After working for years in the financial world, Patricia Conner, a mother of three young children, decided it was time to create a business of her own. An art major in college, Patricia became an expert in floral arranging and found inspiration from an unlikely source — a patio table! Asked to design a party for her mother-in-law, Patricia recognized that her backyard full of umbrella-covered patio tables presented a serious centerpiece challenge.

"I began searching for a container that would go around the umbrella pole," Patricia said in a recent interview. "But I couldn't find one; the only things available were those low, crescent shapped terra-cotta pots. So I decided to create a solution myself..."

As the saying goes: necessity is the mother of invention!

She consulted with her husband and partner, John (himself an engineer) and soon, the Brella Vase was born! Their creation featured a two piece, interlocking system that snapped together around an umbrella pole. Once connected, the invention looked just like a plastic, fluted vase that worked in perfect harmony with the umbrella pole

It was, in short, a very innovative design.

Patricia was not only motivated by the design aspect of her invention but also by it's potential ease-of-use and practicality. "I wanted to design something that was symetrical, that locked easily together and that could be used for tall or short arrangements," she said, "I also wanted to create something to be easily washed in the dishwasher and a centerpiece small enough to leave room for a nice table setting."

The Brella Vase — born out of Patricia and John's ingenuity — is inexpensive, elegant and comes in a variety of colors.