Q: How do I become a designer?
A: Contact The Baby Fold or Lora Jenkins (Designer Chairperson) with your name/address/phone information. You will be added to the mailing list for designer packets. You may also print off designer packet info from designer website and follow instructions, or email website or a member of the Designer committee for more information.
Q: When are designer packets mailed?
A: Designer packets are mailed in May of each year to recruit designers to donate items to the current years Festival of Trees.
Q: How do I sign up for a tree?
A: Trees are provided by The Baby Fold. To sign up for a tree, return a “Participation Form” to the Designer Committee. We will order a tree for you from Jeffrey Alans. Trees need to be signed up for in advance so we can tally the number of trees to purchase and have ordered for delivery for Festival set up.
Q: How to I take possession of my tree?
A: If you are decorating a 4ft tree, you may pick up your tree at Jeffrey Alans at the Designer workshop in October. Taking possession of your tree then will allow you time to decorate your tree in your home and then deliver it to the Interstate Center during festival set up. If you choose not to take possession of your tree at Jeffrey Alans, your tree will be delivered to the Interstate Center and set and fluffed for decorating day.
Unless arrangements are made otherwise, 7ft trees will be taken to the Interstate Center and set up and fluffed ready for you to decorate. When you arrive at the Interstate Center on decorating day, sign in at the designer registration desk and we will show you to your tree.
Q: Will The Baby Fold provided wreaths to wreath designers?
A: No. This has always been our policy not to provide wreaths to designers. We feel wreaths can be purchased at a reasonable price by the designers to be included in their donation item to Festival of Trees. It is such a beautiful sight to see all the different sizes and variety of wreaths that people purchase or make for the festival…each one unique.
Q: What is the “Other” category on the designer Participation form?
A: The “Other” category on the participation form is for any other item you would like to donate. Examples of other items from past years are a swag, tear drop swag, wall hanging, rug, quilt, wooden Santa, topiary arrangement, etc. It is whatever you feel in your heart that you would like to donate to the Festival. We enjoy the unique items that stand out.
Q: How do I sign up to decorate a Gingerbread House?
A: Jean Kauffman and Linda Park are the contact persons for Gingerbread village. Jean’s contact information is Display5454@aol.com. Linda’s contact information is park3032000@yahoo.com. In contacting Jean or Linda, they can sign you up for donations to the Gingerbread Village. If you talk to them soon enough, you might be able to get involved in their Gingerbread workshop!
Q: Is the Jeffery Alans workshop for tree designers only?
A: No. The Jeffrey Alans workshop is for all designers. A hands on presentation and tips will be given for tree designers, but these tips can be carried over to wreath decorating and other decorating as well.
Q: Where do I take my 4ft tree/wreath/centerpiece when I get to the Interstate Center?
A: As you’re driving up to the Interstate Center, head to the East side of the building to the delivery areas along the side of the building. The check in desk will be right inside door T on the side of the building. Pull up and drop off your item inside the door at the check in desk. If you bring your donation in thru the front lobby, when you enter the ballroom…sign up desk will be off to the right past the Gingerbread Village.
Q: Why was my tree moved after set up?
A: Tree may be moved after designer set up to meet spacing and electrical needs. Once all trees are set up and decorated, the Presentation Committee may move the trees around for electrical needs. We can only have so many trees plugged into each outlet box without blowing a fuse.
Q: Can I purchase an item without having to bid on it.
A: YES! All trees/wreaths/mantel pieces/centerpieces/etc can be purchased for the “angel price”. Angel price is a small % over retail value of the item. If you want to purchase an item without bidding, take the angel tag off the item and go to the ticket booth to pay the angel price for the item. The angel tag will be marked “sold”. The angel tag is then put back on the item and the bid sheet is removed so that no one else can bid on the item. The item remains on display throughout the festival, and can be picked up Sunday night when festival closes.
(FYI: All celebrity trees and gingerbread villages go to the highest bidder at the end of Festival. There are no angel tags on those items)
Q: How do I vote for my favorite tree for “Peoples Choice Award”?
A: At the bottom of every tree, there is a “People Choice Vote” container. To vote, drop your pocket change and dollar bills into the vote container. Every penny counts for 1 vote, 1 dollar counts for 100 votes, high bills for more votes. At the end of Festival, the tree with the most money in it wins “Peoples Choice” and will be awarded a blue ribbon.
Q: Where can I go for design ideas or decorations?
A: Online a good way to find ideas is to enter 'Christmas tree decorating ideas' into a search engine such as Google. If you want to do a non-Christmas tree, just enter that season into the search engine. Better Homes and Gardens has a really good site. Craft catalogs and magazines are another way to find ideas. Later in the year, take a walk through the craft stores, they usually have decorated trees.
Q: Why do some trees have to go on the concrete floor?
A: The short answer is space. That's the only way we can fit the number of trees that we do. This year, our Presentation Committee has some good ideas to spice up that back room so items placed there get the attention they deserve.
Q: Why are the trees so close together, it makes it hard to decorate?
A: The trees are placed around the circle in approximately the positions they will be in for the rest of Festival. You are welcome to move the tree out a bit or in a bit to decorate it. We understand that sometimes there are multiple designers and not enough room. We just ask that you leave an aisle clear so others can move through the space.
Q: Are spare bulbs available?
A: Yes, spare bulbs are available at the check-in table on Designer Day. We try to test all lights prior to designers arriving, but bulbs do burn out. You can also as any of the Designer Committee, we have a tester and fuses as well. For the duration of Festival, the Designer Committee will keep an eye on the trees and lit wreaths to make sure they remain lit. If there are issues, please contact us.
Q: Can you share with Designers what sold well in previous years?
A: We have such diverse designs from year to year and tastes change. It's hard to pinpoint from year to year what will sell. A design that didn't sell the previous year could go right away this year. Conversely, design that flew out last year may not do as well.
Remember, your Design Committee is here to help you in any way we can. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions.
