Kiara Randolph & Couture Mannequin Boutique – One Word: Fierce!

Hey Readers!

Here is another Profile piece on the people I have met who have inspired me to have new experiences, and who have helped me see the world through their eyes.

This  Profile features Kiara Randolph, the creative mind behind Couture Mannequin Boutique, a clothing brand with its own uniqueness.  Besides being a fashion designer, she also branching out into various different fields, following her dreams to be successful in all of them.

Here are the questions I asked Kiara about herself and The Couture Mannequin:

What inspired you to start The Couture Mannequin?

I started off making my own clothing, I had people on the streets wanting to buy my one of a kind pieces from me right then and there. That motivated me to create FIERCE pieces for my “Mannequins” 

What is the story behind the name ‘The Couture Mannequin’?

Before I started designing, I was a model. I did not know how to do my makeup, hair basically nothing. So, they used to call me the “Mannequin” because I just sat there and let the makeup artists be creative on my face. I pick up Couture based on my style. Couture Mannequin is not just a brand. Its a lifestyle!!  

I would describe a “Mannequin”

“She is a mysterious woman who turns heads as she walks into any room. She’s effortless and free…simply flawless. She feels just as hot and confident in bright colors as she does in black. She is a socialite and a party girl. Everyone whispers in awe and wonders who she is and what IT is about her that sets her apart. They all want to know her and BE her.”

What is the story behind the name ‘The Couture Mannequin’?The look of the pieces from Couture Mannequin is all about being fierce.  Why?

A lot of women work 9-5 jobs. I want women to be able to step out of their work clothes and step into my piece and feel FIERCE! I want them to tap into their inner wild side. That’s why my clothing names ranges from Mrs. Obama to Space Whore.

You work not only in fashion, but in other fields such as music, promotions, fundraising for charities, just to name a few.  Where would you like for The Couture Mannequin to go from where it is today? 

In the future I am hoping Couture Mannequin will be everyone one stop Fashion destination. I’m hoping to work on a males line soon.

Who inspires you?

My love for fashion–let me say, my admiration for fashion–started with my mom. I used to watch her get dressed. She was around my age right now, and she was so fly. FIERCE. Also my travels inspire me. I haves traveled since I was 5, I pick up treasures from everywhere I go and put my surroundings in my clothing.

What kind of experience do you want for customers of Couture Mannequin to take away from your site?

Because we know girls as fabulous as us don’t have time to shop around all day, we’ve got too many scenes to steal, too many entrances to make, too many eyes to catch. So we’ve created the Couture Mannequin store to help you find everything you need in one place, at fantastic prices.

According to you, which piece currently available on the Couture Mannequin Boutique site would be the fiercest one?

Twisted Cultures, because it has been inspired by the Polynesians and Japanese culture. With a mix of lush colors, fine fabrics and Asian design, this dress will definitely give you a culture shock. I spent most of my life in Hawaii so this is a Fierce blend of Hawaii and Fierce!

http://www.posemannequin.bigcartel.com/product/twisted-cultures

Readers, I hope you can get a better idea as to why I had to do a Profile on Kiara Randolph and Couture Mannequin Boutique.  Kiara is her brand: Fierce!  She knows what she wants, and she goes after it.  Kiara works hard, making sure her pieces are showcased well.  Finally, Kiara is not afraid to try new things.  As I said before, she has her hand in many different disciplines making herself known.  I guess Kiara summed it up best: she is Fierce!  How can you not admire that?

In the next coming weeks, I will be writing a review on some of the pieces from Couture Mannequin Boutique.  Keep your eyes peeled for it!

Thank you, Kiara, for helping to inspire me to not hold back on going after what I want, and for becoming a bit more Fierce!  ;P

If you want to check out Couture Mannequin Boutique, here are its online stores and social media links:

www.posemannequin.com

shop.posemannequin.com

facebook.com/COUTURE.MANNEQUIN

twitter.com/PoseMANNEQUIN

instagram.com/posemannequin

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Profile: Kendall Rumsey – The Pen Behind Notes From A Southern Kitchen

Hey, Readers!

