Jack Mackenroth has a CALENDAR

The incredibly sexy former "Project Runway" star and AIDS activist Jack Mackenroth has a brand new 15 month calendar. This AUTOGRAPHED, high-quality, glossy, 15-month calendar is available for sale now and will ship in the beginning of September.

The calendar begins in January 2012 and continues through May 2013. Each month features a different photographer with a very different style.

Photographers taking part int the project include Adam Bouska (NOH8), Rick Day, Carsten Fleck, Frank Louis, James Franklin, Karl Giant, Tommy Synnamon, Mattheus Lian, Richard Gerst, Ray John Pila, Sonny Tong, Thomas Evans, Krys Fox and Preston Cros with over 17 amazing images in total.

The calendar’s dimensions are 8.5 x 11 inches, and are available online for $14.95 (plus tax and shipping). Please allow 2 weeks for shipping as Jack is signing and shipping them all personally. Please be patient.

100-percent of the proceeds from the calendar will go directly to amfAR, The American Foundation for AIDS Research (www.amfar.org) to help find a cure for AIDS. Mackenroth has been living with the disease for 22 years.

On a personal note, I think Jack is an incredible rolemodel for both gay men and those of us living with HIV/AIDS.  His commitment to educaion, fundraising and visibility are just amazing and he is one ofthesweetest most charming people around bar none.  If i ever had teh chance to meet him personally I would probably just faint but then again I maybe speechless like I was when I met Greg Louganis.  Anyway, my goal is to have a body like that-----when I celebrate 22 years of living with AIDS...I guess i better get training.

Gretchen Jones Fall 2011

OK, I get the whole bohemian vibe here but honestly? It looks like a lot of the stuff we saw on Project Runway from Gretchen.  The same lines, the same silhouette's, the same aesthetic and frankly the same jewelry.  My problem and I will admit this upfront it is my problem, is I am not wowed by this, wasn't wowed when she won and I am still not.  Sorry I know my opinion but it is what it is.  Maybe punch in some color, shorten some of the skirts, change the models hair-- something, anything.  There are some really good solid pieces just somehow slightly different.  Your thoughts?

Valerie Mayan: Pop Up Shop Visit

Well today was my second visit with Project Runway Star Valerie Mayan.  She is currently hosting a "pop up shop" in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland.  Valerie had invited me to the pop up shop when I met here at her pop up shop at Playhouse Square.  The shop was part of Friday's Art Walk in Tremont.  The art walk is featured monthly in the neighborhood, so check listings if you would like to attend.

The idea for the pop shop's came after Valerie's tenure on Project Runway because everyone was asking her where her store was.  Needless to say as a small business Valerie does not currently have the funds or stock to keep a store front full time.  I learned today "Yellowcake" which is her label name is a ONE woman operation.  She has some help at times setting up or taking down the pop up shops but it is not always a given.  There is NO paid employees currently. The pop up shops are "Our opportunity to introduce ourselves and our products to the community."  This shop was the fourth time doing it with the first being in Beachwood at Christmas time.


Last summer Valerie was fortunate enough to have fifteen college fashion design interns who helped with some things but NEVER cutting or sewing Yellowcake clothing.  She stated "that the standard in her opinion is that the designer you are buying from should do 98% of the work you buy."  I have to agree with her on that one.  It of course takes a lot of time and energy to give all those interns and she says "a lot of how it all works out is how badly they want to be there, how much they are willing to learn, as well as work and dedication like any other job anywhere else. It has been a pleasure having them." 

She calls her company a High Quality one "that is in it's toddler phase, who knows how to run but things like using a knife and fork is still being learned."  I liked the analogy the minute she said it in reference to the amount of work it takes to run a small business. She is  very thankful to the many Clevelander's who do support her business and she is also thankful to all the charity work she has done which has picked up since her exposure on Project Runway which in many ways brought credibility and visibility to her company which was opened a year to a year and a half  before the show. 

This came up when I got to talking to her about the "Made In America" series with Diane Sawyer and that how if the average American spent only four dollars a day on products made in America we could create at the least a thousand new jobs.  Valerie was intrigued by the idea but felt "that we had to have products that were above competitive to everything else on the market because with the economy the way it is we as Americans are currently under money strains to a degree and have to carefully pick and choose how we spend our money."  Again I had to agree.

