Memorable Fashion from Home: Straw Plastic Covered Bags

I remember as a child seeing my mum with a straw handbag that had this beautiful floral designs in the front, covered with a thick plastic, and a twist clasp closure that I found myself constantly turning. I would slip on mum's fancy heels and walk up and down her room with this straw clutch underneath my little arms, recreating this image of the "Caribbean Woman" walking in town or heading to church. I also remember my grandmother with a clutch as well, which she would carry to the market. Some years later my sister would purchase a straw coin purse from the Bahamas for me that just brought back memories.

Recently, over a cup of tea, mum and I had conversation about that bag and just how something so economical, hand crafted,  and so perfect for the rainy season with the plastic covering is now recreated for the likes of popular fashion designers and can be seen on runways. I'm sure that bag of hers is somewhere in the house in a closet or the garage but in the mean time I was able to get my hand on a beautiful woven straw purse from Etsy shop: A Wild Tonic . Thank you Lauren! I'm so excited to sport this for the summer and look forward to supporting not only vintage shops but also local Caribbean designers for memorable fashion statements.

Green Good Friday!!

Happy Earth Day and also Happy Good Friday!! Double duty of crafts and spiritual connection is inspiring! For Earth Day and Easter Weekend, I've decided to connect the both in a craft that allows me to REUSE my favorite recyclable items from a brown paper bag, the Caribbean Life newspaper, lots of paints, and a creative idea.



Paper Painted Flowers:




Tim Holtz Flower Die Cuts, painted with turquoise & metallic gold paints, and a jewel in the middle. A mix of the brown paper, the paints, and a crumbling effect while drying, really gave a vintage oxidized patina effect! I used to do add water to my pennies to create that color. I LOVE IT!!



Earth Day Egg Box:
I used an egg shape box and painted it with some Ranger Color Wash in "Stream" and some Mister Huey's Color Mist in "Clove" for this planet earth look. I then cut some words from the "Caribbean Life" newspaper and Mod Podged it to the box. This is a perfect gift box to celebrate Earth Day, you can fill it with seeds or possibly a letter to a loved one.







Also, the egg shape reminds me so much of when I was in elementary school. The teacher gave us some thoughts about the egg being used around Easter, as a context to remind us that like an egg that breaks, and a chick is born, it's a celebration of New Life... I'm thankful for that lesson!



Enjoy this weekend if it's in church, a temple, a garden, and with family...

Blessings,
Shanti

Location:In my lovely studio

Yummy Mango Lassi w/ a Dash of Spice

If it's one thing, I just love creating and using my hands. I've been creating recipe cards for my "Heritage Recipe" project and I was so excited to start.






(btw I forgot to add the yogurt on the recipe card, I was a little excited)
It so happens I had a mango in the house (Can you tell I love this fruit?) to make a salad for our dinner, but decided it was time to finally cut it up and perhaps make a drink. I'm always making peanut punch with almond milk or a soursop drink to help me sleep, so I wanted to try a new drink with a touch of spice. I absolutely love Indian dishes, and had to make this smooth, fruity, sweet, and milky treat. It's a very easy drink to make, so I hope you try it!!
Enjoy,
Shanti















Mango Lassi w/ Spice:
1 Lovely Mango
1/2 cup of milk (almond, low-fat, hemp, or coconut)
1 cup of yogurt
3 teaspoons of brown sugar or agave
Dash of nutmeg & spice
Blend all the contents for about 3 minutes and refrigerate
Should make about 2 cups.
I used Vanilla Hemp drink instead of milk. I think I'm going to try almond milk next time. Instead of sugar, I used Organic Raw Agave and I had to add a touch of my Spice Isle with some nutmeg and spice.
Yummy...

Location:In my Kitchen

Workout with Words:

If it's one thing I usually work out to, it's music, Soca music to be exact. Today I felt to break out my yoga mat and decided to do some stretches without any music.


I found my "Expression" words from Paper Source and decided to place it at the top of the mat and focus on that word as I stretched and worked on my yoga poses. You can also write out your own inspirational word or phrase and place it anywhere on the mat, treadmill, and even at your desk.


Sometimes a little silence and inspiration gets the work done!
Blessings,
Shanti

Location:In my livin' room

Remember Granny's Crochet Doily?

I can see it now, that crochet doily on my granny's night stand or on the table in the living room. I think she even used to place them on top of the cushions on the couch. She never read a crochet pattern to create these perfect circular designs, and I admired her crafts.





Now, 2011, I've been trying to figure out how I could display these heirlooms in my apartment with a modern appeal, so I ventured out for some fabric paints! I decided to put away the original crochet designs for safe keeping to show my children one day, and instead use one of my creations and a few from a vintage spot to create a tie dye effect!





Out of yesterday's crochet doilies, I breathed new life into the cream and white patterns with some color. I pay homage to Granny for teaching me how to crochet and definitely will pass on the tradition to my children.





Not everything should be changed, however, there's nothing wrong with giving something vintage a modern touch, which only makes it pleasing to the eye.

Tip: You can also purchase paper doilies from the dollar store and use various acrylic paints or markers to use for your scrapbook designs, journals, during tea time with friends, or even for decoration in the living room!





If you have any questions on this craft, please link me at mangopaperscissors@gmail.com.

Blessings,
Shanti

A Mango a Day keeps the...

Days like this, I wish I had a back yard to pick some mangoes, french cashews, plums, or even cut some callaloo to make a soup!!! Well I realize sometimes you have to, as my mother would say, "MAKE DO!" lol. Do some research of your neighborhood, find the spots where you can buy your provisions/fruits and indulge them, it's healthy and just sweetens yuh memory of home! My favorite spot is La Bay Market on Nostrand Avenue! Check out the article below for amazing benefits of mango!

