticed several of our products in national magazines and a recent profile naming me a "Style Maker" and thought MAZE would be a good fit for their audience.  So thank you Luxe Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Coastal Living, More, Southern Living, and La Cucina Italiana.



Next, what to put in the gift bag? I selected the best selling item in the store, a leather bracelet key ring made by my dear friend, Maggie Wilson. I asked if she would make a limited edition in a soft gray-blue leather exclusive to the event and she graciously said yes. Hence our Oscar Blue! Thank you, Maggie, for making such beautiful and functional key rings and handbags.



A big thank you, too, to photographer Joshua Prezant. I was at the Ritz Carlton Ft. Lauderdale for a Business Council meeting with my husband when I received a request for photos of me and the key ring asap. Tony Blair was the keynote speaker that evening so the place was full of journalists. I knew I just needed to find a still photographer. At that moment, Joshua happened to walk by carrying the biggest camera backpack you've ever seen, so I flagged him down, asked if he were a professional photographer and the result was some really great photos we used for the media! After our photo shoot, Joshua was on his way to take photos of children for an orphanage's website where they post the kids' info for possible adoption. I seriously wanted to take this guy home with me.



We topped off the key ring with a MAZE gift certificate, a bag of our famous chocolate rocks and other little goodies. If you haven't tried the rocks, stop by the store asap! We keep a bowl of them out at all times for sampling!



Cari Raymond, our operations manager, and Kelly Williams, MAZE Home Store manager - our celebs! - made the trek to Hollywood to schmooze with the stars. I know they had a fabulous time (check out their posts on our Facebook page) and I also know they worked very hard pulling all the details together, lugging most of the goodies in their baggage, and meeting and greeting celebrities for upwards of 12 hours a day for days in a row! Fun but exhausting! Thank you, Cari and Kelly, for such a great job.



On their way out of town, the girls stopped at the home of Winnetka-based jewelry designer Lisa Cotten to glam up with a selection of Lisa's gorgeous precious and semi-precious gemstone statement pieces (available through MAZE by appointment). Thank you, Lisa, for the serious bling!



Cari and Kelly also took Richard Tsao silk chiffon scarves in a rainbow of colors. Thanks, Richard, for making such beautiful and versatile scarves!



And now, the part you've all been waiting for . . . the celebs!

There was a constant stream of actors, actresses, writers, producers and more coming through the gift suite at the W Hotel. Some of our favorites were Aimee Teegarten (so cute),  Jane Lynch (so nice and a Chicagoan to boot), Michael Vartan (even more handsome in person), Cloris Leachman (so funny), Terrell Owens (go T.O.!) and Peter Weller (yes, Robocop has our key ring).

Take a peek!



I think it's hilarious that my face pops up behind all the stars! Just like I was there!

A big thank you to all the celebrities who participated in the event and helped us raise funds for the American Red Cross, A New Way of Life and City of Hope.

To cap off our Oscar Week adventure, we brought it all back home, hosting a trunk show for Maggie Wilson and her new spring/summer line of handbags.



The store was packed with friends, family and customers old and new. You could feel the love, support and excitement in the air. Thanks to all our guests for coming to the show!



The local media got caught up in the excitement, too! Thank you Pioneer Press, Chicago Sun Times, Sheridan Road, Skyline and LeeAnn Trotter at NBC 5, and our dear public relations representative, Nancy Berman, for supporting MAZE - a local Chicago-land business!



To all of our customers and Facebook pals, the biggest thank you of all! Thanks for following our adventures and cheering us on this week and every week since the day we opened our doors. We appreciate your support and friendship!

And that's why the celebs weren't the only ones we 'gifted' with Oscar goodies! On Facebook and at the trunk show we held drawings for our gift bags and a Maggie Wilson Oscar Blue handbag. Lib Williams (pictured below with "me") was the lucky winner at the trunk show, and our Facebook winners were Roxanne Sordi and Gina Smith. Congratulations, you lucky ladies. Enjoy!



What's that? The "hint, hint" music has started playing? Must be time to wrap up this little acceptance speech before they drag me off the stage . . .

Thanks again to everyone! Stay tuned for our next adventure!