They Are Finally Here!

I finally got my samples on Saturday from my partnership with Madison Park Greetings! I give you my first published greeting cards...



You are...[click to enlarge photo] inside says "you are my side of ranch to everything"



High Heels...[click to enlarge photo] inside says "May there be a short walk to your barstool on your birthday"



Cute Girl Discount...[click to enlarge] inside says "Expires never! Flaunt your cute-girlness forever" Happy Birthday



Bad Food Friday ...[click to enlarge] inside says "Ok, we're going to share the onion rings with a side of ranch, cheese fries, potato skins, a hot fudge sundae, and the 7 layer chocolate cake, oh...and four diet sodas with that please.- go ahead, it's friday somewhere" [this came from a drunken night out with the girls!]



Some signs you're in your 30's...[click to enlarge] inside reads..."With age comes beauty and wisdom"



and the best part of all...richie designs and my name are featured on the back with the Madison Park Logo

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My friends over at Jack Cards have said they will be carrying some of my work soon, but I haven't heard which pieces yet. I was hoping that the "You Are" card would be here in time for everyone's Valentines Day but it doesn't look like it will happen. If you really want me there or to be able to purchase online, send em' an email! info[at]jackcards.com

An angel in the post office

I encourage you to read this. It's stories like this that give me hope for mankind.
Have a hankie near by.

An Angel in the Post Office

From the "Best of Craig's List"

The Return of the Best Drag Queen Ever

I know you've all been waiting for this. Wait no more. Announced this morning...Cher, the best drag queen ever to walk the planet is back from retirement and will be performing in Vegas beginning in May at Ceasars Palace. Mr. Blackwell's "cockroach" has crawled out to entertain us again with costume changes, diva-ness, and keep my gay buddies happy little clams. Currently she is scheduled to appear only four weeks [we suspect it will carry over longer], 4 nights a week. Bob Mackie has also been called out to do her up good.

Bag on her all you want, I have to admit I love her. She is the O.G of Diva's, tells it like it is and hell, the woman is 60+ and despite some surgical help looks damn good. I have seen her live [yes, admitting that out loud] twice, both times with gay fans and it was quite campy fun. In Vegas now it's Bette Midler vs Cher? I gotta give it up for Cher.

Speaking of drag queen-ness on her interview this morning, if anyone else saw it...did she have a bit of a 5 O'clock shadow going on? The makeup over wisker/'stash look was a little disconcerting.

Falling on my face and other ways I embarrass myself

Why is it that you guys only love me & comment when I write about PMS and mortification? FINE! I guess I'll give you more of what you want and forget about all this fluff and the 'hard journalism' I keep attempting. Here's another story of mortification to keep you motivated to come back and visit me you stinkers.

If you asked my closest friends and boyfriend to pick a scene from a movie that illustrates who I am, they would choose two. The scene from Miss Congeniality when she trips, looking all cute and does a major face plant, and the second would be the scene from My Big Fat Greek Wedding when she forgets she has her headset on [in the travel agency] and stands up ripping her head backwards and sends her to the ground.

I lack grace sometimes. Usually at the most important times of my life. I have the ability to fall over invisible things, trip over my feet and fly through the air like I'm playing some comedy scene from a movie. In the first month that I dated my boyfriend I think I face planted 3 times. I often end up in a gutter without alcohol. Here's another great moment in the "richie chronicles" in ways to embarrass myself:

So I know Jesse, the guy married to Sandra Bullock. I've known him for years, even when he went by his real name which is Greg [Jesse is the middle, and yes, he's related somehow] and married to his first wife. At one point just before he hit really big with his Discovery Channel show and then onto Monster Garage, my office helped produce his first real brochure for West Coast Choppers. It was great fun working with him. He's so good at what he does, and has the best stories to tell.

Anyway, even though I've known him for some time prior to his fame, he's a big presence, can be intimidating but somehow he was always very nice to me probably because he knew I don't have thick enough skin to handle it. This particular day, I was in need of some answers to details involving the brochure and he was filming the first movie with the Discovery Channel people. He had to take one of his bikes down the way to shoot something with them so he was on it, the motor was on and I had to lean in to yell over the chopper roar to ask my question.

My inopportune loss of grace happened at that lovely moment.

I leaned in and lost my footing on a pebble or something then proceeded to just fall for really no good reason, in the middle of the street, in front of Jesse, in front of the film crew. Like a friggin cartoon, papers went flying- I went flying. I think he said something to me like "what the f*ck just happened?" and "are you ok?" Oh yes, I'm fine...mortified...but fine. In a "crash helmet" sort of way.

I know you all will wonder. No, I haven't met Sandy, but I've heard she's really THAT nice. I've never heard a bad word said about her. Our work with Jesse stopped after that project and then he got big, famous and really busy so I haven't talked to him for years. One of my girlfriends works for him now and as expected he's kicking butt and taking names. So there you have it... rockin' in the LBC crash helmet and all.

PMS the last frontier....

