Soul of Somanya and other lovely things

I've been in hibernation stocking up on fun new beads and creating, but I have to share that I AM ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH THESE FREAKING KROBO BEADS!!!! 

What's even more lovely is that they are fair trade beads, and my purchase  pays for an artisan's living wage for about a week and a half of work. I've been to Ghana, not far from Somanya-Krobo and as beautiful the land is, the people are struggling. I love that I can help in some tiny way, while putting my hands on all this lusciousness. They are so beautiful I have to admit I'm a little intimidated. I made those earrings as a start, but I have a million different ideas on how to best showcase these little beauties. (in other news, I'm playing with sterling wire to make my own funky wires. More on that another day)

I'm also loving these peacock painted kukui nut beads. I can't decide if I'm feeling the whole feather earring trend, and I have a feeling by the time I make up my mind they will be soooooo last week anyways. But these are funky and fun. What shall I do with the rest?

Punky Reggae Party

Sia Jahta was born at a reggae festival. In the beat of the drums, the dancing, the pure nice vibes in the air, two friends decided to make beautiful things and come back next year as vendors to share the love. This August, we'll be vending at a festival in N. California that's still in the works. (More info to come soon, but Anthony B and Sister Carol will be there!) We'll also be campsite hustling at Reggae on the River in California and at the Conscious Culture Festival in Eastern Washington this summer. 

Can't. Freaking. Wait.  

So... here's a sneak preview of the reggae festival collection: 

One Love!! 

PSA: Doyerdangthang

Beauty.

Women all over the world chase it, going to extreme measures to get "it" and judging each other harshly along the way. I've learned a thing or two from little girls about what beauty really is. Because little girls know what's up.  

One of our preschool lady friends came over last night, rocking sassy style and the confidence most women fake. Polka dot tights, striped leg warmers with sequin Mary Janes, a super man shirt with a patchwork hemp skirt, with a giant flower clipped to her head. Eat your heart out Vanity Fair! 

In my opinion, the most beautiful women on earth are the ones who never outgrew the preschool fashion scene, and there's nothing uglier that the chick who's wearing all the trends, looking all kinds of uncomfortable and trying WAY to hard to be what someone else said was beautiful. So walk with your head high ladies! Wear what you love, play with fashion and do kart wheels like you just don't give a f*%$#! 

Life Imitates Art Far More Than Art Imitates Life

Oscar Wilde said it, and I believe it. It's a good thing, because I just made more sun and fun!

Sia Jahta is Officially Steezy!

I got our business license in the mail today along with our "doing business as" trade name registration. This means we are now free to vend, and not just out of a shady trench coat pocket! I've got glass pieces fresh out of the kiln to finish and a fresh batch cooking this week. In the mean time, check out Nenah's beautiful creations on her blog! She's the steeziest partner of Sia Jahta.

P.S... guess who owes business taxes?

A Little Madness In The Spring Is Wholesome Even For The King

Today was the first day of spring, and here in Seattle, we take things like this VERY seriously.

It was an overcast day with spots of glorious sun, and this kite at Alki Beach pretty much sums up the Northwest urgency to enjoy every drop of sunshine we can get. I saw kids with rain boots, ski jackets and sand buckets heading happily towards the crashing waves. 

With the same sense of urgency, I felt compelled today to turn my visions and dreams of Spring into something I could hold onto.  

Ahhhhhh..... Spring has sprung! Enjoy it my lovelies. 

(P.S. the quote is Emily Dickinson...)

We, I, and Hi

My best friend "Nenah" and I met when I was about 13. She had a giant rat for a pet, I wore combat boots with Garfield shoelace keepers. We were smarter than the grown ups and knew we could conquer anything at all we put our minds to. In the 7th grade we took home economics together. I made a rockin' guitar pillow, she made an old school beat box, "cuz I'm keepin' real, yo". Somewhere along the way she sewed my finger to a sewing machine plate, the first of many crafting related injuries.  

By freshman year my entire bedroom was one giant, artistic mixed media collage that we both added silly things to, and she made amazing clothes from scraps. We rocked vintage polyester and up-cycled backless tanks at hippie festivals, way before vintage polyester was cool.  


17 years later, at another festival, we perused the vending booths enviously with newly emptied wallets and big dreams. We decided by the end of our road trip to "get grown" with our crafting and do something about it. Since that day, designs float in my head like sugar plums, and beads coarse through my veins. Sia Jahta  is the fruits of that labor, and it's also a journey. 


This blog is about crafting and designing, but it's also about a journey of growing up, about defining what's beautiful to me, and exploring my roots and wings. What do you want to be when you grow up?  


Peace, love and hippie shit

Kellie