Project Red Dress

The Macy's and Seattle Metropolitan Magazines Project Red Dress event was amazing. It was really well organized and I loved watching the Project Runway-esque show. I took several pictures and Dawn will be doing a write up shortly. Stay tuned!!

For now check out the pictures!!

My 31st Birthday Rocked

This weekend was my 31st birthday! I decided it would be fun to go to a drag show as I had never been to one... by drag show I mean drag QUEEN not drag racing. The name of the show is La Faux.

10 friends and myself met for dinner and a show at Julia's on Broadway in Capitol Hill at 8pm. We felt pretty rushed to eat as they wanted us to get out of the main dining area by 9:30ish so they could setup for the show.

The manager was kind enough to rope off a section of seats for us so we could for sure sit together. That place filled up quickly!!

The show was great - they dressed up as Dolly Parton, Madonna, Cher, Pink, Wanda Sykes, etc... I wish I could have taken pictures but it wasn't allowed. Here are the pictures I did take though.

After the show we went and met a few of the performers, took some photos and then headed to Neighbors to go dancing. Neighbors is a gay dance club that used to be really fun a few years ago. As a woman I could go there to go dancing with my girlfriends and not worry about being hit on by odd guys... Some scummy straight guys have caught on to this as the place had been infiltrated by several of them. Either way we had fun dancing together and those odd guys just made for funny conversation later! The club closes from a 21 and over club at 2am and then opens up to all ages. That was our cue to leave!!

On Sunday I went and had breakfast with Regina at the Salmon Bay Cafe. They were out of gravy so, sadly, no biscuits and gravy for me. I had a scrambler instead... yum! After breakfast I went home and lounged on the couch for hours. I watched some old favorites, Mannequin and Cry Baby. Hubby joined me for Cry Baby - can't say it's on his list of movies he likes but he was a good sport. We watched a few more movies but I kind of dozed in and out here and there.

That night we tried to go to dinner at the Frontier Room only to find out they are closed on Sundays (Damn, I really wanted some BBQ too!). Then we opted for Todai due to the fact you eat free on your birthday. Once we arrived there, and I showed them my ID as proof, they informed me I wouldn't be eating free as it was just 2 of us and they require a party of 4... but they would give me a voucher for next time - LAME!!!! We left and went to Johnny Rockets instead for burgers... The only reason we went there was b/c we also planned to see a movie at Pacific Place (Cloverfield is what we saw... it was ok.) and it was convenient.... The Burgers were tasty and we indulged by splitting a chocolate banana milkshake.

I had a great birthday weekend - thank you to all of those who made it wonderful! And thanks to everyone for their kind birthday wishes!!

To top it all off, when I got to work on Monday, my desk was decorated with balloons and birthday banners... All the balloons had John Mayer's face taped to them. I love it!!

MySpace + UFN

Well folks, UFN officially has a MySpace page... Not sure what that will accomplish, but my goal is to reach out to people and spread the word of what it is we do. Plus meeting new designers and making friends is always a plus.

Check out our new page and add us as a friend!

It's gonna take a lot of work to update the site, update the blog and update the MySpace page (not to mention spend time with hubby, work full time, make jewelry, attend events and maintain some sort of social life)... I think I can do it though! ;) Wish me luck!!

Searching for easy peasy 1 2 3-sy dresses....

This weekend I went to the newer Nordstrom Rack in Southcenter looking for some easy, comfy dresses. I had an idea in my mind as to what I wanted but sadly I had no luck whatsoever. (Ideally I was looking for the kind you can pull on and just throw on a pair of tights... I love this grey one - you can dress it up or down!)

I tried on probably 15 dresses that were kind of in the category I was hoping for... However the ones that I liked ended up having some slight problem - like a hole, a ripped seam, a button missing. It was a huge disappointment!

I know that maybe NR isn't the best place to go for exact needs but I figured I'd find something... Oh well.

