Christine DeMaio-Rice's Blog, page 4

Matte's Where It's At

 

Matte Matters by xtined featuring sequin tops

Vince sequin top

$435 - vince.com

Pamela Love red jewelry

$198 - forwardforward.com

Black bangle

$13 - windsorstore.com

Nixon crystal jewelry

$60 - tobi.com

Maison Martin Margiela brass jewelry

299 - farfetch.com

FOSSIL rose watch

$135 - buckle.com

Button jewelry

$40 - bakersshoes.com

Button jewelry

$40 - bakersshoes.com

Button jewelry

$40 - bakersshoes.com

Nixon The Time Teller P Watch

$42 - tobi.com

Ellis Faas 'E103′ Creamy Eyes

23 - liberty.co.uk

Amazon.com: Flat Matte Black Joker Venetian Masquerade Party Mask:…

$40 - amazon.com

Nixon Timeteller PU Matte Black

$100 - generalpants.com.au

Reproductor MP4 Apple iPod Classic Negro de 160 GB – Sonido Portátil -…

€229 - elcorteingles.es

32ct Matte Burgundy Shatterproof Christmas Ball Ornaments 3.25″…

$20 - sears.com

Amazon.com: 32ct Matte Bubblegum Pink Shatterproof Christmas Ball…

$20 - amazon.com

{divider2}
I want to talk about matte stuff. Meaning, no shine.

matte

1    [mat]  Show IPA adjective, noun, verb,mat·ted, mat·ting. adjective

1.having a dull or lusterless surface: matte paint; a matte complexion; a photograph with a matte finish.



But I don't want to talk, because I wrote this long post a couple of weeks ago and now I can't find it and that it really frustrating. But the point was this. Technology drives fashion. You can't DO matte black until you can MAKE matte black. So what happens is that usually, the factory figures out how to do something, they show designers and designers implement it.
Designers no longer drive the overall aesthetic.
In this case, everything in the known universe is going matte black and zippers and rivets have just caught up. Why haven't fabrics? Because the technology isn't there. If it was, it'd be in the stores already.
For me, the greatest missed opportunity in fashion right now is matte chenille and velour/velvet.
Matte satin — also not a bad idea. But I'm not seeing it.

It's matte black. The WHOLE THING.

Sample sale find but…check it out.

Who could be so hip that they have matte black windows? Heh.

This Is Why Men Hate Fashion

This is a reboot of a post I did for Mark Williams International Digital Publishing

This Is Why Men Hate Fashion

 

I'll send three mental images your way.

1)    A man slouches on a couch outside dressing rooms, waiting for his girlfriend to exit. He looks like he'd rather be dead, or chewing razor blades, or simply watching football.

2)    A man in a suit, outside the bathroom. His wife exits wearing something either obscene or absurd, twirls around and says, "how do I look?" The man in question doesn't have to answer. We know he's in trouble.

3)    A man stands stock still as a woman dresses him in something ridiculous while she squeals about how fabulous he looks.

These are all a beer commercial waiting to happen, and we have bought them in their entirety. I hate beer commercials because they play on gender stereotypes and expectations. This is a huge injustice to men everywhere, and it's the reason most of the men in America dress like laundry sacks.

Worse, runway shows specialize in making men look like slim, asexual fourteen year-olds, while men's magazines mention clothing as an afterthought to the barely-dressed women on the cover. The backlash is not only understandable, it's should be expected. Fashion has been marketed as a "girl's thing" and sports as a "boy's thing," and like normal human beings we follow along.

I know, you're saying you're different. Fine. You're different. Are all the men in your life like you? (If you're gay, and all your friends are gay, please don't answer. Gay men get this right already. We need to bring the straight boys along with us, gentlemen).

So I want you all to choose a t-shirt. Go on the internet or look in a catalog with the intention of buying a nice t-shirt. I know what you're saying. "I wear t-shirts in the yard or to hang out with my buddies I don't want to spend a lot of money on a t-shirt." What I'd say to that is, a t-shirt can change the way you look, and you don't have to change t-shirts for the yard, but it's you're leaving the house at all, you can affect an enormous difference by not looking like a sack of crap.

First. Ladies. If you're in on this process, stop squealing. Do not squee. Do not fawn. Do not seduce. At the first sign of any feminine behavior, you will lose his interest. This is borderline clinical. Act like a surgeon over an open heart.

