There’s a new picture book on Audrey coming out November 2, and it’s called Audrey 100. The premise? The 100 greatest pictures of Audrey Hepburn, as compiled by her son Sean Ferrer. What this means? Rare or private pictures, seen for the first time! The book is co-authored by Ellen (Erwin) Fontana, the director of the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund, who was also behind what I consider the best book out there on Audrey, The Audrey Hepburn Treasures.

While information is still trickling out, I can tell you that the book is slated for a release date of November 2, that it comes in at just under 200 pages, that it comes with a 9×11 photograph for framing, and that full retail price is $40 (though you can get it for less if you know where to look, of course). And, like Treasures before it, sales will benefit the Children’s Fund.

Excited yet? There’s more. You can pre-order through Barnes & Noble or Amazon, and you can even take a lovely virtual tour of the book here.

Long Tail has the video, called “Audrey Hepburn: In Her Own Words” on DVD for the first time, and I’m so happy. The DVD is very affordable at $19.95 and also comes with a special episode of Views on World Poverty. I shall be getting a copy of this soon and will post a full review for you once I’ve seen it again, but trust me when I say that what little I remember was very, very good. I told people at the time that everyone should see this video, and now you finally have that chance. Here’s a trailer for you to watch:

And you can find more information through Long Tail’s website here.

I love Audrey’s passion over her work for UNICEF, but I love even more that this video is finally available to the public for anyone and everyone to see. This side of her needs to be shown more so we don’t forget that she was a humanitarian, and a good one at that.

Very special thanks to David, for everything he’s done.

Dear Volunteer:

You are receiving this email because you are a registered volunteer in the greater Los Angeles area and we have a special opportunity in which we need your help!

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF will be hosting The Beverly Hills UNICEF Snowflake lighting! It’s a wonderful opportunity for Los Angeles residents to come together to do whatever it takes to save a child’s life and spread a little holiday cheer! We are looking for volunteers to help us pass out UNICEF fact cards, goodies and simply spread the message of UNICEF. We need approximately 20 volunteers to help us from 5 to 8 pm on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 at 2 Rodeo Drive, corner of Wilshire Blvd. So if you are interested and are at least 18-years-old come join us.

Volunteers will be chosen on a first come, first serve basis, so if you are interested please email bmazin@unicefusa.org.

Regards,
Volunteer and Community Partnerships Department

P.S. For more information about the UNICEF Snowflake, please visit our website at unicefsnowflake.org

If you go to the Snowflake link just above, you can find more information about the snowflakes in LA and New York. I recently received another letter from UNICEF going into more detail about LA’s ceremony, and it seems that Ambassador Joel Madden and Nicole Richie will be the ones lighting the snowflake. (I had no idea Joel was a UNICEF Ambassador!) There will also be performances by The 88 and Kreesha Turner, so even if you can’t volunteer, you could stop by for some pretty lights and free entertainment.

The Children’s Fund website links to this fairly new video about Audrey’s former work with UNICEF, and it ties in nicely with what the fund and UNICEF are doing to help the children of the world. As Tuesday reminded all the world, not just the United States, what one country does affects us all, and the younger generations have as big a say in what happens to our world as any other generation. For too many years humanity has turned too far inward and cared only about themselves as individuals, and because of that far too many people are suffering. Now that we’re beginning to wake up and look around, we need to not only dust ourselves off but pick up those who were tossed to the wayside and forgotten during our darker moments.

If the events of November 4, 2008 taught us anything, it’s that change comes from the bottom up. Ordinary people like you and me are the harbingers of change: together we change the world, not the politicians. We can fix what’s wrong with our world; it may take a while, a very long while, but it can be done. Audrey believed this with all her heart and worked ’til the end with this belief, and while it didn’t happen in her lifetime, maybe it can happen in ours. We won’t know unless we try. I have no specific agenda in sharing this with you, besides the hope that you will appreciate all that you do have, and know what power you have in this world.

