Say it isn't So... Shabby Chic...Filing for Bankruptcy Protection?

Rachel Ashell's Shabby Chic 

(Shabby Chic's Bloomsbury Sectional)

Some blame the loss of sales and diminished popularity of Shabby Chic to the rise of the Mid-Century Modern design craze.  Well, as a lover of both styles, I wouldn't declare Shabby Chic as over, or name the design trend, the Rubik's Cube of the Nineties.  I also wouldn't call Mid-Century Modern... a craze.  Neither design trend are going anywhere, anytime soon if my iCafe Woman Moderne Divas and I have anything to say about it.  Thanks to you, we do.

But first a message from our sponsor... 

From eternity to eternity, I am God.  

No one can oppose what I do.

Isaiah 43:13

Miracles and Blessings... Gigi here... thanks for stopping by iCafe Woman Moderne, our virtual cafe for inter-generational women and girls.  But fellas, the door is always open for you too.  I know it's been more than a minute since we last hit the cyber-waves.  Outside, the trees were barren.  

Now, the flowers are blooming... our cyber patrons can't get enough of our chilled delights in a glass and our Spring wraps are bursting with exciting new ingredients.

Welcome to our text webisode:  Say it isn't So... It Isn't So!  Shabby Chic... We Say, Welcome Back!  Our three divas... Television Producer Tempest (54), Fashion Photographer Baldwin (30) and Model, Actress, Cartoonist Cocoe Dominique (15)... can't wait to tell you why Shabby Chic is back and here to stay.  They're not only our regulars, they're also related.  

Tempest and Baldwin are sisters, and Cocoe is their very talented, precocious niece and fraternal twin to Christiane Kennedy.  Stare at them close, they almost look identical.  Unfortunately, Christiane couldn't join us, she had a prior engagement.  

 (New York City)

 
We're so glad they escaped the Big Apple and stopped by, which they do at the start of every new season.  Unfortunately, their busy schedules delayed them at the start of Spring, but they're making up for lost time.  Our humble region is where another sister, a few great aunts, uncles, more nieces and cousins live.  So of course we've claimed them as iCafe Woman Moderne divas.  

Shall we get started?

Don't worry Ms. Ashwell... your diehard 
fans and iCafe Woman Moderne divas have your home decor back.

(Apartment Therapy)

EXT. ICAFE WOMAN MODERNE - AFTERNOON

Two men and two women over forty enter our virtual cafe housed inside a Mid-Century Modern home, (Art Moderne) carrying Happy Birthday balloons with four twenty-something young women.

INT. GREAT ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The forty-something women and young adults are pleasantly surprised when they enter the great room. 

On the television monitors a photo of the great room's usual decor appears.  The authentic Mid-Century Modern sectional is now replaced by live footage of a beautiful white slip-covered sectional in a Mid-Century Modern design with Shabby Chic and Asian accessories on the bookshelves, chairs and coffee table. 

  

GIGI

(to the patrons) 

Now you see it, now you don't.  You're in the right place.  We've switched out our sectional.  But guess what?(turns to web camera)It's not just any white, slip-covered sectional.  It's a Shabby Chic SoHo slip-covered sectional in a modern design.  This is our Spring and Summer decor for the cafe.  We'll switch back in the Fall.  So yes, Contemporary, Mid-Century Modern, Southwestern, Asian and Traditional home design fans... Shabby Chic pieces can fit in all of these designs.  My iCafe Woman Moderne divas will show you how by using three Shabby Chic room styles. 

Gigi joins Tempest, Baldwin and Cocoe seated on the white sectional.   They're all wearing perfect little pink dresses in honor of May's National Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Their Perfect Little Pink Dresses (PLBDs) were supplied by Nordstrom's.

BALDWIN

As far as I'm concerned, Shabby Chic never left the building.   But now it's easier to find her, and fantastic on the pocketbook.  Who doesn't know where there's a Target?  That's one of the places you'll find Rachel Ashwell's Simply Shabby Chic. (she faces camera) I'm sure there's a store near where you live.

TEMPEST

Right, girl... a lot of people don't know that her collection is at Target until they see the Simply Shabby Chic aisle.  I just picked up this cute vanity for my play niece's Sweet Sixteen birthday party.  It's also easy to find on your smart phone.

(Design Darling) 


COCOE

I guess your real niece will be expecting

 hers on her 16th birthday in July.  

