It's Always a Party With Diva Amy

Her latest exploits; come join the fun

The Diva Glide on the road in search of adventure.

The Country Christmas was held at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas for 10 days, the first of December during the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). The NFR is the Super Bowl of rodeo events. The contestants have to qualify throughout the year to be invited to compete. This rodeo will determine the world champion in the rodeo's seven main events. This tradition began in 1959 in Dallas and has been in Las Vegas for the past 25 years. Each night for 10 nights the rodeo plays out at the Thomas and Mac Center with much pageantry and intense competition.

On my way to Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo.

Guess my crystals and rhinestones caught the eye of the fuzz.

WRN editor and "diva in training" Genevieve Schmitt and I scored some great seats thanks to friends who have annual tickets. We were so close we could smell the manure (a good thing in the rodeo world!). Every seat in the house is filled with cowgirls and cowboys who love the thrill of man (and women) versus livestock.

Here I am between Diva Genevieve, and Lynn, who got us these great seats. We're all wearing custom hats made by me.

The event starts with various crowd-pleasing special effects; our night had an "electric cowboy" and horse complete with twinkle lights all over them that thrilled the crowd in the lights out stadium. Fireworks followed. The whole event is accompanied by loud rocking music and lots of cheering—especially for the last event, the bull riding. Eight seconds is the magic number; the cowboys need to stay in the saddle for at least that long to make a score. Sounds easy? Heck no, not when you have an angry bull underneath you that will do anything to buck you off...and stomp on you!

So what do all the cowboys and cowgirls do all day long when they are waiting for the rodeo at night? Go shopping of course. Team Diva was set up at one of four huge retail shows during the NFR at the Sands Expo Center. It's called Country Christmas and has all kinds of vendors from saddles and tack to gorgeous turquoise jewelry to shotgun shell Christmas lights. Genevieve scored herself a set.

My Team Diva booth with all my accessories.

A few moments with bull rider Wacey Barta.

I had a great location for my Team Diva boutique and one of the first items I sold was a mosaic cow skull made by my very talented friend Jeannie Antes. Check out her Web site to see more of what she creates including a mosaic mirror commissioned for Olympic Gold Medalist snow boarder Shaun White.

Jeannie by the artsy cow skull she created.

I also had bling collage belt buckles, and some that actually double as flasks! I sold my custom cowboy boots, a collection of used colorful boots I've worn over the years. This Diva loves her cowboy boots, but my tastes change often.

This guy is barely holding on the bull.	A cowgirl does her magic around the barrel.
This is a flask belt buckle I make. The flask actually removes from the holder on the buckle.	More belt buckles I make.
Yes, I love cowboy boots.	Since my taste changes often, I like to get rid of the old pairs I no longer wear. I wear a size 9 by the way if you're interested in any of these.

The most popular items among this crowd were surprisingly my custom cadet hats (a squared off ball cap) with turquoise stones, feathers, and lots of crystals. (I thought it'd be my custom cowboy hats.) I also sold some fun wall plaques I created with mini bottles of Crown Royal and Jack Daniels -- just the right crowd for these items!

Women love these custom cadet style hats. I can custom make one for you.	Women also love these rhinestone bandannas. I can custom make one of these as well, or choose from what I have.	My plaques were a big hit.
Love these tanks with the cute saying.	More of the tanks I sell.	My specialty is embellished cowboy hats.

The people behind the Country Christmas expo loved that I rode my Diva Glide from Arizona to Las Vegas and hated that I had to park it outside, so they made a special spot for it to be on display inside not far from booth. It was fun to show it off and let all the folks gather around the Diva Glide for photo opps.

Posing with Paige by my Diva Glide, who looks right at home in her outfit.

I also liked marching the rough and tough rodeo contestants over to see my ride; I know how to let those cowboys know who is in charge! It was great to have Genevieve there for help and support for the first few days of the nine-day marathon of a expo -- in fact, I signed up a full page of gals who wanted to subscribe to the WRN eNewsletter. This group truly does cross over into our motorcycle world. Yeee haaaaaa!

Rock and Roll Marathon
The first of January I worked the P.F. Chang's Rock and Roll marathon in Phoenix. My friend Mary Storm is the director of merchandise for the Competitor Group who owns more than 15 of these marathons throughout the country. I am one of her contractors who help with the events. We set it all up, sell like banshees, break it all down, set it up again at the finish line -- then pack up what little is left.

Gotta have EMTs on hand at the marathon.

At the finish line.

This crowd is so driven -- from the pro runners to the first timers (my favorites) as they have a half and a full marathon set up with bands playing music at every mile. That's what sets this marathon apart from others. Talk about inspiring. All these runners competing for different reasons, some for causes. The contestants and their families need the technical gear for their sport of running -- and of course mementos to commemorate their achievement so we are there to help them buy and buy and buy.

And the good news is -- they really do buy and buy and buy. Does my heart good to see the consuming. There is spending going on for something people. I personally think they are all crazy. I am all for getting my exercise, but this is beyond what I would call fun. Now put me on my motorcycle and I am there with them!

Sundance Film Festival
Next traveling to the 8000-foot altitude of Park City, Utah, my other home (actually we have two barns on 18 acres on a mountain 20 minutes from downtown Park City). Every January the Sundance Film Festival takes over the entire Park City proper to screen films, conduct workshops, throw parties and receptions, and woo the celebrities. One of the main goals is to find potential distributors for independent films.