Valerie is currently looking for investors, donors and sponsors so she could develop the Yellowcake label, because despite what some would consider "popular belief" contestants are not paid to be on Project Runway, that the only money dolled out is what you saw last season.

Upcoming pop up shops are in the works for the Ohio City area and Detroit Shoreway area.  Currently though you can catch Valerie March 18th from 11- 10, March 19th 11-10 and March 20th 11-4 in Tremont at 2406  Professor Avenue.

Thanks again Valerie for such a wonderful, fun, entertaining and edcuational experience you have been absolutely wonderful.  By the way every purchase made with Yellowcake 5%  of the purchase goes to support the Cleveland City Mission.

An Enchanted Evening with Valerie Mayen

Well tonight We had tickets to see "South Pacific" which if you have the chance tomorrow go see it.  It is there last night at Cleveland Playhouse.  Anyway the main parking garage was full so we parked our car in front of Playhouse Square and while walking across the street was a sign in a formerly empty space were "Yellowcake" signs, I looked through the windows and who was standing behind the counter none other than Season Eight Project Runway Superstar VALERIE MAYEN!

Needless to say, celebrity fan that I am made a made dash leaving Jim nearly at the curb.  In the door to the counter and probably made a complete fool of myself.  But Valerie was EVER so charming, sweet, delightful and fun to be around.  Of course dizzy queen that I can be at times had no camera so Ms. Mayen grabbed what I believe to be a IPhone and offered to take a picture with me and e-mail it to me---EECCKKKK!  I was stunned. We talked a little about my blog and she actually went onto my blog with me standing there on what I believe to be the IPad.  Talk about me being speechless.  Her here in this spce, looking and briefly reading, a dream come true.

We chatted some more and while I don't want to tip my cards completely I will say you will see more of Ms. Mayen here VERY SOON.  I want to keep you all in some suspense .  She has an upcoming event at the Tremont Art Walk  which will be held March 11- 12

the address for the pop up shop is according to her

2406 Professor Street
Cleveland, Ohio (Tremont Neighorhood)

So my advice for all of you who can, GO and support Valerie Mayan get a chance to meet her, you will JUST ADORE her.  I know I do.  Thanks Valerie for making my evening truly and utterly enchanted.

Jack Mackenroth with a beard!!!!

For all you Prject Runway fans it is Jack Makenroth's newest look---FACIAL Hair!!  You gotta love Jack!

Mondo's Big Reveal on Project Runway

I want to start off by saying I have not blogged about Project Runway Season Eight because I knew the amount of work it would take to do and do it well. Kids, I don't have that kind of time this semester. It doesn't mean I am not watching and certainly doesn't mean I don't care; it is just that their is no time honestly.  I have been with all of you in loving some of the fashion this season on the show and down right hating some of it as well.  I have been with you when we all thought Gretchen was being a big b*tch but then her real personality came through and well now she is rather nice. I miss Peach and her wonderful phrasing "Don't show the good china."

On to the real reason for this post..... Mondo Guerra.  Last night's challenge was to be inspired by something very personal and very moving from your past.  I would be inclined to do something that changed my life forever personally.  While some embraced the culture they were raised in, or an area where they lived our boy Mondo was well inspired by this ten year old secret he has held.

He said last night that he was from a devout "old world" thinking Catholic background and that his mother had asked him not to come out to his father as being gay.  That in itself kids could have been an outfit.  But Mondo's secret was even bigger than that and NO ONE knew.  Till last night.

The designers were of course asked to once again use technology to design the print for the material they were going to use and while it seemed like it took forever for Mondo's secret to be revealed to us the viewers I NEVER saw it coming.  I know kids naive isn't it.  I was stunned, speechless and crying.

Mondo had held from everyone that he was HIV positive for TEN YEARS!  I can't begin to imagine the pain he was in all that time.  Feeling he couldn't talk about it to anyone.  Then shortly after his "private" on camera confession to us the viewers in walks his mother.  Oy Vey.  We never did see Mondo tell his mother about his status and I am hoping that he had the opportunity to do so before last night's show.  You could see Mondo's pain, it was so real and raw.

