This blog covers anything relevant to my life’s inspirations & creative expressions through Jewelry, Accessories & Fashion.
I would like to share with you any random creations I feel inspired to try, along with other casual personal experiences. I sincerely hope you will enjoy each time you visit...
So back to the Trinidad market scene, it was my first time attending/vending at the Upmarket. I met a wonderful person Gigi, who was the lady behind London based RocksFrocks And Cocktails. She was a first time vendor as well featuring her fabulous bling accessories.
So instead of me writing about my experience, it would be nice to read about her experience in this well written article, which makes a brief mention of Shaunelle.
Yesterday - February 6th - was the great reggae legend’s birthday, so just taking a moment to share some island Rastafarian vibes with you. Click ‘play’ and listen to one of my favourite Bob Marley tunes while you read this post. J
Growing up in the Caribbean, it is impossible to have zero knowledge about Rastafarians, a movement that originally emerged from Jamaica in the 1930’s. This culture impacts on you one way or another. Whether it be the music, the dreadlock hairstyle, the fashion, or simply embracing the rastafarian lifestyle entirely. I too had my ‘Rasta’ phase, growing a dread, embracing the naturalistic way of life, ffashionably expressing myself in the Rastafarian way and MOST IMPORTANTLY, it is the Rastafarians that inspired me to do jewelry! Read my story here. So because they have influenced my life in such a major way, I always show my love and appreciation to them by including Rasta colour theme jewelry in Shaunelle. stock items.
Here are two pieces currently on sale:
Rasta 01 - $45TT
Rasta 02 - $45TT
Here is a personalized custom order a rasta guy requested for his girlfriend’s Christmas gift.
Rasta Necklace: Swarovski Crystals only
FARI So, notice the post title has "FARI' in caps?
Over the past weekend, while vending my jewelry at an ‘Upmarket’ event, I immediately fell in love with this brand logo because it's definitely not a style typically seen on Rastafarian t-shirt designs.
FARI is a tshirt design brand that offers a modern interpretation to rasta culture icons and traditions. This business venture started in 2001 by Shawn Chong Ashing, doing iron on transfer tees for friends. Registered as a company in 2004, business has been operating solely by Shawn in an ‘on and off’ manner due to his university studies and full time job as an Animation Director at McCann Erickson ad agency.
With his love for conscious/reggae music till to the 90’s and early 00’s, the hiphop tees trend plagued the local shops but no reggae/rasta inspired tees were being sold, besides for the airbrushed tees sold in the local dragmalls. So evidently he was inspired to make his own.
“Good music, good vibes, good grade and introspections and the continuing chronicles of man’s slavery, rebellion and eventual freedom” are the inspirations for his ark work. His initial designs are created using a wide range of art media, but they all end up on the computer for finalization and necessary printing purposes.
Rollin Yute - $21.99US
Bobosmoke - $21.99US
Logo Tee - $21.99US
Fari targets the young and old and those who simply love a good ‘rasta oriented’ design. His t-shirts sells locally at Highway Records, Curepe or from the online T&T website and he has had customers from as far as Peru. If you’re interested in adding some FARI to your wardrobe, check out the website. I know that I will be doing this very soon!
Some days after my departure from the freezing pasta land Italia in mid-December and returned to my sweet warm Trinidad & Tobago, a friend referred me to an alternative market in Port-of-Spain. Having had religiously attended the Milan street markets on a weekly basis (evidently a market lover), it was definitely a pleasure to learn about and participate in the local Trini market scene.
The old expression “Good thing no cheap, cheap thing no good” is somewhat contradicted by this ‘Cheap Ting iz Good Ting - Alternative Market’. It’s a relatively new initiative by Stephanie Leitch, as the 17th December 2011 market was the 4th installment event. It’s a flea market that allows artists, artisans and the general public to make convenient resourceful and gainful exchange (cash | barter | negotiation) and most importantly things for sale are very affordable! The market aims to take place once every month, with the venue changing accordingly, allowing persons from various communities to participate. Vendors are not given any tables and are therefore not required to pay any fees for a vending space at the event. Artisans can simply contact the market committee to confirm their participation and show up with their goods and good vibes on the day!