Second. Gentlemen. That little twisty part of yourself that associates looking good with being less manly? Take charge of it. Go with me here. It won't hurt, I promise.

I want to start by showing you what a t-shirt should NOT look like. I mean it's so bad the model looks like he's cringing.

 

Why is this so bad, you ask.

Why, indeed.

Look at those sleeves. He looks like a slight breeze will send him flying away. There's a good four inches of excess fabric in there. This is bad. Worse, the outsleeves are hiking. The outsleeves are the outer edge, on the sleeve fold. Do you see how the sleeve opening angles down in toward the body? This is a no-no, and it's making him look like a big trapezoid.

Now I'd like to direct you to the placement of the shoulders. They're way down on his arm! Which, honestly, would be just fine if the sleeves weren't flappy-dappy.

Which brings us to the biggest problem. Because the sleeve balance is something easy to see and obvious. But the less obvious problem is proportional. The chest fits really nicely, and when you buy something online, it's the chest you're buying against. You look at the chest measurements and you compare to your body measurements, and there you go! A chest that fits with these big stupid sleeves. And that's why you need the big, shoulders, to make these two pieces to the puzzle fit together. If the shoulders were the correct size to the proportion of the chest, they'd be narrower.

But he's wearing two different t-shirts. One fits (the chest) and one doesn't (the sleeves).

So, why is it this way?

Part of the reason is that the customer's gotten sloppy and doesn't care (yes, I'm talking to you). The other reason is that those sleeves are easier to sew than sleeves that fit. In order to get the curve of the armhole to fit around the body, a bunch of cool easing and stretching techniques have to be used so there's not four yards of fabric in the armpit. But if you make big shoulders and a straight-ish armhole, you can sew a million of them consistently and sell them for ten bucks each.

 

 

This is better. At least he doesn't look like he's going to fly away. The sleeve openings are level to the earth and the shoulders hit in the right place. And though the chest still fits, to be honest, the sleeves now look too small for the body, proportionally. And there are draglines on the sleeve (little vertical creases) caused by a poorly balanced sleeve cap. Fixing that is another whole order of patternmaking and sewing though, so you can ignore me.

 

This is the nicest-fitting t-shirt I've seen. The sleeves are tight, which makes it good for wearing a jacket or sweater over it, and the shoulders are just where they should be. The problem of course is that it's generally too tight. It's also short. You can see how high it's falling on his crotch.

 

OK, so I went looking for a Guess tee, because they fit better than 90% of the men's tees out there (disclaimer – I was employed by Guess and yes, worked on the men's t-shirts). But this one is not good, and led me to something else I wanted to point out. When you buy a graphic tee that's really soft and has these cool stitches and stuff, be aware they are beat to hell in the production process. Dyed, washed, printed, dyed and washed again. One medium likely won't fit like the next medium. So you get one like this, that's about an inch and a half too short, and the stitching on the sleeves didn't shrink at the same rate as the rest of it – so you have these bizarre ruffle/wing things at the cuff.

 

OK, this one looks good. I mean I could pick it apart, but I know you guys don't want to spend an hour in the dressing room, with your girlfriends sitting outside wishing you were watching football.

 

 

Cheryl Shireman Wants to Tell Your Daughter Something

 

A Night Out for a Modern Princess by writercheryl featuring vintage necklaces

Gold cocktail dress

psyche.co.uk

ALDO high heels

$135 - aldoshoes.com

Anya Hindmarch gold clutch

$635 - mytheresa.com

Suzanna Dai vintage necklace

$470 - charmandchain.com



Cheryl wanted a bunch of fashion talk here, about how a girl can feel like a princess without finding that "prince."
And I agree. Dressing nice can make you feel nice. But Cheryl's book is about a lot more than making yourself look nice to feel nice. It's about being YOU, even if you don't like sparkly heels (but they sure are sweet, aren't they?)
If you have a daughter, shell out the 99c for this essay.




This bad boy is available at AMAZON.

Cheryl Shireman Burns Her Bra

This begs the question, did she go buy another one? Or did she just stop wearing them? Which begs the question, hey, can I do that, too? Because this whole bra thing is really uncomfortable.

Which I guess was the point.

