Yearly Archives: 2024

………………..Have you seen the social media about this SEVEN YEAR OLD fashion designer named Max Alexander? He is all over the social media, and has already been on many talk shows. He is a child prodigy, and has been designing clothes since he was FOUR!……He drapes, cuts and sews his clothes, and has had runway shows!….He has even dressed celebrities such as Sharon Stone…..He has a GIGANTIC PERSONALITY!……..I can’t imagine what he will be like when he is in his twenties….He is a media sensation…..I have to say I am a little concerned that all of this early attention and notoriety could burn him out, and with the very fickle press, become yesterdays news…..During my 50 plus years in the fashion business I have seen it over and over again where the fashion press builds a new young designer up, and makes them a SUPER STAR overnight…..only to ignore them the moment the next new young SUPER STAR shows up…… It can destroy someone who isn’t well equipped to handle these super highs and inevitable lows….I hope he can handle all of it…..and Max is so young! I hope he is well protected, and his mother doesn’t let all of the incredible attention swell his head, and damage him, which can only lead to disappointment in the future…….He is TOO GOOD, and TOO TALLENTED to let this happen to him…..I will definitely be watching, and I pray everything he wants in his life comes to him……..He is off to an incredibly unbelievable start!………….Best of everything Max!

………………I made MY FIRST CHOCOLATE CHEESE CAKE!!!!!! and OMG!!!! it was FANTASTIC!……Now, I have made many many cheese cakes, but they have been either the traditional Graham Cracker crust cheesecake or the OREO Double Dark Chocolate Cookie Crumb crust with my basic batter with mini dark chocolate chips added……….but with this version I melted the chocolate chips with some whole milk in a sauce pan….let it cool and then added it into the batter, and whipped it all up. Then I poured the batter into the spring pan prepared with the Oreo crust, and baked it for one hour. I then left it in the oven for one hour with the door ajar to prevent cracking, but it cracked anyway….not badly but it did crack. Next time I will do the bath and see what happens…..When I was ready to serve it after being in the refrigerator overnight…..I put plain chocolate cookies in my food processor and pulverized them making a fine powder which I dusted the individual servings with…….but I wasn’t done there! Then I put more of the same chocolate cookies in the food processor and made cookie crumbs, and sprinkled them over the powdered surface of the cheese cake….I stored the powdered chocolate, and the chocolate crumbs in two separate containers for future use……Again…………OMG……….it was a huge hit!…..The picture is of the very last piece……..Next I’m going to make a LEMON CHEESE CAKE!

…………………..The brick patio has been POWER WASHED, and it looks great!……The entire garden is flourishing and certain plants, like peonies, are almost ready to pop……I know when i see the ants crawling on them they will open soon……In early June, which is almost here!!! unfortunately the pansies will go and the posts will be replanted with the summer flowers………….and it will be done!

…………..I loved to use stretch sheer fabrics is different ways. The challenge was to use it in ways that different body types could wear it. I used sheer mesh, sheer nylon, and sheer stretch georgette for bathing suits, bodysuits, tops and dresses…….The sketches represent all of those garments…..Which of the tops were for bathing suits and/or bodysuits I don’t remember, but all of the sketches were interchangeable….ALL of the sketches could easily become tops, and dresses too….They didn’t have to be bathing suits and bodysuits….I think the sketches are pretty self explanatory.

…………….As I have previously explained a “CROQUIS” is a quick sketch to jot down ideas so you don’t forget……….The train of thought for these sketches was the BIG SKIRT. I planned to do them in cotton poplin, and in Linen, as the stripe linen version, third in from the right illustrates. The linen fabric had a fine horizontal black stripe woven into it….The two piece dress in the middle was actually inspired by an outfit Kathrine Hepburn wore in the movie, “SUMMERTIME”. She is wearing it in the famous scene when she falls into a canal in Venice…I always thought she looked so fresh and cool…that’s before she fell into the water!…..I think hers was made in white linen…..With each skirt I sketched a different top that I thought would work well….The wide shaped belt had antiqued brass metal medallions attached. Some were embellished with stones and some were plain. I actually found military medallions that I used for inspiration at the Paris Flea Market in a dusty box……The ruched georgette top, far right, had fine elastic rows to add stretch. I show it here with the drawstring linen/rayon blend cuffed pant. Though the top isn’t drawn with a big skirt, it was a quick idea I wanted to get down on paper….. I thought the top would also work well with the skirts………There are times when every designer hits a brain fog, so when ideas come it’s best to be ready to record them……Brain fogs happen, and you think you’ll never come up with a new design again…….so when the fog happens……you just keep sketching and doodling until things clicks!……They always did!!