The Hand of Fatima is Pregnant...Again

In case I forgot to mention...
I am...in the words of M.I.A., "creating a baby". And this baby will venture to London (via my physical body)come November.





Thanks to the blog "Baby Gum" for this image.
xo

London, here I cometh....Again!

Gritty, Elegant, Olde, Mysterious city that left me enchanted, I will return to you. Thank you for having me. CLICK

Feliz Dia De Los Muertos....

Absolutely enchanted. Some day I hope to be in Mexico on this day. What a rich and beautiful part of Mexican/Mayan culture. My Dad said to me yesterday, "You should have gone to the festival in East Harlem. I like that Mayan thing, it's great." LOL. If you only knew what that meant coming from my dad! Who will you honor today? Even though I am not Mexican or Mayan, I celebrate this to the fullest, let the ofrendas be built and the ancestors be pleased with us.




ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF Flickr.com!!! Artists copyright on these photos.
Johnathan Barker:http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbphotographer2/
John 300: http://www.flickr.com/photos/john3000/2982471924/
Steve Hopson: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevehopson/

Smut and Surprise

Back for the holidays and available for wholesale to brick and mortars...the brothel token series of vintage necklaces! Reclaim yo fame in your crew, they'll wild out over these coins of thunder! Buy online in the shop and you get one chosen randomly for you.

I wanna apologize...

these boots were made for walking and they're gone! Too bad for you and I who adored them so, they're on their way to New Orleans.
Speaking of NOLA, you all know I am obsessed and fascinated with Louisiana, my hubby sends me a link to this:


So that's a Victorian style Shotgun house. He's sick of the grit and the over-stimulation of NYC...though this city, my city, is so magical and full, it is also rude, and quite harsh at times. With two children, it's a challenge indeed. But even more of challenge with two babes is to pick up and relocate away from all one knows, where most of my family is etc. While if we were still just us two minus our joyful babies, I would entertain the idea in a heartbeat...but at the same time, I would hate to be an occupier, like an non-native taking someone's home after Katrina, ya know?

Who are these folks in NYC???

Little Syria it was...please, let's all read and absorb education.
Beloved NYC belongs to those of the world.
Learn: In the year 1890...

I'm Baaaaaa-aaaack

Creativity can be soooooooooooooooo scarce when a well deserved break is needed. I am amped up and ready to move one way...forward. Check out the fresh blood in the shop!

Thanks to Sotheby's and Saks 5th Ave from me!

Oh, I totally forgot to tell you...
Weeks ago I was contacted by the wonderful Amy K. of Sotheby's here in NYC. We had met at a craft show I participated in here in NY, and she contacted me because she was curating a benefit. The wonderful benefit was for an organization called City At Peace. Have a look at this amazing city youth development through the arts happening in our beautiful New York.
I donated a lovely necklace, with a vintage verdigris patinated leaf stamping and chandelier crystal dangling below. I will have a pic soon, I hope it raised some nice money for this amazing organization.

On another note, I will be at Renegade BK with the Better Than Jam Co-Op, and Renegade Los Angeles with my girl Miniature Rhino and new friend Monkeys Always Look.
Dooooope! I have never been to LA, but I am soooo excited. I have fam all over that city, finally I can hang Cali style with them :0)

Just wanted to share something I see more and more as I drive on the FDR. It's so strange, how you can pass something by all your life, but never really see it. Seeing and looking are such different things, my artists out there will agree. On Roosevelt Island there is an abandoned structure decaying. In a city of constant stimulation, over development and motion, this structure is just there, untouched, unshaken. I researched and found that it's an abandoned smallpox hospital built in 1854 when Roosevelt Island was still Blackwell's Island. It has a name- "Renwick Hospital".
I want to go peek around. I want to know what keeps it decaying and alive there, untouched. I found that it is built in gothic revival style and blah blah blah, but I want to know more than that. What ghosts are trapped in the sliced stone walls...hmmm...
photos courtesy of NY Times

Belated Nowrooz Mobarak!

It's 1389, I want to wish everyone a happy, beautiful New Year full of freshness. This year I got a really great photo of the family babies in the grass in my Baba's backyard. The small joys of life are not so small, they are just as recognizable and grand as they are.

On another note we're moving! Two blocks away...LOL. I won't be listing or creating for at least two weeks, try moving with two kids and hardly any help! It's hard.
So the first show of my season will be one of my favorite places EVER, The Brooklyn Lyceum. Be there the very first weekend of May, it'll be tons of fun.
http://www.bkcraftcentral.com/
Check out the classes that are available those days, Deb Klein has made them insanely affordable, I'm talking $5 to $10...

wow

another inspiring picture from mr. jacob riis who has newly brought great inspiration into my life with his turn of the century new york city (particularly 5 points area) photography.

