QVC Should Pad Vendor Kathleen Kirkwood Dies at 62

We’ve been nuts lately at our day job, recently being assigned the national retail real estate beat. So we’re way behind on our blogging. But we wanted to pause and note the death of former QVC vendor Kathleen Kirkwood, who recently died at just age 62.

We first heard about it when we saw a post from former QVC vendor Kathy Levine.

“We called her the Queen of Shoulder Pads, The Undercover Agent at Q with her beautiful camisoles, and the ecological green machine with her dedication to recycling through her Bra Recycling Agency (B.R.A); but I called her friend. Kathleen Kirkwood passed away after a short illness,” Levine wrote.

The ex-host also described Kirkwood as “a tireless worker, a wonderful sister and daughter, a passionate dog mom, and a most beautiful friend, Kathleen loved her Starbucks cappuccino and brain-storming different business ideas. Her mind never stopped noodling how to create clever new items, and how to make a difference in the world.”

The cause of death wasn’t known, but one report said that her sister had sought prayers for her on Instagram in late September.

Here’s Where to Find Ex-QVC Host Kathy Levine On Facebook

Former QVC host Kathy Levine reached out to us on LinkedIn awhile ago, and we just want to forward her message to you home shopping fans.

The bottom line is that she has a new Facebook page called “Kathy Levine-Kathy’s Korner” that she wants everyone to know about.

“Facebook completely closed me down for some odd reason,” she wrote. “Perhaps due to hacks, as I had some very strange foreign names show up in bulk lately. I closed the page and have re-opened a business page called KATHY LEVINE-KATHY’S KORNER. If you could help me re-establish my thousands of lost followers, I would be eternally grateful.”

Although she did refer to us as the Home Shopping Queen instead of The Homeshoppingista in her message, we forgive her.

“Like” her page. We did.

Ex-QVC Host Kathy Levine Resurfaces to Rep Nutrisytem on HSN

We saw that former QVC queen bee host Kathy Levine just turned up on HSN as a rep for Nutrisystem.

https://www.hsn.com/products/nutrisystem-fast-5-balanced-personalized-four-week-plan/9400430#

Since her exit from QVC many years ago, and her marriage to a wealthy older man, Levine has made appearances on a number of other home shopping channels, including ShopHQ.

She also just appeared in a video session on Facebook with husband-and-wife home shopping team Judy Crowell and Paul Deasy.

As with many home shopping personalities, Levine’s face looked tucked and taunt. Maybe she was just really rested, but we think she succumbed to the TV medium’s pressure to look young with the help of a surgeon. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. We understand the pressure.

We hadn’t seen QVC host Jane Treacy in awhile, and she looked like she has had some work done on her eyes.

Ex-QVC Host Kathy Levine Bows ‘Loud’ Line On Evine Live

FB friend Charlene tipped us off to some news today: Former QVC queen host Kathy Levine is debuting a clothing line on Evine Live tomorrow.

Levine has been acting as a kind of sometimes host or commentator on Evine Live, but we weren’t aware that she had a collection cooking for the No. 3 home shopping network.

Lisa Robertson posted this photo of her and Kathy Levine on Facebook.

Another QVC refugee, List Robertson, did a post on Facebook about Levine’s new collection.

“GUESS WHAT?!!!! My friend Kathy Levine is debuting her new clothing line on EVINE Live!,” Robertson wrote. “It’s tomorrow night at 6p ET and she is really excited about it!!! Good luck, Kathy!!!!!”

Here’s what Levine had to say on Facebook:

For years, you have been saying how much you wish I would return to TV. I have always wanted to come back with something to call my own.

Last summer I met with EVINE Live’s VP of Apparel in NY and he introduced me to a super manufacturer. She got my vision right away. Easy, casual tops with a young hip edge, designed longer, to hide the bad and accentuate the good, for all sizes and all shapes.

Most of these ideas were straight from my own closet, just needing a few tweaks here and there. The clothing line was born with fabulous genuine gemstone jewelry created to complement it. (Heart lovers rejoice)! Sneak a peek – http://bit.ly/1OxF8v9

Kathy Levine Out Loud!!! KLOL is here!

Shop, share, smile and laugh out loud with me on Thursday, October 22nd at 6pm ET.

