AfroDandy

Throwback: Halloween 2011 Venus Fly Trap

2012-01-20T20:48:00.000-08:00

(Let's pretend like I have not been neglecting this blog.) I wasn't very happy with my Halloween costume for this year, it's always a struggle to come up with something that is interesting and flattering. For some reason I wanted to be something kinda scary 2011 ? My last scary costume was skeleton at age four.

My sister was Poison Ivy again this year so I thought it would make sense for me to be a fly caught in a Venus Fly Trap, because Ivy has a giant pet fly trap. I don't think people really got what I was... someone called me a butterfly...SO I didn't take too many pictures of it, no full length shots. The bottom half was the trap, green mini skirt with green tights, and the top was the fly, wings, extra arms etc.

bonus! Wonder Woman costume from camp.

African Batik Trapper Hat

2011-02-02T19:16:00.000-08:00

I made this hat based off a threadbanger video . It is made from scrap fabric, satin lined (perfect for natural hair) and insulated with fleece. The flaps have cowrie shells at the end.

http://thing-a-day.com/african-batik-print-trapper-hat

Afro Tote

2011-02-01T15:20:00.000-08:00

I have planned on making something from a bag of old jeans that my dad gave me for more then a year. For my first TAD I decided to make tote bags. The image is the original afrodandy which I drew about 4 years ago, since then I have made her into a patch, a necklace and now a tote bag. My younger sister thinks it looks like my silhouette.

http://thing-a-day.com/tad-afro-tote-bag

Vintage Valentines: Naturals and Black Ephemera

2011-01-14T22:27:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday after Halloween. I have been working on a project inspired by vintage valentines, here are some cute ones for sell on eBay.

Click on images for eBay listings

New New

2010-12-28T18:57:00.000-08:00

I have been bored with my hair lately, and I have not posted anything in a while so here's one for the end of 2010. I used a new conditioner Yes To Carrots as recommended by Curly Nikki and I tried her twist-n-curl style, I liked them both. I want to start devoting more time to my hair so I am joining Moptop Maven's Healthy Hair In 2011 Challenge for motivation.

I made the mud cloth jacket I am wearing a while ago using a rough tutorial from crafster (the photo links are all dead, but maybe she will update them if we all ask nicely ?). As you can see it is asymmetrical with a fold over collar and a giant kangaroo pocket. It's my first jacket and I am very proud of it.

Halloween 2010: Janelle Monáe and Company

2010-11-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

Janelle Monáe

Harajuku Barbie

B.B Home Maker

Halloween Costume: Flo-Jo

2010-10-14T12:25:00.001-07:00

Nails acquired from Wah Nails

Halloween Costume: Old School Erykah Badu

2010-10-07T15:56:00.000-07:00

Erykah Badu Costume by Afro_Dandy

Threadbanger has a great costume wing tutorial on instructables.

Halloween Costume: Nicki Minaj

2010-10-02T21:27:00.000-07:00

I am not a fan of Nicki Minaj's music, but her "Harajuku Barbie" image makes a perfect Halloween costume.

Nicki Minaj Costume by Afro_Dandy on Polyvore.com

Bow Tied

2010-09-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

When I saw Black Girl with Long Hair's Lady Gaga Hair tutorial video of the day I had to try it. I am not a big Lady Gaga fan, but I do admire some of her wackiness.

It was easier to create then I thought it would be. In the video she does it on blow dried hair dry ,my hair was air dried, and I am happy with the way it came out.

Jacobs or Jester ?

2010-09-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

I finally wore my Marc Jacobs inspired jumpsuit. I actually made it months ago, but I didn't like the way it came out. When I tried it on for the first time it was too tight across the bust area, and I felt like a bootleg African jester. I did some tweaking and now I am a proud jester.

Afro Kawai

2010-06-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

I have been gathering the bare essentials to outfit my new apartment ,but I keep coming across products (which I don't need) that are too cute to pass up. Especially these earth friendly kitchen tools by Boston Warehouse...

Joyce Green Citrus Reamer

Chic Chick Brushing Beauty

Marshall Green Potato Masher

BONUS: Michelle O Bag by Extra Fancy via Twig and Thistle

DIY Faux Multi-Finger Ring

2010-05-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted a real set of multi-finger rings, but I doubt I would wear them enough to justify the purchase. Last month after I was invited to an 80's themed fundraiser I knew I had to figure out a way to make myself a cheap pair.

I used fun foam, gold Rub N Buff, glue and a stapler. I cut two strips from the foam that were long enough to go around my hand and wide enough to cover my fingers, then I stapled them shut so they formed a loop. I printed out my name in multiple sizes/fonts, cut the letters out, and played around until I found an arrangement I liked. I glued the paper letters to the fun foam and cut them out. I applied Rub N Buff to the outside of the loops and the front of all the letters (peel off the paper first). Finally I glued the letters to the front of the loop (the opposite side of the staples.)

Marc Jacobs Dashiki Stripe Jumpsuit

2010-05-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

This jumpsuit is calling my name.

I am going to try to create a version of it using one of these patterns.

Black Girl Long Hair

2010-05-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

I was featured on Black Girl with Long Hair.

Head over there to check out my first youtube hair tutorial !

Janelle Monáe Inspired Vintage Natural Hair

2010-04-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

I did my hair like this on a fluke about 2 or 3 weekends ago. I did not feel like combing it so I just started twisting and pinning it up.

I was motivated to upload these pictures by b.vikki's post on vintage hair. You don't have to straighten your hair to wear it in a vintage hairstyle. If I do my hair in more vintage hair styles I will post pictures. For tutorials and inspiration you should check out ChiselleCouture's youtube channel, and her style icon post on BGLH.