Some people would argue the fact that Star Trek is the last frontier but when else can you simultaneously want to vomit from pain, consider plowing an 80 yr old person crossing the street too slowly and want to call your boyfriend to tell him he's a douche bag just because he was too quiet on the phone the night before?

I swear, the older I get the more violent my thoughts become during PMS time. My girlfriend and I had a conversation about this recently. I told her that I have significantly more violent thoughts with PMS than I did in my youth. She agreed that she had them too. I mean, seriously, plotting someone's death because they looked at you in-line at the post office, has to be wrong, yes?

Anyone care to chime in?

Skin Care 102: The makeup and speciality edition

Welcome to the makeup and speciality edition. Here are some of my fav's. I don't have low cost fill in's for these guys. They are what they are. I'll give them all a 1-4 star rating so that you can know how much I love them. If you have to choose one over another trust the stars girls. It might seem as if I wear all of these things everyday but I don't, I sort of mix and match based on my day. Use it as a guide if you're looking for something not as a step by step template.

I know I shouldn't blow my wad on the first product but I'm starting out with a **** 4 star product. It deserves a bit of explanation though because I didn't even know something like this exsisted, I guess, until it did. I've tried a few others on the market but this is by far the best. This product is smoothed on after you SPF and prep your A.M. Skin for makeup. It is designated for the under eye area, but trust me you can use it all over your face.

Instant Smooth eye prep by Clarins $28 [**** 4 star rating]
Smooth a little bit of this below your eye are prior to putting on your concealer. The product acts like a makeup floater so that it doesn't crease or get cakey. I have found if you let it settle on your face a few minutes it acts better than freshly applied. I do lotions/ eyecream /SPF ect then blow dry my hair to let everything settle.

This cream also has this very odd side benefit, as it makes pores vanish and fine lines disappear. I don't know how the stuff works, it's fairly clear, is light weight but has the heft of a superhero! The product if used just in the eye area lasts about 3 months. A friend and I agreed that we wanted to dip our entire bodies in the stuff because it was so amazing.

Yet another Primer recommend



Smashbox Photo Finish with SPF 15 and Dermaxyl Complex $42.00 [ *** 3 star rating]

If you are someone who needs an all in one product this might be your ticket. Smash Box's Photo Finish with SPF 15 and Dermaxyl Complex. This has the same "floating" properties as the Clarin's eye cream but is meant for the face. The SPF and the Dermaxyl Complex are great. From their site: "The revolutionary formula contains SPF 15 to guard skin against harmful UVA/UVB rays, vitamins A & E, grape seed extract and green tea for antioxidant protection and Dermaxyl™ Complex, an advanced peptide treatment clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles over time. Wear under foundation to increase its longevity, or alone for a velvety-smooth finish."

It truly does triple duty if you just can't hang with multiple products. Makeup looks fantastic over it as well. My only negative on the product is that you can't use it near the eyes, as you can with the other. Trust me I've tried and it burns like a Mo-Fo. For this reason only I give it 3 stars.



Speciality product Illuminator
Estee Lauder's Spotlight. $32.00 [***3 stars]

Perhaps the most unnecessary product on my list. If you want a little pizzazzz for a wedding or a night out with your sweetheart [actually your girlfriends will notice first]. This is a product that Illuminates, adds just a hint of iridescent to your skin, helps reflect light and makes you look as if you've got that "lovin' feeling".

If you're following the full regime, apply after SPF etc..., eye smooth cream/ it's part of the "prep stage" just before makeup. It has a fairly rich feel to it so if you tend to be oily this might not be your best product. I have tried cheaper versions of this [Revlon etc] and they don't work. The iridescent quality to this product has very tiny particles which makes it look glowy-natural. The others look like you have glitter on your face. If you have to go to a wedding where you're ex will be with his new girlfriend, this is your product your skin will look amazing.

Facial Masks



SKII Facial Masks
SK II Facial Treatment Mask (New Substrate)--6 sheets $80.00 [***** 5 stars] off the chart good.

Again, unnecessary as all hell but f*ing fantastic. This is the "Manolo Blahnik" of skin care. If you want to have super duper skin for a date, or want to have a total chick night and give yourself a facial this is the ticket. I'm not going to lie to you this shit is EXPENSIVE!! I haven't been able to afford a kit of this for some time. When I do though, it's the most amazing product I've ever used [everything looks better, is plumped up and super smooth]. I might actually like it more than Clarins. Available only at Saks 5th Avenue [at least that's the only place I've seen it thus far] it is available on line with a resource I'll mention later Fragrance.net.

A paper thin mask that you apply and lay around looking like super mummy girl for 15-20 minutes. Use the extra goo in the packet for your neck and hands- don't let any of it go to waste.

From their site: A Japanese scientist who visited a sake brewery in Japan was surprised to discover that the brewery workers had extraordinary soft and youthful hands. Even an elderly man with pronounced wrinkles on his face possessed the silky smooth hands of a young boy. He shared his findings with a group of scientists, who became equally excited by the potential of his observation. This observation encouraged them to conduct a series of experiments for over five years, eventually discovering a clear, nutrient-rich liquid that could be extracted during the yeast fermentation process. In this unique, natural ingredient, lay the secret to radiant, glowing complexion. They called it Pitera.

