A few posts back, I made a very rough list of what I’d like to start doing in the new year.

Today, I think I am more definite about what I will start doing come January.

I can only give you a working idea of what January will look like, but some of these things will continue on into the following months as well…

1. A monthly giveaway of some sort. This means all you folks that stop by & read, will have to actually say something too (ha!)
2. Debuting a definite seasonal line, but still making whatever moves me in between. At varying price points.
3. Debut a ready-to-wear & custom order bridal line. More on this…much later I think.
4. An outline on how to have a jewelry party with yours truly (great way to earn jewelry & have fun with your friends).
5. I will definitely try to blog regularly. I might have to ease up for a bit…right now that is. My glasses died last week and I won’t be able to get another pair for a bit I think. Although I am stubborn, it’s hard for me to blog with my right eye trying to focus. No matter how low I turn down my mac’s brightness. Sucky times.

I also hope to have my blog and my site (my acutal SITE, shopping cart & all) ready early 09.

I’m going to DC for the inauguration & also going to Boston next month. So lots of happy pic posts heading your way.

I am also going to search my massive book collection for some books I have that I want to share passages from with you lovelies. In order to know me, you have to know that I am book OBSESSED. I have too many. Not too many to read, but it really is ridiculous.

So I think there might be one or two more posts for this year….stay tuned!

Happy Ujima [collective work & responsibility]

We must come together to build and maintain our communities. We must carry our brothers’ and sisters’ problems, and together, solve them.

Affirmation:

I will reach out to others with positiveness.

I will try my best to help others solve their problems through my words, deeds  and actions.

I will do good through my work and I will join others who are doing good through their work.

I will never leave my brother or sister unaided.

[http://www.doth.com]

No, not from the Black Star song…

But yes, the same word.

Kujichagulia is self-determination. It is very Adamic in the sense that naming yourself predicts your outcome, your future. To define and name ourselves. To create and speak for ourselves, instead of having others defining, or determining our paths or SELVES.

Affirmation:

I will have the time, the ability, energy and determination to do all that is set before me.

[http://www.doth.com]

Happy Kwanzaa yall

***This is my featured post on the {newnew} blog today! ***

For many around the world, 26 December is Boxing Day but for many African Americans and Pan-Africans it signifies the start of Kwanzaa.  It is a holiday that celebrates family, community and culture. Kwanzaa beings 26 December thru 1 January and its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name.

The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” meaning “first fruits” in Swahili.

Traditionally, it is a time of gathering and the creation of hand-crafted gifts for members of the family and revolved around seven principles:

taken from officialkwanzaawebsite.org

Today I’ll show you how to make a kinara, which is the candle holder. It represents the roots of our ancestors, the continental Africans. The kinara is also a part of the seven basic symbols of Kwanzaa. On each night of Kwanzaa, a new candle is lit.

What you’ll need:

How to make it:

1. Cut 12 place egg carton down the middle to create 2 lengths of six cups. Cut one of those lengths in half, creating 2 lengths of three cups each. Cut one egg cup from the other length of 6. You will need the 2 sets of 3 and the single cup, set aside the other cups for another project.
2. Trim the egg cup edges with scissors to clean them up and so that it will stand evenly, cup opening pointed down. Hot glue the single egg cup between the two three piece egg cups to create one long 7 cup piece. Ask a grown up to use a pair of scissors to carefully poke a slit into the top of each egg cup.
3. Paint the egg cups brown. Let dry.
4. For the craft sticks, paint one black, three green and three red. Paint both sides and add another coat if you prefer. Let dry.
5. Cut out simple flame shapes from yellow construction paper, large enough to fit at the top of each craft stick. Cut out smaller versions from orange construction paper. You will need 14 of each color.
6. Glue the yellow flames to the tops of the craft stick candles, one on each side so that the project can be viewed on both sides. Glue the orange flames to the yellow flames.
7. Insert the craft stick candles into the egg cup slits that someone helped create for you in step 2. The black candle goes in the middle, the red candles on one side and the green on the other.

Tips:

• For smaller children, instead of making the flames from two colors of construction paper, simply use yellow and let them draw on the orange part with crayons or markers.
• During each day of Kwanzaa, a new candle is lit. The first is the black candle, followed by the green and the red, alternating a different one each day.
• Craft foam is a great substitute for construction paper if you are running low.

Your final product should look something like this:

[instructions & photo taken from kaboose.com]

Blessings,

Sherisa
lelephantrose.etsy.com
lelepahntrose.net

apple crumble & custard slice

oatmeal raisin cookies

spinach lasagna

mac & cheese pie

all made from scratch, homie.
i rule the oven. hollAr.

had fun at the Frank 151/ Okay Player holiday party last Thursday night.
location: BB Kings in Times Square
partner in crime: Nicky
lineup: The Roots, Estelle, Alice Smith, Bilal, Idle Warship, Tanya Morgan, + more

saw LOTS of old college friends (surprisingly) so that was nice.

sessy & in my chain! OW!

sippin on that YAC!

