Eye Candy

Since I am far away from the mass consumption of malls, thrift and vintage shopping in the USA and it costs way too much to get online purchases delivered in St. Lucia, I have been window shopping online. Alot!

I was in aaaaawwwwwhhhh when I found Akpos Okudu Spring Summer Collection 2010 over at her Facebook page and then here blog. Could someone please invite her to show at fashion week somewhere....emailing here to get details on ordering in 5,4,3,2.......

Divine...colors, cut, construction...

Scents from down under.....

A couple weeks ago I met the lovely owners of Australian Scents....I didn't buy anything , my friend did. I press my face against her so as to get a good whiff of the product each time a see her. Awkward moment. I even considered stealing .......now I need to go get my own.

As a person bothered by eczema the story resonated with me......check them out .....THE BLOODY ACCENT MAKES IT EVEN BETTER!!!!

"australian Scent is a family owned and operated business specializing in hand crafted, small batch, cold processed formulas that maximize the nutritional and healing properties of the raw materials we utilize.

In 2004, whilst living in australia, my husband was diagnosed with psoriasis which severely affected his eyes and neck areas. after realizing the prescribed treatments 'may cause blindness', we chose the natural alternative."

p.s My title is so cliche. it's the equivalent of someone saying "no problem mon" to me.......forgive me

The Synful Collection

I am addicted to clutches. My mother carried them to distinguish casual from dressy looks in the 80’s and 90’s and for me,as a child, carrying a clutch was the epitome of being a fashionable lady.

The lovely pieces above were designed and created by one of my best friends, Synethia. Synethia is perhaps the only friend who can 'out shop' me in terms of number of hours and show continued militancy. She is living in Japan( again!) and made these beauties by hand from silk Japanese Obi sashes/belts. Me likey.

Now, my only challenge is which of the pieces will she 'gift' to me , just because. I’m trying to get her to sell them on etsy….leave a comment if you think she should.

The lady above is the empress herself…..always looking divine.

be good.do better. look your best.

Tammyanka

Flour Bag or Bag of Flour?

I was in the Gap recently to buy a springy looking canvas tote, when I remembered I plan to make a my own very special tote with fabric that tells a great story and is bound to be a conversation starter.

And the story goes…

This past February school vacation week a gang of Heller folks, yours truly included, volunteered on an environmental justice project in Arizona on a Navajo Indian reservation. In addition to the lessons of history, project planning and friendships, I brought home jewelry and a dream catcher. My most exciting treasure however, are the two cotton flour sacks pictured above. Since I was unable to find a piece of rope (used for jump rope/skipping) I received from an elderly woman who was fascinated by my hair, these Blue Bird 20lb flour sacks sufficed. I’m excited about the rare find since they sure don’t package many goods like this anymore. Most importantly it reminds me of my father who used to complain that despite my appetite I don’t weigh more than a bag of flour!! 

Prosperity Pieces

I spent much of Monday reading chapters from a seminal book in the field of conservation and development, Contested Nature. The chapters spoke to indigenous peoples and the development of conservation. 

I recently learned that it is Navajo tradition to wear your jewelry(turquoise in particular) so as to ward off poverty. If only there was an item that could be worn to ward off oppressive governments, corporations, organizations and academia who co-opt the lands of indigenous peoples. Read more about this issue at Survival International.

Prosperity Necklace - Handmade by Elsi, an elderly woman I met at the Navajo Native American Reservation, Arizona. The necklace has over 200 semi-precious and precious stones from the reservation.

Ring - stolen from a friend

Pants - Express via Marshal's

Top - Roxy

Blazer- BCBG 

Pumps- Tahari

be good. do better.look your best.

Tammyanka