TEMPEST

And you'll put it right next to the French Provincial antique vanity  you've inherited from your great grandmother.  (facing camera) Girlfriend here, doesn't have your typical fifteen-year-old's bedroom.   It's authentically French Shabby Chic.  As you can see from her pink Sixties baby doll dress, 

my favorite niece loves Mod Design and Vintage.

(Carrocel Restorations)

COCOE

My twin better not hear you call me your favorite. (winking) Okay, so you'll be sending that cute Target vanity to my dressing room at the set of my new series coming out in the Fall on NBC.

A MID-CENTURY MODERN/CONTEMPORARY AND SHABBY CHIC ROOM 

BALDWIN

Are we done decorating your dressing room... nice plug by the way.  I'm sure our Web viewers want to see how Shabby Chic can go Mid-Century Modern.  Here's how we're designing our first room with Shabby Chic furniture and accessories in a modern/contemporary style.  We're taking Shabby Chic's SoHo sectional and chair, the Portobella Chair and 1/2 (purple chair), and the tufted Lilliput Cube Ottoman that looks like something Marcia and Jan Brady would watch TV on.  

  

TEMPEST

How would you know, the show was cancelled

by the time you showed up.

BALDWIN

Their reruns were on forever.

COCOE

I've got their DVD compilations.  I can recite most of their lines, especially the one where Marcia got that huge zit.   Anyway, Shabby Chic's Light Feather Chandelier looks like something Rhoda Morgenstern would have hanging in her loft above Mary Richards' sweet apartment.  I have those DVDs too.

ECLECTIC MEETS SHABBY CHIC

 GIGI

I'm impressed.  But some people might need a little more convincing that Shabby Chic and modern can work together.  Check out this kitchen.  The proof is in the pudding!

GIGI CONT'D.

It's Shabby Chic, Urban, Rustic Modern 

with Traditional touches in a room where family magic happens.

Television monitors throughout iCafe Woman Moderne now show a traditional living room with Shabby Chic touches.

 (shabbychic.com)

COCOE

There are really no design rules when it comes to your personal style.  Why can't you mix Modern, Traditional and Asian in a
Shabby Chic bowl?  I read online that Rachel Ashwell defined Shabby Chic in the late Eighties as this:  ...the balance of elegant things with old and worn, shiny accessories with painted wooden tables and soft throw rugs with old rough lace. silkroadcollection.com)

ASIAN DESIGN MEETS SHABBY CHIC

(interior-design-it-yourself.com)

COCOE

These Oriental chairs could totally be Shabby Chic. They could work with this traditional Tuscany Belvedere dining table.

(Ethan Allen)

 

 TEMPEST 

Some designer pros may say, no way.  But that's what makes Shabby Chic so special... no design rules.  I'm so proud of you grasshopper.  Let's add two white slip-covered padded chairs, tea-stained antique lace place mats, a milk pale with pink hydrangeas and a larger version of the red cabinet 
on your screen to store dishes.  Watson, I think we just designed an Asian designed room in a Shabby Chic style.  

(interior-design-it-yourself.com)  

Gigi

Check out this living room. It's designed with an Asian motif, but has those couches that say comfortable, casual and elegant, which seems to be the Shabby Chic motto. (frowning) Hmm ...I think we stand corrected.  

BALDWIN

Did we make a mistake?

GIGI

 We did.  In order for Shabby Chic to be welcomed back, it would have to be gone.  We can see from the rooms and styles we visited that Shabby Chic never left the building.  Sure, something shiny and different captured our eye for a minute, while Rachel Ashwell waited patiently for our second gaze.   But that didn't stop her from doing what she does best, creating beautiful 
Shabby Chic home decor. 

Gigi eyes their empty glasses and cups, as the divas nod at what she just said.  The web camera follows her as she leaves the divas and head for the open concept kitchen where they often have food demos.  She addresses the viewers at the coffee bar, as a barrista finishes a smoothy and hands it to her.

GIGI CONT'D 

It's true, you don't know that you've missed something until it disappears for a while.  Or should I say, until your attention takes a side trip. 

 I now see that my love for Mid-Century Modern and Asian design blends well with my recaptured love for Shabby Chic.   Not so shabby, huh? 

Bling in 2012 with Office Glam!

 (Stiletto Shoe Desk - Splinter Works)

Sure, these days... we're professionally large and in charge, crashing the old boys network with mad skills and showing off a little office bling as we ink those deals.  Remember those awful shoulder pads from the 70s and 80s that made women look like football players?  Nope, we're not trying to hide our feminine side like many did during the Saturday Night Fever era. 

