Gradietion of Seasons

How exciting to feel the warmer air, see the small patches of green growing in my yard.
Now the winter is fading off, and I love to sense the gradation of two seasons.
I'm glad today was warm enough and wasn't painful to hang dry my dance class lappas outside.
Happy for the spring and missing the winter at the same time, as always!

Back in Stock

The Afrika Knot Necklaces are back in stock in my store. It's lighter than the old versions, in order to give some twists for people to play with. The combination of fabric is focused on blues and oranges this time, I think it gives necklace nice contrasting colors.
I buy most of my West African fabric from Amadou from Senegal. His store looks like a fabric store at first glance, but there are tailor, hair salon, incense and perfume sections in the back and also it’s a hang out spot for the neighbors. So africa! This time I went back to his store with some Wolof phrases saved on my iphone as I've started to study it a bit. He was so nice that let me practice some simple conversation and he even told me some new phrases.

3 Places to Visit

I get emotional when I think about these 3 places I want to visit. I've been pulled to those culture and nature a bit too much that my imagination got a bit too far. The fire you see in the drawing above is my love fire ;) Thinking about the future travel is like having a crash on someone.

What are your 3 places you want to visit?

Help Haiti

As we all know, Haiti can use some helping hands right now.
Think about your extra money in your pocket.
It can be used for people who really need it.
Share your wealth!
Let's help!

Herbal Salves

This winter, I started to make own Herbal Salves to avoid the dry skin. After gathering all the ingredients and making the "Herb Oil", it's the easiest thing in the world to make.

There are many good things to make your own Salves.
It's so easy and don't take long time. I don't need to buy any creams, eye creams, hand creams or lip balm anymore, because the Salve replaces all of those. It's a bit greasy when you apply, but soon it gets sucked into your skin:) The ingredients are not that expensive, the shea butter may be a bit expensive, but once you buy, you can make many times. (& If you buy a fair trade you are helping the economy in Africa) It's good for sensitive skin or area like lips and around eyes, since there are no harsh chemicals in it. If you are only using it for body, it's fun to add some essential oils, too. You can play around with variety of herbs and other ingredients depend on what kind of treatment and aromatherapy effect you'd like. I also carry the salves in a little tin can, so I can carry it with me
all the time. You can use jam jar for the container, and you can reuse it every time you make new Salves. t's a great money and resource saver after all. etc.

How To Make Herbal Salves

Ingredients: "Herb Oil" (55%*), Shea Butter (30%*), Beeswax (15%*), Vitamin E (optional -but good for you), Your favorite Oil (optional - but I like adding Evening Primrose Oil or Apricot Kernel Oil to boost the antioxidant)
*The percentages are just an example, Can be adjust it for your desired texture. I usually use 1 teaspoon to measure 10%, so it's very easy to measure. (i.e. 55% = 5.5 tsp)
*I bought the most of ingredients from this company.

Making Time: 15mins (+ 2 weeks soaking the herb in oil)

*2 weeks (or more) before you make Salve, soak some fresh or dried herb (such as lavender, rosemary, calendula, camomile, comfrey, mint, etc) into oil (such as Grapeseed Oil, Olive Oil, etc).
When you use fresh herb, make sure you pour enough oil to cover the herb, it'll get moldy if it's not covered. For dried herb, you don't have to worry about the mold. Filter the oil before you use for Salves. (You can also use this oil for cooking if you are using the culinary quality herb.)

1. Place a metal spoon into your freezer. You'll need it later.

2. Boil some water in a shallow pot, place the jars in the hot water, boil 3 minutes to disinfect the jars. Dry the jars.

3. Place a dry, heat resistant glass measuring cup into the hot water in the same pot from step 2. Pour all Oils you are using in the measuring cup, then mix Shea Butter and let it melt. Meanwhile, chop the Beeswax into small pieces, this will make it easier to melt. (or you can buy the small pieces as well - this way is safer. Beeswax is really hard to cut into - I cut my finger instead!) Add Beeswax, slowly let it melt. Be careful to not let water in the mixture.

