I got an e-mail from a very talented lady a little while back, letting me know about her business, Baby Don’t Cry Silk Hankies.  After I visited her website and read her story, I got excited on several levels.  For one thing, I love spectacularly beautiful things - and these hankies fit the bill.  They’re, at once, flirty, sexy, and modern - but at the same time they’re a deliciously glamorous and romantic reminder of yesterday.  Right now, I can picture Grace Kelly pulling out a silk hankie from her clutch.  And at the same time, I can imagine Keira Knightley carrying one seductively around town or tucking one into her pocket.

On another level, I was excited because of the fact that the owner, a fellow working mother, is pouring her passion and energy into her business.  When someone is passionate about what they do, two things are certain:

1. The passion comes through when you talk to them.
2. The passion comes through in their products.

You pick up on the passion and want success for them as much as they do!  The beauty pictured above is called Daisy Daisy.  Although it was a close call, it’s my favorite of their hankies.  It reminds me of two of my favorite things in the world - Summer and Flolwers.  It’s just beautiful - all of them are.  I hope you’ll visit the website (Baby, Don’t Cry Silk Hankies).  She tells me that the website still needs a bit of “fleshing out,” but it seems great to me as is.  As for “fleshing out” - you’ll enjoy the sexy pics on the website.

Before you go, though, please read the owner’s words below.  She was kind enough to type out a message to give us a bit of a background….and an opportunity to see her love for what she does.  I hope you pick up on that passion and order several Silk Hankies.  We’d all love to bring romance back… Sexy’s already back!….and these Hankies would love to help.

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I started Baby, Don’t Cry about 3 years ago during which I have researched
various ways of printing on silk, finding a UK supplier and working on my
designs.
The reasons:
I love all things old fashioned!  I was given a silk hanky as a gift many
years ago and I wanted more but couldn’t find any, so I decided to fill the
gap.

All the hankies have names and the general theme is a romantic one.  Confetti and Daisy Daisy were the first designs and are probably the most popular.  Since then I have added more designs including one by a guest artist.  The guest artist is something I intend to include in subsequent collections.

SilkHankies are flirty, cute, sexy and yet very traditional.  They are so much more sophisticated than paper tissues.  They really make a wonderful gift for lovers - there are 2 designs for men (after popular demand!) and something that no knicker drawer or handbag should be without.  So often I find myself being a bit embarrassed by the contents of my handbag!  Pulling out a silk hanky rather than a crumpled up bit of loo roll is so much nicer!

BDC is committed to using unusual images for promotion and only uses models that represent natural beauty.  I have tried to avoid the norm and the highly polished and to continue with the romantic theme the website also features gay couples who, since Civil Partnerships became law are largely under represented in mainstream media.

On a personal note - although I have a lot of help from friends and family, I am a Mother of an 18 year old and a 2 and half year old working from our home in rural Herefordshire.  Most of my business is conducted through my website but I really enjoy selling and promoting through local markets.

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 Once again, here’s the link to the website:  Baby, Don’t Cry Silk Hankies

We may soon be uttering the word Supermodels again - and I, for one, couldn’t be happier.  Vogue recently devoted an issue (May ‘07) to the up and coming models, and most experts are picking these girls to be hugely successful.

I miss the days of following my favorite model(s), seeing which ones get which coveted covers, who walks this designer’s runway, who walks that designer’s runway, who snags a contract with Loreal, Maybelline, Cover Girl, or Revlon.  I’ve been waiting for the next group of girls to light up the fashion and magazine world the way Christy, Cindy, Linda, Naomi, Niki, Amber, Shalome, and Tyra did (My favorites are in bold.).  All Supermodels, all known by their first name as well as their face. 

Between their reign and now, the fashion world just hasn’t been as bright.  It’s been sort of like someone forgot to pay the electric bill!

Hopefully, though, we’re on the brink of a whole new, beautiful era.  The girls you see in this post may be carrying the torches needed to light everything up again.  Vogue.com’s homepage recently gave us the promising headline, “The Return of the Model.” After reading their feature article, I get the feeling they’re as eager for her return as we are!

The beautiful model at the top of the post is a favorite of mine (favorites get the best spots - in addition to the bold treatment).  Her name is Doutzen - pronounced Doubt-zen.  She’s featured in the newest issue of Vogue in a gorgeous pictorial (I’ll scan the pictures in this weekend), the sort of pictorials that Christy was known for.  While she doesn’t resemble Christy Turlington (my all-time favorite model), she has a similar type of “other world-ly” beauty and grace.  I think she’ll be a household name very, very soon.

Since this is an Arm Candy blog and I’m obsessed with all arm sweets, I have to point out the Balenciaga Python Bag Doutzen’s holding in the picture.  Unfortunately her dress is hiding most of the bag - but it’s obvious that it’s a beauty.

Jessica Stam (the lovely blonde in the quirky little hat) and Chanel (the leggy beauty to the right, working the huge hat) are two more favorites.  The three of them are leading the way, in my opinion, and inside of a year - I expect them to be as well known as any model has ever been known.

There’s a certain “it” when it comes to models.  Something that goes past a face as beautiful as Doutzen’s, past the obvious love the camera has for Jessica, and even past Chanel’s legs.  I’ve seen photographer’s, agents, designers, and other models struggle to define “it.”  Even Tyra Banks, who can practically wear each of those titles can’t quite pin a definition on “it” - even though she, herself, owns “it!”

