From the heart of West Texas, join sister Becky and Kathy of Show Me Decorating and spend a little time listening to their exotic Texas drawl as they share their enthusiasm for Holiday decorating.
Their passion, big hair, big smiles, and excitement will motivate you to create magic in your own home with Holiday traditions, celebrations and "How To" cheer!
Learn the scoop from holiday designers, industry leaders and guest artist in the Christmas "Biz" that will surprise and inspire you.
WOW your family and friends with your decorating skills after learning all their secrets.
On the plains of the wild wild west amidst pump jacks and prairie dogs, tumbleweeds and mesquite trees is a one of a kind store called Miss Cayce's Christmas Store. Midland, in the Permian Basin of west Texas has been home to this holiday retail shop for almost 30 years. Owned and operated by sisters Becky McCraney and Kathy Harrison with the help of family and at least 50 employees, many of which have worked for the pair most of their careers.
The seasonal phenomenon opens every year at the corner of Midland Dr. and Wadley the week after Labor Day. The store will be completely decked out for Christmas of course but a huge Halloween section is front and center for the brave customer who likes whimsical more than wicked. The stores talented designers make custom wreaths, garlands and arrangements that showcase the wide variety of floral products and ribbon.
Thanksgiving can't be overlooked with such bountiful displays of pumpkins, pilgrims, and turkeys to bless your home.
The Texas draught couldn't keep co owners Kathy and Becky from growing some of the most creative and beautiful Christmas trees in the country. "We see decorating trees as an opportunity to celebrate our artistic abilities "shares Kathy. Their canvas is the tree and their palette includes themes, textures, color, ribbon, and ornaments all mixed with a twist on tradition!
Sharing their enthusiasm for holiday decorating "has become our passion" states Becky," create, inspire, educate to decorate is the mission of our business. "This focus led the family duo to develop a "sister" business called Show Me Decorating that teaches all of their expert tips and techniques. This education is available on a DVD with guidebook, and an app for the iPhone and iPad.
This part of the business is promoted and marketed by a third sister, Jennifer Sharrick of San Antonio where Miss Cayce's and Show Me Decorating are regular guest features on San Antonio Living.
Becky and Kathy were destined to become retail merchants as their entrepreneurial skills were in play at a young age". We did every craft imaginable and sold our wares at town fairs and even door to door r, "says Becky. Their dad would cut wooden treasures in his shop for them to paint and decoupage, and he still makes most of the store's props and display furniture.
"One of our favorite memories is making burlap flowers with pipe cleaners ( on our mother's dining room table ) and selling them to all our neighbors, reminisces Kathy, Imagine our surprise when this year at market the latest trend is burlap in every color even burlap flowers.
Miss Cayce's Christmas Store is named after Kathy and Becky's maternal grandmother affectionately called Nana. Cayce was her maiden name and is a tribute to the strong Christian women in their family. Christmas was always magical and special and mostly about family and the birth of Christ - the real reason for the season!
After years of working out of their homes, the sisters got the opportunity in 1984 to purchase a seasonal Christmas business called Pettiet's Christmas Store. The Pettiet's ,a couple from Lubbock would set up a temporary store location in Midland selling to the public and decorating many businesses one of which was the fairly new Green Tree Country Club. Becky was the banquet and party manager at the time and used the Pettiet's to decorate for Christmas. Being the enterprising and talented person that she was, she soon was selling for them to local offices, banks, businesses, and clubs. Kathy moved back to Midland in 1983 and went to work in the Christmas store part time alongside her sister. As fate would have it the Pettiet's decided to sell out, took the girls to market and introduced them to the world of Christmas from everywhere and the rest is history!
Now seasoned buyers, Miss Cayce's receives inventory to tempt their customers from all over the world. Becky and Kathy travel to markets in Dallas, Las Vegas, Atlanta, California, Chicago, and New York in search of the best of the best for their one of a kind store. Customers/ friends come from near and far to experience the shopping! Their fans tell them that there is no place like Miss Cayce's Christmas anywhere, not even in the big cities. And as Kathy and a few veteran employees will say,"There is a reason for that"! The success is due to lots of hard work all year round to reopen the new store in town every season.
The local Midland girl's claim to fame is rooted in customer service and community involvement. Part of the shopping experience is eating a warm sugar cookie and sipping the free soft drinks. Attending one or all of the extravagant events Miss Cayce's entire host every year is a must! These special events or parties feature a guest artist or product and always benefit a local charity. A popular one most looked forward to is the Bellini's and Weenies girls night out that provides women and children's pajamas for Safe Place. Rick, the Hot Dog man and van serves the weenies and everyone drinks Bellini's while shopping with their store discount coupon exchanged for the pjs. The American Red Cross, area Junior Leagues, High Sky Children's Ranch, Support the Troops and Hunt for Heroes, Buckner, Kid's Hope and Samaritan Purse "Operation Christmas Shoe Box" along with scores of local schools, churches, and organizations have benefited from the sisters generosity. "We love to give back to the community that has so blessed us" says Kathy.
In 2004 Kathy received a special phone call from Nadine Craddick, wife of Tom Craddick then Speaker of the House in the Texas Legislature. Mrs. Craddick asked if Miss Cayce's would consider decorating the 15' Christmas tree at the State Capital in Austin. "Of course we said yes, it was such an honor", said Becky. The privilege, pleasure, and publicity they received was immeasurable. The Midland community was so proud," it was if we were State champs, "exclaimed
Becky! We used all the techniques from our Show Me Decorating recipe and for 5 years created a beautiful unique tree with a different theme each year. It was a popular holiday tourist attraction for capital visitors. Private sponsors paid for the cost of the decorations, the girls and their team donated their time and everything was donated to a chosen charity, a win win for everyone!
The capital was maybe the most famous place Miss Cayce's has decorated but each year crews of talented, trained professionals lead by Alta Lynn Gerlach ( co worker and friend for 28 years) go into hundreds of homes in the Permian Basin. They work the Miss Cayce's magic and Show Me Decorating style transforming everyday into seasonal splendor. This same magic happens in the store every year. Walls are painted, papered, furniture is placed, props are found, and vignettes are created to host the arrival of the hottest new themes for Christmas like Majestic Mink, Merry Mischief, and Checking It Twice (a few names for the 2012 season)! Everything you could possibly want to deck your halls for the holidays is at Miss Cayce's, but also many great home decor items like lamps, frames, candles, and furniture are waiting to go home with you. Any visit to Miss Cayce's Christmas Store, will find you eager to recreate all the wonderful ideas you've seen in your own home with everything you need to amaze your friends and family. "Our greatest joy is to create, inspire, and educate our awesome customers to decorate for themselves and enjoy the fabulous products we offer" says Becky, and Kathy agrees. Customers, family and friends can stay up to date on all the happenings though, a blog www.showmedecorating.wordpress.com, Miss Cayce's and Show Me Decorating's Facebook pages and following the Show Me Decorating Boards on Pinterest! An e-commerce site is in the works for 2012.
The "Show Me Decorating" technique has been featured in Texas Monthly, Southern Living, Lawn and Garden Retailer, Gifts and Decorative Accessories and recently they were picked as the cover story for Selling Christmas Decorations!
Now it's back to work for the elves at Miss Cayce's Christmas Store helping Santa get ready for the 2012 season!
Lisa Frost, artist & designer 
