The inspirations for the designs were as follows: Carol Hannah – Palm Beach; Irina – Aspen; Christopher – Santa Fe; Gordana – New York; Nicholas – Greece; Logan – Hollywood; Althea – San Tropez.

Although I had been pulling for Christopher all along, the only designer without a degree or formal design training, this challenge proved disastrous for him. His inspiration was Santa Fe, but what he created was, as he admitted himself, more Little House on the Prairie. I think Althea said it best when she said, “If Christopher can put that garment down the runway and not get eliminated, then I don’t know what’s going on.”

Irina’s “sexy, rich snow-bunny” caramel design isn’t really my style, but when I saw it on the runway, I did really like the sexy cut-out back and how the look came together as a whole. Thinking about wearing this design did make me want to sip champagne in a ski lodge, and Irina really did an amazing job stretching her $150 budget to create three pieces. Even though she isn’t very nice, she is a great designer. She won this challenge; Gordana and Carol Hannah also placed in the top three. The surprise was that Christopher was not eliminated. Instead, it was Nicolas who was sent home. I wasn’t crazy for many of Nicolas’ designs, so this decision did not break my heart, but I expected the judges to let him through to the next round.

And then there were six…

Last week’s episode, entitled The Best of the Best, featured guest judges were Project Runway alumnus Nick Verreos and model Kerry Washington. Nina Garcia was back again, but Michael Kors was MIA. The designers were challenged to create a companion piece for their best looks, which they did not select for themselves.

Althea was incredibly annoyed that Logan was copying one of her previous looks. Meanwhile, Irina felt that Althea was copying her Aspen look with her oversized, comfortable top. Irina actually tried to accuse Althea of copying her right on the runway, so it was nice to see Althea defend herself and take the win. Irina is a tough one to want to root for, despite her talent; I guess that’s what makes the competition fun to watch. Carol Hannah’s short, black cocktail dress with pockets was adorable, and also could have easily won. Heidi pointed out that she, Nina, or Kerry would all be able to wear that dress.

Christopher’s dress “throwing up another dress,” to use Irina’s description, was somehow deemed superior by the judges to Logan’s zippery, sort of futuristic design. Gordana also landed in the bottom three in this challenge; the judges felt her look was boring, something you would wear if you didn’t want to be noticed.

There’s a pretty good chance that it will be Gordana or Christopher that we will say goodbye to next week, and it looks (at least in my mind) like our top three designers are all women at this point in the season: Irina, Carol Hannah, & Althea. Maybe we’ll have one good catfight yet…

Sixth in a series about Project Runway, Season Six by Mary Salmon

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow Runway Ready on Twitter @Runway_Ready

It's no secret that I adore Katy Perry's music, as well as her style. Check out this collaboration between Katy Perry and the electro-pop duo 3OH!3 in the new video for Starstrukk below. I love this song, but I will be honest, I had never heard it or of 3OH!3 before this remix. (Had any of you?) I say it's a damn smart career move on their part; Katy's vocals are fabulous, her saucy facial expressions are beyond adorable, and the video is not only fun, but also a chance to admire Katy's amazing body in two sexy dresses; I'd never be able to pull off that black & hot pink rubber dress - I'm guessing that it's rubber, but I pretty sure I'm right. I tried a rubber dress on once at the High Street Kensington market in London; I suddenly regret not buying it. I'll warn you that this song is super catchy. Maybe my internet connection is slow tonight, but I was having a little trouble with the streaming of this video. If this happens to you, just let the video play through, and then on the second play, there shouldn't be any issues.

I can't help but notice that the lyrics of this song would be very appropriate for a wronged girlfriend to sing for their ex. Katy has been dating Russell Brand, of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and he isn't exactly known for his monogamous ways. "Everyone knows you don't date Russell Brand seriously," said Georgina Baillie, who is one of Brand's ex-girlfriends, in an interview with Life & Style magazine. Then there's Katy's ex, Travis McCoy, who claims that deep down Katy is a goodie two-shoes and Russell will get bored.

The 3OH!3 gentlemen sing about "tight jeans,” “see through tops,” and “double DDs,” while angry women charge towards them. Katy joins in to sing, "... 'cause I just set them up to knock them down... I think I should know how to make love to something innocent without leaving my fingerprints.” She also sings, while writhing in a fountain in that rubber dress, “That type of sh*t just don’t work with me. Don’t take it personally, 'cause we were never in love. It doesn’t really matter who you say you are, singing out the window of your car. Go find another girl across the bar, 'cause L.O.V.E’s not what this was.”

This photo was taken when the couple were in Paris, visiting the grave of Jim Morrison.

Rumor has it that Katy & Russell are flat-hunting in London, house-hunting in LA, and happy as ever together, so maybe it's just coincidental, but making this video for an ex would be a great way to say you're over him! After meeting backstage at the MTV Music Awards, Russell reportedly wooed Perry by writing a poem in her honor and asked if she would do the same. Instead, Katy - you have to love this woman - sent him a picture of herself with the word 'poem' written across her chest. That's my girl.

By Mary Salmon

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow Runway Ready on Twitter @Runway_Ready

The beginning of Season Two gave all of the fans who love Chuck and Blair together what they had been waiting for - these two finally admitted they loved each other and started a serious relationship (that has lasted longer than I thought would), but it looks like Blair may have just ruined things by lying to Chuck in her efforts to be chosen to make the “Freshman Toast,” at NYU on last Monday’s episode. Now she’s uninvited to Chuck’s big opening! (I bet she crashes the party…)

Here is a preview of the next episode that was posted on Perez Hilton.com (’cause he’s a shameless self-promoter, something I do respect and admire, and his name is dropped in this clip; there’s actually even a shot of his website in the scene).