I Burned My Bra For This? One Woman's Fantasy

By Cheryl Shireman

I'm a Baby Boomer. Which means that I remember bell-bottoms, Happy Days, and having only three channels on the television. I played Donny Osmond albums on a record player. My parents watched Gunsmoke, and on Sunday nights we all watched The Wonderful World of Disney. In the living room. Together. On the only television we owned. Imagine that! I remember the first time I saw Bonanza in color. I remember the first time I heard about remote controls for televisions. The whole idea seemed ridiculous. With three channels, really, how often would it be needed? I remember the Watergate hearings playing on the television when I came home from school.

I also remember watching feminists (does anyone use that word anymore?) burn their bras and march for equal rights. I grew up believing that a woman deserves equal pay for equal work and that a woman is not defined by the man she marries or by the children she gives birth to. In fact, we were told that both men and children were optional. The idea seemed revolutionary at the time. It still does. Women were mad as hell and they weren't taking it anymore. We called it Women's Liberation, and though it was never said, it was certainly implied (and believed in most circles) that a woman who did not work was a bit inferior to a career woman. That was when such women were called housewives and not "stay at home" moms. Women were divided into two groups – those who worked and those who didn't. Back then, no one thought that staying home and taking care of a family and home was work. The women of my generation wanted more, demanded more, and believed we were entitled to just that – more. We sometimes looked at our own mothers, most of whom did not have real jobs, as women who simply did not understand that there was more to life than being a mother. If truth be told, we thought they were a bit simple-minded and we secretly vowed to do more with our lives.

And yet…as this Baby Boomer looks at her life, I realize nothing I have ever done, or will ever do, is as important as being a mother. Not career, volunteer work, graduate school, or any creative pursuit. Nothing else even comes close to being a mother. Period.

One of my children lives half an hour away, another is one state away, and the third is on the other side of the world in Denmark. Yesterday, my husband and I spent the entire day with our two-year-old granddaughter. She then spent the night. As I write this, I hear her gentle breathing in the baby monitor positioned atop the table close to where I sit.

To say that my children, and now my granddaughter, have filled my life with love and joy is an understatement. As children, they expanded my heart in ways I could never have imagined. For the first time in my life, I not only understood, but received unconditional love. As adults, they are three people that I know I can always count on. They will always be there for me. Just as I will always be there for them. Can you say the same about your career?

There used to be a television show called Fantasy Island. People visited the island and lived out their fantasies – no matter how wild (okay, not that wild – this was primetime family tv in the seventies). Not too long ago, my husband and I had a discussion about that old tv show and asked each other – What would your fantasy be? Mine was easy. If I could have a Fantasy Island day, I would relive one day with my children. My son would be 10, which would make my daughters 4 and 2. We would spend the day doing whatever they wanted. Going to the park, going to the movies, playing games, baking cookies, or just sitting on the floor playing with Legos and Barbies. I would hug them a lot. And kiss the tops of their heads. And take tons of pictures. I wouldn't cook. I wouldn't clean. And I wouldn't worry about my career.

I would watch my son show his younger sisters how to do things, like he always did in his older brother sort of way. I would watch my 2 year-old daughter follow her older 4 year-old sister around the room, shadowing her every move. Just as she did, even through their college years when they shared an apartment near Indiana University. I would watch the older sister taking care of her younger sister, as if she were her baby. Which is what she called her when she was born – my baby.

Bedtime would be later than usual on that fantasy night. I would tuck them into their beds, fresh from baths and smelling of shampoo. The girls smelling like baby lotion. My son would hug me goodnight with his long skinny arms and tell me he loves me. And I would feel the truth in that. I would tuck in my girls and tell them it is time to go to sleep. I would take extra care in covering the older girl's feet, because she always kicked her blankets off during the night. I would kiss the baby and hold her a little longer, because I would know that, as I type this she is in Denmark which makes visiting tough.

And, as I walk down the hall and turn out the lights, I would call out to all of them, as I always did… "Goodnight. Love you. Sweet dreams. See you in the morning."

And that would be my fantasy day. Oddly enough, it has nothing to do with my career as a writer. Even though being a writer has always been my dream. My first novel, Life is But a Dream: On the Lake, was published earlier this year. The main character, Grace Adams, is a woman facing an empty nest and the possible demise of her marriage. Grace withdraws to a secluded lake cabin to redefine her life and try to find a reason to continue living. While at the lake, Grace not only finds renewed purpose and hope, but when things take a turn for the worse at the lake, she finds a strength she never knew she possessed. The novel is thought-provoking, sometimes frightening, and often funny (just like life). It is also, very definitely, fiction.