When Levine left QVC, and never got that talk show she had mentioned, she became a vendor on either QVC or HSN, we can’t remember which. Levine did costume jewelry and apparel, and quite frankly, it was not impressive.

Let’s hope she does better on Evine Live.

We do dig the gemstone sterling silver heart necklace that she’s hawking as part of her line.

QVC Alum Kathy Levine Joining Pam McCoy On ShopHQ

Well, there’s plenty shaking in the home shopping world in Minnesota: Not only is Pam McCoy returning to ShopHQ, ex-QVC host Kathy Levine is joining that cold crew.

Levine, known for her love of “big honker” jewelry when she was on QVC, appeared in a video clip on ShopHQ Tuesday night to announce that she was coming to the network, soon-to-be-rebranded as Evine Live, as a “roving reporter.”

She made it clear that she is not going to be a host.

Then, bitch claimed that she had her first scoop for Evine Live, that former ShopHQ host and vendor McCoy was coming back to ShopHQ/Evine Live with a clothing line.

Girlfriend, we already blogged that! You ain’t got no scoop!

McCoy appeared in the video, as well. She comes to ShopHQ Dec. 12 and 13, and frankly seemed a bit put off by Levine’s fat mouth. So were we.

QVC Shocker: Veteran Host Lisa Robertson Leaving

We never thought we’d be writing this, but QVC host and resident glamor puss Lisa Robertson is leaving network!

http://community.qvc.com/blogs/qvc+hosts/topic/473705/test.aspx?cm_ven=FB&cm_cat=LR&cm_pla=BLOG&cm_ite=ANNOUNCEMENT_1009

Lisa Robertson is exiting QVC

We are on vacation and were down at the shore, not checking QVC.com or Facebook very often.

We got back late yesterday and it wasn’t until tonight that we sat down at our computer for any amount of time. It was on Facebook that we saw Robertson’s post and blog about leaving the home shopping network, effective in December.

Here is part of Robertson’s blog announcing her departure:

Over my last 20 years at QVC I have had the most amazing opportunities met the most wonderful people and gone to the most beautiful places. I cannot tell you how lucky I feel. But there comes a time when you have done what you can do and it is time to see what else there is. And that is where I am.

After a lot of soul-searching I have decided that I will be leaving QVC. It is time for a new challenge and a new adventure. Although it is a little scary to leave what you have always known, I am very excited about what lays ahead.

We can’t help put wonder whether Joan Rivers’ death played any part in Robertson’s decision.

One of our gracious readers also notified us on Facebook of Robertson’s exit and suggested that the stalking nutjobs that have plagued the gorgeous host may have played a part in her decision to leave. That could be.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2605126/EXCLUSIVE-If-theres-sound-night-I-lay-awake-wondering-QVC-queen-Lisa-Robertson-lives-fear-having-FOUR-stalkers-one-bragging-got-close-movie-smell-popcorn-eating.html
So where will she land?

Via her role on QVC, Robertson has appeared on a variety of TV shows, so maybe she will find a job at one of those programs. QVC will survive, as it did the exit of hosts such as Kathy Levine. But Robertson’s departure represents a big loss. She worked on the design of the network’s G.I.L.I. line, and was of course a real fixture on QVC.

Former ShopNBC Host Libby Floyd Has Penned A Romance Novel

Former ShopNBC host Libby Floyd has a brand new bag: She’s a romance writer.

Via LinkedIn, we learned that Floyd has published her first romance novel, called “Sparkelicious,” on Chardonnay Press.

“It is now available on Amazon.com,” she said. “I also have several other novels in the works.”

Libby Floyd

In addition to ShopNBC, Floyd has appeared on Food Network, The Shopping Channel and Shop at Home.

She joins a growing list of home shopping hosts who have intruded onto our turf: writing.

That group includes QVC’s Rick Domeier, Kathy Levine and Lisa Mason, as well as HSN vets Dan Dennis and Paul Deasy.

Former QVC Host Kathy Levine’s Much-Mentioned Mom Passed Away

Anyone who remembers former QVC host Kathy Levine will recall that the chatty host often mentioned her mother. Levine would talk about how her mom was a great beauty, and sometimes show photos of her. She was a gorgeous woman.

