Dear Friend,

Its Labor Day Weekend, and I’m off to family vacation at Hilton Head.  We go there every year.  My family goes to the beach, and I go to the mall.  We meet in the evenings for Sea Food Dinners.

Happy Labor Day Long Weekend Y’all!

Lots of Love,

Clint Zeagler

Christy Plott Redd - HRH Queen of Gator

Christy Plott Redd is the Vice President & Creative Director of American Tanning and Leather.

American Tanning and Leather Company (website) is the United States’ foremost tanner of reptile leathers. Located in Griffin, Georgia, they are a stone’s throw away from the source of the finest raw material in the world for precious leathers – Louisiana alligator.

Owned and operated by the Plott family, American Tanning and Leather Company has 4 generations of experience.

American Tanning and Leather Dye Drums

American Tanning and Leather Company supplies top fashion houses in New York, Paris, and Milan with the most exquisite alligator and crocodile leather. The Plott family’s 26 year tenure in the fashion business continues today because of their top quality, premium service, and keen eye for developing trends in exotic leather before anyone else.

American Tanning and Leather Skin Stretching Boards

Every single skin tanned by American Tanning and Leather Company is hand-selected directly from Louisiana’s alligator fishermen. They are proud to be the ONLY tanner of exotic leather to work directly with the trapper, ensuring the very best quality and best connection to its precious raw material.

American Tanning and Leather Company is committed to producing the world’s finest exotic leathers. It is proud to produce 100% of line of leathers in the U.S.A.

American Tanning and Leather Finished Skins

ADDRESSING THE QUEEN

CLINT: As one of your loyal subjects, is there any protocol I should know when addressing the Queen of Gator?  Any traditions or national holidays I need to observe?

HRH: The only protocol required when addressing Moi is to be polite and kind.   Bad manners are a huge no-no and major faux pas in my book.    I love being around people that are energetic, funny, and smart, and I appreciate friends that are genuine and honest.  Frenemies are not something I tolerate.  Either I like you or I don’t.   Halloween is my favorite holiday because I love to dress up, but my friends like to toast the anniversary of my 21st Birthday with a glass of bubbly, which comes on March 12th, each and every year.

CLINT: Why should I buy alligator skin products, what are your favorite alligator skin products on the market now, or in your personal collection?

HRH: American alligators can only be found in the Southeastern coastal areas of the USA.   A proper Southern Belle always supports her hometown, so I like to think of myself as a patron of the South when I look at my closet full of alligator bags.   My favorite alligator products on the market right now are the beautiful coats and skirts that my friends at J. Mendel have done.   I love everyone that works there.   They are not only talented designers, but also wonderful people, full of charm and charisma.   I only want to surround myself with positive people that enrich my life, so working with the team at J. Mendel is always a treat.      I also adore the Ralph Lauren Ricky bag that was in the Spring 2012 ad campaign.   The bag is made in an exclusive color and finish called Tarnished Platinum.   It is simply divine- pure heaven.

Ralph Lauren Ricky Bag

As far as my personal products go, I love my Alexandra Knight Mercury bag and my Jada Loveless Isabel Clutch.   I have a few jackets and shoes, too, but the bags are my real treasures.  My newest addition to my collection will be delivered this fall – a custom made, one of a kind alligator motorcycle jacket.   I’m ready for cold weather so I can wear it!

Alexandra Knight Mercury Bag

CLINT: When you decide to “Hold Court” where can we find you?

HRH: As a member of Delta’s elite Diamond Medallion club, I travel all the time.   When I travel, I like to stay at cool hotels and go to great restaurants and bars.   Here are a few of my favorites:

The Standard in NYC’s meatpacking district is one of my favorite places to stay.     My friends and I have been known to shut down Le Bain or the Soho House, and we sometimes end up at The Jane late night.

Los Angeles is also a great city.   I love to lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel by the pool; two weeks ago, I overheard a lady who appeared to be well into her 80’s tell her friends that “Elvis popped [her] cherry”.   I used to live in Marina del Rey, so I frequented places like Gjelina on Abbott Kinney, and nothing is better than a cold beer and a burger at the Hinano in Venice Beach.

In Milan, I like to hang out at the Bulgari on the patio, and in Bologna, I love S-wine Bar and 4 Viale Masini.

