All About Celebritites Blog Carnival: Volume 5

Hello and welcome to the 5th volume of the all about celebrities blog carnival. Thanks to everyone who submitted we got a lot of great things going for this edition. So without further adieu I give to you the 5th Volume of the All About Celebrities Blog Carnival.

Naomi Stevens presents SEX & THE CITY STARS WOW CROWDS AT WORLD PREMIERE posted at Diary From England.

BB presents Keira Knightley posted at BB Desktops.

Ashley Cain presents Nick and Mariah Cannon posted at London Speaks.

Don presents David Archuleta's Dad Banned From American Idol Rehearsals posted at David Archuleta.

Talulazoeapple presents D'Angelo and Lauryn Hill posted at TalulaZoeApple.

Jason presents The Right Stuff posted at Zola Jones Designs by Jason Loper.

Howard Ditkoff presents Josiah Leming: Brilliant, Haunting Music & Web 2.0 Drive American Idol Castoff’s Prototypical Success Story posted at SystemsThinker.com Blog.

kevin chan presents Conman Sets Fake Wedding Registry for Ellen Degeneres posted at blurbberry.

Chris presents Chuck Norris Google Facts posted at Martial Development.

Neel presents Top 10 Beautiful Celebrity Couples posted at Nerds Do It Better.

The Daily Minder presents What Britney Spears Can Teach You About Career Moves posted at The Daily Mind - Making the Daily Grind Meaningful.

Sally Thompson presents Top 10 Ugly & Hilarious Celebrity Break-ups of All Time posted at Nerds Do It Better.

Matt DiChiara presents The Hills Sends MyNewPlace Traffic Skyward posted at MyNewPlace Blog.

tony clements presents i just got gooned! posted at tuesdays.

Sagar presents 10 Most Beautiful, Unique and Amazing Celebrity Homes posted at International Listings Blog.

Michael presents Donald Trump Files Lawsuit Against Law Firm Over Legal Fees posted at International Law News

Fiona King presents 10 Surprising Celebrity Romances You Never Heard About posted at Nerds Do It Better.

Plan ahead - Dive into swimwear (part 1)

Swimsuits - just the word makes me shudder a little. I am not a big fan of showing off my pasty white thighs at the beach, but I love going on vacation and this year's a big one - I'm going on my honeymoon to a resort in the Maldives!! Here are a few suits I've got my eye on at AlwaysForMe.com, one of the best sources for plus size swimwear:






From L-R:

Carol Wior Twist Front Swimdress, $98
Aphrodite Wrap Halter Suit, $79
Twist Front 1 Piece Swimsuit, $69

all available at AlwaysForMe.com


More swimsuit options and cover ups from other stores will be featured in this blog as the weather heats up, but these are just a few to get you started!!

But where can I put my cellphone?

According to an article in last week's New York Times, sunglasses are the new "It" bag.
In case you haven't been in a department store recently, you can't help but notice that displays of fashion optics has grown, and just like handbags a few years ago, it seems every major designer has a line of sunglasses these days.

Balenciaga 0015s, $360...I love tortoise, the logo is big but almost butterfly-esque. Perfect for hiding behind.

So, maybe you need more proof than that? According to an industry analyst quoted in the article, handbag sales are down 14% against a 10% rise in eyewear. Common sense, would also make it seem like a real possibility. Where a handbag was once an accessible designer purchase, the current prices make them less attainable...but the desire for designer products is still there...can't buy a $2100 Balenciaga bag, but you can buy a $360 pair of Balenciaga sunglasses.

Jimmy Choo, $345...The loop holding the arm to the frame is an almost shoe-like accent. The best "instead of a bag" pair. Fabulous!

Like a handbag, a pair of sunglasses is right up front, something people notice immediately, and incorporated with designer logos and trademarks, there is no reason to believe that they will not become "IT" items with waiting lists, and legions of fans who can spot a pair of the popular shades from 50 feet...there is also no shortage of celebrities to wear the shades giving them the same push handbags get.