I have finally returned back to one of my favourite features on Reese Speaks – Profiles!  I love getting to know the people who influence and amaze me in different parts of my life, and pick their brains about what who they are and they’re like.  I also like sharing these people with you Readers, so you can see why I think these people are so fabulous, and then check them out for yourself as well!

This Profile features Kendall Rumsey, a southern American gentleman with a genuine opinion on various topics.  Kendall is also the voice behind the insightful Notes From A Southern Kitchen, a blog where he shares his views in areas such as entertainment, music, politics, and  touching tidbits from his personal life.  This has to be one of my favourite pics of Kendall! Sky diving is one of the things I have on my bucket list, which Kendall has already accomplished.

Unfortunately, I was not able to have a sit-down conversation with Kendall for this Profile, since we live many kilometres (or miles) apart, but we corresponded for this feature electronically.  I asked Kendall just a few of the thousands of questions I had for this Profile, as I could spend all day picking his brain about himself and his blog!

‘Notes from a Southern Kitchen’ –  how did you come up with the title of your blog?

Notes from a Southern Kitchen just sort of happened.  I am obviously southern and in the south we often gather in the kitchen for conversation.  When I decided to write the blog I wanted it to be conversational and thought what better place than in the kitchen, so Notes from a Southern Kitchen was born.

What inspired you to become a blogger?

My mom was ill and her illness had started taking away a lot of memories from my childhood and our young family.  I started the blog on blogger.com simply as stories about my family.  My mother loved the stories and it helped her remember, the more she enjoyed it the more I wrote.  When my mom died I stopped writing for almost a year, it was just too painful, when I brought the blog back I switched to WordPress and wrote more about what interested me in the present day and included some family and life stories.

Which of your features on Notes is your favourite and why?

I have several features don’t I?  Each one serves a different purpose and I like each one for different reasons……

Life’s Playlist because I think music is the most powerful force in the world.  I have very eclectic musical tastes and like to start my day with a song.

Words to Live By helps keep me grounded and in the right headspace each day.

Short Notes is a way for me to recap the day and gives me small tidbit comments on things that aren’t worth a whole post but worthy of a mention.

Tuesday 10, I LOVE the Tuesday 10 because it allows me to learn about the people I enjoy reading and who influence my life.  I worked on those 10 Questions for weeks trying to come up with something that would give insight into the people I am “interviewing.”  I still like the list I came up with, except for 1 of the questions (and I won’t tell you which one it is.)   I am considering 10 new Questions for 2014, but haven’t decided if I am going to do that or not.

With ALL those features, my favorite is Friday’s Hero.  I love finding the stories of the regular guy who did something inspiring like TJ Smith who sings in his car as he drives along the freeway just putting a smile on people’s faces, Joey Prusak a Dairy Queen worker who did the right thing when he saw one of his customers being mistreated or the people who made Talia’s Bucket List come true.  Then there are sometimes politicians and media figures, entertainers and the like who do good stuff that I like to highlight as well.  Friday’s Hero is my baby, it makes me feel good to publish the feel good stories.

What is the best thing that has happened you you since beginning your blog?

Without a doubt the memories and joy my mom received was number one, however the next best thing was,  blogging rekindled my love of writing.

Do you see Notes becoming bigger than it already it is in the future? Where would you like for Notes to go? 

I would love to grow Notes but don’t know if that is possible with my regular work schedule.  I want to keep it positive and hopefully inspiring for others.  As time allows I want to tell more life stories on the blog because I enjoy writing them and people seem to enjoy reading them.  Ideally I would love to see some of my features picked up by other sources.  Overall I am happy with where the blog is and where it continues to evolve, but would I like more readers, comments and support… yes I would!  : )

Who inspires you?

People who are generous, not necessarily just with money, but with their time and talents too.  People who are generous with their words, people who know that a simple act of generosity can change someone’s life in ways that are unimaginable.  People who generously give and raise people up are the people who inspire me.

