Women Entering a New World of Movement

It's a new year. Time for new year's resolutions. Join us to learn some techniques of low impact dance, music and movement while incorporating a healthier lifestyle. Also sharing healthy cooking recipes, meditation and inspirational quotes to encourage healthier living. R & B, Gospel & Genres. Please bring or wear comfortable clothing, tennis shoes and a mat if you have one. Healthful light refreshments and fruit water served. Once a week every Thursday evening for 6 weeks . 1 hour class includes time for meditating/ prayer. $5 per class donation. Class presented by Mahnaz Salvador.
1130 Adeline Street Oakland, CA.

The Art of Coffee

Donald Joseph and Bashir Salaam will be hosting a orientation round table, " The Art of Coffee", about ORGANO GOLD on the first Monday night of each month beginning April 2012 at 7pm.  Come have coffee, hear how to change your coffee for better health, and learn how you can profit simply by introducing coffee to everyone that already loves coffee.  The coffee sells itself.  You will also receive free coffee to take with you. How easy is that ?  Please  RSVP.  Join us at Sisters-Locked Artisan's Collaborative Studio,

                                                       1130 Adeline Street, Oakland, CA  94607

                                         email: Sisterslocked@gmail.com. 

                             (510) 730-0241

Waist beads for all Curves

Deborah Jackson Embers of "BEAD MY CURVES", is currently scheduling private waistbeading appointments. All waistbeading is done at the Sisters-Locked Artisans Collaborative. She has a variety of new beads brought directly from Ghana, handmade and selected just for your waist.

These beads have been designed for waists of all sizes preferably for curvier waists. We are finding that vuluptious sized women are enjoying the waistbeading more than ever and Deborah encourages larger women to become beaded to enhanced their fabulous bodies.

Women of all ages and sizes wear waist beads! Waist beads have traditionally been worn under clothing by some African women. Waist beads have many different meanings in the many different tribes that wear waistbeads. Rites of passage, enhancing attraction to your partner, healing, body adornment, as well as for the young ladies today, just a simple fashion statement and new way to accessorize.

In Egypt, waist beads were called “girdles”. The women wore them as a uniform for pre-pubescent girls with out any sexual connotation. In West Africa, waist beads have several names.; Jel-Jelli, Jigeda, Giri-Giri, Djalay Djalay or Yomba. In Ghana women knew that waist beads helped form their body into a particular shape and adult women wore their beads to sexually stimulate their partners.

In other parts of West Africa, women would wear waist beads with bells. therefore, creating a jingling sound effect as they walked. Dipping them in natural oils or adding stones are a way to assume natural healing. As you know natural oils and semi-precious stones have been used for many years as natural healing elements in almost all cultures.

Waistbeads are the perfect measuring tape to monitor weight gain or loss. It serves in so many different ways for all women of all shapes and sizes. You would be doing yourself a dis-service not to have at least one strand of waist beads around your waist.

What's so special about being beaded at Sisters-Locked Artisans Collaborative by Deborah? Well, you are served a piping hot cup of herbal, medicinal or Red Bush African tea, as your beaded and the sounds of traditional african music and aromatic candles fill the room for a calm relaxing experience. Not to mention the beading process is extremely affordable.Same cost for curvy or non curvy waists.  No additionl charges here. What a wonderful treat and a wonderful gift for someone special. Contact Deborah at (510) 501-9932 or email: Sisterslocked@gmail.com (510)730-0241 for your private session.

Candy Buffets, A work of Art

 

 

 

Have you ever seen or created a candy buffet for a party, shower or wedding?  Well they certainly make a lasting impression to everyone that attends your event and makes an awesome picture and or background.  It is quite easy to do.  First of all, you need to recycle glass containers, vases or jars that can contain the different candies that you will be using.  Develop a theme or color scheme for your event.  Select a colorful table cloth, some scoopers, some creative containers for the guests candy that they will use to create their candy bag party favor and take home.  You can use recycled plastic containers with lids, paper ones, small boxes or great miniature bags.  I would create some little labels that note the event, time date etc.  Pour your candies into the containers and display beautifully.  You may want to add some height based upon the size and shapes of the containers. Just slide small boxes etc under neath the table cloth for height.  Ta Dah!  Your buffet has been created and you did it yourself.  You don't have to be an artist or decorator for this.  You can also substitute candy by adding dried fruits, nuts (making trail mix) or cookies instead.  You could also used cerials for a childs party and the children could creat take home cerial bowls as favors. Create some fun little labels or cards describing each candy or items you chhose to display.
It is a great idea to purchase your candy bulk someplace like Costco, Smart and Final or Sam's Co to get the best prices.  The dollar store usually has a great variety of containers and candies as well.  The important thing to remember is to recycle. You can even borrow containers for the display. It's only for one day. Create your own buffet and send Sisters-Locked a photo or send us a note to share your ideas.

Have a Powerful Party Planning Time
Alisa

Mother Earth

This is one of the most powerful photos I have ever seen.  I am a person that usually finds creativity within lots of things that some people never would and this photo was more than just creative to me.  It  moved my soul in a way that words can't even explain.  I'm thinking from my spirit right now, of myself and others.  I'm thinking of my mother, my grandmothers and many women  before them.  I think of women who were once slaves. I think of the women in the BIBLE. I think of women who are struggling with Cancer.

This picture causes me to breath deeply, and reflect from within as it is representive of women of color.  I guess all women.  Oh, how we bear so much.  Sooooo much. I think of the women who are hurting inside, therefore showing a lack of compassion for others because they have unknowingly been scorned from giving so much of themselves, while being unappreciated, they have no more to give.  The outside appears decorated with lots of smiles and fabulous clothing but the inside so messed up, beat down and lonely.

