This installment of Feeling Friendly Friday stars Virginia’s favorite Kiwi - Chef Neil Smith!

I’m super glad an old friend of mine found, married, and imported this great guy/excellent chef into town.  Neil had been a rock and roll chef to such folks as Sir Paul and Bowie, but gave it up to bless Richmond with his serious skills.  He is currently serving up some amazing yumminess over at Lulu’s - if you haven’t been there lately, go!  I’m pleased to say he has taught me how to make one scrumptious Afghan Biscuit - next I’d love to learn his pumpkin tiramisu.  Soooo good!!!

Keep up the yum work, Neil - Richmond is lucky to have ya cooking for us!

In today’s Feeling Friendly Friday, I’m featuring a longtime amiga - Tippy Tippens!

First we were Richmond friends then Brooklyn friends then Richmond friends again.  She has recently relocated to New Orleans where she is hard at work on a great project for an even better cause called BirdProject.  Never satisfied with just one pot on the stove, Tippy is also busy with the next installment of gandhiwarmer.

Also, she is the reason I have such a dynamite pug for which I am eternally grateful to her!!!

Feeling Friendly Friday is giving a shoutie to another talented friend, Cheryl Joyce.

We’ve known each other for years and she’s been shooting the whole time.  I must like her work - after all, she shot my wedding.  And guess who stole the show?

Time for another installment of Feeling Friendly Friday Featurettes (a/k/a Pimp My Friends), so let’s give Jennifer Lilya some love!

Not only is she loads of fun and someone you definitely want on your team for trivia, she is a passionate and very talented fashion illustrator.  You can see Jennifer’s fabulous illustrations of fabulous girls dressed fabulously in Elle or Travel + Leisure, as well as loads of advertisements and all sorts of places really.  The cherry on top of her portfolio will surely be the day she paints ‘Wonton in the City,’ my pug looking wickedly chic in her lavender raincoat being walked by Prince…A masterpiece in the making, right?  Cough cough.

He recently launched a new website, which makes mi amigo Dave Moore a great candidate for Feeling Friendly Friday.

I liked his paintings even before I knew him well.  Now I love him AND his work…Still waiting + wanting to get one of his landscapes on my wall, though.  Keep your eye out for his shows and he’s usually got work up in Comfort.  Also, he has a weekly rock show WTJU 91.1.

All hail the Lowland King!

One thing I’m going to enjoy about having my very own website is featuring what and who I like.  So I’ve decided that once a week I’ll introduce you to one my very talented friends.  I’m calling these ‘Feeling Friendly Friday Featurettes’ - and this is the first one.

Kicking this off is…my girl Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels.  Stacey does wonders with a needle and a little cloth.  Her unusual eye for fabric combos make for some truly lovely pieces - one of her gorgeous quilts was on the home page of Etsy yesterday, as a matter of fact.  Stacey’s work can be purchased on her shop including pillows and picnic blankets plus she offers custom work.  Also, her hair is the best hair ever.

A good friend for nearly two decades, I really wish we still lived in the same city.  I bet I’d be better at sewing if we did.  Well, great work, Stacey, and keep your pedal to the sewing pedal metal!