Mountaingate Country Club Bridal Fair and Parti Program Fashion Show

Hi,
Last week I had a fantastically busy week doing make-up and hair at two fashion shows.

Yes, Amber, being as indispensable as usual, helped Lisa Kasberg from
"I'm a Girl D.J." set up the lighting for the fashion show and helped me
get the models ready and also modeled. Then she helped with the
"I'm a Girl D. J." instant photo booth. Supergirl!  

The first was Tuesday,March 1st for the gorgeous Mountaingate Country Club in Los Angeles. Along with Rose Petals Bridal and Formal Dresses Store from Toluca Lake, I helped 4 lovely ladies get ready for a Bridal Fashion Show at the Mountaingate Bridal Expo. I did make-up and hair and Rose Petals dressed them in Bridal gowns. I also had a booth at the Bridal Expo and so unfortunately did not get any pictures of my models after they were dressed. We started make-up and hair at 2:30 PM and the Bridal Expo started at 6. I was just finishing up my last model as the Brides came in.

Chantal, Gigi, and Nikki. The other models at the Moutaingate Bridal Expo before they were dressed in the wedding gowns.

Of course, my table at the Bridal Expo was a prime example of the dual personality of my business: one side was Beau Ideal Beauty and lovely and girly and professional, the other side was the chaos of make-up and hair central with all the curling irons and make-up out and being used. That's my strong point, being creative under a time crunch!

The Beau Ideal Beauty side of the table.

The "get down to business" side of the table, which is actually after I had cleaned up a bit.

While I was doing make-up on one of the models, Chantal, she told me about a non profit organization she was launching in the Southern Ca. area called The Parti Program. It is a program that is quite successful in Northern Ca. but is in it's baby steps down here. It helps young people from 8 to 25 to learn leadership,volunteer and community service opportunities through fashion, modeling, performing, organizing and producing events. Chantal was planning their first fashion show, slated for the following Saturday. I love doing make-up and hair, and I love young people, so I asked if she needed help. She actually had 6 make-up and hair people scheduled from local Cosmetology schools but was happy to have me help.

I was definitely the "senior artist" there, but was welcomed warmly by the other artists.I ended up doing hair.

The energy was great, with all the excitement and anticipation of their first fashion show keeping all the young models bubbling with happiness. 

Lori

I put in some hair extensions for Lori, my first model, and curled it into a messy side ponytail.

Jackie

I then curled Jackie's hair around a small iron for a retro 70's natural look.

They had a few looks: A Black and White Look, which they styled the clothes themselves.

The Black and White Look.

Lining up outside getting ready to enter the banquet hall to walk down the runway. 

After they walked the runway, it was a quick dash back to the room to change into the next look: Camo.

The Camo look.

With the clacking of high heels ringing in the hallway, the ladies ran back to change into T-shirts designed by Tatiana,in which the name of her line is one of my favorite words, "Faith".

The "Faith" T-Shirt look. Waiting to walk down the runway.

Then back to the room for the formal dresses from Rose Petals Bridal and Formals again.

Some lovely formal dresses by Rose Petals.

Finally, the fashion show ended with some really fun designs by Marquisa Jones of Sophistafunk Life. I was able to help out here when Marquisa requested all the ladies wear red lipstick with her designs.

Sophistafunk Life, by Marquisa Jones. When I told Marquisa that her designs reminded me of some of the things we tried to put together in the 80's, she said that that was what her mom told her. I can tell her mom and I are the same age. Of course Marquisa's designs have a modern edge that we didn't in the 80's.

The young ladies did a wonderful job at sitting patiently trough make-up and hair,

and quickly running back and forth to change into the various looks!

This all happened in a very short hour and a half. 

The lovely Chantal, making sure the models walk the runway in perfect time.

One last look at Lori. 

Flashback anyone? I think I hear Cyndi Lauper in the back ground singing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"!

Or is that just me.

; )

Women of Weddings Meeting

We had another fantastic Women of Weddings meeting recently at Lori Vreeke's adorable bakery in Westlake.

Women of Weddings is an association of female wedding vendors in the L.A. area. Our friend and colleague Kimberlee Miller, a fantastic photographer, had the idea of putting together this group a few years back. We are the best in the wedding business and always have a fantastic time together. We discuss industry topics and ideas and new trends.


