The Creative Cookie

'Project Runway' Serves Candy Couture

Project Runway is my favorite reality TV to watch. I like it so much that I even hired a designer from a past season of the show to create my wedding gown!

Well, we're in week two of season 10 and the competition is well underway. This week's challenge involved using unconventional materials to make candy couture. The episode started off with the 15 remaining designers visiting Dylan's Candy Bar to meet Tim Gunn and the shop's CEO Dylan Lauren, the daughter of designer Ralph Lauren. Check out the top three designs; it a sugar rush!

From left to right: Gunnar, Sonjia and Ven

Congrats to Ven for winning the challenge! Ven hammered candies and used black licorice to create a stunning stainglass effect. His design was "sublime" as Project Runway judge Nina Garcia put it. Watch the episode on My Lifetime here.

Levels of Greatness

Every Wednesday I teach a Runway Fashion Design class at a fab school in the Bronx. Yesterday, we watched the first 10 minutes of the latest episode of Project Runway and then fast forwarded to the runway show. I wanted to give my students an understanding of the design process, from inspiration to execution.

I was very giddy when one girl grabbed a marker and started to create a bar graph after watching the runway segment. We paused Project Runway and gave our assessment of each collection in numeric form, ranging from 0-100, and then averaged the totals equaling each designer's "level of greatness".

When we pushed "play" Heidi announced who was going to fashion week and who would be out (bye, bye Laura). It was astonishing that the students assessments were correct and in sync with the judges.

I'm inspired by the connection between mathematics and fashion that they found! What an unexpected lesson.

...congrats Anya, Victor, Josh and Kimberly:). 

"w" wedding, pt. 4

This is the end of the wedding chapter and the start of a new chapter as Lesley Ware -- The Creative Cookie. I'm pleased to present the photo album that tells the story of our special Brooklyn DIY wedding! I totally tangled myself in creative projects from making bow ties for the groomsmen to crafting a tent from tulle...I could say more but I'll let the photos speak for me♥♥.

*NOTE: if you are new to issuu there are three ways you can view:

1) click the arrow to the right to view on this site

2) click anywhere on the image above to enlarge 

3) go directly to the issuu site click here

Not Just A Dress

Our wedding is 2 days away & I'm up to my ears in crafty projects that need completion. I'm also trying to have a little fun. On Tuesday afternoon a few friends & I went to a taping of The Nate Berkus show were we sat front row at their 1st ever Pink Show!  It was awesome for reasons besides the opulent rosy decor. I squeezed with glee when Nate introduced noted fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi as his guest!!! Isaac gave tips on how to wear one of his favorite colors (you guessed it) and we got to see a few of his pieces in a mini fashion show. Actress Molly Ringwald was a guest of Nate's too! The audience got a copy of Getting the Pretty Back, Molly's national bestseller, and a Pretty in Pink dvd. It was absolutely perfect!

That evening a larger group of my girlfriends threw me a super swanky surprise bachelorette bash at lovely Ethiopian restaurant in Harlem! I must admit I was:

1. totally shocked
2. super happy
3. very difficult to lure

...but it all added up to fun times! 

At the Nate Show with Kimberlee, Miss Al Boggie, and a producer:)

So, more wedding stuff....here's the sketch of the Maid of Honor Dress that Epperson is designing for my cousin, Charmel!

Charmel's dress is not "just a maid of honor dress" I was careful to select something that she'd likely wear again. But we all have bridesmaids dresses that have been abandoned to die in our closets. Here's a Mad Lib with some suggestions for revival.

More wedding goodness to come, if I can find the time to blog. Please send my your positive vibes, good wishes, and sunshine. I'm going to need them to pull my DIY wedding off with out a hitch! xo

Swatching

I'm assuming that most of my readers know but, I'M GETTING MARRIED ON APRIL 30th! Our wedding is being planned in 30 days (today is day 11) and there's so much to do. Lucky for me my other half is super helpful. We're both working hard to pull it all together:)

I'm totally psyched about my dress -- Epperson from Project Runway season 6 is designing it and it's going to be unique & equally lovely. This photo was taken while Epperson and I were shopping for fabrics during our 2nd dress consultation last Wednesday.

Stay tuned for more wedding bananasness & business *throws rice*!

See more Epperson on The Creative Cookie blog here & here...

Gunn's Golden Rules

To celebrate the launch of Tim Gunn’s book, "Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work," Lifetime.com is giving away 18 copies singed by Tim! To enter, simply leave a comment with your favorite Tim Gunn moment  here.

cover image courtsey of Simon & Schuster

On Friday evening, I'll be attending the book signing during Fashion's Night Out. Perhaps, I can persuade Tim to share some of his personal secrets for “making it work” with the Creative Cookie:).

Now "go, go, go!"