Tell dem I cyan't miss de festival again, "Ah Coming Home, Home for Carnival!!"

Yes, yes, yes... I know, where have I been? lol No, not under a rock... but perhaps in my garden near a rock, but nevertheless, still here! I ketch' a musical creative vybe early this morning after listening to a few carnival chunes for the season, creating lots of pieces and getting ready for the various festivals this summer!! From Vincy, Lucian, CropOver, Toronto, Spice Mas,and of course Brooklyn! I couldn't help but find a vintage chune from my music archives for further inspiration, Kevin Lyttle's "Home for Carnival"...



[verse 1:]
"Is long time ah been away and ah miss meh Carnival
So dis year I'm on a plane, heading to me festival
Vincy Mas' ah love you, ah can't do without ya
For you there's a special place inside my heart
Ah comin' for mas and fun in de July sun..."







So in between beating iron with my paint brushes, burning the midnight oil, and creating some fabulous carnival jewelry... Aye' Shanti is excited and ready to see her clients on the road!!


I have a new line of feather creationz, creative crochet earrings, various hoops in sterling silver, copper, and brass! Not to mention a line of flower creations called "Urban Graffiti Garden!"... Inspired by the community and neighborhood garden designs in Brooklyn, growing in the midst of urban settings, filled with speckled graffiti walls, different cultures, and sounds... You'll find a few of these in BIM for Crop Over... If you're interested in discussing an order, email me @ ayeshanti@gmail.com... They come in all sorts of color combinations, ranging from earrings, hair pieces, and shirt pins!


[verse 2:]
"Crossover to Bajan country, I'm going Cropover
Ah intend to wuk up until meh waistline blister
Cropover ah love you, ah can't do without ya
See me Kadooment Day from St. Ann to Spring Garden
A celebration of life for you and me..."

Speaking of Crop Over, have ya'll listened to Edwin Yearwood ft. Patrice Robert's chune, "Neighbah!" I love it!
"When we have each other, fix it up with soca, all of we together, my neighbor forever, THAT'S MI NEIGHBAH!" I'll fix up a nice music must have list for those traveling!


HAVE A SAFE AND WONDERFUL HOLIDAY WEEKEND... Take a chip, dance for me, and enjoy yourself!!
"Live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find eternity in each moment!" -thoreau







-Shanti

Trinidad Carnival is Over and I'm Fine!! lol

Greetings Famahlee,
So in the mean time, enjoy this mix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrIhoetBy2c&feature=related... While I organize my thoughts and working, especially on carnival pieces, I listen to chunes for inspiration... This road mix by Machel, "Thiefin" just puts me in a jouvert vibe and if any of y'all who know me, I LOVE A JOUVERT... Ketch I playing a WICKED JAB a Jouvert NEAR YOU!!!

Sooo, I'm so happy to say that my carnival pieces were a hit. It was great to catch Aye' Shanti in pics and videos from fetes, jouvert, Monday & Tuesday Mas... I didn't get to make it this year due to a photo shoot and a show and needed to be here to handle business, HOWEVER, my spirit was in TnT... I felt as my earrings were jumpin' and flying in the fetes, I felt the spirit of the madras piece on de road for jouvert ketchin' real' vibes that I literally was thinking around 4 am... Ms. BachannalDiva must be on de road ALLL now... Or that the feather pieces Isis from Fatal Angels were rocking was totally making a debut not only on Monday but Tuesday! Oh and my girls in Tribe, Stacy n' Joanne brought the flower adornment and crochet earrings alive! There are lots of more Aye' Shanti Carnival pieces that I haven't mentioned and waiting for pics, but sooo happy for the connections, especially to my beautiful clients!

Sooo... now it's all about Summer 2k10... Fabulous website coming along, a wedding photo shoot in the works for the Spring.. and of course being ahead of the game have the Fall 2k10 line ready for production!

