Strip Me

I came across Natasha Bedingfield’s new song “Strip Me” and I am completely and utterly OBSESSED! This could be my mission statement song!

I have had plenty of situations in my life were I was “Stripped” of something precious and dear -- my parents, my designs, my ideas. It is heart wrenching, it is frustrating, it eats at your soul. But feeling entitled, even to having parents, is not going to get me anywhere, and it will only hold me back from progressing forward and growing.

And bottom line, you can’t take ME from ME. And as the song proclaims “At the end of the day, It’s what you do and say, That makes you who you are”

Life can beat you up. Situations can turn sour. Friends can walk away. People leave your life for good. But at end of the day, who are you? What do you stand for? How will you re-act? And will you get back up and continue to be YOU!?

I wrote an earlier post about stripping away all the “frosting, all the glitter, all the bling” and going back to the CORE! This song ties right in...

Go ahead “Strip Me”, I know I am strong enough, that at the core, I am Jennifer Paige Boonlorn and you can’t take that away from me!

I wish they made Women's Clothes

Reading List

What Have You Been Filling Your Mind With?

Selling My Supplies

I am selling some of my supplies at wholesale prices -- plain headbands, ribbon, chains, pearls, etc. Message me if you are at all interested. I have a link up on Etsy as well.

So now it is your turn to get creative and use your imagination. Send me pictures of what you create and maybe I'll feature you on my blog.

Time for me evolve and move on to the next project....

Marie Antionette Photo Shoot

Marie Antoinette::Orpheum::Fashion Edit from Beautiful Day Films on Vimeo.

Manifesto 1

Take all the frosting. Take all the glitter, all the bling and all the frenetic chaos. I CHOOSE to return to a simpler, cleaner, grounded life.

I will believe people the first time they show me who they really are. I will truly value my friends and invest in them. I will appreciate their time, energy and friendship and if they don't value mine, then they are not worth the expended energy. Onward and upward, life is too short to be mad, but it also too short to wallow in anything that inhibits or causes one from progressing forward -- we should all respect ourselves enough to not be treated any less than how we would treat others. The best predictor of the future is the past. I am only responsible for me, not how everyone else acts, behaves or feels.

Quality over quantity. Claim the life you want!

Solid foundations
Solid friendships
Solid relationships

Clean and simple lines. I was always drawn to minimalism in art and design. I choose more cake and less frosting....

She was worth the move home

I get asked all the time if I miss living in New York City and if it was worth it to move back home. New York City was magical and amazing. And I miss working with the caliber of people I had encountered at Parsons and in the fashion industry. But life isn't about being stationery, and my time there was coming to a close. If Blake Emery had not made her debut on June 29, 2009 I may have stuck it out for a few more years, but my heart belongs in the desert of Arizona. And now that I am home I am completely and utterly happy with my decision. To miss one moment of this little tyke growing up would be heart breaking. I adore my niece, my sister and the friends I have here. Both my parents are gone, so it is important for me to be near the people who are left in my life.

There will be moments of wishing I could run to a certain vendor in the fabric district, eat at a certain cafe or visit with certain NYC friends. But overall it isn't enough to be miles away from the life that I had built here before I headed off to Parsons.

So to New York City, you are incredible, you gave me the confidence to realize I can accomplish anything I have set my heart on -- because I checked off several huge goals just by living there, graduating from Parsons and getting into Henri Bendel. And to Blake Emery I would do just about anything for you. You are loved, adored and I am honored to be able to watch this incredible process of watching a little baby grow up into what she will grow up into....

PS. That is Mia Jordan in the picture. Erika's precious baby and one of Blake's BEST friends :-)

The Mirror

I downloaded "Pomp & Circumstance" a few months ago when I heard that they used it in Alexander McQueen's Fall 2010 Fashion Show. I always loved that song as a child, and I thought that was so fitting and emotional that they would use it to show the first collection, that were half his designs, after his death this spring. And the music has since inspired and stirred me. But back to this in a moment.

I spent the morning at MCC in the sewing lab, and being on MCC's campus took me back to a few years ago when I decided to pursue fashion, design, Parsons and New York City.

Then I met Bob for lunch to go over remodeling plans and discuss cabinetry. After that it was off to ASU to do some research at Hayden Library. Being on ASU's campus was a "total trip". Hayden Library and the Business School felt haunted with memories of a time long gone, and a life that was so utterly different!

As cliche' as this sounds, when I stood in the bathroom -- one of which I had used on a regular basis ten years ago -- and looked in the mirror, I thought about how the girl looking back at me is so different. Of course that would be very scary if ten years had gone by and I was that same girl! But still it was an odd feeling being in that same bathroom, looking in that same mirror and comparing the life I had then, and the life I have now.