Tomorrow night’s episode of Gossip Girl will bring the opening night of Chuck’s new hotel & club. Meanwhile, Little J’s relationship with Eric suffers as a result of her playing into her role as queen, trying to rule the school. Here’s sneak peek:

What do you think - can Little J really pull off those fishnets? Judge for yourselves:

Don’t forget to watch this new episode at 9pm tomorrow night, 10/26, on the CW. I just found another great sneak peak! It looks like Dan’s relationship with Olivia Burke (Hilary Duff) is about to hit a bumpy patch.

In other upcoming news, Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) will be making an appearance on Gossip Girl this season. She has said, “I’m beyond obsessed with that show.” Posh (she’ll always be Posh to me) is another high-profile guest star this season; we’ve already seen Tory Burch, Tyra Banks, Hilary Duff, and Sonic Youth, and rumor has it that we’ll also be seeing Lady Gaga performing her new song on the show. I don’t know if Posh will play herself or someone else.

By Mary Salmon

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow Runway Ready on Twitter @Runway_Ready

I myself have been joyfully reconnecting with my fall and winter wear, putting away summer for another year and reaching for some old favorites. While quite serviceable, my own fall wardrobe needs some updating to keep it looking fresh and new. Indulging in the role of customer within my own shop, I thought I would share my personal shopping list with you:

• A new scarf, really two. One for a “pop of color” to accent all my dark clothes and make them look new – something green (Red Chair Studio $77) to show off my eyes and match the one new sweater I purchased for the season. The other is silk crepe with lots of gold, black and grey that will look good with most of my wardrobe (Suraj $59).

• A pair of new gloves....maybe hot pink ($39) to match the lining of last year's coat or a long pair in chocolate ruched velvet (Shell Game $49) that will warm my arms in 3/4 length sleeves.

• A big brooch (Detra Kay $180) that will play many roles; dressing up a lapel, holding a pashmina in place, or added to the side of a hat for evenings out...a huge splurge for sure, but so versatile that I can even clip it to the side of my boot when I wear a LBD. Instant glamour.

I definitely want a couple of hats...one for the fall that is a cap (Asian Eye $42) or a cloche (Toucan $72), and another of boiled wool or cashmere to tuck over my ears, keeping them warm and cozy (Seeberger from Germany or Millie & Cohoe from Canada. $150).

Another must for updating a fall wardrobe is The Handbag. Our newest line, Big Buddha, is the front-runner in affordable fashion handbags for women, featuring rich, saturated colors in a variety of styles that are eco-friendly, stylish, fun and won't break the bank. Big Buddha bags work for women of any age – with styles from polished and classic to playful and sassy.

It's never too early to begin thinking about your Holiday shopping or to start your own Wish List! To make it easy and fun, we invite you to join us any Thursday evening in November...come relax, have a glass of wine and peruse our new holiday inventory. Every nook and corner of the shop is bursting with unique jewels and accessories that are sure to please and delight your senses. November 5, 12, 19, and 26, from 5 – 8 pm, we'll set out the wines, turn down the chaos of the world, and welcome you for a relaxing evening.

This month you'll save on scarves and gloves – Just in time for the chilly weather. We invite you save 10% on any scarf of your choice for four days only. (Friday, Oct 23 – Monday, Oct 26) Add a pair of gloves and we'll give you 10% off them too! Shop early for the best selection.

Visit Us Monday - Thursday 11AM - 6PM, Friday - Saturday 11AM - 8PM, Sunday 11AM - 5PM at Puttin' on the Glitz, 150 State Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fall Flowerboxes

We all love the sprays of colorful flowers that bloom in spring and summer, but don’t let fall weather be an excuse to leave your flowerboxes empty. When layered with bold, burnt autumn hues, your flowerboxes can instantly take on a whole new look. Gather your materials and fill your box in five simple steps:

Step 1 — Ditch the Dirty Work: After you dispose of last season’s blossoms, leave the soil in the bottom of the box—even if somewhat dry, the soil provides a sturdy base for the new items you’ll insert into your flowerbox.

Step 2 — Work with Wire: Next, cut a sheet of chicken wire to fit the top of your flowerbox, then fasten in place with a staple gun—the holes are perfect for inserting stemmed items, creating an arrangement that is lush and proportionate.

Step 3 — Tall Pieces First: Create a frame for the rest of your items by inserting long materials like wispy sticks, twigs, bark, hay and dried grass along the back and sides of your flowerbox. This will add dramatic height and depth to your arrangement—plus, it lends structure and sturdiness to the look.

Step 4 — Showcase Comes Second: Begin to fill in the center of your flowerbox with bold, colorful items, like miniature pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, even fall fruits like apples and pears. Arrange them casually, mixing and matching and letting pieces rest atop one another in pairs or trios.

Step 5 — Finally, Fill it All in: To perfect your look, tuck items like dried leaves, flowers or raffia in between your showcased items. You can also bundle together leftover materials from step 3 to help fill in gaps. This added texture lends a professional polish to your flowerbox—a true harvest for the eyes!