4. Take out the cold spoon from freezer. Drop some mixture on the spoon to check if the salve is at your desired firmness. If it's too soft, add more Bees Wax. If it's too hard, add more oils.

5. When the mixture becomes your desired texture, pour the mixture into the jar. Let it cool down, then it's ready to use! Store in cool place without direct sunlight.

2010

Happy New Year!

Last year as Wonder Wonder I had the freedom to work on what I wanted to make. I was able to share the result with many people and received a very welcome response. I'm really encouraged when people are happy with my Wonder Wonder creations. It makes me happy and fuels my creativity :) Through the process I also learned a lot about making a business out of making things. I feel so fortunate to have come to know many designers who make amazing works (Thank you Lena!) and collaboration with an online magazine (Thank you Paul!) Having freelance design jobs pays my bills and enables me to work on WW without too much pressure to make money (Thank you my clients!). Of course, there are still SO MANY things I want to learn and improve, but I know that the most essential thing is to make good work. It's simple but true. In 2010, I'm looking forward to work on new print designs - from something wearable to viewable. My work flow won't have as quick of a turn around, but I like the word "slow and steady wins the race" so I'm going to enjoy the making process. I cannot wait to show all of you what's in store for Wonder Wonder 2010 ;)

Thank you!

The Last Dance of Year

Today was the last Sabar dance class of 2009, thus, it was a wrap-up for us. It was very fun and silly, we cranked up some funky moves with Baram'baye (spell?), the drummers were so amazing (even more than usual!), and everyone seemed to enjoy the finale and got more excitement to dance in new year :) Though I still suck with Sabar (and Djembe and anything!), I actually could see a lot of improvement in myself, in comparison to 5 month ago, when I first started. Now I can follow the most of basic/traditional moves, and if I can't, I still greatly enjoy the struggle to catch the move without stress. Though I'd like to be "dancing" than "following," but think back, I couldn't even follow the basics several months ago, so it's good for now :) I am so glad this realization came to my mind today, even it was so hard to leave house due to the extreme cold.

The best thing about learning West African Dance is that, more you dance, more fun you get. (Like digging a potato in dirt!) I think the reason why we feel so emotional when we see the beautiful dancers and drummers from West Africa is because they embody the "joy of life" with all over their body and heart. When dancers embrace the drum beats, and the drummers and their beats melt together with dance, it's all about "feeling," unlike other verbal communication. And their dance IS the story of people's life which has been carried on for thousands of years. I have been thinking, "How can I output what I learned from Griots as a Japanese stranger?" but I have not found an answer yet.

Dance is my hobby and I'm not trying to be a performance artist or anything. I'm still skeptical about my rack of talent in dance even. But I LOVE dance, and I LOVE the drum beats, and I LOVE how much dance can make my body and mind so happy and healthy, so 2 years of going to dance classes easily passed. When I'm stressed out or not feel right about myself, dance can make me so clear, open, and neutral. One dance can also bring the new world about the culture and people's life behind it. (ex. I learned about the Bayefaal culture through Bayefaal dance) It even effect my creativity - whether it's direct or indirect, dance effects what I create in good way. There are so many good things returns to me when I dance. So when I realized, dancing became my basic life necessity, just like eating and sleeping.

My new year's dance resolution is to be able to dance in solo circle by the end of 2010, and of course continue having fun with dance. The slow and steady win the race, it's the idea :) Also, this is not directly connected to dance, but I hope that my dance practice keep feeding good energy, joy and inspiration to my main work of life as a designer. It's my fuel! I also would like to give back something good to Senegal or Guinea and other amazing West African countries and its culture and people through my own work, so I hope some sharp idea comes to my heart!

Some of the people in my class has been dancing for really long time. When I see their smile and beautiful polished moves, it's hard to not wanting to still be dancing when I become 60 years old.

As a lucky new bee, I can't thank enough for everyone have been supporting the amazing NY West African dance community for long time. I'm so grateful that I live here :)