Dog Gets $4.2 Million Tiara

In Thailand, the latest trend is designer clothing and accessories for pets.  The United States saw a huge boost in this when Paris Hilton began collecting and dressing small dogs.  Suddenly, everyone wanted a tiny dog and clothing for it to wear.  Designer brands like Louis Vuitton, Juicy Couture, and Christian Audigier jumped on the dog accessory bandwagon. 

Christian Audigier, known for his edgy, tattoo-like designs for people, expanded his repertoire to include a line for dogs.  His designer dog t-shirts can cost more than $100 and a dog carrier can cost close to $400.  Louis Vuitton came out with an exclusive line for pets as well, including a dog carrier—meant only for small dogs—for $1,500. 

But Thai jewelry designer Riwin Jirapolsek has done them all one better. Over two months, he designed a $4.2 million tiara for his 15 year-old male Maltese.  The piece, created with titanium and encrusted with 250 carats worth of diamonds and emeralds, was featured at a dog-clothing runway show in Bangkok.  While he says he has no plans to sell the tiara, he is planning on designing more jewelry for the dog.  He told Reuters, “I will make a hair clip next time because my dog has to wear clips every day.  Otherwise, his fur will block his view.”

Despite the global economic crisis, this dog show drew a large crowd and featured many dog lovers dressing up their pets in designer clothing and costumes.  One of the attendees said that dog accessories are a big trend right now, from collars to tiaras to clothing, and people buy them because they are so cute. 

Although Jirapolsek has no current plans to sell his designs, the attention that his custom-made tiara drew at the dog show might change his mind.

 

Posted via email from Whiteflash Diamonds posterous

Top 10 Trends for 2010

Plan ahead with these top tips for your 2010 wedding

 

Engaged over Valentine’s Day and getting ready to set your date?  As you begin to plan you 2010 nuptials keep in mind these top trends you’ll see next spring.  Buttercream, organic green, backyard weddings – all great ideas to help get you down the aisle.

1. Back to Basics
Events will focus on the attention to the details, the foundation of the event, not the drama or grandeur of the evening.  Consider spending more on the lasting memories than the showmanship of the event.  Spend a bit more than the average budget allotment on photography mediums rather than abundant floral.  Or consider a bit of a longer stay on your honeymoon and a little less of a party at the reception and you’ll be grateful for your decision in the end.
 
2. Home Weddings Hit Home
Intimate and personal affairs in the backyard are bigger than ever.  Going home incorporates the continued trend of personalizing the wedding day experience.
Smaller size guest lists, more intimate settings, grass roots weddings, elegant and detail driven, but in no way small on what counts.   

3. Buttercream on the Big Day
Fondant is falling behind, buttercream corners the market.
Tools and techniques now allow for buttercream to look as smooth as fondant when applied by a skilled artist.  You have the option of better flavor, more natural ingredients, and less costly cakes that no longer suffer or lack in design.

4. Favor Comeback
Personalized appreciation is back.  The effect that an event has on the guests is more noticeable than ever before so the importance of a favor is felt more than ever.  Be sure to appreciate to those in attendance - it’s not just an afterthought, omission, or generic item.  Think local artisans, locally grown products, personal mementos, and on-the-spot print outs.

5. Nearby Destinations
Nearby destination weddings are taking flight over the exotic and far off locales.  The ever popular destination wedding will remain but guests will get out of town by car (within driving distance) so couples can create a weekend, guests get an escape, but no one breaks the bank.  Enjoying the US destination locations, spend within your own local economies, create a greener effect, experience undiscovered backyards, and stay sensible about cost while you’re at away.

6. Colors
Monochromatic palettes - this doesn’t mean muted colors, just single color bunches.  Vibrant Colors: Orange, green, yellow, and pink.  Metal Colors: Gold, silver, copper, and pewter.  And black is definitely the new black.  Break the rules and show off the darker side of your event.

7. Greener Conscience
Immerging will be the newest phase of eco-conscience: A better understanding of the gray shades of green.  You will see more emphasis on the smaller changes that are less recognizable to the guest (i.e. cleaning green, composting, solar and LED lighting, no more oasis in floral arrangements, less catering waste).  It’s no longer about making the event appear “organic” – it’s about understanding how things are made, disposed of, and where/when events take place.  Learning to make better choices that are unseen by the guest are just as important as those tree-free invitations everyone is talking about.  

