Thursday, September 20, 2012

Fashions for Shows


Ok Girls, question for all, who would be interested to model some really sexy vintage lingerie?in front of an audience of well behaved men & women?around the first weekend of February?Your bodies will be descreetly covered. Best of all, there is compensation for all. Let me know...This is not a definite gig yet, planning is still in the works. Here are just a few of what you might be wearing.





Friday, September 14, 2012

Monday, July 30, 2012

Easy Shrimp Scampi Yummmmm

Easy & Healthy Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients

4 tsp olive oil
1 1/4 pounds med shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails left on)
6-8 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup + 1 T minced parsley
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
4 lemon wedges

Preparation

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Saute the shrimp until just pink, about 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. With a slotted spoon transfer the shrimp to a platter and keep them warm.
In the skillet, combine the broth, wine, lemon juice, 1/4 cup of the parsley, the salt and pepper; and bring it to a boil. Boil uncovered, until the sauce is reduced by half.
Spoon the sauce over the shrimp. Serve garnished with the lemon wedges and sprinkled with the remaining tablespoon of parsley.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Polka Dots

Finished up with these 2 tops today. I just love polka dots....

A Little Restoring

Mike Benet late 60s Dress, this was full length and had some issues at the hemline. I shortened, added cotton daisy appliques with pearl centers on the skirt, center of bow and on the single left shoulder strap. I have this listed on Etsy click here
These are from Betsey Johnson and match the above dress perfectly. This color is so hard to match I was shocked when I held them up to the dress. They colors doesn't look like they match, but believe me they do.  Size 7 and listed on Etsy
The shoes were purchased at Coldwater Creek several years ago for Fashion Shows. I added pearls to the "Chiffon Tiers" to give a more elegant look. These are also listed on Etsy


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Tiger Eyes

Here's a picture of my beautiful "Tiger Eye" from last fall, I do hope she looks like this again.

Our Yards

Busy start on the garden last weekend. Dave came home early to chase a Raccoon out from under the deck, makes it hard to work in the backyard when you know a wild animal is watching you. Planted tons of flowers on the terrace that Dave has been working hard on for the last 2 summers. All rocks, railroad ties etc he brought in by going out in the mtns with his bare hands and trusty truck "jet". We put some new flowers that we have never grown before for instance, foxglove, aramanthus and grazanias along with the usual dahlias, vincas, verbenas, pansies, asian grass, hybrid lilys, mums, geraniums and fuchias. I will post pictures when they are taller and more mature.
Along with planting I found time to paint my 50's metal garden chairs, they are so pretty, flowers stands and will start on picture frames with pastel colors, then it will be the big project of the 1900's clothing trunk.....




Tuesday, February 21, 2012

My Love Affair with Red!

                                                                   My love affair with Red!
                                                                      My Kitchen

My Studio

My Bedroom

Monday, February 13, 2012

The Divas of Coral Rose

Excerpts from my book, The Divas of Coral Rose

Here is a list of characters, I have protected their identites to a degree, only they will recoginize themselves 
CG - Classy Girl, CS - Christian Stripper, TL - Tea Lady, HM - Her Majesty,
WP- Writer Photographer, TB - True Beauty, BP - Big Pain,
PM - Perfect Model, BF - Best Friend, HR - High Roller

How not to make a business successful;
Make friends with all your customers, they will close you down for sure.
I started in this business by happenstance. My daughter dated a man who’s mother owned a Vintage Clothing booth in a local Antique Mall. Her inventory and knowledge came from a lesbian couple, which isn’t important to my story, but I felt the need to mention it.
I acquired my first location from a fellow business owner who after 10 years had had enough. She sold me her entire inventory for $8500.00. Which she told everyone later “that I had taken advantage of her“.
Oh well, such is life in the Antique World.
I had collected vintage for what seems forever and a day and had several books on fashion as far back as the Edwardian period. I read every single one of them and soaked up every thing there was to know about fabrics, buttons, zippers, stitching & details used for each decade, who wore what to when and how.
I loved this world and was now able to share it with everyone.
First off my business license was granted on 9-11-01. Does this tell you anything?
Yes, I opened my doors the day after that horrible nightmare in New York City.
My first customer didn’t come in for weeks, I was horrified, what have I done.
Not only did I take a second out on my home for the $8500.00, I also had a $10,000 Business Credit Card in my hot little hands that paid all operating costs until the money started coming in, which took a couple months.
Vintage Clothing it seems was only popular when an Actor showed up somewhere wearing a designer label like Dior, Valentino or Chanel from years ago, then wow! women went nuts and had to have vintage hanging in their closets.
Needless to say there are loyal vintage wearers but you can’t make a living off those few.
So I designed a website and sold on Ebay to try to make ends meet.
My big break came when a woman, dressed like a bag lady, walked through the doors to my shop and browsed around for almost an hour. She was carrying this huge bag and by the way she was acting I knew she was going to rip me off.
However, don’t ever judge a book by its cover.
She was, in fact, Debra Harry (Blondie).
After we talked for several minutes and I told her my suspicion and she laughed it off and still purchased a few items and thanked me for the discount I gave her. In return she gave me 2 comp tickets to her concert at the Silver Legacy Emporium that night, 4th row center. I was ecstatic to say the least. My hubby and I went dressed to the nines. He was wearing a 40’s double breasted brown gangster suit with suspenders, black shoes with white spats and a brown snap brim fedora. I wore a gorgeous black taffeta strapless tea length gown with many layers of crinoline to really make it full. I draped myself with rhinestone necklaces, earrings a huge brooch at my cleavage, black alligator open toe 4” heels with rhinestone shoe clips and  a black mink stole. To finish the look I wore a 1940's blonde pageboy wig.
We looked and felt FABULOUS!!
When we arrived everyone started staring at us and asked if we were in town for a film. No, “we live right here in Reno” they then asked, “Where did you find your clothing?”
I was more than proud and happy to tell them that we owned a Vintage Clothing Boutique“, I handed out a few of my cards and then we enjoyed the concert, Thank You, Ms Harry.
On that following Monday, my phone was ringing off the hook..
I will now tell you about my "15 minutes of fame" (which lasted 6 years) and the day I closed my business..

Friday, February 10, 2012

Decades of Fashion 2012

My creation! 2012 Calendar with beautiful models, interesting facts about fashion and women in history.   Top photo (Anne Marie DiCicco) is on the cover and bottom picture (Belle Starr)
is featured on the month of October