Bajan Scent

Free family fun trail

2011-10-04T20:25:00.000-07:00

Golden Destiny, the boutique publishing house that focuses on untold stories of Black history for children, has just released its second book, The Story of Early Ancient Egypt. Beginning 'Before the Pharaohs', it covers 18,000 years of amazing human history in an easy, readable style.
Join the book's author K.N. Chimbiri on Tuesday, October 25 at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology in London for a family fun trail. Hunt for all the objects, including the ancient Afro combs from 5,000 years ago, which are featured in The Story of Early Ancient Egypt.
It's free of charge and starts at 2 pm. Call 07980 631 077 or email info@golden-destiny.com to book.

Botanical Inspired Fine Art Prints

2011-08-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hibiscus Tea is just one in a series of fine art prints inspired by botanicals and aromatic plants, and now available through my main website. Bursting with hues of deep pink and fuschia, this beautiful illustration will bring a pop of colour to any room.
Each print was printed on high quality archival card, which ensures that the artwork will not fade in sunlight, and will last for generations to come!

Little-known ancient history can be empowering, uplifting for our children

2011-07-21T19:15:00.000-07:00

The archaeological sites of the Island of Meroe in the Sudan, and formerly the heartland of the powerful Kingdom of Kush, was recently awarded world heritage status by UNESCO.

In ancient times, there were two very rich civilizations located on the banks of the river Nile. One was ancient Egypt, but what was the other one?

A desire to show that Black people have made valuable contributions to the world and history, prompted Barbadian author Kandace Chimbiri to pen a children’s book.

“There is a sad lack of diversity in children’s books today,” Kandace said. I find that I struggle to find good-quality, accurate books about Black history for my god-children. Outside of slavery or the heroic civil rights personalities, there is very little available. I’d long been interested in early African history – i.e. before slavery and colonialism – and I wanted to impart that to the children.”

Along with helping children to see positive role models, Kandace wanted them to know the richness of their history.
“I wanted them to know that Black history is more than just slavery,” she said. I wanted them to realize that Black people do not enter world history as slaves, but in fact have a long history before that which includes kingdoms and empires and contributions to world history.”

After spending more than a year researching, in 2009 Kandace set up her own publishing house, Golden Destiny Ltd. to specialize in non-fiction books for children. She has always been drawn to the classical eras of African history.

“I feel that doing a book for children carries even more responsibility than a book for adults. I had to make sure that everything was correct. Scholars and knowledgeable readers will question facts, especially current beliefs. There is still a widespread perception that African societies only had writing from contact with the Arabs and Europeans. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.”

What Kandace eventually produced was an activity book called Step Back in Time to Ancient Kush.

“I wanted to create an activity book that would reveal the architecture, dress, arts, trade and religion of the ancient Kushites in a fun and interactive manner.”

Kandace admits that the book, while targeted to children ages seven and up, is designed to be used by the child and their parent, guardian or teacher.
“I often have adults of all ages buying the book for themselves. They say “I never learnt this history and I want it for myself!”, she revealed.

Jewellery belonging to Kushite Queen Amanishakheto (10-1 BC) can now be found in Germany. Photo: Copyright © Kunst Museum, Munich.

According to Kandace, Step Back in Time to Ancient Kush, which is available at several bookstores and museums, has garnered some positive feedback from parents and children.
“That makes me feel really happy – it was a big step doing a first project like this, I did not know how people would respond especially as, unfortunately, not many people know about this ancient civilization, she said.

(Taken from a recent interview with K.N. Chimbiri in The Sunday Sun newspaper.)

New UNESCO World Heritage Site

2011-07-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

In June, the capital of Barbados - historic Bridgetown - and its surrounding Garrison was rewarded World Heritage status by UNESCO.
The website of UNESCO's World Heritage Convention vividly describes the latest addition as:
"...an outstanding example of British colonial architecture consisting of a well-preserved old town built in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, which testifies to the spread of Great Britain's Atlantic colonial empire. The property also includes a nearby military garrison which consists of numerous historic buildings. With its serpentine urban lay-out, the property testifies to a different approach to colonial town-planning compared to the Spanish and Dutch colonial cities of the region which were built along a grid plan."

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1376/

In addition, the official Barbados World Heritage site offers an in-depth history on the settlement of Bridgetown:

http://www.bajanworldheritage.com/history

The committee team has also successfully implemented a number of activities including walk-throughs of the Bridgetown and Garrison areas.

The Scotland District area and the Industrial Heritage of Barbados are also being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status. The Government of Barbados is also preparing a proposal to have Harrison’s Cave included in Barbados’ tentative list of sites.

The beauty of biodiversity: Jamaica

2011-06-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

(Jamaican boa and iguana from greenantilles.com)

Throughout the years, Jamaica has managed to positively distinguish itself in a number of ways — including its rich biological diversity.
The island is rich in plants, animals, micro-organisms, their derivatives and their ecosystems. Jamaica is, in fact, ranked fifth in the world in terms of its endemic plants and biodiversity.
This biological diversity," according to information out of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), "is influenced by physical factors, such as topography, geology, terrain, and climate."

There is, too, a high level of endemism (being natural to or characteristic of a particular area) for many animal species.

(Jamaican hutia. Photo copyright NEPA.)

Species diversity, according to NEPA, takes into account all species present within various terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats and includes, among other things, birds, reptiles, mammals, fish, insects, crustaceans (such as shrimp, lobsters and krill), plants, and micro-organism.
Jamaica's terrestrial flora (land-based plants):
* 579 species of ferns, 67 or 12 per cent of which are endemic;
* 230 species of orchids, 60 or 26 per cent of which are endemic;
* 20 species of cacti, 10 or 50 per cent of which are endemic;
* 10 species of palms, seven or 70 per cent of which are endemic;
* 60 species of bromeliads, 22 or 37 per cent of which are endemic; and
* 200 species of grass, one or 0.5 per cent of which are endemic.
Jamaica's terrestrial fauna (land-based animals)
* 514 land snails, 505 or 98 per cent of which are endemic;
* 211 species of rotifers (also called wheel animals), 21 or 10 per cent of which are endemic;
* 133 species of butterflies, 20 or 15 per cent of which are endemic;
* 67 species of land birds, 30 or 45 per cent of which are endemic;
* 59 species of ants, six or 10 per cent of which are endemic;
* 43 species of reptiles, 33 or 77 per cent of which are endemic;
* 39 species of shore and sea birds, one or 2.6 per cent of which is endemic;
* 26 species of jumping spiders, 20 or 77 per cent of which are endemic;
* 21 species of bats, four or 20 per cent of which are endemic; and
* 48 species of fireflies, 45 or 93.8 per cent of which are endemic.

Taken from the Jamaica Observer. SOURCE: National Environment and Planning Agency.

"Silk Cotton tree must stay..."

2011-05-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

(Photo ©2011 Steve Smith)

THE SILK COTTON TREE in Warrens, St Michael, Barbados has found human friends amid rumours that the chainsaw might fall on it as soon as this weekend.

The tree was thrust into the limelight earlier this week, with reports that it was earmarked to be cut down to make way for a road widening project.

Yesterday, concerned citizens, Opposition Members of Parliament, and representatives from the Future Centre Trust as well as several Government ministries, gathered near One Accord Plaza to lobby for the life of the tree that has kept its neighbour’s, the almost 300-year-old baobab, company for at least two centuries.

They heard from a dendrologist (one who studies trees) that the silk cotton tree was a perfectly healthy specimen, and from a noted historian and professor that rumoured plans for its destruction carried a similar curse to that which was said to protect the Egyptian tomb of King Tutankhamun.

One woman, armed with a length of chain, threatened to chain herself to the tree to prevent its destruction, while MP for the area (St Michael North East), Mia Mottley and representative for St Thomas, Cynthia Forde, spoke on the need to save not only the tree, but the island’s environment as a whole.
Dendrologist in the Ministry of the Environment, Nigel Jones, said that contrary to information within the public domain, the silk cotton tree showed no signs of ill health.

“In my opinion, the tree is healthy. The leaves are not undersized, the canopy is not showing signs of heavy crown dieback (that is, the amount of branch tips in the crown that are dead) for a tree of that age, the stem is not necrotic and the base is still clad with its bark which shows some degree of its health,” he said, after examining the tree yesterday.

Some who took part in the save-the-silk-cotton-tree action gathered at the base of the focus of their attention yesterday. (Heather-Lynn Evanson)

“When I look at a tree like this, my opinion would be that the last thing to do would be to get rid of it.”

However, he stressed the tree’s removal could come down to a cost issue.

It was unlikely that it could be relocated and if it were relocated, the question was whether it would survive, he said. And planting a new one would not make up for losing this one, he added.

“The dilemma here is whether or not the adjustments that would be done to the road, whether or not that would compensate for the existence of the tree. The full decision would be made on a cost benefit analysis,” Jones said.

In the end, the towering tree was given a temporary reprieve after Minister of Transport John Boyce and Permanent Secretary Lionel Nurse met with members of the Future Centre Trust and Watson on site.

It was later agreed that the issue would be thrashed out at a town hall meeting which would be held to discuss how the tree could be incorporated into the project.

(Reprinted from The Daily Nation)

Khus Khus Perfume by Benjamin's

2011-04-09T00:22:00.000-07:00

Last year I started working on a vintage-style perfume featuring lemongrass extract and I hope to have it available in my Etsy store at the end of this month. It will be available both as a perfume oil, and alcohol version using locally distilled Barbados sugar.
I was doing some reasearch recently and came across an apothecary-type company from Jamaica called PA Benjamins™. I was pleased to find it, because there seems to be so little information available on Caribbean perfume houses or apothecaries, I guess mainly due to the fact that the majority of well-known perfume houses tend to be European or from the US.
Anyway, this company has been around for a very long time, since the 1870's, and they have a wide range of products from body sprays, flavourings, pharmaceuticals and condiments such as barbecue jerk sauce.
I was also able to track down one of their vintage perfumes, Khus Khus Perfume, either from the 1950's or 1960's. Online information is limited, but Khus Khus features vetiver grass and it's great to be able to add this to my collection of perfumes. I haven't smelt it yet, and won't be using it, I prefer to keep it more as a collector's item.

What does ancient Nile Valley history mean for children today?

2011-03-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

Children's author Kandace Chimbiri talks about what inspired her to form her publishing company Golden Destiny and to write the children's activity book Step Back in Time to Ancient Kush; and the importance and relevance of ancient Nile Valley history for children and adults alike today.

On the reading list...

2011-02-22T09:51:00.000-08:00

Can't believe it's been over two months since I last blogged! Apart from a bad case of the flu, Xmas was great and I've been quite busy ever since. There are a few new products in my Etsy store which I will write about soon. Also, I have finally managed to get back into some reading again. I have always loved to read, but sadly was finding less and less time to do so over the years. I've been reading books by some financial experts, as one of my New Year's Resolutions is to become more financially intelligent.

I have also been reading up on some books about the global history and culture behind some of the spices and aromatics that I love to use in cooking, perfume and soap making. Sometimes it's hard to believe that the beloved spices we commonly use today without a thought were rare and extravagant luxuries centuries ago, and have had a huge impact on the politics and economics of many countries today.

'Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History' by Sidney Mintz addresses how the role of sugar has been transformed throughout history - from a crop revered by the British aristocracy and inextricably linked to the transatlantic slave trade and European colonies in the Caribbean, to a cheap and accessible commodity which continues to define modern-day eating habits.

Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, nutmeg…… Michael Krondl's The Taste of Conquest: The Rise and Fall of the Three Great Cities of Spice gives a history of the spice trade, concentrating on Venice, Lisbon and Amsterdam - these three cities were each major centres for the spice trade at various times. Among other things, the spice trade influenced European political policy, global trade - the Dutch East India Company was formed as a result of the spice trade - medicinal and cultural eating habits.

And Secrets of Saffron - The Vagabond Life of the World's Most Seductive Spice by Pat Willard is an enchanting historical and cultural celebration of the world's most precious spice, complete with recipes, anecdotes and folklore.

As I study the books more thoroughly, hopefully I will be able to bring you some reviews on them all.

Sorrel

2010-12-17T12:05:00.000-08:00

Sorrel has always been an integral part of Caribbean food and culture, especially during the festive Christmas season. Made from the dried petals of the sorrel flower, sorrel makes a beautiful deep-red, delicious fruity-fragrant floral tea or infusion.

Sorrel is officially called the Roselle plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa), a species of hibiscus native to the Old World tropics. Thought to have originated in Africa, Ancient Egyptian legend has it that sorrel or roselle tea was the favorite beverage of the Pharaohs of the Nile Valley. It contains natural cooling and healing properties.
Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, it has been used as a health tonic for centuries.

It is said to help lower cholesterol and treat a variety of ailments from cough, gout, to high blood pressure, as well as act as a mild laxative.
Some parts of the sorrel plant are also rich in calcium, magnesium and beta-carotene. It is also caffeine-free. It has been suggested that drinking a cup of sorrel or roselle tea after meals can help reduce the absorption of dietary fats and carbohydrates, thanks to its natural enzyme inhibitors.
It is not recommended for those with low blood pressure or suffering from gastric ulcers.

Sorrel drink is drawn from the red petals of the Roselle plant, referred to as Sorrel in the Caribbean. It’s an annual plant and grows to a height of about two metres. The blossoms are picked and then dried to make the juice.

Mixed with sugar or honey to temper the tartness of the fruit, Sorrel is served cold with ice. It’s often mixed with rum during the holidays and prepared with spices and orange or lime peel. You can also try drinking it warm, like apple cider.

Recipe for traditional Sorrel Punch:
1 cup sorrel petals (dried)
1 litre boiling water

Orange or lime peel

1 tablespoon cloves
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon ground pimento

1 teaspoon cinnamon

25 g brown sugar

Dark rum (if desired)

Pour boiling water over sorrel in a glass jar or jug. Leave overnight or up to 24 hours. Strain off liquid, add sugar and rum (if desired) to taste. Chill and serve.

Orange Blossom Eau de Parfum

2010-12-16T12:02:00.000-08:00

Orange Blossom Eau de Parfum is a single floral perfume which, like Lime Tea, also contains natural Barbados sugar alcohol as the base.
Featuring a blend of neroli essential oil and other essential oils and fragrance oils, it's my attempt at paying homage to the delightful aroma of true orange blossoms.

Available in a 5 ml / 1/6 oz version from my Etsy store, along with the perfume oil.

New & Improved Moringa Rose

2010-11-26T13:30:00.000-08:00

Moringa Rose Facial Essence has gotten an upgrade! This aromatic facial elixir now includes even more skin-nourishing ingredients including organic rosehip extract, calendula and rosalina essential oil.

Still available in 10 ml size apothecary bottles through my Etsy store, a few drops of this fortified skin care oil will last a very long time!

Lime Tea Eau de Toilette

2010-11-09T12:49:00.000-08:00

A special eau de toilette version of Lime Tea perfume is now available in my Etsy store.
A light, slightly sweet and refreshing perfume oil, inspired by a 16th century formula, Lime Tea contains notes of lime peel balanced with lemon verbena, citrus and green herbs all hand-blended into a base of natural sugar alcohol obtained right here on the island.

I also added a little bit of lime leaf tincture from the lime tree in my garden.

In what is arguably the first-ever perfume made from Barbadian-distilled sugar alcohol, the sugar canes were cultivated pesticide-free and distilled using organic, traditional and time-honoured methods.

The sugar alcohol which I was fortunate enough to obtain is pure, un-aged and quite fragrant. The sweet aroma of the sugar canes marries beautifully with the individual notes of the perfume, magically uplifting, transforming and lending an understated sugar-y accord to the aromatic blend. So local Barbados sugar canes played a vital and intricate role in the formation of this unisex fragrance.

Lime Tea Eau de Toilette is not available to be shipped overseas at this time, but it can be purchased from my Etsy store to be shipped within the island.

Wild tobacco

2010-11-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Tobacco flowers

While visiting my grandmother a couple weeks ago, I discovered she had some wild tobacco growing in her back garden. My gran has quite a few things growing in her garden, and I’m not sure if she was even aware it was back there.

My aunt gave me a few of the tobacco seeds to plant and told me they are easy to grow, just give it lots of water. Which I’ve been doing diligently so far, so we’ll see how it goes.

This is what wild tobacco looks like:

There are more than fifty types of tobacco. Wild tobacco (nicotiana rustica) is not the same as nicotiana tabacum – the commercial variety which you sniff, smoke and chew.

Wild tobacco (Nicotiana rustica) is indigenous to the West Indies and to North America east and immediately west of the Mississippi River and Lower Eastern Canada.

First Nation People have long possessed a strong medical knowledge of the tobacco plant and treated it with great reverence and as a sacred plant. For thousands of years, their respect for the plant prevented them from becoming addicted to it. It was also used to treat a variety of ailments including asthma and fever.

Steffen Arctander describes the aroma of fresh tobacco flowers as “extremely delicate, yet rich and sweet, spicy-floral, somewhat reminiscent of carnation with a fresher note, almost fruity.”

Dried tobacco leaves

Tobacco absolute – solvent extracted from the cured and fermented leaves - is a rare and prized ingredient in natural perfumery. Used as a base note, it is said to add a complex and sophisticated note to perfumes. It blends especially well with florals. On her website, Mandy Aftel of Aftelier Perfumes describes it as: musky, "dirty" and slightly sweet with floral undertones.”

Lime, thyme and cocoa

2010-10-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

My tincturing experiments which I began a while back have been coming along quite nicely, so I thought I would post a few photos of the results here.

As you may recall, I had started tincturing the lime leaves and broadleaf thyme from my garden back in May, and then I tinctured some cocoa beans from Grenada in early August.

Grenadian cocoa

Broadleaf thyme

Lime leaf

I'm quite pleased with the results, especially as this was my first attempt at tincturing anything.
The cocoa tincture has the strongest smell - I am quite surprised at how strong it is - and it's aroma is also very sweet and caramel-like, along with the chocolate smell. When I first decided to tincture the cocoa, I had envisioned it to smell like rich dark chocolate, so the sweetness surprised me - but in a pleasant way.

The lime leaf and thyme are much lighter in their scent but also very pleasant too. I think I will give these two a bit longer to marry with the alcohol.

Ife: Portrait of a city

2010-10-04T10:40:00.000-07:00

The British Museum recently held an exhibition on the Kingdom of Ife. Ife (pronounced ‘ee-fay’) was one of the great city-states of West Africa, and was located in what is now south-western Nigeria. Ife first emerged around AD 800 as a commercial, political and spiritual centre with access to lucrative trade networks.

The London exhibition showcased rarely seen brass, copper, stone and terracotta sculptures from medieval West Africa – an extraordinary display of beautiful, long-forgotten art.

Ife’s artists made remarkable works of art in copper, brass, terracotta and stone. The refined and highly naturalistic sculptures they produced were of such exquisite beauty that Ife’s place in the history of world art was assured.

By the 1100’s Ife had developed as a powerful urban trading centre. Trade operated across local, regional and long distance routes.

Trade routes ran across the Sahara desert linking North Africa and the Mediterranean to West Africa. A wide range of commodities was imported into the region including glass and carnelian beads, copper and brass. These were exchanged for locally-made glass beads, ivory and forest products such as kola nuts.

The superb sculpted heads in the exhibition featured statues of sick people, monuments to warriors, royal heads whose intriguing vertical scars tell of the ceremonies of the court. This brass head with crown, possibly representing a queen of Ife, comes from Wunmonjie Compound, Ife, 1300s - early 1400s:

Here, curators set up a seated figure cast in almost pure copper, from the village of Tada on the river Niger, late 1200s - early 1300s:

Sculptors in Ife imitated the human face with extreme detail, accuracy and sensitivity - achieving in each sculpture - like this 14th - 15th century mask - a sense of harmony, balance and proportion:

This terracotta head (below), wearing an elaborate tiered headdress or crown, was discovered from the pavement site of Ita Yemoo, Ife, 1100's - 1400s.

As you can see, there is so much still to learn about the art of Ife and the amazing world that created it. Hopefully this exhibition will be a starting point. To behold these royal heads is to travel to a fabled realm far beyond our imagination.

A vintage love affair

2010-08-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

Since discovering Etsy, my love of antiques and history has increased ten-fold. Especially vintage apothecary, cosmetics and photography. I recently created this solid perfume, and decided to use a vintage locket as the container. The perfume itself is a single rose floral - in a blend of moringa oil, soya, olive and jasmine waxes. The vintage locket is made from gold-plated metal, with roses embossed on each side.

Here are a few more vintage and vintage-inspired delights that I have been fortunate enough to come across on Etsy:

This beautiful basket, made by Kisha Rawlinson of Sweetgreet, reflects the old and rare tradition of sweetgrass basket-making. It is considered one of the oldest artforms of African origin in the United States.
This unique skill remains in the hands of African descendants and continues to be passed down from one generation to the next. Kisha, who harvests many of the materials herself, and her family continue to be a part of this tradition.

This beautiful photo was taken in the late 1800's. No information seems to be available on the subject unfortunately; but her poise and beauty create an aura of mystery and leaves so much to the imagination.

A 1935 sheet of music featuring 'Summertime' from the musical Porgy and Bess.

Another rare and beautiful photo. This one is of a young Kansas family taken in 1890.

'Le Cirque' - a vintage corkscrew in the shape of a giant skeleton key, compliments Urban Heirlooms.

And an antique-styled silver filigree and carnelian flower necklace, compliments Beads In The Belfry.

Tincturing chocolate

2010-08-07T23:13:00.000-07:00

Took advantage of the extra long weekend that we had last week, and decided to try my hand at tincturing some cocoa beans. The aim of course was to see if that rich, dark chocolate aroma that most of us know and love so much could be captured, and I must say I am quite pleased with the results so far. The beans I used came from Grenada, and were ground together in the form of their traditional cocoa balls.

I cleaned the beans and then pounded them into a coarse powder using a mortar and pestle, soaked them in undenatured alcohol, and shook vigourously throughout the day.