Tip: If you don’t already have flowerboxes attached to your house, consider purchasing some from your local garden store and display them on your porch, patio, mantel or an outdoor bench. Check out more great ideas at homemadesimple.com

By Debbie Breneman

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready

The ninth episode of Project Runway, Season Six, was entitled "Sequins, Feathers and Fur, Oh My!" The designers were challenged to create "an extravagant stage look for Christina Aguilera." You can watch the entire episode here.

The first guest judge was fashion legend Bob Mackie; he has designed for Cher, Diana Ross, Madonna & Tina Turner, to name a few. Christina Aguilera herself is the second guest judge. In my last entry in this Project Runway series, I was not able to show you images, as they had not been posted on the auction site. These particular designs will not be auctioned off, as they were returned to the divorcees. The video below will give you a peek at all the designs from episode eight, where the designers turned divorcees' wedding dresses into something new, but Lifetime is keeping a close eye on youtube, so this video may be yanked at any time. (But someone else will always re-post it...)

This is the first challenge where the winner will not receive immunity, and there will be no more immunity for the remainder of the season. The designs pictured below (Left - Right) are by Althea, the wining design by Carol Hannah, and my personal favorite by Nicholas. These were the three designs the judges were most impressed with. Christina commented that Nicholas' design would be perfect for running and dancing around the stage. She also said she loved the way Carol Hannah's elegant design would hug her curves and said she could picture herself wearing it.

The bottom three designs were by (pictured below left - right) Shirin, Logan, and Christopher. It was Shirin, who clearly did not fully grasp this challenge, who was voted off. Of the bottom three, I didn't think Logan's design was horrible, and Christina said she appreciated that he took a risk.

Christopher was one of my favorites at the start of the season, but he is slowly losing my vote. Althea and Irina are both really talented, but it's hard to root for Irina, as she is not the most pleasant person in the bunch; that most upbeat person may actually be Althea - it's easy to pull for her. I have not fully made up my mind about Carol Hannah, but she is certainly still in the running to make it to the final three. Nicholas has come a long way, but I'm really hot and cold with him from challenge to challenge. I guess what this means is that it's a good season that could bring some surprises - and actually already has - there are many designers who have been voted off before I thought it was their time. Epperson comes to mind, for one.

This Thursday night on Lifetime Michael Kors will return, and the preview for the new episode, below, does not reveal much about the challenge, but it does show us that there will be increasing tensions between the designers.

This last video is silly & just for fun, but fellow Tim Gunn fans should get a kick out of it!

Fifth in a series about Project Runway, Season Six by Mary Salmon

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready

Let JibJab make a monster out of you with its new hair-raising technology. Once you’ve uploaded a few pictures, you can star in your very own version of the classic Halloween hit “The Monster Mash.” It’s a graveyard smash starring you and your friends as Dr. Frankenstein, his monster, his monster's bride, Dracula and the Wolfman!

Anyone can make a movie, but you have to register with JibJab to publish. You can then email your film or the links, post them on your blogs, MySpace pages, Facebook accounts … anywhere! And it’s completely free, so check it out.

And now, featuring my family (and of course, starring me!), the new hit thriller “Monster Mash”!

It doesn’t stop at Halloween. JibJab has a video for whatever the occasion may be. They even keep your Facebook friends birthdays on the page for you – another super fun way to never forget.

Here’s another cool video I think you’ll appreciate from the fine folks at JibJab Media, whose online political satire was among the first to go viral on the Web.

Titled “He’s Barack Obama,” the two-minute video premiered June 19 in front of the president himself at the 65th annual Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner in Washington.

Say you need a costume? Let Runway Ready guide you.

I get right into dressing up for a good party, parade and, yes, on occasion a little adult trick or treating. OK, I have no shame, but I’m always having fun.

In the past I’ve dressed like a few celebrities – Madonna, Gun N’ Roses lead guitarist Slash – and I spooked a few friends with my rendition of GI Jane one year. Y’know, looking back I should have never listened to my friends who told me I looked like Demi Moore; I’m pretty sure bald isn’t a good look for me.

Anyway, you can go Gaga, if you dare.

With a penchant for thigh-high boots, leotards (sans bottoms) and eyebrow-raising accessories, Lady Gaga is made for Halloween. We shopped the city to create costumes inspired by the House of Gaga.
Source: nymag.com

And here’s an Ultimate List of Celebrity Costume Ideas for Halloween 2009 by Darrin Atkins. These celebrity Halloween costumes should be a big hit in 2009.

People are always fascinated by Hollywood celebrities. This Halloween, you’re likely to see more celebrity costumes than ever before because many famous stars passed away this year. There are some great ideas for a celebrity costume for Halloween.

By Debbie Breneman

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready

This is exciting news. One of our very own Runway Ready readers, Jessica Miller of Buffalo, N.Y., has not only entered Lifetime's contest to be a new model strutting down the catwalk on upcoming seasons of "Project Runway” and “Models of the Runway," but she has made it to the third round!!! PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR JESSICA BEFORE OCTOBER 30 - That's when Round Three ends.

Aspiring models have entered the Models of the Runway Casting Challenge, created profiles and are competing for a spot on the show! By signing up and collecting votes, entrants of the Casting Challenge get closer everyday for their chance to experience the drama, anxiety, joys and frustrations the models themselves face each week on the show. The five finalists will also be awarded $1,000 each.

At the end of Round Three, the top three entrants with the most votes along with two “wild card” users chosen by the show producers and Lifetime will move onto the final round making up the Five Finalists. Jessica is one of 50 girls left in round three, and she could use our help and support to get to the top three so she can advance to the final round. You can check out Jessica's entry & vote here.