I got my SaleMail today and there were a few dresses that would work - and they are on sale!! They all come from shopbop.com, you better hurry though b/c inventory is limited. (I don't tend to go there for items b/c they are really expensive but these dresses are reasonably priced!) I like this grey one b/c it's super simple!


This one is a bit short but technically it's a tunic. I do think it's adorable and looks comfy!! What do you think?

If you know of some great dress sales please let me know!!

Another contest for designers...

P.Valentine boutique officially announces the first annual "City's Most Loved Designer Competition"

In the spirit of Project Runway and a pursuit for new design talent, P.Valentine in conjunction with IconStyle Inc. launches its first annual "City's Most Loved Designer" competition. Emerging designers will register for a chance of a lifetime to become the "City's Most Loved Designer".

Profiles of all participating designers will be posted for the city to poll on who they love the most. Although voting last for only one week, profiles will be on review for 29 days. Its fare game for all that apply and a great way to show Atlanta what you've got! Registrations opens Jan 16, 2008.

The public poll will open February 1, 2008 and close on February 8, 2008. The public will view your general profile/design and make their vote for the top 8 designers. From the top 8 designers judges will pick the final winner. Designers are chosen for the show based on submission through IconStyle.com and selected by some of Atlanta's most noteworthy fashion, academia & media professionals in the market.

P.Valentine requires that showcase designers have assembled their own collections and have shipped and sold at least one collection to at least one boutique or store. The shows are for designers who otherwise do not have the logistical or economic resources to mount their own professionally produced exposure event at this point in their career.

The winner of the competition will receive a signature window display and selling opportunity through P.Valentine boutique, marketing support from IconStyle Inc., a profile in BrownFashionista.com, an interview on Clutch Magazine TV, and an installation mixer privy to Atlanta's most fashion forward individuals.

To Register as a Designer visit: www.iconstyleinc.com

For more information visit: www.myspace.com/pvalentine

Media Contact: The Garner Circle PR
P: 770.256.1800 E: pr@thegarnercircle.com

SIDE NOTE: I didn't see anywhere where you have to actually be an Atlanta based designer... so it appears anyone can enter1 Best of luck!!

Ladies Who Launch - they rock!!

I wanted to put a shout out on my blog to an amazing group, Ladies Who Launch. If you're a woman entrepreneur and not a member of this group then stop reading this immediately and go sign up.

I joined LWL a few years ago and they are such an amazing and inspirational group. They help you with your business ideas, send you tips, keep you informed and help point you in the right direction.

Go sign up, it's worth it!!

(they are not paying me to say this, I just really think it's a great organization if you own your own business or want to...)

Fashion Weeks All Over The World

I just updated our calendar with all the BIG upcoming fashion weeks, NY, Berlin, LA... If you're interested here they are:

January 2008
ENK Men’s Fashion Week (New York)
January 20-22

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin
January 27-31

February 2008
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (New York)
February 1-8

March 2008
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios (Los Angeles)
March 9-13

Moscow Fashion Week presented by VISA
March 25-30

Lakme Fashion Week (Mumbai)
March 29-April 2

April 2008
Rosemount Australian Fashion Week Spring/Summer Collections (Sydney)
April 28-May 2

July 2008
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Miami Swim
July 18-22

I'm sure there are more to come and I'll keep updating our calendar with all the fashion events I can find. I sure would love to go to one of the big time fashion weeks. Have you ever been?

Calling all Fashionistas!!

I got an email today about a fun opportunity, thought I would share it:

Glam Media is searching for an up-and-coming designer in its Design a Dress Contest. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a break-out design star to create the dress of her dreams and be recognized nationally.

From January 7 to January 31, designers can submit sketches of a dress they'd like to design. From there, MSN and Glam.com readers will vote online for their favorites, and the top eight finalists will then create the dress they've envisioned. The winner will be flown to New York, receive a $500 gift certificate from Lord & Taylor, and have an opportunity to apprentice with ADAM Adam Lippes Studio.

For full details on entry and submission, log on to http://www.glam.com/g/p/270722786/nosub/112/293414520/.

