Our very own wedding hair stylist, bridal up do specialist, and make up/beauty expert Armando (owner and stylist of Get Your Do Up!) was invited to be an "Expert" on the Splendora.com Style Forecast for Fall 2008.
CLICK HERE to see the tips he shared with Splendora's ultra hip readers.
I have a confession to make. You know the flirty illustrations I use on the blog and on my websites?
So wrong. I know. *blush* But that's the MacGyver in me. Making do with what I have and finding a way to reach my end goal. So perhaps I earn high points for tenacity, blind optimism and having a "can do" attitude.
When I bought my first computer back in 2002 the reality is that I took to Photoshop like a fish to water. My little PS 5.0 LE application, that came free with my high end photo printer, was so intuitive that I learned most of what I know on the fly. Illustrator, which I've had for years now, 2 versions to be exact, I've not been able to figure out with the same ease. So even though it's a better tool for my illustrations, the time it would take me to get through the learning curve to figure out how to use it has held me back. For too long. Beginning next week I am going to set aside some classroom time each day and study the Illustrator book my hubby got me a couple of years ago and learn it once and for all.
These peaches n' cream blossoms were just too gorgeous not to share. The latest and greatest by DK Designs, Diane has gone above and beyond with her newest addition to her floral repertoire. 
I just read in today's news that President Bush has honored all Americans who were Prisoners of War or are still Missing in Action by proclaiming today National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which in the future will be observed the third Friday of each September.
While I'm certain the lady meant no harm or insult, all I could think when my mom told me was that she had to be kidding. Maybe all of you reading my blog already knew what these two acronyms stood for, but in case you didn't I just wanted to share them with you so that you would be spared from being in the same awkward situation someday.
*sniff, sniff, sniff* Can you smell it? There's something in the air! Something exciting and fun... Something just for dogs. Well, I guess it's also for people since dogs need people to get around town and all...
If she had been contacted by Mr. Darcy (of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice) and he said he needed help in creating a perfectly appointed dinner table at which to propose to his beloved Elizabeth Bennet, this is Lea McIntosh's vision of what that table could have looked like.
Here was Lea's fabulous team. Andrew Hsu of Studio MSV included one of his "Covert Proposal" videos as part of the package. Kathy Goodman from Well Rehearsed, a company that specializes in designing rehearsal dinners, helped her to set up not one but two tables earlier in the day for a photo shoot. And the lady in red is none other then Lea Mcintosh herself.
Who else but Wildflower Linen would have created this gorgeous bustled silk table cover and ruched silk chair cover with a triple row strip of rhinestone crystals gracing the back? And by table top prize they literally meant it. The winner even got to keep the bustled table cover as part of their prize!
The table also included 4 place settings of Mikasa china, Waterford crystal stemware, flatware and a gorgeous $1000 pair of pearl and diamond earrings by Vardy's Jewelers in Cupertino.
And what's a celebration without Bacarat champagne flutes and a little bubbly? And not just any bubbly. The bottle of Dom Pérignon came in the fanciest box I've ever seen for a beverage of any type. Admittedly I've not seen the packaging most bottles of alcohol come in but this one was pretty darn fancy.
Lea's ticket box was filled with tickets. I watched as a lot of people entered multiple times. Some put a whole bunch of tickets in all at once while others strategically staggered their entries. I think it's safe to say that Lea's was the crowd favorite and with a retail value of $5700 and full of style it's no wonder so many people wanted to win it.
I just shipped this Flirty Bride cake topper to one of The Flirty Guide Treasure Hunt winners for her wedding next month. Her request was a light pink and ivory floral topper.
By creating individual sample flowers and letting my clients approve them online, then assembling the entire topper and letting them approve a photo of the finished piece before shipping, they have as much input into the process as if they were sitting in my showroom for a private consultation.
After the client reviewed the elements of this topper we decided, to save labor costs, to use silk flower daisies, replacing the centers with Swarovski crystals, to avoid the higher cost associated with the more labor intensive beaded wire daisies.
The finished piece, approved by the client online before shipping.
Being on HGTV was an amazing experience. From the first time it aired to many times after I always receive emails from viewers who either just want to say thank you for creating art, to those who are interested in purchasing the piece. The one downside to the way the segment was filmed was that it makes it look like you can make this piece in an afternoon or as a weekend project. When in reality it takes months.