When tincturing leaves and flowers it can sometimes take weeks or more before they start to release their scent into the alcohol. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that in this case the cocoa beans released their scent almost immediately. Here is a picture of the cocoa tincture as it is coming along so far:

It smells rich, sweet and chocolaty and blends very nicely with the aroma of the sugar alcohol. I will be diluting it a bit more as I go along - as you can see it kind of looks like milk chocolate right now. With the right opportunity I will be using this tincture in a perfume, as I have longed dreamed about creating a gourmand-type perfume based around the aroma of chocolate.

Tincturing can be quite addictive, and opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Sometimes the tincturing experiments are not too successful (like the ones I tried with lemongrass). But always it allows you to feel even more appreciative and sensually connected to the natural plant materials around us.

Frangipani First Bloom

2010-07-05T08:56:00.001-07:00

Frangipani First Bloom
Originally uploaded by BajanScent

The very first flower from my recently planted frangipani plant.

Legendary Argan Oil

2010-06-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

Here's another premium organic oil I am offering. I'll admit I wanted to keep this one all for myself! It really makes a great all-round beauty oil - rich in antioxidants and very lightweight on the skin, you can just feel it sinking right in. I love using it around the eye area especially. See my Etsy store for more details.

Aroma In The Arts: A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

2010-06-04T21:52:00.000-07:00

In A Lesson Before Dying Grant Wiggins, the novel's protagonist and narrator, returns to his small Louisiana hometown to take a job as teacher. While struggling with his decision to either stay or to leave for another state, Wiggins is persuaded by his aunt Miss Emma to gain access to a young man, Jefferson - wrongfully convicted of murder and sitting on death row - and to teach him to die with dignity.

Like much of Gaines' works, A Lesson Before Dying has a rich and eloquent sense of place, time (it's set in the late 1940's), and narrative. The below excerpt takes place between Wiggins, his girlfriend Vivian, and his aunt:

I poured water over the fresh coffee grounds and watched the container fill up, and when the level went down, I poured in more water. Now the aroma of the coffee had taken over from the ladies' powder, or maybe it was because I was closer to the coffeepot than I was to the table.

"Get some dishes out of that safe," I said to Vivian. "Cups and saucers, and four plates for cake."

She brought the four cups and saucers to the stove on a tray, and I poured hot water into one of the cups. Vivian rinsed out all the other cups and poured the water into the dishpan on the window shelf. She set the tray of cups on the shelf and went back to the safe and began to cut slices of cake and put them on plates. By the time she had finished, enough coffee had dripped and I was pouring it into the cups. Vivian put a fork on each plate and placed cake before the women. They said thanks, but they said it quietly. Vivian came back to the window for the coffee. Everyone said thanks again.
"Thank you ma'am," my aunt said politely.

(Copyright 1993 by Ernest J. Gaines.)

Organic Tea Oil

2010-05-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

I love collecting natural plant oils from different regions around the world, and this certified organic tea oil I am currently offering in my Etsy store. I hope to start offering a wider range of oils in my store soon.

Camellia sinensis is the sub-tropical tea plant from which green, black, white and oolong tea leaves are harvested. The tea plant, which grows naturally in the wild through much of Asia, is cultivated in a variety of settings from small family gardens to giant estates covering thousands of acres. Just like these popular teas, camellia oil also known as tea oil or white tea oil, has been proven to exhibit exceptional antioxidant activity. It has been used for centuries in the East for its rejuvenating and revitalizing properties.

The organic tea oil offered in my Etsy store is available in a 15 ml glass bottle.

Update: Since this post I got a bit greedy and decided to keep this lovely tea oil for myself! So it is no longer available in my store at the moment. But I do plan to get it back in stock again, hopefully in a few months.

Tincturing....

2010-05-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

I've been busy tincturing some herbs from my garden lately. Tincturing is when you take flowers, herbs, leaves, seeds and other plant materials and soak them in undenatured alcohol for a long period of time so that you can extract their scent. After storing them in a cool, dark place for a while you remove the leaves, etc. and the alcohol is left nicely scented and with all the therapeutic qualities from the plant material.

At the moment I am tincturing lemongrass leaves, broadleaf thyme and lime leaves from my garden. It will be another few weeks before I can tell how well they came out. I have been shaking them and changing the leaves every few days as instructed.

At first, I was not happy with the progress of the lemongrass tincture at all - to me it had a very "off" smell, although when I stuck a scent strip in it I could detect the nice smell of lemongrass coming through after the "off" smell wore off. Anya McCoy, president of the Natural Perfumers Guild, said this could possibly be because the alcohol is pulling out certain chemical components from the lemongrass first, so I'll be patient and see how it goes.

The thyme and the lime leaf seem to be coming along quite nicely though.

I also just planted some frangipani and I am looking forward to when they start to bear so that I can tincture their flowers.

Vintage recipes as suggested by Rufus

2010-04-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

Rufus Estes was one of the finest chefs of the early 1900's. Born into enslavement in 1857 in Tennessee, he went on to live an exceptional life during difficult times. After losing both of his brothers in the Civil War, he took odd jobs milking cows, gathering wood, and carrying the hot dinners for labourers who worked in the fields.

At age sixteen he got a job working at a restaurant in Nashville, and some years later entered the Pullman Service - a private car travellers agency.
For the next fourteen years Estes served some of the most prominent people in the world including presidents, business tycoons and entertainers. He published his first cookbook in 1911. Entitled: "Good Things To Eat As Suggested by Rufus - A Collection of Practical Recipes for Preparing Meats, Game, Fowl, Fish, Puddings, Pastries, Etc.", the volume took him ten years to write and contains recipes for soups, breads, pies, sauces, souffles, preserves, ice creams, beverages - many of them written in a short and charming style. This significant work represents the life of a stylish, talented and creative man.

Here are two of his recipes, for Spice Cake and Fig Layer Cake:

Spice Cake
For little spice cakes cream one-half cup of butter with one cup of sugar, add one beaten egg, one-half cup of sour milk, and one-half level teaspoon each of soda, baking powder and cinnamon, and a few gratings of nutmeg sifted with two and one-half cups of pastry flour. Stir in on-half cup each of chopped walnut meats and seeded and chopped raisins. Roll out thin and cut in shape or put small spoonfuls some distance apart on a buttered pan and press out with the end of a baking powder can until as thin as needed; do not add more flour. Bake slowly.

Fig Layer Cake
Cream one-quarter cup of butter with one cup of sugar, add one beaten egg, one cup of milk, two cups of flour sifted twice with four teaspoons of baking powder. Bake in layer tins.
For the filling chop one-half pound of figs fine, add one-half cup of sugar and one quarter cup of cold water. Cook in a double boiler until soft, let cool, and spread between the cakes.

Recipes taken from: 'Good Things To Eat As Suggested by Rufus - A Collection of Practical Recipes for Preparing Meats, Game, Fowl, Fish, Puddings, Pastries, Etc.' Copyright 1999, Howling At The Moon Press.

Leather and Lace: The antique-inspired accessories of Urban Heirlooms

2010-03-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

I recently had the chance to interview Dana Osborne-Biggs, a talented designer who lives in New Jersey, United States. Dana is the owner of Urban Heirlooms, where she designs and handcrafts leather bags, cuffs, key jewellery and other accessories. Using genuine, luxurious leather (she purchases entire leather hides to make her bags, cuffs and wallets), authentic skeleton keys, vintage crochet lace and other components in her handmade creations, Dana embraces and replicates the beauty of time-worn objects and elements of the past. But most importantly, her designs reflect the beauty of utilitarian objects. A true vintage connoisseur and collector, her creations also have an elegantly natural quality.

I love how you describe your online boutique:
"If this were a storefront, it would be on a sunny, tree-lined street behind plate glass windows, with a wooden swing in front trailing sweet honeysuckle vines. Ella Fitzgerald would be singing from the Cole Porter Songbook, and I'd offer you a glass of sweet tea."
When I wrote that passage I was daydreaming, as I do often, of southern summers where things move more slowly than they do here in the Northeast. You take time to stroll and amble so you have time to notice things like the heady scent of honeysuckle in full bloom, the peeling paint on window frames, dust motes in a beam of sunlight, and polished wood floors –just pretty things like that.

Would you say that your work is influenced by any particular time period or movement in history?
"I can’t say that I am influenced by any one particular time in history, but when I think of the vision I have for my shop and what I create, in the back of my mind you’ll find an old-fashioned manual cash register, packages wrapped in brown paper and twine, and clothing made from linen and cotton.

I’m imagining there’s a blacksmith down a dusty road and my skirts are long, sweeping tailored things, like Audra’s on that western, The Big Valley. I daydream a lot!"

Was there any special reason you chose to use leather as the primary medium in your designs? What do you love most about using leather?

Making leather my primary medium is something that really just evolved. In the beginning when I started making articles to sell, my intent was to work with vintage fabrics accented with just touches of vintage leather. I would buy vintage leather jackets and cut them up to use on purses, but after a while I began to feel that working that way created too much waste, and maybe that leather jacket was better left intact for some vintage clothing lover to enjoy for a few more years than for me to hack it up and fret over the scraps.

I came up with the idea of a simple leather wallet with an antique skeleton key as a closure; the first ones were made from vintage leather cut from jackets, but when the wallets became popular, it was difficult to locate vintage jackets with enough yardage that didn’t have seams and details running through them, so I started using new leather.
The wallets sold well and took on a life of their own and eventually became my signature item, so I learned how to purchase entire leather hides and fell in love with it. Good leather is heavenly to feel and smell, and it’s so beautiful, organic and versatile; you can use as much or as little detail as you want on your leather goods and if it’s excellent quality leather, it will most likely result in a gorgeous item.

What other materials besides leather do you like to work with?
I have shelves stacked with vintage crochet lace and intricate doilies, barkcloth, embroidered cottons and linens, and vintage damasks. Maybe I’m just a fabric hoarder, but I’m always swearing I’ll get back to them…as soon as I make this next leather bag…

The vintage skeleton keys you use impart an aura of mystery and hidden secrets to your work.
Do you find beauty and inspiration in the mysterious, darker elements of the past?
It’s more that I find beauty in utilitarian elements. I’m not one to go nosing around in a dark musty cobwebby basement by myself unless there are enough people at the top of the stairs to hear my screams and come rescue me! I guess you can call me "The Accidental Steampunk". I’ve heard many say that skeleton keys are dark and mysterious.

For me the mystery is wondering what doors and locks they opened—that’s why I prefer to use keys that have actual grooved bits instead of just blanks; I know they’ve most likely been used and that gets me—and my customers--to wondering. I know I have a piece of someone’s history. I love how practical tools were made with an eye for beauty and décor. What’s that saying? ““Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”. The keys I collect are all of that, from the simplest hand-forged keys to the most ornately carved ones.

Do you have any favourite books, movies, songs, other artists, destination spots, works of art, anything at all that inspires or informs your work?

I’m inspired by blues and vintage jazz music, Country Living magazine, my ever-growing collection of antique and vintage African-American photographs, antiques & collectibles, flea markets, and gazing at pictures of antique laces and sexy antique French keys.
Beautiful images that set my mind to wandering, the tools of my trade…these things light up my imagination, get my hands moving, and make me want to create something wonderful.
There’s a lovely song called “Bonfire” by Lamb. I love the following passage:

“…When walking just walk, when sitting just sit,

when being just be

Above all don’t stray from your chosen path

Burn like a good bonfire

In whatever you do

Burn like a good bonfire

And I know you’ll come through…”

Those lyrics inspire me to be who I am, my truest self. I’ve had moments where I’ve ventured away from my own aesthetic and tried to make what I thought would sell and better fit a certain venue. All I got for that was a box of abandoned supplies that look silly to me now, like, what in the world was I thinking? Now I respect my own niche, focus on what I find to be beautiful, what moves and excites me in design, and I believe those creations will find their perfect audience as a result.

What's the one tool or piece of equipment that you can’t do without?

Can’t live without my rotary cutter. It allows me to cut a fluid line or curve so you don’t see that stop-start messiness you sometimes get from using scissors, and it’s easier on the hands.

Is there anything you like to do to keep the creative juices flowing?
I like a pot of hot tea, plenty of light, and a talk radio show or a chatty DJ playing new music. That keeps me entertained in the wee hours when my husband and dog are asleep and I am too aware that I’m the only one awake.

What is the most important thing you would want people to know about your work?

That important thing would be that I value what I create and it comes from an honest place-- much more an artistic place than an economic one. I take great pride in crafting a well-made item and I aim to make that evident in every design and every detail. I want everything I make to be a conversation piece, something that will delight its owner for a very long time; hopefully long enough to be passed down for the next generation to enjoy.

(All photos © Urban Heirlooms)

Analysis of Roman grave reveals that York was a multicultural society

2010-03-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

One of the richest inhabitants of fourth century Roman York, buried in a stone sarcophagus with luxury imports including jewellery made of elephant ivory, a mirror and a blue glass perfume jar, was a woman of North African ancestry, a re-examination of her skeleton has shown.

Scientific research techniques have established that a lavish grave containing a woman’s skeleton, an ivory bangle, perfume bottle, mirror and jewellery, belonged to a North African member of York’s high society in the 4th century.

Scientific analysis of isotopes from the teeth revealed that water she drank during her childhood had contained minerals likely to have been found in North Africa. Skull measurements have also established that the “Ivory Bangle Lady” was black or of mixed race.

Her sarcophagus, which was made of stone, a sign of immense wealth in Roman Britain, was discovered in 1901 in Bootham, York. The city was then a legionary fortress and civilian settlement called Eboracum, founded by the Romans in AD71.

Her well-preserved remains showed that she was 1.5m (5ft 1in) and aged between 18 and 23. There were no signs of a violent death, and muscle markings showed that she had not lived a strenuous life, suggesting that she was affluent. Among the goods found in her grave was a bone with the inscription “Sor ave vivas in Deo” (Hail, sister, may you live in God), suggesting that she may also have been a Christian.

A bracelet of jet, probably from Whitby, North Yorkshire, showed that she had access to local trade networks. Researchers from the University of Reading’s department of archaeology believe that the ivory bangle, an artefact rarely found in Roman Britain, may have been kept by the woman as a memento of home.
Hella Eckardt, who carried out the study, said: “Multicultural Britain is not just a phenomenon of more modern times. Analysis of the ‘Ivory Bangle Lady’ and others like her, contradicts assumptions about the make-up of Roman-British populations as well as the view that African immigrants were of low status, male and likely to have been slaves.”

She said that “Ivory Bangle Lady” was very wealthy — “absolutely from the top end of York society”.

“The link between slavery and Africans is an early modern one. In the Roman world this simply was not the case. Slaves in Roman times could come from any area.”

She added that inscriptions from that period showed that African people were most often members of the imperialist power’s army. But the latest research on a series of skeletons showed that African men had immigrated to Britain, invariably with the Roman Army, and had brought their wives and children.

Dr Eckardt continued: “We’re looking at a population mix which is much closer to contemporary Britain than previous historians had suspected. In the case of York, the Roman population may have had more diverse origins than the city has now.

“This skull is particularly interesting, because the stone sarcophagus she was buried in, and the richness of the grave goods, means she was a very wealthy woman.”

The research, A Lady of York: Migration, Ethnicity and Identity in Roman Britain, is published in the March edition of the journal Antiquity. The “Ivory Bangle Lady” will be the centrepiece of an exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum in August entitled Roman York: Meet the People of the Empire.

This article was excerpted from The Times.

King Tutankhamun’s Treasures: Perfumes, alabaster vessels and wine for the afterlife

2010-02-17T12:17:00.000-08:00

Dr. Janice Kamrin, head of the Egyptian Museum Database Project, recently discussed some of the lifestyle objects found in Tutankhamun’s tomb by in 1922, and now housed in The Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Board games, and containers for perfumes, cosmetics and unguents, were amongst the objects displayed. These give us an insight into the lifestyles of the rich and famous ancient Egyptians.

Also shown were some of the many unguent and perfumer containers that would have been used by King Tutankhamun. Like many of the calcite vessels in King Tut's tomb, this container originally held some type of unguent, judging from the residue that still remained inside. The double golden containers rest on a silver platform around the border on which the hieroglyphs for "life" (ankh) and "dominion" (was) are incised.
The embossing on the sides of the boxes each depict the god Heh, kneeling on a basket and grasping the notched palm brand. Both in front of and behind his head are cartouches of the king, while directly over head his throne name, Nebkheperura ("Ra is the Lord of Manifestations"), is written without a cartouche, and the traditional beetle, meaning "manifestations" (or "images") is replaced by a winged beetle.

The ibex-shaped unguent container pictured below is a remarkable artefact, with one horn fashioned from real ibex horn, although the second horn is missing. Using real ibex horn would ensure that the content was effective in medicine, magic or both - as was usual in ancient Egypt:

A calcite cosmetic jar in the form of the god Bes is also on display. The container was perhaps intended for a new mother, as Bes was the protector of women in childbirth, and women and children in general.

Kamrin then shows us King Tut's stash of wine jars. The wine jars have their year written as a label on the outside, just as we do it today. The wine jars could be magically refilled in the afterlife.

With perfume, cosmetics, entertainment and plenty of food and drink available, the objects shown here help build up a picture of a rich and comfortable lifestyle for the ancient Egyptians - and a particular insight into the personality of King Tutankhamun.

Taken from: HeritageKey.com.

Source: Paula Veiga, author and Egyptologist.

BBC 4’s Lost Kingdoms of Africa: Nubia

2010-01-25T14:07:00.000-08:00

A review by K.N. Chimbiri

The BBC’s four-part Lost Kingdoms of Africa series with art historian Dr. Gus Casely-Hayford began on Tuesday, 5th January with an episode entitled 'Nubia'. The documentary followed Dr. Casely-Hayford’s personal journey of discovery; starting with the early rock art from 7,000 years ago, through to the first kingdom of Kush with its capital at Kerma down the millennia to meet one group of the modern Nuba people. Dr. Casely-Hayford showed us beautiful Kerma pottery from the past and revealed how the tradition has continued until today. He shared his enthusiasm for ancient Kerma before moving on to Jebel Barkal

and then to Meroё.

Surprisingly, there was only one mention of gold. This is particularly surprising since many scholars consider the origin of the word ‘Nubia’ is derived from the Egyptian word ‘nbw’ which means gold. It’s not conclusive, but the documentary did not mention this at all. Instead we were told that ‘there is a suggestion that Nubia might come from Nuba and Nuba means slave’!

Nothing much was said about the legendary reputation of the ancient Kushites as promised at the start of the documentary– in fact had I not known differently I might have felt that all the other ancient civilizations only said bad things about them all the time! Kushite contributions to Egypt other than as ‘tributes’ under colonisation weren’t covered here, so viewers might have been left with the impression that these two neighbouring kingdoms only fought each other and never actually helped each other in any way at all during their thousands of years of history.

The documentary showed beautiful scenery of the landscape, pyramids and ruins like the Deffufa at Kerma and Meroё. It was easy to follow and well presented. The Kushite achievements in pottery making, pyramid building and conquest were all described. And Dr. Casely-Hayford highlighted that Kush ruled ancient Egypt for a time and that the Kushites once achieved a huge empire. I really liked the way Dr. Casely-Hayford linked the past to the present for us through the pottery, iron smelting at modern Meroё and issues of climate change. He was engaging and I especially enjoyed the end when he even tried some of the Nuba wrestling!

Like ancient Egypt, Kush had an economy that was based on agriculture. If this were simply a travelogue it would have been satisfying enough to see the traditions in pottery, music, dancing, wrestling, cattle culture, iron-smelting and ruins which have survived until today. But this was advertised as a history programme and yet it failed to show an accurate picture of Kushite past achievements.

We were told to expect history "as impressive and extraordinary as anywhere else in the world"; but then we were not shown (or even told in passing) about the more complex cultural Kushite achievements, for example, the achievements in literacy, creating an alphabet, the trade in luxury goods, nor anything of the legendary gold working traditions. Nor did we hear of any of the Kushite contributions to Egypt or beyond.

Unfortunately, although it was well-shot and well-presented, Lost Kingdoms of Africa: Nubia did not live up to its own claims. Parents, guardians and teachers around the world often look to documentaries, particularly those by the BBC, as a source of up-to-date information to use at home or in the classroom for educational purposes. Lost Kingdoms of Africa: Nubia could have been a useful resource. However, since the lost aspects of this once great civilization were omitted in favour of present links through singing, dancing, wrestling, etc., educators will have to look elsewhere.

Kandace Chimbiri is a history writer who resides in London. She is especially interested in the classical eras of African history. Her website is http://www.golden-destiny.com/.

If you missed it, Lost Kingdoms of Africa: Nubia is available on BBC iPlayer until 8.59pm on Tuesday 2nd February 2010. Photos shown here are copyrighted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.)

Earthquake in Haiti and how you can help

2010-01-13T08:46:00.000-08:00

Taking a break today from the usual focus of my blog to bring attention to something much more important. Yesterday a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck Haiti. Reports are still coming in, but it appears as though the death toll will be in the thousands and many schools, hospitals and other buildings have been completely destroyed.

One can only imagine that on top of struggling with bone-crushing poverty, to then lose your loved ones, your house and shelter and to suffer devastating physical and emotional injuries must be more than the human spirit can bear.

Like everyone else, my first thoughts and instincts were: How can I help in an immediate, tangible and effective way? In times of crisis, immediate relief is needed. Besides the established large relief organizations, you should also consider donating to legitimate, on-the- ground, grassroots groups that did good work in Haiti before the earthquake, and will continue to do good work long after the mega charities have left for the next big disaster.

Below are some suggestions. No matter where you choose to donate, God willing, some help will be given. Please give freely.

AmeriCares because of their long-standing relationship with relief work in Haiti, their four star ranking from charity navigator, and their expertise/infrastructure in similar crises.

Partners In Health. Currently doing first response instead of their usual day-to-day health care: Donate to their Haiti earthquake fund.

Mercy Corps is sending a team of emergency responders to assess damage, and seek to fulfill immediate needs of quake survivors. The agency aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. Donate online, call 1-888-256-1900 or send checks to Mercy Corps Haiti Earthquake Fund; Dept NR; PO Box 2669; Portland, OR 97208.

•Direct Relief is committing up to $1 million in aid for the response and is coordinating with its other in-country partners and colleague organizations. Their partners in Haiti include Partners in Health, St. Damien Children’s Hospital, and the Visitation Hospital, which are particularly active in emergency response. Donate to Direct Relief online.

The Lambi Fund is a "second responder" group, meaning they will be there to help with long term assistance and rebuilding: http://www.lambifund.org/

Also Doctors without Borders. Click on their widget at the top of this blog.

As we donate and contribute to the relief effort, let's also remember that we need to be upfront about what has contributed to this catastrophe in Haiti in the first place. If you cannot feed your people how can you build an infrastructure to stand up to disasters like this? How can you have the medical equipment or doctors that are needed? The reason the effects of this earthquake are so bad to begin with is that we have systematically impoverished Haiti.

As Tanya Maria Golash-Boza of the University of Kansas notes:

"Thirty years ago Haiti was self-sufficient in terms of food production, particularly rice, one of the staples of Haitians. Unfortunately, over the past three decades, trade and aid agreements between the US and Haiti have created a situation where rice farmers can no longer make a living in Haiti. A prime example of this is when rice, grown by subsidized farmers internationally, is dumped on the Haitian market, pushing Haitian farmers out of production. Because of these and other IMF economic policies over the past three decades in Haiti, people from the countryside have been unable to make a living in rural areas, and have migrated to the capital.
Many of these urban migrants live in houses made of cinderblock or other substandard materials that are very susceptible to earthquake damage. The fact that so many people live in inadequate housing structures adds significantly to the destruction caused by the earthquake."

How about establishing fair trade agreements so that Haiti can export goods and raise their standard of living? How about erasing the debt? Unless there is a larger, long-term commitment this type of devastation is just going to keep happening.

Below are some more organizations through which you can contribute to the Haitian earthquake relief effort.

NB: Remember to properly research any organization that you plan to donate to, as scam artists will always try to profit from disasters like this one:

The American Red Cross is pledging an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by this earthquake. They expect to provide immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. They are accepting donations through their International Response Fund.
•UNICEF has issued a statement that “Children are always the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster, and UNICEF is there for them.” UNICEF requests donations for relief for children in Haiti via their Haiti Earthquake Fund. You can also call 1-800-4UNICEF.
•Donate through Wyclef Jean’s foundation, Yele Haiti. Text “Yele” to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill and given to relief projects through the organization.
•Operation USA is appealing for donations of funds from the public and corporate donations in bulk of health care materials, water purification supplies and food supplements which it will ship to the region from its base in the Port of Los Angeles. Donate online at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/www.opusa.org, by phone at1-800-678-7255 or, by check made out to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.
•Ben Stiller’s Stillerstrong campaign will be temporarily diverting all donations to support the Haiti relief effort.
•Oxfam is rushing in teams from around the region to respond to the situation to provide clean water, shelter, sanitation and help people recover. Donate to Oxfam America online.
•International Medical Corps is assembling a team of first responders and resources to provide lifesaving medical care and other emergency services to survivors of the earthquake. Donate online.

Larger than life statue of Pharaoh Taharqo found at Dangeil, Sudan

2010-01-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

Archaeologists have announced the discovery of a larger than life granite statue of Pharaoh Taharqo weighing more than a ton.
The discovery was actually made in 2008 but was only revealed last month by Canadian archaeologist Caroline M. Rocheleau on her blog.

The location of the discovery was Dangeil - a Kushite city which flourished 2,000 years ago. Dangeil was located about 350 kilometres north of what is today the Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum.

However, the statue is thought to date to a much earlier time in Kushite history so it raises questions about how ancient Dangeil really is.

To learn more about this exciting discovery you can subscribe to the free newsletter at: http://www.golden-destiny.com/

Mint Tea

2010-01-02T22:08:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
4 1/2 cups boiling water
1 tablespoon loose Chinese gunpowder green tea
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup packed fresh mint leaves

1. In a teapot, combine 1/2 cup of the boiling water and the tea. Swirl gently for a few seconds. Strain liquid, reserving the tea leaves. Place the tea leaves back into the pot and discard the water.

2. Add remaining 4 cups of boiling water to the teapot. Let steep two minutes. Add sugar and mint. Let steep two minutes more. To serve, strain into tea glasses or cups.
Serves 6.

Step Back in Time to Ancient Kush

2009-12-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

Today I’m pleased to announce that a brand new history-themed activity book for children is on the market! K.N. Chimbiri is a Barbadian children’s history writer who currently lives in London and she has just launched her own publishing house, Golden Destiny Ltd. and written her first book, Step Back in Time to Ancient Kush.

Step Back in Time to Ancient Kush introduces the fascinating kingdom of Kush to young readers via twenty fun-filled interactive pages.
Kush was one of mankind’s first civilizations. It was a great, classical civilization located in the Nile Valley, in what is now the Sudan. It produced many great works of art, architecture, a complex language and some of mankind’s earliest urban centers and religion.

This new book teaches children about this important, but little-known aspect of ancient, classical history through word finders, exercises, coloring-in pages and crossword puzzles.
The book is also website-linked which is great; if you go on the Golden Destiny website you can learn so much more about ancient Kush and what the Kushites left behind, as well as hear from the author herself.

In Barbados, Step Back in Time to Ancient Kush is available at Cloister's Bookstore, Days Bookstore and The Barbados Museum. Internationally it is available on amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, The British Museum, The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaelogy and through the official website Golden Destiny Ltd.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants their children to learn more about ancient Sudan or who wants to learn more about it themselves. Adults also can benefit tremendously from the information in this book. In fact, the author recommends that adults not just purchase the book and give it to their children to do by themselves, but that they read and complete all the book's activities with their children.

Happy Reading!

In the Red: Etsy Xmas Finds

2009-12-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

Above: Red Shoes With Bows - 8" x 10" Print by Linda Boucher.

Since red is the official colour of the holidays, I thought these beautiful handmade products, all by talented Etsians, might bring some cheer to you this season. All of the unique items listed here can be found in their Etsy stores and would make great gifts. Enjoy!
*All of the photos on display here are copyrighted to their respective owners.

Sterling Silver & Carnelian Scalloped Ring by Beads In The Belfry:

Sophisticated Lady in Red Dress - 7" x 10" Print by dntdynamite:

Deep Red Lidded Urn by Osceolapottery:

Passion Red Low-cut Knit Dress by Raghouse International:

Khepri Leather Cuff in Dark Red by Lunaversoul:

Red Velvet Cake Truffles by Vintage Confections:

Gourd Bowl with Driftwood by LouAnn Designs:

Lincey Leather Key Fob in Red Pepper with Escutcheon and Vintage Key by Urban Heirlooms:

Good Tidings Bouquet with Red Ranunculus, Anemones and Pine Branches by Melrose Fields:

Rum Pairing Dinner at Sandy Lane Hotel

2009-11-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

Finally back from my trip, and I'll bring you an update soon in future posts. Despite the obviously cold weather I managed to accomplish most of what I went there to do.
Back here in Barbados, I just discovered that Sandy Lane Hotel will tonight be hosting a Rum Pairing Dinner in honour of The Barbados Museum and Historical Society. I find this intriguing because I am definitely not a fan of rum at all. But I have never tasted rum paired with dishes, so I imagine it could be quite nice like this. Here is the menu:

First Course
Rum Cured Salmon Gravlax with Irish Soda Bread and Espresso Honey Mustard Sauce
Second Course
Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Allspice Braised Lamb Osso Bucco and English Peas
Main course
Black Pepper Roasted Beef Tenderloin, Rum Soaked Sultana Raisins, Shallot Confit and Grilled Asparagus.

Dessert will be Baba au Rhum with Tropical Fruits and Whipped Creme Fraiche.

A rum-infused meal certainly sounds like a unique and intriguing dining experience.

Away for a while....

2009-10-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to let everyone know I will be back in a few weeks. Taking a trip to London, and I hope to have lots to report on when I return in November. My Etsy shop will re-open when I return in November as well.

Beauty Nxgongo: The art of contemporary South African basket weaving

2009-09-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

Beauty Nxgongo is a South African basket weaver nationally known for her distinctive baskets with vibrant designs. Though strongly rooted in the weaving tradition of southern Africa, Nxgongo's work is created for art's sake and praised for its aesthetic excellence.
The work pictured above exemplifies her oeuvre, in which elegant structural forms are enhanced by complex and masterful graphic and chromatic designs. The toplike form of this basket tapers at the summit and the base, and is rounded at the sides. A woven graphic motif of undulating zigzags covers the entire surface. The various colors were all obtained from natural sources. For example, black or very dark fibers were produced by boiling the ilala palms with the indigo plant, while reddened sorghum leaves were used to produce fibers with a reddish brown color. Nxgongo's work is represented in all the major South African museums, including the South African National Gallery in Cape Town.

Traditionally, Zulu baskets were made for the storage of food and beer. The narrow opening and lid minimizes spillage as the tight weave of the basket made it virtually waterproof.
This lidded basket is an outstanding example of an important form of expression from South Africa's rural Kwazulu-Natal region. Grasses and grasslike plants are readily available natural resources in the Kwazulu-Natal region that the Zulu have incorporated into many domestic artifacts, including floor mats, spoon holders, and various kinds of baskets such as this example from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

Originally the exclusive domain of men, within Zulu culture the responsibility for making baskets shifted to women. In contemporary Zulu society, women weave the utilitarian baskets, while masters such as Beauty Nxgongo and Reuben Ndwandwe challenge and expand the tradition's boundaries and create art for art's sake.

(Adapted from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo copyright The Metropolitan Museum of Art - metmuseum.org)

Sanyu Perfume Oil - donation to Proteqt Children's Foundation

2009-09-11T08:26:00.000-07:00

ProtEQt Children’s Foundation is a local organization which provides educational sponsorships for vulnerable children - especially those orphaned by AIDS - in the Rakai District of south-western Uganda.
One hundred percent of the sales of my Sanyu Perfume Oil will go towards ProtEQt Children's Foundation.

Sanyu Perfume Oil is a refreshing and citrusy perfume oil with a sweet vanilla accord. The name Sanyu means 'happy' or 'joyful.' Just check out my Etsy store by clicking on the link to the right of this page for more information.

For more information about ProtEQT and the work that we do, check out our blog: http://proteqtchildrensfoundation.blogspot.com.

Etsy Front Pager!

2009-09-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

I was really surprised to see that my Nofret perfume made the front page of Etsy last week! With all the talented artists and craftspeople on there, it was indeed quite an honour to be chosen.

Making soap again!

2009-07-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

After a brief hiatus I have slowly begun making soaps again. Currently available in my Etsy store is Dalila - a pure, unscented soap with olive oil and cocoa butter. Also available once more is Bajan Honey & Oatmeal, scented with ginger and nutmeg. Soaps available in the upcoming weeks will be Lemongrass Butter, Honeybush, Mint Tea and more! All of my soaps are made to a luxurious recipe with over eighty percent olive oil for a rich, creamy lather and scented with only natural essential oils.

(Photo copyright Amanda Jones, Barbados. All Rights Reserved.)

Ancient cosmetics discovered in Magdala

2009-07-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

A team of Franciscan archaeologists digging in the biblical town of Magdala in what is now Israel say they have unearthed vials of perfume similar to those that may have been used by the woman said to have washed Jesus' feet.

