Accessories: Ikat Print Bags By MIMEYCO

"Ikat, or Ikkat, is a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles that employs a resist dyeing process on the warp fibers, the weft fibers, or in the rare and costly 'Double Ikat' both warp and weft, prior to dyeing and weaving"

[Source-Wikipedia]

For anyone interested, Etsy seller MIMEYCO has a fab selection of Ikat print bags...

Shay x

Happy Birthday Ethel Waters & Illinoisn Jacquet!

Ethel Waters

Singer & Blacktress Who Became The Second Black Person To Be Nominated For An Academy Award & The First Black To Be Person Nominated For An Emmy Award

Illinois Jacquet

Jazz Musician & Pioneer Of The Tenor Saxophone Who Played The First R&B Saxophone Solo On The Song 'Flying Home'

Accessories: Stud Earrings

As a large hoop earrings kind of girl, I've always thought studs made my face look plain or dull, as if I'm not really wearing any earrings at all but, don't get me wrong I think we're all beautiful regardless of make up, jewellery or accessories. 
Recently I have tried a few new hairstyles which require subtle, classic accessories to polish off a look so I went for stud earrings instead of my sometimes garish hoops and found it wasn't that studs didn't suit me it was simply a matter of size and style...

I've now come to find I like studs for work looks as some give an elegant and classy feel, with the ability to calm a look. For example, some heavy prints and colours need to be tamed with a simple stud earring. 

I went shopping for some 'Solid Gold Ball Studs' and came across quite a large selection on the high street. Both River Island and NewLook stood out the most but I am sure other high street stores will have a nice selection also.

Stud Happy for the autumn :-)

Shay x

Happy Birthday Eddie Holland, Otis Williams & Nia Long!

Eddie Holland

Singer-Songwriter, Producer, Motown Legend & 1/3 Of The Incomparable Trip Holland-Dozier-Holland

Otis Williams

Singer-Songwriter, Motown Legend & Last Surviving Original Founding Member Of The Temptations

Nia Long

Blacktress Whose Film Credits Include 'Boyz N The Hood', 'Love Jones' & 'Soul Food'

Beauty: Vintage Violet Nails

Following on from our Autumnal Nails blog post, I decided to go shopping for some new colours to go with this season.

My first stop was to one of my favourite beauty companies...Barry M.

I found a few shades of brown, vintage pinks and my usual orange shades but then I noticed this shade of purple (a warm pale, mauve colour) which has hints of brown and I thought I'd give it a go...

I am not the biggest fan of purple but I really like this particular shade and I think it looks cool.

 

Get yours...here!

Shay x

Happy Birthday Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Melba Moore, Tracee Ellis Ross & Gabrielle Union!

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Politician Who Became The First Woman To Lead An African Country When She Became The 24th President Of Liberia 

Melba Moore

Award Winning Singer-Songwriter & Blacktress Who Is The 3rd Black Artist To Be Nominated In The Rock Category For A Grammy Award 

Tracee Ellis Ross

Blacktress, Producer, TV Host & Daughter Of Motown Diva Diana Ross

Gabrielle Union

Blacktress Whose Credits Include 'Bring It On', 'Two Can Play That Game',  'Deliver Us From Eva' & 'Being Mary Jane'

Music: Doreen Ketchens - 'Just A Closer Walk With Thee'

Having a chilled evening at home, as I often do, I decided to sign into Facebook to have a nosy peek into other people's lives and business, and found that my cousin had re-posted this amazing musicians at work. 

Her name is Doreen Ketchens and she's from New Orleans where she sometimes plays down in the French Quarter with her family (looks like lil mama is doing her homework in the background). 

Watch Doreen performing 'Just A Closer Walk With Thee' which brought tears to my eyes...who knew a clarinet could make such sounds?

 To find out more about Doreen visit her website www.doreensjazz.com - she's also a chef too!

From Micky With Love

x

Happy Birthda Sheryl Underwood, Terrell Davis & Obafemi Martins!