Prototypes, home remodels, some of the same dear friends, and several wonderful add-ons...there was a lot bouncing around my head. And I used to stand in that bathroom and compare finance and management notes with Kristin Horton, and then head to the "tables" to chat with the UKAZU crew and convince Brian Lutz that we should plan a trip to Thailand.

And than what was even more of a trip was the fact that as I dug around for fashion articles and statistics at the library for my latest endeavour, the more I came across articles written by people I have interned with, worked for and know because of my time in New York City, Parsons and the fashion industry.

Talk about closing out the circle...no wait, that would be when Pomp and Circumstance came on my CD player and I contemplated the day, the past ten years, my life and where I am going next...

This is Me

This is Me by JustBeJenniferPaige on Polyvore.com

I love making mood boards. It is probably one of my favorite things to do - EVER :-) It's putting what inspires you on paper in order to go on and imagine and create even better products and designs.

Fairytale Inspiration

Dennis Basso Spring 2011. Images from Style.com
Just looking at these images has my wheels turning. Pure Bliss!

Natural {Posh Prepsters} in Fashion

My aunt bought me this amazing book Natural Fashion Tribal Decorations from Africa by Hans Silvester for my birthday. It just goes to show that style & fashion expand way beyond just labels and runways. The desire to add ornamental elements to our bodies and express ourselves through decorative features is just as common in New York City, LA , Paris, Milan, or London as it in Tribal Africa. I love that! And I love seeing drastically different cultures have the same energy pulsing through their society.

It's In The Bag

I have donated several items to WOMAC's (Women of the Metropolitan Arts Council) auction to raise money for the Phoenix Art Museum. WoMAC of Phoenix Art Museum was created to serve as a source of networking for professional women in the Phoenix metropolitan area; promoting interest in Phoenix Art Museum for groups that are traditionally underrepresented at the Museum; and providing a mechanism for art education.

Robin Macy of VinT Bikini, Cathy's Rum Cake, Bunky Boutique, Loveland, Baby Butter Clothing, and Kelli Nash are just some of my colleagues that have also donated items (due to my prodding :-) Thanks everyone!

There will be a fashion show by Jose Trifillo, a live and silent auction, appetizers and an open bar.

The event is to be held on Friday, September 24th, starting at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased at the Phoenix Art Museum's Website

Emmy Fashion Favorites

Dianna Agron, in Carolina Herrera, with Cartier jewels.

Lea Michele, in Oscar de la Renta, with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

January Jones, in Atelier Versace, with Miu Miu shoes and Cartier jewels.


Now this is true fashion. Stunning dresses on beautiful girls. Go Glee! Go Mad Men!
Images from Style.com

September issue of "So Scottsdale"

I Dare You...

I was with Bob Wilkinson at La Grande Orange last week and we started flipping through books while we ate lunch. I flipped through the book "Think Big" which is made up entirely of quotes regarding creativity, inspiration, going after your ideas and dreams while being movtivated to think outside the box. The book of course resonated with me and I bought it.

I always look back over the year{s} on the eve of my birthday. I can remember doing it all the way back to when I was a little girl. So much has changed in the course of _X__ years, wait I am not going to tell you how many candles I will be blowing out tomorrow ;-) but the point is that, as I reflect over my life, there is a lot to take in and a lot to think about.

This quote from "Think Big" struck me as the perfect birthday-eve quote "I dare you to, while there is still time, to have a magnificent obsession" -- William Danforth. Birthdays prove to us that the years are fleeting and time stops FOR NO ONE. We have one shot at this life and we can dilly-dally, waste our time and energy, or we can go forth and do SOMETHING really magnificent.

And whatever that "Magnificent Obsession" is, is up to you. We all have different goals, dreams and purposes. And the race is truly only against the amount of time we are given.

This is the tenth birthday that I am not getting to celebrate with my parents. Of course, it makes me incredilby sad, and they are on my mind all the time -- for some reason they have been in my dreams every night this week! But I refuse to sulk and wallow in their accident. They are gone, but I am not. I was given more time and now I am going to go out and do something with my "Magnificent Obsession" -- what will you do with yours?

Back To School Party At Arcadia Tavern

Sons Of Sylvia - Love Left To Lose

My spin teacher played this song yesterday. It has been on repeat. It is empowering, it makes me want to go out and conquer the world! And the lead singer is delicious! I'll take him!!!!!!

Project Key Chandelier

Last fall I designed a barrette out of two keys. I have always thought keys were very ornamental and decorative, so why not wear them in your hair? The reactions I have received are funny and I often look at people and think "Did you really just say that OUT LOUD!?" But none the less the keys have become one of my signature hair pieces.