About Glam Media: A distributed media network company that stands as today's fastest-growing Web property. With more than 42 million unique visitors, it ranks #1 in reach for women.

Now doesn't that sound like fun?! I think I just might apply!! :)

If ugly wore a dress...

If ugly was a person and she chose a dress to wear I think this would be it... OMG this dress is so ugly. To think someone out there could have paid the retail price of $475 for this hideous sheath... Sorry if you own this dress... but if you do, really... what were you thinking? I seriously wanna know what would compel someone to spend that much on this dress. Even on sale it's still not the right price in my opinion. If it was free then maybe... I get that we all have our own personal style and taste but this dress doesn't do anything for the skinny model that's wearing it.

No, not even if it was free...

This would be a great dress to recycle and make something else out of it. Like a purse or something. May I also add that anything that was $475 should NOT be this ugly... It should be a law! Like time should be served if that law is broken... Murders, sex offenders, old lady bashers, people who make dresses like this and charge $475... they should all be behind bars. (ok, not really...)

So, this has been my random rant for the day... Let's end it with a positive... There are some really cute dresses at Nordstroms on sale right now. I know it to be true b/c I saw the email... Like this one, I love this one!!

Tips for Crafters/Artists

I got an email today from Louis of Event Lister and it had some great tips I wanted to pass on to you artists out there!!

Ideas for Artists and Crafters:
How Artists/Crafters Can Make More Money:

As an Artist or Crafter, you will only get out what you put in. These days you even have to put in more to get out the same as yesteryear. So, if you want to make MORE money in this field, you need to increase the amount of WORK you do AND the QUALITY of it, anything else is fantasy. Smarts and planning will help, but hands down you will need to find a way to make MUCH MORE PRODUCT for MUCH LESS MONEY AND TIME and have it be of HIGHER QUALITY than before.

You will not get rich with a few dozen items on your single table at a show close to home. You won't either with a thousand less costly but nicer items in 2 booths, acting like a salesperson, at what you researched to be the best show in the state on that day, but you're bound to fare better.

Keys to Success: Preparation, Research, Learning, Planning, and Execution.

Think BIG! - You will unlikely see much more, let alone many times, your current yearly profit unless you do more, better shows AND sell more at each AND make more profit on each item AND sell more items per sale.

Start By:
1. Review your suppliers and sources. If you are buying thousands of dollars of anything, make sure you are getting the best possible price, find out what is necessary to qualify for discounts. Shop around with new suppliers, prices are never stable and there are almost always deals to be found or made.
2. Find a way to produce more for less cost to you in less time. Then, stock, carry, and DISPLAY more inventory.
3. Book larger, better shows, and ask more for your quality products at them. The top customers are still to be had and still travel in packs!
4. Create a Customer Base - Start a customer/mailing list! Send them announcements of shows you are doing near them and include a few repeat-customer specials with each mailing.

There are MANY MORE tips but I don't want to copy it all here as it's REALLY long. Email me if you're interested and I can forward on the info to you!

Ciao!
Tarah

Yay 2008!!

2007 has finally come to a close and now I am looking ahead at 2008. We are still working on the details for UFN and what is to come. We are hoping to make some exciting changes to the site and get involved in as much as we can. We'd love your suggestions for what you'd like to see.

We had such a great 4 months in 2007 and I can't wait to see what happens for us in this new year!!

I made my resolutions and I hope to stick to them! What are your resolutions? Care to share? I am hoping to get into better shape. Do another race of some sort. Do more yoga. Travel a bit more and organize my life.

My Christmas was really good. Went to Colorado to visit my in-laws. Got some snowboarding in at Breckenridge... By snowboarding I mean, boarding, falling, boarding, falling, boarding, falling... I did a lot of falling - brought home some pretty bruises. ;) I should add learn to snowboard to my resolution list as well!

Thank you to all of you who supported us in 2007. Yay 2008!!!

(The picture is of me drinking from the springs in Manitou Springs, Colorado. The water tasted like poo... carbonated poo. Pretty huh... haha!)