(Gold Leopard iPad2 Crystal Rhinestone Back Cover - Crystal Case)

Our iCafe Woman Moderne diva, Renee, a defense attorney, doesn't think women have to hide in dark suits and sensible pumps to be taken seriously.  And she has the zebra rhinestone keyboard and mouse to prove it.  She's even thinking about commissioning Splinter Works to design a replica of their stiletto shoe desk shown in the opening of today's text-webisode.

(Crystal Rhinestone Keyboard - Crystal Case.com)
(Crystal rhinestone wireless optical mouse - Crystal Case.com)(Below)

"He has given food and provisions to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever and imprint it."  (Psalm 111:5) 

                       KIKI

Miracles and Blessings... Kiki and Renee here.  It's only fair that she hosts today's text-webisode and help you "Bling in 2012, with Office Glam," now that we're almost three weeks into 2012.

There's no question... you're as good, or better than the boys in your profession,  but still remember you're a woman and I'll say it... with a girly side.  True, not all women dig pink and rhinestones, but I'd be hard press to find a woman who didn't like diamonds.  Sure, there are exceptions to the rules.  That's what makes this world a fun merry-go-round. 

RENEE
Here's what I say to those exceptions to the rules... if your eyes light up when you see our office glam... then you'll know you have a girly side screaming to come out.  FREE YOURSELF and glam up your office.

(Inkology Glam Rocks Calculator - Amazon)

KIKI

Now don't scare them.  We're not talking about painting your office hot pink.  It could be just putting one item on your desk... a red stiletto scotch tape dispenser, for instance... that'll bring a smile during a tough day of negotiating. 

 (Amazon.com)

RENEE

Why not ditch the boring computer speakers and get a pair of those hot, red stiletto speakers pictured below?  I'm definitely getting this for my home office.  On second thought, I better keep it at work.  Once my teenage daughter spies them, I'll only see them in her bedroom.

 (Trend Hunter)

KIKI

(LAUGHING)  Are you still keeping an eye on your Post-it Notes Pop-Up Purse? 

RENEE

I better.  It's an eye-catcher and an essential desk accessory.  I've seen several in my department since I placed mine on my desk. 

(Post-it Notes Pop-Up Purse Dispenser - Post-it)


KIKI
Why do you think office glam is important?

RENEE

We need to relax a bit at the workplace.  Office glam makes me smile.  And in my demanding job, I'm all for anything that brings a smile to my face.  They say, smiling brings down your blood pressure and is a good indication you're having a happy moment.  If office glam gives your hectic workday a smoother ride, then you want to get on board the Office Bling Express today. 

What office bling do you have in your workspace?  iCafe Woman Moderne wants to know.  Don't be shy.

Are Your Green Cleaning Products Toxic?

 

(Snaidero Kitchen - Way)

Yep, I said toxic.  We live in this hectic, technology-obsessed world... but it's time to get back-to-basics. Your safe and truly green products are already inside your kitchen cabinets and sub-zero refrigerator.   Your Grandmom Evelyn probably swore by them. 

I'm 23, and a recent college grad... finding out that some of our so-called green cleaning products are actually toxic was an eye-opener, to put it mildly.  What else don't we know about the products claiming to be green or organic?

 (Snaidero.com - Orange)

Miracles and Blessings... and believe me... we'll need them... April here.  I'm so glad Kiki let me produce today's text-webisode.  Well, to tell you the truth, I came to her in a panic the other day after reading an article on Mercola.com - a Natural Health website titled:  "Be Careful of `Green' Cleaning Products as they May Not Be Very Green... It's Common for Green Cleaners to Contain Toxins."  

Most of us, iCafe Woman Moderne Divas... (that's what we call ourselves since we're always here and of course, we're fabulous.)  are striving to live healthier lives.  So after my friend and fellow iCafe Woman Moderne diva, Sunny, e-mailed me this article... and it blew me away... I asked Kiki if I could share it with all of you.

Here's a fast breakdown... 

A study analyzed 25 commonly used, scented products, including cleaning products (disinfectants, all-purpose cleaners, dish detergents), half claimed to be green, organic or natural.  But in reality, they emitted an average of 17 chemicals each, but only one compound was actually listed on the label. 

Be suspicious if a cleaning product you pick up doesn't have its ingredients clearly labeled. Every single product tested in the study emitted at least one chemical listed as toxic or hazardous!

