Edition 02: Karen Carter

Meet The Collector: Karen Carter 

Why We Chose Karen  

Karen is an active member of our Happy Everything! community on Instagram. Every time we see one of Karen’s joyful posts, it’s like a little burst of sunshine—and that’s exactly why we’re featuring her here on Collectors Circle.  

While it's been a few years now, we still remember being wowed by Karen's grand prize-winning entries in our ‘Show Your Summer Style’ Contest, where she brought our Poolside, American, and Summer BBQ styles to life with incredible imagination and enthusiasm. 

Karen has been collecting Happy Everything! for more than 20 years and estimates her collection is now “somewhere in the hundreds.” From colorful celebrations to thoughtfully styled displays, her creativity has been inspiring our team and other collectors for years. Read on and you’ll see why! 

About Karen   

Karen Carter is an avid Happy Everything! collector. She lives in North Carolina, has been married for 39 years, and has 2 daughters and 1 son. She worked as a dental assistant for more than 30 years. Karen has always been creative and loves to decorate. She will use any excuse to throw a party! Her home is filled with her Happy Everything! collection and lots of other fun accessories. The more color and whimsy the better. 

Karen's Decorating Style in Three Words  

Colorful, welcoming, festive.  

How did it feel when you won our 'Share Your Summer Style' Contest?!  

I was so excited! This contest gave me an opportunity to be creative and share my collection. I had so much fun and was glad to see that others enjoyed my style. 

You have such an incredible collection for 4th of July, especially. How does it feel decorating this year for the big 250th? 

I love to decorate with all the red, white, and blue from Memorial Day through Independence Day. This being the 250th is very special and I have already started styling my patriotic pieces!  

How does Happy Everything! help you bond with your friends and family? Do you have fellow collectors in your “circle” at home?  

Absolutely! My twin sister and I have been collecting for more than twenty years. We have gone to several warehouse sales and visited the flagship store. Our friends and daughters also collect, so Happy Everything! pieces are everyone’s favorite things to gift.  

How long have you been collecting Happy Everything!? 

I got my first Happy Everything! piece around 2005 and have been building my collection ever since. 

Do you remember your very first Happy Everything! piece? What was it and why did you choose it?

My first piece was the (retired) Holiday Starter Set: a Big Bright Dot Platter and 5 Holiday attachments. My husband gave it to me as a Christmas gift, and we never would have thought at that moment that it would become such a big part of our lives!  

What drew you to Happy Everything! in the first place? 

My favorite thing about Happy Everything! is how easy it makes decorating, both seasonally and every day. Swapping out the Attachments is so simple but makes such an impact for decorative spaces and events!  

What are your all-time favorite items in your collection (or the ones you reach for again and again)? 

My favorite Icon is the blue and white Chinoiserie Jar! It was made for me!  

I also love the Bright Dots, which will always be a classic. I have several bases in that print, and all the colors are perfect for my style. 

How many total Bases and Attachments are in your collection?  

Too many to count… I have lost track of how many Happy Everything! pieces I have collected over the years. I have serving pieces, display pieces, countless Attachments and they are sprinkled all around my home. If I had to guess, the number is in the hundreds.  

Where in your home (or office?) do you display your collection the most? 

Most of my collection is displayed in the kitchen. It is the hub when I host celebrations. 

How often do you switch out your Icons?  

At least one a month… I update my Icons for every season and every occasion.  

How do you incorporate your collection into entertaining and/or everyday life? 

Happy Everything! pieces are so easy to use when something pops up. I bring a Platter out and add an Attachment coordinating with the event. My Big Round Platter is the first thing guests see when they walk in the door, and it makes me happy every day to see my collection displayed. 

What advice would you give a new collector? 

I suggest starting your collection with pieces for the major holidays and then adding what speaks to you! If you love it, grab it, because I am still chasing retired pieces to this day.  

I would also suggest keeping your pieces organized because your collection will get huge before you know it! I store my attachments in bins and label them with the holiday/season and put thin craft foam pieces in-between the Icons. I keep the bins on a bookshelf in a storage closet. I also have several Happy Everything! storage bags that I use for transporting to events. 

What’s your favorite memory connected to the brand or your collection? 

My favorite memory that’s connected to Happy Everything! is getting to meet Laura and her daughter, Mary, while at our very first Warehouse Sale. Every year, we enjoy seeing behind the curtain in the warehouse and meeting fellow collectors and the amazing team behind the brand.  

Has your collection marked any milestones (moves, celebrations, babies, gifts, etc.)? 

All of the above! So many pieces were obtained because of milestone moments and still mark special occasions for my loved ones. We use them time and time again each time a memory is made. 

What piece is currently at the top of your wish list? 

The next pieces I plan to purchase are the Suited Cupid Attachment and the Gold Mini Ice Bucket. I am also scouring Facebook Marketplace for the retired Hamburger / Hot Dog Attachments.  

If you could design your dream Icon, what would it be?  

A black and white Staffordshire pup! 

What’s your favorite kind of party to plan? What does a happy celebration look like for you at your home?  

I love to plan any party! From Christmas celebrations to movie nights to girls' night in, our house tends to be the gathering spot for family and friends, and we will celebrate anything and everything.

Our celebrations may look different each time with various activities, a variety of foods, and unique themes, but they are always filled with Happy Everything! and happy memories.