New Item, Inspired by Jacob Riis

Jacob Riis was a photo journalist of Danish origin in New York during the 1800s who was part of the "muckraker" movement in journalism where photographers and reporters used their talents to benefit the impoverished and suffering. His work is amazing, and I added a new piece in the shop where the story is inspired by the above photo taken on Mulberry Street in the Five Points in 1880 something.

Thanks Ana Ottman!!

I recently had a really inspiring interview by creative coach Ana Ottman. She's dope...she's out of our nation's capital and found me at Crafty Bastards '09. She is such a wonderful and strong woman with great resources for women entrepreneurs. Have a hear and snoop HERE.

In addition, I never really shared, but I am a serious cook, I throw down in the kitchen. Cooking is really an art in its own right, the color, the smell, the taste, the inspiration to do it! I have to say it's my family and friends' joy that pushes me to create in the kitchen. I will share with you what I made the other night. Eggplant (my favorite non-meat main dish), because I couldn't grill it, I pan seared it, then baked it, then made separately a Bruscetta of some sort from fresh basil, yellow pepper, red pepper, vine tomato, garlic and salt cooked in olive oil then spread on the eggplant, followed by a slice fresh mozzarella, a fresh basil leave, dash of olive oil and devour! I served this with a side of Moroccan lamb murgez. Balsamic vinegar around the plate.
Also, if you're game for a Brooklyn party with artists and designers, forget the snow and come on through to the Grand Opening of Better Than Jam, CHECK IT.

graphix.

i am really excited about some new pocket mirror images that my favorite graphics designer (and fellow jeweler) Leila Marvel of The Red Heart Chronicles is creating for me. Just to give a lil' tasty taste...here is one and i will admit it is the simpler one. she happens to be a seriously amazing designer and artist.
i have only trusted her with my graphics since i discovered that she wasn't only a jewelry crafter bud a by-trade graphics person. she is also responsable for my awesome banners. check her out here!

inspire.

A vintage tarot card sits above my work desk these past four weeks and wants to dance with me. The Chariot...I am a lover of all things Egyptian, and this card is all things Egyptian+Circus+Symbols, and I love it. My aunt on my mother's side (one of my grandmother's eleven children) is a clairvoyant tarot reader, and I will say this, she was the one person that believed EVERYTHING that nobody else believed when I was a child. All the mysteries of my youth she accepted with a smile. My grandmother on my father's side was also able to do things, she read fortunes of everyone in the room from there small cups of Turkish coffee. In most Middle-Eastern cultures, when you're done with the post-dinner coffee, you flip it over and it reveals a depiction or text then read by the special lady in the house. Ancient, ancient practices that humanity has meshed into the contemporary state of their cultures..quite amazing how inspiration molds who we are.

A little reminder: Sunday Love in Williamsburg, that happens to carry THoF jewelry, was once a Fortune Teller's home and work place on the gritty Grand Avenue...stop on in NYCers and go through a warp, a mirror pool so to speak:
Sunday Love
624 Grand Street
BROOKLYN

Better Than Jam Handmade Co-op Comes to Brooklyn!

Boutique Fashion Hits Bushwick
Better Than Jam Handmade Co-Op brings local indie design to a deserving neighborhood. February 1, 2010


Bushwick, Brooklyn - Better Than Jam Handmade Co-Op opens its doors on February 1, 2010. Located at 1095 Flushing Ave, the Co-Op is soon to be neighbors with 20 other diverse businesses that will inhabit the "Markets at the Loom," providing a varied destination for local shoppers to shop and browse.

“We hope to provide a unique shopping experience to the residents of Bushwick and the handmade community at large,” said designer Karin Persan, who owns the Better Than Jam Co-Op.

The Co-Op will bring to the forefront a variety of clothing, jewelry, and accessories, created by some of NYC's most talented designers. All items at the Co-Op will be 100% handmade. Better Than Jam will also host shopping and launch events, parties and workshops open to it’s designers and the local public, to grow the already hugely artistic and creative community.

" Our goal is to showcase local designers whose work is handmade and high quality, at a fair price," Persan continued.

WHERE: 1095 Flushing Ave , Brooklyn NY 11237

WHEN: Opening: February 1 Grand opening reception: Friday February 5th 7-10pm

CONTACT: Karin Persan karin@betterthanjannyc.com (631) 377-2500

Come mingle with the designers and receive complimentary drinks , 10% selected designers, and free tote bag with purchase, compliments of The {NewNew} Etsy street team.



