When I was little girl, Mimi owned The Doll Shop downtown. I was incessantly sick so I spent most of my childhood surrounded by pretty things. Of course, we would take time for ourselves for a little lunch or browse around a shop or two. Our next door neighbor was Mrs. Joy who owned the town’s quilt shop. One afternoon, we were browsing around Joy’s quilt shop and she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I stood up straight and said with passion, “I’m going to be a designer.” They giggled and Mimi said, “Samantha the designer… I like that!” Years later, I’m sitting in my Biology professor’s office. He had just offered me a summer internship with the genetics lab. My major was biology, but a voice I know too well whispered, “You’re a designer.” I looked up at him and thanked him for the opportunity. “Sir, I really appreciate this opportunity, but the Lord is telling me that I am supposed to be a designer.” He laughed in my face. I grinned, “I know it sounds crazy, but your response just confirmed it. God made me to be a designer.” He kept laughing and said when I was tired of throw pillows he would have a spot open for me. I left that office and I felt like I was a bird soaring in the sky. I called my parents and they both said the same thing, “I knew it!” LTKFindsUnder50 LTKStyleTip LTKNYFW