I'm not Grace. Even though my "nest" is empty, I am enjoying this time and this new focus on my career. I am not suicidal or lacking in purpose. My husband and I both work from home (he designs websites), we live on a lake, and our schedule is our own. It is truly a wonderful time in our lives. Sometimes I have popcorn for dinner. Enough said.

But, would my current life be as wonderful if I had not pursued career and graduate school and developed the skills I am using now? Probably not. I managed to combine work and school and motherhood. I believed I could have it all, and do it all, but to be honest – the kids always came first. And being a mother is the strongest and best part of my identity. It is the thing I am most proud of. My greatest achievement. And, once in a while, I miss those days when toys where scattered across the floor, the washer was always running, and we bought eight gallons of milk a week.

If you have children at home, cherish those simple every-day moments with them. They really will be gone in the blink of an eye – sooner than you can possibly imagine. Put this book down. Now. Go sit on the floor and play a game. Pop some popcorn, put on one of their favorite movies, and cuddle up on the couch. Live that "fantasy" right now. You will never be able to recapture these moments. Enjoy them now. There is no greater gift than the love of your children. Spend the rest of your day letting it pour over you. And pour your love right back over them. You can come back to this book tonight, after they are asleep.

As I type this, I can hear my granddaughter waking up. I am shutting my computer off. Right now, I am going to go upstairs and scoop her up from her crib. She will probably wrap her little arms around my neck and ask, "Play blocks, Bomb Bomb?"

And we will play blocks.

This is one story from Indie Chicks: 25 Women 25 Personal Stories available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. To read all of the stories, buy your copy today. All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer.

Also included are sneak peeks into 25 novels! My novel, Life Is But a Dream: On The Lake, is one of the novel excerpts featured. It is available at most online retailers in trade paperback as well as e-book formats.

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Winners of the Holiday Blog Hop!

I've been asked to post the winners…and here they are:
I have to tell you, I was having some organizational issues.
I got results from the judges based on the polyvore sets, and some had emails and some didn't. Some put them inside the set comments and some were in the blog comments. Some had names and some didn't. Sometimes the name was in the blog and the email was with the set. It was kind of frustrating. Like herding cats. Next year, I'm using a form.







Big winner: californiazgold@gmail.com (no name)
Winners of print books






richnkathy718@msn.com (Kathryn)
a_breen@yahoo.com (Ash Breen)
busticatedbanana@hotmail.com (sara)
cayce006@yahoo.com
KACSales@gmail.com (K Carey)
Winners of eBooks
kimberlycsquires@Att.net (Kimberly)
taralain@cox.net (Tara)
shadowluvs2read@gmail.com (Shadow)
syndiasia@yahoo.com (name is Jenn Gruenberg)
mcv111@hotmail.com(Monica vargo)
zoolinvale@gmail.com (craig smith)
Christina Busby Christyandjosh04@aol.com

What To Wear To The Drug Store With the Future Love Of Your Life

Julia in Paris and Christmas in NY by kcowen01 featuring a black white ring

Zuhair Murad short lace dress

3,725 - harrods.com

Joseph no sleeve shirt

225 - flannelsfashion.com

Hollister Co embellished shirt

$40 - hollisterco.com

Alexander McQueen double breasted leather coat

3,925 - net-a-porter.com

D G asymmetrical jacket

$1,310 - stylebop.com

Skinny fit jeans

$170 - satineboutique.com

Christian Louboutin suede peep toe booties

$767 - saksfifthavenue.com

Lace pumps

$3,307 - jildorshoes.com

Rupert Sanderson gray booties

$1,095 - rupertsanderson.com

Manolo Blahnik suede pumps

$644 - bluefly.com

Stud ring

59 - asos.com

Effy Collection black white ring

$1,425 - lordandtaylor.com

Mirabelle disc jewelry

$59 - asos.com

White gold diamond jewelry

$6,200 - 1800loosediamonds.com

Diamond jewelry

$82,000 - harrywinston.com

Nak Armstrong moonstone jewelry

$15,000 - barneys.com

New York New York Harry Benson, Hilary Geary Ross Cliquez Pour…

€85 - colette.fr




Katherine Owen, Indie Chick by a mile, did a set for her character in Seeing Julia, which is available at Amazon and all the other usual suspects.



