A few weeks ago, I had the fortunate pleasure of meeting the fantastic Julie Feldman of Julie Feldman Designs. I was in Southampton with my friend, Stephanie Newhouse, who was there representing Self Magazine, one of the sponsors for Ellen's Run. The day before the run for Breast Cancer, Stephanie insisted that I meet Ms. Felman to take a look at her fabulous bag collection.

Immediately, Ms. Feldman graciously offered a purse of our choice, to model at that evening's Gala event: HEAT at Steven Klein's Estate. Let me tell you, it was difficult to choose just one. Ms. Feldman's handbags are custom-made  from florals, satins, silks, leathers and exotic fabrics and trims. Having been featured on Fox News, CoolDesignerHandbags.com, in Accessories Magazine, Couture Magazine, the New York Post, the Santa Monica Star, and the Las Vegas Review Journal, among others, I now knew why. Divine.

A Chicago native, Ms. Feldman left the Windy City for Los Angeles bringing with her a passion for art and design. As an artist, her work usually took form in welded steel sculptures and oil paintings. Several years ago, after an art showing of her welded copper roses, Ms. Feldman was awed by the beauty and innocence of tiny, colorful, fabric roses. She began adorning satin evening bags with hundreds of brilliantly colored silk ribbon baby roses in "pavé-style". This was the birth of her Signature Baby Rose Collection.

What's even more fabulous then the pocketbooks themselves, Ms. Feldman created Handbags for Humanity® to honor and assist the great work of certain charities and foundations. "Over the years," Julie says, "I have felt extraordinarily lucky to be involved with organizations, and more profoundly the people behind them, that make a huge difference in people's lives. I count myself privileged to be able to give something back."

Whenever a handbag or accessory is purchased through the website that is accompanied by a handbag icon, Julie Feldman Designs donates a portion of that sale to one of the organization's profiled on the page; Ellen's Run, Center Theatre Group, Long Beach Women's Cancer League, and Planned Parenthood Los Angeles.

Um, hello? How much do you already love her?!

If you haven't already, check out the website HERE, and get one of your own custom-made designs that have been adorned on some of Hollywood's A-list celebs.

*JFD: Julie in Hot Pink Hornback Leather

*JFD: The Tye Dye Collection: SOLD OUT!

*JFD: Pirate Skull Beltbag

A couple weeks ago, LA's PsychicGirl Justine Kenzer, was visiting NYC and asked if she could do my reading. Apprehensive at first, I checked out her website. What I discovered was a lovely intro written by Ms. Kenzer and a ton of press (including; NY Times, The Daily News, the London Times, VH1, E!, Glamour, and countless other reputable press sources) about her and the numerous celebrities for whom she's done readings. In addition, she had met with my girls at The Luxury Spot, who adore this PsychicGirl.

I met Ms. Kenzer at a small cafe in the East Village. I was struck by her vivacious presence, extremely pleased she was not decked out in crystals, nor did she hint of patchouli (I did live in Venice Beach for several years). We ordered iced tea as she explained to me how it all works.

All readings are recorded for you, phone or in person. The recorded reading is sent you in by email link to an MP3 that you can listen to online, download to your own computer or ipod. Cool.

I felt completely comfortable and was ready for Ms. Kenzer to do her thing. She asked me to say my full name, as she would do an initial reading of what she saw.

What she saw, is so personal, that I cannot even disclose the details to you, my faithful readers. I had to bite my lip so I wouldn't burst into tears. Obviously, she could read on my face that she touched on something. She explained that a large part of what she does involves healing.

I consider myself to be more of a healer who is able to provide spiritual healing which can quickly result in positive change in your physical world. I strongly believe that destiny is not set in stone, that we create our own reality through our thoughts and our actions, yet we can have unconscious limitations due to our past experiences and the memories of them.

That being said, Ms. Kenzer went on to see my professional future... which involved loads of travelling to some amazing places, perhaps even writing about my adventures. Therefore, I was completely willing and open to any sort of healing in order to fulfill that prediction.

Though Ms. Kenzer revealed a few general dates which would bring my professional and love life into fruition, any shrink will tell you that you have to accept, deal and heal your past, in order to move forward.

Honestly, Ms. Kenzer's uncanny intuition regarding the skeletons in my closet, completely freaked me out. Yet, she was spot on and there is, without a doubt, something to be said for that.

Conclusion: Jot down some specific questions, and book an appointment with Justine Kenzer ASAP. Readings are available via instant message, phone or in person in Los Angeles.

Deets: PsychicGirl.com Email: Justine Kenzer

*Photo 1: Justine Kenzer

*Photo 2 courtesy of Wire Image: Justine Kenzer and Eva Longoria

There's a redhead in town (no, I'm not talking about Lindsay Lohan sightings) ready to capture your heart. Artist Jenny Belin has been featured in NY Daily News, Domino, Daily Candy, Good Day New York, and Apartment Therapy- to name a few. Focused on portraiture, Belin has a unique eye that portrays the absolute essence of your pet, lover, friend, or family member. I find her portraits absolutely enchanting.

