I
n one corner of Hall B at the Santa Clara Convention Center during the April 29 Bay Area Women’s Expo, people concentrated on painting a blossom tree with its reflection in the water via PaintNite. Across the hall, at the station for Paul Mitchell The School San Jose, designers styled the hair of attendees into neat braids. At the Walgreens station, attendees received complimentary canvas bags and were invited to donate money to benefit the Red Nose Day Fund, which assists organizations that work to end child poverty.
“Our goal is to have a low cost event to give women an opportunity to be encouraged, uplifted and inspired,” said Karie Robinson, show producer.
“We do that through a host of inspirational workshops, retail therapy and pampering. A lot of women go through a lot of challenges and sometimes they don’t feel comfortable expressing them out loud. We want to provide them a safe place where they can go and then go back to be a better person in their own life.”
At the station for the True North Soul Camp, attendees learned about the company’s all-inclusive retreats for women in Bodega Bay. The company’s booth was decorated with intricate paper flowers, jars of rocks containing “burdens” and paper butterflies with positive affirmations, such as “Beautiful Girl, Here’s the Truth. You are beloved and cherished.” Jessica Goins, co-facilitator, ran the station while her mother Sheri Tidwell, owner of the company, hosted a self-improvement workshop.
“Our company is about restoring ourselves back to our true selves through meditation, art, journaling and sisterhood,” said Goins.
A fashion show was presented by Estilos Alondras, a San Jose-based fashion designer whose boutique also offers hair and makeup services. The models emerged onto the Main Stage in eye-catching and glamorous dresses for girls and women.
“The designs from today are gala and prom fashion,” Alondras said. “Besides doing fashion design, I also create the clothes. Good fashion is about how women can transform their lives with new fashion techniques.”
Boudoir photography services, boutique apparel and accessories, farm fresh produce delivery, skin and body care products, psychic readings, and eye brow art were among some of the other kinds of businesses at the event.