Owner Karin Persan of Better Than Jam (www.betterthanjamnyc.com)

Sample of designers (full list at website above)

Handbags- SML Bags (www.smlbags.com)

Jewelry- The Hand of Fatima (www.fatimacouture.com)

Fashion- Joann Berman (www.joannberman.com)

Something Blue

I feel blue...particularly because of our human family suffering in Haiti. I really am without expression. When I was about 20, and had been out on my own for some years already, a beautiful Hatian family took me into their family. Even if I never met a Hatian, I would mourn this situation, but it's particularly hurtful because I understand the intense love and giving that comes from the Hatian community, please find it in your heart to donate in any way you see fit to the Hatian cause. Many artists are selling art that proceeds will go to Haiti. In a few days I will have a link for you to buy handmade all natural shea butter lip balm created for this cause.

As for another something blue...I listed this in the shop tonight...


I also took some photos of new apothecary I have worked on and some new curios of mine...

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!

Hows about a lil' nostalgia anyone?

Seriously...what do I do that does not involve it? It's strange how we can have a connection to things that we have no cultural relation to. I never lived in the Victorian era or Europe, did you?? Why do I love it, why am I inspired by the horrors of it, not just the ruffly beauty? Maybe my past life? Who knows!
I will say that when I was small in school, our teacher introduced us to Lenore by Edgar Allen Poe and it put a chill in me. I couldn't have been more than nine...maybe ten, and this story, poem, took me to a dark, mysterious place that shocked me, yet inspired me to continue. I don't know what it is other than the genuine sentiment of Poe, his utter darkness, that translated to me so strong. I actually could feel the temptation of being somewhere that I likely shouldn't, that I wasn't supposed to. It was amazing, I was there in the house...or was it the Raven?? lol. Where was the first dark place you went?

Blogging, Patti Wilson and VOGUE....

Ya'know...really need to get with it...I've been one of those that kind of was a non-believer when it came to blogs...i mean c'mon blogs are not hard to come by, saturation of fashion blogs and "look what my kid can do" blogs...and political blogs, they're just everywhere from everyone. I started this blog because sometimes I come across cool things I wanna share...and I'd like to say I make cool things I wanna share...and this past week I realized that I'd better get with the blog program and submit to its mystical power.

I was cleaning my toilet the other day...seriously, when a request for some items came in from non other than stylist extraordinare, Patti Wilson. The email from her Enterprise read "Patti Wilson, a stylist here in New York"...and out loud I was like "like I didn't know THE Patti Wilson!" The picture above in the blog post is one that I had blogged of in my first attempt @ blogging that was styled by Patti! It's one of my favorite fashion photos in the wonderous world...
So, it gets better, the pics that John, one of stylist on the team and her had seen were my Militaria brooches, that I only ever showed through the BLOG...
Now what were they pulling them for? A shoot styled by Miss Patti for VOGUE Italia shot by non other than Emma Summerton!!! Trust when I tell you, you've seen Emma Summerton's photography before if you're into fashion, wiki her and links come up to her ridiculously beautiful work. Let's hope they get used, huh? You know how it goes!

I raise my glass...of sparkling water to Patti for supporting indie, handmade, local NYC (homegrown at that) designer and artist like me, it means a hella lot.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXXOXOXO

Happy Halloween Y Feliz Dia De Los Muertos

Someday, I vow to go to Mexico during Dia De Los Muertos. It's amazing to see this infusion of indigenous culture with Catholicism. I can't tell you the fascination I have with this day. The color...the color!! I love Halloween so much fro the surrealism it brings into the mind of a child, to pretend and imagine in possibility. Unfortunately here on the streets of New York City, while we have a fantastic yearly parade, Halloween has become the following equation: skank+stank+1 gallon vodka=you're best friend holding your hair back while you puke on one of 1,000 "sexy cops"
I am all about originality baby, and there is so much, your eyes and heart have to be one sometimes to see it. Last night my husband (who is not pictured lol) had a blast. Above in the picture is Samii, who is absolutely the best belly dancer of the night in all of New York. That costume is an original, handmade in Bahrain, watch out you mass produced factory belly dancer costumes...chock full of pink organza...
As for me, I am hoping you can guess who I am...I was honored that I was received so well. I love you Frida, Yo te adoro! My hubby was Diego...let's just say that he had our son's Thomas the Tank Engine Pillow in his shirt to try and get that bulky look, lol.
Here's to La Vida...