Julia Hamilton's perfect life falls apart with the death of her husband, Evan, just when she would appear to have everything. (Evan's wealth was not the main attraction for Julia, but she does dress the part.)Scene setup (two different ones) – The inner circle gathers at Julia's house in Amagansett on Christmas morning. For this scene, Kimberley gives Julia a silver blouse to wear. It's also another unexpected encounter with Jake Winston where Julia tries to look casual, but she's still exquisitely dressed.



The clothes on the right with red background are what she wore the night of the Christmas party (on Christmas Eve) with her friends and her second encounter of Jake Winston. Specifically, these are the clothes I envision her wearing when she and Jake make a run to Rite-Aid when her infant son appears to be sick. Jake appears enchanted with Julia already. They're awkward around each other in this scene. She's still grieving for Evan, but strangely attracted to Jake. It's a great scene with a lot of subtext going on.

Katherine Owen – Indie Chick!

One Fictionista's Literary Bliss

By: Katherine Owen

I was anointed a female fictionista by an overzealous Georgia Bulldog fan on Twitter. I immediately took it for my job description.  So, here's what you should know. I write. I write a lot. And, when I'm not writing, I think about writing a lot. You may think we're having a conversation, but invariably I'm stealing your name, asking how to spell it, and secretly describing the look on your face in five words or less in my mind. My writing tends to be dark, moody, and sometimes funny. Sometimes, it can be a bit lyrical or even literary. It's often edgy, so be forewarned. My readers complain they can't put my books down. Or, just when they think they've figured the story out, it changes and becomes something else. My stories tend to be dark and comprised of broken heroines; even the heroes in my books have a few flaws that cause trouble. It's true; my characters may disappoint you or surprise you or piss you off, but I think you'll understand why they do what they do because of the way I write them. I strive to reveal the deepest underpinnings about life, about love, and about human nature, but it's not for the faint of heart. I'll take you through a proverbial emotional ringer before reaching resolution and it's never as predictable as you might think. Do I sound like your kind of fictionista? Come along, darling. This way.

Something else you should know about me is that I'm a huge George Clooney fan. Maybe, Up In The Air wasn't one of his usual gigs, but I loved that movie. And, let's be frank, I watched ER without him for years, but it was never the same. Never. Anyway, I digress. There's a scene in Up In The Air where he's telling this guy to follow his dream after George has told him he's been laid off.  When I saw that scene, it was as if George was practically speaking to me because I was there, two years ago, when I was laid off from a high tech sales job, had always harbored a dream to write full-time, and went for it after that. Is it a coincidence that Up In The Air came out about the same time? I think not.

So now, this is what I do. Write. Write all the time. I'll admit it was hard at first. It still is—hard, harrowing, humbling. Believe me, it would be easier to go out and get another high paying sales job than write for a living because writing causes me to question my mental toughness so much of the time. Can I do this? Am I good enough?

Yet, here's what I've learned: you just have to turn off that voice in your head off or ignore what is being said.  Sometimes, all you need to do is stand up for yourself, stop depending upon the opinions of others, and just go after what you really want.

For me, that's writing. For you, it might be anything else, but just pursue your passion whatever it is.

With this anthology, my debut novel, Seeing Julia is featured. Seeing Julia is a labor of love and represents a lot of hard work. Truly, this book has caused me as much grief as it has joy. After I first wrote this novel, I entered it into a literary contest and promptly forgot about it. I was busy. I was taking classes at The Writer's Studio, becoming literary savvy, and writing another novel called Not To Us.

 

I remember it was a Monday morning in early June of 2010 when I received a call from the president of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association telling me I was a finalist in the romance category with my entry of Seeing Julia. "What?" She asked me if I planned on attending the conference. "Well, I guess so." Lucky for me, I attended the summer conference, bought a new outfit, and won the Zola Award and first place with Seeing Julia the night of the awards dinner. It was a surreal moment, when I had to go up to the front of the room with those seven hundred people watching and accept my award. But, truly? I was more concerned about navigating all those tables and chairs on my way up to the podium than actually seizing the moment. As word spread about my writing award win, self-doubt had already set in. It was a fluke. It was dumb luck. As high as my emotions soared about winning; they fell just as fast when literary agents still rejected my work. Yes, the win opened a number of literary agent doors for me, but I wrote several different versions of that novel when a number of them took greater interest, but then wanted to change everything about the story. One agent called me up and lectured me for forty-five minutes about the book and then promised to take a look if I made more changes. I sent her the revised manuscript, but she never called again.

