I'm Linda Blackbourn, a jewelry designer living and working in the Washington D.C. area. Also have a European connection - Paris and Rome - (where my husband is from). We have 3 kids ranging from 7 to almost 20 (I don't feel that old...), and several languages in the family. We travel a lot.

Love style and fashion givenn what I do, but with the world, (and especially the US), in the pitiful shape it's in, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to help the poor and the environment. I'm a bit of a bleeding heart when I'm not dissing the celebrities lol.

My Style

Can I say simple too many times? I love a good pair of jeans and a T-shirt - put it with a great pair of boots, a fabulous bag and a marvelous jacket - that's my style. To me ... my clothing is like a palette for the jewelry & accessories.
You're more likely to see me in a pair of vintage levis than a $300 pair of jeans.
When I get very dressed up I feel like it's not really me.
I love to design for other people. And I love to see people dress to the hilt.
Me ... I'm the one with the white T-shirt.

Favourite Labels

I love certain aspects of so many -- sometimes I feel very funky and sometimes I like a crisp button down. The first designer I think I ever loved was Betsey Johnson -- still do, and now my kids do too! On the other hand, I must admit to liking a good Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein simplicity. I have always liked Vera Wang, Donna Karan/DKNY ...

Best Feature

My brain.

Something You Should Know

I've been sober for 20 years but I'm the one still dancing at 3 a.m.

Interests

Politics. Travel. ART. Anything arts and crafts.

Hates

People who are too full of themselves.

Music

"World" music -pretty much hate that term - I love West African, Cuban, Brazilian... Jazz (classic Miles Davis type - no fusion). A bit of Opera - Italian and Mozart. Rock & Roll - vintage - (look at my age... Led Zeppelin.

Movies

Favorites include: Amadeus, American Beauty, Real Women Have Curves, Frida

Television

Boring (sorry) - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
PBS - Frontline
Project Runway

Reading

Intelligent Novels. Newspapers. Magazines.

Smoking

Don't Smoke

Drinking

Don't Drink

Ideal Night Out

Great Concert - front row - sweat of artist on my face. Out for 5 star meal - no limits. A little latin dancing. Suite at 4 star hotel, on the beach.

Partied & Dined With

Let's call these "brushes" with celebrity ... I am no hobnobber. I did have dinner with Phillip Glass in the '80s. Danced with Nina Hagen. Dinner and sat at the table with George Thorogood (also in the '80s). Joan Cusack was a college friend in Madison WI - we used to party a lot!

Want To Party & Dine With

Isabella Rosselini. Salif Keita. Angelique Kidjo.

Occupation

Jewelry Designer