Buyer,You Better Beware!

Simple Green and other popular products like it claim to be green.  But if you check out the product's material safety data sheet (MSDS)--which is federally mandated that manufacturers make available to consumers--it states that the formula contains up to 4 percent 2-Butoxyethanol by volume.  2-Butoxyethanol is linked to birth defects, reproductive problems, liver, kidney, blood disorders and more.

So make sure you check out a product's MSDS before taking it home.  Where do you find them?  Good question.  I googled MSDS and found this:

             Chemical Safety Right-to-Know Information Station - Click on the link and it'll lead you to a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) prepared by the manufacturer of a product for the purpose of providing information on ingredients and safe use. 

Now here's the good news.  Most likely, you already have all the products you need to keep a safe and clean house. 

Mama Really Does Know Best!

 (uglyhousephotos.com-1970s)

 (uglyhousephotos.com-1970s)

I thought these 1970s vintage kitchens would put you in the back-in-the-day-basics frame of mind.  These are the kitchens my mom and her girls grew up in during the Razzles & Now Laters' days.  Maybe you did too.  She learned her back-to-basic tips from her mother.  These tips go back for generations when they had no choice but to use what was on hand.

Okay, do you have vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice for starters?  Check out these tips... most I've already learned from none other than Mom.

1. Lemon juice naturally whitens.

2. Water and vinegar do mix when you want clean windows.

3. Combine vinegar with hydrogen peroxide and you've got a great disinfectant and sanitizer.

4. Baking soda is awesome for scrubbing your bathroom and kitchen.  Add a few drops of essential oils like lavender or teat tree oil and you'll get a nice fragrance and added anti-bacterial agents.  

5. Baking soda is also a safe, non-scratch scrub for metals and porcelain.

6. Clean a nasty oven by sprinkling a cup or more of baking soda over the bottom of the oven, then cover the baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste.  Let the mixture set overnight.  The next morning the grease will easily wipe up. When you've cleaned up the worst part of the mess, dab a small amount of liquid detergent or soap (a non-toxic one) on a sponge and wash the remaining residue from the oven.

7. Unclog a drain by pouring 1/2-1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour 1/2-1 cup of vinegar in after it.  Cover the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes.  When it bubbles like a volcano, then it's doing its job.  Flush with a gallon of boiling water.

7.  Deordorize dry carpets by liberally sprinkling with baking soda.  Wait at least 15 minutes, then vacuum.

Happy Cleaning!

Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.!

Miracles and Blessings from  iCafe Woman Moderne to all of you celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday--this day of remembrance, community service, celebration, peace and reflection of whence we came to where we are going. 

Many have popped into iCafe Woman Moderne for their virtual morning Java and blueberry scones on their way to lend a hand.   

Today is a quiet day for those who were high school students unable to attend a college of their choice because of segregation laws--and for others barely out of diapers who watched on the family RCA from their parents' laps, Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial steps.  

(Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., - Selma March)

And some of you are quiet and reflective because you were the Civil Rights foot soldiers marching with Dr King in Selma, sat at lunch counters in Florida and Alabama, or fried chicken to feed a large attendance after he preached at a local church.  

 (Dr Martin Luther King Jr. - "I Have a Dream" Speech on the 

steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the March on Washington)

Those born after Dr. King's time here on earth are quiet too.  They've heard his speeches in school, or on special broadcasts; heard the stories from their elders; and Googled his biographies for social studies' reports.  They appreciate his legacy in a different way from those who witnessed the civil rights movement through mature or young eyes. 

African Americans breathe his legacy in their daily lives when they enter a store, preside over a courtroom case or ride a city bus.  All Americans breathe his legacy when they judge a person by the content of character and not by the color of skin.  

 (Norman Rockwell's Painting of Ruby Bridges in 1960 titled:  "The Problem We All Live With")

Al though those born after his untimely death breathe his legacy in a different way, they breathe it never-the-less.  We want their children and those to come... to build on Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy.  Yes, we have overcome a lot, but there's still a lot more work to do.

As we enjoy the fruits of his labor, let us pay it forward to those looking up at us.  Be a blessing and you will be blessed in more ways than you ever imagined!

Welcome 2012!

Have a Happy and Blessed New Year!

 (Happy New Year Heart - Flickr)

Miracles and Blessings... Kiki here, Happy 2012 from our inter-generational divas at iCafe Woman Moderne!