You can find me at the Hotel Crillion bar in Paris having champagne or La Rôtisserie du Beaujolais for dinner.   My new Parisian obsession is Chez Fernand; the food is amazing.   Brasserie Lipp is also wonderful, and when I feel a little homesick I visit Ralph Lauren’s fabulous burger restaurant on Saint-Germain.

The real truth?  I love to be on the go, but honestly, there’s no place like home.   Georgia is ALWAYS on my mind.  My family owns an estate in South Georgia, and that is my sanctuary on the weekends.  It’s a place where I can relax and unwind.   When I go to the city, my favorite restaurants in Atlanta are JCT Kitchen, The Varsity, and Chops.   I enjoy a good glass of wine at the St. Regis bar from time to time, and I have also been spotted at Blake’s chatting it up with Atlanta’s chicest gay men.

CLINT: What is the Royal Opinion of ‘Honey Boo Boo Child’?

HRH: I love Honey Boo Boo!   She’s little girl with a huge personality , and in my book, she is adorable and hilarious.    I hear so many people saying mean things about Alana and her family, and I think anyone who criticizes a 6 year old is a jerk.    Don’t hate; appreciate!    Honey Boo Boo seems to have a loving family, and although they aren’t the Trumps or the Vanderbilts, they are certainly more successful and well known that most of the people talking trash on them.    They are famous for being outlandish, and that’s more than most people can say they’ve accomplished.   I’m sure she goes home and does her homework like all the other kids in her class.   People need to give her a break, and not take the TV show too seriously.   It’s meant to be funny, and it is!   I’m PRO Honey Boo Boo.   I would love to meet her, and take her out for ice cream with sprinkles.

CLINT: Do you have any advice for designers starting in the fashion or accessory business?

HRH: Marry a billionaire!  (Not joking.)   This business is expensive.   So if you want to be a high end fashion designer, you better have a boatload of cash or a major sugar daddy that will support you. I recently started helping one of my clients build a luxury brand, and even as a seasoned insider, I had no idea of the challenges involved in getting a luxury brand off the ground.    The biggest challenge is manufacturing.   Every detail of every product made in my business must be perfect, otherwise it’s impossible to compete.  New designers need a clear and precise vision and business plan for their company, and a unique product that has a specific target market.   Niche is better when it comes to luxury; small quantities with high margins are the way to go.    I like to tell people that want to start in the alligator bag business that they should go on a fabulous vacation, a huge shopping spree, and maybe take $100K and burn it.    If they can’t afford to do all that, then the alligator bag business should be avoided.    Most people can’t make it, so I try to scare people out of their wits before I let them buy skins from me.

Jada Loveless Isabel Clutch

CLINT: Any Life advice, Truisms, or Famous Quotes from Her Majesty the Queen of Gator?

HRH: Even before I held the title of the Queen of Alligator, I always wanted to shine….  I even asked my Godmother once if I ’sparkled.’    If you want to be fabulous, surround yourself with people you love and live your life like today is your last.    Don’t work another second in a job you hate.   Make things happen in your life; good fortune isn’t by chance.  Don’t accept a first offer, and remember that ‘NO’ is a starting point for negotiations.   Always keep it classy; always keep it real.  If you abide by these little words of wisdom, you, too, can sparkle like me.

Later Gator

xx

www.queenofgator.com

HRH, The Queen of Alligator
Alligator Heiress.  Southern Belle.  Aspring J.A.P.

Wall art near Edgewood and Boulevard

Last weekend I went on an adventure through Edgewood and other Atlanta neighborhoods to watch the creation of some pretty amazing murals from the all Female Artist Living Walls Street Art Conference.  The Living Walls Website and Facebook have all the information on who the artists are and where to find the works.

Wall art near Edgewood and Boulevard

While I was out looking at street art I couldn’t miss this work by HENSE (website) at Dekalb Ave. and Arizona. Commissioned by the City.

Street Art by HENSE

Street Art by HENSE

After a long break Pecan Pie is finally back and working on some interesting projects.  Pecan Pie Think Tank (Website) is becoming a design consulting firm, combining the talents of Clint Zeagler and Raja Schaar.  Pecan Pie Couture will also be waking from slumber sometime next year.  In celebration of all this Pecan Pie Gazette is also starting up again, focusing on finding cool things, places, stories, and people to tell you about (with a bit southern twang of course).  We have emptied our subscription database, so if you are interested in following us please sign back up!

