Motown Girl Spotlight of the Week

Ya'll come check me out over at Motown Girl. I'm the Spotlight of the Week.

Here's an excerpt:

What advice would you give someone who was thinking of going natural?:

1. As with everything in your life, ask yourself why you want to do this. Truly delve deep into yourself and look around. Going natural was the best thing for me because it promoted my health, improved my self-esteem, and re-ignited a fire in me.

2. Don't make a decision because it's faddish or because you like a certain style, or because you hope you'll have a loose silky curly texture. Make a commitment to YOU as a whole, because if you're committed, when the naysayers come it won't affect you.

3. Become informed!

Read up on hair and haircare as if you were studying to become a stylist yourself. Learn about products, ingredients, and styling tools. If need be find a good natural stylist in your area and pick their brain.

The more informed you are about haircare the less foolishness you will fall for (RIO anybody?) and the more money you will save on useless products that don't work for your hair.

4. Start now by widening your definition of beauty.

Add people with hair similar to yours to your beauty ideal. Create a look book or online album to inspire yourself and keep you motivated.

5. Join a supportive network.

Some good online sites are Motown Girl, Nappturality, Long Hair Care Forum, etc. But don't just stop there. You need a supportive network for your life in general. Hair is only a small part of it. If your spirit is content then your hair will be beautiful.

6. Remember it's your hair!

If you are committed to a healthy you and healthy hair then the occasional pressing, flat-ironing, etc. should be fine. It's your hair! Don't become re-imprisoned by other peoples ideas about what you should do to your hair.

7. Just do it! It'll grow back.

For the rest of the article stop by MotownGirl.Com and check it out. I really appreciate being spotlighted. MotownGirl is a great site to get informed about natural hair care.

Kamika facial video to be posted tomorrow on my YouTube channel. So stop on by!

Knotions

On my way back to work (It's great that I work so close to home). Took the girls to the Wild Animal Park this past weekend and so I've got some great photos which I'll have to post later this week. I did want to hip you all to the skip of a new knitting e-zine called Knotions.


I am so loving the Snip tool that comes with Vista.



Kamika as if we really need another knitting site

Back To Normal

Home is now home again. For a minute there I was seriously contemplating moving. I just couldn't handle the bugs. I believe I may have been having an anxiety attack that was triggered by the bugs and my emotional (suppressed) state after the funeral. Jeeves came over and fixed the problem - one of the sub floors under my closet was exposed and cracked. Since my apartment is directly over the gutter, the bugs were finding there way in through my closet. There was no way I was going to be able to tolerate bugs crawling on my clothes let alone in my home on a regular basis.

The area you see below is where the built-in drawers have been pulled out and this is what was behind them. Jeeves came in and drywalled the wall in and sealed the sub floor.



Large bugs to me are the equivalent of snakes and mice to others. The sound of the crack of a water bug,when stepped on, sends chills up my spine. One came out of my closet and I got the strength to run and get a broom to kill it. It became a war cause it just wouldn't die. I finally swept it outside half dead where it remained on the porch until my sister-in-law SDJ came over (with DM and Jeeves) and full of angry fear stepped on it hard!

Earlier, I hadn't realize I was in such a bad state until I called DM to ask her to send Jeeves over and I couldn't stop crying enough to tell her what I needed. I had to call her back. I went for my morning jog but decided to walk instead and I was crying while speed walking. I had to come home and talk to God. I'm and odd griever. Sometimes I can go years without crying or even acknowledging the vacancy a person's death has left in my life. This time though, I was grieving for her and my own heart state.

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My grandmother Charlene (we called her Charlena) passed on Saturday, August 2nd. She wasn't my actual grandmother but back 33 years ago, when my mother came to California for a visit and ended up staying, she became my mother's adopted godmother. At that time my mom was a soon to be divorcee and a traveling gospel back up singer. She came to California because my Aunt had brought my older brother (PP) here for a visit and refused to bring him back home to Ohio. My aunt was and still is a bit of a wild child. Long story short I came along, my Grandma Charlena introduced us to her church and my parents have been members there ever since (give or take a few years due to rough patches).

Grandma Charlena's life was my first recognizable glimpse into refinement. I remember having Thanksgiving dinner at her house and the long continuous table that fit probably 20-30, well appointed with every crystal glass, fine bone china, and full silverware you would need and then some. She would throw together at least 15 different entrees in addition to the turkey. I was always so excited. Always in awe.

She was a stately woman who talked a lot of trash and wore a lot of tweeds and fur coats. She enjoyed a good stiff drink and to dance. She'd curse a man out in a minute and wouldn't hesitate to tell you you've gained weight but were still pretty. She was also the person who in a time when kids were learning to be fast tails told me that there was nothing wrong with wanting to be smart and creative. When Mrs. Adams around the corner taught me to crochet, it was Grandma Charlena who I practiced with. Twice a month or so she would pick me up in her burgundy Lincoln Bonneville or little grey station wagon and we would go "Goody Shopping." Goody shopping is shopping at yard sales. We would get all sorts of little trinkets and yarn.