This was a year ago. I was at a crossroads with my writing and myself. I kept thinking if I did what they said and changed it, yet again, I would get to the next step—literary bliss. But I wasn't getting anywhere.

Discouraged, but still determined, I reviewed what the critiques and feedback about Seeing Julia had been. Based on those, I sifted through what I thought would need to be changed and began rewriting the story, working day and night through most of November. With just getting a few hours of sleep each night, I kept up the intense pace and by the time the novel was finished; I knew it was. I'm extremely proud of Seeing Julia. During the process of rewriting it for the last time, I reached an important pinnacle with my writing: I trusted myself. Confidence entered into the realm. And, along with it, swift understanding: I had to make my own literary bliss.

Two additional things became clear. First, it was essential for me to have complete control over the publishing of my work; and second, the publishing industry was in the midst of a perfect storm because of e-books and I needed to take full advantage. And, so I did.

In late April and early May of this year, I released two novels: Seeing Julia and Not To Us. These books are available as e-books as well as print trade paperbacks.

Many wonderful readers have responded to my work. They often reach out to me and let me know how they love my novels. I love and cherish their enthusiasm for my work.

This is literary bliss.

Of course, my family's number one complaint is that I write too much and all the time. Now, add to that the twittering and the facebooking and the wordpressing and now google plus-ing, and checking Amazon, and taking writing classes; it's a full-time gig. But, I wouldn't have it any other way.

The good news is that with the encouragement of my readers and confidence in my writing, I'm working on my third novel, When I See You, and hope to release this book before the end of this year.  And, I already have drafts for two other novels, Saving Valentines and Finding Amy.

Oh yes, there are occasions, rare ones, when I'm not writing. That's when I like to drink a fine wine, check in with my family, and look at my awesome view which I can see when I look up long enough from my computer screen in my writing refuge.

And so, welcome. Welcome to my little piece of the universe.

I'll leave you with this—a philosophy I now live by, borrowed from one of the greatest women tennis players of all time: "You've got to take the initiative and play your game. In a decisive set, confidence is the difference."  Chris Evert

Oh, Chrissy, you are so right!

This is one story from Indie Chicks: 25 Women 25 Personal Stories available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. To read all of the stories, buy your copy today. All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer.

Also included are sneak peeks into 25 novels! My novel, Seeing Julia, is one of the novel excerpts featured. It is available at most online retailers in trade paperback as well as e-book formats.

Seeing Julia

Amazon

Amazon UK

Barnes and Noble

Apple/iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/seeing-julia/id446055623?mt=11

Smashwords (various e-book formats for Sony e-book, Kobo, Apple iBooks and Diesel)

For more information about Katherine Owen, visit these links:

Website: http://www.katherineowen.net

Blog: http://www.katherineclareowen.com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Katherine-Owen/e/B004Z3BG3I/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/KatherineOwen01

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatherineOwenauthor

I'm on Tumblr, here: http://katherineowen.tumblr.com/

 

 

 

 

Holiday Blog Hop!

What is a blog hop?

Honestly, I'm as lost as you are. I'm just doing what the voices on Indie Writers Unite tell me. And what they told me to do, is to set up a giveaway with prizes and a fun contest. Well, I love all that, so here we go!

THE CONTEST

This is a fashion blog, so we're doing something fun and fashionable. We're creating outfit sets. Now, don't be scared or turned off if you're a guy. One, if you leave me an email address in the comments section, or on my  facebook author page, you're entered into a drawing for one of 5 free ebooks. So if you don't want to do the fashion thing you don't have to.

But you should. Because it's fun and if you have a sense of humor, you can really have a blast being anti fashion. And if you do a fashion set you can win a print book (or a hat and scarf set from Guess? but if you're a guy, well, maybe it's not for you)

Okay, enough.

Go to polyvore.com and sign in.

ID: bloghop

password: iwubloghop

Go to Create up on top there. Click on "SET."

Make me something. Leave me your email address in the set comments. You can publish it or save it as a draft. I and the judges will see it in either case.

WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT JUDGES?

We have celebrity judges!

Dominic Sabella

 

Dominic is design director at Tommy Bahama. He's been a fashion designer since…well, I won't say. What I will say is that he has a wicked sense of humor and a sense of style that's just about as spot-on as it gets.