“Our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared.” -President-Elect Barack Obama
“Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” -Time-Tested Beauty Tips by Sam Levenson, read by Audrey to her children on their last Christmas together

I just got a little catalogue in the mail from UNICEF, and it’s encouraging their members to buy one of their Inspired Gifts for your mum this Mother’s Day (May 11th). I think it’s actually a very sweet idea, seeing that the holiday is just a made up Hallmark holiday anyway, and could you give the woman who gave you life* anything better than the chance to touch other childrens lives? The gifts in the catalogue range from an insanely affordable treated mosquito net to save children from insects and disease ($15), to a motorcycle used to speed medicine to unreachable people ($1,980)! Don’t worry, there’s plenty in between, I just wanted to highlight the price range to show that practically anyone can afford these gifts. Buy it in your mum’s name and she has just saved a life. Isn’t that fantastic? I think Audrey would have loved to have gotten that sort of gift.

If you’re interested in doing this as a gift for someone, or because you’re flush with a tax return and would like to do something good with your extra cash, you can browse the shop yourself here, or call 1-800-4UNICEF.

*or who raised you and made you the person you are, which is just as important!

What great things are mentioned on this list? Why, the Audreybags, of course! Handmade in the classic Italian style, the handbags are exclusive, posh, and do something that would make Audrey herself proud: help children in need around the world.

Another great gift for a special lady in your life would be a sterling silver snowflake charm from Tiffany’s, with 25% of the profits going to UNICEF. Ooh, another great Audrey-themed gift! And that little blue box will be sure to stop some hearts.

There’s lots more on the list, including handmade goods from Rwanda, luscious bath & body sets, and more jewelry, so take a look around and see if you can’t find the perfect gift that will not only make your recipient happy, but make many people you’ve never met happier and healthier.

Hello all, and many thanks for your enduring patience with me. To make a long life story short, I decided at the last minute to drive 500 miles south and spend the holiday with my family, since I hadn’t had a holiday with them in 3 years for one reason or another. My mum’s accident made me realize that our time with each other is limited, and I need to make the most of it. My baby nephew also turned one year old and his favourite aunt had to be onhand for that momentous occasion, of course. I also managed to write a novel for

Long story short, I’m back and we have a lot of catching up to do! Here’s a short list of things that have been going on in the world of Audrey Hepburn lately:

- Donald Spoto’s controversial biography of Audrey, which was a subject of much debate in the Audrey Hepburn Circle after its original release, is now available in paperback.

- It’s that time of year again! As pointed out by the lovely Lotta both this year and last December, UNICEF and Nokia are uniting to offer holiday e-cards that will benefit everyone. Whether you send cards or not at this time of year, you may want to consider sending at least a little “Thinking of you” note now, since these e-cards will help children around the world have a better life. For every card sent that is opened by its recipient, Nokia will donate an undisclosed sum to UNICEF. The numbers go up every year, so let’s see if we can’t set new records this year! Go here to start sending your cards.

- This Thursday a black-tie ball benefiting the Irish Sri Lankan Orphanage Fund will feature a dress worn by Audrey herself, along with other famous dresses worn by equally famous women. Unfortunately, the posh Irish event is already sold out, but maybe we can hope for some pictures to surface online? I’d like to know which Audrey dress will be on display.

- In San Francisco now through February 2008, photographer David “Chim” Seymour‘s photographs are on display at the de Young Museum. Included in this display are his portraits of iconic celebrities, and of course Audrey Hepburn is one of them! On a clear day I can see the top of the de Young from my place, just peeking over the trees in Golden Gate park, so it would be absolutely unacceptable if I didn’t get down there to see this for myself. The de Young is more lax about picture taking than the MOMA, so I may be able to get some shots for your enjoyment. If you’re anywhere in the neighborhood, though, I highly encourage you to see for yourself. The first Tuesday of every month is free museum day.

- UNICEF’s annual Snowflake Ball was another huge success, raising over $2 million for the charity. The Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award was also given to actress Téa Leoni at the ball, for her family’s ongoing work with UNICEF, starting with Leoni’s grandmother, who founded the U.S. chapter of the charity.

And there’s the news that’s fit to print. Thank you again for your understanding and patience throughout all of this.

Note: I tried to post this yesterday, but Blogger ate the post and I only found it again today. It’s always something, isn’t it?

What do you think?