Like any great shoe purchase, the "high" only lasts a few days or so but damn! you look so good good while it lasts. [Cate Blanchett an avid user of the product just signed to be the face of SKII]

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Other bonus products:

Benefit's Eye Bright $18.00 under concealer this puts dark circles in their place [*** 3 stars]

Tarte Cheek Stain $28.00 [lasts forever I've had mine for a year+] [***3 stars] gives a really fresh look! Takes some getting use to/ how to use it.

Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss $19.00 thick and great colors. My only annoyance with the product is getting the expensive goop out when it's down to the last bit. [***3 times]

Check out Fragrance.net for online specials with cosmetics in general. Be careful when ordering though they don't allow returns on skincare products [ A NY state regulation] so make sure it's what you want. Approx 10-20% savings.

Skin Care 101

I've mentioned before that I'm a skin care junkie, I also have mentioned that I worked as a GM of a fairly large salon for a number of years which fueled the skin-care junkie me, I also spent a very small amount of time as a make up artist [loved it]. Between these three pit stops I've acquired some excellent tips. Since winter skin is really a challenge for most women I thought I'd share the love. Remember to use your best judgement with your skin care type and if you happen to have a particular question I'll open up the "Ask Richie" portion of this post to whatever you can lay down on me. If I don't know the answer I should be able to find it. I've included High$ and Low$ choices for you when possible.

1. You must exfoliate once a week.
I can't stress this enough especially during the winter. Your mositurizer stops working the way it's suppose to when you've got a layer of dead skin blocking it.



HIGH $: Clarins Doux Peeling [gentle facial peeling] $30
This tube will last you approx 4-6 months. It's no secret that I love Clarins products but for good reason. I've used them for almost 20 years now and I can say even though it sounds conceited...I have terrific skin. This peel is very gentle and does the job with amazing accuracy. You will feel like a baby's bum after. It's very different in that it's a flat cream, goes on like a paste, then when partially dry, you sort of roll it off your skin. Ask for a lesson at the counter on this one. It takes some getting use to.

LOW $: Sugar
Seriously, you think I'm joking here but if you want to be natural or are prohibited by cost, plain old refined sugar is an excellent exfoliant. You can even steal a pack or two from your local coffee shop and it's free. The reason sugar is so good is that it has a naturally round shape to it's crystal formation [it won't damage the skin layer by scratching]. It also will partially disolve as you roll it around your face making it even more gentle. Add about a tablespoon to a quarter size of cleansing cream mix well and apply to face. Use as a normal scrub, wash off. Which leads us to our next section...


2.Facial Cleansers
Clean your face before you go to sleep at night - you need to do this for many reasons but mostly you can't put on the REALLY GOOD LAYER OF GOO until you take the old stuff off at night.




HIGH $ Clarins cleanser $28.50 will last about 6-8 weeks.
They have one for every skin type I have dry to sensitive and really love their "extra comfort cream" but don't care for the tub it comes in so I use the green which is for dry skin. I also really like a skin care line called Rene Guinot [available only in salons] it runs about the same price but I like the fact that I can get Clarins at most major department stores.

LOW: LOREAL OR NEUTROGENA
Both of these product lines have done a great job in the past few years with bringing good skin care to the masses. I'm not sure if it's true but I was told by one of my skin care employees that Loreal is owned by the same company that ownes Estee Lauder, and many times they bring their big products [cheapened down however they do that] to their Loreal line. It sounds good to me so I tend to believe it.



Neutrogena's Extra gentle Cleanser is a good one and in a pinch I'll use this if I run out of my other. I got the dude using it too. Not sure on the price but probably under $8


3. DAY CREAM: I use a two step process during the winter but remember I'm also very dry so use your best judgement.
Step one cream:



HIGH: Clarins Extra Firming day cream $77 will last about 8 weeks. Yes, I have actually see gravity slightly change on my face with this...and I really did not want to like it at that price.


LOW: Neutrogena [this is my second step during the winter and solo step in the summer] Anti-wrinkle Intensive SPF 20

You must wear sunscreen everyday. Before you drive johnny to school, before you step out of your house, even if it's overcast, even if you sit in a cube with no sunlight...because you will see sun at somepoint during your day. This is great on a number of reasons but it as the product says "nfused with concentrated Retinol, helps accelerate surface cell turnover, pushing new, younger cells to the surface. Meanwhile, Hyaluronic Acid replenishes skin with line-plumping moisture, as patented Helioplex-stabilized sunscreen" It's about $8-10 and will last you about 3 months. Don't forget your hands and neck.

4. NIGHT TREATMENTS

I could go on for days in this section because there have been times where I have slathered on up to 3 products a night. I'm only going to sing the praises of my oldest and beloved today. I can wear this summer and winter and use it after my mini facials I give myself. I swear it is the reason that I don't have a wrinkle on my face at [almost] 39. This product will also press every button you have ever known about skin care because it's OIL. I am telling you to smear oil all over your face. It works, I don't know how...just do it. If I could make you buy only one product from this line it would be this. Make sure to get the one that follows your skin type.