In the final round, the Five Finalists will be announced! In this round, vote counts will again go back to zero but with a twist! (It wouldn’t be a “challenge” with a twist right?) The vote count for the Top Five will be a “blind” vote count and hidden to users and contestants. This makes for excitement when the winner of the Models of the Runway Casting Challenge will be announced. Round Four, the final round, will take place from Saturday, October 31 through Sunday, November 8.

When Jessica introduced herself in round one, she said, "I have wanted to model professionally since I was young, just like a lot of girls. I think this would be such a great opportunity. I feel I have a nice height and look to make it. I just need to be given that chance. This would be a dream come true and change my life. I would love to gain the experience." She also has videos posted on her profile page, so you can get to know her a little better, before placing your vote.

Describing her dream runway walk? Jessica said, "I would say any runway basically! haha :) I think it would be nice to have it in on a beach, maybe model some swimwear, but my DREAM RUNWAY WALK would be a Victoria's Secret Fashion show! If I was in a Victoria's Secret Fashion show, I would want it to take place in NYC or LA, of course. I would love for the background music to be up beat and at a faster pace. I think just being in the show is enough, getting to work with all the other wonderful models. What celebrities would be in the front row? It wouldn't matter too much to me but it would be nice to see the Olsen twins, Gerard Butler, Jessica Simpson, and The Kardashian family. After this show my name would be out there and hopefully agents would see me and I would get more offers to walk other shows! :D That would be my dream runway walk and dream come true."

Here are some of Jessica's favorite quotes:
"The dreams in your heart are only previews of your future. Hold fast to them...never let them go till they are here."
"Disregard the hype; if popular opinion says one thing, do the complete opposite."
"Progress always involves risk; you can't steal second base and keep your foot on first"

The winner of the final round will be selected by show producers based on weighted scores of each of the five remaining contestants. These scores will consist of 60% judges score and 40% public voting. Let's lend our support to Jessica & help get her on the next season of Models of the Runway!

By Mary Salmon

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready

This year, the 19th Annual Keene Pumpkin Festival will be held today, Saturday, October 17, 2009, from 10am to 9pm. While you're waiting to see what thousands of pumpkins lit at one time looks like, the entire family can spend the day downtown with special activities for the kids including a costume parade, a seed spitting and pie eating contests, live music on three stages, facepainting, craft booths, lots of food provided by area non-profits, and much more. The evening culminates with a spectacular fireworks display. If you plan to carve a pumpkin while you are there, you may want to check out Runway Ready's recent suggestions.

Photo Credits: Al Braden

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geoff Useless Downloads

Check out these free downloads from my very talented friend Geoff Palmer (You may know him from The Guts.)

By Mary Salmon

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready

Released Dec. 2, 1983 as the most expensive video of its time ($500,000), Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” spawned one of the hottest dance crazes of the last quarter-century.

It was a phenomenon back in the 80s, when my girlfriends and I danced at my house, cranking the stereo as loud as we could, and dear old dad threatened to break the album because we kept playing it over and over.
And it remains a phenomenon today. Halloween has always brought out “Thriller”-inspired werewolves and zombies eager to emulate Jackson’s signature moves. Just check YouTube to find groups around the globe rocking the tune’s spooky choreography.

Well, the “Thriller” craze has now hit Portsmouth.

Organizer Tara E. Sullivan isn’t trying to break any world records, nor is she even a giant Jackson fan. But she does have a love of Halloween and wanted to express her excitement for this great holiday by bringing locals together to perform the zombie dance in the annual downtown Portsmouth Halloween Parade (Saturday, Oct. 31).
With help from Portsmouth Athletic Club (PAC), dance instructors Nel Dennett, Harmani Erhardt, Cathleen Delaney, Stacie Paradis and a few other dance enthusiasts, Sullivan will be coaching wannabe zombies on how to dance in unison to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and then unleash them into the streets on parade night. Here’s my interview with organizer Tara Sullivan telling us what inspired her to pull this all together:

Runway Ready: Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Tara E. Sullivan: I’m an artist, a graphic/web designer who is “between jobs” at the moment and I’m originally from Dallas, Texas. I've always been a leader and an organizer at heart, but this whole process has actually been a fantastic opportunity. Working on the “Thriller” dance has shown me just how good I am at generating excitement and marketing for events I believe in. It's like finding out you’re a talented cook, but you never realized it because you never tried to cook before! So it’s been very eye-opening for me.

Runway Ready: What inspired you to organize this event? Are you a Michael Jackson fan?

Tara: Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, but it isn't celebrated much in Texas (it's usually still in the 90s on Halloween). So, of course, I fell in love with New England and how everyone celebrates it up here. Imagine my joy when I discovered Portsmouth's Halloween Parade and the wonderful committed people who organize that event. Everyone's costumes for the parade are always so creative and interesting, so it just seemed natural to want to be a part of it.
I'm actually not much of a Michael Jackson fan – I prefer his childhood work with the Jackson Five and the early 80s to his later work. He was a very controversial figure for many reasons and when I started to float the idea of organizing a “Thriller” dance for the parade the responses ran the gamut from, “Don't you think it's disrespectful to do this now that he’s gone?” to “Why would you honor him like that?” But overall, everyone has been very excited and positive, and I think we all see it the same way. It’s not honoring him, per se – we’re just using his work to express our excitement for this great holiday. And that’s it. Plus, it looks awesome!

