Filming an International Millinery Conference in the Smokey Mountains!

"Milliner: a person who designs, makes, or sells women's hats"

In this day and age, few people know the meaning of the word Milliner.

But thanks to a committed group of artists world wide,

and fashion forward people like Princess Kate,

this creative art form of hat making continues and is flourishing!

So when our friend and Milliner Extraordinaire,

Jan of aMuse asked us to film the 

International Millinery Conference

she and her team were planning,

we were delighted!!! 

Held in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee

at the Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts,

this "Millinery Meet Up"

hosted an International group of milliners who

gathered to learn from renowned instructors 

from the US, Ireland and the Netherlands!

And in between shooting sessions, 

we took in all the local "ambiance"!!!

Nothing like Gatlinburg Fall Event Design!!! 

...and you don't visit Gatlinburg 

without eating breakfast at

The Pancake Pantry!

We were able to shoot so much eye candy that we could

hardly wait to create the Video Montage 

of this inspiring, interesting, 

and creative event!...

AND HERE IS THE VIDEO...

CLICK the photo above for our Video coverage of 

the highlights of their 5 day adventure!

Videography is a passion of ours!

It is so fulfilling to be able

to capture an experience and

retell the story with beautiful images and music -

allowing memories to last long

beyond the moment! 

The Divas 

WE LOVE WHAT WE DO!!!

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Beyond Buttercream - The Saga of The Single Mom, Her Son, & The Pinewood Derby Race!

As a single mom, with a family of all women, signing my son, 

Stephen, up for Cub Scouts was a little daunting - 

in other words, I had no idea what I was in for!  

But because I just love the couple, Julie & Hoke Flynt, 

who are in charge of this "pack," I went for it!  

All was going great - and then, 

dum-dum-dum - the Pinewood Derby Race was announced!  

I had no idea what that even meant!  

When I understood it was about building a race car 

(not one you actually sit in! whew!), I was like...

"Oh, dear! I can do a mean Italian Buttercream, 

but aerodynamics?!...

me with saws, hammers and nails...oh my!"

But hey, isn't it all about the process and the fun of doing it together? 

I thought so - wasn't sure my young "manly man" would agree -

after all, doing this project with "Newbie Scout Mom" 

kind of ensured he wasn't going to win!  

But Stephen was all in for this adventure with Mom!

And we had so much fun doing this project together -

along with our Village which included 

Eve, Aunt Rebekah, Gran, our Heather,

and her team at Steven's Hardware!!!

Our little blond block of wood became a Derby Car,

painted green in honor of Stephen's newly acquired rank of 

1st degree Green Belt in Karate, 

and with the Chinese character his team agreed on -

 a word that describes him - Brave. 

The Big Day arrived - they counted down "3-2-1" 

and released the cars, 

our little car named "Brave" came wobbling down the ramp -

we hooped and hollered -

not because it won, but because it didn't derail!!! 

I am so glad Stephen had this experience -

I wanted him to identify feeling the fun and fulfillment 

of having collaborated on a project with a team - 

of having had, first and foremost,

a relational goal, not just the goal of winning.

During the event, I watched him sitting side by side

with his little comrades in arms,

cheering for them, congratulating them,

calm and content even when he didn't win,

and I knew we succeeded in our goal...

He is a friend first and a competitor second!

And next year, he will want to be the same

relational young man who leads a team...

BUT next time, his team, including his Mom, is

In It To Win It!

Isn't that what losing is also about - 

motivation to problem solve in order to win the next time!...

Guess that will be next year's lesson!

I love being a Mom!

and I love being a Diva!

We love what we do!!!

The Three Divas, Divette, & Divo

Deborah, Rebekah, Jennifer, Eve, & Stephen 

The Divas at Dancing With The Stars!!! Behind The Scenes of our West Coast Three Divas Video/ Bella Rose Photo Coverage for Style Me Perfect!!!

Click each photo to enlarge.

Rebekah (Diva #2), Deborah (Diva #1), 

Marriann Hough, Derek Hough,

Jennifer (Diva #3), and Lisa of Bella Rose Photography

backstage before Dancing With The Stars!!!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

In August there was Boca Raton, filming Derek Hough and Mark Ballas of Dancing With The Stars!!!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

In September there was New York Fashion Week filming for Style Me Perfect!!!

What could get better than that?  

How about a SMP/DWTS combo in November!!!

Style Me Perfect has personal stylists from the East Coast to the West, 

so in order to really tell their story, the next step seemed obvious - 

shoot them in LA!!!

As we put our heads together with SMP owner and creative director, 

Carrie Collins Johnson, 

we came up with an idea that would bring the worlds of 

Fashion and Dance together!!! 

We contacted Shirley Ballas and Marriann Hough, 

mothers of DWTS stars Mark Ballas and Derek Hough, 

and asked if they would be up for a 

Style Me Perfect "Mothers Makeover" 

for the Dancing With The Stars finale!  

Both women were game and the adventure began!!!

On Thursday November 13,
our Diva Video - Bella Photo team
caught a very early flight to LA.
(The good thing about traveling with 4 women is that,
after weighing the 4 suitcases at check-in,
we were able to move things from one suitcase to another
until all 4 were just under the 50 pound limit!
- wish we had that on film!!! ;););)

By 11:00 a.m., LA time, 
we were having brunch in Beverly Hills - 
talk about surreal!!!

Our plan for the Video/Photo Shoot 

was to include footage of both Shirley and Marriann 

doing what they love best 

(besides being the mothers of wonderful children)!  

