Simply Stunning Designs - NOLA

09/22/2026

Simply Stunning Designs - NOLA, Grand Marshal Marty Graw & Professor Carl Nivale want you to know that we're only 106 days away from the beginning of Carnival 2027!!! :-D

09/18/2026

We're busily taping this year's "Sprinkles and Tinsel's Very Merry Holly Daze Special" with Sprinkles and Tinsel, Santa's Craziest Elves, and to say that Simply Stunning Designs - NOLA had a blast making a set happen over at RIVER REGION DRAMA GUILD, INC. is a major understatement.

Tune into the NOLA Voice Theatre's Youtube channel on December 13th for this 7th annual FREE special with tons of laughter and fun for the entire family!

08/20/2026

With Halloween approaching, Simply Stunning Designs - NOLA is busily creating door hangers and staked yard decorations and more for folks. Many are enjoying the throwback vintage looks, and of course, rhinestones and glitter and sparkling trims are being used... though you can't really see them in these photos. And these are comfortable sizes made from 2 foot by 2 foot plywood, drawn/cut out/inked/painted/glittered and trimmed then poly sealed for durability and longevity.

Got an idea and wanting something hand made and original? Reach out and let's see what magic can be created for you!

And we're also working on some Carnival decorations already, so there's always time to create some Mardi Gras Magic for you as well!

08/11/2026

Merely at MidSummer Mardi Gras right now, Carnival 2027 designs and creations are happening left and right.

Yesterday, one of my Simply Stunning Designs - NOLA clients got so excited during our meeting for her upcoming doubloon designs that she shared it on facebook months before a reveal was expected. And the reactions being so positive over there on her personal page post about the doubloons, I decided to share it over here since "the mercat is now out of the pool" so to speak.

My friends Laura and her husband Elliot own the historic Danny Barker House on Chartres where every Mardi Gras she is The Swinging Mermaid, sitting and swinging up on her large swing blowing bubbles, playing her ukulele and entertaining the throngs of revelers who come up to her for photo ops while surrounded by the aquatic house float I created to frame and surround her with. She's quite the experience. It was fun to return to doubloon designs once again and very pleased with how this one finally turned out.

Pictured are the regular bright gold as well as the very few/rare antique bronzes for family. So if you'd like one of these little gold beauties, look for her on Chartres by the Ursuline Convent on Mardi Gras and get yourself one.

02/20/2026

🐾 Mardi Paws, The Northshore’s premier pup parade rolls through downtown Covington this coming Sunday, Feb 22 at 2PM! 🎭
Grand Marshal Marty Graw & Professor Carl Nivale look forward once again to traveling "across the pond" to be with and support the amazing people who put this festive celebration together, to assist with the wonderful work they do through ScottsWish.org
MardiPaws.com 💩

02/10/2026

So, what would you say about all four of my Simply Stunning Designs - NOLA costuming segments on WWLTV with Grand Marshal Marty Graw put together as one essay viewing experience? (It's all rhetorical, the link is below in the comment section...)
Enjoy!

02/10/2026

Here ya go, part four and the finale of my Simply Stunning Designs - NOLA costuming segments with Grand Marshal Marty Graw - "Get It Tagethuh"!

Happy Carnival!!!
💜💛💚

Grand Marshal Marty Graw showcases what a complete homemade Mardi Gras costume can be.

02/09/2026

✨Tomorrow morning is my final "Mardis with Marty" costuming segment for . ✨

Help me celebrate over 20 years of costuming segments and fun by tuning into the WWLTV live morning news broadcast to see Grand Marshal Marty Graw's Simply Stunning Designs - NOLA costuming tips and ideas shared over the past three weeks (Week 1- Headpieces. Week 2- Masques. Week 3- Accessories.) finally "pulled tagethuh" as ensembles, and more!

Happy Carnival!!!
💜💛💚

02/08/2026

Today, Grand Marshal Marty Graw and Professor Carl Nivale march in Mystic Krewe of Barkus New Orleans with their flower canes!

Hope to see a lot of friends out on the route to support the wonderful pups and their parents and this worthy cause.

Happy Carnival!!! 💜💛💚

02/05/2026

Here's an interesting "throwback thursday" video offering-

You would think after well over 20 years on WWLTV that that was the only station I appeared on with costume ideas and segments... oh, nay, nay. I've appeared on all the New Orleans stations and channels over the years, with this video being from WGNO and filmed in our place on Frenchmen Street in 2012! And I'm also out of my Grand Marshal Marty Graw persona in order to put emphasis on my Simply Stunning Designs - NOLA creations.

My 'Simply Stunning Designs' on News With A Twist, WGNO ABC 26 with Molly Rosenblatt for Carnival 2012.