(Negro) American Beach

2010-04-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

Pearls Vintage Etsy Shop

I was window shopping on Etsy today, when I came across this vintage licenses plate topper, and decided to dedicate the next hour of my life researching American Beach.

love those swimsuits in the center via coastalliving

American Beach was a seaside community in Florida that catered to African Americans from the 30's to the 50's. Black millionaire Abraham Lincoln Lewis developed the community for his employees at Afro-American Life Insurance Company who were not allowed on the white only beaches. Although the popularity of the beach declined after segregation ended, Lewis' great granddaughter MaVynee Betsch an environmental activist devoted her life to preserving and educating people about the importance of American Beach.

MaVynee in all her glory via Urban Weekly

Rapped in Felt

2010-04-22T22:57:00.000-07:00

Frolab did a post on The Original David's World Cup Collection.
I have been meaning to do more work with felt since I made my Natty Jesus bag.

The Original David's custom work is inspiring me to finish that jacket I promised my little sister.

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe

2010-04-20T22:54:00.000-07:00

I wish this shoe contained a mattress so I could sleep in it like one of those car beds for kids.

Wire Air Max Sculpture by Benedict Radcliffe

reminds me of my shoe costume
via Dude Craft <-Ignant <-Not Cot

Update: Headphones ,Hair Care , and 562CityLife

2010-03-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

I took an unannounced break to concentrate on finishing my graduate school applications, I have been accepted to one school so far so I guess it was worth it.

In other news I finally I have some working headphones. For those of you who do not know I have a very hard time keeping headphones in working condition. I destroy them faster then I can afford to buy them. Instead of buying yet another new pair I checked out Skull Candy's warranty. They replace headphones that are not seriously damaged and give 50% off coupons for those that are seriously damaged. So I sent 2 broken pairs in, and got 2 new pairs back !

Yesterday I tried Hair Rules daily cleansing cream and their kinky curling cream. I have not tried any new products in a long time, because they all seem the same to me. I genuinely liked both products, I especially like the smell of the kinky curly cream. I don't know if these are going to be my new go to products though time will tell.

Last but not least I am writing for 562citylife.com .I am doing a series of interviews for Women's History Month, here's my first post.

The Glow Pendant

2009-12-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

Another project from my intro to Jewelry and Metals class. The assignment was to create a reliquary pendant based on a fictional quest.

Pictures taken by the instructor: Michael Dale Bernard

This design for this pendent was inspired by my favorite movie The Last Dragon. "Bruce" Leroy Green is a young martial artist obsessed with Bruce Lee and attaining the highest level of mastery mysteriously known as “The Glow”. Leroy believes that the glow is something tangible that he must receive from a master, as his journey progress however he realizes that he carried “The Glow” inside of him all along. The brass front of the heart plays with the idea of having a heart of gold, the bulb represents the capacity for success we all carry.

*Spoiler Alert* this is the climax of the movie.

African Matryoshka Doll Earrings and Pins

2009-12-14T18:20:00.000-08:00

Here are more pieces from my Intro to Jewelry and Metals class. This assignment was "a study in practices used for production jewelry". We had to create a master pin or pendant and some basic pins. I chose to make a pair of earrings and a pin. The instructor sent digital versions of our designs to a laser cutting machine shop. This is the assignment I created my Matryoshka doll for. They look a little fuzzy because I used cotton swabs to clean up some of the paint, the fuzz is gone now.

Pictures taken by the instructor: Michael Dale Bernard

Black / African American Pin-up Girl Art

2009-12-03T06:03:00.000-08:00

I have always been fascinated by all things retro, vintage and antique. While I am attracted to the past, I am also slightly repelled by it, because of the conditions that people of color lived under during those times. I did not dress up for Halloween this year; I was planning on being Josephine Baker. While looking for costume inspiration I started researching black pin-ups and burlesque performers. I came across two things that I found interesting Elisheba Israel's Black Pin-Up Series and The Pin-Up Blog.

Elisheba Israel's Black Pin-Up Series has two images (so far), Mammy, and Sold.

"Watercolor on paper ( 22" x 30") features the classic 50s pin-up with a twist! Not only is she black but she is a Mammy. This series is dealing with roles that black women have been put in throughout history and putting a satirical look on some not so fun situations. Prints are also available of this piece! "

"This series is dealing with the contradictory issues of beauty and the black woman's role in America and American History. "

The Pin-Up Blog has done some articles on diversity and initially came to this conclusion:

African American's seem to be totally uninterested in the rehashing of pinup art. Not surprising considering the time and place. Apart from Dorothy Dandridge, there seem to be no more glamor shots, from the 40's and 50's, of African American women.- Pin Up Blog

That conclusion was wrong on both accounts, pages like Ladies of Harlem and B.Vikki Vintage showcase glamorous black women from the past. Although they may not have been labeled pin up girls at time, they clearly were. According to Wiki:

A pin-up girl or pin-up model is a model whose mass-produced pictures see wide appeal as pop culture. Pin-ups are intended for informal display. Pin-up girls are glamour models, fashion models, and actresses. Pin-up may also refer to drawings, paintings and other illustrations done in emulation of these photos. Many pin ups were photographs of celebrities who were considered sex symbols.

On one level it seems like Black women did not possess wide (white) appeal, nor were their images appreciated though mass-production (even though they were models, singers, and actresses). On another level the bizarre fascination that western society has historically had for the black female body comes into play. On that level the tragic figure Saartjie Baartman aka the "Hottentot Venus" could be considered the first Black pin-up and burlesque dancer. Her image, and her body garnered wide appeal and were massively distributed beyond her death.

Today the pin-up girl image is reformulated in the work of video models, andhip-hop , pop and R&B performers.

Plastic Diamond Ring

2009-12-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

Pictures taken by the instructor: Michael Dale Bernard

silver and plastic

Diamond rings come in many forms. On the high end the rings are made of actual diamonds and precious metal. At the low end substitutes ranging from cubic zirconium to plastic are used. The high end represents eternity, wealth, and quality; the low end transience, yet to be fulfilled aspirations, and in-authenticity. Using sterling silver and plastic allows me to create a compromise between the high and low, a ring that is both real and fake.

I made this ring in my Intro to Jewelry and Metals class. The assignment was to create a layered ring. There are many other versions of the diamond silhouette ring. I was inspired by Carrie Weston's flat diamond ring, and Steven Shein's stacked rings. Similar rings are also available on etsy.