Oh and btw, yes these are tiny sheets of origami paper, but no you can't buy them this way. These are standard 6 inch squares that I've cut down into 1/16th squares, which I then cut down and quarter one more time to create the size I use for this piece. I know. CrAzY!
Just being yourself. It should be the one thing that comes naturally to all of us yet is often one of the most difficult skills to achieve. Both big and little things can cause us to present who we "think" we're expected to be instead of "be" who we really are when we find ourselves in certain situations, business being one of them. There are almost always preconceived notions of "how" we are supposed to present and conduct ourselves to clients and colleagues. All I really know is that when I started my own company 11 years ago I was so busy just trying to be an entrepreneur I didn't have the time or energy to develop a professional image or persona.
Earlier this year when I was reading a blog post about authentic entrepreneurship by Coach Joelle titled "Will the Real You Please Stand Up! I realized that that is what I am: An "Authentic Entrepreneur." I highly recommend anyone and everyone read this article.
Even before he interviewed me for his Meet the Wedding Bloggers audiocast, when show host Ralph Mucci first asked me to create the new logo for the show I was thrilled! We were chatting on the phone when he has asked who creates all of the cute graphics on my websites and blog. When I told him I did, he asked if I could make one of a bride, wearing a veil, sitting at a laptop computer. "Sure" I said. He laughed and said he loved the confident way I answered him. With that my first custom graphic for Ralph was the one above...
LOL My flirty illustrations are catching on. To add to my new TWPA Blogger Girl illustrations I also just received a commission to create a custom illustration of a wedding professional to use as part of her logo design. I know this will sound silly and sappy but it kind of makes me feel like a proud mama and all of my little flirty girls and guys are my kids... And I'm sending them out into the world to spread smiles and happiness :D
I love Alencon Lace. To me, it has always been the quintessential bridal lace. Distinctive, elegant and timeless. So when my Flirty Bride accessory clients have a gown made of or embellished with Alencon Lace I have to admit it kind of makes my heart go pittar patter.
In the past I have made headpieces incorporating matching lace to a hair clip or tiara... But my favorite way to work with the lace is to create accessories that complement and are are similar to it, but not to be too exact or identical. 
These were samples I create for a client after seeing the lace on her wedding gown.
I love making French wire beaded flower hair pins. While the process itself is quite simple, finding just the right beads to create the perfect "look" to compliment a gown is often the most challenging aspect of making them as bridal accessories.
Another day, another networking event, another drive up to San Francisco. But what a gorgeous day it was! That's the SF Modern Museum of Art in red brick with the big grey circle on top of it.
I had arrived in the city a bit early to beat the traffic and had two choices of how to spend my free time... Go to the Ferry Building to buy cookies and cakes at one of my fav patisseries, Miette, or head over to the Yerba Buena Gardens to visit the Samovar Tea Lounge.
While both chocolate and green tea contain antioxidants... I suspect the healthier option between the two will always be the tea since it is sugar free. In the end I opted for Samovar Tea Lounge... Normally I order the Ryokucha green tea but feeling bold I decided to try the Lobocha Sencha last night. It was wonderful, flavorful, oh so smooth and very healthy!
So after my tea break I headed out to meet up with a colleague at an industry networking event. Here is Armando (Get Your Do Up) with Johanna (Floral Sense) who I just met for the first time last night.
And that's me (Stacie Tamaki) with Gabby (Cake Coquette) the amazing cake maker who created the Fabergé Egg Cake Toppers recently featured here on the blog.
My usual beverage of choice, club soda with a lime twist.
And here is Armando dancing with dance coach, choreographer and entertainer Cynthia Glinka who was there to teach all of us a smooth move or two. I quickly realized after sitting closest to the dance floor that I would be in trouble. I tried to get Armando to change seats with me but he wouldn't. And I was right. As soon as she stepped onto the dance floor Cynthia looked for a volunteer and who was sitting front and center? Me, of course. Once I took my spin across the floor with her I scurried off, stage right, and pretty much stayed seated the rest of the evening preferring instead to document others learning to dance.
That's Cynthia coming over to coach Johanna and Armando who were looking pretty darn snappy by the end of the evening. It was great fun both the learning to dance and watching others. Cynthia is very fun and entertaining. For brides and grooms learning to do more then the "stand and sway" would be time well spent to make your first dance a memorable one. Especially if you've hired a videographer for your wedding day!
I grabbed this one last shot as I was leaving the parking garage. I just thought the lights looked pretty cool... all glowy and different colors.
Beautiful shoji panels are used as window treatments.