What do you want your readers to take away from your blog?

What I hope people take away from the blog is really all over the board…..  I want them to take a bit of happiness and that is why I feel like the Playlist and Words to Live By are so important.  With the Tuesday 10, I want to break down some of the walls of this mysterious blogosphere and let us learn about each other and with the Hero I want to inspire.  I have tried to make the blog a place that makes you feel better about the world after spending a few minutes here…..  and then I get on one of my political soapboxes and blow that all to hell!  LOL

I hope you can now see why Notes From a Southern Kitchen is my go-to blog every morning!  Kendall is a fabulous person who shares what interests him in his own unique fashion.  It’s a breath of fresh air every time I pop into his blog.  Hopefully, you were also able to see who he is, and what inspires him to do what he does so well.  He is kind, generous and honest.  I have learned a lot from what Kendall does with his blog.  Thank you, Kendall, for taking the time to help both myself, and my blog!  You’re awesome!

If you Readers want to check out Notes From a Southern Kitchen, here are links to his sites:

WordPress – wordpress.com/notesfromasouthernkitchen

Facebook – facebook.com/NotesfromaSouthernKitchen

Twitter – twitter.com/NotesbyKendall

Instagram – instagram.com/notesfromasouthernkitchen

Until my next post, Readers!

Reese.

Tuesday 10 – Reese Speaks; 10.8.13

Hey Readers!

This is the first, hopefully of many, features someone has done on me!
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Notes from a Southern Kitchen (notesfromasouthernkitchen.com) is also an amazing blog you should check out. You’ll find great features, amazing recipes and music picks, as well as inspirational Words to Live By. Please check it out!

Thanks, again, Notes from a Southern Kitchen!

Until my next post, Readers!

Reese.

Notes from a Southern Kitchen

This Tuesday I choose another blogger who inspires me.  The blog Reese Speaks is a fun collection of uplifting posts, insights and lighthearted fare.

On the site the first thing you learn is…..  Who is Reese Speaks?

I’m Reese, and this is my blog I’ve named Reese Speaks. Who is Reese Speaks, you ask? Well, I’m a woman who likes to share what’s on her mind about things that I like doing, sharing my experiences and hobbies, capture what happen on the reality shows I like watching, or give my opinion on news stories I’ve watched.

Reese Speaks is a good read, light, easy and uplifting…. thanks Reese for responding to the Tuesday 10!

1)Excluding family members, who inspires you?  Famous People – Maya Angelou, Machiavelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Aretha Franklin…people who spoke through their work.  Non-Famous People – My friends who create with their hands…

View original post 302 more words

Sarah-Jane MacPhail Brings Whimsy and Magic to Jewellery with Wearable Miscellany

(Repost)

Hey Readers!

As I’ve stated before, I love sharing things with you that inspire me.  My friends, whose personalities are all over the spectrum, are one of these things.  So, I figured that one way to show my appreciation for what they do me is to share what moves them, which in turn, inspires me, too.

It’s kind of fitting that the first person I’m going to profile is actually the one who got me into starting this blog.  Who is this person?  Well, her name is Sarah-Jane MacPhail, the creative force behind Wearable Miscellany.  Wearable Miscellany is a line of custom-made jewellery and other wearable creations Sarah-Jane designs and creates.  What was it that inspired her to create Wearable Miscellany?  Read on and you’ll see.

Who is Sarah-Jane MacPhail?

By day, Sarah-Jane MacPhail (nee Van Kessel) has a normal 9 to 5 job at a law firm.  When she’s not behind a desk working, whipping up some amazing dish in her kitchen, or enjoying newlywed bliss with her husband, Andrew, Sarah-Jane revels in one of her passions: designing and making jewellery.

Why Jewellery?

Finding your own personal sense of style is normal for any teenager.  Sarah-Jane found her way through her love of personal adornment by making necklaces and other pieces of jewellery.

How Did Wearable Miscellany Begin?