Natty Jesus

2009-11-30T22:29:00.000-08:00

Canvas, Felt, Styrofoam

I made this piece on a whim in 2005 or 2006. I submitted it to a student art show, after being asked to create a piece on racial identity. When I entered it into the show I was not nervous. After the show was over I used it as a book bag for a few months then I put it away. When I started my first blog I wrote a post about it, but never published it. I came across a picture of it today on my computer, and I realized that I had not shared it online because I was scared. I could hang it up in an art show, and I could wear it on my shoulder ,but I could not post it on the internet ?

Embroidery: Groovin'

2009-11-24T06:44:00.000-08:00

When I was 8 or 9 I begged my grandma to buy me an embroidery kit during a shopping trip. She bought it and began to teach me how to embroider. The pattern featured a blond mermaid sitting on a rock, and I never finished it. It was still floating around my mom's house 8 years later when my grandma died, and I finally got rid of it. I always felt a little guilty for never following through on learning to embroider. 8 more years have passed, and I've decided to give it another try. I found this vintage kit on Etsy ,and my sister bought it for me :

Sweetheartville's photos from the Etsy listing.

Close up

I have been picking up tips by following, feeling stitchy and Floresita . Through feeling stitchy I came across the fabulous work of Amanda Panda Pants.

She made both of her pieces with Jenny Hart's sublime stitching designs. Craft Sanity has a free download for the sublime stitching mod fashion diva.

Changes : African Matryoshka Doll

2009-11-20T18:05:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed that I changed my header

From:

To:

I drew both images, but I like the matryoshka doll better. I made her for a project in my Jewelry class, here's the blurb I wrote:

Matryoshka's are Russian staking dolls, they are usually colorful, and feminine with European features. My matryoshka an African inspired look. Her face is my interpretation of an East African Punu mask, and the image on her belly is a West African adinkra symbol "Onyankopon Adom Nti Biribiara Beye Yie" which means "by God's grace all will be well".

Btw I did not create the font, it is Clementine Sketch, by Teagan White on DaFont.

Cleaner and Greener: Lunch Time

2009-11-20T13:43:00.000-08:00

I am not a fan of eating out, I have always been the person who pulls food out of her bag. I love to pack lunches, I love snacks and bite sized food. I have always taken lunch to school/work and I am always looking for ways to cut down on my impact. Packing lunches is good for you and better for the environment. When I was little I carried everything from plastic lunch boxes and paper sacks to fancy insulated bags. Today there are lots of options, but I am looking for a sturdy lunch kit.

Bento Boxes:

Where to buy: Ebay Sugar Charms Laptop Lunches Amazon
Pro: Microwaveable (mostly), stackable , compartmentalized
Con: Plastic is suspect
Bento Boxes are MAGIC , separated compartments, cartoon characters, fun shapes ,and colors they are what my lunch dreams are made of. I have some issues with them though, it seems that most of them are made of plastic and I am worried about BPA . While there are safe(r) plastics it is hard to tell what you are buying sometimes I rather just avoid plastic all together. Life without plastic has a wood version, but I would not want to carry it around.

The most practical non-plastic bento box alternative that I have found is the PlanetBox which is actually a bento lunch tray hybrid which clamps closed. Here is another metal option with only one divider.

Tiffins:

Where to buy : Classic Tiffins LunchBoxes.com Amazon World Market Happy Tiffin To-Go Ware

Pro: Stackable, clean /classic look

Con: Bulky ,not microwavable, most containers don't have their own lids.
Tiffins use a stacking system of metal containers in which the bottom of the top bowl serves as a lid for the subsequent bowl and so on. The only true lid is at the top of the stack, and the stacks are held together with a latching system. I like tiffins, I would like them better if each container had a lid , so they could be used separately if I decided to take just one container for lunch. I found a stacking lunch kit that has containers with separate lids , but it does not say what the containers are made of. Thermos makes a similar one that is metal on the inside with plastic microwavable containers, and here's one more from Amazon.

Metal Lunch Box:

Where to buy: LunchBoxs.com Etsy Ebay Thrift Store My Retro Baby
Pro: Classic look, Holder for beverage container
Con: Bulky, lethal weapon ?
Bonus : Lunch Box Museum

Full size metal lunch boxes are hard to find, most of the character ones sold today are mini version of the real thing. Lunchboxs was the only website I found that sold a new full size version.When buying vintage ones you might want to make sure that the thermos is not made from vinyl or plastic.

Silkscreen Part 1

2009-11-19T06:55:00.000-08:00

Here are my projects from the silkscreen class that I mentioned yesterday.

Our first assignment was to create a three color plaid print using freezer paper, the guidelines stated that our designs had to extend from one side of the print to the other.

Creating this print was so HARD, and it is far from perfect. This class is been more difficult then I expected it to be. I took this class for fun to take my mind off applying to grad school, and it is actually a lot of work, but it has been good for me. This class is forcing me to follow directions, I always read the directions before doing something, but only so I could know what to modify in order to take short cuts and do things my own way. In some situations taking short cuts and doing it you own way works, screen printing is not one of them.

Our second assignment was to create a single color self portrait, using photo emulsion. The completed image had to utilize 4 of these 5 techniques : hand drawing, photography, found images, cutout shapes,or text. I used all 5, and I don't know why, if I had to do it again I would probably take out the text.

The transperancy I used to burn the image

I am much happier with the way this one came out. Even though I had to go through the entire photo emulsion process three times to get it right. I used yellow ink and printed on different colored papers, I will scan an example later.The book that I am popping out of originally had an affirmation (the one written at the bottom of this blog) on its pages, but I thought it would be to hard to print. The found image is my right shoe, a super simplified scan of the Leroy Jenkins Royal Elastics . The text is my screen name/old blog name/homage to TONY ! TONI ! TONE ! The little dots in my Afro form the Virgo constellation , which contains the star which I am named after. I am standing in tree pose aka Vrksasana , because balance is important to me, and it is something that I am always striving for.