Bob and I were brainstorming different ways we could design a chandelier for my Al Beadle condo. One of my ideas was to stuff Voss water bottles full of all my headband making scraps (strips of ribbon, bits of pearls and charms, etc.) and have him then construct a metal base to hang them off of. Then one day while sitting at a traffic light I started playing with my key clip and the idea dawned on me to make a chandelier out of keys, I emailed Bob and he called me within seconds! He had the same idea dawn him moments earlier!!!!! WE were onto something! It was in the air. The two of us tend to have a lot of synergy when it comes to our design-art projects...

Here are the Sketch Up pictures he made for me of my "Key Chandelier". We are going to need over a 1000 keys and we would love to collect them from families and friends. We want the chandelier to have a story, to have depth and to have some soul. If you would like to donate any of your old keys we will gladly take them off your hands...message me...your keys can be a part of a larger art project.

-- The Key Girl

Leather words and sentences

Back when I lived with Brian in the West Village, we flew out to San Francisco to visit Paul and Kelly and go snowboarding in Tahoe -- can you tell we are "West Coast Kids" we dragged our snowboards across the entire country to snowboard, when Vermont and other east coast snow spots were just hours away! Anyway, back to my story, so Brian leads me to his all time favorite boutique, ever, AB Fits, which is right near Union Square in SF. Granted we lived in the West Village steps away from Bleecker Street, SOHO and just a couple of subway stops away from Fifth Ave and Madison Ave. But no, Bri-Bri felt the need to splurge in California, and I wasn't going to stop him.

The girl at AB Fits was very snotty and I was determined to not give them any of my business. But then I melted when I tried on a distressed leather jacket with a hood by Mike and Chris. It was very rock and roll and the fact that it had a hoodie was beyond amazing. I whipped out my credit card and I did not look back, and ever since I have been drawn to little, leather jackets.

Fashion is a form of expression, and someone at Parsons once mentioned that clothes are merely external words and sentences...so even though I already own one great leather jacket, oh wait, make that three, I am looking for a few more words and sentences for the fall!

Headband Give Away

My very fabulous, fashionista friend Alex Evjen, is a stylist and has a super cool fashion blog. Check it out, and you can enter to win some of my headbands. I am doing a modern-day Marie Antionette photo-shoot at the Orpheum Lofts Penthouse apartment next month. I heart all my creative, artistic, fashion-savvy friends :-)

http://www.avestyles.com/blog/jennifer-paige-designs-giveaway/

Color Blocking

Now this is a fabulous example of color blocking. Shoes by one of my favorite designers : DSquared.

Bridal Pieces

Custom bridal headbands. Bride Heather Siedentop at the Camelback Sanctuary.

All That I Am After

"All that I am After" by Daughtry came on Pandora , and the line "All that I am after is a life full of laughter as long as I am laughing with you. " I love that! Life is short, I know that unfortunately first hand. Things change in a nano-second! My family was driving home from Tucson, my mother turned around to ask my sister where we wanted to vacation and a split second later the tires blow out on my dad's SUV. The car flipped over and seconds later my mother was dead and my dad died six hours later in the operating room. My sister and I literally crawled out of the upside-down car practically unscathed as we watched in horror as my dad screamed for help being pinned inside and needing the jaws of life to unleash him.

My parent's car accident is constantly putting life in perspective: Soak up all the precious moments, appreciate the good, learn to cut ties with the bad, pursue your dreams and don't think you have forever, because we don't. Seek quality over quantity and remember you are only responsible for you, you can't control other people's actions or feelings.

Furthermore it is making me realize what is most important and what brings me the utmost joy and happiness. If I had to list it would be the following:

This is all that I am after...

1. Laughing hysterically with my friends. The moments where our sides hurt and we are doubled-over in pain barely able to squeak out the next word
2. Being so inspired it makes me want to go out and create my own masterpiece
3. Design, Architecture, Art and Fashion, especially when all four collide
4. Being with the ones I have chosen as my favorites. Learning it is more than okay to walk away from the past and THOSE that no longer have a place in your life due to growing up and moving forward
5. Traveling to new places to explore and see more of this wonderful playground called Earth
   
6. Watching my niece Blake Emery giggle and play. Watching my sister be the most amazing mother to this incredible little person.
   
7. Being a source of light and inspiration to others

That's my list, if I can live that life...I'll be happy...

Hotness

Could Jared Leto get any hotter!!?? And he went to the fashion show of all fashion shows, John Galliano's presentation for Christian Dior Resort 2011. And Blake Lively of Gossip Girl was there too, sitting next to the gate keeper of fashion no less!!! So much eye-candy, well mostly Jared, but I'll take a piece of it all ;-)

Olympus Fashion Week Fall 2007

I have been organizing all my old photos and I came across these. I still can't believe I got to experience several Fashion Weeks while living in NYC. There is nothing like being inside the "tents" during Fashion Week. There is such a buzz and energy, you can almost get high from it.