I'm learning a lot about myself spiritually, mentally, and emotionally, and I'm so happy to pour all of that into my jewelry that I create! Stay true to self, continue loving and living life, and of course, STAY BEAUTIFUL! Oh and play some of your favorite music and enjoy the snow and pretend to play mas! Lol


Blessings, Light, and Om Shanti!!
Oh and look for these fetes:

Sugar Apple & Bash Brothaz… INVIDIA: Sunday March 28th @ Mystique Club & Lounge

&

Eyes Wide Shut 10th Anniversary Edition.... BLOOM: Friday May 7th!!!





























































































And a sneak peek from the photo shoot:

One Year ago... My 1st Carnival Jewelry on the Road!! I am Thankful!!

Greetings Family,

As I go through my Carnival Tabanca, organizing orders, and living in love... I remember that exactly one year ago, I created a Carnival piece for my friend Samantha and I think to myself, look at where I'm at today! I'm so thankful to have customers who are wearing my piece in the land of Oil and Music!! I may not be there, but Aye' Shanti is truly dancing in a fete or on the road somewhere and that's good enough for me! I've learned that we don't know where our lives may take us, but we must trust that tide and flow with it. I am so excited and ready for carnivals to come, fashion shows, meeting new clients, and creating more! I have many new things in my life and I'm so thankful!! Soooo, for my family who's not in TnT, don't worry, we always have next year or we have CROPOVER/GREENZ... and other sweet fetes filled with riddim sections, great people, and music for days!!

For my family in TnT... ENJOY YUHSELF, BE SAFE, DANCE FOR ME, and ENJOY DE ROAD!!

Much love n' light,

Shanti

Soca Is Dangerous While Driving:

PART DEUX OF "TRINIDAD CARNIVAL 2K10"


FOR THREE DAYS STRAIGHT I'VE BEEN CREATING AND LITERALLY PUTTING MYSELF ON THE ROAD MENTALLY TO IMAGINE HOW THESE PIECES WOULD LOOK... BUT OF COURSE YOU NEED THE INSPIRATION, SO I TURN TO MY FIRST LOVE, SOCA! I'VE BEEN SO BLESSED WITH ORDERS, THAT WITH MORE REQUESTS, THE MORE I HAVE TO IMAGINE THE COSTUME, HOW WOULD THE PIECE FIT WITH THE PERSON, AND THE FABULOUSNESS OF IT ON THE ROAD!! I'M FINALLY FINISHED WITH THE FIRST HALF OF CARNIVAL PIECES, SO SOME OF YOU HAVE THEM OR WILL HAVE A GIFT IN YOUR EMAIL IN THE MORNING OF A QUICK GLIMPSE!
ANYWAY, BACK TO THE MUSIC, AS I TAKE THIS MUST NEED BREAK; I'VE DECIDED TO CONTINUE MY SOCA FAVES FOR 2K10!

SO WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I WAS LISTENING TO A CD, AND OLATUNJI'S "SO AH LOVE IT" CAME ON... AND I COULDN'T HELP BUT JUST START BEATING THE STEERING WHEEL... THE CHUNE IS VERY SIMPLE (ESPECIALLY THE CHORUS, BASICALLY "CARNIVAL, CARNIVAL, ITS CARNIVAL, CARNIVAL..." BUT SOMETHING ABOUT IT TAKES ME TO A PLACE... IT'S PROBABLY THE RIDDIM BUT IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, ADD A LIL MORE DRUMMING TO IT, OR CREATE A ROADMIX, TRUST ME... I CAN SEE PEOPLE CHIPPIN DOWN DE ROAD!

WHOIII GAL WHOOI: BUSY SIGNAL & MACHEL MONTANO- THIS CHUNE IS A MIX OF TRADITIONAL FOLK MUSIC, REGGAE AND CALYPSO RIDDIMS... I DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE TELL ME, I HEAR THE FOLK LOL... I ALMOST BUSSED INTO A BIG DRUM/BELLAIR DANCE ON THE TRAIN THE OTHER DAY!! LOL THIS CHUNE WOULD BE NICE IN A FETE!