We have two more assignments left before the class ends, I will post them when I am done.

Blazer Pentium 1.0

2009-11-18T21:28:00.000-08:00

Shoes for Sale, Mens 9.5 15lbs
By Gabriel Dishaw

Click Click

2009-11-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

Pictures of me from my Intro to Silkscreen class taken by the instructor, Anne Stromquist's blog.

and I was on crafster's blog, in october, Yay.

I try to get away, but they keep pulling me back in

2009-10-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

Before I made my vow to stop buying shoes, I made a vow to stop buying and wearing t-shirts. A first it was hard, but it has gradually became easier for me to not buy them. When I see a pair of shoes that I kind of want I think about the pairs I already have that I have not worn, or are similar. When I see a t-shirt, I tell myself that I could make a better one. BUT JUNKPRINTS keeps making shirts that I really want and, my dad keeps reminding me that he owes me a birthday present.

reads: "Brought to you by the “There are a lot of other things in this world to be concerned about than your hair” foundation. If you feel you don’t fit in, you’re in the wrong place. Our goal is to get you spending more time being a healthy well adjusted human and less time, pressing, picking, curling, straightning, fluffing and obsessing about what grows or doesn’t grow out of your folicles....and those lacefront things are not an option.

HAIRY HAIR TEE, HOMONYMS ! I love it. I have natural hair, and it's not something that I need to talk about 24-7. Most of the time having hair is as mundane as having teeth . My mother kept my hair in a natural state, and I decided to continue on in that fashion. My grandmother did the same, she never obsessed about hair ,and was wary of people that she liked to call "hair freaks". If you like it great, if not get it together, do you and leave me alone. I would not mind if I never had another conversation about hair or weight.

Halloween Costume: Devil in a Blue Dress and Easy Rawlins

2009-10-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

A commenter on Bust's Halloween costume post was a devil in a blue dress it would be a great couples costume if paired with an Easy Rawlinseque detective.

Halloween Costumes, Crafts, Racism and Cultural Appropriation

2009-10-21T18:56:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: here are two great posts about race and class in the craft community

Racism is not Crafty
Craft Ponderings: We are not exempt

Sometimes it feels like the crafting community is an exclusively white community, even though people of all races craft. I felt like there were not enough representations of people of color in the online craft community, instead of complaining about it I decided to create my own space. Conversations do not usually happen in the craft community around race and culture (correct me if I am wrong). I have not been addressing these issues as I planned, but I do think about them. I think these conversations do not happen because A) people do not know how to talk about race and cultures issues constructively and therefore don't feel comfortable doing it, and B) it seems like a, "inappropriate" and "irrelevant" issue in our "post racial society", to bring up in the craft community.

Which bring me to today's topic, two blogs which I read daily that I never thought would cross paths Racialicious and Craft did so today. Racialicious included a Craft Magazine tutorial on how to make a dreadlock wig in there annual Halloween post discussing the racial and cultural politics of Halloween costumes.

I like Halloween, I like to dress up for Halloween ,and I like when other people dress up. People have the freedom to dress as whatever they want, however, if you wear a costume that utilizes stereotypical racial or cultural elements you should be prepared to discuss said costume, just as you have the right to wear it, others have the right to be offended by it. If talking about why your costume could be perceived as inappropriate makes you uncomfortable, you should pick a different costume.

Commenters to the craft post make some good points about dread locked hair styles being trendy, and present in many cultures, but the fact remains that dreads are most commonly linked to Rastafarians and people of African descent. There are precautions that can be taken to avoid implications of cultural appropriation/ racism, for example a clown wig is like an Afro but unmistakably a clown wig because of it's coloring. The fake dreads featured in the craft post would have probably caused less controversy if they looked more whimsical, and the fairy had not been a "shadow" fairy.

The first time I came across fake dreads in the craft community was when they were offered as a prize in a Halloween Costume Contest on craftster in 2007 and I had mixed emotions (they were neon colored). My first thought was who would want those as a prize ? and what would you do with them ? My dad had dreads for most of my life and I had only seen fake dreads when they were attached to a beanie for a Halloween costume. Part of me wanted to say something, but I did not because I was not sure how to go about doing it without making the people at craftster feel uncomfortable (even though I already felt uncomfortable). I have had the same feeling every time a crafter uses the word "hood", "ghetto" or "gangsta" to describe a project. Even though these words maybe be used in jest for comedic effect it feels inappropriate, and it makes me feel alienated. I have been doing myself a disservice by not speaking, and internalizing my discomfort.

Information on Racist Halloween Costumes

Living the good life : Rosey Grier

2009-10-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

via, Extreme Craft Blog, Flickr

I have a huge stash of yarn and vintage craft supplies that I inherited from my Nanny, while browsing around looking for tutorials and patterns I came across a picture of Rosey Grier.

Two Roseys

Whoa whoa whoa, for some reason I thought it was fake, a joke ? Rosey Grier and needle point is NO JOKE. He wrote a book , the only reason I did not know about it was because it was before my time :(

Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier (born July 14, 1932 in Cuthbert, Georgia) is an American actor, singer, Christian minister, and former professional American football player. He was a noteworthy college football player for Pennsylvania State University who earned a retrospective place in the National Collegiate Athletic Association 100th anniversary list of 100 most influential student athletes. As a professional player, Grier was a member of the original Fearsome Foursome of the Los Angeles Rams and played in the Pro Bowl twice.

After Grier's professional sports career he worked as a bodyguard for Robert Kennedy during the 1968 presidential campaign and was guarding the senator's wife, Ethel Kennedy, during the Robert F. Kennedy assassination. Although unable to prevent that killing, Grier took control of the gun and subdued the shooter, Sirhan Sirhan.

