Whose we are?

We found recent industry surveys by leading trade press fascinating and very useful. We found a few points most interesting as follows:

Made in China? Made in USA? Where a product is made is making a lot of news lately, with an increased appreciation for domestically produced items, and the perception of a product’s quality being connected with its country-of-origin.

Hand-crafted? Machine made? How a product is made seems to be important these days, particularly as people pursue authenticity in their expressions.

Personality based? Purpose driven? Why a product is created is a key intrinsic component to today’s giftware industry. Celebrating a meaningful moment in life’s journey with a product that fits the occasion is a market force synchronizing a person’s values and how they express those values.

Yes, Pure Grace products are Made in the USA. Yes, Pure Grace products are hand-crafted. Yes, Pure Grace products are designed for a purpose by a company dedicated to purpose instead of personality.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT to us, knowing Where and How and Why a product is made is not as important as for Whom a product is made. You and your loved ones experiencing life together reflecting Who made us.....we are His craftmanship, made in His image, to glorify Him by our living and loving.

May you experience His Love, an Embracing Love, and Rejoice in your relationships this New Year 2008.

Trade Press & New Items

Three (3) new Crosses and two (2) new Angels greet the New Year. We look forward to greeting YOU this show season in our corporate show locations, and our sales associates look forward to greeting you as well!

We were pleased and thankful for the opportunity to be included in recent trade press in Fall ’07 Gift Shop Magazine and in September ’07 Giftware News articles about Inspirational gift trends.

We completed our fourth (4th) year with continued growth in every dimension, and are excited to be celebrating our 5th year of business with you this year. Thank you!

Again, Janice and I thank you for the opportunity to serve you, and we’re grateful for your support!

Snowflake Angels Ltd Ed - Intro

We’re pleased to bring you our inaugural design in an annual Limited Edition Centerpiece titled “With Peace Snowflake Angel”. At nearly 13” tall and 8” wide, she gazes toward heaven with outstretched arms praising God for his creation.

As a buffet table centerpiece, she joins other angels in the eternal chorus with praise and thanksgiving for the brief time spent together with family and friends during those special holidays. And affixed at the top of the Christmas Tree with mounting brackets designed into her dress she reminds us that the moments with those closest to our hearts pass as quickly as a snowflake melts in our hands!

She has caught our “With Peace” 2007 Adornment snowflake adornment in her left hand to join our “Peace From Above” 2007 Gift snowflake glistening as her Christmas Tree topper. With many pearls gracing her cape and dress and reflecting light as ornament balls on her tree, she joins you in celebrating those brief moments that capture ALL our senses during the holidays......including the sense of joy as we celebrate the King of Glory who truly brings “Peace From Above”!

Only 1,000 of these LImited Edition pieces, which come with a display stand and certificate of authenticity matching the hand-pressed serial number in the back of her dress, will be made for 2007. You may want to reserve yours now for shipping beginning early September!!

Again, Janice and I thank you for the opportunity to serve you, and we’re grateful for your support!

Holiday Dinner

Few memories invoke an impression on ALL our senses as strongly as that special dinner at mother’s with extended family and long-time friends.......

Smell the fresh baked bread,
Taste the heavily peppered and buttered mashed potatoes,
Hear the tinkle of glasses and laughter of children,
See the wrinkles of your elder aunts and uncles,
Feel the firm handshake of favorite nephews.

And as we sense His presence,

May we remember how quickly this time passes with those we love....... And may we look forward to the day of enjoying those relationships once again, both here and hereafter.

Outstretched Arms

Looking over her shoulder, we join her gaze toward heaven with outstretched arms in joyful adoration, and like her, we celebrate God’s creation with reverence and awe at the work of His hands. The anonymous presence of unseen angels among us, represented by our view over her shoulder, leaves her face unknown to us.

Pure Grace angels are unique designs expressing pure moments of praise and worship......each inviting us to join the eternal chorus so we too can enjoy the view up close......imagine that some day!

Best of Show Booth

Our nine (9) new designs being introduced now and at the Summer Gift Shows continue our collection of Angels in the Series of “Behold the Heavens”, of “Behold the Sea”, and the “Snowflake Angel” Series. We also continue with our 4th annual Limited Edition Lighthouse Angel titled “Faith”. Our 4th annual Snowflake Series continues with “Peace From Above” Gift and “With Peace” Adornment.

We look forward to reconnecting with you again at the Summer Shows.....We’ve designed an entirely new trade show booth presentation centered around a hearth and mantle in a Christmas celebration......come see us in Dallas, Atlanta, Kansas City, and Seattle! If you missed us in Atlanta, you can see our award-winning booth in a short webvideo.

Again, Janice and I thank you for the opportunity to serve you, and we’re grateful for your support!

Restores My Soul / Heart for Home

So many new designs were introduced at the shows! Beyond the new Angelic Blessings line which was so well received, we were perhaps most pleased with the designs of two particular items, "Restores My Soul: Psalm 23:3" and "Heart for Home"


The extension of our Psalm 23 series to the third verse captured in our design titled “Restores My Soul” with a beautiful Iris Cross centered on a heart. The second verse is reflected in our delicate heart design “Beside Still Waters”.

Thankful

We are so grateful for the opportunity to be involved with you in being a blessing to those who give and receive Pure Grace gifts. Meeting so many new Believers at the shows, refreshing so many friendships during our travels, and receiving a few blessings along the way with affirmation from many of you, from Gift & Dec, from AmericasMart, and from Gift Beat,.......we’re so excited that these avenues have recognized Pure Grace and our prayer is that God would receive the glory and some in our “gift” community would receive pure grace from the only One able to give it......and maybe this Easter would be the time!