Sheryl Underwood

Comedic Blacktress & Talk Show Host

Terrell Davis

Former NFL Running back Who Is The Denver Broncos All Time Leading Rusher

Obafemi Martins

Nigerian Footballer Who Has Played For A Number Of Top Division Clubs Across Europe, Currently Plays For Seattle Sounders FC & Is Known For His Speed On The Ball

Event Review: MOBO Awards, 2014

I've not been the biggest fan of the MOBO's for a number of years but my cousin managed to get some tickets to this years ceremony so I thought why not....

Upon arrival everything seemed ok but, when we got to our seating area, were told our section was closed as there weren't enough tickets sold (surprise,surprise) so our seats were upgraded...we thought great!...Turns out that thought was wrong.

We were seated right next to the backstage area and could see that the show really is badly organised, thus it's reputation is in tatters and now I know why...

For an awards show which has been going for 19 years, the overall organisation, promotion etc should be on point by now and it's sad that it is not. There were hardly any guests, half of the nominees didn't show and most of the categories weren't announced.

There were so many cringe-worthy moments that I kind of felt embarrassed to even watch...I heard via TV it didn't come across any better either and it is a shame, as they have a great platform for up and coming UK talent. 

Not really much else to say about the MOBO's 2014 as I felt a little out of touch given that I knew of only a handful of the nominees and special guests. Not that I minded but sorry to say overall the show get's a 4/10 from me. 

COME BETTER!!!

Shay x

Happy Birthday Ruby Dee & Jayne Kennedy!

Ruby Dee

Blacktress, Author, Poet, Playwright, Screenwriter & Civil Rights Activist

Jayne Kennedy

Sportscaster, Blacktress & Beauty Pageant Title Holder

Fashion: Inspired By Nature...Mustard Look Book

Walking through the park, I was suddenly inspired by the various colours and textures this season brings. 

One colour stood out the most on this particular walk, which was Mustard. 

A warm deep yellow colour with brown undertones which I think is easily transferable to clothing, homeware and accessories, so I went online to look for some mustard pieces I would wear this season...what do you think? 

Barry M have a fab new mustard colour nail varnish too.

Get yours here

Shay x

Happy Birthday Mahalia Jackson, Bootsy Collins, Audley Harrison & Nicola Adams!

Mahalia Jackson

Civil Rights Activist & Singer Regarded As The Queen Of Gospel

Bootsy Collins

Singer-Songwriter, Musician & Psychedelic Soul Pioneer

Audley Harrison

English Heavyweight Boxer Who Became The First Fighter To Win The Prizefighter Tournament Twice

Nicola Adams

Boxer Who Became The First Woman To Win An Olympic Boxing Title Back In 2012

Happy Birthday Craig Robinson & Persia White!

Craig Robinson

Musician & Comedic Blacktor Commonly Known For His Roles In 'Daddy's Little Girls', 'Hot Tub Time Machine' And 'This Is The End'

Persia White

Environmentalist, Singer & Blacktress Most Known For Her Role As 'Lynn' On 'Girlfriends' 

Event Review: Black Chronicles II, Rivington Place

I was first made privy to this exhibition a short while prior to it's opening date and recently had it brought back to my consciousness, so despite being able to view some of the featured portraits online, both Micky and I decided to head on over to Shoreditch to see them up close for ourselves and boy were they stunning.

Exhibited across two floors, the pictures varied from Black and White to Sepia tone prints. With the African subjects in particular, who were photographed post colonial integration yet prior to WWI  however, I couldn't help but notice that despite a few of them smiling in their portraits, some of them had quite a sadness (unforgettably a certain female member of The African Choir) or blank expression in their eyes, which left me feeling a little uneasy as my thoughts somewhat shifted from admiring how Beautiful and Regal they were in both traditional attire including fanciful headdresses and Western attire, to what must have been going through their minds at the time and more significantly the original reasons for them being photographed (at times prop like IMO) in the first place.

I know it is a very good thing, that these images have been recovered as they showcase the Black presence in Britain and our inclusion in certain parts of society during a very unique time-frame but, I just felt there's an underlying possibility the photographs could very well have been nothing but a continued Fetishization of the 'otherness' of African's in general, largely because of the time period during which they were taken.

