““I was a young Mom at home with Jazzi, my six-month old daughter,” says Annette Stoner, “when an Oprah show changed my life.” Stoneer, now 38, is grateful for the inspiration she got that afternoon, watching successful Mom entrepreneurs talk to Oprah about their home businesses. Her 14-year career as a flight attendant with United didn’t suit her parenting needs. “Watching that show, I knew immediately what I wanted to do. I’d been shopping, and I was frustrated there was no ethnic baby bedding. I’m part Filipino, and I was tired of teddy bears.” Annette wanted something that reflected her culture.

Annette lived in California at the time, but years at her parents’ home in Hawaii engendered a love for Polynesian motifs. The Oprah sho gave her the impetus to sketch some Hawaiian designs. She contacted her friend who was a seamstress. “I never had an art class, and I didn’t know how to sew; but she did, and I hoped she could make my drawings come alive.”

Then Annette pawed through the fabric stores and online to find fabrics. “I knew I wanted sophisticated, exotic designs that appeal to the adult eye. After all, they’re the ones who are most aware of the baby bedding. They’re the ones who buy it and spend a lot of time looking at the nursery décor while nursing and changing diapers.”

With working capital of $1,500 each, Annette and her friend started their business, Pitter Patter – exotic baby bedding. First, she sold door-to-door, then at trade shows, and now she supplies over 100 stores across America with her trademark “ethnic-chic” baby bedding. The manufacturing is still done in California, but the designing, artwork and wholesale/retail base is now in Taos.

Annette and her husband dreamed of Durango, but stopped in Taos on the way and that was that. “I’ve still never made it to Colorado. We bought our land here within six days. Our house in California sold in 13 hours.” Three years ago, Annette and family moved here. She found her business partner and chief of operations, Donna Longo, waiting tables at Joseph’s. Her CFO is another local, Melissa Naylor, of Wells Fargo. Sara New is their “personal assistant and live entertainment.” The “Enchanting Elephants,” embroidered on the Asian Collection, are drawn by Joseph’s artistic wife, Kristin Bortles. The drawings are digitized and embroidered onto the bedding at the California plant.

You can find Pitter Patter in Arroyo Seco nestled in the old “Casa Fresen” building, nurturing the oldes apricot tree in Seco by her front porch. This charming retail space, designed as a “Baby-to-Teen Boutique”, opened last November. On the walls hang commissioned artwork by notable locals such as AC Ward, featuring motifs custom-made to accessorize the bedding. Big kids don’t need to pout; you can special order King-size bedding for the child in you from the Asian, Hawaiian (including Surf and Safari), or Organic Collections.

The store also handles a small, exclusive selection of clothing. Some are imports, to keep it affordable. But, Annette’s team go to to great lengths to make sure it’s not “kids clothes made by kids.” The line of Entertaining Elephants is made by a women’s coop in Bolivia. The price is a little higher, but Annette says, “Just think about how a small price can reflect Big Bad treatment.” She carries Harajuku Lovers, by singer Gwen Stefani,imported from China. It took several phone call and website checking to find out the company is publicly held and operated under ethical labor laws. Annette knows imports are easier on the budget, even though fair trade goods cost a bit more. “At least we check how it’s affecting everyone down the line.” She encourages everyone to “just try to be thoughtful when you buy.”

Annette’s organic bedding rage is set to take off! The blankets will be part of Nordstrom’s “Going Green” Launch in July. Across America, their stores will feature Annette’s “Bamboo Blankets”. Not only are they embellished with screenprints of her original drawings of lotus, mandelas, and bamboo, but also the fabric is actually made from bamboo. The fibers are pummeled into an impersonation of cotton fluff, then made into really soft jersey, velour, and fleece.

This is such an exciting success story! Annette is very grateful for the guidance and support she received from Chris Madrid of the Taos Sirolli Project, and to her “Angel investors” along the way. Currently, she’s pursuing investors to take her dream to the next level. Annette’s ultimate goal: “to be financially content, while creating awareness about sustainability.”

Not bad for a gal watching Oprah who “just had an idea.”

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