The perfumed ointments were found intact at the bottom of a mud-filled swimming pool, alongside hair and make-up objects, the director of the dig conducted by the group Studium Biblicum Franciscanum told the Terrasanta.net religious website.

"If chemical analyses confirm it, these could be perfumes and creams similar to those that Mary Magdalene or the sinner cited in the Gospel used to anoint Christ's feet," Father Stefano de Luca, the lead archaeologist, told the website.

Mary Magdalene is cited in the New Testament as a steadfast disciple of Christ from whom seven demons were cast out. She is often considered the sinner who anointed Jesus' feet.

"The discovery of the ointments in Magdala at any rate is of great importance. Even if Mary Magdalene was not the woman who washed Christ's feet, we have in our hands 'cosmetic products' from Christ's time," De Luca said.

Magdala was the name of an ancient town near the shores of the Sea of Galilee in what is now northern Israel. A Palestinian Arab village stood near the site until the war at Israel's establishment in 1948, and an Israeli town called Migdal now occupies the area.

"It's very likely that the woman who anointed Christ's feet used these ointments, or products that were similar in composition and quality," De Luca said.

Studium Biblicum Franciscanum supports research in biblical studies but focuses on archaeological excavation of sites linked to the New Testament and early Christianity in the Middle East.

(Source: Reuters News)

Film & Cinema: Aissa Maiga

2009-06-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

Aissa Maiga is quickly building a name for herself as one of today's talented, up-and coming-actresses. She was born in 1975 to a Malian father and a Senegalo-Gambian mother, and spent her early childhood in Dakar, Senegal. She later moved to Paris with her mother and she is today becoming known as one of the biggest, and most respectable stars in the movie industry in France. Maiga has built a strong reputation for herself in films such as Bamako (executive-produced by Danny Glover) and Saraka Bo to name a few.

Finally, the rose

2009-06-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

At long last, Red Rose of Kush perfume oil is ready and available in my Etsy store! 1 ml samples of this and all my other scents will also soon be available in my store.
Inspired by the ancient Kingdom of Kush, Red Rose of Kush starts out with notes of organic grapefruit, flowers and linden blossom. This then gives way to the sensual floral heart of rose, along with a light touch of organic sweet fennel. Amber, along with a touch of vanilla bean and essential oil of myrrh - which was highly valued by the ancient Kushites for both its spiritual and aromatic qualities - form the base of the perfume oil.
‘Red Rose’ contains no alcohol, and comes in a base of pure, certified organic jojoba oil.

Antique Comb from the Luba people

2009-06-02T13:36:00.000-07:00

I was able to obtain this beautiful 19th century Afro comb from an antiques dealer in New Zealand. It was hand-carved in the 1800's by the Luba people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. As you can see, it's still in beautiful condition with wonderful hand carving.
The Kingdom of Luba was a pre-colonial Central African state, which arose in the marshy grasslands of the Upemba Depression in what is now southern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Luba are an ancient people, first appearing some time around around the 5th century AD.
The Luba people were highly respected artisans, especially noted for their intricate and highly skilled wood carvings. Also noteworthy are the ceremonial masks and symbols of kingship such as ceremonial canes, bracelets, and axes which they produced.

It's my hope one day to be able to showcase more items such as these, hopefully in a museum or gallery, in order to bring focus and awareness to the rich tradition of ancient African artisanship.

Floral edibles

2009-05-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Flower power was definitely in the air thanks to this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.
And it seems as though some of London’s top chefs have created a whole range of floral treats – from entire menus to afternoon teas and cocktails, no doubt inspired by the horticultural atmosphere of this annual event.
Florally inspired dishes are nothing new, but usually they involve fragrant bouquets on tables or culinary staples that have been cleverly re-invented with a floral twist.
This time, London’s restaurants have taken it to much more creative heights - from gently incorporating floral essences to serving up the real thing – petals, stamens and all.

The head chef of Roussillon has created a seven-course Flower Show Menu. At seventy pounds a head, you can feast on pink royale of rose petals with caramelized beet leaves and light prawn consommé, cannelloni of tender petals with sautéed lovage (an English herb), and honey-glazed sweetbread with queen of the field tempura - a Japanese-inspired dish utilizing garlic flowers for their concentrated flavour. To round things off? Chrysanthemum soufflé crescendo.

At Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, afternoon tea for two features violet-flavoured fairy cakes decorated with edibles, and scones with rose petal and strawberry jam. If you order champagne it will arrive at your table with a wild hibiscus flower in raspberry and rhubarb syrup nestling in its base.

The floral theme continues at Le Cercle, where head chef Thierry Beyris declares that edible flowers are “utterly delicious in the right hands” and very fashionable among certain culinary circles. His creations there consist of floral tapas, wild rocket sorbet with daisy, spring salad with violet dressing and sea bass tartare with peppery nasturtium.

At The Cinnamon Club Chef Vivek Singh’s five-course Garden Menu, running for the entire month of May, starts with rose petal-infused bellini aperitif, followed by essence of tomato with morels, marigold and edible gold leaf, stir-fried asparagus spears with banana flower, and is rounded off with jasmine and bergamot pana cotta.

And to celebrate the opening of their bar-restaurant The Botanist, brothers Tom and Ed Martin concocted some fragrant new cocktails. Rose Square - a pink rose petal vodka with lychees, rosebud syrup and champagne – and the Lavender Bloom which is made of gin, fresh lavender, honey and apple juice.

'From Plant to Bottle' - Perfume Garden wins gold at Chelsea Flower Show

2009-05-21T17:15:00.000-07:00

"Take eight grains of musk and put in rose-water eight spoonfuls, three spoonfuls of Damask-water, and a quarter of an ounce of sugar. Boil for five hours and strain it...."
This is the original recipe for a perfume created for Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century, and the inspiration for The Perfume Garden, which won the ‘Most Creative’ award at this year's Chelsea Flower Show in London. The garden was designed by architect Laurie Chetwood and landscape designer Patrick Collins.

In keeping with the historic theme, the garden included several rose types (Mme Hardy, Tuscany Superba and Gertrude Jekyll) iris, three varieties of geranium (Spessart, Ingwersens and Bevan’s Variety), silver posies, lilies, narcissus and violets. Fragrant plants such as French lavender, sage, thyme, fennel, and sweet flag, along with clipped Western red cedar and mugo pines, were also featured. Of the collection, Collins said, “The plants within it have been carefully selected for their scent, color and association with the perfume industry … In the 16th century global exploration and new trading links led to an influx of new and exciting species. Many of these can be seen in the Perfume Garden, including Thuja occidentalis, Hyacinthium orientalis, Geranium macorrhizum and Acorus calamus".

The concept for the garden first began in Grasse, south east France, where Elizabeth’s perfume was recreated with the help of Jean Patou, one of France’s oldest and best-known perfume houses.
Clipped conifers form the backbone of the garden, which sweep up and around a stainless steel shroud. This is the perfumery, where visitors can see the perfume distillation process and try samples of the Elizabeth I perfume, produced especially for the Chelsea Flower Show.
Every plant in the garden has a function in the creation of scent. Some are familiar, like Lavandula stoechas, but there are unexpected ingredients too, like the male fern, Dryopteris felix-mas, whose rhizomes yield an oil used in earthy, masculine fougère scents.
In addition, a modern interpretation of Queen Elizabeth’s original rosewater-infused perfume is to be created by Procter & Gamble’s Prestige Products.

The photos above show 1. A model in neo-Elizabethan Costume in the Perfume Garden at the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show in London (Photo courtesy Stuart Freedman).
2. The stainless steel perfumery at night and 3. The conifers surrounding the stainless steel perfumery of the Perfume Garden.

Caribbean blooms at Chelsea Flower Show

2009-05-20T12:15:00.000-07:00

(Photo of tropical garden at this year's Chelsea Flower Show by Phillip Banks).
The Chelsea Flower Show, or the Great Spring Show as it is also known, is held annually in May on the Royal Hospital Grounds in Chelsea, England. It is one of the biggest and maybe the most prestigious horticultural events in the world.
This year, the Barbados contingent won two Silvergilt awards - one in the Great Pavillion category and the other in the Flower Arranging category, with a combination of tropical flowers and foliage.
Grenada won a gold medal in the same Flower Arranging category with tropical floral of Grenada, while the Cayman islands contingent won a gold medal in the President's Most Creative Awards. Jamaica won a Silvergilt and Trinidad and Tobago was also awarded a Silvergilt Grenfell.
The origins of the Chelsea Flower Show go back to 1862 when the first Royal Horticultural Society Great Spring Show was held in Kensington. The event has been through a variety of homes and incarnations, eventually settling in the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea in 1913.

Island Story

2009-05-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

As part of Archives Awareness Month 2009 in Barbados, an exhibition entitled "We Island Story" was officially launched at the Barbados Archives Department yesterday.
This initiative by the Barbados Archives Department and the West Indian Federal Archives Centre highlights aspects of Barbadian village life which are taken for granted or have been forgotten.

"We Island Story" is intended to remind Barbados of "the good ole days" when the Barbadian village and community spirit were central to Barbadian life. The main themes to be re-visited include: "De village story", `de Chattel House Story", "de Cricket Story", "de Cooking story", "de Rum shop story", de Sugar Story", "de Railway Story", "de Vestry story", "de Church story" and "de West Indian Story."

Barbados’ Minister of Community Development and Culture, Steve Blackett, while commending the exhibit, remarked that it runs the gamut of Barbadian culture - from the church to the village rum shop.

Chief Archivist David Williams, told the Barbados Advocate, "What we want to do is to portray aspects of our heritage as illustrated by our records that we have in the archives and to let the country know that preservation of the island's heritage is important and that is our main task in the Archives."

"During national archives month, we want people to be more aware of our heritage, our written heritage which can be in book form or on micro film and today in the information age, it can be digitised... we want to sensitise people to this work. In addition to the preservation of the records, the acquisition and the ongoing preservation and repair of the documents is our primary focus, but research is very important, even though that is, to some extent, secondary to the job of preserving the documents."

Williams explained that while persons come to the Archives Department to research any aspect of Barbadian history, the intrinsic historical value of preserving these important documents must not be understated.

The department is working with the National Cultural Foundation and will participate in a Heritage Fair at Foursquare, St. Philip on May 16, at Balls, Christ Church on May 23 and at Farley Hill, St. Peter on May 30.

(The above photos show a traditional Barbadian chattel house at Tyrol Cot, and fishing boats at Holetown in St. James.)

Nofret

2009-05-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

At long last the final ingredients for the scents I have been working on have arrived. Besides the rose perfume which I talked about before, I will also be introducing Nofret - a green, earthy fragrance made with nearly all natural ingredients. I used some lavender absolute which has a deep, rich scent, so hopefully this will not be a typical lavender-smelling perfume. It also has notes of linden blossom and Haitian vetiver. Nofret is an ancient Kemetic name meaning "Beautiful Woman". I hope to have it listed in my Etsy shop in a few days. Thanks so much to all of you who have expressed an interest in my perfumes and have been waiting so patiently.

