Upcoming Features

Hello, fashionistas! This summer I have some exciting new content for you. I'll be featuring a how-to piece on pastel hair, interviews with makeup artists, models, and wellbeing experts, as well as a really fun and cute interview with a very stylish little girl who has some VERY strong opinions about being fearless in your clothing choices.

Can't wait to connect with you!

PROJECT RUNWAY Season 14!

It's hot hot hot out, and that means Project Runway is almost back for the summer! As many of you know, the Kendry Bird blog is a fun stop for many fashion designers from Project Runway, a place they can talk about their good and bad and funny moments on the show.

I can't wait to feature some brand new designers and hear lots of fun new gossip about Tim, Heidi, and Nina!

In the meantime, though, you can enjoy some past Project Runway features here:

Listen:

Interview with Fabio Costa
 Interview with Dmitry Sholokhov
Interview with Alexandria Von Bromssen 
Intervew with Kate Pankoke
Interview with Michelle Lesniak

Read:

Interview with Gunnar Deatherage

Interview with Dmitry Sholokhov (2014)

And there's many more, so make sure to check out the Project Runway tag, and keep your eyes on this space for new interviews!

-Kendry Bird

Accessory Artist Spotlight: Shea Kreations

I first came across Shea Kreations at the suggestion of a dear friend, and was immediately impressed and excited by all of the unique designs and materials Shea Kreations features. The wonderful woman behind the art is Kat, and I recently had the honor of chatting with her about her art, her advice for women artists, and her suggestions for ladies who want to embrace their natural hair texture...

 

 

I'm so honored to have you as a guest! You have to tell us how you got the idea for the incredible, unique and gorgeous earrings you make!

-First, my name is Kat and I'm the artist behind the scenes of Shea Kreations. We are a family owned business for approximately three years. The idea to make custom handpainted earrings was just a thought. I was thinking of a way to bring out a person's personality without words, and also a way to boost one's esteem. After showing several friends they thought it was a good idea.

You love to wear your own earrings (understandably). Have you ever made earrings to sell and then just had to keep them?

-Yes! Lol! I have several that are in my personal collection. To be honest, if it's a one of a kind pair, the need to let someone else love it reigns. This is truly art to me and I feel that it should be shared with the world.

What is your advice for women who are thinking of going into business for themselves selling art?

- 1) Believe in what you create and others will believe in you. 2) Know your worth. 3) Each obstacle will only make you stronger and wiser. You will thank them later. 4)You have to help someone else if you expect to be successful.

Helping others really is such a key. Especially as women, we have to stick together and do what we can for each other. Where can we buy your earrings, and do you take custom orders?

-Yes, we do take custom orders. You can find our complete inventory at www.etsy.com/shop/SheaKreations or our website www.sheakreations.com. We have an ongoing coupon code to save you 10% off. The code is THANKS

You are a champion for natural hair. More and more wonderful ladies (and men!) are starting to embrace their natural texture. What is your advice for ladies who are considering letting their natural hair out in the world for maybe the first time?

-My favorite question. We as natural women in a world that doesn't accept it "wasn't" easy. First, you have to stand up even when you may want to cry. If you start believing you are naturally beautiful, you will see it. Then others will see it. Stand up! Let them know that you have made the right decision and comfortable with YOUR hair texture. Being natural changes many other things about you and I embrace it. The best decision ever.

I absolutely love that. What are some of your favorite products for natural hair?

-My favorite natural hair products are created by me and I have used them for over 3 years: Whipped Shea Butter Cream, Priscilla's Hair Mist (which is boiled herbs and oils in a water base), Almond Leave-in Conditioner (which is an oil based product) that is my hair serum. They can all be found on our Etsy shop.

Who do you think is really killing it hair-wise right now?

-Solange Knowles is killing it to the fifth power. Can't you just feel the power within her knowing she is rocking her fro? She is beautiful.

And finally, what is your current favorite:

Lipstick: Free Spirit Purple Haze Lip stain

Song: Bag Lady by Erykah Badu

Summertime drink: Lemonade with fresh spearmint

Favorite online store: www.zencustomjewelry.com

Mind-Bogglingly Summer-Proof Must-Haves

I'm not a creature of fire and sand, that's for certain, though I sometimes dress up like Khaleesi. For as long as I can remember, I've always been drawn to autumn and winter, to cool temperatures and icy, ghostly bodies of water. (This really shows up in my novel, The Unlove Spell, dropping next June).

But no one can live in autumn paradise all 12 months of the year, no matter how hard one tries (and this one has tried). Sometimes it's going to be hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable. For me especially, a person who is a frenetic ball of energy and movement and walking and fidgeting, things can get pretty runny in the hot months. Eyeliner smudges waaay beyond that sexy smoky look, lipstick melts down my chin, and foundation turns into a streaky mess. Don't even get me started on raccoon eyes from errant mascara!