All it took was Nina Garcia asking "I wish I knew the story."  At first it seemed like this look from Mondo was "Good luck lady, because I am not about to tell you of all people."  Then it happened and the back story about the pain, the loneliness.  I sat crying my eyes out.  I so wanted to and still want to hug Mondo and tell him everything is going to work out. 

Then of course Michael Kors comments about turning something that potentially could have been very sad into something very vibrant, very joyful and very beautiful.  That we, as not only designers but as people, need to see the positive in situations and to somehow look beyond the pain and loss and all of the other crap to what we really have.  That we are thriving, creating, loving creatures no matter even if no one accepts us or supports us.  Kids, it was painful to watch.  It was also like Michael Kors, herself, b*tch slapped me into reality and was speaking directly to me. It left me changed.

That even though my family will never get what I am fully doing and why; that they will never understand my career; that my world of further education and fashion is worlds away from where they are---it doesn't matter at all.  I don't need all of that, as Jim says that I am doing it for myself and no one else.

Mondo, darling, if you by chance you are reading this you are not alone by far.  Your an inspiration to those like yourself who are afraid to come out.  You are also an inspiration to those of us who have had this disease for a long time as well.  That yes we can, yes we will and yes it is ok to want it more than life itself.  Mondo, it took great courage to do what you did and I applaud you for doing it.  I am here if ever, for some reason, you need someone to lean on.  There should be more Mondo's in the world.

In age of where it seems like gay kids are killing themselves more than ever before, we need afirmative, loving, brave, courageous men and women to come out about who they are. To tell the world it is ok to be who you are that the face of AIDS has changed.  The diagnosis of AIDS has changed.  That we twentysome years into this disease ned to be more understanding, more supportive and more encouraging so that those living with it can and do come out.

Well until tomorrow kids, I am so glad we had this time together.

First Lady Prasies Fashion Designers

From a gay news website I read-----

WASHINGTON (AP) - Michelle Obama used this year’s luncheon for the National Design Award winners to sing the praises of those who push boundaries - or outright ignore them.
With cool jazz playing in the White House foyer and lobster carpaccio on the East Room tables, the first lady celebrated the award winners Wednesday as "folks whose work has literally changed the way we look at the world and how we live our daily lives."
Mrs. Obama got a big laugh when she told the luncheon guests: "All of you have spent your lives pushing boundaries - we know a little bit about pushing boundaries - or just outright ignoring them altogether."
And she got a special kick out of being seated for lunch next to Tim Gunn from "Project Runway."  "How cool!" she declared.
The award winners included Rodarte, a sister-team of fashion designers whose creations the first lady has worn on several occasions in recent years. But for Wednesday’s luncheon, the first lady chose a hot pink outfit by Isabel Toledo with a V-neck top, drapes of fabric at the waist and loose flowing pants.
The awards are presented by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
Mrs. Obama called the winners "some of our country’s most talented, most visionary, most public-minded designers."
The winners have been honored at the White House each year since 2000, but Mrs. Obama has changed the dynamic by trying to involve the next generation of creators and innovators. Before the luncheon, design winners and finalists met with more than 400 local high school students at a "Teen Design Fair," where the young people could find out how the design superstars - and Gunn - got their start.
"You guys did something amazing," Mrs. Obama said of the teen event. "You really raised the bar."
"Far too few young people in this country have access to programs and opportunities like the one we did today," she said. "Even those who live just minutes from our great museums and cultural centers may feel like these resources are beyond their reach."
Guests dined on farm stand green salad, gazpacho filled with bounty from the first lady’s kitchen garden, Maine lobster carpaccio and chocolate sphere cake. Each guest found a plastic ViewMaster at their seat loaded with slides of the design winners’ creations.

NEW SEASON Project Runway!

If you read this blog regularly, and if you know me real well, You know three things I LOVE Judy Garland, I adore the Wizard of Oz and I am just crazy when it comes to Project Runway.  It maybe the clothes, it maybe the deisgners or those creative challenges, it maybe cutie patootie, make my knees weak and cause me to swoon Tim Gunn, it maybe the glamorous and ever chic uber FIERCE Heidi Klum but golly I love this show.  One of two thing I never miss on TV.

