Tag: entertainment

Runway Monday: The Rainway (PR 13:8)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were challenged to create avant garde looks that would be able to stand up to the elements, especially the rain. In fact, the runway was transformed into a “rainway” and the designers had to use waterproof textiles in their looks.

Okay, some points.

I’m not letting it rain on my computer, which serves as the backdrop to my runway.

Currently, I have almost zero time to design anything, much less an avant garde look.

Fortunately, I can’t be eliminated! And I have the most beautiful model and muse in the world, Summer. She’s helping me prove a point. There really is a woman who can make a trash bag look like fashion. Thanks, Summer!


See you next time on the runway with–hopefully–a more fashionable design.

Black bag used for dress from Murder By The Book. Boots and belt by Mattel.

Previous looks from this season:

13:7 Priceless Runway
13:6 Rock the Wedding
13:5 The Klum of Doom
13:4 A Suitable Twist
13:3 Welcome to the Future
13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide

100 Happy Days: 87 (a/k/a Snoopy Saturday!)

For as far back as I can remember actually talking to people and not hiding behind one parent or another or on the other side of the locked door of my bedroom from invaders who might destroy my toys or read my diary, I liked to ask random questions as a way to gain insight into people. (I’ve also always been a fan of run-on sentences.) In the days before I thinned my Facebook herd (Nora’s term for it), thereby turning it into the place where I basically just link to this blog or stalk my family, this was my favorite thing to do there in my status updates. For example, I might say:

Donald Duck or Daffy Duck?

or

John, Paul, George, or Ringo?

or

Dynasty or Dallas?

Questions that mean nothing to anyone under thirty forty, but you get the idea.

The other night while Tom and I were out running errands, I spotted this at Barnes & Noble and bought it. It’s a box of 156 cards (it’s true; I counted them), each containing a question “guaranteed to spark an instant conversation!” While I have lots more readers of this blog than I did when I was on LiveJournal, I have fewer commenters. Maybe y’all are shy the way Wee Becky was. So today I’m beginning “Snoopy Saturdays.” Please use my comments here to answer my Saturday question. Because that will make me happy.

Runway Monday: Priceless Runway (PR 13:7)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers got a taste of luxury when they were allowed to choose a piece of Chopard jewelry to base their designs around. Tim also took the contestants to the Charles James exhibit at the Met for more inspiration.

Apparently they forgot to send me a piece of jewelry for my look or take me to a museum for inspiration, but I’ve been improvising despite their snubs since 2008. I chose one of my most stunning models, Meggie, and a necklace of cascading pearls to be the focus of my design.

Such an elaborate piece of jewelry deserves an understated silhouette. I chose the reverse side of a red print fabric for the bodice and one of my favorite fabrics, a crinkle chiffon, in red, for the skirt.


A peek at Mattel’s gold sandals.


The flowing A-line skirt mimics the necklace.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the look. See you next time on the runway!
Belt by Becks. Necklace gift of Lynne.

Previous looks from this season:

13:6 Rock the Wedding
13:5 The Klum of Doom
13:4 A Suitable Twist
13:3 Welcome to the Future
13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide

Runway Monday: Rock the Wedding (PR 13:6)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, inspired by the new trend in untraditional wedding dresses worn by rock stars on their big day, the designers were told to wow the judges with their own version of an unconventional wedding dress.

The wedding dress I designed a few seasons ago remains my favorite, because if you’ve followed this blog at all, you know the only thing I love more than 1960s inspired looks is what I call the “tattered princess.” There’s always room to update that concept. I’ve had a shimmery plaid fabric I’ve been wanting to use and thought it would make a great unconventional bodice. I invited Noelle to the workroom and here’s the bridal look I created for her.


A closer look at the bodice. I love the way the netting of the skirt shimmers around Mattel’s flirty pink sandals.


Here comes the bride!

It’s a great day for a silver wedding. See you next time on the runway!

Previous looks from this season:

13:5 The Klum of Doom
13:4 A Suitable Twist
13:3 Welcome to the Future
13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide

Runway Monday: The Klum of Doom (PR 13:5)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the competitors were tasked with designing a red carpet look for Heidi Klum to wear to the Creative Arts Emmys, held a week or two before the live, televised Emmy awards. Once again, I’m convinced “Project Runway” is really a way for Heidi to get free fashion inside her closet.

Here’s what I created for her–a look that’s appropriate for a pre-Emmys award ceremony recognizing key technical disciplines and behind-the-scenes crafts essential to television production. I’m lucky enough to have Mattel’s own version of Heidi Klum to model my creation.

Hope you think Heidi’s wearing a red carpet winner. See you next time on the runway!

Jewelry by Becks from beads donated by Timothy J. Lambert. Fabric gift of Timothy J. Lambert.

Previous looks from this season:

13:4 A Suitable Twist
13:3 Welcome to the Future
13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide

Runway Monday: A Suitable Twist (PR 13:4)

For the fourth challenge of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the previous week’s challenge winner paired the other designers with vintage menswear suits. Each designer had to combine part of the suit fabric with additional fabric bought at Mood to create a new high-fashion look for his or her model.

Here’s one of Mattel’s interesting looks for Ken pictured with my extra fabric:

My model Grace is wearing it just for fun.

Here’s the look I created for her.

The pink at the pockets, mimicking men’s pocket squares and made from the shirt, pulls in the color of Grace’s Mattel shoes.

This was a fun look to do. Hope you enjoyed it, too. See you next time on the runway!

Previous looks from this season:

13:3 Welcome to the Future
13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide

Runway Monday: Welcome to the Future (PR 13:3)

In the third challenge of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the show celebrated fashion magazine Marie Claire’s twenty years in business. The designers were asked to take a look back at where they were twenty years ago and create a look inspired by something from that time that was relevant today and might also be fashionable twenty years from now.

Twenty years ago I was doing a job I loved working with a few people who became real friends, including Amy. She had a couple of dresses that always cheered me up when she wore them, and I told her if she ever decided to get rid of them, I wanted to use the fabric to cover pillows. Guess what? Yes, I still have those dresses today; they’ve been hanging in storage in my garage since 1997; you can see the two of them pictured on the left.

I can think back in twenty year increments since long before I was born, and one thing has remained a constant. A girl in a pretty dress makes people smile. Whether or not I’m alive in twenty years, if that has changed, then fashion is dead. I used one of Amy’s dresses for fabric to create a look in a timeless silhouette for Noel.


Necklace by Becks. Shoes by Mattel.


Looking forward to the future when I’ll see you again on the runway!

Fabric donated by Sweet Lil’ Amy Sue. Doll donated by John and Matt. You might remember that Noel is not a Model Muse but a standard Barbie who came all the way from New York after a visit to Mood. A classic never goes out of style.

Previous looks from this season:

13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide