Curves & Cocktails

Vendor Spotlight: GGX Jewels

2010-04-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Meet Gina Nims Brotherton, the founder of Glamma Gurl Xpressions (GGX) Jewels, an exciting new line of jewelry set to take the world by storm!

Glamma Gurl Xpressions (GGX) Jewels (http://www.ggxjewels.com/)

Gina modeling some of her jewelry

(All Photos courtesy GGXJewels.com)

What’s your hometown?
Baltimore, MD currently residing in Alexandria , VA.

What was the catalyst in your opening GGX Jewels?

The catalyst for me was honestly quite selfish - I was tired of spending money for the fashionable trendy accessories that “average” size women were wearing but that didn’t properly or comfortably fit my full-figured frame. (Either that, or I was spending way too much for “plus sized” jewelry at national retailers that would easily fall to pieces or tarnish quickly). I am a 9-5/M-F corporate business woman & I started getting bored with the day-to-day of office life, so decided to try my hand at a few modeling photo-shoots to do something different on my weekends. I needed to have the proper accessories to make my look *POP* for the camera. In 2005, I made my first necklace & bracelet set and was totally blown away by all of the comments I received – to the point someone offered to buy the set right off of me – literally. Two very dear friends of mine were with me at dinner that night, and suggested that I started selling the pieces I made. Funny thing is I was very protective over my creations and didn’t want to sell anything *lol* I wanted everything I made for myself. But eventually, I got over it and started Glamma Gurl Xpressions (now GGX Jewels). While I specialize in jewelry for EVERY size, taste, and style…I have a special place in my heart & my jewelry for the curvy ladies. The GGX Glamma’Rous Curves © collection is geared towards only the curviest of Divas!

Copper Coral Reef - Adjustable Cuff bracelet

What’s your inspiration? I’m inspired by a lot of things – but honestly, I eat, sleep, and breathe GGX. I create something every single day, and nothing brings me more joy than to see someone wearing something that I’ve created with my own two hands. Nothing can be more inspiring to an artist than that! I also love to be able to offer my family a more stable financial future by doing something that I absolutely love to do and am so passionate about. I want to teach my daughter that you can live your dreams (even if only part-time for now!)…

14kt wire wrapped glass earrings

If you had to pick a favorite design from your collection, what would it be?

I can’t pick just 1 design! But, I can pick one style – My very favorite thing to make and wear is anything with bended/wrapped wire (to include my wire-wrapped rings, earrings, and cuff bracelets). I truly *heart* these pieces because each one is so different, and it’s own individual piece of wearable art.

What do you hope to gain from being a vendor at Curves & Cocktails?

I truly believe that my experience and exposure at such a prestigious event will help me to grow my business (and skill level, as I prepare pieces for the event) and get more people exposed to and wearing my GGX creations. The fact that I live in the DC area, and have an opportunity to go show my wares in the Big Apple? It’s a blessing, and it’s a dream come true. I’m confident that the C & C shoppers will love what they see, and perhaps I’ll make a networking connection that will help me elevate GGX to the next level. This is an artists dream. I’m grinding…

Vendor Spotlight: L'elephant Rose

2010-04-01T05:41:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our new Vendor Spotlight series, where we will be featuring some of the vendors for each city on our tour. We are pleased to introduce Sherisa Vassel, founder of L'elephant Rose, one of our returning vendors from our 1st Curves & Cocktails NYC in April 2009.

L'elephant Rose (www.lelephantrose.net)
Founder: Sherisa Vassel

Sherissa (pictured right) and friend at her vendor table
from last year's Curves& Cocktails NYC

What is your hometown?

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. I'm a first generation American to Jamaican parents.

What was the catalyst in your opening L'elephant Rose?

L'elephant Rose came form a direct and personal obligation to follow my heart and do something that brought me great satisfaction and also allowed me to interact and seek a like-minded community. I have always been blessed with a talent to create, but allowed the fear of adulthood to stifle that creativity. Once I allowed myself to be open to myself and ended the external abuses of the corporate world, I let L'elephant Rose find me.

What's your inspiration?