We are in the process of updating our website and had a specialist come and discuss possibilities and directions we could go as a group.

We had a great time decorating Valentine cookies as well!

We also had a fantastic pot luck!



WOW meets at either the venues we do weddings and events at or the member's place of business or homes. When we meet at the member's place, that member can showcase her business.
In this case, it was great to know how an amazing cake person and artist works!

Lori's cake pans

Those are boxes of chocolate and other yummy stuff!
Plus the white board for the website presentation.

Anyway I hope you all had a Happy Valentine's Day!

Cookies for Lisa's ( I'm a Girl DJ) baby twin girls.

The Society of Operating Cameramen Lifetime Achievement Awards

Saturday, February 5th, 2011, I accompanied my husband Guy Skinner to the SOC Lifetime Achievement Awards!

He was nominated for his Camera Operating on the TV show "24"!

We went all out and rented a limo for the evening and invited his First Assistant Cameraman Jon Sharpe and his wife Karen and his Dolly Grip Carlos Boiles and his wife Stacy, both from "24", to join us.

Jon was Guy's focus puller, and this is how important he was to Guy:

There was no way to achieve that "24" style without a Camera Assistant who could set his Operator free to find the beats and moments and do it differently every time. Jon Sharpe was our perfect magician. My hand held operating was enhanced by the luxury of never having to be limited because Jon is so unlimited is his skills, an absolute necessity for the look of the show.

As for Carlos, this is what he has to say about him:

Carlos Boiles, as my Dolly Grip and spotter, a master craftsman with the dolly and cranes, is also a true athlete, guiding me and watching my blind side.

As an Operator I never had to think of focus or my safety.

Jon, Carlos and I communicated in a language so efficient and seamless, we captured moments that could only happen with the freedom of letting go of any inhibitions, boundaries and assumed restrictions. We constantly surprised ourselves. To work with such a team was very rewarding!

To be able to join this amazing team as they were recognized for their effort was incredible.

On the way, we toasted to "the dream team" with champagne in the limo.

Carlos and Stacy, opening the champagne.

We arrived at Warner Brothers Studios and went down the back lot "streets" to the theater where the pre-presentation cocktail hour was happening.

The "dream team" of Carlos, Guy, and Jon

During the cocktails I could hardly stay by Guy's side, he was so popular with all his colleagues! In the 30 years of being in Camera, he has had to opportunity to work with so many great Cameramen, and a lot of them were there. 

At one point I lost him for a good 30 minutes, I later found out he was taken to be filmed for an interview to be posted on the SOC website in the future.

His current co-Camera Operators from "The Event" (NBC) were also there, even though they had all worked all night and gotten home at dawn that morning. 

Victor Macias, Guy, and Paul Horn
The Camera Operators currently working on "The Event"

The presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Awards began at 7PM.

It was great to see and hear from all the creative genius's being honored that night.

The stories and film clips were amazing as the night progressed. But I must say, waiting until finally, at the end of the evening, around 9:30, for Guy's category to honor Best Camera Operator in a Television Series to be announced was excruciating! 

Our hearts were pounding!

They announced all the names and showed film clips of their work.

And the winner was.....!

Not Guy.

David Frederick of the show "Sons of Anarchy" won the award.

Congratulations David!

But in reality Guy was honored that night! 

After the awards Guy continued to talk and see and be congratulated by so many of his peers that it was a magnificent night for him.

David Frederick made a point of coming up to Guy and telling him how much he admired his work and that he thought Guy would be the one on that podium getting the award. 

Then he insisted they take a picture together with the"Cammy"! 

Very cool David!

Me and Guy, after the ceremony.
I'm so proud of my amazing husband!
Photo by Isabella Vosmikova

After that we all cruised Hollywood in the limo. Since each couple had a bottle of wine from  different winery's we had all visited in the past year, we had a mini wine tasting session as we drove down Hollywood Blvd, past all the stars on the sidewalk and the great theaters.

At one point we decided we were hungry.

Since Guy was not a "wiener" we decided to go get a "wiener" at Pink's Hot Dog Stand.

The guys got out and stood in line while us girls stayed in the limo and stayed warm. 

All you Camera people, be kind, I took this from across the
street, teetering on platform heels.