As a makeup lover, though, and someone who finds most of my physical artistic outlet through the color palettes of a great new trio of sparkly eye shadows, I have put in years of searching for the elusive unicorn of makeup-- sweat, heat, and watery-eyes resistant beauty supplies.

You can save yourself the years of struggle, though, by checking out these tested and proven recs:

*EYELINER

(Kat Von D TattooLiner)

I'm not sure how to explain how obsessed I am with this eyeliner. I bought it after hearing good reviews and being pleased with the Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer, but I feared that it might fall prey to the great watery-eyes debacle, just like every other eyeliner I've tried through the years. It's a liquid, which also made me a bit nervous at first, since my hands aren't the most steady.

Surprise, surprise, this eyeliner glides on smooth, it's easy to apply and, most importantly, IT STAYS IN ITS DAMN PLACE! Listen, if you don't believe me, check this out-- I applied this eyeliner at 8am on a hot May morning in New York City this year, from the third floor of my sketchy, AC-less Chinatown hotel room. I wore it through an 8 hour queue on the blazing NYC sidewalks to see my favorite band, Muse, in a tiny venue. I wore it from the front row of aforementioned Muse concert, through guitar solos and space-jam-rock-goodness. I wore it later that night with friends. I wore it even later that night when I metMatt Bellamy, my greatest creative hero (and inspiration for a character in another upcoming book, Dating an Alien Pop Star). I wore it through 1am drinks at a little pub that night. I wore it on a very long, winding and surreal walk back to Chinatown.

It stayed on. This stuff is an actual miracle. Buy three of them. I've talked at least 4 of my friends into buying the stuff, because it is the BEST LIQUID EYELINER THERE IS. It is Matt Bellamy proof.

(Matt Bellamy proof? WOW! That's powerful! Look at those eyes!)

*MASCARA

(Benefit RollerLash)

Similar in levels of excitement to the Kat Von D eyeliner, the Roller Lash mascara has changed my life so much that I've stopped at least three strangers in Sephora when I saw them eyeing mascara, and told them to get this stuff. It is that good.

A very sweet Benefit lady demo-d it on me and I bought it on the spot. I have short, light lashes with no natural curl. As I mentioned before, my eyes are watery and my tears are, apparently, made of some chemical that must have been cooked up by the government or aliens, because it breaks down even the strongest waterproof 'scara. Not so with Roller Lash!

To be fair, I still curl my lashes when I wear this mascara, because there's nothing a fancy wand can do for some of us straight/short lashed people, but that doesn't matter. Once it's on, my lashes look long, beautiful, and they STAY that way throughout the day. I had given up on mascara years ago and would only wear it for very very very special occasions, but this has converted me to the mascara revolution. I'll be buying another one soon, because I've already almost killed this one off.

Plus the packaging is cute.

 

Oh, and... a side by side comparison of with/without Roller Lash.

*CONCEALER

(Kat Von D Lock ItConcealer)

I know many women have trouble finding a concealer that matches their skin tone and I am certainly among them. I'm so pale that the beauty market seems to think that there's no reason to make concealer/foundation for people who are clearly dead or English, but unlike most dead and/or English people, I still break out like a teenager even in my late 20s.

The Kat Von D concealer comes in a variety of shades, and the lightest one actually works for ghostly white people! I will say, there are not nearly as many choices in this line for folks with darker skin, unfortunately, but I hope they will add more shades! The coverage is just right, and it stays put, sun and sweat be damned. I'm obsessed. And just the tiniest dot in the world goes a very, very, very long way.

*SPARKLY EYE SHADOW

(Urban DecayMoondust Shadows, $20 each)

I'm a huge fan of glitter, to the point that I used to be called “Glitter Whore” among internet friends, back in the good old messageboard days. I would probably eat glitter if it was possible. (They make edible glitter for cakes, right? Yum)

But in the summer, eye shadow tends to crease and get yucky or make the valiant Hobbit-worthy journey from the safety of the Shire (my upper lid) to Sauron's backyard (below my eye). And if there's glitter in it? Good God, call Gandalf, because you're going to need him.

Thanks to Urban Decay, that doesn't have to be true any longer. Urban Decay makes the most magical eye shadows on the planet, the sparkly, beautiful, and long lasting Moondust colors. In the past, I would layer a bunch of different eye shadows from here and there and everywhere, hoping for the best, but Urban Decay has simplified my eye shadow process. Between their Asphyxia, Intergalactic, and Cosmic, I have a small arsenal of beautiful, diverse looks available at all times. They layer great with other eye shadows, and they make sure to keep to their designated area.

I hope that you summer haters (and lovers) can get some useful tips from this. Please let me know your opinions if you've tried any of these products or have some you'd like to add to the list! Good luck in the heat, babes, and make sure to hydrate while you're applying that fierce liquid eyeliner for your night out at the best concert ever.