HIGH$ Clarins Huile Santal Face Treatment Oil [dry skin] $46 will last you 3.5-4 months. Apply nightly



LOW: ROC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream approx $25
I have heard good things about this product from a few people but have not tried it myself. When Decorno said she swapped out her LA Mer [$100+] out for one of their products and LIKED IT BETTER. It made me pay attention. They have a night cream with Retinol that seems like a good call. Available at major drug stores.

That's it for our first installment of Skin 101.

next up...speciality products for eyes, masks, and the most amazing product I have ever used under my makeup

Next week I'll get my sexy back

I'm in a lull at the moment. Nothing fab to talk about or write. I should be back next week with something hilarious to report -It's almost PMS time which means some good fight with myself or someone else.

Until then... check out this post about "The Vagina Chair" that my friend Gregory wrote about a few days ago. GAWD...I LOVE the best of Craig's list...just for this reason.

A perfect "Frienmy" treat

The bit of silence the past couple of days came from these lovely little bits of love. If you have a frienmy or Ex that you would like to "sock it to" this holiday season I have got the perfect thing. Sweethearts candy, the iconic candy for Valentine's Day has produced a sugar-free version this year. Upon finding it at Target Sunday morning I did a bit of the snoopy dance I was so happy.

If I haven't mentioned it before I'm a sugar FIEND. I avoid it now for health reasons and because I become "Oprah with a bag of potato chips" and don't stop till whatever is open is gone. I blame the obsessive-compulsive behavior on the drug and alcoholic folks in my family [sorry mom, mostly your side]. Peanut M&Ms are my heroin and I quit them a number of years ago.

Anyway back to my tale. So I buy the old 4 pack of Valentine sugar-free candies and skip to the register, I eat a box on the car ride home [pluuezze you know you would too]. Tummy gets a little grumbly but I had to do something that afternoon that was a little nerve wracking so I attributed it to that. I eat lunch, I do my nerve wracking thing, I eat another box of sugar free candies - I mean it's Sunday for Gawd sakes!

I can tell you...It was the second box that really sent me over the edge.

It lead to a late afternoon, evening and night of what could be the most horrific gas and explosive diarrhea of my life. No lie. I had to call in sick on Monday A.M it kept me up all night. I swear, these things should come with the same warning as Olestra and it's "anal leakage" side effect. I actually checked the remaining boxes after the fact for a disclaimer, none listed my friends.

I can highly recommend not eating them - just suck it up and eat the sugar, or purchase for a lovely Frienmy and watch the LOVE unfold.

A little nugget of love to leave you for the weekend

This is dedicated to the girls over at Girl Gone Child Some how I think
they might find humor in this as much as I do.

08' is kickin' my ass already

[ via flickr: because even super hero's get their ass kicked sometimes]

I've been trying to figure out something witty and fun to write about the past couple days and not a whole lot of fun and witty things are coming my way unless you count the dreams I've had about punching a certain person courtesy of SGM's story a few days ago! Thanks SGM.. after I vented guess who plopped down next to me in yoga class? Somehow I felt really bad about it [especially being in yoga] yet oddly still wanted to hit her!

So here's the real deal...I don't know about you but the new year always kicks my ass. Some people look at the new year as a fresh start/ new possibilities, I see it as total panic and fear of what the year entails, what I haven't done yet and how little time I have to actually do it. I do it to myself every year and yet I always seem to get out of bed every morning and get shit done. I don't know how, seeing as how I want to pull my television out of the wall install it in my closet, build a fort complete with mini fridge and never come out. [Ok, maybe to pee and shower occasionally but I'm not getting out of my flannel jammies and I will not put down the bag of peanut M&M's.]

I've spent a lot of time on "the couch" in my 38 1/2 years so I know the drill...do things that make you happy, call friends and all that crap... I'm a good student I know the actions it takes to keep going. My coffee habit started this way. Going to get a cup of coffee in the morning is a total treat, something that I know is a complete waste of money but for some reason is very glamorous to me. I started telling myself each morning during a particularly difficult project at work that if I went to work that day I could go get a coffee that morning. It got me out of bed and into the office, it was the only thing that kept my sanity and born from it is my $1.80-ish daily good-for-nothing coffee habit. Suzy Orman would scold me but I don't care, it makes me happy so I go.