8. Video Integration into Events
We’ve all seen the photo montages of your childhoods during dinner but the next phase in video at your event comes in several different forms.  Video DJ’s are immerging, allowing your dance party to dance to the visuals of the music videos; ceremonies are being broadcast on screens for better viewing from the back; and time lapse photography is being shot and integrated into video for current day montages of you and your fiancé.   Love to party?  Set up crane camera and project the event as it unfolds on screens around the dance floor (budget permitting of course).  

9. HD Video
Videographers have already gone hi-def.  But next year all or most will make such a transition, making HD and even Blu Ray the norm in wedding videography.  Upgrade now and appreciate the quality later.  This also means smaller cameras on site and less intrusion into your event, all around a better (though more costly) option on the big day.

10. Visual Combinations
Professional grade still photo cameras like the Canon 5D Mark II DSLR are being released with HD video capabilities included. It is recommended to have both a videographer and a photographer at your wedding to capture every moment of the big day. Tech-savvy brides looking for a new experience, may like to experiment with a visual professional (videographer or photographer) who has this technology.  In the future, you will begin to see an emergence of two-in-one companies. Companies like Engaging Films and Video Keepsakes of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles will shoot video and take stills, but use only one piece of technology.

Posted via email from Whiteflash Diamonds posterous

Popping the Question - How to create a memorable marriage proposal

Every little girl dreams of that special moment where her man gets down on one knee.  But as girls grow up, they tend to wish for something a bit more creative, something unique to share with friends and family and remember for a lifetime.  Here are a few bright ideas for that big moment (in case he’s reading):

Tie your proposal into a holiday
Although the major holidays have passed and are a bit passe, there is still Valentine’s Day! Too expected, too easy?  Wait for Easter and give her an Easter egg hunt that she’s never forget – one with the ring at the end.  Did you meet in a bar?  Are you Irish?  Drop the engagement ring into the bottom of a stein of green beer for St Patrick’s Day.  Do you get dressed up at Halloween?  Give her a treat she’ll never forget!  An unexpected holiday gift (on a date that doesn’t traditionally involve a gift exchange) can be a sweet surprise!

Make your own holiday
Any woman would LOVE to be swept off her feet and taken to a romantic destination.  Relax and enjoy for a few days, then a day or so before you leave plan an excursion and pop the question on location – and you still have time to celebrate!  

Creative note
Spell out the big question somewhere she would never expect it: on the bathroom mirror when she gets ready for a night out together; glow in the dark stars on the bedroom ceiling; take one of her favorite weekly magazines and slip in a fake page for your proposal.  Even plan ahead with an art gallery to place a special work of art into a room for her to see – the question becomes a keepsake.  Find a place you know she’ll go and pop the question.

Take a trip down memory lane
Take your significant other to the place where you met, had your first date, kiss, or another location that has special meaning to you as a couple and recreate that first moment.  Express your feelings from start to finish and take your courtship full circle.

Surprise her
Though it may seem spur-of-the-moment, pick a spot where you can completely catch her off guard.  Maybe in a photo booth so you have pictures of her response, as an announcement in a public place, or slip it in the advertisements before a movie you are seeing.

Spy Cameras
No matter where you ask, ask someone to capture it on film.  Videography companies now offer proposal packages that allow you to capture the moment, her reaction, and answer on camera.  They will hide out, blend in, and not be seen by your bride-to-be until the moment has past and you’ve got a keepsake to keep for a lifetime.
   

No matter what you do, be creative and make sure it’s right for her!  If she’s shy, don’t make a big scene at a ballpark; if she’s the outdoors type, consider an adventure; if she’s a Disney fan, take her to where her fairytale can unfold.  Think of your soon-to-be fiancé when planning and the answer will surely be “yes!”

