hold ’em & fold ’em

Wei Du, origami artist, created these blissful hanging lanterns. They instantaneously transformed my hallway from a white space to a dreamy place.

© Lesley Williams, 2009

What are some of your creative decorating tips? Please share.

exactly as i am

Shaun Robinson, entertainment reporter for Access Hollywood, released a new book on Girls and Self-Esteem entitled Exactly As I Am: Celebrated Women Share Candid Advice with Today's Girls on What It Takes to Believe in Yourself. Shaun decided to publish this book in response to hundreds of email and letters that she received from girls, across the country, who wanted to know how they could be like their favorite celeb. In the book's introduction Shaun writes:

"…the cultural obsession with celebrity is not new, but how it is impacting the way girls and women feel about themselves has become a passionate concern of mine—so much so that over the past few years I began organizing informal task-force groups of girls and young women from around the country to talk directly about their issues of self-esteem."

Rich with collective wisdom, from numerous notable women, this book is perfect for girls and women looking to realize their full potential by accepting themselves and appreciating the unique talents and gifts that they possess.

I'll write more after I finish my copy. In the meantime, check out these photos from a special celebration, of Exactly As I Am, earlier this week:

Shaun and me; us women from Michigan are sooooo great!

© kamau ware, 2009

What's Going On

Over the weekend I joined the delightful Kimberly Wilson and a dozen like-minded women at the Hip Tranquil Chick retreat in Ancramdale, New York. We spent our time together creative visioning, journal writing, meditating, and practicing yoga. This was my second year attending and I was able to observe my growth, as a yogi and a creative, from one year to the next. Several “ah ha” moments surfaced during my stay. Here are a few:

• being perfect is boring
• micro-movements are better than no movement at all
• recognize my talents and delegate the rest
• vinyasa yoga to Marvin Gaye is so amazing

floral wallpaper in bedroom

my bed and the magazine that i love

yoga prep

wandering around the retreat center

more signs of spring

"uniquely me" during silent breakfast

kimberly wilson

cute quilt

development of new collage (I'll post soon)

©Lesley Williams, 2009

Fashion Week :: random shots

The end of the week...

Fashion Week :: REBECCA TAYLOR

Stars like Tori Spelling and Jamie-Lynn Sigler made a point to attend the Rebecca Taylor runway show, last Thursday, to see the fall 2009 collection. Rebecca's pieces are flirty, fresh, and feminine. This designer seems to have a knack for knowing what makes a woman feel pretty and that's beautiful.

Fashion Week :: BABY PHAT

I enjoyed the fall 2009 Baby Phat collection more than I thought I would. The pieces had a vintage flair bringing a soft finish to their edginess. The use of embellishment was superb--great appliqué placement on the jeans.

Gotham Hall was full. I watched with friends, from a screen, in the Balcony. Here is one of my favorite looks:

I may own my first Baby Phat jeans this fall, if I can get my hands on these!

Kimora with Ming Lee and Aoki Lee

Backstage after the show, in the "fab lane"!

Emmy award winning costume designer, stylist, and designer Patricia Field

models on the red carpet

Fashion Week :: PROJECT RUNWAY PEEPS

Everyone who knows me is aware that Project Runway is my favorite show. The opportunity to be on the opposite side of the camera taking photos of some of the most memorable cast members, at the sixth season finale, was surreal. They all were so sweet and cute to boot!

Suede Baum and Blayne Walsh from Season 5

Jay McCarroll Project Runway Season 1 winner

Kenley Collins Season 5 finalist

Fashion Week :: BARBIE EXHIBIT

Photos from the Barbie 50th Anniversary exhibit.
Read more about Barbie’s big birthday bash on Catalyst...

Fashion Week :: random shots

Fashion Week :: MACKAGE

The outerwear junkie in me got her fix while watching the Mackage show on Wednesday evening. Well-constructed coats covered jeans, legwarmers, and lacy-netting. The show was so chill that it made me think Jean Michel Basquiat "Downtown 09" (not 81).

On each seat lay a small fancy black box that held a leather bound notebook for drawing whatever; cool, right?

Fashion Week :: ANNA SUI

Anna Sui’s work has managed to hold my attention over the years because of its romanticism and mystique. The 2009 collection is dripping with rich layers, ornate patterns, and energetic textures. I was so busy watching the show, that I only snapped a few shots, so here they are.

Fashion Week :: random shots

Fashion Week :: TONI MATICEVSKI

The collection of Toni Maticevski, an Australian designer, is in my top three shows this fashion week. The way the pieces, set, and music worked together created a mix that was imaginative but haunting. Maticevski’s collection is full of interesting details like tie dye, bead work, hand painting, and feathers. The sound score included a track from Kanye's 8o8s and Heartbreak. What’s not to love?







I snapped this picture of the beautiful Solange Knowles before the show.

Fashion Week :: random shots

I grew up a "ck" (cosmetologist's kid) which means that I've spent over two-thirds of my life in a salon...so I could not resist taking these photos when the stylists and models disappeared for a bit.