I've been making a mental list of other things to keep me going so here they are in no particular order. If you're in the funk like me at the moment try it out and let me know how it goes [or save it for a rainy day later]

• Fashion Magazines - I love them all
• A new pair of shoes - I've found a few pair recently [Marshall's super sale!] I might have already maxed this one out.
• Morning coffee - as noted
• Seeing girlfriends - I have a couple of lunch dates planned
• Chick Flicks - 27 dresses anyone?
• Cleaning - I'm a control freak and cleaning makes me feel in control of my environment
• New Lipgloss or some new tube of goo to make me feel like I'm making myself look better in someway
• Vodka & Vicodin though not together. [This is the humor part folks]
• Art and photography - signed up for a new class in a couple of weeks, looking for inspiration for some new photography.
• My favorite snarky blogging girls [SGM, Franki, Decorno...you know who you are]. You have no idea how much I look forward to your daily inspiration and trash.
• Yoga, but I have to force myself to get there then deal with HER.

that's it for now, if you need me I'll be watching Access Hollywood and reruns of The Girls Next door or some other trash on TV in bed with diet soda and popcorn my favorite single girl dinner.

Dreaming

Just a thought I saw today that I thought I would pass on...


"Society often forgives the criminal, it never forgives the dreamer." -Oscar Wilde

I'm down with Team Fierce

In the beginning I can say it was definitely Rami [so over the draping thing!] but I have to give it to the annoying kid Christian, he's got some mad skills. If you didn't see last weeks episode "couture" where he teamed up with drag maven Chris...do. Their creation was spectacular.

The jacket ensemble by the women's team was to die for as well, but there was just something over the moon about Team Fierce.

I looked up Christian's bio and the kid has a pedigree : and upon graduation he took an international leap toward his future at The American Intercontinental University, London. Quickly adapting to the fashionable European lifestyle, he showed a small collection during London Fashion Week in Fall 2005. Christian was given the opportunity to work for the queen of punk herself, Vivienne Westwood, where he gained valuable experience, leading him into a position at Alexander McQueen his senior year.

Now his look and his work all makes sense. The kid is going to go far!

Super FAB art sale!!

So, last week I let go of writing for Apartment Therapy LA. I miss fine art printing and I couldn't dedicate enough quality time to AT like they deserved so I stepped out.

So in honor of my art dreams this year I signed up for a new digital letterpress class beginning in Feb. I'm excited on many levels for this class because I have some new ideas I'd like to try out.

One minor issue with all of this is that I just gave up a paying gig to spend GOBS of money on making art. If you are an artist you know what I mean, if you're not, it comes down to hundreds of dollars spent on class registration and hundreds more on supplies. The term "starving artist" is around for a reason.

In hopes of covering my upcoming costs I'm having a SUPER-DUPER ART BLOW OUT SALE. Some of the pieces you may have seen here in previous posts, some has not seen the light of day for a few years. I'm excited to clear some of this out and find new and great homes for people to enjoy it. Most of the pieces are 50-75% off for this special art sale. If you aren't in need of anything, but know of a friend who might I would be oh so grateful if you passed this on.

Hope you see something you like!

PURCHASING INFO:
contact me richele[at]richiedesigns for purchasing. We'll have to do it the old fashioned check and snail mail way. I'm low-Tech here.
*shipping/packing is additional to the purchase price.



1. Large format Monoprints [one off's -there are no duplicates of these guys!]
These three pieces have never been offered before. There is only one of each piece, so don't delay if you're interested.
printed in 2001

Sale Special $48 each plus shipping and handling.
Each of the three are printed on fine art paper approx 29" x 20"


"Water" green and blue's I have my own artist print framed in my bedroom [not for sale] but you can see how it looks hung.
based on a car ride down PCH on a pretty summer day.

click on images to enlarge



Dark Sea #1 and #2
#1 darker of the two
#2 lighter of the two

Sale Special $48 each plus shipping and handling.
Each are printed on fine art paper approx 29" x 20"

printed with idea that they would be framed side by side but both can be hung separately.


click on images to enlarge

Art Blow out #2 Valentines Day art for your sweetie!

If you're in need of a Valentine for your Valentine and want to give him or her something different, I have a mess of stuff to look at.


Love, Love, Love

Monoprint [1 of 1 print]
Love, Love, Love [above photo]
my own artist print
unframed [$35], framed [$75]
plus shipping

Printed on Bk Reeves heavy weight paper. background color is a reddish-orange
click to enlarge photos



"5 loves"
Monoprint [1 of 1 print]
[$15] plus shipping approx 20" x 15"





"Be Mine"
Letterpress.
This piece is unnumbered but was part of a print series of approx 25 prints. Most were given to friends for Valentines Day.
piece reads "Be Mine, most importantly Be Yours, Celebrate yourself"

perfect for a single girlfriend!
$10 + shipping
BK Reeves heavyweight print paper size approx 22" x 7.5"
one available!