I guess I let the cat of the bag, that I have a secret crush on Gunn but golly is he adorable or what!?  I mean handsome, smart, educated, well versed, well dressed, into fashion in an enormous way--what wouldn't you love   OK I know enough gushing, after all I have Jim.

It is a New Season. New Time.

The Emmy Award-nominated series "Project Runway" kicks off its eighth season with 17 talented designers - the most in the series' history - beginning Thursday, July 29, at 9 pm et/pt. Supersized to a new 90-minute format, "Runway" will follow the designers as they compete to make the cut to show at New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center. Get to know the newest designers now with exclusive video tours of their homes, a peek into their closets, casting tapes and much more. Flip through their personal photos and Designer Portfolios for a look at the past work that earned them a spot on the show over hundreds of other hopefuls across the country. Meet the 17 new designers right away.

http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway

What makes this season right now extra nice is that there is a contestant from Cleveland, Ohio!  To bad it ain't yours truely but hey there is always next year.  Anyway it should prove to be a great season and who knows I may even do show recap posts with my point of view thrown in.

News of the day

Well I got my last College Writing 1 paper back I and I am pleased to say I got a B. There were some minor problems with it, that made it the grade it was but overall I think I did well. Today I found out I have a $170 price difference from what I was told would be the cost for the summer semester. Was not looking forward to that at all but will somehow come up with that difference. As of Saturday of last week I did raise the needed $1,500 for summer semester and boy did I work my butt off.

Been trying to get ahold of my student advisor at the Kent campus now for over a week and half to see if she could lift some of the requirements needed for Fall Classes. It isn't anything major as the requirements is simply classes I willbe taking in the summer. Not getting of her is getting really annoying.

Jim re-read the paperwork from the Project Runway application and found out today IF I get accepted to the next round THEY CALL ME. So we all need to send out good karma so they pick up th ephone and call me.

Also found out today that the parking permit for summer is $40 so I need to come up with that as well. Then of course as times roll on cocst for books. So it is going to be lots of doll work and more than likely baby sitting to get the dough.

I would really ask all of you what you would like for me to talk about here, I havenoticed a big surge in readers in the last two months and I am wondering why all of you come here and what you would like for me to talk about. My plan at some point is talk somemore about fashion.

If you noticed I changed some of the stuff on my blog with links and the main discription and I have really been gving thoguht to changing the blog name--more than likely not the web address just the name of it--Not sure. Again would love to hear what you think.'

Until then I am so glad we had this time together.

Partially registered for Fall Classes and Twitter

Well first of all kids I want to announce as of last night I have gone modern and am on Twitter.  My screen name is Charliedale9966 and would love to have you follow me on Twitter.  Not sure yet how active I will be, but it is exciting to say the least to be involved with something it seems like everyone is doing.

Of course the blog will still be up and running and here is where you can get all the "dirt" so to speak.  Speaking of which I have to talk with my student advisor about part of the fall classes I want to take but as of this morning I am enrolled into French 1 and College Writing 2 for the Fall Semester.  Of course there is still summer to complete which I am really looking forward to.

This is of course if Project Runway says no to my application but there seems like there maybe some chances to advance myself in fashion design if they say no, I just have to figure out how to do that.  I mean I have accomplishments either way--I have a life before and I will if they choose to have me will have a life after.  I am hoping beyond hope they say at least yes to the next step and an in person interview--I can guess I only wait, and that kids is nerve wracking.

Its official I am a 100% Gleek, if your not in the know that means fan of  the televeision show "Glee".  Last night was just increbible.  First off Kristin Chenoweth on the show and kids that girl has some serious lungs.  Than there was that performance by Kurt, "A House Is Not A Home".  Lordy that guy moved me, it was if he was singing to me.  I know I am an emotional mess but hey somebody has to do it.  I only starting watching Glee about 4 weeks ago but boy AM I HOOKED.  It is one of 2 shows I don't miss--guess the other !

What I wouldn't do to design something for Glee, I think I would pee--silly me made a rhyme !  I guess its one of those odd mood days and I feel as since I have had over 100 people read in 3 days that somebody really is listening and that we are in some way connecting.