 

Posted via email from Whiteflash Diamonds posterous

A few wedding tips and trends to the budget-savvy bride

Weddings are an evergreen business, yet are not recession proof, and brides are more conscientious on their spending to ensure they make the most impact for their special day.  Nearly 2,220,000 weddings are estimated to take place in the U.S. in 2009, according the The Wedding Report, Inc., which ultimately translates to brides and wedding planners looking to spend for the big day.  Despite the soft economy, the total estimated market value of the wedding industry was more than $62 billion last year alone.  Get Married, a leading multi-platform entertainment and wedding resource, is at the forefront of wedding trends and understands that planning a stylish, memorable and personalized celebration can be done within a budget.



In any economy, and especially one that is down, brides want to know how to do the most without spending the most.  For brides looking for the latest trends to make their weddings spectacular, without over-spending and under-wowing, Whiteflash.com provides them with inspiring ideas, quality connections and fantastic finds, including tips and trends from leading industry experts.


“Your wedding is an opportunity to make a statement of style, it’s a complete personal manifestation about who you are,” said Cowie, lifestyle expert, celebrity wedding designer. “The only rule is that taste and good style should prevail in everything you do.”

7 Tips for the Budget-Savvy Bride who seek smart solutions for planning an extraordinary wedding:

 1.    Dream big: Small ideas get small results, so put budget aside while envisioning your dream wedding, then figure out what you can afford.

2.    Cut your coat according to the cloth: It’s better to do 5 things correctly than 10 things on the skinny.

3.    Consider a destination wedding: Weddings can take place anywhere, so think beyond the exotic beach and think about a bed-and-breakfast or country inn.

4.    Opt for a fantastic DJ: Instead of a big orchestra band, find a great DJ who can create great background music and just as easily keep the guests moving on the dance floor.

5.    Invest in a trusted wedding planner: A professional is there to ease some of the pressure while bringing your vision to a reality.

6.    Design a signature drink: Rather than serving an open bar, offer guests a specialty beverage that is as delicious as it is memorable.

7.    Create monochromatic flower arrangements using one type of flower: When bundled en masse in short ceramic vases, whether roses or carnations, tulips or spider mums; these flowers are beautiful and impactful.

 

8.     Educated yourself on Diamonds: Knowing the 4 C’s can make a huge impact on your wedding budget. Make sure to do research on diamond education and find a trusted vendor.

Posted via email from Whiteflash Diamonds posterous

A luxury £50,000 treehouse for a 10-year-old Russian boy

Living in a luxury treehouse certainly brings out the child in you again. For many children, a treehouse is just a normal treetop hideaway made of wood, but for a 10-year-old boy in Russia, it’s a luxury £50,000 (US $72,800) treetop hideaway. This luxury treetop hideaway is currently under construction in Northamptonshire and will be erected in a woodland grove, next to the home of the kid’s rich Russian family. The 40-foot construction includes a stained-glass window, staircase, rope bridge, zip line and pulley system that is able to lift a quarter of a ton. Six guys have been working on it and once they are done, the treehouse will be fully insulated and covered in timber with cedar shingles forming a roof canopy. Herbie McKenzie of “The Treehouse Company” cited that they’ve been doing this for about eight years and this is the biggest. Moreover, he said that he is going to recommend the owners certain furnishings like a potter’s wheel for the ground floor and a plasma screen television for the top floor.

The £50,000 treehouse is supposed to be both educational and recreational. Back in 2007, Victoria Beckham was reported to gift her boys a $50,000 treehouse on Christmas. Owning a treehouse is now a trend that the rich and the famous are following just like buying diamond rings.

 

Posted via email from Whiteflash Diamonds posterous

Keep the pets

Please save this for the next time you hear someone say: 

They have to get rid of their pet when they have a child. 

Have A 
Great Day 
Within the 
heart of every stray
Lies the 
singular desire to be loved .

 

Pets and Baby’s love are as precious as diamonds. Let yours sparkle today!

 

Posted via email from Whiteflash Diamonds posterous

Introducing Whiteflash's Diamonds by the Yard Bracelet

 

Delightfully delicate WF Diamonds by the Yard bracelet sparkles and shines with Whiteflash ACA diamonds. Bracelet contains 8 Whiteflash ACA Diamonds (0.50ctw F/G VS). Matching Necklace and Earrings would complete a stunning set.

 

 

Posted via email from Whiteflash Diamonds posterous