By KEVIN COWAN,
September 28, 2003

Jane Seymour feels right at home in her latest role.

The Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress is in the midst of launching St. Catherine's Court, her new home furnishings collection that hit stores in July. Seymour will be at Proffitt's at West Town Mall from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, to introduce the line.

Jane Seymour appearance

Born: Joyce Penelope Wilhemina Frankenberg, Feb. 15, 1951

Personal: Married to James Keach (1993); former husbands Michael Attenborough (1971-72), Geoffrey Planer (1977-78) and David Flynn (1981-91). Children: six (includes two stepchildren)

Awards: "East of Eden" (1981, Golden Globe for Best Actress in a miniseries or motion picture made for television); "Onassis: the Richest Man in the World" (1988, Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a miniseries); "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" (1995, Golden Globe for Best Actress in a television series, drama)

What: Introducing furniture collection

When: 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3

Where: Proffitt's West Town Mall

The Jane Seymour collection is just one of several changes Proffitt's and its parent company, Saks Inc., is using to differentiate its department stores in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

"It's very exciting," said Seymour from a hotel room in New York, where she was promoting a couple of projects. "The collection is very large, and it's getting larger every day."

The line, which includes bedding, china, stemware, table linens and accessories, takes its name and feeling from Seymour's 14th-century manor house in Bath, England.

"I wanted to share the magical experience of St. Catherine's Court," Seymour said. "My new home collection is an authentic interpretation of historic motifs and romantic lifestyle I celebrate in my home in England with my family."

Seymour worked with the Saks Corp., Proffitt's parent company, on the collection for more than a year.

"The goal was to translate these English ideas into pieces that would work in an American home," Seymour explained. "Also, the concept was to make it affordable for everybody. We are trying to give them something unique as well."

Prices range from less than $10 for small accessories like napkin rings to $600 for a king-size comforter set.

To create the line Seymour drew upon her decorating experience.

"It (decorating) has always been a passion of mine," she said. "I never thought people would like what I do."

Her main training ground is Los Angeles, where she has bought and decorated nine homes. Seymour spends most of the time at her beach house in Malibu. She and the family visit St. Catherine's a few times a year.

Seymour also calls on her talents as a painter. She has held shows across the country for the past five years.

Seymour is also an author, writing several books, including a series of children's books titled "This One 'n That One" based on the adventures of her 7 1/2-year-old twins, John and Kristopher, and "Remarkable Changes: Turning Life's Challenges Into Opportunities." In the latter book, Seymour looks at obstacles she and 20 other people have overcome.

"I write about my (career-ending) injury as a ballerina, my mother's experience in a concentration camp, my father dying of cancer," she said.

When things were at their worst (she was on the verge of bankruptcy), Seymour was offered the television show "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," which aired on CBS from 1993-98.

Seymour is back on the tube as host of the Hallmark Channel series "Adoption," which examines the adoption process and the emotions associated with it.

The 52-year-old wife (she is married to actor/director James Keach) and mother/stepmother of six is developing a movie with Christopher Reeve, her now-paralyzed co-star in the 1980 film "Somewhere in Time." It will be a love story starring them.

Also, Seymour is launching a children's clothing line based on her children's books. The looks go from playpen to the school playground. The line is her second clothing venture. She designs the Jane Seymour Signature Collection for the women's clothing catalog Crossing Pointe as well.

Style writer Kevin Cowan may be reached at 865-342-6426.

Copyright 2003, Knoxville News-Sentinel Co.