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On Top of the World by Elisabeth Dehaas Finding out that you're going to become a mommy makes you feel as if you are "on top of the world." When you look into your new baby's loving eyes, you just know she is a gift from heaven itself. Then imagine what it's like for your baby to go from sleeping in the warm, safe environment of the womb to the bland, uncomfortable bedding that you find in most stores. Nava Writz, the fiery and talented founder and CEO of Nava's Designs, knew there had to be a better way. "Caring parents who wanted the best for their baby had no choices," she says. "All the available bedding was mass-produced in bear and bunny motifs on paper thin fabric." Nineteen years ago, Nava was working as a salesperson at a luxury baby store in Los Angeles. This was before Nava had any children of her own. While working with many celebrity clientele such as Better Midler, Pat Riley, and Richard Dreyfuss as well as other demanding customers, Nava honed her eye for sumptuous fabrics, expert design, and overall quality. Many years, awards, and yes - children! - later, Nava has revolutionized the idea of what a baby's nursery can look like. Suddenly, painting a room pink or blue, and adding a crib and rocking chair, is just not enough. Instead, imagine a baby room filled with meticulously handcrafted quilts and highly select bedding, from stars to wall hangings and humpty dumpties to bears on the moon. This is exactly what Nava has designed for thousands of babies and their parents. One customer has referred to Nava's designs as "the antiques of tomorrow." And indeed, that is exactly what Nava hopes they will be. Nava's inspirations and visions were born out of her own cosmopolitan experiences growing up in Italy, Israel and South Africa with six brothers and sisters. Her life's work reflects her own focus on the importance of family. She is also the happy mother of two adopted children. A strong and energetic woman, Nava spends a large amount of time traveling - everywhere from Italy, South Africa, the Netherlands, France, Israel and Turkey - and looking for new and interesting textiles and ideas. Nava Designs produces 15 to 30 new designs every season, and she rightfully takes pride in the quality and care that goes in to each and every one. "In 20 years, we aren't going to have the sort of craftsmanship around," Nava says. She echoes the feelings of many consumers who are displeased with our mass-market economy when she says, "When you go into a mass store to get ideas for your nursery, you're taking such an impersonal approach. The mass stores are making it all one stop shopping." Every piece of a Nava design is a work of art hand-sewn by European-trained seamstresses. "Each piece," she says, "is made with love and infinite attention to detail under my personal direction." The incredible 124 to 186 patches on each quilt require eight hours of handcrafting before receiving Nava's seal of approval. In fact, her beautiful quilts are meant to be treasured and kept as keepsakes of the special time when your child was a mere babe. "I don't like the idea that people don't buy quilts for the baby. The only thing that is decoration and a keepsake is the quilt," says Nava. Nava's one hundred designs are meant to be as individual as, well, your baby. Her latest collection is called "On Top of the World," in recognition of an expectant mother's feelings of love, hope and gratitude. "My ultimate favorite is the "St.Moritz," designed in 1990 for my son. No set has ever topped it yet," Nava says with characteristic opinion and flair. In 1998, Nava's peers graced her with the ultimate recognition, awarding her fabric designs the prestigious "Fabric of the Year Award." "But my greatest satisfaction," she confesses, "still comes from seeing the joy in the eyes of my customers' babies." You can tell she really means this by looking at the attention-to-detail of her work. But, Nava has a little something more to say. "I want you to remember that in the giant (computer) screen of your life, your child will be a huge icon to you. Not a blip, but a huge important icon blinking on the screen," says Nava. Your baby or someone else's, Nava's designs are meant to be shared. What better and more loving gift could you possibly offer the newest member of a friend's family? Only the world's most sophisticated stores carry Nava's designs, of course. In the U.S., you can find them in Bellini, Lewis of London, Fortunoff baby, Buy Buy Baby and over one hundred other select boutiques. You can also look at her award-winning work for yourself (and find a store near you) at www.navasdesigns.com. Visit www.navasdesigns.com (no sales on the web) or call 818-988-9099. << Back to News 
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