Grier's other activities have been colorful and varied. He hosted his own Los Angeles television show and made approximately 70 guest appearances on various shows during the 1960s and 1970s. As a singer, Grier first released singles on the A label in 1960, and over the following twenty-five years he continued to record on various labels including Liberty, Ric, MGM and A&M.
Grier is known for his serious pursuit of hobbies not traditionally associated with men such as macrame and needlepoint. He has authored several books, including Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men in 1973. Grier became an ordained Christian minister in 1983 and travels as an inspirational speaker. He founded American Neighborhood Enterprises, a nonprofit organization that serves inner city youth. wiki

Wow that's the type of life I want to live, but with less football. My grandfathers name was ROOSEVELT ! (well it was really Fitzhugh and he changed it to Roosevelt) anyways Rosey is my craft hero now, and I am ordering his book as we speak (type ?), time for me to tackle my stash.

Amazon

ps. I want sons who are athletic AND crafty

needlepoint for boys

pps, pss (?)
while I am on amazon I also need to buy this MOVIE OMG OMG OMG

Halloween Costume: Prince

2009-10-09T16:42:00.000-07:00

I love Prince, when I was a freshperson in high school this guy was a Prince impersonator for our talent show and it was AMAZING. I tried to get C-Dub to be him for Halloween three years ago , my other friend and I were going to be old school and new school Micheal Jackson, but it never came to fruition and I ended up being a pirate :(. Good thing she did not try it, she would not have ever been as cute as this little boy.

The Prince costume essentials of course depend on the look you are going for, with the ruffly shirt purple suit combo being the most recognizable. You could probably obtain such items from the thrift shop or an adventurous friends closet. More tips at coolest handmade costumes.

BONUS:
PRINCE BEANIE Pattern from UNFURLED ! via Craft

BreakBeats

2009-10-09T15:38:00.000-07:00

via craft
Breakbeats Sampler by Andrew Salomone

Lego Heros by Cube Dude

2009-10-03T15:21:00.000-07:00

via Craft,
All figures created by CubeDude

B.A. Baracus

Storm

Lando Calrissian

Hallowen Costumes: Harlem Globetrotter

2009-10-02T22:05:00.000-07:00

"The Globetrotters were initially a serious competitive team, and despite a flair for entertainment, they would only clown for the audience after establishing a safe lead in the game. They gradually worked comic routines into their act until they became known more for entertainment than sports. Their acts often feature incredible coordination and skillful handling of one or more basketballs, such as passing or juggling balls between players, balancing or spinning balls on their fingertips, and making unusual, difficult shots" -wiki

Harlem Globetrotter Costume by Afro_Dandy

When I think of the Harlem Globetrotters I think afros, and knee high socks, two of my favorite things. Althought they are known as an all black male team, there have been female members and members of other races also. I remember watching The Super Globetrotters cartoon late nights on cartoon network.

Halloween costumes inspried by Black / African American Celebs , Icons and Historical Figures

2009-10-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

Halloween is my favorite holiday. Last year I created a list of costume ideas for African Americans , after people kept asking me for advice on what they should be for Halloween. Here is a link to my list from last year, and to a list compiled by Aol.

What it look like: Black Vegans and Vegetarians

2009-09-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

Recently The GirlieGirl Army did a feature on Ayinde Howell, a vegan since birth jack of all trades, and it made me think about the misconceptions people have about black vegans and vegetarians, especially men. Black vegetarians has a list of famous vegetarians, I wish more of them were vocal about thier diet choices.

1. Dante Fried Chicken:

I saw a blurb about Dante in a magazine, they presented him as a vegetarian cater, he calls his food "transatlantic African cuisine", he cooks meat but he also creates vegetarian options. He's not currently vegan or vegetarian, but I am still including him because one of the first steps in transitioning into a healthier diet is learning to cook. Once you know a few good recipes you can substitute ingredients to make them vegan or vegetarian.

Interview with Dante Fried Chicken from Dante Fried Chicken on Vimeo.

Theophilus London - Chocolate Coconut Pumpkin Pie from Dante Fried Chicken on Vimeo.

2. Kenneth Williams:

I came across his name looking for information on DC VegFest.
from the DC VegFest website

"Kenneth G. Williams is a professional vegan bodybuilder and animal advocate. He made sports history at the 2004 Natural Olympia in Las Vegas - the most prestigious natural bodybuilding competition in the world - by finishing third out of more than 200 competitors from 37 nations and becoming America's first vegan bodybuilding champion. He is an educator on diet, sports nutrition, exercise, and the treatment of animals in modern agriculture."

3. Bryant Terry:

I found out him while looking for cook books online at amazon.
From his website:
Bryant Terry is an eco chef, food justice activist, and author of Vegan Soul Kitchen (VSK): Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine (Da Capo/Perseus March 2009). For the past nine years he has worked to build a more just and sustainable food system and has used cooking as a tool to illuminate the intersections among poverty, structural racism, and food insecurity. His interest in cooking, farming, and community health can be traced back to his childhood in Memphis, Tennessee, where his grandparents inspired him to grow, prepare, and appreciate good food.

Bonus: Ayinde Howell's Video

African Dandies

2009-09-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

Fancy Pants featured in the book Gentlemen of Bacongo

via Fly

Thing I am thankful for : Grand Parents

2009-09-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

REPOST from my old blog.

I know that grandparents day was September 13th, but I have been thinking about my grandparents lately. All of my grandparents are dead, but I knew all of them and I was very close to my mothers mother. I think that a lot of people take their grandparent for granted.

At about nine years old I was at my mothers mother's (aka Grandma) house and she was having a conversation with my mom and I just stared at her, and I started to wonder who she was, like I knew who she was, but who was she really ,like I had never taken the time to get to know her. So from then on I made it my mission to get to know her. I started asking her questions and hanging out with her everyday, we would watch the news and read the news paper and discuss current events.

My Grandma was a really smart lady, she never went to college ,but she knew alot ,she had skills, she was well read and possessed a scathing sense of humor. The better I got to know her the more I realized how like her I was. This might sound cheesy but she became one of my best friends. In the years before her death she taught me alot , she introduced me to crafty things like sewing, embroidery, paper mache etc, she raised my knowledge and interest in current events, and taught me to question.