So we were sad to read on Facebook today that Levine’s mother, Pat Seinfeld, passed away Wednesday. Mom was born on Aug. 27, 1921, so she had a long life.

Levine wrote a wonderful tribute to her mother on Facebook. Here is part of it.

My Mom worked for a popular department store, H. Leh and Co. She was a fashion coordinator and went out with her models to every organization you can name for 20 years and did fashion shows while the ladies lunched. She was the first woman to use a plus size model and a senior model. She had her finger on the real pulse of America long before America had a pulse.

She also taught a charm school to adolescent teen girls. To this day I am approached by women telling me my Mom gave them the only sense of self esteem they ever had. She touched so many with her light.

As an added perk to her job, I received clothes galore. As I never could hold my weight, and my size fluctuated like the stock market, she kept me looking my best no matter what. She never berated me for my problem. She loved me fat, thin, through the ugly stages and the pretty ones. She was in my corner every day of my life and thought the sun rose and set on all of her children.

Don’t misunderstand. If I was bad in school, misbehaved, sassed a teacher, got caught throwing spitballs or started a food fight, I caught hell. She never expected the school to do her job of manners and discipline, and she allowed that I was guilty instead of making the teachers wrong. Her common saying to me was “I love you, but today I do not like you”! It wasn’t damaging but it was a simple truth we could both live with.

If I have one message to mothers, it’s that your imprint on your children is indelible, and kindness reaches deeper and longer into your kid’s self esteem than you’ll ever live to know.

Here is the link to the full post:

And here is another excerpt:

On the first day of Winter, my Mom closed her eyes peacefully for the last time. We were all with her and we thanked her for being her. She will be sorely missed and my heart aches, but she had a fabulous life, a huge far reaching impact, and I will continue to strive to make her proud. There is no filling her sparkly gifted shoes, but I am so happy to have walked along side her for my 60 years. In her own words, “the show must go on”.

Jewelry Designer Loren Ridinger Brings Her Honkers To HSN, Eva and Khloe Call In

There was a nice breath of fresh air on HSN last night: gorgeous jewelry.

We’ve barely been watching HSN or QVC, since with our DNA a new iPod or Nook doesn’t really float our boats.

But yesterday a new jewelry line called “Yours by Loren” debuted on HSN, featuring a collection by Loren Ridinger. Her pricey couture pricey line has a celebrity following, and last night her clients actress Eva Longoria and reality TV star Khloe Kardashian called in to wish her well.

Loren, a gorgeous cat-eyed brunette, had some striking gemstone and sterling pieces, which host Colleen Lopez showed off nicely.

Our favorites were two go-big-or-go-home rings, “honkers,” as former QVC host Kathy Levine would call them. First, there was a 24 carat smokey quartz ring, which was enormous. And then there was a 12.6-carat crystal quartz ring that Loren said was exactly modeled after a real diamond — yes, I said diamond — ring that her husband gave her to replace her original CZ wedding ring.

Now that’s a good husband. Those big rings were $200, on special.

We also loved a white topaz heart pendant, for $160.

There were other pieces we loved, as well. Check out the link:

http://jewelry.hsn.com/yours-by-loren_c-j_a-8580_xc.aspx?rid=2253

Kathy Levine’s QVC La Vintage Jewelry Line Looks Dead In The Water

It’s looks like former QVC host Kathy Levine’s costume jewelry line for the home shopping network has met it’s end.

Levine, who left QVC years ago and married a well-to-do older gentleman, for a brief time did a clothing line for QVC’s rival, HSN. It wasn’t a very good collection.

Then she started doing a jewelry line, La Vintage, that reminded us a lot of Heidi Daus’s pieces for HSN. But they were not up to snuff when compared to Heidi’s work.

Now Levine posted this on Facebook:

For all of you who asked what I’m up to,… the answer is, not much. I don’t have any commitments from Q so it appears I will be finding other things to do. I keep busy w volunteering, cooking for Steve, traveling on bike trips, & seeing my Mom frequently. She just celebrated her 90th & we were all there. It’s a different life, but as I round the corner to my 60th, it’s fine. Onward. Give me a subject to write about & I’ll think about it.

“No commitments from Q.” Sounds like La Vintage has come to an end.