My daily inspiration is life itself. Good, happy moments. Laughs shared. Music. My constant California dreaming.

If you had to pick a favorite design from your collection, what would it be?

I could never pick a favorite design. I will say that with each passing day I am growing, even if it is not actually creating. Since the start I've been drawn to mixed media and an overall sense of delicacy. I am always looking forward to what I think up next or how to improe something I'm really fond of. Currently, I've been working a lot with rope and chain and I am in a definite brass and gold mode. So you will continue to see much more of that in the future.

Amazonite & Lemon Topaz Earring from L'elephant Rose

What do you hope to gain from being a vendor at Curves & Cocktails?

I hope to continue on the same path as the first time I participated last year. I met so many wonderful people who have turned into personal friendships and business ventures. It was an extremely warm experience that I cherish because it was my first time vending--ever! I am so looking forward to this year!

An Event Grows in Brooklyn--Curves & Cocktails NYC 2010!

2010-02-21T09:12:00.000-08:00

The Premiere Shopping Event for Women with Curves is coming back to NYC bigger & better than ever!

Belle-Noir Communications

presents

Curves & Cocktails NYC

Saturday, May 8, 2010

10am to 4pm

Dumbo Arts Center

30 Washington Street

Brooklyn, NY

Shop
with vendors of fashions, accessories & more
--all catering to the plus size woman.

Sip on tasty cocktails & nibble on tasty treats at our complimentary bar.

Score
some sweet goodies galore from our Sponsors in our VIP Goodie Bags!

Music by NYC's own DJ Stealth!

www.djstealth.com

Tickets go on sale March 7th, 2010!

Vendor & Sponsorship opportunities available now.

For more information, please visit us at www.curvesandcocktails.com

FAQ: What's In The Bag?

2009-04-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

We are rapidly approaching Belle-Noir Communication's 1st Curves & Cocktails event on Saturday, April 25, 2009. One question that I have received numerous times is: What's in the goodie bags?

While I am someone who does like to be surprised about what will be in my goodie bag when I attend an event, I also have been disappointed by goodie bags that I have received from different events in the past. I once received a goodie bag that really had nothing to do with the actual event I attended, but that is besides the point.

The Curves & Cocktails Goodie Bags (which, by the way, are only available to those who purchase VIP tickets) will definitely be chock full of some great treats! Besides having items from our vendors, we will also have additions from the following brands:

Yardley of London

Booty Parlor

Collective Elements

Igigi

Samanta Shoes

Bare Necessities Bras

PZI Jeans

Izze Sparkling Juice

The Water Shoppe

ToMA Vodka

Dr. Susan Taylor's Rx For Brown Skin

With more to come!

And of course, there will be some Belle-Noir and Curves & Cocktails goodies in the bag as well.

There are only a few VIP Tickets left, so get your tickets TODAY!

Curves & Cocktails: New York City

2009-03-07T16:48:00.000-08:00

Ladies...Are you tired of going to that ladies night out shopping & socializing event and finding fashions that stop at a size 8 (if that)?Do you find yourself wandering through the endless aisles of skinny minnie clothing, jewelry, and accessories wondering "Where's the love for women with curves?"

The answer is HERE!

Belle-Noir Magazine is pleased to present our new Signature Event!
Curves & Cocktails: The Ultimate Girls Night Out for Women with Curves!
Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 12 Noon to 6:00pm in New York City

We are so excited to be launching this new curvy girl event in NYC! And of course, we had to offer a sweet deal for our Belle-Noir Magazine readers!

Starting today and for ONE WEEK ONLY you can get 25% off of a Deluxe VIP Ticket that includes an awesome goodie bag (psst....Igigi reportedly has offered up something pretty sweet for the goodie bags, but you didn't hear that from us!) and VIP access at the event!

To get your discounted tickets, visit http://curvesandcocktails.eventbrite.com/ and enter the discount code CURVESNYC409. But don't delay! We only are putting a few tickets on sale at the discount price, and the sale ends on 3/15/09 at 11:55pm EDT.

For more information on tickets, or for information on being a Vendor or Sponsor of this event, please visit http://www.curvesandcocktails.com/.