Runway Ready: How many zombies do you expect will come out for the dance? A group in Mexico City claims to have had 13,000 people dancing to “Thriller” at an Aug. 29 event. Can you beat that?

Tara: Ha ha, of course not. I'm not sure there are that many people in New Hampshire, much less in the Seacoast area! We’re not shooting to break any records. Right now I've got 130 zombies on my e-mail list for notifications, but the classes have mostly been half “regulars” (people who've been coming to every class and are on my e-mail list) and half “newbies” (those who just heard about it and wanted to come). So it wouldn't be completely out of the realm of possibility that we get more than 130 zombies to participate. We do anticipate that some people who've been practicing won't attend the parade; it's just hard to say how many until Halloween night. We're not a professional dance troupe and they didn't sign any contracts, so they're essentially volunteers – zombie volunteers. (On second thought, I may be speaking too soon about that record – I've been approached to organize a dance in Boston for next year, so who knows? Maybe we can break the record in 2010!)

Runway Ready: Do you have a Michael Jackson impersonator who will be wearing the infamous glittery glove? If so, who?

Tara: We do have a “Michael,” but I hesitate to call him an impersonator. He just started and has only been to a few classes, so we’re trying to make sure he’s up to speed for Halloween night. He’s got a lot of heart and shows a lot of commitment and has been attending all the classes. I don’t think he'll be wearing the glittery glove, but we’re working on a red leather MJ outfit. He hasn't given me permission to give out his name, so he’ll have to remain a mystery for now.

Runway Ready: I hear you’re offering dance workshops. How can interested folks register to learn the dance? Can you just show up and join in without registering or taking the dance sessions?

Tara: The Seacoast Sports Clubs have been fantastic and have donated the practice space to us free of charge, so there's no registration process really, you just sign an insurance waiver. And if you want to join my mailing list I encourage people to e-mail me at portsmouththriller@gmail.com, but we’re trying to discourage people who’ve never danced “Thriller” before from joining in at this point, unless they’ve practiced at home and have some knowledge of the dance. Our wonderful instructors, who are also donating their time, are Cathleen Delaney and Stacie Paradis. They spent all of September teaching the first half of the dance – over and over and over – and we discovered we weren’t able to get through the whole dance in the allotted class time. Because of that, we agreed that they would teach only the second half of the dance through October. So unfortunately our instructors won’t have much time to help people who are starting from scratch.

Runway Ready: So what’s hot in zombie threads? Just kidding – but really, where are participants getting their costumes?

Tara: You wouldn’t believe the costume ideas people have. I thought as an artist I was creative, but our dancers’ versions of zombies are going to be just incredible! People seem to be bypassing the “basic zombie” look in favor of zombie combinations like vampire-zombie or werewolf-zombie. I’ve also heard people expressing interest in special effects, like an exposed skull effect or exposed brains. Mostly, people are purchasing their “zombie threads” from local thrift stores so they don’t feel guilty covering them in fake blood and gore. I don’t want to give too much away because there’s a lot of thought going into their costumes and I don’t want to ruin the effect, but the zombie costumes are really going to be something to see.

Runway Ready: Do you think this will become an annual tribute to Michael Jackson?

Tara: Well, as I said, it’s not really about it being a tribute to Michael Jackson, because he was such a controversial figure. Many people have mixed feelings about him as a person. We’re really focusing on this as a great way to use his art to express our excitement for Halloween. It was a wonderfully choreographed dance that is so much fun, and it’s actually easy to learn.
I’ve come to view this whole process as being a large piece of interpretive art based on Michael Jackson’s work. I think “Thriller” speaks to us in its own way. The effect of seeing hundreds of zombies moving in unison is both scary and a joy to see. It looks cool on YouTube, but it will look AMAZING in person. Trust me, I’ve seen it. As for whether or not it will become an annual thing, I can’t really say for sure. It seems particularly relevant this year, since people are still thinking about Michael Jackson and he’s still at the front of the public mind.
Next year it may be completely different, but if there’s enough interest from people and our dance instructors, and if companies like the Seacoast Sports Clubs agree to donate the space, we could definitely do it again. I’m definitely hoping it’s not a one-off. It’s been a blast!

***
For more information about the Portsmouth Thriller Dance, please visit the Portsmouth Thriller Dance blog. You can find class times, dates and locations there, as well as notifications and current info, tips on how to dress like a zombie, frequently asked questions, and relevant videos and costume links. People are also encouraged to visit www.spookyportsmouth.com to view the parade route and schedule, and to keep abreast of the many fun fund-raising events for the parade.

There are many other Seacoast zombie events coming up, so if you really love zombies (who doesn’t?) please check them out, too. Join co-organizer Larry Clow and the rest of the brain-loving undead in Dover for the Dover Zombie Walk on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. No training necessary; just show up as your bad zombie self and shuffle around menacingly looking for brains. Info at doverzombiewalk.wordpress.com.

And if you’d like to see a preview of the Thriller Dance Zombie-stravaganza, join us Wednesday, Oct. 28, 6:30-9:30pm at the Redhook Brewery for the “Halloween SpookUp!” – a collaboration between the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, NHTweetUp and Redhook Brewery. Come enjoy appetizers, locally brewed beer and great company. Costumes are optional but strongly encouraged, and there will be a “people’s choice” Best Costume contest. There will be music, a visit by some of the Portsmouth Thriller Zombies and a tour of the brewery at 7pm. Tickets to the event are free. Visit spookup.eventbrite.com for information and to reserve your spot.