Fendi FS448, $415 ...As much as I deride the bags, these rimless shades are cold, hard, and very sexy chic. Perfect for someone who wears sunglasses at night.

Besides, even at the high end, most of them still cost less than half a handbag from the same company...it's easy to create a wardrobe of them. Something more difficult when the item in question is thousands of dollars.
Now that the argument is made for why sunglasses may very well be the new "IT" bag, there is still one tiny problem...the other things you carry around besides your shades. You know, wallet, cell phone, PDA, iPod...not to mention, those pricey sunglasses all come in fancy hard clam shells that need to be on hand for storage.
Sunglasses may be the new novelty on the "must have" horizon, but replace the handbag? I don't think so.

Duro Junior

So this is my version of Simplicity 3875, henceforth known as Duro Junior.

I know I haven't been posting about the Duro lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't been THINKING about the Duro. I was looking for a lighter, slimmer version to wear when it's really hot: the Original Duro can be a LOT of fabric.

This pattern didn't originally jump out at me as a good candidate, mostly because the jewel-neck version on the pattern envelope had these dumb little string ties which managed to obscure the lines of the bodice. But once I erased those (mentally) I decided to give it a shot.

Although not actually difficult, this pattern is still a massive PITA to put together. The back of the dress has no waist seam (just a lengthwise back seam), so, in order to finish the neck edge with the bias facing BEFORE the front panels are attached, you have to sew the front bodice pieces to the back bodice pieces at the shoulder WAY early in the process. Which means for the rest of the construction, you're shoving that long back piece out of the way. Arrgh.

I was able to add pockets, too, in the side seams, although lining them up when sewing that seam was a bit tricky. There's a single notch to match the front skirt to the back at the side seam, so I placed my pocket piece on the front skirt pattern where I thought it should go, then cut a corresponding notch on the pocket -- that helped it match up pretty well.

The original pattern has the tie hanging down the back, but I prefer the way it looks brought around to the front.

Here's the back view:



And here's a closeup of the front:



I haven't hemmed the skirt, or the sleeves, BOTH of which were about three inches too long (PITA, pt. 3). I ended up cutting a 12 in the bodice and a 14 in the skirt, which was more or less the right size; if I had to do this again I'd maybe cut a 10 in the bodice (for narrower shoulders) and add some length to it, and a 16 in the skirt for a little bit more fullness. Although that would necessitate buying two copies of the pattern (PITA, pt. 4).

The fabric is Michael Miller, maybe? I bought it at City Quilter a gazillion years ago, I think ... (I really should start labeling my fabric with where and when and from whom I bought it, shouldn't I?) I think it's a little too stiff for this pattern, but it was a good tradeoff between fabric I could bear to screw up and fabric I would want to wear if it actually turned out okay. I think next time I will make it in some stripey seersucker, or maybe even in this silk noil I have lying around ...

vancouver + seattle + portland

Walking around Vancouver is one of my favourite things in the world. The closeness of the mountains and ocean, as well as the abundance of cherry blossom trees (and sushi bars) make me feel like I'm in a Japanese dream world. Sometimes, when the streets are quiet, I half expect a geisha to appear.

I'm lucky to have friends with a gorgeously located house. This is the view from my top window.

The first place I like to go after sushi and visiting is South Main St. at 21st Ave., a little district called SoMa. If you see a red wolf stencil, you're in the right place.

These few blocks are packed with everything from vintage to eco to A.P.C. I recommend Front & Company for lightly worn secondhand clothing worthy of the most discerning, cash strapped sartorialiste (the window displays, which range from corsets to wedding cakes are worth a visit alone). Smoking Lily has the best, eccentric screen prints, and Eugene Choo carries Canadian labels with a few Eurocult brands thrown in.

Sailing to Victoria:

After lunch, Hans and Frans swam over to say hello at the dock.

(they were provided with bits of fish from the marina freezer)

Sleeping seal.