Although I did not get to know my fathers mother (aka Nanny) as well as my mom's mom she and I had a lot in common also . Both of my grandmothers were crafty ladies, Nanny knitted, crocheted and she made dolls/hats. She was a nurse and she taught the black children in her neighborhood how to swim. She was a savvy business woman , that did not play when it came to her family or money.

Both of my grandmothers instilled in me the importance of acquiring knowledge, having practical skills and 'acting right'. I often think about them when making decisions or facing difficult situations, and even though they are no longer here I always think "oh no I can't do that or I can't go there" what would Nanny/Grandma say. I am so glad that I got to know them better.

P.S I didn't forget about my Grand-daddy and Gran-Gran, I just did not know them as well as my Grandma and Nanny, and I regret that, but I know that both of them were hard working man who were in the service and did the best they could to provide for their families. My Grand-Daddy was on the PTA, and he drove an ice cream truck !!!. My Gran-Gran was super stylish and he and he helped build the house he and my grandmother lived in.

I encourage other people to get to know their grandparents if they are still living ,and if they are not get to know your parents or other older relatives better. My grandparents were not perfect people and getting to know them was a struggle, everything about their lives was not sunshine and lollipops but getting to know them helped me learn more about myself, my parents and life in general.

There are ideas and activities for Grandparents Day that can be used all year along here, and here is some info on the history of Grand Parent's Day.

Welcome to BROOKLYNATI

2009-09-05T20:23:00.000-07:00

Tanya Morgan is my favorite rap group, and they have been for a while, but I have been sleeping on them. Well I have sleeping on hip hop music in general for the last few months, after the whole Rhianna/Chris Brown fiasco (at lot of ugly things got said and it was all just a big turn off).

Then someone asked me what I thought of BROOKLYNATI, and I was like when did that come out ?!? So the music coma was lifted ,and I went down to amoeba to buy it and it was not in stock...I ended up getting Baby Loves Hip Hop instead (wah-wah-wah) everyone thinks I want to have kids now... but I digress.

Today I received a facebook message about Tanya Morgan's new website's

Tanya Morgan
Brooklynati

Ex-cit-ing, which led me to my last birthday gift to myself,(happy birthday to me 9/6) the BROOKLYNATI SURVIVAL KIT and it's on sell ! That's what happens when you sleep on your favorite group, you end up copping a box of goodies on sale.

Paper Jewelery

2009-08-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

Another high fashion paper conversion

Hermes paper bracelet

Wire Huey Freeman

2009-08-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

Bring back boondocks bootleg

Huey by magdella

via craftzine

Things I am thankful for: Healthy Food

2009-08-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

Today I am expressing thanks for good food, and nutrition.

I was inspired to write this post by an interview with Bryant Terry over at racialicious, I had already herd of him via his Vegan Soul Kitchen cookbook (which I have yet to try out). I can relate to everything Terry says about food ,health ,race ,vegetarianism and sustainability in his interview ,and it motivated me to write about my own experiences.

la_farmers_market by lachshand

I have been vegetarian on and off my whole life, and so have my parents. I grew up very aware of what foods were considered "good" and what foods were "bad". My childhood experiences have shaped my eating habits and relationship to food in both positive and negative ways. I have always eaten a variety of fruits and vegetables, I prefer raw or lightly cooked, and lightly seasoned food over fried and over seasoned dishes. I try to eat food that is produced locally, organically, and sustainably. I practice portion control, self control, and I don't overindulge with sweets or fatty foods. On the other hand, I am super picky, and I have a hard time finding things to eat sometimes, because it is overwhelming when it seems like everything is bad.

I am usually good at finding a balance between finding food that is nutritious and not making myself crazy, but after I got all my wisdom teeth pulled out last year, I UNEXPECTEDLY and UNWILLINGLY lost about 5-10 lbs. I have been having a hard time putting the weight back on, trying to gain weight made me take a step back and examine my eating habits and my relationship with food. My friends used to tease me about being skinny and I even jokingly referred to myself, and other slim people as bulimiarexics. (I DID NOT/ DO NOT have an eating disorder) However, after I had such a hard time gaining weight I realized that I needed to make some changes and become serious about my health.

Cooking pfft how hard can it be ? get some ingredients, read a recipe follow it. Lucky for me there is Marthastewart.com ,choose veg ,and Google. I usually look up recipes on Martha's site, and if they are not vegetarian I Google ways to convert them or try to find a veg version of the same recipe and I combine the two. I am actually a pretty good cook if I do say so myself, and I enjoy cooking, of course I apologized to my mom and I baked these especially for her.

Green Graffiti

2009-08-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

Art work - El&Abe
I had a dream that my grandma and I were making wall art, I made a life sized giraffe and she made a deer, they were kind of amazing and looked like this... but brown.

photo by the Weburbanist

here is a wikihow and a instructables entry on how to make your own.

Things I am Thankful For

2009-08-07T18:13:00.001-07:00

So today is about HAIR. I am thankful for my hair, for having the freedom to wear my hair as I choose and for the ability to do my own hair.

Recently a friend started a facebook thread about the trailer for Chris Rock's new documentary "Good Hair". The thread is long so I am not going to post it all here, but some interesting points came up.

"at this point it's like if you don't like my hair don't look at it, close your eyes, go to sleep ,say a prayer whatever. ... men... if they want to run their fingers through some hair they need to grow (it)"

"I'm over it. anyways the only ppl who say they don't like "black hair" is black men. (other men) have wrestled my locks without crying about it later ... just don't ask questions about it and its all good"

"The men I could care less about, but 90% of my life I've always had an office/administrative job (including now). And when a white girl comes to work with her hair still wet from the shower and all pushed back into a messy bun they say nothing, when I do the same (my hair just washed, nappy/crazy) they look at me like I just had a bad day ... I'd like to say that I don't care... as far as their personal opinions are concerned I don't...would you straighten it if it gave u a better chance at getting you're dream gig ?"

"When it came to white people...whenever i take my braids out and don't feel like flat ironing it I always wear it natural in a messed up kinda fro and people think it looks good and is just another style. Black people, however, call me lazy or say i look a hot a** mess"

"I wear my hair in neat styles for job interviews ,but I would not straighten it just for an interview...if someone judges me based on that I don't want to work for them, having non-straight hair actually gives me the ability to do more... travel through a rain storm ok, make a new pot of coffee ? alright my roots aint gone puff up. I want to work for a place that doesn't discriminate, if they do then it is not my dream gig."

"I wouldn't let my hair come between my getting a corner office and a cubical next to the water cooler. If anything I'd wear it straight in the beginning, then once I let my work and personality speak for it self, start wearing it real."

My responses are interspersed in the above quotes, here is my final entry:

motivational music

People get to where they want to be despite the superficialities , I always think about Cornell West (and his fro) and Al Sharpton (and his pimp perm), they both have unconventional looks in conservative fields and are "successful", maybe it is because they are men ? I don't know, but I am going to do me, and I understand that has to be done within reason, but if you always do what you think you have to do, trying to conform to what is not implicitly said or required, without questioning, then how are things going to change ? I am going to wear it in a neat style that does not drastically alter the natural state of my hair, unless I am explicitly told that I am not going to get hired or promoted because of my hair. I am not saying that we all have to go "crazy" and try to flip the status quo but you can at least nudge it.

There is anything wrong with people straightening their hair as a personal preference, but don't do it because you think you have to. One shouldn't feel pressured to straighten their hair when they can achieve a neat work appropriate style without doing so. ..reminds of when it was unacceptable for women to wear pants and women conformed because they were afraid. Then a few women wore pants and little by little it became the norm ,and now someone would think you were crazy if you told a women she couldn't wear pants.

So I am not saying things are going to change over night, and I am not mad at the person who chooses to straighten their hair, but what's the point of being alive if you are not improving life for the next generation ? I don't want my unborn daughters that I may never ever have to feel pressured to straighten their hair.

New Goapele 'Milk and Honey'

2009-08-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

Milk and Honey - Goapele from goapele on Vimeo.

Via FroLab

I have always loved Goapele especially her hair, she's the closest I will ever get to having a celebrity look a like.

Things I am Thankful For

2009-07-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

Cartoons ! the colors , the inside jokes, the music, everything.

Denim Conversions

2009-07-29T18:03:00.000-07:00

I would actually wear these jeans

by Rag and Bone
a DIY project to try if you have an old pair of big jeans and zippers laying around.

Via The Frisky

hip hop + legos =

2009-07-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

Via Format's 20 Classic Hip Hop Album Covers Recreated in LEGO

Wu-Tang Lego: Da Mystery of Chessboxin' posted by davo

Via Dude Craft

Original Version

If I ruled the world

2009-07-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

I discovered Xenobia Bailey's work via Craft Zine in a feature on her crochet mandalas. How could you wear one of these crochet crowns and not feel like Empress/ Emperor of the world !?! If it is was not fiscally irresponsible for me to spend 650 dollars on hats, I would get one or two.
They are currently available on Etsy.

Things I am thankful for : Friends

2009-07-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

Bob and Weave by fauxto_digit

Today I am thankful for my friends and family (but mostly my friends)who tolerate me when I am at my worse .I have been having a lot of DUH moments lately and my life has not been what I wanted it to be the last year or so, and I spend a lot of time chatting with my friends as they talk me down from freaking out or talk me up into doing something I need to do. So THANKS you know who you are.

Threaded Tagging

2009-07-22T17:58:00.000-07:00

NeedlePoint Graffiti by Jacquelyn Royal

Cleaner and Greener: Bras and Lingerie

2009-07-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

Oct 1, 1953 Jet Magazine Image scanned by vieilles_annonces on to flickr

I have a not so secret beef with Victoria's Secret...
They don't carry my bra size in store ,their undies never fit right ,AND there have been reports of there products causing itchy rashes and blisters , no thank you...Adding black colleges/universities to the Pink line does not make up for shoddy products.

It's really beyond Vicky though... Etrisa did a post called Is Your Brassiere Killing You ? that featured this article, which will make you think twice about what you put on your chest. As someone who does research I know that a few small studies are not enough to establish causation, but why risk it ?

The article Etrisa references suggests removing the metal wires and replacing them with plastic...but I personally would rather just get rid of the wires all together. Wireless bras also known as wirefree bras or soft cup bras are available everywhere from target to figleaves.com ,I even found some fancy high end ones.

If you are ambitious you could try making your own lingerie or get some custom made.

Save some money ,recycle some fabric, and sharpen your craft skills.

Bra - More DIY How To Projects

Things I am Thankful for

2009-07-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for my younger sister... she is irreplaceable. We do not always get along, but when we do it is magic, laughing about nothing, talking crazy, dancing around and playing phone karaoke (when you call someone ,play a random song and make them sing along with you). When we were little we held screaming contests in the bathroom (nice echos) so we would be ready if anyone tried to kidnap us. My mom still thinks we are weird ...

Recently we entered her (at the last minute) into the running to become the 4th fanta, vote for her here.

Here she is modeling dresses I made from old sweatshirts.

Cleaner and Greener: Shoes

2009-07-13T06:03:00.000-07:00

Shoes are were my material weakness, I have more pairs then are necessary, and in the back of my mind it has always made me feel uneasy. I love fashion but most fashion blogs seem to support a blind consumption mentality. You can express your interest in fashion by working what you have to the fullest, and not by constantly buying new things. So I am challenging myself to cease purchasing shoes from July 2009-July 2010.

Photo by millicent_bystander

Once again words from Miss Krista pointed out in her article:

"Discipline. You can do this. You have to stop buying all those damn shoes. Aside from the terrible labor practices we all know about, they uses up valuable water, rubber, energy, and of course supports the production of more plastics. When you do buy shoes you can of course try to buy straight from the source, respectable companies, maybe even cop some shoes made from recycled rubber tires.

