Her Immigrant Mother

New piece in the shoppe featuring genuine tintypes. Something quite "forever" about a tintype, no? Even though the tintype is quite older than the buckles surrounding it, I am a lover of all things Art Deco...had to work with this assemblage piece.

Two Thousand and Ten

...or twenty ten? you be the "decider".
one day when you write a memoir nostalgically, you'll call it out in full, but maybe i will go with twenty ten for now!

i want to wish all of you love, freedom, joy and health this new year, but i wish it for you and those i love everyday. be good to yourself, and be good to your human family. i want to grow seeds that i planted in 2009 this year, i really do. i feel like this is my year to shine...for all of us in our different movements and projects.

so, i have two shows booked for february and i will post them as soon as i just confirm travel plans for one.

all my love!

Grand Opening! Sunday Love- Brooklyn

Hey Everyone...I know, I know, no pictures from London yet...but I had to work like a maniac for that awesome show in D.C.-Crafty Bastards, which happened over the weekend and was exactly as expected...DOPE!!! We were put up by one of my fav girls, Katie of Catherinette, or as I like to call her..."McGiver Stewart", because she is what you would get if Martha Stewart and McGiver had a baby...she can do ANYTHING...sew you a jacket while painting a house....fix your car, while building a display...it's insane, shames me every time.
My neighbor was the ridiculously talented Margaux of The Black Spot Books...she book binds from antique leather, and even makes jewelry and raises a gorgeous, gorgeous baby called Søren, who will steal your heart away, and chase you with an antique hammer! I am amazed at not just the absolute beauty of this work, but the soul. I swear, each book has a soul, no joke. Here is a video of her studio and her process...which makes me go...."damn!" lol:


You can find her online here.
*Also, she has ghostly, unique photographs I really wish I had room for in my house, and her hubby Walter is a painter AND a woods craftsman with beautiful and SAFE toys for your girls and boys.

Now as for exciting, local news...Sunday Love is opening in Williamsburg, and the only jewelry featured in the shop is The Hand of Fatima!!!
I want to invite you! Come through for the grand opening 10-10-09 @6:30ish, food if you eat, drinks if you drink, and beauty everywhere, plus a DJ. You've gotta meat the super cool artists/owners Greer, Scott and Ned, who have made this beautiful place a new part of Williamsburg community.

Fanciful Fobs and Circuses

Today I have two new creations in total contrast of one another. A minimalist, antique watch fob, hanging in all its gold filled Victorian glory, from a simple vintage brass chain, sprayed with faux pearls. Lovely no?
Next I have added to the shop a wild and eccentric mix of sordid sorts...a circus inspired charm fest, antique doll leg, antique secret society medal, chandelier prism, skeleton key, sterling clown, watch face!!
Very steampunk, very noir, very The Hand Of Fatima!

All Things Considered

All things considered...no, not Melissa Block and Michelle Norris, my life!
Wow, so alot is going on...so many political things in my other job, and in my first job as mother...some exciting new developments, Rami, at 10 and a half months walked!!! They want to make me work...hard.

So, spring is here, I have many a new additions to the line, and I have a secret stash that will be going up on my website by May 2009.

I've been focusing on a face lift of sorts, I am in the works for a new logo, a really exciting old piece of leather miniature from a special country came into my possession, and inspired me.

Also, the "mens" line, well what I meant to say was a line, marketed more towards men, but truly a, his, hers and them line. I am a feminist, so if I make something, it for a man, best believe it will also suit a woman...no pun intended. (suit...)

A new addition of head pieces will make there way to the website, fatimacouture.com.
Also, I have finally used those bones I've had. The line "Voodoo" is a take on the ever lasting drive for man/womankind to use other species for inspiration and mystical representation, along with the seedy diaspora of voodoo...sprinkle some mourning jewelery from the Victorian era, and voila!

I am sorry to all my vegans out there, but believe that these animals came from a professional taxidermist and were not killed for the bones, they were already dead, found or donated by an animal hospital.

I must say my vending over the holidays brought me in contact with some great new customers who offered great feedback. Many requested bones, and so many dudes were intrigued, which was a grand compliment.

Back to work!

Forgive Me!

I have been MIA!! I know, but you all have to understand, I have an entire secret life away from my jewelery inventing persona. LOL! Anyway, I have soooooooooooooo many new things coming to the shop, I also have been playing around with some things that are going to be a bit shocking...shhhh. More news when I actually bare fruit from the play. Hmmm. what else have we??
Good news and bad news: The oh so loved, "Bonded" human body casket tag bracelet will soon be discontinued. Unfortunately, well, you know what, I want to be diplomatic, let's just say I want designs that I choose (and actually can) to reproduce to be exclusive. So, good news, I am going to develop my mens line this month. I am so excited because at every show I do, I always have such enthusiastic fellows that would love stuff for themselves.

Happy belated New Year and Chinese New Year!!!
According to my girl Yin in Singapore, it's also the birthday of humanity today! Happy B-Day humanity!!!

The Hand of Fatima Design Loves Courtney Love

Thank you again Miss Love for supporting my work and the handmade movement.
The Hand of Fatima Design has been featured on the icon of style's Hot List.
Check it HERE.

Tags

I loooove adding tags to each design I produce. I always like to use something with a handmade look, the older the better. A nice application of decay always helps. I purchased some hand died tags back in September. They are dyed with coffee and also stamped with a vintage looking crown. They smell really nice too! I stamp the reverse with my business stamp, also, I add a vintage brass fleur de lys on it and tag my luxe line of products. Here's an example:
another:

Something New

I took some pics yesterday, some newbies that will be added to the Etsy shop this weekend...okay by Monday night. I have two kids, gimme some slack!!

Courtney Love Love

Thanks Miss Love-Cobain for the love and blogging about me! I told her that calling me "genius" means I can prove to my family I am somebody-hahahhaa!!!! Miss love certainly picked some of my favorites, and I hope she enjoys them, and I hope even more so she continues being inspired on for her new album dropping in January. Visit her at courtneylove.com or her Myspace.
Big shout out to the other two Etsy sellers she gives C-Love love to!!!

Fall...

I love fall.
Fall brings many good memories to my being. A good New York fall that is brisk and crispy always tingles the senses in an awakening way. Fall is when my husband and I reached a very deep point in love before we were married, fall was when we first found out we would be parents, it was then the season that I learned the logistics of being a mother, and in general, I have so much childhood nostalgia of fall. I happen to ADORE Halloween, and I am dying to go to Mexico for Dia De Los Muertos. This fall I will be trying to deal with the crazy weather global warming has introduced to my hometown...to my mother earth as well, but I will really be in love with those brisk and crispy days because they are a treasure for certain!
I have so many new designs that I need to upload into the Etsy shop the problem is, now that the sun disappears so early I never make it in time to snap pictures. I know that it's possible to make a light box, but I really love the quality of natural light in my photos. I am no stellar photographer to begin with, so I need all the enhancement I can get.
I did a ridiculously exciting craft shoe in Washington DC called Crafty Bastards on September 28...it was just fabulous. The bad thing is...I designed a TON of new material and did not photograph it and now all the one of a kinds are out in the world with their rightful owners, but all I have is a memory...To any of the wonderful people I met in DC, if you have a picture of you in you The Hand Of Fatima wares, please feel free to send them this way!
xo

Here is a design of a newbie in the shop...and a little picture of Amir playing in the leaves..I hope he too has good memories of this season when he's older.