"Ask and you will be given what you asked for... 

seek and you will find... knock and the door will be open." 

Matthew 7:7

 (Happy Children - Flickr)

Don't you love the New Year... all sparkly and new?  It's like when you were eight and starting the first day of school... your first day in third grade.   You put on your new school outfit you spent hours digging through the racks at Sears, searching for just the right look. (before school uniforms became the norm)

 (Flattop341 - Flickr)


Finally, you get to christen your new Saturday cartoon show-themed lunch box and open your pencil case, this one's in the shape of the United States map, and filled with freshly sharpened #2 and a rainbow of coloring pencils.  You're feeling so good, you could probably draw a rainbow from school to home, if you were allowed.

 (Colored Pencils - Flickr)

 (Buck Rogers Lunch Box - Flickr)

Where am I going with this?  Simple.  Life is kind of like that third grade pencil case.  A New Year means you can erase the ugly stuff you stumbled through in 2011 with that number 2 pencil, or aim those beautiful coloring pencils at the not-so-pretty junk that tricked you up more times than you care to share.  

So, go on... give them a chartreuse face-lift with a new attitude, apply sage green to a fresh approach, add sunflower yellow by way of a positive outlook.  Give your new-found power a shot of sienna orange.  You know you can't have power where there's a pocket-full-of-pity... right?

But let's get you moving too.  When you're moving, the negative stuff infecting your brain during the most inconvenient times, can't find a home because those endorphins are too busy Tae Bo kicking those negative thoughts right out of your system.  It's a total body cleansing.
(Bellicon.com)

So let's start the New Year off right with an attainable "2012 To Do List."  We're not going the New Year's Resolution route where friends inquire about your resolutions with cynical smiles and snickers translating into: "they'll fall by the wayside before Valentine's Day."  Yikes! 

A "To Do List" sounds more serious... corporate... action-oriented.  Yeah!  We can do this!  Whatever you need to accomplish your goals for 2012, you've got 12 months to make serious headway.  

Start today... don't procrastinate... don't daydream... step away from the La-Z-Boy... drop that remote... put the Dove Bar back in the freezer.  You can veg out for a moment after you reach a few of your goals, then back to work you go.

Make your dreams happen or at least begin the journey.  Just Do It!  Go for the Gold!  Feel the Burn!  Use whatever Madison Avenue sales pitch that'll motivate you to take active steps toward living a fulfilling life.  But remember this, to be blessed starts with being a blessing.

So as you write your book, start that music demo, script that movie, plan your wedding, launch a new web copwriting business or navigate a move overseas--don't forget to lend a hand to a person in need.  

Give an encouraging word to a friend or or even a stranger who has lost hope.  Take a couple bags of groceries over to a neighbor who just lost her job.  

 (Mother and Child Hearts - Flickr)


Offer gratis babysitting hours to a struggling single parent, sole breadwinner of three, studying part-time for a degree.

(Ojie Paloma - Flickr)

 (Thafeth - Flicker.com)


A need can be on the other side of your backyard fence or on the other side of the world.  As your dreams start to come true, look over your shoulder to see if somebody needs a hand to reach theirs.

Then you'll really know you have begun living a truly abundant life.  

Enjoy 2012!

"But remember this... if you give little... you will get little.  A farmer who plants just a few seeds, he will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much."2Corinthians 9:6

 (Tomato Basket - Flickr)

Things That Make You Say... No Way!

It's a stiletto shoe.  

No.  It's a Desk.

It's a stiletto shoe desk.  Welcome to today's text-webisode: "Things that make you say... No Way!" 


Miracles and Blessings!  Kiki here... Yes, way!  Our iCafe Woman Moderne divas and little divas are celebrating innovators,creative thinkers... Average Joans who like to think way out of the box.

I'm sure Benjamin Franklin's wife thought he was a little nuts with his penchant for lightening storms and his crazy talk about creating electricity. But we're not talking about history-changing inventions, we're shining a light on new spins on everyday products... things you see daily.  Check these out!

1. I know what you're thinking.  It's just a bag of coffee, a cappuccino and a neat display of Twinkies, Yodels and Ho-Hos.  

(Coffee and Hostess cakes - Cake Wrecks)


Look again.  They're cakes made by today's new breed of cake artists.  They're not your typical neighborhood bakers from back-in-the-day.  They're artists, sculptors and designers for those who love sweets. 