"long Love"
A fun alternative to a normal greeting card! 2 color letterpress. background was hand rolled.
approx size 22" x 7.5"
4 pieces available
$10 each + shipping

Art blow out #3

1,2,3,4,5

Letterpress
one available
approx 14" x 4.5"
$8 plus shipping

printed on heavy weight printmakers paper





Strawberry series
4 pieces in the series
Linoleum cuts, hand pressed on strawberry cover stock
[keep out of sun for fade reasons]

each print size is 4"x 6" for easy, over-the-counter framing
full sheet is 8.5 x 11"

All 4 prints for $20!!!
only 7 sets available

click photos to enlarge




Pink Flowers Series [2 flowers available]

4"x6" linoleum print
one color on heavyweight printers paper
unframed
$10 each + shipping

3 pieces left of horizontal flower
6 pieces left of vertical flower



"Water Rising"
2 color linoleum reduction- printed on heavyweight printer's paper
image size 5" x 7"
sheet size 11" x 15"

$12 each
2 pieces available



"free tv" 2006
7 color linoleum reduction - various paper Sommerset/BK Rives
image size 12" x "14"
framed size 28" x "23"

3 pieces available
$20 each + shipping


about the print: Linoleum reduction is a painstakenly long process of using one piece of linoleum and working lightest to darkest printing each color separately. after one color is finished, I carve the next remaining color out and print again. If you make a mistake you're S.O.L. once the print is finished you can never use the block again making this the ultimate in fine art printing. each piece was hand printed at the Otis print lab early in 2006.

friday post: right now

I'm Excited:
• to get my samples from Madison Park Greetings [hopefully soon]
• for my new class to begin at Otis in digital letterpress. expect some cool ass posters in the next couple months
• that my sweetheart has this weekend off from the hospital so we can sleep in and go to breakfast

I think I would like
• another cup of coffee before I start my day
• I'd like to do another invite project soon, similar to the funky and cool pieces I did for Annie and Michele above and below.
[If you're interested in something different contact me at richele[at]richiedesigns.com
• a mani pedi this weekend
• a few days off from work to organize my house.

I can't wait for
• Chris to get his acceptance letter to P.A. School -due this month
• The new Rachael Yamagata CD to release
• My friend Chelsea's new shop to open in Silverlake called Mercado [story to come]
• New creative endeavors with my blogging buddy Franki

I'm loving
• STILL... acid yellow
• cherry red
• JCrew just rocks all together
• my new silver ballet flats I got from Marshalls for $20 on super sale

These women rock my world
Decorno
scented glossy magazines
and if you haven't read these women yet. RUN RIGHT NOW they are so amazingly funny it makes me want to quit writing.
Girl Gone Child

Muuuussst havvvve this jacket

Since Katie Holmes cut her sweet little bangs [I had mine first] I've been sort of a stalker. Mostly because seeing photos of her is like seeing the perfect, cute, skinny, tall version of myself. It's a little odd actually. I would post a pic of myself but I have an aversion to posting my own image to the web. You'll have to trust me that the basics are there hair, skin, perky nose, 20 more pounds 5" less of leg... but I will never claim to be THAT cute.

Anyhow, I digress. This particular jacket is the most perfect red. I think I would look smashing in it as well! Let me know if my local Target is going to be carrying it soon because I'll be right out there picking one up.

While you're at it can you arrange to have this tiny weenie bag sent over? I'm sure Suri is locked in side of this one [hello? I didn't even know Hermes made a bag that size- that's not standard right? A custom order?]. She's pretty cute too so I'll take the kid if she comes as a package deal.

Mortified

Just looking at the cover of this book gives me the heebie jeebies. Mortified is "an anthology of people's actual childhood writings, ripped from the pages of their lives and shared with total strangers. The result is a uniquely honest collection that is equal parts comedic and cathartic. Inspired by the long-running grassroots stage phenomenon that is Mortified, the book offers a hilariously poignant peek into the mind of youth gone bad, sad or just plain pathetic. From melodramatic diaries to pretentious poetry... from awkward attempts at fiction to angry letters at summer camp. This is a book for the underdog in all of us."

Imagine you're most embarrassing letters and diary journals and this might equal the stuff in this book. When I think about myself and the dorkness that was so ever present during school [ah hell I think it might still be with me] I get embarrassed just thinking about it. I did remember a story though I could share with all of you that will make you laugh out loud.

----

In high school I had a huge crush on a boy we'll call Craig. I was friends with Craig's best friend Mike and I continually badgered Mike about Craig, what he did, his swim meet schedules etc. I'm sure Mike wanted to beat me over the head on a number of occasions.

Craig was an All-American boy, seemed nice enough, was cute and was a year younger than me - and if you remember high school that is the equivalent of Brittany Crazy. You never date younger than yourself but I was reading Cosmo and Seventeen and I was open to the idea that love was a grade beneath me, I thought it was very big of me to even consider it, actually.

After reading one of those retarded Cosmo articles "be bold, ask him out!" sort of things I did what any highschooler did at the time and write him a note which is the modern day equivalent of texting I suppose. I told him to come by my work [The most popular frozen yogurt shop at the time] after his game on whatever night blah blah blah and gave it to Mike to give to him. So fast forward that night after said game and in walks Craig with his mom, my heart hit the floor twice I think. What I didn't know was that Mike had never given him the letter. Yes, ladies and gents I proceeded to introduce myself as said crush-girl and he looked at me like I was from Mars. I won't go into details but lets just say it didn't go well and in the end he wasn't interested. I continued to pine after him and embarrass myself for some time after that, I'm sure of it.

oh but wait it gets better....

