Marie Antoinette Ladies Dinner

Interested in Marie Antoinette?? Read on for major inspiration!

handpainted napkins by my hubs and me inspired by Marie Claire Idees

Marie Claire Idees French Magazine Before the holidays I planned an evening in which I invited some of the ladies from my sewing group in Sugar Loaf NY over to my home for a ladies dinner. I decided the theme for the evening would be Marie Antoinette - of course!

So I got busy sewing a new tablecloth, placemats, centerpiece and... My hubs and I hand-painted some Parisian Patisserie inspired fabric napkins with fabric paint (as seen in image above). We used the French magazine Marie Claire Idees for reference.

For any of you who are so inclined to host a Marie Antoinette dinner I thought I would share some of the results and research with you.

First of all for future reference a good date to host a Marie Antoinette dinner is in November since her birthday is Nov. 2nd.

Some Chocolates on display and my sewing group ladies, Sylvia, Linda and Manon!

A great website to go to to be inspired to design a dinner on any night of the year is a site called DINNER EXPLOSIONS. It takes a bit of time to load but it's beautiful and whether you're a cook or not you'll be happy you went to this internet gem with ideas for music, decorating and food.

My Table

If you google Marie Antoinette QUIZ, you'll get a whole lot of fun quizzes you could use at your gathering for a give away, like I did.

Marie Antoinette Inspired Cookies of corsets, fans and shoes by guest Sylvia Williams! My handmade table runnermy table- click to see larger My centerpiece- click to see Dinner Activity - Kanzashi Brooches

We ended the evening with a sewing activity - ofcourse! I got a book (which I will be reviewing next post so stay tuned) on the Japanese craft of Kanzashi flowers. So we got busy and made ourselves some brooches to commemorate the evening.

The menu: Salad Greens with Lemon Curd Dressing, Apple and Beet side salad, Vegetable tarts, Beef Apricot Stew, Dessert Wine, Sparkling White Grape Juice and Linda's chocolate raspberry supreme and Sylvia's cookies

Apron Mania

This past holiday season I decided to make many of the domestic divas in my family aprons to suit their personalities. Like many a crafty chica, I began to feel drawn to these seemingly outdated pieces of fashion and wanted to try my hand at it.

However, tonight after eating the awesome pearl cous cous, shrimp and lemon cream dinner my hubs just made me I'm beginning to think I need to make some man-prons!!

Anyway thought I'd share these with ya'll

An Apron for my mom the bird lover Bird Lover Apron by marisol diaz So Sassy Cherry Apron for my cuz Crystal by marisol diaz Woodland Creatures Apron for MOI!My Apron by marisol diaz The too sexy MILF Apron for my cuz Mimi

Bergdorf Goodman's Holiday Windows part II

So here is the second round of Bergdorf Goodman holiday window photos. After the last round, I'm sure you'll all agree that the artistry in the windows is undeniably superb. Still this round has some of my all time favorites. So here they are:

All Queens Play The Game Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Her Tower of Cards Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Curiosities Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Uprooted Home Bergdorf Goodman window photo by marisol diaz

And we're not done yet! Stay tuned for another round with mirrors, monkeys and galloping topiary horses!! Hope you're inspired...-Amarettogirl

Bergforf Goodman's Holiday Windows part I

So as promised, here are some of my fave Bergdorf Goodman holiday window photos. The artistry in these windows reminds me why 'window-dressing' was one of my life's ambitions when I was a student at the high School of Art & Design in NYC. Well it was the 80's and the movie Mannequin was quite popular but...in all honesty I think window -dressing was the first form of Installation art and we just didn't know it yet! I hope you enjoy these as much as my fam and I did this holiday season.

Alice? Bergdorf Goodman Window 2009 photo by marisol diaz Everything of Paper Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Paper, Paper, Paper Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Bergdorf Goodman window photo by marisol diaz Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz

Fifth Avenue Luxe - Bidding 2009 Farewell Window Dressing Style

For the past few years I've enjoyed taking photos of NYC windows; specifically during the holidays when shops like Henri Bendel and Bergdorf Goodman go all out with artistry. I hope you enjoy these window shots as much as I do...these are of Henri Bendel's window's but next post will be Bergdorf Goodman's so stay tuned!

Say Goodbye to 2009 - 5th Ave Henri Bendel Window photo by marisol diaz Lets get the Party Started! 5th Ave Henri Bendel Window photo by marisol diaz Blogging Through the Holidays 5th Henri Bendel Avenue Window photo by marisol diaz Say Hello to 2010! 5th Henri Bendel Avenue Window photo by marisol diaz

Happy New Year!!! -Amarettogirl

French Macaroons at Starbucks!!! Limited Time Only!!

Open package of Starbuck's French Macaroonsdifferent flavored macaroonsme at Laduree 2 yrs ago

During my last visit to Paris, I was in a vehicle and passed by a shop with a line a folks outside all carrying small mint green bags. The shop's windows were stacked with pastel colored baroque like boxes and I knew something edible was being featured as an art form inside. I made a mental note to return that spot on my free time to see what all the fuss was about.