While walking along Queen Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Sarah-Jane got the urge to put a necklace together.  She gathered the materials she needed and whipped together a necklace.  Apparently, this first piece didn’t fair so well, as it fell apart. Sarah-Jane was not swayed by this attempt.  It actually reignited her love for making jewellery.  The next thing she, and her then boyfriend, knew was that their home would be transformed into a treasure trove of various beads, stones and other pieces necessary to put together her one-of-a kind pieces.  Sarah-Jane then decided to sell some of her works of art on the Etsy site  under the name Wearable Miscellany so others could enjoy the fruits of her labour of love.  Sarah-Jane also picked up more tricks of jewellery making from working part-time at McBead’s Creations in Nepean, ON, learning anything she could under the tutelage of the owners and other employees who work there.

What’s the Meaning Behind Wearable Miscellany?

Well, most brands have a meaning behind themselves.  Sarah-Jane came up with the name Wearable Miscellany because a book her step-father has in his collection.  It’s called Schott’s Original Miscellany by Ben Schott. Wearable Miscellany fit what Sarah-Jane wants to create and sell.

Most Enjoyable Types of Jewellery to Create?

Since Sarah-Jane has become more skilled in jewellery-making, she was able to pick two styles she enjoyed dabbling in most. The first type of jewellery she loves to create is chain maille.  For Sarah-Jane, she loves taking numerous tiny metal rings and making something amazing.

This is an example of chain maille jewellery. I like this piece because of how all of the flowers are interconnected.

Sarah-Jane also enjoys making pieces using a single strand. She becomes inspired by the various combinations of colour of beads or chain, then designing and putting it together to make something funky and unusual gets her wanting to create even more pieces.

For me, this single-stranded Glass Pearl Necklace has an antique quality to it. It seems so precious and delicate, as though it was made a few centuries ago. I really like it!

Other types of jewellery that Sarah-Jane loves making are wire crochet and working with chain.

Most Difficult Pieces of Jewellery to Create?

Once again, there are a few types of jewellery that Sarah-Jane finds difficult to make, but she’s not one to back away from a challenge, either! Chain maille is one of the types she has to work harder with to create pieces. The reason is the amount of time and the intricacy it takes to produce this type of jewellery. Once she mastered this medium, Sarah-Jane has fashioned beautiful pieces.

A second piece that had some difficulty making was a combination of chain and filligre (delicate and intricate ornamental work which is made from gold, silver or other fine twisted wire) necklace. It also had a large Swarovski tear drop pendant and crystals. She crafted it for her Christmas party. She said she had to rework the various elements of this piece many times so it would lay perfectly on her dress while she wore it.  She also had the time to made matching earrings for this piece as well!

The necklace and earring set is so pretty! I could only imagine how hard it was to get this piece to lay as Sarah-Jane wanted it on her dress. It has an ethereal feel to it.

The last difficult piece for Sarah-Jane to put together was a challenge piece that was presented to her and her co-workers at McBead’s. They were each given a bag of the exact same beads. They were told to create a piece using these beads, along with any other elements they wanted to use. Sarah-Jane found this contest challenging because she had to figure out how to make the random beads into something desirable and interesting. Well, she did! Her talent was displayed in the piece she put together, and she won the contest!

I can see why this piece won the challenge! I love how the beads are there as little flashes of colour to the piece. I also like how filligre piece helps to balance the clasp. It’s a really beautiful set, Sarah-Jane!

What Does the Future Hold for Sarah-Jane and Wearable Miscellany?

Besides creating more pieces, Sarah-Jane wants to have more open houses to showcase and sell her jewellery. She will also continue selling her pieces on her Etsy site along with her other handmade crafting items.  Sarah-Jane will  continue doing is sharing her crafting adventures on her blog, Wearable Miscellany on WordPress.com as well as her Wearable Miscellany page on Facebook. Finally, Sarah-Jane will try other venues such as craft sales to display and sell her pieces.