Fast forward 18 years and I am doing some work that requires a certain metal fabrication. My boss hands me a business card and says go see this guy he's my daughters soccer coach and he does metal fabrication. I live within 15 miles of my high school currently so I should have thought about this a bit more. I notice the name on the card Craig such and such and thought about it for a second - NAAA, no way. I make an appointment, drive over to his office and you guess it folks, out walks

Mr. Craig.

Now men change A LOT from high school, they fill out etc, so at first I couldn't be certain it was him, it had been 18 years after all. We sit down and chat and he keep looking at me and I play it completely cool - I don't let on AT ALL that I recognize him. He starts talking about his family, his wife, who's name he keeps dropping like I would recognize it [I didn't, she was a grade below me --psst I only discovered him I didn't fraternize with those people]. I start remembering all the embarrassing letters and me throwing myself at him and WANT TO DIE or excuse myself and never come back but I don't I keep playing it cool.

I'm still trying to really verify it's him and I remembered there was one odd thing about him a vision problem that required special paper and glass color for him to write on, just as I remember out comes the tablet and glasses. Bingo! we have complete and utter mortification present..

Here is my greatest revenge though...I look GOOOOOOD. I'm talking: I still get carded, look better, am skinnier and definitely have better style than I did in high school. He looks like a 40+ soccer dad which isn't a bad thing, except he was about 33 at the time.

He continues to stare, trying to get me to realize who he is but I somehow play it cool. I think I even didn't manage to turn red, which for me, is worthy of a gawd-damn Oscar. I leave and go back to my office and recount the horrific story to my boss who is laughing and says well "I would have never guessed you went to school with him, and definitely not that he was younger" so...Cheers to me!

I had to communicate with him via email a few times and on one of the last emails I decided to pony up just a little bit...
"you know, I think we might have gone to high school together" and that's all I said.

Dear Holidays...

Dear Holidays,

Thank gawd you are over, I mean you're fun and all but I really can't take any more of you. The traveling is one thing and it's entire own monster but the food! The past two years I knew you were coming and I know you're a sneaky bastard so I started counting my Weight Watcher points in October to fend you off. Like always I became obsessed with the 2 points in a friggin' apple or beat myself up each week when I lost .257 lbs but I held you in a tight headlock for 3 months.

This year though you kicked my ass. Actually, you smeared yourself all over my ass and my hips, not to mention my stomach which has taken on a life of it's own lately. It started at Thanksgiving and slid into my photoshoot which should be called a "carb shoot" because all you do is eat little muffins and donuts and shove sugar in every second you're not running. Then a dinner party or two which involved wine pairings and french food with mounds of lovely butter, than on to Mom's house and homemade fudge and See's Candy which seems to pour out of every house and crevice, then without rest a bottle of champagne on New Year's Eve and if that wasn't enough you bastard, you followed me again across country to Boston where you showed up as homemade pasta sauce, multiple choices of cheese and bread, homemade mac and cheese and risotto that I could have rolled around and bathed in, not to mention the glass or two of wine seemingly at every course.

I am done with you and the skin that itches as it stretches outward! You think you've won but I've pulled out the trusty book. You know the one, the three week cleanse that we usually do in April? Well, you get two doses of it this year my friend! Three weeks of so many fruits and veggies and organic broth that you'll be beaten to a frenzied pulp by the time I'm done with you. The most exciting part of your day will be your carrot juice you 10lb bastard!

So take that you gawd- darn tasty, butter-ladden-carb-monster! See how you like yourself after that little tryst.

Sorry to party and run...

Off to Boston for the 2nd leg or is it the 3rd? leg of the holidays
with the b-friend's family. Be back next week.

Do something I wouldn't why I'm gone!

r.

Tooting my own horn: 2007 The year in review

I don't know about you but I can't seem to manage to send out Christmas Cards to save my life. I don't have any creative juice left in me and I don't have children so it always seems a waste to me to send something out - there just doesn't seem to be anything of note to update people with. I began thinking about it after I got one of those cards recently "what we did this year" letters included. My housemate and I laughed that we should send one out that talks about getting drunk off our ass and waking up naked in someone's yard...now that would be a notable letter to get! I don't have any tales to tell that were THAT interesting but I did partake in a few cocktails and managed to "get my sexy back" on more than one occasion.

Mostly my accomplishments were creative things that I've worked on, it seems like for years, but for some reason came to be in 2007. The saying that "timing is everything" is true and I'm glad that they didn't come earlier as I had thought they would have. Maturity has allowed me to see and experiece them differently.

So here they are in no particular order:



• I got to spend time with my nieces and nephews which is always a treat for me. They are all such neat kids. I get to spoil them rotten which I love and then take them back when we both start to have melt downs. [Hunter age 6 pictured above]



• My photography is going well. This is something I never thought I would be interested in. I hated dark rooms in school and overall it's an expensive hobby. My digital camera [NIkon D80] has turned this around for me and learning to see differently has been such a treat. I've actually had a couple paying clients which has been so odd for me but so much fun. I definitely love to shoot children...mostly because they don't get self conscious and they don't care that I don't know what I'm doing. [Kira age 5 pictured above]


• My writing for Apartment Therapy Los Angeles continued which has been such an amazing learning experience about the web and blogging. Last April we were one of five blogs listed in Time Magazine's 100 Design Influencers edition.