You need to stop consuming more than you actually need to survive--"*

If you can not quit cold turkey here are some Eco Friendlier Shoes

1. Keep 2. Simple 3. Veja 4. Ipath

1. Terra Plana 2. Olsen Haus 3. El Naturalista 4. Patagonia

When you are ready to stop buying...

Revamp them

by Bekathwia

With help from books or online tutorials, ThreadBanger featured a video tutorial on how to make spats**, and I really like Becky Sterns interpretation using Chuck Tailors. They could be modified to fit most types of shoes.

Maintain them
Sneakerfreaker featured an extensive two part cleaning guide, and go to your local shoe repair shope.

Retire them
When all else fails ,you can dispose of old shoes by donating those still in good shape, or recycling them. Nike is currently running a recycling campaign accepting all brands of sneakers.

*Castrillo, K. Staying Fly and Eco Friendly P.1 (06/18/2009). doi: http://www.wiretapmag.org/bloggers/kristia/44288/ Original Blog Post

**The current practice of wearing spats is linked to the Steam Punk Movement for more info on people of color in the movement and steam punk in general check out Jha's article featured on racialicious.

Dandy Wear: Junk Prints

2009-07-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

I have been following junk prints for a while, and Chanel is amazing I just saw this shirt on le coil. I hope someone buys it for me for my birthday...

I also love the message behind it.

I think that we are all narcissistic. We could have never agreed to terms of normality without some narcissism. Narcissism is what we use to gauge our aesthetics, social groups, and general behavior. It’s the reason why folks of color are constantly feel like they are under represented/ mis-represented in the media. We want something to identify with, not tokenism or sidekicks. Things are changing and that’s good. But it’s wild that Obama is considered Black and not white…when he’s both. I guess it’s because of the U.S.’s narcissism views. Ya’ll know I try and design with social relevance so I present to you Matilda. She’s prob not gonna save the world or patch up the economy but She’s cute, silly, is made in my own image (just like you to J.C. some would say), and I relate to her. Hope you do too.

I try not to wear shirts with faces on them, but if I do they have to some how look like me. If you are in the market for a gift for yourself or someone special buy this.

UPDATE ! Lovely Chanel dropped this discount code in the comments section: 5% off your next (or first;) Junkprints order. Just enter "AFRODANDY" upon checkout. offer expires August 30th 2009

Paper Bag Pimpin'

2009-07-09T21:09:00.001-07:00

I love this

Via: jak and jil

This could also easily be done with a reusable tote bag, you could make one for each of your favorite brands (or better yet your own),and use them at the grocery store.

Things I am Thankful for

2009-07-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

sun hats, pockets, hand clap games, kids who (try to) tell jokes, my younger sister, my mom, lemonade, two strand twists and summer camp.

Although a lot of camp traditions/songs are stereotypical and problematic (especially the ones concerning Indigenous Americans),they still provide valuable experiences for kids. When I went to camp there were definitely ups and downs, my bunk mate was a jerk and I was super clumsy, but I liked the activities and camp counselor became my career goal. I have worked at several camps and they are the perfect arena for introducing kids to the do it yourself concept, and teaching them about their impact on the environment.

101 Afro Picks

2009-07-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

I saw this on FroLab...

When I was in elementary school I always checked the new Guinness Book of Records out from the library and watched the show to find a record I could break. I think I finally found one, but my mom is voting no...she thinks it is to cause some damage. I am willing to give it a chance, but where can I get 101+ picks ?

Cleaner and Greener: Nails

2009-07-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

This is first edition of cleaner and greener where I present simple ways to save money, save the planet, and save yourself.

I appreciate cute nails as much as the next person, but it is hard to feel cute while the manicurist and I are inhaling toxic fumes.

Photo by Libbyrosof Art by Alex Da Corte

As Miss Krista pointed out in her article:

"Not only are they expensive to maintain, but they also contribute to toxic landfills. All your nasty used plastic fingernails eventually start piling up in our oceans or, even worse, hiding in the soil where we grow our good. Besides if we know it's deadly to eat and drink out of plastic containers, what’s more deadly than having plastic on our fingertips, which touch our food? Not to mention the toxic paints"*

Make it Cleaner:
Do your own nails, or have a friend help, save some money, and express your creativity.Sally Henson makes a polish pen that can be used to achieve intricate designs.Google nail art for inspiration, check out a book from the library or watch youtube videos.

Make it Greener:
The ingredients in traditional nail polish are no good for our bodies...
Info from the Campaign for Safer Cosmetics:

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) adds flexibility and a moisturizing sheen, and helps dissolve other cosmetic ingredients. DBP is a reproductive and developmental toxin that has been linked to feminizing effects in baby boys.

Toluene helps suspend the color and form a smooth finish across the nail. It also affects the central nervous system and can cause headaches, dizziness and fatigue. Toluene is a possible reproductive and developmental toxin.

Formaldehyde is found in some nail products such as nail hardener. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. It is also an irritant to the eyes, nose and throat, and can lead to skin irritation and an allergic rash called dermatitis.

Nail care products like strengthener, remover and glue can also contain a host of other toxic chemicals, including organic solvents like xylene, methyl ethyl ketone and acetone, as well as acrylic polymers such as methyl methylacrylate and ethyl methylacrylate.

Safer Products
Many mainstream brands have started to manufacture less toxic polishes.Sarah van Schagen did a review of 5 of them over at the Grist.org

Here are some other options (most of which also sell less toxic remover):
Butter
Peace Keeper
Honey Bee Gardens
Zoya (I use this brand they have the best color selection)

Find new uses for your old polish at PlanetGreen.

If you want to treat yourself or you are dying for a professional manicure/pedicure look for a location that provides them in your area via the Green Spa Network.

*Castrillo, K. Staying Fly and Eco Friendly P.1 (06/18/2009). doi: http://www.wiretapmag.org/bloggers/kristia/44288/ Original Blog Post

P.S AfroBella has done an overview of "fresh fly polish trends"