I am so very proud of my friend, Sarah-Jane. She’s clever, determined, and is able to create so many things that I couldn’t do with two extra hands. Designing and then making jewellery that is interesting and beautiful is hard, but Sarah-Jane makes it look easy. I only see good things for my friend and Wearable Miscellany in the future. Thank you, Sarah-Jane, for inspiring me to create in my own way.

Here are some of my favourite one-of-a-kind pieces from the Wearable Miscellany collection:

I chose the Dyed Shell Discs with Byzantine Black Nickel Rings Necklace because it looks like a fun piece to wear, and I’m a HUGE blue fan.

The Celtic Wedding Knot Bracelet in Black Nickel and Silver Plate Rings is one of my favs because of the way the rings are connected. It looks as though a lot of time wet into this piece, and it was well worth it!

Really like the Copper Chain Maille Bracelet and Earring Set with Preciosa Crystals. It’s just so bright and beautiful to look at.

Cocktail party anyone? This Blue Sandstone and Glass Pearl Crochet Collar would be the only piece of jewellery I would need to wear! The wire crochet work Sarah-Jane did on this piece is fantastic!

This has to be one of my absolute FAVOURITE pieces in the Wearable Miscellany collection to date! It combines three different types of chain maille (each type stunning in its own way), and then the pendant beautifully finishes off this amazing necklace. In LOVE!!!

Until my next post, Readers!

Reese.

Sarah-Jane MacPhail Brings Whimsy and Magic to Jewellery with Wearable Miscellany

Hey Readers!

As I’ve stated before, I love sharing things with you that inspire me.  My friends, whose personalities are all over the spectrum, are one of these things.  So, I figured that one way to show my appreciation for what they do me is to share what moves them, which in turn, inspires me, too.

It’s kind of fitting that the first person I’m going to profile is actually the one who got me into starting this blog.  Who is this person?  Well, her name is Sarah-Jane MacPhail, the creative force behind Wearable Miscellany.  Wearable Miscellany is a line of custom-made jewellery and other wearable creations Sarah-Jane designs and creates.  What was it that inspired her to create Wearable Miscellany?  Read on and you’ll see.

Who is Sarah-Jane MacPhail?

By day, Sarah-Jane MacPhail (nee Van Kessel) has a normal 9 to 5 job at a law firm.  When she’s not behind a desk working, whipping up some amazing dish in her kitchen, or enjoying newlywed bliss with her husband, Andrew, Sarah-Jane revels in one of her passions: designing and making jewellery.

Why Jewellery?

Finding your own personal sense of style is normal for any teenager.  Sarah-Jane found her way through her love of personal adornment by making necklaces and other pieces of jewellery.

How Did Wearable Miscellany Begin?

While walking along Queen Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Sarah-Jane got the urge to put a necklace together.  She gathered the materials she needed and whipped together a necklace.  Apparently, this first piece didn’t fair so well, as it fell apart. Sarah-Jane was not swayed by this attempt.  It actually reignited her love for making jewellery.  The next thing she, and her then boyfriend, knew was that their home would be transformed into a treasure trove of various beads, stones and other pieces necessary to put together her one-of-a kind pieces.  Sarah-Jane then decided to sell some of her works of art on the Etsy site  under the name Wearable Miscellany so others could enjoy the fruits of her labour of love.  Sarah-Jane also picked up more tricks of jewellery making from working part-time at McBead’s Creations in Nepean, ON, learning anything she could under the tutelage of the owners and other employees who work there.

What’s the Meaning Behind Wearable Miscellany?

Well, most brands have a meaning behind themselves.  Sarah-Jane came up with the name Wearable Miscellany because a book her step-father has in his collection.  It’s called Schott’s Original Miscellany by Ben Schott. Wearable Miscellany fit what Sarah-Jane wants to create and sell.

Most Enjoyable Types of Jewellery to Create?

Since Sarah-Jane has become more skilled in jewellery-making, she was able to pick two styles she enjoyed dabbling in most. The first type of jewellery she loves to create is chain maille.  For Sarah-Jane, she loves taking numerous tiny metal rings and making something amazing.

