The avant-garde show, held every May in the cavernous glass-and-steel Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, seems light years away from Sarasota. Yet in the first half hour, I stumble on eight Saraostans in just two of the aisles. Kathy waves to Michael Bush, who comes rushing over to show me his latest find: a British design group’s interpretation of a circus knife-thrower’s outline on a wall. But this outline isn’t made of knives: it’s a collage of pot handles and pieces of pots embedded in a plaster wall. Michael jumps into position for this photo – scary.

Michael Bush of Home Resource discovers the artfulness of cooking utensils – At least you never have to clean up.

In the next aisle, I see a huge booth display with signage for Laurie Bell outdoor fabrics and Jason Champion outdoor furniture. The businesses are run from a showroom in Sarasota, but Jason and Laurie [her last name is actually Jenkins] sell their home couture to designers across the county. My editorial friends in New York already advised Laurie and Jason that I’d be stopping by -- not many people in the designer furniture industry hail from Sarasota, so this is big news to my former co-workers. Laurie says she’s been waiting for me. Jason debuted his new DECO collection of indoor tables, planters and screens and Laurie premiered the Mama Jenks fabric collection (named after her grandmother). They sell wholesale and retail out of their new showroom on Route 301. You have to stop by. Their stuff is really cool – love the laser cut screens for indoor and out.

Laurie Jenkins of Laurie Bell Fabrics and Jason Champion of the eponymous and ultra-hot outdoor furniture line.

Next, I turn the corner and come across a rug booth manned by two sisters. One is the rug designer, Barbara Barran; the other, her sister is Marcia Caplan, is a floor covering sales associate at G. Fried in Sarasota. Marcia comes to the show every year to help man the booth, and points out Barbara’s newest rugs: 300 knot pure silk Tibetans, very finely woven, and some 150-knot blends of pashmina and silk.

Marcia Caplan of G. Fried in Sarasota with her sister, rug designer and president of Classic Rug Collection, Barbara Barran.

Finally, I spy a booth with the name dkVogue, and Kim and Olga Nielsen from Sarasota. I ask Kim what he’s doing with his own booth, and he tells me the Danish government gave him the space to promote a movie that dkVogue just produced on Danish design and furniture manufacture. Kim also tells me dkVogue will add a West Hollywood store to its roster (scheduled opening is June 15). Now the company is in three locations: Sarasota, New York and LA. I just previewed the movie and it’s beautifully done -- more on the film’s distribution and all things Danish to come.