I could very well be wrong but hey, art is subjective and open to different to interpretation...

One bonus however is that, upon entry we were able to take two miniature replica photographs of Saragano Alicamousa and Peter Jackson (who kind of bears an uncanny resemblance to Jamie Foxx to my eyes lol)

My only critique about the overall experience is that it wasn't until we reached the second floor of the exhibit, I noticed other people had been provided with laminated A4 pages containing all featured photographs in addition to further descriptions, which would have been very useful for me and Micky to have, as there wasn't much information on the walls. Hopefully whoever is operating the front desk during future exhibits will make sure to provide all guests with the necessary additional components so they get to enjoy the experience thoroughly.

Aside from that, it's s definitely worth visiting so for more info check out Autograph-abp.co.uk

Happy Birthday Norma Barbee, Kweisi Mfume & Monica!

The Velvelettes

Motown Diva & Original Founding Member Of The Velvelettes

Kweisi Mfume

Former President Of The NAACP  Democratic Congressman

Monica

Singer-Songwriter & Blacktress

Happy Birthday Pele & Martin Luther King III!

Pele

Football Legend Considered To Be The Greatest Of All Time

Martin Luther King III

Civil Rights Activist & Eldest Child Of Martin Luther King Jr. And Coretta Scott King

Happy Birthday Bobby Seale & Shaggy!

Bobby Seale

Courageous Co-Founder Of The Black Panthers, Author & Educator

Shaggy

Jamaican Singer-Songwriter, Musican & Former U.S Marine

Hair: My Top 3 Shop Bought Leave-In Conditioners

When it comes to my health and beauty regime, there aren't many shop bought products I buy or use. 

For example, I try and keep to a natural hair care routine and make my own products or lotions...and potions as my friends love to tell me. Anyway, when I do use shop bought products these are my favourite go-to leave in conditioners and here's why. ..

Motions Nourish Leave-In: My hair seems to love this product especially when it's in braids or a protective weave. It's a water based product so I don't really use it on my afro hair stretched out.  It's a light texture and smells great plus my hair always feels soft and full of elasticity after using it...9/10 

Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture: This is my newest shop bought product which was recommended by a friend. It's great for detangling and provides great slip for after co-wash styling. My hair feels really soft and fluffy plus it smells fab too...8/10

Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In: This is my long term favourite leave-in. I like to add my own oil mix to this and use it often. It's also water based but I like to use a small amount to add daily moisture or when grooming a protective style. My hair loves this stuff and it too smells great with or without additional oils. It's a light smooth texture and is easily absorbed into the hair. My all time fave....10/10

What's Yours? 

Stay Beautiful, Stay Blessed. Shay ♡

Happy Birthday Dizzy Gillespie, Celia Cruz & Paul Ince!

Dizzy Gillespie

Bandleader, Composer & Singer Who Was A Key Figure In The Development Of Afro-Cuban Jazz, Modern Jazz And Bebop

Celia Cruz

Afro-Cuban Singer, Dancer & Blacktress Known As The Queen Of Salsa

Paul Ince

Former Professional Footballer Who Became The First Black Player To Captain The English Team & The First Black Briton To Manage A Team In The Highest Tier Of English Football

Happy Birthday Enolia McMillan & Jelly Roll Morton!

Enolia McMillan

The First Female President Of The NAACP

Jelly Roll Morton

The First Great Jazz Arranger & Composer Whose 'Jelly Roll Blues' Became The First Jazz Composition To Be Published

Happy Birthday Juanita Moore, Evander Holyfield, Gloria Jones & Jennifer Holliday!

Juanita Moore

Blacktress Who Starred In The Second Adaptation Of 'The Imitation Of Life' And Became The Fifth Black Person To Be Nominated For An Academy Award

Evander Holyfield

Legendary Heavyweight Boxing Champion

Gloria Jones

Singer-Songwriter Who Originally Recorded The Song 'Tainted Love' Back In 1964

Jennifer Holliday

Blacktress & Singer Best Known For Her Role As 'Effie' In The Original 'Dreamgirls'