When they got the hot dogs we all sat down out back at Pinks, in our suits and dresses, and chowed down on those legendary hot dogs.

We had a blast and it will be a night I will remember forever!

Dav Rain Boot Photo Shoot

Boots, and more boots, and boxes of boots.

Sam after hair and make-up is complete.

Wednesday and Thursday I got to work with an incredible team at the Stylewest photo shoot for one of the lines they represent, Dav Rain Boots. Along with Kerri Sengstaken, owner of Stylewest, producer of the shoot and also my neighbor and good friend, the amazing Casey Galbraith was the photographer and Arina Gasanova was the fantastic clothes stylist. I,of course did make-up and hair for the shoot.

Here's Sam in the room we used for make-up, hair and the wardrobe.
This is without the hair extensions I put in.

Sam trying to stay warm between shots.

This is the 3rd time I have worked with this team and it is always a fantastic experience. 

We all get along great and the shoot is always seamless. Of course it helped that we had the lovely Sam as our amazing model.Sam is a chameleon, and always manages to strike the perfect pose, while managing not to wrinkle the boots in a certain way, and looking "hot" (in every sense of the word) while it is freezing and the rest of us are in jackets.The location was a very cool house in Sherman Oaks, everywhere you looked was perfect for photos.

Making Dav Rain Boots look as cool as they are.

It was 2 good days of creative magic!

                        

Arina styling Sam.

Casey discussing the shot with Kerri, who is just off camera.

Casey and Sam working out a pose.

Dav Rain Boots and a dress form Arina's line of clothing.

ISSE Hair show at Long Beach

Hi everyone,
Yesterday my friend Amber and I attended the ISSE (International Salon and Spa Expo) Hair show in Long Beach.
I love hair shows!

The practice station for the Enzo Milano irons.

We get to see all our peers and watch the best stylists demonstrating their techniques and get AMAZING deals on products and tools.
So much fun!

The girl on stilts and her buddy, handing out promotional material at Enzo curling irons.

Demonstrating a cut and color.

Sassoon, doing what they do best, precision cuts.

Fantastic dos at Farouk.

This guy was throwing samples into the audience.

Amber getting her hair done. Moroccan Oil have  these ceramic covered brushes that heat up like curling irons as you blow dry.

Gorgeous! Of course I had to buy the brushes.

Maria Del Rey, Jan.28th and 29th, at the Granada Theater in Santa Barbara

Hi again!
The last two days I worked with the beautiful and gracious singer Maria Del Rey, on the launch of her 2011 Childgood tour.
Maria Del Rey's The Bridge: El Puente
It was an unforgettable bilingual,multicultural celebration of Latin American music, art, dance & stories live onstage and on the big screen!
Starring Latin Grammy® Award nominee Maria Del Rey and joined by
Santa Barbara area children.
Her mission in life is to bring cultural celebration and social-emotional skills development to millions of children.
We were also filming footage for her possible upcoming television special.

I learned two important things from this wonderful experience.
#1; Never use an airbrush for foundation or hairspray around a singer, it affects their voice and performance. Luckily, Maria informed me of that before I sprayed anything in her direction.
; )

#2; It's good to have a flashlight when you're doing quick changes backstage.

I did take pictures, but I must apologize for the quality, I could not use flash during the performance and my photos on my camera were all very blurry. My iPhone did better, but they are still not the best and quite dark.

First of all the Granada Theater in Santa Barbara is a beautiful old theater of the grand,elaborate style. The walls and ceilings are intricately carved and gilded with gold.

Maria, an amazing woman with the voice of an angel is also the producer of the the tour and filming and handled her many jobs with the ultimate grace.

She wore several costumes for her numbers, from different parts of Latin America and depicting various cultural legends.

As I said, the backstage changing area was quite dark, and Lauda, the wardrobe woman and an old hand at doing quick changes backstage, had a small flashlight.

She not only helped guide Maria off the bright stage into the dark changing area with it, but could hold it in her mouth to keep her hands free to help fasten the costumes. I immediately bought one that night, and my second day was much easier.

Maria at the sound check, working out the details, while filming went on:

The end of day 1, the make-up room is set and ready for day 2.

She brought some children onstage with her during the performances, creating a truly interactive experience for them.
It was a great experience!
I love my job!