TRUE LIES (ROADMIX)FAYANN LYONS-ALVAREZ- GREAT ROAD CHUNE... ANOTHER ONE WHERE I WAS DRIVING AND FOR SOME REASON I COULDN'T STOP BOUNCING! LOL I CAN SEE MASQUERADERS GETTING ON IN THEIR FANCY BOOTS, FEATHERS SWAYING, AND JUMPIN' UP!! OH YEAH... AND THOSE FEATHER PIECES I'M MAKING WILL BE DANCING ALONG WITH YOU... LOL (SORRY, IT WAS CREATED WITH SOCA INFUSED RIDDIMS)

THINK YOU CAN HANDLE IT- MACKA DIAMOND &DENISE BELFON- THIS CHUNE IS VERY DANGEROUS! LOL I LOVE THE DANCEHALL VIBES WITH A SOCA ESSENCE, PLENTY BUMPAS WILL BE ROLLIN WITH THIS ONE!

SURRENDER- DESTRA GARCIA- HOW COULD I NOT TALK ABOUT THIS ONE! THIS CHUNE IS A PAN CHUNE BUT ALSO SOMETHING I FEEL A CERTAIN BAND WILL ENJOY ON THE ROAD AND MAKE THE COSTUMES BECOME ALIVE! THIS SONG REMINDS ME OF SOME OF US WHO SURRENDER TO THE MUSIC AND JUST "LEH GO!" THIS WAS ONE OF MY EARLY FAVORITES!

ALISON HINDS - BOOM BOOM TONIC- ANOTHER DANGEROUS CHUNE! LOL WHY I LOVE THIS CHUNE, IT HAS TO BE THE ZOUK INSPIRATION! YOU WOULD SWEAR KASSAV WAS THE HOUSE BAND WHEN THE SONG WAS CREATED! IF I WAS ON THE ROAD, AND THE RIGHT DANCE PARTNER WHO CAN BREAK INTO A ZOUKISH DANCE WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ME, IT WOULD BE ON, COSTUME ON AND ALL!! I ACTUALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE A VIDEO TO THIS CHUNE, PRESENT A MIX OF TRADITIONAL DANCING WITH A MODERN TWIST!

I PAY FOR THIS (ROAD MIX)-FARMER NAPPY & MACHEL MONTANO- THIS CHUNE IS ONE OF THOSE JUST JUMPING UP AND GETTIN ON FROM SIDE TO SIDE! JUST PACE DOWN DE ROAD! LOL "I PAY FOR THIS, I PAY FOR DAT... NOBODY CAN TELL ME NUTTIN!" FOR EVERYONE WHO WORKS HARD, IT IS TIME TO GET ON BAD! LOL

HUNTING (ROADMIX)- BLAXX- I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS THE ULTIMATE JOUVERT CHUNE FOR ME... I THINK BECAUSE I REMEMBER PLAYING JOUVERT EVERY YEAR, A CHUNE WITH PLENTY PACE WOULD COME ON, AND A PARTICULAR SOMEONE WHO WOULD WEAR HORNS WOULD RUN AFTER ME WITH HIS FORK IN HAND, REAL' GREASY IN OLE' OIL... AND READY TO JUK ME! LOL I KNOW! IT'S THE WHISTLE AND THE LYRICS OF COURSE, "WHOLE DAY I HUNTIN, EVERY NIGHT I HUNTIN!" YUP... A TRUE JOUVERT JAM!

HEAVEN- NADIA BATSON & KEES DIEFFENTHALLER- I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS CHUNE, IT'S FUN... AND I CAN SEE MYSELF HEADING BACK TO THE STATES FROM MY CARNIVAL EXPERINCE, SITTING ON THE PLANE, PUTTING ON MY IPOD... AND THIS CHUNE COMES ON AND I WOULD REMINICE WITH TEARS IN MY EYES AT HOW HEAVENLY THE CARNIVAL EXPERIENCE WAS!