For Shirley, that is being a dance instructor, 

and for Marriann, that is being a painter and art instructor! 

Filming Shirley Ballas 

as she trains future Ballroom DanceSport Champions.

Then out for dinner and dancing

(well, yes, even being in Beverly Hills

didn't stop us from creating our own dance party

on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant!!! ;););)

~~~

Original Artwork by Marriann 

The next morning we were off to shoot Marriann 

who is an artist and painting instructor.

  Arriving at the apartment, we were greeted at the door 

by a petite blond with a warm hug!

 We immediately recognized her as the mother of Julianne Hough,

because we had seen that same warm smile that reaches her eyes 

 when we first met Julianne.  

Don't you love it when a friendship takes you by surprise!  

You unexpectedly meet a kindred spirit and Voila!!! 

 This is how we felt when we met Marriann Hough.  

Even before we could sit down, the four of us were 

in animated conversation!  Hours later, after laughter and tears, 

we decided to reschedule her painting shoot and 

celebrate the fact that we felt like we had all discovered soul sisters!

 Jennifer has always wanted to take art lessons,

so she was thrilled to be chosen as Marriann's on camera student!!!

The paintings completed,

and the still life eaten!!!

~~~

The next day we were joined by 

Style Me Perfect owner & creative director, Carrie Johnson, 

and hair & make up artist, Tricia Gulikers, 

and some serious styling began!

Fashion & Wedding Photographer Extraordinaire, 

Lisa Brown of Bella Rose Photography

Keeping it real...

and fun!!!

Now onto the CBS studio, where DWTS is filmed,

 to shoot 

The Big Reveal 

with Derek & Mark!!!

Waiting for clearance to go in!!!

Excitement!!!

...and now we wait...

...and tell funny stories...

...and dance!!! ;););) 

AND YES, THE GUYS WERE IMPRESSED!!!

 

LISA'S PHOTOS & DIVAS' VIDEO BELOW!!!

Lisa, Tricia, Shirley, Marriann, Deborah, Carrie, Rebekah, Jennifer

To celebrate a fabulous day of styling 

and shooting these two Hot Mamas,

the rest of us got all dolled up and 

we hit "The Grove" for dinner!!!

~~~

On Sunday, Marriann asked us to join her 

and her daughters, Sharee & Julianne,

at The London in West Hollywood 

where Julianne had reserved a Cabana - Par-tee!!!

Mother/Daughter Trios -

one set of blondes,

one set of brunettes!!! ;););)

Though Julianne had to leave early for a meeting,

 we soldiered on, partying without her -

At least she left her two famous pups,

Lexi & Harley

to keep all of us company in her absence!!!

Jennifer, Maude, Marriann, Kristy, Sharee

It was so much fun seeing Kristy, a fellow Wilmingtonian,

 who Jennifer had met on the set of Safe Haven     

and who is now Julianne's personal assistant and side-kick!  

Though we Divas were unprepared for the pool, 

   we were all prepared for DESSERT...

...Poolside Dance Lessons...

...and all kinds of Photo Ops!!!

We quickly caught on that The Hough Women ALL have it going on!!! ;););)

And how many Divas does it take to help

Marriann reapply her lipstick?!!! 

Jennifer, Sharee, Maude

These girls are on fire!!!

And here is Jennifer walking on fire with
the Viking Princess from the hit show

"The Vikings"!!!

Now that's a moment to remember!!!

Maude Hirst you're the best!!!

Thank you Julianne for a fabulous afternoon that 

we'll never forget!!!

~~~

IT'S MONDAY NIGHT!!!

And here we are shooting at DWTS

having been given permission

to shoot some B Roll

before we go in!!!

Backstage at Dancing With The Stars!!!

What a way to start the night!!!

Derek was so thoughtful and proud of his mother, Marriann,

and right before he escorted all of us to our seats,

it was Derek who suggested we take this picture!!!

And to top it all off, just before the show aired,

the crowd was invited to the dance floor

to do two of the Divas Favorites...

The Wobble

&

The Cupid Shuffle

We were in dancing heaven!!! ;););)

For those of you who wanted to know where we were sitting, 

you can see us during Derek and Bethany's dance intro - 

right up on stage with them - can't get better than that!!! ;);):)

l-r: Marriann, Jennifer, Deborah's bangs, Rebekah & Lisa!!! 

Lisa, Jennifer, Marriann, Deborah, Rebekah

And afterwards, dinner at Maggiano's!!!

A wonderful ending to an

amazing few days!!!

 ~~~

AND HERE ARE THE RESULTS:
LISA'S PHOTOS
&
OUR VIDEO!!!...

Style I
Jeans & White Shirts

Style II
"Rocker Chic"!!!




Next, to the CBS Studios where DWTS is filmed...
The Big Reveal with Derek!!!

Glamorous from head to toe 

for the Semi - Finale!!!

Derek's thought - if he didn't win the Mirror Ball Trophy
he could always add Shirley's clutch to his wall o' trophies!!!

Then Mark arrives!...

And after the DWTS semi-finals
we all dropped by Julianne's trailer...

      Show's over - heels come off!!! ;););)

Shirley, Jennifer, Julianne, Marriann, Deborah, Rebekah

AND HERE IS THE VIDEO
OF THE ENTIRE SHOOT!!!...

Derek Hough & Mark Ballas' Mothers - 
Styling Video/Shoot for DWTS Semi-Finals


~~~

WE LOVE WHAT WE DO!!!!

Deborah, Rebekah, & Jennifer

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