This is an example of chain maille jewellery. I like this piece because of how all of the flowers are interconnected.

Sarah-Jane also enjoys making pieces using a single strand. She becomes inspired by the various combinations of colour of beads or chain, then designing and putting it together to make something funky and unusual gets her wanting to create even more pieces.

For me, this single-stranded Glass Pearl Necklace has an antique quality to it. It seems so precious and delicate, as though it was made a few centuries ago. I really like it!

Other types of jewellery that Sarah-Jane loves making are wire crochet and working with chain.

Most Difficult Pieces of Jewellery to Create?

Once again, there are a few types of jewellery that Sarah-Jane finds difficult to make, but she’s not one to back away from a challenge, either! Chain maille is one of the types she has to work harder with to create pieces. The reason is the amount of time and the intricacy it takes to produce this type of jewellery. Once she mastered this medium, Sarah-Jane has fashioned beautiful pieces.

A second piece that had some difficulty making was a combination of chain and filligre (delicate and intricate ornamental work which is made from gold, silver or other fine twisted wire) necklace. It also had a large Swarovski tear drop pendant and crystals. She crafted it for her Christmas party. She said she had to rework the various elements of this piece many times so it would lay perfectly on her dress while she wore it.  She also had the time to made matching earrings for this piece as well!

The necklace and earring set is so pretty! I could only imagine how hard it was to get this piece to lay as Sarah-Jane wanted it on her dress. It has an ethereal feel to it.

The last difficult piece for Sarah-Jane to put together was a challenge piece that was presented to her and her co-workers at McBead’s. They were each given a bag of the exact same beads. They were told to create a piece using these beads, along with any other elements they wanted to use. Sarah-Jane found this contest challenging because she had to figure out how to make the random beads into something desirable and interesting. Well, she did! Her talent was displayed in the piece she put together, and she won the contest!

I can see why this piece won the challenge! I love how the beads are there as little flashes of colour to the piece. I also like how filligre piece helps to balance the clasp. It’s a really beautiful set, Sarah-Jane!

What Does the Future Hold for Sarah-Jane and Wearable Miscellany?

Besides creating more pieces, Sarah-Jane wants to have more open houses to showcase and sell her jewellery. She will also continue selling her pieces on her Etsy site along with her other handmade crafting items.  Sarah-Jane will  continue doing is sharing her crafting adventures on her blog, Wearable Miscellany on WordPress.com as well as her Wearable Miscellany page on Facebook. Finally, Sarah-Jane will try other venues such as craft sales to display and sell her pieces.

I am so very proud of my friend, Sarah-Jane. She’s clever, determined, and is able to create so many things that I couldn’t do with two extra hands. Designing and then making jewellery that is interesting and beautiful is hard, but Sarah-Jane makes it look easy. I only see good things for my friend and Wearable Miscellany in the future. Thank you, Sarah-Jane, for inspiring me to create in my own way.

Here are some of my favourite one-of-a-kind pieces from the Wearable Miscellany collection:

I chose the Dyed Shell Discs with Byzantine Black Nickel Rings Necklace because it looks like a fun piece to wear, and I’m a HUGE blue fan.

The Celtic Wedding Knot Bracelet in Black Nickel and Silver Plate Rings is one of my favs because of the way the rings are connected. It looks as though a lot of time wet into this piece, and it was well worth it!

Really like the Copper Chain Maille Bracelet and Earring Set with Preciosa Crystals. It’s just so bright and beautiful to look at.

Cocktail party anyone? This Blue Sandstone and Glass Pearl Crochet Collar would be the only piece of jewellery I would need to wear! The wire crochet work Sarah-Jane did on this piece is fantastic!

This has to be one of my absolute FAVOURITE pieces in the Wearable Miscellany collection to date! It combines three different types of chain maille (each type stunning in its own way), and then the pendant beautifully finishes off this amazing necklace. In LOVE!!!

Until my next post, Readers!

Reese.