The only thing they all know is “it” separates a model from a Supermodel, and that we’ve all been waiting to see “it” again. 

It’s been a long time coming, but the time has finally arrived!  IT‘S BAAAAACK!

Okay, so pendant necklaces don’t exactly qualify as Arm Candy, but as sweet and sexy as they are, I don’t think the arms resent the attention.  Used properly, a pendant necklace can take a good look to a great look.

Click the pic above to see Eva, Eve, Kat, and Jessica showing how to do just that.

  This Keira Knightley clipping is from the April 30, 2007 issue of OK! Magazine.  (Click to see the larger image - it’ll open in a new window.)

Her high-end, flossy tote reads, “I’m Not a Plastic Bag.”  It’s one of British Designer Anya Hindmarch’s edgy creations and I can’t wait for her stuff to hit the U.S.  I like the lady’s style!  Fortunately, I don’t have long to wait, as her collection rolls stateside in June.

You can wait it out, like me, or get ahead of the game by visiting http://www.anyahindmarch.com and http://www.wearewhatwedo.org.

I love it when fashion, such as handbags or tees, take it upon themselves to make a little statement about life, in general.  Whether it’s subtle or feels like a sledge hammer - I just love it when they make their own statement, literally.

Keira, herself, makes a lot of strong statements - with her fashion and style as well as her colorful personality.  She’s one of the celebrities who, in my opinion, wears their heart on their sleeve and in their style.  To see more of Keira’s sexy style, visit Keira Fans.Net.

From the April 2007 issue of Elle Magazine:

(Click for the larger views.)

The gorgeous Blue and Green Stained Glass Bracelet above is from one of my favorite online hangouts - www.UncommonGoods.com.  If you’ve never checked them out, do yourself a favor and check them all the way out today. They have things I guarantee that you’ve never laid eyes on before.  The funnest thing about the website is that they have an unbelievable variety of ”Uncommon Goods” - from gorgeous jewelry to saucy mugs and from breathtaking wall art to wildly sexy clocks.

But for the moment, I’m all about this bracelet.  The opalescent squares of glass are decked out in gorgeous I’m Ready For Summer colors and look as cool as a spring breeze.

From the Website: 

Made from pieces of stained glass by designer Jessica Lee, the bracelet brings seaside warmth to your look any time of the year. Each glass square is enclosed in handmade silver, and the bracelet closes with a comfortable hook and eye clasp.

Click the link above to take a closer look - you’ll fall in love with the website as much as the bracelet.  When the link takes you to their site, simply enter Squares of Light in the search box - it’ll be more than happy to escort you to your bracelet.

I absolutely cannot get enough of the vintage Hollywood Era.  I collect memorabilia from the Golden Age of Hollywood, especially items featuring James Dean, Lucille Ball, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, and Rita Hayworth.

I have a unique black and white handbag that features very early Elvis images on one side and early Marilyn images on the other.  It gets compliments every time I carry it.  Because it’s mostly white, I tend to take it to only very special events - after all, I want it to stay mostly white!

I’m looking for more purses featuring these glamorous stars.  Marilyn, Elvis, Audrey Hepburn, James Dean, and my girl Lucy are pretty easy to find, but Rita and Ava are kind of tough.  By kind of tough, of course I mean freakin’ impossible!

You can find endless gorgeous Marilyn bags online, however.  The ones featured in this post are some of my favorites.  (Click on any of the pictures to get the details of that particular bag.)

They’re each very, very reasonably priced, so much so that you could literally start a great collection by grabbing up one or two at a time.  The one to the left, featuring Marilyn in a red one piece (the Marilyn Monroe Signature Product Marilyn Monroe Small Zip Top Bag M111 (Women’s) - Multicolored) is the first one I intend to add to my collection.  I love the images, the colors, and the fact that it features a cell phone pocket.  I’m all about giving the little guy a comfy ride.

Use any of the images or links to click through to the website.  There, you’ll find a lot more handbags featuring Marilyn - as well as countless other gorgeous bags you literally won’t find anywhere else.  It’s ironic that a website that names itself after shoes would have so many incredible purses, but they have an amazing, amazing collection.

While on the website, be sure you check out their shoes too, though.  If you also happen to be a shoe whore (guilty, guilty), you’ll feel like you’re in shoe heaven.  And you pretty much will be!

This fashion bag (the Latico Dolce Front Pleat Handbag L0189 (Women’s) - Magenta Leather) pretty much has it all.  It features a gorgeous pleated leather front with a sleek accenting strap and buckle design.  The accents and unique handle arrangement set it apart and, more or less, announce to all who see it that this is a very special bag.

It’s all in the details when it comes to hanbags, isn’t it?  Those of us who live, eat, breath, and sleep accessories know that the details are what separate a good handbag from a great handbag.  They’re also the telling factor(s) in letting the world know that you pay good money for your accessories.  Why?  Because you’re worth it, thank you very much!

Other Features:
Top zippered main compartment.
Functional interior organizational detail.
Specialty designed interior lining.

Available Colors:   Poppy Leather, Grass Leather, Teal Leather, Red Leather, Magenta Leather.