Just a little something to brighten your day.

My sister sent me the link to this Mommy blog and I think she said it best…

Possibly one of the best mommy/baby photo blogs ever…extremely imaginative and normal at the same time.

I had the pleasure yesterday of spending the afternoon with Tim Gunn.

For those of you that don’t know him, Tim Gunn appears on Project Runway as mentor to the designers and basically the glue that holds the show together. If you don’t know what Project Runway is….well, this post will mean nothing to you.

Yes, Tim Gunn is a celebrated and loved TV personality, but to me he is so much more. As many of you know, I graduated from F.I.T. with a degree in Fashion Design. Tim Gunn was an Associate Dean and Department Chair at our rival fashion school, Parson’s.

Having lived in New York City  and worked in the fashion industry for 13 years, I can tell you that Tim Gunn represents all the best of the rag trade (garment industry); Class, sophistication, knowledge, eloquence, grace and, most importantly, he can dish the dirt without getting his hands dirty.

I wish I could tell you it was a long conversation over tea or cocktails, but, alas, I had to share his company with a few hundred others at the Georgia State University Auditorium. However, Tim is so engaging, I did feel that it was a much more personal encounter.

In fact, I was the first one to pop out of my chair to ask a question at the end of his talk. You may have seen me on CNN. Not really, but it was that monumental to me.

I asked a simple technical question about whether the designers were allowed to use slopers (a very basic pattern or template for the shape of a sleeve or pant) or if they had to rely solely on their draping skills to provide patterns. His answer was no that the designers had to rely on their draping and innate pattern-making skills to construct their garment. He then elaborated on the process.

I don’t expect you to understand the relevance of this question or the answer. What I will tell you is that right after I asked my question, the mere fact that TIM GUNN was listening to me, said it was an excellent question and addressed me directly when answering..well what can I say, it was a rush. Yes, I’m a nerd. This fact has been previously established.

Since I left New York, there are times I feel a little lost and disconnected from the heart of my passion which is design. Design in and of itself. The creative process and being around those who are in the same world who can appreciate and share the headache, heartache and reward it brings. I thoroughly wallow in the rare moments  when it all comes rushing all back. Thanks Tim.

Although Tim was there to speak about his book, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Quality, Taste and Style, we also learned he has a new book coming out this fall called Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work.

…..a thank-you note from your niece?

There’s a lot to be said for Old-Fashioned manners.

Love you, Dinky Diva!

My sister, Christine, recently started a handcrafted jewelry line called Heartisan ~ Unique Bijoux Creations.

She is dipping her toes into the retail world by exhibiting at specialty craft fairs.

Being the proud older sister, I had to tell you about it. Unfortunately, “proud” does not translate into brilliant cinematographer…so please bear with me in the below video. I’m sure our dazzling personalities will overshadow my less that stellar camera operating skills.

To get a closer look at her beautiful pendants….

Each handcrafted artisan heart pendant is created with a thoughtfully selected assortment of crystals, beads, and gems.

All pendants include Swarovski crystals, Czech glass, and freshwater pearls.

Other treasures that you may notice on your heart are abalone and other shell beads, lapis lazuli, garnet, onyx, amethyst, moonstone, hematite, peridot, rose quartz, and turquoise.

Your sparkling one-of-a-kind bauble is suspended from a Greek leather cord, and fastened with an effortless copper hook-and-eye.

I will be sure to let you know when her online boutique is up! She has already enjoyed fabulous feedback and initial success with her product launch!

I know you join me in wishing her Good Luck!

click image above to see full photo

Every now and then you may be struck with the impulse for a quick pamper..a facial, a manicure or the like. But, oh my goodness, you don’t have all the fancy “stuff” they use at spas! What’s a Diva to do? Well, with tips from this Marie Claire video- you just need a quick visit to your Cucina and *poof!* instant spa ingredients are at your finger tips.

They cover chamomile facials, olive oil scalp conditioner, cuticle relief, a sugar scrub & more!

Now, if your ready to step it up a notch with some yummy scents, try our Spa Take Out Boxes in Gelato, Almond Biscotti – a little Sugar For Your Soul! Or Palermo and Firenze for some Roma Therapy!

Share the at-home spa treatments with your Diva Sisters – don’t they deserve to indulge in a special Take Out Treat!

Reuters

If you think that that Meryl Streep was over the top in The Devils Wears Prada as Runway editor Miranda Priestly, you are sadly mistaken. In case you didn’t know it, she was based on real life Vogue Editor-In-Chief  Anna “Nuclear” Wintour.

Known to be quite ferocious, demanding, condescending, powerful and any other adjective you want to throw in that implies she may eat her young, have been used to describe her.

What can’t be denied is her work ethic and survival instincts. Ms. Wintour has been Editor-in-Chief at vogue magazine for 20 years.

She is probably not on your radar at all. But in my world, as a fashion designer, she is IT. I would say Rockstar…but, that implies like-ability.

Of course, I don’t know Anna. Who does? She appears to be one of the most aloof people you will ever come across. I am only going by second-hand accounts and the history of her coverage in the press. Plus, how would one acquire the nickname “Nuclear Wintour”, that takes dedication.