*SNEAKS THIS ONE IN!* I STILL LOVE FOREIGNER (3SUNS AND BENJAI)... THIS CHUNE PUTS APEP IN MY STEP WHEN I WALK DOWN DE ROAD! LOL


CYAR SLEEP- RAYMOND RAMNARINE FEAT. KERWIN DUBOIS- ANOTHER SWEEET CHUNE... YOU MAY FIND ME USING THE WORD "SWEET" A LOT WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC... BUT WHEN A CHUNE HITS ME AND MAKES ME CLOSE MY EYES, REMINISENCE ABOUT A CARNIVAL THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET, YEAH... THEN THE CHUNE HAS A HOLD ON ME! GREAT LYRICS AND ARRANGEMENT! "THIS YEAR NAH MISSING ME... TOO MUCH THINGS GOING ON, FOR ME TO BE IN BED, I CAN GO SLEEP WHEN I DEAAAAAAAAAD"

CAREFUL (ROAD MIX)- LIL' BITTS- I HAVE A THING FOR ROADMIXES, IT HAS RIDDIM AND MORE RIDDIM... CAREFUL MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT THAT SPECIAL MAN YOU SEE IN A FETE, AND YOU WANT TO JUST GIVE HIM AN UNFORGETABLE DANCE... "DOH LEH GO... CAREFUL WHEN YUH WUKKIN UP ON ME...CROSS YUH T'S, DOT YUH I'S...." I LOVE IT!

BARMAN- RICKY JAI- THIS CHUNE IS SO CUTE!!I FIND CHUTNEY SOCA ALWAYS KICKSY!! "MI WIFE DEY HOME AND SHE WAITING, SHE WAITING FOR SOME SWEET LOVIN!...BARMAN GIVE ME SOME GUINESS AND PUNCHEON!" ANOTHER FETE FAVE!

*EXHAALLLLLLLES* I HAVE MORE CHUNES, BUT I MUST GET BACK TO WORK! HERE'S A GLIMPSE OF A PIECE HEADING TO TNT!

Trinidad Carnival 2k10 have me real' TIE UPPPP...

So, as I'm working on these lovely pieces (Flower earrings, adornments, Monday & Tuesday accessories) for Trinidad Carnival, I listen to the Soca chunes for inspiration... I try to imagine the costume on, how would the earrings fall, how would head band go, bracelets would look (would it add a lil cling and clang perhaps)All I can do is shake my head! So, as most of you know, I'm a lover of DRUMS, IRON, and ANYTHING THAT WAKES UP THE CARNIVAL QUEEN IN ME! Thanks to a few friends who share the passion for Soca music, they hooked a sista up for her birthday, and well over 100 songs for TnT 2k10!
A few favorites:
Machel's "Not Going Home" Original and Drum Mix... Equally moves me. "Sunrise from the East and illuminates the land...It's like a Gospel choir take over my brain, I try to keep them out but the melodies *refrain* what a feeling, look to the heavens, give thanks to life, de rains fall like a blessings from the sky, AND I ... RAISE MY HANDS UP HIGH, WHILE WE MOVE AS 1, SO NOTHING CAN KEEP US APART, WE MOVE WITH 1 ♥ , WE KNOW WHERE WE CO...ME FROMJ UMP TO DE LEFT! HOLD A STRANGER TIGHT, WE CELEBRATE BROTHERLY LOVE.. in de land of our birth, WE NAH GOING HOME TONIGHT!" The Soca Baptist in me is really trying to tame herself! lol

3Suns & Benjai "Foreigner"- Lawd... as soon as mi boi sent me this chune, I was of course shaking from side to side! Very vintage, and I swear the riddim in the background is Machel's "Too Young To Soca"... with the drums and bass, it's a fete, even a jouvert favorite! Just call me a Foreigner! lol

Blaze & Jay W "Palance" I can see myself jumping up with no cares to this chune on the road! A definite going down de road, I can imagine the Roadmix.. Especially that part "1-2-3-4"!!