I thnk that is the one aspect in my life that is lacking the most, this sense of real connection to someone else.  It seems as if a lot of what I have is surface connection and I would love more with some of the people in my life.  How does somebody do that, without being intrusive, pushy and seeming needy?  Is being needy such a bad thing?  They say your lucky if you have one real deep friendship and I have had it.  Notice past tense there, and when you lose it you become vulnerable.  You feel less somehow.  It seems to affect everything else you have and you begin to wonder are there things you feel you can't say.

I would be interested in hearing what you think you can not say, you can leave them in the comment section and leave them anonymously and possibly we share the same things in common.  In the meantime, I am so glad we had this time together and that you take the time to keep coming back.

Change of topic

After the last two days of nothing but AIDS talk I want to change the topic--mix it up if you will.  I just found out Kent State has enough students for the Summer Fast Track Design program that I signed up for.  This is of course if Project Runway doesn't want me.  I am really hoping that in all honesty that they will just adore me!  That's part of this post.

If you watched this last season part of the blurbs for the show was Anthony Williams saying "He would do anything to win" well kids I know I would BIG time!  I have never wanted anything else except to make it big in the fashion design field.  I know hands down I would give my grandmother to gypsy whores just to have a fair shot at it.  My mother told me this story years ago that at the tender age of four that her and I had this huge argument about what she had me dressed in for church and well I didn't like it.  Wanted her to change it and she wouldn't.  Next thing she knew fashionista diva four year old that I was threw myself into the mudpuddle.

I got changed by G-d but boy did my ass hurt as well .  I vividly remember watching the Sonny and Cher Show just to see what Cher would wear that week,  same thing with the Carol Burnett Show.  Yet somehow we aren't born gay--GUESS again.  My mom used to tease me that I came out of the womb wearing high heel shoes!  Things have changed so dramatically since then.

I am not sure if I have ever mentioned this or not but it was my Grandma Dale who taught me to sew.  At 4 I was pumping the treadle on her treadle sewing machine, by 5 I was feeding fabric through the machine and at 6 her and my mothers great aunt taught me all the hand sewing skills.  Nearly 40 years of sewing in my life and I can not imagine what life would be like with out. Like I have said in a previous post I feel like I am finally becoming the person I wanted to be before AIDS came into my life.  It is not going to stop me anymore from pursuing what I want.  a 20 year wait is way to long!

All of the skills I have currently are all self taught and that achievement makes me the most proud, I thnk the confidence will follow.  Well until next time I am so glad we have had this time together...

Sew For Haiti Photos (on mannequin)

Well finally, I got those pictures developed of the outfit I did for the Sew Your Love For Haiti Fundraiser at KSU School of Fashion design.  Let me tell you kids, the model they had got for me was FIERCE, she worked that outift llike no tomorrow! Her hair and makeup was FAB-U-LOUS and girl had an attitude which sold the outfit even more in my mind! I was the ONLY pant in the entire show which made me stand out! I was also the only designer with accesories which also made me stand out!

After being at my first fashion show I understand what they mean by a model has to know how to walk because kids some of it just wasn't pretty!  Some of these poor girls never smiled, had no attitude and walked not well at all.  No other way to put it, unfortunately.  Maybe they were friends of the designers and never wanted to bea  model because some the attitude was "I can't believe this %$*#%& and I am wearing this as well!? Maybe it was sheer nerves, maybe it was the first time they wore high heeled shoes who knows it was just off.

I was so nervous the whole night it was unreal.  But than my model hit the runway and my heart flew out of my chest!  The music was fabulous, the room was packed as we had a SOLD OUT crowd and when the models did the final walk it was amazing!

My outift is a Batistite top, a Chinese Silk pant that is more Magenta than burgundy, the Organza purse, head scarf and belt.  The necklace is made of coral, pearl and faux findings I had laying around. Hand rolled hems and everything was a size 6.  I do get the outfit back and I may have a buyer for it as well.

Anyway tonight we are going again because they announce the winners of the competition.  Hopefully I place but if not oh well it was a great cause and a great night.  My design on the runway!  I was also asked to do another show to help raise the funds to put together the Senior Fashion Show.  I get to desing what ever I want, but I need to find out more information.  I said YES!

Until then Charlie Dale Fashionista has one thing to say......