There is a lot more in the way of beavers and biking in Victoria than activities for an urban bootist such as myself, but the street signs were amusing (many were named after obscure, unpronounceable English towns), and emu eggs were available for breakfast:

The trees resembled Afghan hounds:

And the sidewalks were studded with amethyst coloured stone.

Next stop Seattle.

Stayed at the Ace:

Cafés and shops open later on the West coast than I am used to (probably because it tends to be grey and rainy until noon), so I spent the mornings searching for graffiti on empty streets.

Met the lovely Jasmine from Pike/Pine on Capitol Hill and then headed north to Fremont where Impulse lives.

I've wanted to see this boutique for a long time, and it was well worth the trip, although I'll have to wait for a sale before purchasing any of the items I yearn for. As always, I am most entranced with details on clothing, so this jacket and dress by Mayle will be top on my list if that sale comes along...

Wandered into an out of this world, I-must-be-dreaming type vintage store called Private Screening near Impulse and spent over an hour going through their stock of gowns from the 1890s - 1910s (they had masses of stuff from more recent decades, but I collect items from the older periods). Everything was reasonably priced and I left with a long bias cut dress from the 1930s which I will post as soon as I've found the right slip for it.

Later, I had the great pleasure of finally meeting Ailsa of I Hate Generic. In our post-lunch quest for mojitos, we walked all the way up Queen Anne Hill (something I do not advise anyone to do in high heels!)

She also showed me the monolithic bronze of Lenin, strangely placed in the heart of Fremont.

(The statue has an interesting history)

Stopped at Pike Place Market on the drive out of town.

The fish mongers were fantastic. They shout and toss their produce around as they work. If you're young and female and get too close (ie to take a photo), they may throw squidly bits at you.

After the spectacle of flying fish came flowers - I've never seen so many blooms in my life. The stalls seemed to go on for miles, each seeming more colourful than the last.

Miss Mary Mack would have a field day at this button stall.

These decorative chili pepper bundles made me think of India, where drivers tied strings of chilis and limes to their vehicles to ward off evil spirits.

Funky sign.

A toy shop. I loved this two headed dragon with lounging cat.

Outside again.

Finn Heaven. If I lived in Seattle, I would stock up on their extensive selection of marimekko waterproof wear. However, as it rarely rains where I live, I opted to increase my collection of printed purses instead.

Glowing sea urchin lamps at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM).

The SAM shop was full of interior delights, including this set of cups that bring to mind Edgerton's milk drop coronet.

Across the street from SAM, The Forbidden Schwingdom and Chronicles of Nudia were playing. Kudos for creative titles.

The Experience Music Project, designed by Frank Gehry

Ace Hotel Portland

(the elevator)

My room. Like Hotel Fox in Copenhagen, the rooms are decorated by different artists. Each bed is kitted out with military surplus, and the room numbers are made by the suppliers of Portland's street signs. This Ace had much more character than the Seattle location.

Powell's Books, which occupies an entire city block, is one street over, and Portland's famous Voodoo Doughnut (and Wedding Chapel) is 10 minutes away. On the walk to get a morning "Dirty Snowball" doughnut, you will pass no less than four open strip clubs.

One of the highlights of Portland was Oblation Papers and Press, an exquisite letterpress print shop/paper boutique in the Pearl District. My first work experience came at my grandfather's print shop, and I've always been intrigued by the craft of old school printing. At Oblation, you can watch the staff operate centuries old presses and peruse an astonishing variety of paper products - they have everything from whimsical cards and stationery to miniature Eiffel Towers.

My walls at home are currently decorated with this paper:

Trekked up to Le Train Bleu, to see what the brick and mortar version of this favourite online boutique was like. The interior was graceful and distinctly art nouveau, however 95% of their sales are done online, so there was very little stock.

A few hours out of Portland (after scandalizing the old ladies at a truck stop Denny's with my high heeled boots- they took me for a hooker), I discovered the rather spectacular outlet malls just north of Seattle off the freeway. The Burberry store was swarming with Asian tourists, but lucky for me, the leftover shoe sizes were 11s. Happy days!

For more photos, please check my flickr.