My favorite Atlanta Band is playing tonight at the Earl.  SNOWDEN is releasing its new Slow Soft Syrup EP tonight! So buy tickets and come on down to the Earl for some lovely new Snowden Sounds. Here are some photos I took of them in concert at the Earl.

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In celebration of Atlanta’s diverse mix of certified green building projects, MODA presents ATLANTA: Beyond Bricks & Sticks, an exhibition that will travel to some of the city’s high-profile venues during February and March. Spotlighting many of the metro area’s outstanding design examples, MODA’s Atlanta: Beyond Bricks & Stickstells the stories of the people who live, work, learn and play in the city’s sustainable structures. Exhibit components include an interactive Atlanta Green Map, a “What is Your Carbon Footprint?” quiz, video interviews, an intimate look at student life at Dekalb County’s LEED Silver Certified Arabia Mountain High School and many other features that explain and celebrate green living.

Curation of the exhibition includes a broad spectrum of buildings reflective of the metro area’s commercial and residential projects along with large-scale developments that incorporate environmental features. All of the exhibit’s projects either meet the US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating system or the Southeast’s EarthCraft House certification program. The exhibit has been thoughtfully designed with sustainable materials to fit the theme while allowing for the challenges of traveling to the various settings.

ATLANTA: Beyond Bricks and Sticks : TRAVELING SCHEDULE

World of Coca-Cola
February 10 – 13
121 Baker St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313-1807
(404) 676-5151

CNN Center
February 16 – 25
190 Marietta Street, Atlanta, GA
(404) 827-2300

Cobb Galleria Centre
March 1 – April 12
2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339-5938
(770) 955-8000

Atlanta Dogwood Festival
April 16 – 18
Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA 30309

Atlanta City Hall
April 20 – May 5
55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta, GA, 30303
(404)330-6000

Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center
May 10 – 28
3181 Rainbow Dr., Decatur, GA, 30034
(404) 286-7356

Lenox Square Mall
June 1 – June 20
3393 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 233-6767

Phipps Plaza
June 23 – July 11
3500 Peachtree Rd Ne, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 261-7910

Atlanta: Beyond Bricks & Sticks will continue traveling through the end of 2010. The remaining schedule will be announced in the coming months. Upcoming venues include: the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center and the Serenbe Farms.

LoveNests will showcase the lives of a colorful collective of Atlanta locals through design. The exhibition is a collaborative effort between Portfolio Center photography and Georgia Tech industrial design students. Through interviews, storytelling, and photography, the curators will delve into the personalities and histories of popular Atlantans and discover what objects define, inspire, and capture the essence of their individuality. Once this process is complete, the photographers and designers will work together to translate and engineer each person’s symbolic spirit, so to speak, into a three-dimensional representation. Structural, abstract, graphic and diverse, each Atlantan is tangibly personified at MODA through designed environments. LoveNests serves as an engaging, illustrative biography of our Atlanta favorites.

Remember shopping?  The thrill of finding the perfectly fitting dress, or just the right accessory to set your look off  - adding a kick to your step? Have you forgotten the smell of brand new shoes?

Fashion Over Atlanta invites you back with four evenings of events in boutiques all over the city – celebrating shopping and fashion.  This is not just wine and cheese my dear – there are rumors flying about designer trunk shows, personal styling experiences, trend reports, musical performances, bourbon tastings – and that glorious feeling of going home with new clothes you can be excited about!

11-12-09 thru 11-15-09

www.fashionoveratlanta.com

Its been awhile since the last post but my friend Joni started this little graphic business called Chocolate Butterbean that I had to tell yall about.  Me and Joni go way back to ID studio at GT as evidenced by this photo:

Joni was so good at handwriting letters for her sorority in college that her handwriting became known as “Joni Font” in studio.  She is doing what she loves and you can tell!  I have to find someone to get married to just so I can get her to make my invitations!

Don’t  miss out on Clint Zeagler’s Lecture at Pecha Kucha on March 8 at Octane.  Dali : Dolly :: Surrealism : Tacky.  Are surrealism and tacky really the same thing?  Why does one seem so fancy and the other seem so uneducated?  Dolly and Dali will help us answer this question.