I'll miss the woman who for my birthday gave me white panties three sizes too big with ones, fives, and tens dollar bills stick pinned into them; although I won't miss the pain I got when I tried to put them on but had failed to remove all the pins. I'll miss being called Lady Bug. I'll miss the replacement of her curse words with "a oomph oomph and an umph umph umph!" I'll miss her, but God's got it all under control.

Kamika consoled and done grieving

Mi Trente y Dos Felicidades Celebracion!

That's my 32nd Birthday Celebration! It was so wonderful. I truly felt loved from my family and my coworkers. You would have thought this was a big birthday like 16, 30, 40, etc. But I've learned that every new year God blesses me with is a BIG birthday. Enjoy the pics!

An Older Kamika

Eventhough I hate being late and I'm rarely tardy (unless intentional which happens when I'm in a slump), I seem to be on CPT time with announcing the winner of the Sisters of The Yarn GiveAway! So with no further ado. The winner is:

NikkiJ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lookout for my email for your addy. Thanks to all who entered!

Kamika

And the Winners...

... of the first ever Kinky Coils & String GiveAway are!

**Drum Roll**

1. Eve Knits
2. Afiba (Ms. Lina)
3. Sonya

You ladies were selected using a random number counter program so as to make it as fair as possible. I will be contacting these ladies over the next couple of days to get their choices. Eve Knits gets 1st choice and so on. Hopefully each of you will get what you want. They are all great products!

If you get to me before I get to you, please email me at kamikak at MSN DOT com.

Thanks to all who entered and please stay tuned for those hair updates. I'll need your input! Also, hopefully you'll come back to be inspired to knit, crochet, or take up a hobby to bless your self with. As women we need to start doing things for us that will birth out creativity and help us to relieve stress. Knitting and crochet does that for me and so many others, maybe it will do it for you too.

Kamika

I'll Be There. What About You?

I meant to post this on Thursday to give all you LA. crafty socialites a heads up on some events I plan(ned) to attend this weekend and would love/have loved to possibly connect with you at. Some events like the Compatto Sip N Stitch--wine, cheese, hors d'oeuvres, and great company while knitting were last night. I was so tired after work that I just couldn't make it.

Others like the Felt Club XL Holiday event I plan to hit tomorrow. Check it out!
Kamika

Redux You!

The Anthro Redux is working out nicely. I'm finishing up the right front and will be switching to the left front before the days out. I'm very excited about this project. I've been in an emotional slump of late and usually when I find myself in this place I need to do something fantasmic to pull myself out. There's nothing like creating something fresh and new to do just that.

Yippee! Potter Craft News, the publisher of Annie Modesitt's soon to be released book Romantic Handknits has just released a teaser pattern. It's called Notorious-not quite a tank and not nearly a sweater. A great little number to transition from summer to fall with. This will be the perfect project for me to be able to use those 7 skeins of Rowan RYC Silk Aran I bought last week. Hey! They were on sale for 30% off! I had yard sale money! This was my only splurge, since the rest of my purse went to bills. I'm STASH BUSTING! I will actually be getting the book this weekend as it is being released on the 18th.

Yesterday, I found another great project. It's the Shedir hat from Knitty Fall 2004. Here's a really nice FO from Art Class Failure's blog. I plan to use that aubergine Tahki Cotton Classic I got from my Coffee Swap Partner Ann K.

Ahh! I'm feeling inspired again,

Kamika

The Season To Get In VOGUE

It's Vogue Knitting's 25th Anniversary and for Fall/Winter 2007 they are back to celebrate with a fresh new wintery look and a brand new user interface. VK has gotten on the user hub tip by now providing a number of different offerings to their reader-set to keep us mesmerized and firmly joined at the fingers to their web page.

Of the usual offerings their will be a reader photo gallery, a pattern shop (free and merchant), and a book store. The merchant patterns are sorted by author and available through Sixth & Spring books. Of the lesser than usual offerings VK now hosts a podcast library, a more expansive How To section to help with technique, and various VK pattern Knit Alongs. The How To section is not as exhaustive as their books but it is a good reference point for both experienced and beginning knitters.

VK is also being extra generous and offering up 10 of their most favorite anniversary cover patterns to the public for FREE! To go along with their new color scheme all of the covers offered are in steely greys and pewters. All patterns are PDF downloadable. I would download these now even if you don't use them. I would hate for them to no longer be made available. Below are three of my favorites!













Enjoy!

Kamika

Wedding Best Wishes

Well to continue in the impromptu wedding/marriage theme I seem to have going here. I figured I would share some pictures of my cousin Kevin's wedding to his lovely bride Athena. Kevin and Athena were married this past Saturday at the Coast Hotel in Long Beach. The setting was on the water just a lark away from the Queen Mary. Unfortunately, I missed the actual ceremony by about 5 minutes as I had a prior engagement, but I did get to take pictures of the couple and participate in the reception festivities.