• I started a small business based on some children's clothes that I make. I have a store in Newport Beach, CA that carries them and am working on developing it a bit more this year. You can see more if you're interested over at my baby site. Stay tuned for more information on this in the next month or so!


• Some travel to NYC last spring, Key West, earlier this month and an upcoming trip to Boston has kept me on a few airplanes this year. Though it's all been work or family related it's nice to see new areas when you can.


• I got my first freelance jobs as a stylist and a casting director this year. It's great fun to do projects outside of my 9-5 in this area. [our model for the day getting ready in the makeup chair]



• Probably my biggest news of the year which I haven't revealed much about till now is that I had a greeting card company approach me this summer about some work that they found from a submission I sent them over three years ago [they just found it!] I just inked the contract with them this morning and you'll soon find my small set of cards with Madison Park Greetings later in January. Oddly, Jack Cards who emailed me after I wrote about them here on the site is also planning on carrying them when they are released.

This project is so exciting and rewarding for me on so many levels. In what feels like my past life, I owned a small greeting card company with a dear friend of mine. At the height of our business we were in 4 states and on our way to the National Stationery Show in NYC. Life got in the way and our business fell by the way-side when 9-5 work moved my business partner out of state. I can't do the art and the selling so I let it go, knowing that some day it would work out for me. It did and now my work will be featured with Madison Park Greetings under their main heading but also as a licensed artist which means that "Richie Designs" will be featured on the back of the cards as well. I'll also be represented at the National Stationery Show in NYC that happens each May with their booth. I'm so proud to be associated with this company who reps two of my favorite artists: KOCO and Roger LaBorde.


Lastly, all the amazing and neat friendships that I've been privy too through blogging has been such a huge treat for me! I had no idea the online community would be so great. It's nice to know all of you appreciate humorous tales of PMS, high heel lust and recounts of funny tales of everyday life.

Here's to 2008! May it be better and richer than 2007.

Happy Holidays!

I'm out of computer range for a while visiting family...I hope Santa brings you lots of nice treats
be back next week - I'm sure with tales to tell.

Richele

The difference between men and women

We finally got around to buying a Xmas tree on Monday night and returned home to find out my landlord had thrown away my stand after I left it in the storage area last year. Apparently there is a run on stands this year and 10 phone calls later ... there is not a stand to be found in the Long Beach area. This is the conversation that occured as we were trying to find a solution.

Me: I have a pretty tin bucket in the garage we could fill it with bricks and sand to support the tree.
Chris: It won't be big enough. This one will work [pointing to a ugly white plastic bucket]
Me: No, we can't use that.
Chris: Why not, we can put it in the bucket and lean it against the wall
Me: Lean it against the wall? Might as well call it Happy Ghetto Xmas.... I would rather leave it outside.
Chris: Ok well, we don't really have a choice do we?
Me: That's not going to happen.

[I later was able to borrow one from my neighbor and xmas crisis was avoided]

A plastic bucket? Lean it against the wall? would a woman ever even CONSIDER such a thing?

photo via flickr

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho

I'm Off to Key West for work be back next week with exciting tales and photos

Love this shirt but confused

I continue to think about this shirt from JCrew as a potential holiday office party option but I'm confused. There are buttons and button loops but they never show it closed. I suspect closed up, it may look a little Adam and the Ants 1982-ish so they continue the non-button option. Don't get me wrong I like it a lot, it's very Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth which I'm soooo down with. It's definitely an option.

The item I bought last year for my office xmas dinner has not been worn since. A lovely little pintucked women's tuxedo shirt. It's a great garment I just can't figure out how to wear it to the grocery store or on an ordinary day, hence the hesitation with said shirt above. Where does one wear taffeta after the fact? I'm still pondering and hoping whatever it is I end up with goes on super sale by the time the party rolls around.

Only prereq for the said item is it has to go with the Louboutins. but hey... what doesn't really?

This is really lovely

This laptop case is really lovely. From a group in London called Violet May it has all the makings of something perfect. Lovely snakeskin leather, Tiffany blue satin on the inside. A little garter belt for your laptop...what else could you possibly want? Oh ... maybe not to have the price tag be $970 for starters. 

She sooooooo copied my haircut

First Victoria Beckham copied my A-Line hair cut and after everyone and their dog had it I chopped it off. Just as I'm getting use to having bangs and liking them...here rolls up Katie Holmes with my do'. When I saw this last week, I immediately called my good friend and hairdresser and threatened her life if she started giving everyone bangs. She agreed to tell people they "won't look good on you" I mean really...the links one has to go to stay slightly original around here puleezeee people!

All things aside, she's very cute. I like it a lot better than her other cut.