This spring, for the first time ever, Decorative Center Dallas and the Dallas Design Center are teaming up to bring you one big, bad design conference: Spring Thing and Grow! 2011. Hosted April 12 through 14, interior designers will have the opportunity to learn, explore and enjoy themselves as they pick and choose from a wide array of events to attend.

Rather than giving you the whole scope, I figured I’d dial it down to six highlights on why this event is a can’t miss affair.

1. Get educated at GROW! - Register for up to 8 hours of CEPH classes that are sure to please. With well respected industry speakers including local designers, Sherry Hayslip and John Phifer Marrs, you are sure to learn a new trick or two to add to your toolkit!

2. Earn a Free CEU Credit - Get in two days of CEU courses at GROW! then head on over to Decorative Center Dallas where you’ll get a freebie! Donna Vinning’s Greenhouse course will discuss the hot topic of sustainability and the impact of design on the environment. Plus, it’ll earn you one CEPH or .1 CEU credits!

3. Eat Well and Support Dwell with Dignity - Support Dwell with Dignity by attending a luncheon benefiting this inspiring local non-profit. Catered by Wendy Krispin, the food promises to be delish!

4. Win a Fantabulous Raffle Prize - Participate in the Spring Thing “Open Doors” showroom crawl and be entered to win some seriously stellar prizes like these luxurious linens from Dahlgren Duck (pictured above) or one of two $500 gift cards to Neiman Marcus! See all the other great prizes at SpringThingDallas.com/Raffle-Drawings.

5. Hob Nob & Network – Catch up with fellow interior designers, architects and trade professionals at the various free luncheons and happy hours being offered at Spring Thing. Spring Thing Fling, a progressive cocktail party on Thursday evening, will feature Italian cocktails at Fendi Casa, a cooking demonstration at bulthaup and a raffle drawing at TKO Associates.

6. Breeze by BoConcept - Spring Thing/GROW is a great opportunity to take a little time to explore all that is new in the Dallas Design District! Check out BoConcept’s trendy new diggs (opening April 1) and if you haven’t yet, venture over to other showrooms that have opened in the past year, including Fendi Casa, J.H. Minassian Rugs, Dahlgren Duck and National Office Furniture.

Now doesn’t that just sound like more fun than a barrel of monkeys? I sure think so! If you do too, you can register for paid events online at dgpublications.com and RSVP for free events at SpringThingDallas.com.