The bride and her ladies wore a pretty pale buttery gold color with gold accents. The groom wore a camel colored suit with subtle cream pinstriping. His men wore black tuxes with gold/pewter vests. The mothers both wore bronzey brown dresses cut in their individual styles. They all looked lovely.

At the reception we sat 10 to a table with lovely tulips on mirror centerpieces. I would say the guests numbered about 125. Dinner was 3 courses including salad, a marinaded chicken and veggies, and coffee and the cake. There was a DJ and a center dance floor which did get a lot of use, considering my family. I got out there and did the Electric Slide a couple of times. You could tell I don't dance often as my quads were killing me. Three different kinds of Electric Slide in 4" stilettos can kill you!

It was a fun evening and I wish them God's blessings upon their marriage and their family!!

Kamika

The Bar Ain't Too High! Just Jump!

Good googly moogly! Have you guys seen this "Remember the Ritz"?!!!! Am I late? Please don't let me be late. My Pastor would know and give me the eye!

This brother has set the bar high. *Hint Hint* to my future reader! Jump high brother man!

I just came across this video and I have to say it sent elated chills and near tears down my face. I wish them the best! It is so romantic and sweet. He prayed and prayed and prayed for her! That's what a MAN is supposed to do. It's awesome that their families were so involved with the engagement.

Those of you in getting married need to give this brother, Ross Oscar Knight, some of your photography business. He done done good.

I'm storing this away in my rolodex! I'm sure it ain't that far off. No I'm not engaged so don't start sending me congrats! When I am you will know. LOL

Kamika

Mark Your Calendars!

On August 7th the latest penning by Annie Modesitt will be released to the crafty public. The book is called Romantic Hand knits: 26 Flirtatious Designs That Flatter Your Figure (Potter Craft, $27.50). I have seen some of the preview pics and this is going to be a stunner. Check them out below. (Please do not copy the photos)

*All photos appear courtesy of Annie Modesitt with her expressed permission.

Curvy Girls will love this book. It has lots of waist cinching designs with leeway to accommodate the fuller bust. Many of the silhouettes look as if they were made for the über curvy without being unflattering or less than ladylike. If you don't believe me, take a second look at that skirt on the cover. The model looks like she is not lacking in the caboose area and as such the skirt looks really good on her. The stylish profiles are ultra-feminine with a little Elizabethan redux thrown in. Modesitt has also included some flirty accessories as well. Including some of her head turning hats.

I haven't had the opportunity to view this book yet so I can't tell you about the sizing or the appropriateness of the designs based on an individual knitter's skill level. Hopefully these things will not be an issue nor will finding the suggested yarn or yarn replacement. I can say that from the many pics I have seen the designs look timeless, sensuously soft, and fun knits.

About The Author

Annie Modesitt has written numerous books and been a contributing designer in many well known publications including Vogue Knitting Magazine, McCalls, and Interweave Knits Magazine. Annie is also the creator of Flip Knit, a creative flip book that teaches individual knitting techniques. A self taught knitter since 1983, she knits in the combination method. Annie lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband and kids.

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The book doesn't hit shelves until later this summer, but if you would like to pre-order yours Amazon is offering a 34% discount off of the list price on all presale orders. If you are interested please feel free to hit the link at the bottom of this post or in the side bar.

Kamika

Knitting Daily Has Launched!

For those of you who are not in the know. Knitter's Daily has finally launched! In the last few months I have been receiving the weekly newletter filled with little blurbs about knitter's around the world and projects. Lot's of socks! You sock knitters will loooove this! From the dripping sarcasm I'm sure you can deduct that I have not been bitten by the knit sock bug. Thank God! I've seen many of you sock lovers and some of you look terminal. Calomine lotion does not help with this rash.

Anyhoo, the online mag is an offshoot of Interweave Press, the makers of our beloved Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet, and Knitscene mags to name a few. The online mag has taken all of the online and free patterns from the individual sites and put them all together in a good size (65 so far) pattern library in addition to linking to each individual site for content. It's nice that everything is in one convenient place. Headed by Sandi Wiseheart, I'm sure it will be a good resource for all knitters!

Make sure you hit the shoe gallery!

Kamika

Knitty Summer 2007

Knitty Summer is out! It came out a couple of days ago. I meant to mention it but I got caught up with a product deadline. Check out the Wisp. It is really pretty and ethereal. The author says, "[it] will keep out the chill." I don't know how it would. I think for some of us with more endowed tiggly biddys it will make the chill more obvious. At least in the lighter color. LOL. I still plan to make it though. It doesn't look like a boring workup at all. It will work with some cute jeans and a nice (not so exposed) tank under the setting California sun. Askew is another cut one.

Go see for your self,

Kamika