By Debbie Breneman

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready

This time of year, I just love when the pumpkins appear. Suddenly, they're everywhere, and it's a beautiful, orange thing. I'm proud of myself if I manage to carve a pumpkin, but I usually feel slightly less proud when I pass more creatively carved pumpkins that my neighbors have put out on display. (Like my neighbor who made the "Puking Pumpkin" - with pumpkin seeds and pumpkin guck coming out of it's carved mouth... there's not a stencil for that particular pumpkin in this entry, but I thought it was original.)

Reader's Digest.com offers 12 ready-to-carve designs. They also have a Step-by-Step Pumpkin Carving Guide. (I would probably skip reading the guide, but I'm here to help you readers...)

The list of items they suggest you have before you start reads as follows:
-Pumpkin
-Pumpkin-carving tools (available online at www.yankeehalloween.com
-Flat-edged ice-cream scoop or scraper scoop
-Paring knife
-Masking tape
-Ballpoint pen
-Pushpins, corsage pins, or straight pins
-Petroleum jelly
-Candle
-Tracing paper or tissue paper
-Pencil
-Scissors

I have to admit, I may be curious enough to figure out how the petroleum jelly fits into this equation to actually read the step-by-step guide. ;)

The three pumpkins pictured at the very top of this entry are from World Wildlife Fund- these are the most challenging & elaborate of the templates I have found online. Carve your favorite endangered species! (Sounds kind of funny, but that's the idea - to create awareness.)

Huggies offers some patterns for the Moms out there! This would be a fun project to do with any child who is into Disney. Choose Aurora, Prince, Maleficent, Fairies and Dragon from the Sleeping Beauty Collection. You can also choose Cinderella, Castle, Cat and Mouse from the Cinderella collection. You are able to click on the pattern size perfect for your pumpkin and print.

I also really like the selection available at Better Homes & Garden. Once on their site, click on the arrow to the right of the picture of the stencil and it will show you what the pumpkin will look like when carved. (This is the site with the Haunted House pattern that I think is pretty cool & doesn't seem ridiculously difficult, shown above. You do need to sign in or register, but they are free.)

David Letterman, in my opinion, would be the perfect celebrity to carve this Halloween. (Perhaps his wife would agree?) Patterns for Stephen Colbert, Oprah, Jon Stewart, Sarah Palin (the longer I look at that one, the scarier it looks - seriously), Rachael Ray & many others are also available. And if carving is not your thing, check out these "no-carve" ideas, like the one shown below.

So, do you feel like carving a pumpkin now? I'm going to go out & buy a pumpkin and some petroleum jelly tomorrow!

By Mary Salmon

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready

We're in the process of upgrading the software behind our blogs, in large part to add some new features and capabilities you'll be experiencing soon. As part of this process, we've changed the location of our RSS feeds.

(Clockwise from top left – Designs by: Chris, Nicholas, Althea, Epperson, Shirin, Gordana, Ra’mon, Louise)

It’s time to play catch-up with the sixth season of Project Runway. This top photo shows eight of the designs from the sixth episode, entitled Lights, Camera, Sew!; the challenge was to create a look inspired by a movie genre including western, noir, period, action/adventure (not pictured above), or science fiction.

The guest judges were designer John Varvatos, costume designer Arianne Phillips and Marie Claire’s Shopping Editor, Zoe Glassner. I loved Chris’ period piece for a vampire bride, but the winner of this challenge was Nicholas’ evil ice queen.

Nicholas’ genre was science fiction, which he interpreted in more of a fantasy direction. This was probably a good idea, as none of the judges were crazy about Ra’mon’s green “swamp thing” sci-fi costume, and unfortunately he was the designer who did not make it to the next episode.

Episode seven, entitled The Sky is the Limit, challenged our designers to create two designs for the Macy's INC brand. Pictured above are one of the winning designs (right) and one of the losing designs (left). The designers worked with partners on this challenge. Nicholas had immunity, and he was paired with Louise. She made two dresses with ruffles; he stated he hated ruffles. I think Louise has talent, but certainly a talent that is not particularly modern, and not very marketable.

Irina, with partner Althea, won this challenge. Irina, as winner of this challenge, will have her design produced for Macy's - available in select stores and on Macy's.com/projectrunway. The guest judges for this challenge were Martine Reardon, Executive VP-Marketing at Macy's, and Zanna Roberts, Marie Claire's Senior Fashion Editor. It was refreshing to FINALLY see Michael Kors again during the judging, as well.

At this point in the season, I have lost a bit of respect for Chris, who was a cry-baby on the stage when no one liked his shirt dress, but he still has produced many amazing designs since the start of the season. Irina continues to impress me. Gordana has talent, but I don't see her making it to the final three. Logan's episodes are numbered at his point, in my humble opinion. I'm not sure what I think of Shirin overall, but I do think that she & Carol Hannah deserved the win on this challenge with their designs shown below.

The most recent challenge, entitled A Fashionable New Beginning, was to convert an old wedding dress into a new look. The clients of the designers were all divorcees. Shirin had a challenge with a divorcee who wanted a Cher costume, feathered headdress and all, but was working with only two yards of material from the original dress. (The designers were limited to another two yards when they shopped at Mood, forcing them to really use the wedding dress material.) Unfortunately, these photos have not yet been added to the auction site, but you can click here to watch the entire episode- or just skip ahead to the runway & judging.