We cry tears. Tears of sorrow, tears of joy, tears of pain. We breathe nurture into our children, our men, our community, while sustaining abuse from them as well. Then we continue as the strong link that holds them all together.  Sometimes the ones we have so nurtured are the ones that cause us so much pain. Sometimes that being our children.

We give from the souls of our busum into life from day to day.  We give, give, give. We make love. Our love is sometimes even forcefully taken and we birth as a result of loving.  We are Queens that most times go unrecognized, unrewarded and ignored.  We're mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, lovers, aunts, girlfriends, EARTH.  We are.........

I want to remind all women everywhere, to take time for yourself.  Take care of yourself.  Meditate and pray each day as your lives are so fulfilled that your cup runneth over. Pray for those that cut throat as a result of all we have been through.  Thank GOD for those that are supportive and compassionate enough to try to save you from the burning grass and those who do not.

Even if you are scorned, and have nothing else to give, as you hide inside of looking good and driving a fabulous cars to soothe your soul,  let go, keep giving compassion, allow someone else to have some answers so that your flow can flow easily and painlessly into the path of freedom.   Your Day will come.  YES!

UN-control and  remember who ultimately is In- control and who holds the keys. I have to continuously remind myself of this.  Cause it is HE that holds you too. A great reward awaits us, because of all of the spilled milk we have incurred.

 Be careful what you say. Allow your words, expressions and emotions to flow positively.  I'm praying for women who are faithful, and trusting, for a release and a healing of your spirit.  Allow HIM to fight our battlesand hold our scorned spirit and bodies.  Whatever you are suffering, let go and let HIM. My prayer is for gentle, peaceful transitions.  Amen.

Just my thoughts from this powerful photo. What are yours?  I 'd love to hear them.

Thank you to the person that shared this photo with the public on facebook.  You helped me to sink deep into thought, while writing into my journal, taking time for prayer and being thankful for a friend of mines who is so compassionate and she doesn't even know it.  Last but not least,GOD, please be reminded of how grateful I am for all you have done for me and forgive me if I have done anything hurtful or unhelpful to anyone. I choose to allow my flow to flow gently, painlessly, compassionately and smoothly for inner peace.


Everyone, Be Blessed
Alisa

Sisters-Locked Holiday Event

On 12-3-11 we held our first anual Holiday Marketplace Event at Lovelle House.  It was a great success.  We had many wonderful vendors and lots of family, friends, co-workers and many new friends stop by to support us.  Unfortunately we did not have enough space to accomodate all of the artisans that wanted to network. 

Therefore we are having a 2nd event on 12/17/11 from 1pm to 6pm.  You are welcomed to join us.  There will be a variety of great gift items, and many yummy holiday treats.  We hope you will join us.

Come early.  The first 10 purchasing guests will recieve a goody bag filled with nik- naks from each of the vendors. 

Happy Holidays and Happy Kwanzaa

Festival Vending

If you agree that nothing could be better than being outside, making new friends, and making some money as your own boss then you are ready to become a festival vendor. Becoming a festival vendor can be easy or difficult; it really depends on the festival you want to sell your wares at. Below are some useful tips on how to get your foot in the festival door. There are many different ways to start out as a festival vendor. If you can’t get in the first time around, then check out some of these additional hints to help you figure out a way.
Join Fairs And Festival Events
If you’ve been to a few festivals, flea markets, or craft show and want in on the action then you’ll have to get busy – early. That’s right, most of the festival vendors you see at your local festivals have signed up for their spot up to a year in advance. Some festivals are more competitive than others. If you have some prior experience being a festival vendor, but you’d like to join a well-known or traveling festival than you know how hard it can be to get a coveted space to sell your wares.
Need to Pay Anything to become Festival Vendor?
The first thing to do no matter what festival you want to be a festival vendor at is to find out who is in charge. Try to speak directly with them about signing up. If you are lucky you will just need to pay up front to reserve your spot and then show up on the first day of the festival. Sometimes you won’t have to sign up until the day of the festival, but most will require you to put down a deposit ahead of time. This means that even if you are signing up for a hot festival a year in advance you still might need to lay down a hefty deposit now. This also means that if you can’t make it at the last minute it you will probably lose your entire deposit. Unfortunately, this is just how things go in the festival circuit and if you want to become a festival vendor you will have to shell out some cash before you’ve made a penny.
Things to know in Fairs and Festival Events
If you have chosen to become a festival vendor at a more competitive show and there are no available spots left, then you can try a few things. You can always ask to share a space with an established vendor. This is an especially good move for a festival vendor that has a small set up or someone just starting out. If the booth fees are high, another festival vendor might be happy to let you set up inside their booth. Ask whoever is in charge or approach a friendly festival vendor yourself. You can also see if there are any cancellations that day or the day before. This can be a real pain since you have no guarantee, but things happen and this could get you in. Negotiating with another festival vendor to hold their spot for them if they need to be away for a day or two is another way to get in on a temporary basis. If you want to be a festival vendor, then you are surely a creative type, so use those skills and figure out a way to get in there.
How to perform well in Festival Events?
The more experience you have as a festival vendor, the easier it becomes to get a space or a better one. Like almost anything in life, who you know matters. Being connected with the organizers and other festival vendors can help you out a lot when it comes to getting a prime space at a festival. This does not mean you need to try to get the management’s attention every chance you can. In fact what it means, is try to be a festival vendor who is easy to get along with and pays attention to the people running the show. It may sounds simple, but you will see many festival vendors put up quite a fuss when it comes to their space or a variety of things. Be the kind of festival vendor that people want at their festival. People will take note of this and this it will help ensure you a place at the festival or make sure that the your favorite space is vacant when you arrive.