So you don’t always need a large table spread setup to sell jewelry. I remembered seeing this little girl during my summer road trip in Callela, Spain selling her jewelry, so here was my mini vending display.
Jewelry Display
There were some other cool things I saw and got from other vendors selling at the market:
These playful sead-bead doll earrings immediately caught my attention, which Liz Steinberg the artisan, was wearing. She started jewelry as a therapeutic hobby and uses natural materials such as stones, juju beans, bamboo, leather in her pieces. Emal: sweetheavenliz@yahoo.com
This self-taught Bajan empress Micaela Walker, launched her homebased jewelry and accessories business over 1 year ago. This ‘I Love Afrika’ movement offers knitted bags, purses and her signature clay jewelry. She uses natural stones and handmade clay stones in her pieces. Placing emphasis on the beauty of natural life, her work is inspired by Africa, roots culture and rasta women. Even Bob Marley's granddaughter is a fan of ILA clay jewelry.
This second hand shop on the move, is a group business venture involving Stephanie Leitch, Michelle Isava and Candace Moses. Stephanie uses recycle jeans pants and makes hand bags and other hair accessories. She also makes some cool earring holders which would definitely help you manage your earring collection at home. Candace sells her Kandake jewelry and Michelle sells a variety of second hand clothing, shoes, books etc.
Jeans bag & Earring holder | Candace working on her Kadake Jewelry | Second hand items
Vice Versa Jamilia Alexander and Sanian lewis launched their fashion company 1 year ago. They offer styling, image costultancy services along with design, restyling and customization of fashion accessorries. they both aim to bring the latest international fashion trends to Trinidad & Tobago.
Is an Afrocentric clothing line from designer Kindele Aixe. Based in New York, her line is described as a fashion movement drawing inspirations from nature and the struggles of African people worldwide. Her designs combine jersey, African prints, bright colours, bold images creating a look that is truly original. So if you want to join the movement check out her website.
Jemima Charles graduated from UWI 2012 in Visual Arts and is now a fulltime artist with her own studio. Suede Molte Art Studio is a space for artistic development through fine arts, craft, workshops, artistic events and conversation. Feel free to visit her studio to view her glass print and drawing art work or see what’s buzzing in her workshop.
On Sunday, 5th Jan. 2012, the alternative market will have it’s 5th event installment at Alice Yard, Port-Of-Spain. With some some extra frills to celebrate Bob Marley's birthday - which is on 6th February.
Unfortunately I will not be participating in this event but you can definitely go check out the vendors and enjoy the good vibes. There will be something for every pocket and every taste!
Signs that Christmas was around the corner became obvious when I spotted poinsettia plants being sold in the supermarkt, the giant Christmas tree in Duomo was being mounted by the workers, fancy decorative lights were already up and waiting for their moment to shine upon the city streets and well the hustle and bustle of the Christmas shoppers that already started to attack the city center shops with their gift list needs.
I thought it was a perfect time to make something inspired by the Christmas season.
The rich intense red tone of the poinsettia plant was the main inspiration. The initial idea was to do a wire bead form resembling the shape of the petals but then that generic idea was not sitting in my mind too comfortably. So I decided to do a very basic flower form which I somehow always prefer. I found some beads that were sitting in my material stock for some years and I have been trying to find some use for them. It was definitely the right time to use them as the bead colour combination was a perfect representation of the traditional Christmas colour palette.
Here is the final necklace piece:
The style created was multiple strand and asymmetrical as the handmade crystal flower ornament was placed to the side rather than the center. I named the necklace 'Natale' which means 'Christmas' in Italian.
Natale
When photographed 'Natale' was also useful for all my personalised holiday greetings cards!
So let me take this opportunity to share some best wishes to each of you who has been taking time to visit my little humble blogspot...
