JANE IP: Pretty in Pink

Jane is one of the nicest designers I have met. She does not take herself too seriously, is easy going and very cheerful. Her favorite colour is pink, which in her native Hong Kong is associated with good luck.

She is the founder of Jeanne Lottie Fashion – a handbag and accessory line she started in the basement of her sister’s house with just $5,000. I asked her about the name, it's apparently a combination of her name and her sister’s (Charlotte). In Cantonese it means ‘true happiness’ - no need to focus-group that one!

Before the interview we chatted about Hong Kong, I told her about my recent trip there, my project there and how much I enjoyed the energy of the city and its historic role as bridge between the Orient and the West. Hong Kong gave Jane much of her vigour and creative spark, elements of her native culture creep into her designs. Jane comes from a family of established business folk, creativity and being a business woman are in her blood.

She spoke at length about her journey to Toronto via Oregon, where she went to university with her high school sweetheart. When that romance fizzled, her sister lured her to Toronto claiming the city had an endless supply of eligible bachelors. She hopped on the next plane.

In Toronto she studied for her MBA at the Schulich School of Business at York University, but her heart was not in it. The call to do something creative with her life was far too alluring and
Oregon’s loss is our gain.

Jane has not only livened up the lives of many women with her handbags and fashion accessories, but hosts an annual Pink Bedroom Party, an event that raises money for the Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research at Princess Margaret Hospital. "Why Pink Bedroom?" you may well ask. That's the colour of Jane's boudoir where she initially dreamt of the party.

I was at this year’s party held at the Liberty Grand, it was a sold out, swanky grand affair. Wonderful people, fab grub and all for a good cause. Don't miss out on next year's event, the tickets at $250 were a steal.

Oh, I did ask Jane some dumb questions only a guy would ask about women and handbags (apparently you can never have enough handbags), I also probed a bit about shoes and you will be pleased to hear that the conversation on that topic did not flow to its logical (and well-worn) conclusion involing one Mrs Marcos.

JEANNE LOTTIE WEBSITE
http://www.jeannelottie.com/

FRANKY RICH: Boldly, visually...empowered!

“Letting go of the desire to control the end result unleashes an indefinable energy, food for the soul”
-Franky Rich, July 2002

Visual artist Franky Rich is turning 80 next year. She has enjoyed a career as a painter, fashion designer (ask her about Ertha Kitt), interior designer and performance artist. I have known Franky for a few months now and, based on several in-depth personal discussions with her, I can truthfully say that her art (especially her paintings) is what has kept her strong over the decades. She has weathered the ups and downs of life with a childlike grace. She is an inspiration to many.

I first met Franky Rich at a social gathering she hosted at her home a few months ago, and I was taken by her story. Here was this woman, approaching 80, going blind yet still painting and living life to the fullest. The walls of her apartment are full of her paintings going back decades. They weave a narrative of her origins, her encounters and her hopes for the future.

The single unifying belief that permeates all of her work is that this current life, our “reality” is transient and part of one’s larger cosmic journey through time and space. Instead of muddling through an explanation of this, I’ll let The Bard step in with a more elegant summary of Franky’s beliefs about the nature of our existence on this planet. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life, is rounded with a sleep”.

The interview with Franky Rich focused on her Artist Statement she penned in July 2002. The opening line reads: “Art can be understood, it cannot be explained” Although she studied art at colleges in her native South Africa and Quebec, she feels that her paintings have always been intuitive. When she found out a few years ago that she is gradually losing her vision, she initially felt a lot of anger and did not leave her apartment for a few months. The need to be creative eventually overcame any depression she felt and now she proudly proclaims to be “visually empowered.” She now no longer feels bound by the canvass and traditional forms of presenting art. Her blindness liberated her thinking about art and certainly her life. I could not help but think of Milton’s elegant sonnet which he penned “On his Blindness”.

Thirty minutes flew by mighty fast as we discussed a wide range of topics from her family, growing up in South Africa and the awful sights she witnessed there as a child, coming to Canada in the 1960s and her friendship with Toronto poet Bill Bissett. As for Franky’s future plans…you heard it here first… She is doing a multimedia show with the talented musician Marc Ellis in May 2008 titled Divine Monsters, Future Landscapes (based on a series of her paintings with that title). I will forward more information on that event in the New Year when details are available.

VALERIE GIBSON: Pursuit of Happiness

My chat with Valerie Gibson, author, radio and television personality and sought-after speaker was one that piqued the most interest from my social circle. Valerie has appeared on many top American television shows and networks such as Dr. Phil, Montel Williams and Maury. She’s written a book, Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men, which is a top seller in Canada and available across the U.S. and the U.K.

While we waited for our designated microphone time at the studio –we spent a few moments chatting on the couch. Valerie is very open, easy to talk to and has a lot of useful stuff to say about relationships. She is a transplanted Brit who grew up in a family where sex and relationships were not openly discussed. ("No sex please -we're British" -to quote the title of a play). Her dad was a colonel in the British Army.

During her time as a writer for the Toronto Sun she was initially the fashion columnist and took the name of the Toronto Sun (yes, our Toronto Sun) to the inner sanctums of the fashion world: Paris, Milan, etc.

She had a book out on relationships. When her editor at the newspaper found out how successful it was, read it and asked her to change beats and dish out relationship advice. She initially refused and finally caved in after being wooed with a few glasses of wine over lunch. (Note to self: cut out cocktails at business lunches).

Human sexual relationships seem to drive most of the stuff you see in the media (apart from politics –although the combination of sex & politics do make quite a lethal cocktail).We all want to be accepted, be loved by someone special and some of us even want long-term intimacy with a mate (and an official piece of paper that bears proof to that union).

According to Valerie, we live in a culture that has always been shy about embracing sexuality as part of a normal and wholesome life.

One thing she has learned through the many years of writing about relationships is that the basics of human sexuality have not changed. The same things that drove our ancient ancestors to seek connectedness are still in full force today, with minor social variations on this basic theme. Enter the cougar.

In Valerie’s view, many successful, independent women in their 40’s and 50’s who probably have been down the domestic route and don’t want anything serious relationship-wise, are finding their match in younger men who are into casual dating and having a good time without the pressure and drama of meeting the parents, settling down and raising a family.

Her book has been very well received. By her own admission she is very well qualified to be a relationship expert –having survived 5 marriages, she knows what NOT to do.

She spoke at length on extra-marital affairs, why so many men and women would risk losing so much of what they have worked hard for.

We gossiped a bit about high profile political/sexual scandals –US congressmen sending “improper” messages to congressional pages, senators embroiled in bathroom solicitation scandals.

I thought I would end by quoting her bio: “She is currently single and enthusiastically exploring the joys (and many hazards!) of the dating world and loves to help people enjoy and understand single life, no matter what their age.”

VALERIE’S WEBSITE AND HER BOOK:
http://www.valeriegibson.com