The Antique Purse Society

2009-05-12T11:38:00.000-07:00

I joined the Antique Purse Collectors Society (APCS) over the weekend. They are an organization dedicated to collecting, preserving and promoting the artform of handmade antique and vintage purses and clutches. I have a love for anything antique or vintage, and I am really looking forward to learning more about these treasures. I also hope one day to make my own purses and clutch bags, (when I can afford to invest in a sewing machine) so joining the society has been a real source of inspiration for me.
Some of the antique purses are truly exquisite. They really are works of art in their own right. The needlepoint ones which depict scenes of nature in particular - you can just see the hours and craftsmanship that must have gone into making them. The 19th century Figural Tapestry above is one such example. The one shown on the left is a cobalt and white beaded glass bag. Both are from APCS member www.pursemasterpieces.com, and these two photos are copyrighted to that website.

For more beautiful, hand-held treasures, visit www.antiquepursesociety.com.

Moroccan Red Clay

2009-04-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

This is some beautiful red clay from Morocco that I was lucky enough to acquire from a supplier - 4thAveSoapSupplies - on Etsy. I am not quite sure what I will make with it yet, most likely it will go into one of my soaps, it should give it an excellent colour. I think it would be lovely in a soap scented maybe with ginger or something spicy. I have a few ideas that I am playing around with so we shall see........
Moroccan red clay comes from deep below the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. It is a strong cleansing clay that will draw excess oils from the skin, stimulate circulation to the skin and act as a powerful astringent for oily skin and hair. It is also used in many spas around the world.

Roses & Spice

2009-04-03T11:58:00.000-07:00

I have been putting the finishing touches on my new rose perfume which was inspired by the magnificent kingdom of Kush. Kush was located in what is now Sudan. And after watching the just-released documentary on Kush, Nubian Spirit by Louis Buckley last weekend, I am even more eager and inspired to finalize the scent. Stay tuned for a post on this beautiful documentary here next week.
After a bit of a stressful delay in customs, the bottles and labels that I plan to use for the rose perfume have finally arrived, thank goodness.
I was planning to use white musk as the base for the scent; however I have found myself experimenting with some other notes. I really want the rose to stand out, but not to be a typical rose-scented perfume. I want to spice it up a bit. So I tried using sandalwood and myrrh in the base instead of the musk – it was nice, but not quite what I was striving for. I also tried a touch of aged patchouli. I liked it at first, but the dry-down was not to my liking. Then I thought about leaving the base alone completely and instead adding a little organic cinnamon to the heart. I have let this age for a few days and so far I like this result the best.

But for some reason I am never satisfied. I now have this overwhelming urge to try using some cardamon in the heart, along with the rose. I have read that cardamon blends very well with rose. The only trouble is I don’t have any on hand at all so I will have to order some and wait impatiently for it to arrive from overseas. I am going to order some black pepper along with the cardamon as well, just to see how that turns out.
In the meantime, until the cardamon arrives, I am going to try experimenting with some nutmeg and clove absolutes to see how that goes......

Haiti, The Pearl of the Antilles Media Project

2009-03-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

The Haiti Media Project starts this Friday and will continue through to the weekend. Featuring actual footage captured in Haiti, the project will be aired at the Pelican Craft Centre in Brigetown, Barbados and will also showcase a photo essay exhibition and performing arts. Tickets are $10 Bds, and the proceeds will go towards helping the children in Haiti.

Luxe Spices: Salt

2009-03-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

If you had lived during the 15th century, you might have used this beautiful receptacle to store and serve your grounded salt in, just like how we use regular salt and pepper shakers today. During this period, salt and pepper were costly commodities and elaborate receptacles such as this were appropriate for their storage in princely homes.
This salt cellar is from Sierra Leone and is an extraordinary example of the skilled workmanship of the Sapi people. The Sapi is the name given to the peoples that lived along the coastal area of Sierra Leone in West Africa during the 15th and 16th centuries.
This artifact, which can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, epitomizes the considerable artisan talent which could be found along the coast of West Africa during this period. Portuguese traders would commission works of this kind for their patrons, which ingeniously reflect African aesthetics and forms. Sometimes, the European patrons would furnish the African artists with woodcuts to be incorporated into some of the designs.
This particular salt cellar contains imagery relating to indigenous Sapi belief systems. The four snakes, associated with mystical wealth, appear to confront four growling dogs. According to regional traditions, dogs are considered spiritually astute animals able to see spirits and ghosts that are invisible to humans. This depiction of the dogs, with teeth bared, hair bristling, and ears laid back, may relate to that ability.

- In many cultures, salt plays a vital part in religious ritual, symbolizing purity;

- Salt is a mineral that almost everyone in the world consumes;

- Until relatively recently, salt bars were the standard currency of Ethiopia.

- The word “salary” comes from the Roman times, when soldiers were given an allowance to buy salt.
Photo from the Metropolitan Museum of Art metmusuem.org

Egyptian Queen's Perfume To Be Resurrected

2009-03-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

If ancient treasures and discoveries fascinate you like they do me, you will find this very interesting:
The favorite scent of powerful Egyptian "she king" Hatshepsut may be resurrected from the dried remains and residue found in a 3,500-year-old perfume bottle (pictured at top).
X-ray photographs of the 4.7-inch-tall (12-centimeter-tall) bottle, from the permanent collection of Bonn University's Egyptian Museum, reveals remnants of the ancient oil. Scientists plan to identify the substance and, possibly within a year, re-create the perfume.
The bottle, which was found in the queen's possessions after her death in 1457 B.C., is engraved with a hieroglyph of her name.
The thin neck "allows a very economical dosing of the valuable content," according to Michael Höveler-Müller, curator of Bonn University's Egyptian Museum. A small clay stopper would have kept the oil from spilling.

"In every case our research will touch new grounds and will maybe enable us to put our noses back into a time more than 3,500 years [ago]," Höveler-Müller said.

Queen Hatshepsut took the Egyptian throne in 1479 B.C. to keep her stepson, Thutmose III, from becoming pharaoh.

Though her mummy was found more than a century ago, archaeologists didn't identify it as the queen until 2007, by matching a tooth thought to be hers with an empty socket in the mummy's jaw.
Throughout her 20-year reign, the pharaoh wore both male and female clothing, but was always fond of perfume—a symbol of power in ancient Egypt.

Perfume was also considered valuable and was used on special occasions by members of the upper class and high society, Höveler-Müller said.
The exact type of perfume is still unknown, but Michael Höveler-Müller speculates it could be from flowers, fruits, aromatic woody plants, or incense.
The influential queen enjoyed perfume, even traveling to the ancient trading post of Punt, in modern-day Eritrea, to buy incense plants and other dazzling goods.

Upon her return, Hatshepsut cultivated the fragrant plants near her funerary temple.

These photos were taken from the National Geographic website.
The key to Hatshepsut's identity was discovered in the wooden box seen on the bottom left, originally unearthed in a separate tomb in 1881.
The box is inscribed with Hatshepsut's name and contains the mummified organs of the pharaoh queen.

Spicy Peanut Stew

2009-02-27T14:39:00.000-08:00

This is a recipe I came across for a standard stew with peanuts. It originates from West Africa, unfortunately I cannot say which country exactly but I am going to research this. Served with millet or rice, it has the traditional hot spices, beloved ground provisions and flavours that many of us of African and Caribbean descent know and appreciate so well.
You can tone down or increase the hotness by reducing or increasing the amount of cayenne as you see fit. If you cannot obtain all the vegetables fresh, use canned ones where possible. You can also use yams or eggplant (aubergine) instead of the sweet potatoes if you like. Enjoy!
2 large onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp. peanut oil
1 cup (4 oz, 110 g) shelled peanuts
2 large sweet potatoes, cut into small chunks
1 small cabbage, shredded
½ tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. grated root ginger
1 tbsp. fresh cilantro (coriander)
½ cup (4 fl oz, 120 ml) tomato juice
½ cup (4 fl oz, 120 ml) apple juice
3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
8 oz. (225 g) okra, chopped
4 tbsp. peanut butter
1 tsp. salt
Sauté the onions and garlic in the oil until soft. Add the peanuts, sweet potato and cabbage. Cover the pot and stew gently for about five minutes.
Add the cayenne, ginger, cilantro, juices and tomatoes, and simmer until the cabbage is cooked.
Add the okra. Stir in the peanut butter and salt. Cook for a further 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add more juice (or water) if the stew becomes too thick.
Makes six portions.

Etsy Finds: LouAnn Designs

2009-02-26T12:42:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright of LouAnns Designs.
I am now the proud owner of this beautiful fabric and wood ball necklace by LouAnn Designs. The fabric and ball necklace comprises of soft polyester fabric in yellows, browns, teals and rust that are wrapped around and knotted between wooden balls. Very unique.
LouAnn, whose work can be found on Etsy, also specializes in decorative gourds, wall art and ACEOs. See more of her designs at www.louannsdesigns.etsy.com

Treat Yourself

2009-02-23T12:50:00.000-08:00

Gift certificates are now available in my Etsy store. At a value of $25 US or for your chosen amount, the certificates can now be used towards any purchase in my Etsy store.

"Craving Vanilla"

2009-02-20T12:20:00.000-08:00

This multi-sensory tribute to the wonders of vanilla is taken from A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman. It really encapsulates how I feel about this beautiful, aromatic orchid.

I start the bathwater gushing, and unscrew the lid of a heavy glass jar of Paris’s Bain Crème, Scenteur Vanilla. A wallop of potent vanilla hits my nose as I reach into the lotion……and carry a handful to the faucet. Fragrant bubbles fill the tub. A large bar of vanilla bath soap, sitting in an antique porcelain dish, acts as an aromatic beacon.

When I finally emerge from the tub into which I climbed, I apply Ann Steeger’s vanilla body veil, then Jean Laporte’s Vanilla perfume.

I like the long, sensuous shape of the Madagascar vanilla bean, and its dark, rich, pliable coat.

I could prepare spicy vanilla bisque for dinner, followed by chicken in a vanilla glaze, salad with vanilla vinaigrette, vanilla ice cream…. followed by warm brandy flavored with chopped vanilla pod, and then, in a divine vanilla stupor, seep into bed and fall into a heavy, orchid-like sleep.

Walk through a kitchen where vanilla beans are basking in a loud conundrum of smell, and you’ll make some savoring murmur without realizing it. The truth about vanilla is that it’s as much as a smell as a taste. Saturate your nose with glistening, soulful vanilla, and you can taste it.

A Brief History of Vanilla

2009-02-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

Vanilla is a tropical climbing orchid, with a long green fleshy stem that sprouts roots that cling to trees parasitically. Its yellow or orange orchidaceous flowers grow in bunches, which bloom one flower each day, opening one by one during the two month season. Vanilla cannot grow naturally in temperate climates. In nature they are only pollinated by Mexican bees and hummingbirds that are capable of penetrating a tough membrane that separates the plant’s pistol and stamen. European entrepreneurs had transplanted vanilla to grow in other tropical locations but could not get them to produce the pods. In 1841, Edmond Albius (above left), a former slave on the French Island of Réunion, perfected a method to artificially fertilize the short-lived vanilla flower using a thin bamboo skewer to lift the membrane and use his thumb to smear the pollen. This gave great impetus to vanilla bean husbandry, and the method is still used today.

Albius’s manual pollination method is still used today, as nearly all vanilla is pollinated by hand. After Albius’s discovery, Réunion became for a time the world's largest supplier of vanilla. French colonists used Albius's technique in the East African nation of Madagascar to cultivate vanilla, and today Madagascar (mostly the fertile region of Sava) accounts for half of the global production of vanilla.