Emily Ellerbeck

Emily wrote a bio. But what I want to say is I worked with her for 5 years at Guess and not only was she the bomb to work with, she got my baby daughter the single best outfit she owns. It wore out before she grew out of it.

Combining her love for warm weather and fashion, Emily packed her bags and moved from a cold winter in Iowa to sunny Los Angeles in 2000.  She has applied her passion for knitwear design to successfully design for companies such as global retailer Guess, and premium lifestyle brand Dylan George.  Although knitwear design is her first passion, she also makes time for SPX fitness classes, walks with her darling Pomeranian, cooking, and dinners out with her amazing boyfriend.

CAN WE GET TO THE PRIZES PLEASE?

Right on!

If you choose not to do a polyvore set, you're still in the running for one of 5 ebooks of Dead Is the New Black, and one surprise mystery to be gifted through Amazon or Barnes and Noble (your call).

If you do a set, it gets good. Our judges will pick the top 6 sets. Five winners will get a print copy of Dead Is the New Black. One winner will get a fabulous hat and scarf set from Guess?

I hope you enjoy this contest! Best of luck!

 

Donna Fasano – Indie Chick!

Donna Fasano wrote for Harlequin Books for 20 years before becoming a proud Independent Author. She's the written over 30 romance and women's fiction novels that have sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide. Her books have won awards and made best-seller lists. Below is the story she contributed to the anthology Indie Chicks: 25 Independent Women, 25 Inspiring Stories.

Stepping Into The Light

 

I sit in the back row, shoulders rounded, knees jumping, my left thumb rubbing a raw spot in the center of my right palm. The sad and lonely sufferings being expressed in the dank, dimly-lit basement are all too real and much too close for comfort. I glance at the door and contemplate escape, but it's too late. All eyes are upon me. I hesitate only a moment before standing on quaking legs, clearing my throat softly and confessing, "My name is Donna. I'm a writer. And I need to come out of the closet because it's dark in here."

Twenty years ago, had there been a group called Writers Anonymous, I would have attended faithfully, pouring out my heart at the weekly meetings. You see, for the couple of years that I spent writing my first novel, I told almost no one what I was doing. My husband knew; in fact, he's the reason I even attempted what felt like the insurmountable task of plotting out and finishing that first book. He's also the reason I ended up in this glorious, chaotic, roller-coaster life I've lived as an author; however, that's a story for another day. But when I first started scratching words on a yellow legal pad with a no. 2 pencil (there's nothing else that stirs my creativity more than the feel of graphite gliding against paper), I didn't tell a single family member or friend.

Why would I keep my dreams and aspirations such a tightly guarded secret?

I would hazard to guess the answer is the same reason anyone else hides things that could have life-altering potential: fear.

What if I failed? What if I had no talent? What if I didn't possess the perseverance to finish that first manuscript?

The mere thought of the snide remarks, tittering laughter and looks of skepticism and ridicule I might receive were enough to keep me silent. My imagination has always been strong, and I easily saw the scenes play out in my head.

So you think you're going to write a book, huh?

But you didn't go to college.

A romance novel? Really?

If you're going to try to write, why not write a real book? You know, like a mystery or a thriller; something someone is going to want to read.

My ability to conjure fantasy has always been a blessing and a bane. When reading a book or listening to someone tell a story or imagining repercussions of actions, visions will take shape in my head. Situations feel real, characters become corporal, while my stirred emotions brim and often overflow. Needless to say, Hallmark commercials make me cry. While powerful creativity is a great and necessary trait for a writer who is intent on concocting a compelling tale, it can become crippling if that writer is too focused on the opinions of others.

However, I also have to confess that keeping that first novel-writing dream all to myself charged me with a vibrant energy. I was excited to get my story down on paper. Seeing my plot unfold was absolutely thrilling! Creating my characters was fun. And the fact that no one knew about my clandestine efforts gave me a huge amount of freedom. No one told me I was doing it all wrong; no one suggested I could never reach my goal.

In defense of all the people I kept in the dark all those years ago, I have to admit that most of them were delighted and supportive when I finally divulged that my first manuscript had been purchased by a bona fide publisher. Oh, there was a scoffer or two, and I continue to meet them; you know the type, people who can't be happy for others or who feel another's success somehow diminishes his or her own self-worth, but I've learned to deal with those people (working with New York City editors forces a writer to grow a thick skin pretty quickly). I merely smile and think about the slew of books I've sold and the fan mail I've received from all over the world.