Just had to say a hearty congratulations to Anya for winning the Project Runway Season 9! She also copped the fan favourite thanks to the entire Caribbean diaspora who voted like it was no tomorrow! AND she is from my island Trinidad & Tobago! Sweet T&T.
She took advantage of her island roots and reflected our easy-breezy-island-vibes in her final collection "Tobago Love". Beautiful steelpan music also!
“Without an audience, without the presence of spectators, these jewels would not fulfill the function for which they came into being. The viewer, then, is the ultimate artist.”
So for my first European summer experience, a friend and I did a month long road trip from Milan to South France then Spain. On our journey back to Italy, we said arrivederci to Catalonia land with a last minute stop in Figueres. I had the chance to visit the Salvador DaliTheatre-Museum, which is the largest surrealistic object in the world.
While I enjoyed the viewing some of Dali’s most famous paintings, it’s the Dali Jewels which captivated all my attention. The gallery shows a collection of 37 jewels in gold and precious stones and 27 drawings and paintings on paper that Dali made in designing the jewels.
“My jewels are a protest against emphasis upon the cost of materials of jewelry.”
Freed of materialism and serving a philanthropic purpose, the Dali jewels are a new Ambassador for America to Russia, to Europe, to the entire world. These jewels were definitely created to please the eye, uplift the spirit, stir the imagination and express convictions. The viewer’s sight, heart, mind – fusing with and grasping with greater or lesser understanding the intent of the creator – gives the jewels life.
“My object is to show the jeweler’s art in true perspective – where the design and craftsmanship are to be valued above the material worth of the gems, as in Renaissance times.”
Daphne
The history of the Jewels goes back to the beginning of the 1940’s, when Salvador Dali became associated with Ertman and Alemany, two jewelers established in New York. Dali designed the jewels that were produced between 1941 – 1958 and he supervised the whole process. The Catherwood Bryn Mawr Foundation provided the finance. So basically Dali had everything to do with the design but little to do with the craftsmanship of his jewels.
Illustration: Choreographic Necklace with Entwined Limbs
If you ever find yourself in Figueres, these jewels are a MUST-SEE!
Don’t miss the chance to be the ‘ultimate artist’ ;) Wish I could have gaped for a few more hours but unfortunately we had a 4hour drive ahead till our next stop in Antibes, France.
I tried to do quick video/photo collection of a some pieces from the exhibition to share with you…
So I accompanied a friend to get some new sunglasses at a store the family frequently shops. I immediately fell in love with a beautiful Polaroid vintage style cateye sunglasses in the storefront showcase window. I had no plans to purchase anything! Anyway without my knowledge, the frame crawled out of the showcase window for me to try. Why!? So as soon as I put it on, I received endless compliments from everyone in the shop. It was a perfect fit! In addition to the compliments, there was a super nice discount. I guess it was impossible to walk away from the vintage cateye frames I always wanted, especially when there was a good bargain price!
Art comes to life...on Broadway.
Handcrafted replica of 1950s Polaroid original.
Mine! :)
1950s BROADWAY FRAME
The frame comes from the first ever “Best Under The Sun” Heritage Collection by Polaroid. It was launched in Spring 2011 and included 10 original designs from the Polaroid Archives featuring stunning sunglasses from the 1930s to the 1980s. Polaroid eyewear is a leader and pioneer in premium polarizing lenses and highly fashionable sunglasses since 1937.
DESIGN CONTEST
Polaroid Eyewear is looking to launch fresh new designs inspired by different decades. This second Signature collection is to be launched in Spring 2013. Are you a design student, professional or simply a design enthusiast?
Some days after my departure from the freezing pasta land Italia in mid-December and returned to my sweet warm Trinidad & Tobago, a friend referred me to an alternative market in Port-of-Spain. Having had religiously attended the Milan street markets on a weekly basis (evidently a market lover), it was definitely a pleasure to learn about and participate in the local Trini market scene.
