the friendship stone

I’m a NYC gal rooted in the south.  I grew up in Georgia in a close-knit family and a city with a small-town sense of community. I was always busy in various activities besides school, from cheerleading, tennis, dance, yearbook, to youth and social groups in which I held leadership positions.  

I graduated with a BA from The University of Texas at Austin in their centennial year (Hook ‘em Horns!).  I immediately made my way to the Big Apple to attend Parsons School of Design where I obtained my BFA in Fashion Design.  I was lucky to have been hired while still at Parsons to work for Anne Klein and Co. under Louis Dell’Olio.  Europe was calling, so I moved first to beautiful, sunny Italia.  Ah, che bella!  Having studied some Italian in preparation to going, but “not being able to put together 2 h’s” as they say, I first went to Perugia for a one month intensive language program and immersed myself.  Next stop on the train….Roma!  This magnificent city became my home for the next year while I worked for several Roman Fashion Design Houses.  Then, on to charming and quaint Bologna, (yummy- “where everyone eats well” the Italians say, but I have to tell you, I never had a bad meal in all of Italy!).  Here I designed for Les Copains. 

It was time to come back to the good Ol’ U.S. of A., but not before learning French, so I stopped one month in Paris and one month on the Cote d’Azur, both for intense language programs.  C’est bon!  

Back in New York in 1991, I became the Knitwear Designer for Emanuel, Emanuel Ungaro collection.  Life happened; twists and turns made me re-evaluate my life and what I wanted. I followed my life-long love for food, cooking and baking, and combined it with my design background and decided to become a Food Stylist.  So in 1996-97, I attended Le Cordon Bleu and received my Grande Diplome: in French Cuisine and Patisserie.  What fun that was! 

Now it was back to reality and time to make a few bucks so I once again, returned to NYC to work on Food Shoots.  After years of assisting, I became a Food Stylist for TV morning shows, cookbooks, magazines, and promotional events.  I also used my culinary knowledge and experience toward Recipe Development and Recipe Testing.  I am a member of the New York Women’s Culinary Alliance.   

Men: I was so fed up with the process of (internet) dating and non-committal men in NYC.  Just when I was about to give up on meeting my soul-mate, the Love Of My Life (LOML), this internet brought me my LOML!  We were engaged and married in less than a year!  With all of my experience in Fashion development and production and now cooking and baking, my best two productions were made with the aide of my husband, my LOML - my son (my Little Super Hero) and my daughter (my Little Gymnast)!  Without a doubt the most challenging job, but the most rewarding!  Family is the center of life and happiness; I have been lucky to know this from my own immediate family growing up with two sisters. 

Several years ago, my sister Cathy gave me this beautiful Tiger's Eye stone, explained to me the story behind it and now it has become– the friendship stone.  I am thrilled to be a central part of this amazing journey with these incredible women, with whom to brainstorm and grow in order to bring you the friendship stone .  These women and these stones have such positive energy- it is vibrant, luminescent, and contagious.  I love feeling the stone’s smooth surface between my fingers and am continually amazed at the inner beauty and design change as I shift the stone in my hand.  I keep the friendship stones everywhere: on my desk, in my wallet, by my bedside, in my pocket.  Each time I see more stones, I say, “Oh my gosh, this one is magnificent; I must have this one, and “WOW! Look at how gorgeous this one is; I must have that one”.  The multi-messages of my stones remind me to keep optimistic and focused and the best part.....they remind me of my sister mostly, but now, also my awesome colleagues!   

Although I don’t have much spare time these days between being an involved Mom with my young children and my various work commitments, when I can manage it, I love to escape to the golf course with my LOML and friends for 18-holes or to go dancing (Salsa, Swing, Country/Western, Israeli folkdance).  My inner-soul is really energized by the music and movement of choreographed and/or partner dancing - I love it!  My ideal holiday would be to a warm climate with beautiful clear water for great scuba diving (I am an Open Water Level II certified diver), some tennis, golf, a nice massage, dinner, dancing, and a nice glass of Cabernet at the end of the day…ahhhhh

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