2. A Rubber band Chair... Really?   A bigger question is, will it hold me if I sit in it?

(Preston Moeller's Rubber band Chair)


We've all used rubber bands, but have you ever sat on a chair made of rubber bands?  You won't end up on the floor after sitting in one of Preston Moeller rubber band chairs, who designs fun, upcycled furniture.  Sixty-five thousand colorful rubber bands are bound by a wire frame.

As an industrial design student,  he created the 'rubber band chair' which earned him the $3,000 first prize in the Appalachian State University’s 6th Annual Chair Design Competition. 


3. Lark Silent Alarm and Sleep Sensor
Okay, this was designed just for me.

Now you can set an alarm that'll wake you up without disturbing your spouse.  (That's what I'm talking about!) Lark alarm clock and sleep sensor by Lark Technologies Inc. silently vibrates to wake only the person using it--not both people in bed.


The $129 sensor wirelessly connects to an iPhone via Bluetooth and slips into a wristband that's worn on your wrist while you sleep. The un-alarm device went on the market on June 14, you can purchase it Apple stores. 

Not only does it act as your alarm clock, a sensor on the Lark tracks sleep patterns and measures your quality of sleep.  It's soothing, gentle and unlike regular alarms, it doesn't jolt you into waking up and increase your adrenaline before your feet hit the floor.

What's really ingenious is that the Lark vibration is slightly different each day so you don't get used to it and start snoring through it.


4.  Is that a cozy for a street sign?

(Magda Sayek - Knitted Graffitti)

You've seen graffiti on walls, buses and on construction fences, a lot of it is not so warm and fuzzy.  Well, that has all change thanks to Magda Sayez the founder of the knit graffiti crew Knitta Please.  (also known as knitting guerrillas) Knitting is no longer just for grandmoms in rocking chairs.  That's now a thing of the past.

Today, Wall Street execs, Hollywood starlets, celebrutantes, fashionistas, the-girls-next-door and a Jersey girl or two are all  knitting.  Knit graffiti crews are turning ugly stop signs, meters, water spigots, steps and awnings into beautiful knit creations.

(Knitta Please - Utility Pole in NYC)

This year, Magda entered her knit art in ArtPrize, a festival held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where over 1,500 artists displayed their work in venues spread all over downtown Grand Rapids, and the public voted on the entries to determine the finalists and the prize-winners.  

(Seating 1 - Art Prize)

(Seating 1)


It’s Magda’s first year as an entrant. She teamed up with City Flats Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a new green space in downtown Grand Rapids that’s decked out with modern furnishings all designed and made in Michigan. 

Magda's entry Seating 1 quiets the old fashioned perceptions about the knitting craft and honors modern furniture design.  Okay, here are the stats.  The art piece stands 81 square feet and has 5,184 knitted squares -- yes, all by hand. Visitors to the Flats Hotel couldn't miss the giant wall installation, a feast for the eyes and hands.  A signature Knitta awning welcomed visitors before they stepped inside.

5. Now, back to Food Art... this is amazing.

Art Oreos

(Mixed Reality)

6. A Little Black Dress that's a Telephone?

(The Telegraph)


Yes, a little black dress that's also a cell phone.

 Named the M-Dress, this LBD lets wearers make and receive calls by slipping their sim card under the label, allowing them to keep their usual numbers. Gesture recognition software allows users to pick up a call by raising their hand to their ear and end a conversation by letting it fall to their side. 

The M-Dress, designed by the London-based fashion company CuteCircuit, rings when an incoming call is received and different ringtones can be assigned to different numbers.  But the dress can only call a limited number of pre-programmed contacts, according to Mashable, the technology website. This LBD is a form-fitting silk jersey that hit the market earlier this year.

7. Can't you see Princess Beatrice's sculptural hat in an art gallery.  I'd wear it!

(Princess Beatrice at Prince William's Wedding)

8. How many Lucy Ricardos can you fit in Jamestown, New York?  
Apparently, over 900.

(Guiness Record - Lucy Lookalikes)

Aug. 8 2011

(Reuters) - More than 900 red-lipsticked, redheaded women -- and men -- gathered near a "Vitameatavegamin" sign in the hometown of "I Love Lucy" star Lucille Ball to mark her 100th birthday on Saturday with a world record for most Lucy look-alikes.

Sporting upswept hairdos and blue and white polka dot dresses, the crowd of 915 Lucy Ricardos were set to establish the first Guinness world record in her honor. It was all part of the annual Lucy Fest in Jamestown, which drew fans from as far away as Australia.