Again, Janice and I thank you for the opportunity to serve you, and we’re grateful for your support!

Angelic Blessings

Introducing an entirely new line of "Angelic Blessings", these porcelain angel ornaments are 3 1/2" tall, and all are themed as "little girls" of the heavenly host. This one is named "Iris Cross Angelic Blessing"....and she is captured in just the right light as she worships our risen Savior......a fitting image as we celebrate the beginning of His work this Christmas season!

Each of the "Angelic Blessings" have pig tails or "bob" haircuts. They have fun and whimsical "play" dresses as well as their "Sunday best". They join their "big sisters" (Pure Grace Angels) in proclaiming glory to the highest, to our God of creation for the magnificent works of his hand.

We echo their praise as they gaze toward heaven with outstretched arms and respond to their invitation to join the eternal chorus

Looking over her shoulder...

Looking over her shoulder from afar, you see our new line of Angels gazing toward heaven with outstretched arms in humble adoration crying "holy, holy, holy" in awe at the works of His hands. Each item beckons you to join the eternal chorus!

The first in an annual series of angels celebrating and proclaiming the glory of God's creation is titled "Behold the Heavens".

Also, in a series of annual "snowflake" angels, we are introducing "From Above" which is intended to celebrate our brief time together as family during the Christmas holidays. This angel's message reminds us that as quickly as a snowflake melts, our time with our loved ones during the holidays is just as brief.

Finally, the third angel in our new introduction is "Peace". This line of annual angels expresses God's grace and love inspired by creations in the garden....in this case the "Peace" rose, which together with the cross invite each of us to have peace with God through his Son.

These angels will be available for shipping to retailers in August. And that's not all......we have many other New Designs that we think you will enjoy! We will be sending you more information on these in the coming weeks.

A Quiet Moment

So many of you came by at the trade shows to say hello, see our newest items, and reorder our existing products! We are very grateful for the opportunity to continue serving you with affordable unique high-quality porcelain gifts to express a life of joy in every circumstance.


Renewed. Peace. Alive. Beside Still Waters. Pure.


The titles of our designs express the sentiment and purpose of each gift item. Did you find yourself resting in the moment, yearning for a time of reflection as you read through the titles above? Take a moment and remember your purpose as a spouse, a parent, an entreprenuer, a friend.

Having purpose is powerful, isn't it! As we turn the calendar soon to celebrate Easter, lets rejoice in the purpose that Jesus came to fulfill.

25 New Designs

Twenty-five NEW designs await you at the January shows!

Two NEW categories and beautiful extensions of our existing lines will be offered. We continue designing and developing products for everyday gifts and gift-giving moments, helping the giver express herself for every occasion of life through the lens of faith in our loving Savior.

Everything is coming up roses! Just around the corner we see the church calendar being filled with weddings, receptions, bridesmaids, and happy couples celebrating their new life together. We think several of our new items which feature roses will be of particular interest for these occasions

Running in Circles

Are you running in circles? Going fast; but making only limited progress toward your goals?

Last weekend was the running of the annual "Turkey Trot" fund-raising 5K run. Maybe you had an event like this in your town too.

The lead group of about 15 runners missed the sign marking the race route because they were concentrating on each other, on their competitor's pace and position, and where they were ranked among the leaders.

As a group they "zigged" when they should have "zagged". After more than a mile detour loop, they met back up with the stragglers walking and limping toward the finish line. And as a group they wondered "what happened"?

How easy it is to be distracted! Distracted by the competition and heat of the race, only to lose your way with unhappy results. The detour in this year's "Turkey Trot" reminds us to daily ask these questions:

What Signs to Watch?
Who do we Serve?
Why do we Serve?

Stay alert to the Signs your business generates to avoid costly detours. What product lines are performing NOW? What lines can deliver NOW to meet your customer's needs? Today, what have you and your associates learned new about your customers that you can act on NOW?

Stay focused on Who We Serve. The signs your business generates gives you important indicators of PAST performance; and while useful for steering your business in the future, there's no better method of avoiding detours than by listening hard to your customers.

Serve them. Listen to them. Delight them with surprises. Look to the future WITH them. Special order for them. Ask them what they'd like to see.

Stay focused on Why We Serve. Do you remember why you got into this business in the first place? To express yourself? To create a safe place to enjoy with friends and new-found friends? To minister to your community with meaningful products for meaningful times in their lives? You make a difference in your community! Be encouraged by remembering your purpose and work hard to make more of your day "purposeful".

The "Turkey Trot" lesson rang clear for me this weekend: While watching the competition is important....don't let it be consuming. Don't let it detour you! Watch the signs, listen to your customers, and remember why you're in this business..... Act with purpose!

We selected this last snowflake pictured above, our best selling Fall/Winter item - "By Design", as a reinforcement to this month's "Inspire" message. The scripture reference associated with this item is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope".

Amen.

Back to "Normal"

Whether your store was in the swath of the recent hurricanes or not, your business has likely been affected in many unforseen ways.

Influx of new residents;
Outflux of local resources to relief efforts;
And little flex in your ability to meet your sales projections, or increase sales volume, with these events pushing "normal" activities off the agenda for most of your customers.

Our hope is that you've had ab-"normal" opportunities to engage these fluxes with active ministry of hands helping hands, and hearts touching hearts: with neighborly outpourings of support and with an extra dose of Christian hospitality and witness, where able.

With the change in season; temperatures dropping; leaves turning color; and school activities kicking into high gear we encourage you to proactively seek opportunities to continue your support. For many of us, the best way to do this is by getting back to "normal"...by meeting needs in the market-place...by helping those you serve achieve their hopes and dreams with the goods and services you provide.

Now....let's help one another move on toward "normal"-cy.....