*SO* saucy

beautiful Bethany!!

got compliments on my jewels
new stuff in store for the ‘09.

I’ve been over the whole present exchange in my house for years now.
I’ve gone through my whole “I don’t want any gifts” stage too.

But this year, I actually have a list.

Here goes:

• a really good, nice camera to take all types of photos with. i currently loathe the one i own. with a bloody passion.
• money. because we can all use some. it’s for investing.
• to get all my business stuff 100% taken care of. go to sba and see what they can do…etc
• a new pair of glasses (mine died last night)
• a nice pair of gloves that actually keep my hands and wrists warm

I think that’s it. ha!

My list isn’t long, and one of the things I would have to seriously gift myself anyhow.

The birthday countdown will begin…shortly.

Oh yes, to all my Jewish bredren, Happy Hanukkah! I’m part Jewish.
And an early Happy Kwanzaa. I’ll be talking about that…later this week.

Recently, I was tagged by Carol over at The Blue Cat & it’s now my turn to do the bidding.

The rules:

1. Place a link to the person that tagged you

2. List seven unusual things about yourself

3. Tag (and link to) seven other artists at the end of your post, and post on their blogs to let them know they’ve been tagged.

_____________________________
Here goes:

1. I’m very superstitious when it comes to the number 4. Most of the more important events in my life always fall on the 4th of something. For as long as I can remember.
2. Thursday is my favorite day, only because I was born on a Thursday. And I used to love having gym on Thursdays growing up.
3. I have a degree in Advertising and a minor in African American Lit. I still read rather heavily, but I never used my degree. It’s not even in a frame! But it is collecting dust somewhere.
4. I never ever had a retail job in my life. Ever. Not that I never applied to any as a kid, they just never hired me. *sad face*
5. I’m terribly allergic to the world. Damn near. The last allergy test I took (last year some time) I was allergic to about 16 different things. Heavily. So I’m allergic to everything inside AND everything outside.
6. My favorite animals growing up were anything that was super fast. So cougars and jaguars etc. And wholly mammoths, just because they were hairy and cool. But then I got over them being extinct & fell in love with regular elephants.
7. In person, I’m generally rather quiet and never liked attention, but I’ve always found myself involved in things that require being paid attention. Growing up, I played a number of instruments and had solos in quite a few of our shows. I also took debate and was on the executive board of some groups when I was in college.

Dear…

Sandie

PnkGeeni

Carmen

Diedre

Twanna

Yogurtsoda

Kiandra

+ 1 (for good luck. you DON’T have to do this):
Selewa

YOU’VE BEEN TAGGED!

My sale ended 12/15. THANK YOUUUUU to EVERYONE that participated & purchased something from L’élephant Rose! Your purchase is greatly appreciated & I hope to have you as a customer again!

This is how I catch myself up.

I’ve had a ton of incomplete drafts on here for a while and today is the first time I’m getting a chance to actually spend a day catching up. The posts might be all over the place. Some of it is because of the editing.

Forgive me in my absence. But I’ve been busy! GOOD busy!

While I was gone:
I sold 11 pieces of jewelry!
I had a shopping party in Philly & spent last week preparing for that.
I’ve officially sold my favorite earrings, & was told they are Betsey Johnson-esqe! That’s MAJOR for me!

And I’ve been thinking.
Trying to plan my next 6 months.
I might get a day job soon. But something I will like, I’m sure.
So that just means more new stones and goodies to buy!

I’ve got to get my financial life in order by March for a zillion reasons:

• Tax time is April

• Wedding day will be 18 months off and to pay for it, Mama gotta work.

For the 09:

• get my stuff into stores
• make a decent salary every month from this
• debut my hair accessories by Spring
• increase my network
• get into some shows

I think that’s all for now. Help me tick these off/add more to this list!!

December is clearly going to be an emotional month.

Some adjustments have been and will continue to be made.
I totally missed participating in NanoWriMo, but I think I’ll just be doing it on my own.

I am going to have a new space soon.
I’ve got to work on it.
So hopefully that can be debuted in January.

I’ve also got to bust my butt for the next 2 weeks to gear up for my jewelry party in Philly that I’m supposed to have.

I am going to a tree trimming party next weekend at a friends house.
That should be fun.  It’ll be the first one I attend and I’m going to make my ornament, instead of buy one.

Then I might teach her son how to make one too. Something sturdy that’ll last for years to come.

Buy

Handmade.

click me!

Support your local

artist.

xx

me