Considering that aloofness and Anna’s seeming pleasure of being a force-to-be-reckoned-with that is mainly recognized on the fashion front, it is quite amazing that now that there is a documentary on her and Vogue. With Project Runway, The Fashion Show and various fashion documentaries on prominent designers, Anna probably grew tired of the spotlight being taken off of her crown.

The September Issue will premiere in the United States on August 28th in all it’s glorious wickedness, I’m sure. I cannot wait until it comes to my town, at the very least, it’s going on my Netflix waiting list.

The September 2007 issue of Vogue magazine weighed nearly five pounds, and was the single largest issue of a magazine ever published. With unprecedented access, The September Issue, directed and produced by R.J. Cutler, tells the story of legendary Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour and her larger-than-life team of editors creating the issue and ruling the world of fashion.

The September Issue won the Grand Jury Prize for Excellence in Cinematography at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

You can also view a 60 minutes piece here.

I am embarrassed to say that this is the type of stuff that gets me excited, I love the fashion industry. I love that the more you dig the shallower it gets. But what I especially love is that people write off fashion as unimportant. They don’t get it.

Here is my favorite scene from The Devil Wear Prada..

Miranda Priestly: [Miranda and some assistants are deciding between two similar belts for an outfit. Andy sniggers because she thinks they look exactly the same] Something funny?
Andy Sachs (her female bohemian assistant who doesn’t “get” it at first): No, no, nothing. Y’know, it’s just that both those belts look exactly the same to me. Y’know, I’m still learning about all this stuff.
Miranda Priestly: This… ’stuff’? Oh… ok. I see, you think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select out, oh I don’t know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise, it’s not lapis, it’s actually cerulean. You’re also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar De La Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves St Laurent, wasn’t it, who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of 8 different designers. Then it filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic casual corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and so it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room. From a pile of stuff.

Let me know what you think. Do you get it? Or do you not even care?

P.S. If you are wanting to know even more, here is a review from The Independent.

Imagine my delight and surprise when my sister presented me with a Goddess Mother’s Day gift (I call myself Goddess Mother instead of “Godmother” to my almost 2 year old Dinky Diva niece). A complete volume of everything Elvis, all Elvis, all the time.

I may have mentioned, a time or ten, that I am a devoted Elvis fan. Not the creepy, know every detail, groupie, obsessed kind of fan…but with this encyclopedia, I am am equipped to become one, if I so desire.

Just about every detail Elvis’ life has been meticlously researched,  detailed and chronicled.  As the author, Adam Victor notes, ” this encyclopedia is longer than the Old Testament”; a comparison to higher powers? I will leave that up to you to decide. I know my vote is in on that count *wink*.

I have already made a spot on my coffee table for this handsome compendium, if someone could just help me by prying it out of my hands.

I’ve always believed the way to finish the perfect ensemble is with the perfect accessory. This same theory applies to landscaping. Oh, you may not have read this in Better Homes & Gardens, but believe me, it’s the gospel truth.

Several years ago, I adorned the dogwood in my garden with a  chandelier. Some may call it a candelabra, but I think that once crystals are hung, it is firmly in the chandelier category. Oh, all right, a candelier.

I keep it hanging from that tree all year long. Rain, sleet, snow and sun. Never once has anyone questioned it. The typical reaction is, “Wow, what a fantabulous idea.”

So, my dear Divas, I am passing this landscaping tip on to you. Hang a candelier in your tree. It will make you smile and feel a bit more grand, even on a less than Diva day.

And, it’s non deciduous.

The longer you religiously read this blog, the sooner you will realize I have a few fetishes…I will reveal the first obvious one here: Leopard. There, I have said it. I am La Dolce Diva and I love Leopard Skin. I am not quite Eartha Kitt, I don’t roll my rrrrrr’s or make loud hissing sounds, very often, but I do like the kitschy feeling of power that leoparrrrrrd skin brings me.

As I have mentioned before, I have several pieces of leopard skin accessories and even a few leopard pillows here and there. Which brings us to another fetish, Pajamas.

Where else can you reveal your true self? No one can say you are silly or immature..they are PAJAMAS for Pete’s sake. I have several sets. From Disney characters to cowboys & horses, from the Cheshire Cat to well…my newest acquisition, a pair of leopard skin PJ’s from BedHead.

I have been coveting these for a while now and they were definitely worth the  wait. Yummy quality flannel with pink piping. I was concerned that they were a bit large- but after washing, they ended up being true to size. They washed & dried beautifully.

I have to say that they make me feel absolutely glam, or in my case- even more GLAM! Like an 1940’s movie star- but the comfy flannel version , not the slinky satin version where you slip off the sheets of your own bed.

Pair these with matching leopard print ballet slippers and no one will question your Diva Quotient.

If leopard pattern is not your second skin, BedHead has plenty of other prints and patterns to choose from. I plan to add more to my collection.

BedHead has invited The Sweet Life readers to enjoy a 15% discount on their website. Enter HOLIDAY when checking out. The offer is good through Dec. 15th.

*La Dolce Diva is not compensated in any way for this post or special offer provided. I purchased my pj’s & slippers at full price.