Fay-Ann "Ah Something"- Sooo, I'm Grenadian if you don't know and ummm, I LOVE any riddim with the right lyrics that's Jouvertish! "AH Thinking of something, yuh feeling ah crazy or wha!?" lol Gutter Riddim is SOLID!

Teri Lyons "Carnival Again"- *Smh*... you hear the Capoeira riddims of the instrument, Berimbau, really gives the song it's HEART... with the lyrics, I love it!
Funny every time she sings "MOVE"... I think she chose the perfect riddim, Capoeira is a dance of war! I think the Roadmix would make it even sweeter for the road!

Patrice "Road Show!!" I just adore this chune... Another perfect "COSTUME JUMP UP SONG"... You know what I mean, the chune where you can see yourself in your costume and lettin' go! Feathers, beads swaying... and you almost forget that you're either a backline or frontline costume and not a QUEEN or KING!

Machel's "Bumper to Fender"- oh gosh, this tugs at my heart! Lawd, the OFFICIAL ROADMIX, sell off! Please just pass me my Tribe, Spice, or Island People cup one time and fill it!!

Honorable Mentions:
Machel "Thiefin" D'Enforcas Mix with the whistle, the 80's soca riddim, something about it is very sweet!!

Maximus' "Fallin"- OMG.. I can see myself in that fete swaying and doing a lil' two step with that someone in a fete! Love it!

Devon Matthews "From Today" Roadmix.. Again, I'm a sucker for whistles n' irons! I see it on de road! "De Carnival start from TODAY" It's true!


I have a few more chunes… but of course, I HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK!! Stay blessed and full of healing light!

Om Shanti

Greetings Family,
So we're 28 days into the year and I'm so excited for things to come. I know it's been a minute since I've been on here, but I was in organizing mode. Website is coming along www.ayeshanti.com,(which should be ready in 2 weeks)for now we have a coming soon page for some buzz! The photo shoot is being prepared for next week (so check for some behind the scenes shots), and brand new designs for the Spring/Summer 2010 will be showcased!

I'm also coming out with a new line of exotic flowers for earrings, pins, and hair adornments. My handcrafted jewelry and accessories are prepared to tell you a story inspired by a written piece I did on the Caribbean Woman. This is the Art I know best and I'm prepared to make these wearable arts come alive! Thank you all for your support and chat with you soon!

Blessings and Light,
Shanti

I'm truly a Dawtah of the Sun!

Soooo, I'm back from Barbados, and I must say that it was an amazing, energizing, and inspirational trip. I have to thank my sista, Shakira from Ki-Leah Cosmetic Designs for her support and for making this happen!

The idea of moving back "home" which is Grenada excites me. To be awaken by a caressing breeze, or to be energized by the beautiful BOLD SUN, and to drink some of the most refreshing, cold, CLEAN water, Barbados made me realize, I'm so thankful to be a Caribbean Woman! This inspired me to break out my college thesis, and to work on a Collection based on the topic (to be revealed very soon with sketches). I met some fabulous people, Tammy from Party Central Lime Promotions and artist, Nakazzi, (please check her out on www.nakazzi.com), they don't even know how they inspired me! I was a bit under the weather when I returned, however thanks to my mum and her healing hands, teas from her garden, and a great soup, I'm healed and ready to work on Aye' Shanti further! So, with that said, after my finals this week, I will reveal some amazing pieces inspired by my trip, some research, and adornments from my recent collection. I'm currently working on building the website and hopefully to have some creations in stores here in NYC and in the Caribbean!
Please check out the pics on my FB page: ayeshanti pieces!


"Enjoying some Sista time: Shanti, Shak, Tammerz, Nakazzi"



"Lana wearing Aye' Shanti Flower Earrings!"


"Aye'Shanti with Ki-Leah Cosmetic Designs..."




Events for this weekend:
I will definitely be there to not only have a booth, but to also PURCHASE! This sistren Mujaji is amazing, and I'm so glad that she and the REBEL FAMILY ARE BACK!
The Grand Re-opening of "Rebel"
Date: Sunday, December 13, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: 642 Nostrand Avenue