Whether trekking through Europe searching out beautiful new fabrics and trims or rollerblading her way through 12-hour days at her company's new manufacturing facility in McAllen, Texas, designer Denise Sansing has parlayed a love for beautiful things, an artist's eye for the unusual and a lot of hard work into the quintessential American Dream - a dream she shares with her partner Scott Beard, and one they appropriately call Sweet Dreams, Inc.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2001, Sweet Dreams has become a leader and innovator in the home accessories industry with its distinctive and elegant bedding ensembles, sofa pillows, table runners, footstools and mantel scarves, as well as such specialty items as Christmas tree skirts and whimsical stuffed animals.

The intricately designed and elegant pillows that have become the hallmark of Sweet Dreams have also become collector's items and long-term investments - "truly a prized possession that the discriminating, discerning, demanding customer will treasure for a lifetime - an heirloom to be passed on," according to Ruth Moorhouse former owner of Moor House in Los Angeles.

Doug McKoon, owner of showrooms in Atlanta and High Point, agrees. "Denise has revolutionized decorative pillows through her skillful blending of textures, fabrics, colors, images, prints, tassels, trims, fittings, etc.," he says. "I know customers who have built rooms around Sweet Dreams' pillows, much the same as people build a room around a painting or a rug."

"Sweet Dreams has the most versatile selection, best service and finest quality of textiles and pillows in the world," adds Sue Wyll co-owner of Doris Sanders Ltd. at the Dallas World Trade Center. "For being fairly unknown nationally several years ago, they now lead the pack, set the trends and are in the forefront."

For Sansing and Beard, Sweet Dreams truly is the realization of the American Dream.