One of the many theaters showing the films in Park City.

Sundance Film Festival was founded 32 years ago and gained even more notoriety with the help of its chairman, Robert Redford. It was named after his very famous character, the Sundance Kid. I was lucky enough to see him dining next to me last year at his restaurant, Zoom, and much to my dining girlfriend's surprise, I behaved myself and said a casual "Hello" against my credo of "overdoing"...but honestly...Robert deserved this respect from the Diva!

I found time to enjoy some winter sports. Love to snowmobile when I'm in Park City.

Skiing with cutie Mountain guide Peter at the top of Deer Valley.

My Diva leopard skis made by K2 for me.

Not your typical ski lodge food -- can't beat Deer Valley.

One of my favorite retailers, Mary Jane's, owned by my dear friend Lori Harris, is right on Main Street in Old Town Park City. I have my own corner in her store with all of my latest Team Diva creations stocked at all times. However, for Sundance we ramp up and I make all kinds of cadets, cowboy hats, T-shirts, jackets, vests, scarves, beanies, crystal bandannas, and my now famous belt buckle flasks.

Me with Lori Harris, owner of Mary Janes.

Her darling crew and I set up on Thursday and customers started buying the new items by that afternoon -- a great sign the fashionistas and shoppers were in full spirit of the festival. The shoppers are all hoping for a glance of celebrities, while keeping warm with hot toddies, and catching some entertainment brought to town for the week.

My cadets were flying out like crazy. I made a new style called "Chained up" with all kinds of chains, crystals and such, all paved on the brim of the hat. Gone the first day! All day I am on the floor selling and chatting it up with the customers. It is so much fun to schmooze with the locals and out-of-towners giving tips on things to do and hearing about all the films, and general Sundance stories!

The new cadet hat I'm making that was a hit at Sundance.

My best story is that my daughter, Adrienne, who works in a new Rock and Roll apparel store above Mary Jane’s called "Upstairs at Muddy's," saw a cluster of paparazzi across the street following Paris Hilton. Adrienne also noticed, that along with her cute turquoise shiny puffy parka, Paris was wearing one of my cadet hats! I scooted over to the deli (thank goodness I know the owner) and got past her humongous bodyguards by telling them I was the designer of the hat she was wearing. Those guys don't scare me! She was so darling telling me she loved the hat and wears it all the time. Her publicist then took our picture and I told her any time she needed a new hats I would be glad to make them for her!

Up close with Paris Hilton wearing the cadet hat I made.

I think it took a lot of nerve for me to put this sun damaged, 80mph dermabrasioned face up against her perfect, porcelain skin for the photo! I have since seen her in photos in New York City and other travels wearing the hat. The good news is that she bought it while shopping at the boutique at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, another place I showcase my collectible hats and accessories.

Another highlight of the event for me was getting to see Joan Jett and the Blackhearts concert at Harry O's Saturday night. She is still rockin' at 51 and her body is tight and arms totally carved wearing a sparkle body suit with her skater shoes! She finished a 2-hour set with her "I Love Rock and Roll" anthem while the crowd went wild!

Joan Jett on stage at the Sundance Film Festival.

Actors Dakota Fanning and Kristin Stewart (The Twilight Saga: New Moon) got up on stage with Joan as they are in the movie about Joan's life called The Runaways. Kristin is playing her in the film.

I also helped darling starlet Julia Ling, who is in the NBC TV show "Chuck" and who is starring in a new movie called High School, with some of my items. Her cute boyfriend bought her one of my cadets and she really liked one of the belt buckles I made.

Meeting actress Julie Ling. What a cutie.

I love that my path takes me to all these great events, and of course the most fun I have is showing off the postcard of me and my motorcycles, the Diva Glide and my Fat Boy. Most people can't believe I actually ride a motorcycle, that is, unless they've seen me out on the road somewhere, or riding in the July 4 parade every year in Park City. It is truly amazing how small the world is when you start to compare notes about where we have all been and who we know. At the center of my world are the motorcycles and all things shiny, so I am pretty easy to spot at these various venues, and I love it when I see Divas from the past, and those I am meeting for the first time. Viva las divas!

Back to Arizona to get ready for the Tucson Gem show where I go shopping for embellishments for all my creations! Until next time...

To read more about Amy visit our introduction of her, and then visit her Web site, TeamDiva.com. She's still putting together her online store, so if you are interested in any of the items in this story, email her at divamy1@gmail.com or call her at 818.519.7842.

Reader Comments

Nice article. Normally I ignore what rich people have to say. I'd like to see more photos of the Diva's bike, which seems to have about $20,000 in custom paint and parts on it. Is there a place on the net where I can do that? Bad Biker Colorado Springs, CO Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Editor Response If you visit the archives of Amy's column in October 2009, we posted an introductory article on her and her motorcycle. You can see it as this link as well: http://www.womenridersnow.com/PublicFiles/DepartmentViewer.asp?ArticleID=1334 Genevieve Schmitt, Editor Amy and her designs are awesome. Seeing her at the IWMC made me realize I need more bling in my life too. Christina Shook San Francisco, CA Monday, March 08, 2010 Editor Response We all do, that's for sure, even if rhinestones are not your thing. She's certainly inspired me. Genevieve Schmitt, Editor Loading…

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