Designer

…………………It’s always a good time when my nephew Chris comes to pay his big uncle a visit….well next to his 6’3″ frame my 5′ 10″ frame isn’t so big!……..The last time Angela and Chantal came to visit my nephew Chris was supposed to come, but he got sick and didn’t make it. The girls gave him a BIG BASKET of wonderful things, and he finally got the chance to open it….Chris brought me a set of battery operated candles that have snow flakes on them. Since they are predicting snow next week they came just in time…..We love to go out and eat!!! We went to an Italian restaurant called NINO’S in Darien [no pics], and the food was very good. I actually had to take home a doggie bag!……Sunday morning we went out for breakfast, and I had a piece of Carrot cake that we shared….but Chantal makes a carrot cake that is MUCH better…..Whenever Chris comes I always have a project for him that his un-tech uncle can’t do….Chantal and Angela gave me this BIRD FEEDER that has a camera and an app on my phone so I can watch the birds eating from anywhere. Chris had to program it for me….After he planted it in my garden he was tasting the food in the bottom right picture!….LOL…….The trip came to an end, and Chris got in his car “BIG BENZ” and off he drove until the next visit to Uncle Louie’s.

………..I love velvet! There just isn’t any other fabric as rich and lush, and has the depth of color as velvet……..I used different velvets on this collection from a classic silk velvet, a plush silk and rayon velvet to the crushed velvet. The model to the left, Emma, and Sarah in the center are wearing the “plush velvet”, both in long dresses, while the model to the right, Megan, is wearing the “classic ” silk velvet. Her slip dress has a sheer chiffon border at the top that repeated with a very low chiffon back….The bottom of this long dress had chiffon godets inserted to give swing and movement…….They looked like ‘The Three Muses”.

………………..The simplicity of a jersey knit dress…..was all about the fit and details. The body hugging black dress had chic fitted elbow length sleeves and a low square neckline……….A black jersey cap, and jersey short gloves was all Niki needed to make a strong statement……When you have a face like Niki’s you don’t need anything else…..After 30 years, and four children later, Niki still has a successful career.

………………….”WHAT IS THIS?”……….When Jac’s mom moved in with us many years ago she brought with her many old gadgets and kitchen utensils. Most of them have been sitting in the back of a draw, and have never been used. I don’t think even her mom used them…..At least I never saw her using any of them……I was going through the draw looking for a potato masher, and came across this curious thing…. It has “CHOPPER” engraved on the stainless steel handle. There are three blades at the bottom. The center blade goes up and down when you push the yellow handle. As you can see there is a spring controlling the center blade…..So…..I know from the inscription it was used to chop something…..but what???? There are quite a few mystery items in the draw that have never been used, and I guess Jac didn’t have the heart to throw them out when her mom passed…..so there they sit……..I won’t through them out either.

……………………I’m interrupting my retrospective series of my Fall 1993 series to bring you an incredible talent…………CORMAC THOMPSON…………I recently discovered him on YouTube, but I’m late to the party since he was on the “UK Got Talent” show in 2022, at the tender age of 12…..He has become very successful, and has put out many recordings….He has the sweet voice that can only come from one who is young…..I have listened to many of his songs, and all have been superb……..but there are four I would like to recommend……..”Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”, from “Les Miserables”, which is one of the most haunting, and saddest songs I have ever heard. His angelic voice will pull at your heart strings as it did mine……”A Time For Us” from “West Side Story” is so heart felt it is hard to believe such a young soul sings it with such conviction……….”Sleepsong”, from “Lord Of the Rings”, was not a song I was familiar with, but it is simply beautiful…….and “Cinema Paradiso”, by the brilliant Ennio Morricone. He sings it tenderly in perfect Italian!…..I am sure you will enjoy this very talented young man.