The guest judges were Zanna Roberts (again) and Tamara Mellon, founder of the Jimmy Choo Company. Michael Kors was back again, but I'm still missing Nina. Gordana won with a very beautiful design, that was very edgy for her, and you could tell her model loved it. Epperson made a terrible design that unfortunately made his model resemble a bar wench. To be totally honest, I didn't like Chris' design much more. It looked like a garbage bag cinched in the middle. My money is on the women this season!

Fourth in a series about Project Runway, Season Six by Mary Salmon

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready

Good evening, readers. As the bone-chilling spirit of Halloween creeps near, we start checking the shadows under our beds, closing squeaky closet doors and keep the nightlight flickering, while shivering with the covers over our heads. But this is the season to be scared, right?

There’s just something so enchanting about Halloween for me – the thrill of getting disguised for a Halloween party, the chills of a paralyzingly scary movie or a haunted house echoing with evil laughter that just gets my blood curdling. Maybe it’s just my dark side (think Vincent Price laughing “BAHA, BAHHHAAA!”).

So enter the unknown with me, as I guide you through some gruesome ideas for costumes, parades, movies and haunted houses that I hope will leave you sleeping with one eye open. (Bahhaa, Bahhaa!! You get the idea.) One of my favorite haunts when seeking a good costume is iParty – one of the country’s largest party retailers and a true Halloween HQ. They’ve got reality TV stars, tabloid celebs and many of the high-profile names who died this year.

“We’ll always have firemen, princesses and ninja turtles in stock,” says Sal Perisano, CEO of iParty. “But our Halloween business has truly evolved into a reflection of popular culture. We’re stocking wigs and add-ons that will let folks create their own celebrity costumes.”

Here are some of the celebrities that a customer might consider creating with supplies from iParty this Halloween:

Brangelina – Wigs, lips and babies (trip to Africa not included)
Kate Gosselin – One “Eight is Too Much” wig, instant Kate!
Kardashian sisters – Fake hair and fake body parts
Amy Winehouse – Rehab Kit: complete with wig, tattoo and rehab form
King of Pop – Do the moonwalk with the glove, jacket, hat and sunglasses
Susan Boyle – Sing like the dowdy Brit with a wig and microphone
Farrah Fawcett – Re-create that one of kind hairstyle with a wig
Adam Lambert – Eyeliner and a wig is all one needs to recreate this star
Manny Ramirez – Dreadlocks and a baseball hat (attitude sold separately)
The vampires from “Twilight” and “True Blood” – Fangs, fake blood and an Edward Cullen cardboard cutout

Remember the good old days when screamfest flicks like “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” and old-school “Halloween” serial killer Michael Myers had us sleeping between mom and dad at 3 a.m.? Well, move over Michael. Hollywood’s horror laboratories are turning out nightmares (“Jennifer’s Body,” “The Stepfather,” “Pandorum,” “Paranormal Activity,” “The Uninvited,” “The Unborn,” “Saw VI”) that will take you hours to shake.

I never miss the annual Portsmouth Hallow Parade here in our own historic ghostly streets – Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. Here are links to some parade action I filmed in 2007 and 2008 (excuse the amateur footage).

Also, calling all Zombies! Get your dancing shoes on and join the Thriller Dance Mob in the streets of downtown Portsmouth this Halloween! This is a completely independent effort on the part of a few local Halloween Parade fans (check out their Facebook page for details or email portsmouththriller@gmail.com).

Check this YouTube video and learn the chorography so you can join in. I’ll be on roller skates this year, so I guess I’ll have to hand off the Handycam to my husband.

This video should get you in the mood. Check out this group of New Yorkers who pulled the Thriller danced off in a Parade last year in NY.

And, for the Halloween enthusiast who wants to be scared out of their skin, here are details on some New Hampshire haunted houses: (You can enter, but can you ever leave? HA-BLAA!!)

Haunted Acres Haunted House in Epping, NH is an 1860 western ghost town, with four amazing attractions. The Skeleton salon featuring, dead man's jail, and mine shaft. The 3D nuclear accident takes the elevator to frightening rooms filled with ice caves, spinning floors. The 1/4 mile nightmare walk strolls over the bridge and into the extremely dark and dense forest. New this year is an 1800sqft maze from hell.

Fright Kingdom Haunted House in Nashua, NH. This October, FEAR will have an all-new name… FRIGHT KINGDOM!!! Located just 50 feet from the highway, and ALL INDOORS, FRIGHT KINGDOM will be bringing the Southern New Hampshire area a brand new arsenal of fiendish fun, RAIN or SHINE!!! With two Haunted Attractions and many other tricks and treats, they will provide the scares... you bring the screams!

Nightmare New England & SpookyWorld!
Haunted House in Litchfield, NH is one of Americas largest & most terrifying Halloween Scream Parks featuring SEVEN Haunted Attractions at one location, the Monster Midway, live music, rides, games, restaurant, bar, Zombie Paintball and more! VOTED ONE OF AMERICAS BEST HAUNTS for 2009! Over 100,000 sq. ft. of terror await you at New England's premier Halloween Scream Park!

Factory of Terror Haunted House in Fall River, MA is an upscale haunted house with 30 rooms of terror. This factory building has been abandoned and haunted for the past 100 years with passageways behind the spirit filled walls and underground tunnels, one of which leads to Lizzie's bedroom where the infamous murders took place. Bring a friend! You'll see why!