The Los Angeles native has a knack for combining a magical moment with the flavor of old Hollywood Glam, creating a truly precious work of art. After having a portrait of fantastic portrait of my pup, Gia, painted by Belin, I decided to catch up with the artist.

FYI: After this interview, Ms. Belin offered a $100 discount on Pet Portraits exclusively for Scene B Seen readers!

Scene B Seen: You grew up in LA, why did you move to NYC?

Jenny Belin: It was always my dream to come here... my mom grew up in New York and I loved looking at her yearbooks from the High School of Music and Art! New Yorkers seemed so cool to me... My fantasy was that everyone who lived in New York City had to be an artist or a writer! I wanted so badly to wear winter coats and New York boots.

I realize now that Los Angeles is also a beautiful city... I took that beauty for granted. I love visiting... love the weather, the people, the fruits and veggies, and the swimming pools!

SBS: A large body of your work is portraiture, how did this develop?

JB: I think this is because people truly fascinate me... In my work, I try to translate (with admiration) all the mysteries behind a person's character... I am always so curious about people's psychologies... everybody is so different, you know? More than anything, I am intrigued by people's relationships... mothers and daughters, brothers and sister, etc. Oh yeah, and lovers! Cosmic lovers, movie star lovers, epic lovers, tormented lovers, mismatched lovers... etc.

SBS: When you look at a subject, what inspires you and what do you hope to capture?

JB: Eyes are very important to me. Getting someone's expression... feelings and emotion. Capturing a person's mood is the first thing I want to do. Then I get into the clothes that they wear... fashion, textile, color and pattern is always a lot of fun for me.

SBS: I always thought of people portraits as a study of human nature, but yours seem to really speak about the essence of the individual, creating a truly unique depiction, how do you achieve that and why is it important to you to portray that?

JB: Thanks Britten! This is exactly what I want to achieve. I think I go with my impression of what makes someone unique. This is something intuitive for me... something small. It could be the way someone looks at me when he is talking... the way he looks at himself in the mirror, the way he looks when he is least self-conscious.

SBS: The pet portraits are glorious! I'd think people would be clamoring to have one, you work from photos, right? What do ask clients to provide?

JB: I ask my clients to send me one or two photos which they think best represent their pet... I also ask for a little background on the animal (name, age, time they've had the pet) I also like to know personal anecdotes. Pets have personalities just as much as people do!  I think a pet deserves to have his/ her portrait reflect what makes he/she a special character!

SBS: Tell us a little bit about your love of photography and classic Hollywood glam, how does that influence your art and why?

JB: This all goes back to childhood I think. Los Angeles has a mysterious and intriguing history. The glamour years, especially the 1920's in film and fashion, are what I am most inspired by and attracted to. So elegant and dramatic, but also simple and chic...

Belin's work is one of a kind. I urge you to check out her gallery and drop her an email.

PS: Don't forget to mention you read about her on Scene B Seen for the special discount.

*Image 1 by Jenny Belin: Olympia

*Image 2 by Jenny Belin: Andrea

*Image 3 by Jenny Belin: Winter

It was pouring rain Monday evening, but hearts were pouring out generosity (and bubbly) at The Plaza's Rose Club in anticipation of the 13th Annual Heart of the Hamptons Gala June, 20, 2009 at Hayground School, Bridgehampton, NY.

The dapper Stephen Adler, Chief Executive Officer of Charity Brands Consulting, his lovely daughter Alissa Adler, now heading up the Los Angeles branch of Charity Brands Consulting, and the effervescent Carter Cramer, Executive to the CEO of the New York office, hosted the Kick-Off event. The gathering generated meeting several of the Hamptons Heart Ball Committee and to gain awareness to the mission of the American Heart Association.

The beautiful young crowd dressed in Chanel, Helmut Lang, and Bruno Magli that filled the secluded bar, noshed on lobster cake sliders and popcorn while discussing this summer's anticipated events. Barbara Poliwoda, AHA Regional Director, and Mr. Adler enthusiastically worked the room, selling raffle tickets (with prizes worth up to $5000!) and hinting at the big surprises in store for the Hampton Gala- sorry, we have been sworn to secrecy for the time being...

Prior to the raffle drawing, two moving speeches were made. Mr. Adler, having been told he was going to die due to a heart murmur up until the age of 8, when a new doctor finally discovered that not only was nothing wrong with his heart, there never had been, motivated us to get involved and urged to become well-informed.

Jon Gruen, of Grueneyes and Gruen Foundation, shared his devastating personal experience about his son. In 1985, Mr. Gruen dropped his 15 1/2 year old son, Jason, at school. He watched him go through the front entrance, only to discover that was the last time he would see him. Jason collapsed, unexpectedly on the other side of the door, unaware that he had suffered from heart failure-related myopathy.

Had we had the knowledge, education and research that we do today, Jason would have just celebrated his 40th birthday.

Conclusion: A delightful and inspirational evening. Stay tuned for another gathering before the big bash and trust me- you won't want to miss it!

For more information on how to get involved or Sponsorship Opportunities, please visit:

American Heart Association

Charity Brands Consulting

For Gala and other exclusive Hamptons event coverage, please visit:

The Quest for "it"

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS

*photos by Francisco Jaimes/courtesy of Guestofaguest.com