Those scoffers seem to have come out of the woodwork now that I've reinvented myself as an Indie Author. But venturing into this new arena couldn't have happened at a better point in my life. I'm confident in my ability to tell a good story. I'm more than satisfied with the career I've had, and have no trouble imagining even more success in the future. I saw tangible proof when two of my books made it onto Kindle's Top 100 List. I'm happy with who I've become as a writer and as a person. If my work receives less-than-flattering feedback from a reader, I might not like it, but I also realize it's not the end of the world; I've learned that I can't please all readers all the time. I love the creative freedom I have as an independent author. I can allow my muse to take me wherever it will. I'm terrifically grateful that there are readers out there who are willing to buy my novels. Every time I read a good review of one of my books I want to (and do!) kiss my husband for suggesting I take a stab at this profession (it's a habit that's been very good for my marriage).

So… what's my point? Well, don't let the negative opinions of others keep you from dreaming, for one thing. Most of the scary thoughts that run through your head will never happen, and the few that do materialize can be dealt with. You're stronger than you think. Don't allow fear to paralyze you. Aspire to be and do whatever it is you want to be and do. Be kind to yourself; you deserve the same compassion and concern that you offer others. And most importantly, know that your dreams matter. Indulge them. Reach for the stars! I did, and I'm still astounded that I snagged a few.

~  ~  ~

 

Donna loves to hear from readers! Ways to connect with Donna:

Her blog, Author Donna Fasano, In All Directions

On Facebook, Donna Fasano

On Twitter, DonnaFaz

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A few of Donna's available titles:

The Merry-Go-Round in paperback or for your Kindle.

His Wife for a While for your Kindle.

An Accidental Family for your Kindle, for your Nook, or on Smashwords.

Look for other available titles on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

What To Wear When You Divorce Your Husband

 

What Lauren wears when she divorces her husband. by donna-montgomery-fasano featuring a black tweed jacket

Camilla Skovgaard black tweed jacket

$2,585 - stylebop.com

Donna Karan elastic waist skirt

$477 - net-a-porter.com

Azzedine Alaia heeled sandals

$110 - reportshoes.com

Reed krakoff bag

$990 - reedkrakoff.com

Bottega Veneta bracelets bangle

$2,250 - net-a-porter.com

RAFFIT RIBBONS Winter Snowflake (Large)

50 - harrods.com






My character from The Merry-Go-Round is Lauren Flynn. She's a lawyer who represents a slew of quirky clients, but when she steps into that courtroom in the opening scene, all she wants to do is divorce her husband. Or does she?

Growing up the third child of five–yes, smack dab in the middle and the only girl to boot–Donna Fasano had no idea she would one day become a published author. Her bent for story-telling came to light when she conjured lively tales of pure blarney (yes, she has a bit of Irish in her blood) for, first, her youngest brother, and years later, her children.

Donna sold her first manuscript in 1989, and since then has become a bestselling, award-winning author of over thirty novels and four audio books. She writes under her own name, Donna Fasano, as well as under the pen name Donna Clayton and is known for her "smooth, polished" writing style and for creating "strong, complex" characters. Reviewers have described her stories as "poignant," "richly textured," "enticing," and "absorbing." The writing process can be extremely engrossing for Donna, so much so that she's missed appointments and lunches, and once she even missed her carpool run. Luckily, the people in her life love her enough to make allowances.

Still happily married to her high school sweetheart, she is the mother of two grown sons who have left the nest. She and her husband share their home with Jake, a couch-potato, black and white border collie, and Roo, a spotted tan and cream Australian cattle dog that looks (and acts) like a wild dingo. Donna's spare time is spent reading, hiking, or trying out new recipes from one of the dozens of cookbooks she has collected over the years. Oh, and one night a week she and her hubby nab some alone time from their busy schedules to enjoy a nice glass of wine and a video–preferably a romantic comedy. Donna also volunteers loads of hours to her small church, writing newsletters, scheduling acolytes, working fund-raisers and serving on committees. She divides her time between northern Delaware and Maryland's southern seashore.

Donna loves to hear from her readers. Please contact her through her website at www.DonnaFasano.com.

Find her books on Amazon.