The shop turned out to be LADUREE a very well known bakery and cafe/ Patiserrie. In fact, Laduree was the shop commissioned to make the cakes for Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette film. On that Parisian trip I fell in love with macaroons.

When I returned to the US I tried to get macaroons from Paris here and it was futile. Laduree has opened some shops in other global cities and there were plans to open one in NY, but that still hasn't come to fruition. For my fortieth birthday I discovered that there are places in our east coast area that make delicious french style macaroons like Dean & Deluca and my new favorite bakery La Promenade here in Tenafly, New Jersey (they placed macaroons on my BDAy cake for me!!)

Package is $9.99 for 12 French Macaroons made in France by Chateau Blanc

So yesterday I was on line at Starbucks (to get myself my fave seasonal Caramel Brulee Latte) and lo and behold sitting in the refrigerated counter section were four boxes of French Macaroons! For a box of 12 macaroons made in France by Chateau Blanc you'll pay $9.99. They are slightly smaller than typical French macaroons but you'll get 2 of 6 flavors -Chocolate, Coffee,Pistachio, Raspberry, Vanilla, and Lemon.

BUT DON"T GET TOO EXCITED rumor has it that these babes will only be around from Dec. 13th - Dec. 24th - So GET THEM WHILE YOU CAN!!! They make an awesome gift too!

-Amarettogirl

Mai Sweet Shop Treats Return - Craft Fair '09!

There is a small annual faculty craft fair at the

Dwight Englewood School: 315 east palisade avenue,englewood NJ 07631 on Sunday December from 2-5pm

that I participate in - if you're around swing by and get some one of a kind, hand-made gifts! Some of my new Mai Sweetshop line products for Craft Fair '09New Mai Sweetshop Lipgloss!The return of the hot-cocoa ring!The Classic CupcakeThese rings were so popular last year they sold out in the first hour and half!

Tis year I also made some ZAKKA style cases, that I like to call the Bunny Pouch! Direct from one of my favorite craft books Zakka Sewing comes this bunny case pattern. I made 15 different fabric styles. Their tales are the closed sipper pull, they fit pencils and pens, sewing supplies, your glasses, etc.,

Zakka Style Bunny Pouches by m.diazOne of my faves...might keep this one...more Bunny Pouch styles

So if you're around Bergen County NJ -stop by! If not,

NO WORRIES you can always contact me via this site or check out my ETSY shop for pieces your interested in!!

- Amarettogirl

The National Assoc. of Indep. Schools People of Color Conference

This was my 7th year attending the People of Color Conference and the fifth time I have presented at the conference. Every year the conference is at a different city, I've been to Miami, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, and New Orleans with the conference. Last year we exceeded 3,000 participants since the conference also runs along side of the Student Diversity Leadership conference for highschool students. This year the conference was in Denver Colorado. My presentation was enttled: From Hottentot to Barbie: Dismantling the beauty Standard for Girls of Color. Powerpoint Title Screen by M.Diaz>

The presentation was on the following:

In an attempt to teach wholeness, inner strength, and fortitude, we must ask: How do young women of color internalize the beauty standard of our society? This presentation will demystify the roots and contradictions that affect the self-esteem of young women of color. Partcipants will look at the historical roots and transforming standards of body image, cosmetics, and beauty via power point. They will also see a short movie of young women of coor dissecting the role of self-esteem at their schools and in their lives. This presentation is meant to encourage educators to use new forms of teaching that include character development and interdisciplinary activities. We will seek to empower educators to broaden, the very standards by which we instruct and dissemniate knowledge in and outside the classroom.

Unearthly Woman Opening

My Blythe Cake by La Promenade in Tenafly me during my fortieth b'day celebration with my Blythe cake My painting of Alexandra My Charcoal Drawings me and my cousins, Mimi, Ally, Me, Tai, Kassie and Sabrina Dwight Englewood Attendees at the opening My Falling Figure Paintings full gallery Me and fellow teachers Phil and Jesse

Update on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 10:55PM by Amarettogirl

Music performers Micah and Eric in front of one of Nova's Art Pieces

2/20 Gallery Unearthly Woman Exhibit

2/20 Gallery West 16th st between 7th and 8th Ave, NYC

This Friday the 13th, I will be opening another gallery exhibit with fellow artist Nova Gutierrez! We open in Chelsea on West 16th Street between 7th and 8th Ave at the 2/20 Gallery. So if you're in NYC drop by anytime between 6-8pm. As an added bonus, I'll be celebrating my 40th B'day that night and we'll have a FABULOUS BLYTHE cake made by cake masters at La Promenade!

The show is entitled Unearthly Woman and is an exploration of the female on, without and within this land.

detail of Animal Instinct - Kill it or Love it Charcoal drawings by marisol diazArtwork by Nova Gutierrez

So stop by or Stay Tuned to check out all the pics of the BDAY artshow extravanganza!!-Amarettogirl

Update on Friday, November 13, 2009 at 09:08AM by Amarettogirl

Thanks to my awesome students - it looks like we may some music tonight too! So get ready for a great time.