HAUNTED OVERLOAD is a Haunted House in Lee, NH is the most exciting and original outdoor scream park in New England! Marvel at the movie quality sets and monsters, some reaching 34 feet tall. Now at Coppal House Farm, Haunted Overload has become bigger and better, changing sets and monsters every year! Bring a change of shorts and leave the little ones at home. This event sells out fast!

Haunted Woods Haunted House in Center Barnstead, NH has OSG Paintball and hosts a charity fundraiser for the Hampstead Stage Company. Themed tours through haunted villages, western towns, and New England's largest Medieval castle. Click Here for More Info.

NH Lions Haunted House is a Haunted House in Manchester, NH with 13 Rooms of Fright Under Cover - Shows Rain or Shine OCTOBER 23, 24, 25, 30 & 31 6-10 FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS 5-9 SUNDAY MERCHANTSAUTO.COM STADIUM (HOME OF THE FISHER CATS) $15.00 Click Here for More Info.

Tales Among the Ruins Haunted House in Salem, NH
America's Stonehenge has joined forces with Ghostlight Theater Co. to bring you a special, extra spooky Halloween guided tour as only America's Stonehenge can! Click Here for More Info.

Timmons Bros. Productions in Salem, NH. Haunted House in Timmons Bros. Productions is the creative genius behind the famous and popular Haunted Hollywood, and its newest creation, Spicket Hollow. Both haunts are known as a yard haunt throughout the haunting industry, and takes place every Halloween Night in Salem, New Hampshire, USA. Enter the realm of our newest haunt, Spicket Hollow, and tempt your fate. Click Here for More Info.

Tunnel of Terror Haunted House in Hudson, NH is a home haunt in operation since 1987. A large walk through enclosed porch is the primary haunt. This changes every year and is designed to be as frightening as possible. An outdoor graveyard holds a treat station and other visual effects and is design with the younger crowd in mind.

By Debbie Breneman

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready

Calling all proud parents!!! Gap is searching for the new faces of babyGap & GapKids with their 4th Annual Casting Call Contest. Gap is teaming up with Disney Family.com for a nationwide search to find America’s brightest personalities and most adorable young faces.

Gap's nationwide search for babies and kids with a twinkle in their eye, charm in their smile and an expressive personality to match has officially started. Disney Family.com will also be offering phenomenal prizes and more chances to win with its first-ever America’s Fan Favorite and Voters' Sweepstakes awards.

"Casting Call is one of our favorite programs and this year we want to make it bigger and better than ever,” said Pam Wallack, president of babyGap, GapKids and GapMaternity. “The contest is a unique and fun way for us to interact with our customers and their children and we are extremely excited to be partnering with Disney, a brand synonymous with not only families but also family entertainment, to enhance the program and add a little something special to this year’s Casting Call.”

How Casting Call Works:

Entry Phase: Deadline is October 22. Parents across the country can enter their child in the contest by visiting gap.com/castingcall to upload a photo of their baby (ages four and under) and kid (ages five to 10) for a chance to be featured in an upcoming babyGap or GapKids campaign in Feb. 2010.

The Finalists: Once the entry phase closes on Oct. 22, judges will narrow down the field to twenty finalists -- 10 babies (five girls and five boys) for babyGap and 10 kids (five girls and five boys) for GapKids. The 20 finalists will be flown to San Francisco with their families to participate in an official Gap photo shoot and will receive prize packages, including a $500 Gap gift card and a deluxe Disney gift bag.

Voting Phase: On Dec. 7, the twenty finalists will be unveiled and voting will begin on gap.com/castingcall. It will then be up to America to decide the next faces of babyGap and GapKids for a 2010 campaign. Voters can vote once a day every day for babyGap [1 boy and 1 girl] and GapKids [1 boy and 1 girl]. And contestants won't be the only ones with a chance to win great prizes. This year, Gap and Disney Family.com are offering a special Voter Sweepstakes. For each vote cast at gap.com/castingcall from Dec. 7 – Dec. 21, voters will be entered in a contest to win a weeklong Luxury Included® Caribbean family vacation to Beaches Resorts in Turks and Caicos or Jamaica.

The Winners: Four children will be selected as winners of the Gap Casting Call -- one baby girl and one baby boy for babyGap and one girl and one boy for GapKids. The winners will be featured in the windows of babyGap and GapKids stores from coast-to-coast and will receive other incredible prizes from Gap and Disney including a $1,000 Gap gift card and a Disney on Broadway package in New York or Las Vegas for a two-night VIP Lion King experience.

“In addition to inspiring great ideas for family life, Disney Family.com and the Gap are now giving moms a chance to showcase the kids that make it all worthwhile,” said Emily Smith, vice president, Disney Online Mom and Family Portfolio.

Introducing the Fan Favorite Award:
For the first time in Casting Call history, Gap is introducing an award for America’s “Fan Favorite.” The lucky child who receives the most votes will win a weeklong Luxury Included® Caribbean family vacation to Beaches Resorts in Turks and Caicos or Jamaica.

Fan Favorite voting runs through Nov. 17 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 7, along with the 20 finalists. To help get the word out, parents can leverage the power of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, and good ole’ fashioned e-mail to help get votes for their adorable tot.

To help spread the word about their charismatic Casting Call contestant, parents can create a "printable," an adorable mini Gap shopping bag photo holder with arms and legs to showoff their aspiring model. When parents submit a photo of their child, they can opt to print out the printable character that sits on the edge of a table or desk and holds a “Vote for Me” sign.

Visit gap.com/castingcall for official contest and sweepstakes rules and information.

-Mary Salmon

----
If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready