DAY THREE!!!

Lot's of running around...meeting NEW and exciting people in all aspects of the biz!!! Running and booking photo shoots, checking out "shops" (FOR ANDREW SILLY) you KNOW I HATE TO SHOP!!! So a special treat for his little one when he returns home. (CAN'T REVEAL HERE!!! - OR IT WON'T be a SURPRISE!!!)

CAFE BRILLIANCE/XDANCE - POPCORN (MY FAVOURITE)...along with MANY calls from his friends from afar - wishing HIM A HAPPY B DAY!!! AND IT STARTS TO SNOW!!!

And what is SUNDANCE WITHOUT A VISIT TO THE FILMAKERS LODGE (LOUNGE)...First up WireImages JOY - grabs us for a casual Happy shot (yeah I know - IT's NOT ABOUT ME)...what can I DO???)...

Next Englands Sunday Telegraph has a sit-down amoungst all the mayhem (WELL THE POOR DEAR JUST ARRIVED)...While that's all goin on - Getty Images snaps away, and well we could go on!!!



But no WE CAN'T!!! It's off the the party at the Telefilm Suite...Where we are interviewed by Sundance Channel (in depth this time). Next up ETalk Daily, with the hostess with the mostess LAINEY!!! Who is his and Kate, Andrew's wife, FAVOURITE CELEB!!! So out comes the camera phone (remember my earlier comment)...Let's hope for the best...GREAT interview Lainey and the CTV TEAM!!!!

And squeezing into the final moments before Andrew heads out, our friends at MOVIE CENTRAL'S INSIDE MOVIES with Michele as our on air host!!!

David Spaner, Katherine Monk along with shooters Getty (again - BOY DO THEY GET AROUND), and of course INDIEWIRE and WireImage!!! THANX Guys!!! What a great party...

NOTE TO BRIGITTE from Telefilm - remember to send me the pic of the gang!!!



And I'm off the clock!!!! (OFFICIALLY) Andrew heads out to dinner with the Director of SK8-LIFE et al....for a quiet moment before the sold out screening in Salt Lake City!!!

Have FUN Andrew and we hope this was your BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!
xxxxxxx
ooooooo

Christie Grace Studio!!!

A recent article in the NORTH SHORE NEWS....please head to their web-site

www.nsnews.com under the LOOK section

Here it is in reprint...

Designing woman

Caroline Skelton

cskelton@nsnews.com

It's not often that you hear travellers singing the praises of inefficient travel.

But for Christie Grace, a long layover in Toronto meant the beginning of a new chapter in her life. Grace, who now lives on Bowen Island and enjoys twin careers in jewelry design and music, is a woman who hates to waste time. So when she found herself with about seven hours of waiting ahead of her, she went searching for somewhere to pass the time, and ended up in a jewelry store.

She had already begun designing jewelry, experimenting with antique buttons, beads and Fimo - so when she found the store's jeweller, she asked him for a favour:

"Hey listen, I've got seven hours here," she said, "and I always wondered if I had any talent whatsoever in silversmithing, goldsmithing. Would you be so kind as to . . . (show) me something?"

The jeweller agreed, sitting her down with an introductory volume on silversmithing, and putting her to work on a simple chain.

Since then, Grace has trained at the Gemological Institute of America in Los Angeles and the Revere Academy in San Francisco, and developed her own Christie Grace line.

She now has more than 20 years in jewelry design to her credit, and has traded the Fimo for luxurious materials: gold and semi-precious jewels. She now releases two collections each year, and spends much of her time on commissions and one-of-a-kind pieces.

Meanwhile, she has also pursued her musical career as a jazz vocalist, releasing her debut CD, Late Bloomer, in 2000.

"I'm a tenacious individual, and I've always had big vision," she said of her diverse passions.

Originally from Thunder Bay, Ont., Grace moved to Bowen Island in 1996, but it was her childhood exposure to jewelry that sparked her interest in the art. Her elegant grandmother always wore fine jewelry so, she said, "I was introduced to good jewelry right from the get-go."

It was another family memory who inspired Grace in her most recent gold jewelry collection. The Last Teardrop, a line of gold tear-shaped pendants and earrings with diamonds, recalls the passing of her mother, Kay McCullough, who was also an artist.

"I had the privilege of being able to nurse her, along with my sister, in the later stages of her decline," said Grace.

On the night before her mother's death, Grace spotted a single tear on her face - an unusual occurrence for a woman who rarely wept. She pointed it out to the palliative care nurse, who told her: "It's called 'the last teardrop.' She's saying goodbye."

For Grace, the symbol was a powerful one. "It was a symbolic shape that was to me the combination of a healing between us and a perfect goodbye," she said.

Designing jewelry, said Grace, "really helps me come through whatever it is I'm experiencing," which means that most of the jewelry in her studio also comes with a story.

Many of her regular customers want to hear the stories behind the pieces, and Grace is more than happy to tell them, confessing "I talk a little bit too much."

These days, she has a bit more chatting room, after recently moving her jewelry studio, called Silver, Gold and Songsmith, into new Bowen Island digs. The new space boasts an expanded workplace, a view overlooking Howe Sound and a baby grand piano in the showroom - a design that is a merging of musical and artistic passions that Grace calls "the culmination of a dream of marrying the two sides of myself."

She's also hoping to literally combine the two, hosting shopping evenings complete with live music at the baby grand. Unlike some big-city jewelers, Grace says she brings with her a down-to-earth persona.

"I get to know your family, I get to know your life and you get to know me," she said of her business style. "It's more 'Bowen.'"

For more information, see www.christiegrace.com.

published on 01/19/2007

DAY TWO!!!

Well a quick visit to the MEDIA Centre where it ALL happens....a FRENZY of sorts...but for me - it's great to watch people in action.

We'd been receiving a ton of invites to the parties, arranging interviews with as many people as possible...

And preparing for the premiere of SK8-LIFE screening at the HOLIDAY III.

Immediately we hook up with the SUNDANCE CHANNEL who are pulling together a little clip of EVERYONE's statements of their time at the FESTIVAL!!! So Andrew jumped right in like a pro and had a good go at it!!!




A quick heads up to the HARLEY DAVIDSON store where he was pre-taped for a radio interview with RFHX 96....the interview was a hard-hitting, blow by blow about skateboarding - and our ANDREW DID have all the answers!!!! (Please remember - baggage STILL at large - but it's RADIO - so it's OKAY!!!)...

Next up - checking out the VW booth - where we picked up our T's and other GACK from the Gang there!!! ANOTHER FUN THING TO DO!!!

Next up headed over to the Cinema's in time for the screening...In attendance, S. Wyeth Clarkson, Elan Mastai, Patrick White, and Frank Guidoccio - OH - and of course ANDREW WILLIAMSON!!!




Katherine Monk, Vancouver Sun AND BCTV, for the interviews, as well as Movie Central (our friends in CALGARY, AB), producers of MULTIPLE Entertainment style shows)....

As we wanted - BUMS IN SEATS...I headed out for a (YES I KNOW - there is NO OCEAN IN SIGHT) BUT needed a sushi hit!!!

Right next to the theatre - A FAB place called SUSHI MARU - with SMART ALEX (Well he was) serving up his signature (well that's what he said) crunchy salmon roll.......but he's kinda cute...

Sat and enjoyed the company of SCOTT Simonsen - (hey he's cute too)...hmmmm....writer/actor extra-ordinaired!!! Great convo and lot's going on in his camp - look out for more "stuff" from this guy!!! Maybe I'm just meeting a buncha cute guys!!!

Well the fun never stops....Time for dinner (*well I'm done - but my boys are kinda hungry)...and off we go for PIZZA... SAT NEXT to Adam Brody - whose time (well it's about time) is up on the OC!!! Syronara old boy!!!

NOW we're off and running to the PBS party at the Kimball Centre...(CAN'T believe it's been 25 years that SUNDANCE and PBS have been partnering!!!) CONGRATS to all!!!

So who do we run into but the great Rep for Newport Beach FILM FESTIVAL (WITHOUT HIS TUXEDO - HARDLY RECOGNIZED HIM)!!! That's MR. Greg Schwenk!!! Now HE KNOW'S how to throw a party!!! CHANEL goes particularly well down there!!!

Andrew and I head out for the BURTON KICK OFF at Side-Kick Bar...MAYHEM...GREAT DJ's...GREAT MUSIC... Then we have to go....

TO ANOTHER PARTY!!!This time it's celebrating WEIRDNESS!!! Yes - well you know - I've got it alllll goin on!!! Andrew and I grab Wyeth and Frank and off we go....and of course we close the place down!!! WHAT were you thinking!!!

We all head off walking/BUS/or who knows - ME - I think I'm the farthest away - so it takes me a while to get there!!!

It's Just Another Night in Paradise!!! (DAMN I love Phil Collins)...

xxxxx
ooooo

DAY ONE!!!

Well - I always say - PLAN, then PLAN, then PLAN...so by the time we get from PLAN A to PLAN C (OR D OR E) it's NOT sooooo painful!!!!

Well poor Andrew - started off departing Vancouver for San Fran then onto SALT LAKE CITY to shuttle up to Park City for the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL!!! He left for the Airport for a 7:00am departure...which left at 9:00am....

NEXT as I found out when attempting to leave a voice-mail of our activities...he's in SF heading up to PORTLAND due to the inclement weather....

By the time I left on my 5:00pm flight and arrived at 8:30 pm (SLC is one hour ahead)...HE'S STILL AT THE SLC AIRPORT TERMINAL...

He had just arrived a short time before me - so we both waited for our bags, and my bags arrived first...

So as I always say - just get where you are going - make PLANS for the following day...(and it always works out)!!!!

You have to know - IT'S GONNA GET BETTER!!!!

Sundance here we come (AGAIN)!!!

Well - it's off to Park City Utah in a few days, to promote our newest client, Producer Andrew Williamson (info on our web-site)....His latest venture SK8-LIFE, is a close up and personal view of Skateboarding in VAN CITY!!! It's as real as it gets - EXCEPT for the well-done animated content!!! ....Ohhh and the music!!!

Robert Redford's Film Fest is always a great gathering of everyone clear across the continent!!! (Don't you think he looks good in Blue???)...


Michael at Ma URBANS....We'll See You Soon!!!




So stay tuned for more pics, excitement, stories & ACCOMPLISHMENTS on our latest ventures!!!




SEE U SOON!!!

xxxxxx
oooooo