Music inspired by this post:
"Julie Mango" -Preacher









Find this great article:

Amazing Benefits of Mango

Mango is considered the king of fruits because of its unlimited nutritional and medicinal properties. In Latin language, it is called Mangifera indica. If we burn the wood of a mango tree in our neighborhood, it keeps germs and bacteria at bay. For the same reason, it is also used in havans (religious Hindu bonfire ritual).

The leaves of mango are believed to be sacred and used in religious and social rituals. Mango is considered good from taste and health point of view. Mango also works as a blood booster and sperm booster. It is full of richness of vitamins A and C. It is especially beneficial for skin and eyes.

During Pregnancy
Ayurveda says that if a pregnant lady consumes one mango every day, then it is sufficient for all her requirements of calcium and magnesium. It will also keep her away from stress and will protect against muscular cramps. Not only this, but it will also keep away the danger of miscarriage...

For Cosmetic Purposes
Many people are not aware but consuming mangoes also enhances our beauty. According to Ayurvedic treatment practices, consuming a mango each day in mango season not only cleanses the skin but also keeps it soft and supple.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/amazing-benefits-of-mango-3308629.html#ixzz1JhAyXbsx
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Carnival Dahlin Bluesssss...

Can you tell?! I'm ready for a carnival or a festival. I'm looking for tickets to head to either St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Antigua, Barbados, or Grenada (that's the exact order of the carnivals this summer, wouldn't it be nice if I can go to all!!!)
This craft, not a typical greeting card but in the "Scrap-Craft" world, it's a tag, which I love for it's size, used to create expressive master pieces! Now, as a lover of Carnival and Soca music, I was so excited to work on this, especially since it's one of my passions in life! I find when I create jewelry, I mimic the vibes of Carnival designers and mas makers!






If you look at the lovely stamp "African Dancer", which I recently purchased, her movements is such a "ka-ka lay-lay" position it reminded me so much of the dancing you'll see on the road or in a fete, I had to work around this individual dancer. I incorporated butterfly wings from Tim Holtz Alterations "Fanciful Flight" and made this "Carnival Dahlin" into a queen. Then you'll find that I placed a feather to this piece to express a material frequently used on headpieces and backpacks... And added words like Mas, Blue, Flyin' for vibration.






Carnival is a sense of freedom, historically a time for slaves to express their culture, and as the traditions is celebrated all over the world today, we must never forget where we've come from to know where we're going (Sankofa)...






I love old fashion postage stamps, so I created one for this piece using images from "Invoke" unbounded rubber sheets and added some Distress Inks to give an aged look.






Music played to create this piece:
3 Canal- "Blue"
Merchant- "Rock it"
FloPG- "Freedom Chant"






Hope you enjoyed this piece, definitely more to come! If you're new to carnivals and the Caribbean culture, just research, listen to some soca, and be inspired or email me @ mangopaperscissors@gmail.com.

Much love n light,
Shanti


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Message with my Tea

Have a great day!!!


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Just a spoonful of sugar...

I've been a little under the weather but nothing a little tea, a teaspoon of brown sugar, some tulips from my honey, nutmeg oil from mi mum, vintage soca in my ears, and some art supplies wouldn't fix. I love to share my messages from Yogi teas but to add to this photo, you'll see a beautifully painted paper doily underneath my cup. Hmmm, do I smell next week's craft?! Lol
Have a wonderful Saturday everyone!
-Shanti

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Craft of the day: Card #3 Legacy

"Legacy"- Women harvesting mangoes and provisions...








I'm always inspired by Caribbean history, especially the Caribbean mother's experience from their artistic expression to their traditional work. The creation of this card was inspired by the stories I heard about women at work by the riverside washing clothes, to their gardens harvesting provisions to sell in the market or to feed their family. As I continue my research about these women and my culture, I want to use my artistic creations to tell stories of these sacred bonds to sustain the heritage of womanhood and honor their legacy!
Blessings,
Shanti


















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Location:Studio in Brooklyn

"Beautiful Mistakes"

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
-Scott Adams



Besides still drinking my bush tea today :( I wanted to share with you all one of my "beautiful mistakes". I'm playing around with a future project and two images (leaf and mangoes) from a card I'm working on falls onto this painted doily (for another project). I then thought, this would be a perfect "non-traditional" greeting card or gift... Design still in progress!


Have a blessed day and look out for this week's card design.
Blessings,
Shanti

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"Don't Sleep on Granny's Remedies"

"Take time to help other people win, because you're also helping yourself win. Add value to people" -Joel Osteen
Blessed Sunday,
Sooo, I woke up with the sniffles this morning (I wore a jacket yesterday with this in between winter/spring weather while shopping) and my honey decides to head to the kitchen and create a pot of "homemade tea" or what we call back home "bush tea". He simmered some black sage, lemon grass, cinnamon bark or sticks, borden leaf and orange peel with a sprinkle of ginger in some water.I was planning on taking some "over the counter medicine" but somehow my nasal passage began to clear up and a warmth came over me. Never underestimate the hands of our mothers or grannies!
Have a blessed day!









And, I love giving you all sneak peeks of what's to come.









Enjoy this beautiful Sunday!
-Shanti

Location:Beautiful Brooklyn

It's Raining...It's Pouring...

So, it's raining... Look @ it as blessings:
"...even though rain may be unpleasant for a time, it is never my enemy.I am my own worst enemy if I view the rain as being a curse.In reality, the rain is not a curse. It is a blessing."
-Paradox of Rain http://bit.ly/fngiRn







Also, I want to say congrats to the lovely winners of the GIVEAWAY, hope you love your paper crafts and jewels...






And next week, check out a vintage craft, the next card creation inspired by the name of this blog and my fave fruit!
Enjoy the rest of your Friday, don't worry, work is almost over!

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