Unfortunately, Albius did not draw any benefit from an invention which made the fortune of the growers, and he died in poverty in 1880.

Next to saffron and cardamom, vanilla is the world’s most expensive spice.

And the winner is......

2009-02-16T12:36:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Tiggy at FuturePrim for winning the first-ever blog giveway at BajanScent!
I would also like to thank Carolyn G, Joan and Scentual so much for taking the time to participate as well.
I hope to have another giveway in the near future, I am thinking perhaps for Easter or maybe sooner.
Tiggy, your Lime Tea perfume oil will be shipped out to you right away!
Take care everyone!

Lime Tea Perfume Oil Giveaway

2009-02-13T06:41:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much to you all for taking part in the recent giveaway! I will announce the winner on Monday, February 16th. The names will be drawn from a bag so everyone has a fair chance.
Thanks again and have a great weekend!

It's My Birthday!!

2009-02-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

I'll be away for a few days, but will return to the blog on Friday. Be sure to keep posting your comments on the preceding post, for a chance to win a Lime Tea perfume oil.

Enter to Win: Lime Tea Perfume Oil

2009-02-05T05:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my first-ever blog giveaway! Up for grabs is one 5ml bottle of Lime Tea Perfume Oil - a light, energetic blend of of lime, citrus, green tea and jasmine, all captured in a skin-soothing base of jojoba oil. Lime Tea contains both essential oils and fragrance oils.

Instructions:
Just visit my Etsy shop AmandaJones.etsy.com and then return to my blog and let me know in the comments section what your favorite item in my store was. Remember to leave an e-mail address with your comment so that I can contact you if you are the lucky winner.
If you make a purchase from my Etsy shop before the contest is over, comment here once again and I will add four additional entries under your name for the giveaway.

The giveaway begins as soon as this is posted on February 5,2009 and will end at 9am Eastern Standard Time on Friday, February 13, 2009.

Good luck to everyone!

Golden Treasures: Kushite Ram's Head Amulet

2009-01-30T13:59:00.001-08:00

This is just one reason why it is important to preserve the ancient heritage and culture of the ancient kingdom of Kush, and to teach it to our children. This beautiful amulet, currently owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was probably made for a necklace worn by one of the Kushite kings. Representations show these pharaohs wearing a ram's-head amulet tied around the neck on a thick cord, the ends of which fall forward over the shoulders. Sometimes a smaller ram's head is attached to each end. Rams were associated with the god Amun, particularly in Kush where he was especially revered. The Kushites were superb goldsmiths, as demonstrated by the amazing workmanship of this amulet.
Photo taken from Metropolitan Museum of Art. (www.metmuseum.org)

Etsy Finds: Adega Creations

2009-01-28T12:37:00.000-08:00

One of my absolute favourite stores on Etsy is Adega Creations. They specialize in authentic African artwork, crafts, clothing, batiks, home accessories and jewellery. The store was created by Margaret Ogembo, a nurse, and one of seven sisters from the Lua tribe of Kenya. All items are handmade in Kenya, and profits from the business go towards supporting Margaret's health clinic in western Kenya.
Right now I'm coveting one of their handwoven sisal and suede leather purses, as well as a set of individually hand carved soap stone coasters (pictured above).
They also have these beautiful hand carved ebony wood bookends (top left). The ones pictured are rhinos, but they also have them in elephants, giraffes, panthers and lions.
Pictured at the top right is one of their banana leaf paintings. Banana leaf artwork has been constant in African art for centuries. It's a very time-consuming process and is very hard to accomplish without flaws. The banana leaves are sometimes dyed to create a more dimensional or realistic effect. When the artwork is finished it becomes a gorgeous focal point that has become extremely popular in the last few years.
You can find more of their handmade treasures at www.adegacreations.etsy.com

New Rose Perfume

2009-01-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

Red Rose of Kush is a new perfume I am finishing up, and hope to have available in late March. It was inspired by the ancient kingdom of Kush, which was located towards the south of Egypt and the south and centre of Sudan. There is so much beauty, mystery and forgotten knowledge to be found in this ancient civilization. Red Rose of Kush will contain notes of citrus, lime blossom, rose and white musk.(Photo copyright Amanda Jones, Barbados.)

Green Remedies

2009-01-22T13:31:00.000-08:00

I’ve been trying to track down a copy of Dina Veeris’ Green Remedies and Golden Customs of our Ancestors for a little while now. Veeris, a botanical healer from Curacao, is an expert on the ancient medicinal plant treatments that were first introduced into the Caribbean and practiced by African slaves. She regards these herbal remedies as telling “…the story of our culture." Her mission is to elevate the knowledge of herbal remedies: "I want people to know and understand that the knowledge of our slave elders was not stupid — they knew a lot."
“African slaves had few doctors, but they brought with them the memory of herbal traditions, and in some cases seeds, with which to carry out their healing work. They recognized some of the trees and plants and also began to learn about the plants here.”

Like much valuable information, the book is proving difficult to track down – but I’m determined. I would love to have this rare book in my collection.

Bajan Honey & Oatmeal Soap

2009-01-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

This is one of my latest soap creations. Made with rare Barbados honey and certified organic oatmeal with a touch of nutmeg and ginger to spice it up a little.
Like all my soaps it is scented and coloured with natural essential oils and botanicals and contains no artificial ingredients.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18782622

New Perfume - Sanyu

2009-01-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

Sanyu is the name of my latest perfume oil. Pronounced sa-niyu, the name originates from the Baganda of Uganda and translates to 'joy or happiness'.

Sanyu is a clean, delicate scent. I also tried to make it lively and uplifting to the spirit in keeping with its name. It has a light floral heart with a slight touch of jasmine and is enhanced by sparkling organic grapefruit, may chang and citrus top notes.

Like all my perfumes, Sanyu contains no alcohol and comes in a base of fractionated coconut oil.
To celebrate the new year, I am offering free shipping in my Etsy store for Sanyu Perfume Oil.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18666672

Brown Sugar Restaurant

2008-11-10T13:11:00.000-08:00

My sister recently came home to celebrate her birthday, and one evening she treated family and friends to an amazing dinner at Brown Sugar Restaurant in Bay Street, St. Michael. Brown Sugar has long been a favourite place to dine on the island, especially for Bajans. Besides the food, the ambience there is stunning - with flora and greenery everywhere, it's like dining in an enchanted tropical forest!
The menu included crispy chicken tenders in a sweet pepper jelly, kingfish with spices and pineapple sauce, and Black Belly lamb with stewed fruit chutney. On hand throughtout the night was their unique and very popular tropical fruit punch. Dessert included white chocolate cheesecake with mango coulis.
If you are ever visiting the island you must eat there at least once. They also serve a daily lunch buffet that you will never forget!
The above photo showing the interior of Brown Sugar Restaurant is from the Brown Sugar website.
Be sure to check them out at http://www.brownsugarbarbados.com.

Natural Perfume Essences

2008-11-03T19:43:00.000-08:00

These are some the natural plant essences and absolutes from my collection that I love to play around with. From front to back: Clove absolute, coffee absolute, nutmeg absolute and labdanum.

1941 Vintage Perfume Book Find

2008-11-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

I was delighted to discover this lovely vintage book in my home while tidying up. I think it might have belonged to one of my grandparents or one of my aunts. I had completely forgotten it was on the shelf.

The full title is 'Perfumes, Cosmetics and Soaps with Special Reference to Synthetics by William A. Poucher - Volume One Being A Dictionary of Raw Materials Together With An Account of the Nomenclature of Synthetics'.

It was originally printed in 1923, and this is the 1941 Fifth Edition. I think there might be a Volume II as well.

Scarab Beetles

2008-10-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you just find yourself drawn to things that seem somewhat dark and scary.

Lately, I’ve had quite a fascination with ancient scarab beetles. Also known as the Khepher or dung beetle, they really are quite harmless creatures.

Many amulets and artefacts were created in ancient Egypt to depict the Scarab beetle. When the dung beetle was seen pushing oversized spheres of food balls along the ground towards its burrow, Egyptians equated this with the sun’s daily cycle across the sky. They believed that a giant scarab moved the sun from east to west each day. Thus the beetle, with its ray-like antennae, also became a potent symbol of rebirth.
The beetle’s life cycle – a newly hatched beetle would emerge seemingly fully developed from a dung ball buried underground – also led it to be associated with self-creation; ‘Khephera’ - the scarab beetle god – translates into “to come into being.”

(The pendant shown here is based on an original scarab (Dynasty 18, about 1473–1458 B.C.) that was found in the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in the area of Deir el-Bahari in Thebes and it bears her cartouche on the reverse. From The Metropolitan Museum of Art. www.metmuseum.org).

'Things Fall Apart'

2008-09-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the modern classic "Things Fall Apart", by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Achebe is one of the finest novelists writing in the English language today and is regarded by many to be the father of modern African literature.

The first book I ever read by Professor Achebe was when I was eleven. It was 'Chike and the River', a beautiful children's book that he wrote because he and his wife were concerned about the distorted views of African life that were being taught at his children's school in Lagos.

He has embraced the idea that our ancestors "created their myths and told their stories for a human purpose." For this reason, he believes that "any good story, any good novel, should have a message, should have a purpose."

Things Fall Apart, Achebe's first novel, was published in 1958 in the midst of the Nigerian renaissance. So many complex themes abound in this epic work, but it largely tells the story of an Ibo village of the late 1800's and one of its great men, Okonkwo, who has achieved much in his life.

The order is disrupted, however, with the appearance of colonialism in Africa. This brings about a series of crushing blows levelled at traditional values by an alien and more powerful culture causing, in the end, the traditional society to "fall apart".

To celebrate the anniversary of Things Fall Apart, and Achebe's contribution to modern literature, there was a re-issuing of his epic work, international reviews, tributes, critical insights and theatrical and cultural performances held in his honour all over the world.

Some of Professor Achebe's other works include: No Longer At Ease, A Man of the People, Girls at War, and Chike and the River.

Lime Tea

2008-09-05T14:46:00.001-07:00

Lime Tea Perfume Oil was partly inspired by the fresh scent and taste of limes we use in our household for cooking, seasoning and cold drinks. It's a light, fruity-floral fragrance enhanced with notes of green and black tea, lindenblossom and just a touch of cedarwood.

2008-09-04T06:53:00.000-07:00

….small pale flowers too fragile to resist the wind. They fell in a day, and looked like snow on the rough grass – snow with a faint sweet scent. Then they were blown away.

‘Is that poem true? Have all beautiful things sad destinies?’

- From Wide Sargasso Sea, Copyright Jean Rhys, 1966.

Featured Botanical: Honeybush

2008-09-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

Honeybush from the Cape of South Africa is one of my latest plant obsessions. I still love my green tea, but prefer to drink only three or so cups during the week now, and always before

6 pm. Honeybush tea is my preferred choice throughout the day at the moment and definitely right before bedtime.

It is a fragrant shrub with a slightly fruity-floral, smooth and mild taste. It contains virtually no tannin or caffeine - so you don't get that bitter taste that usually occurs with the green and black teas. It's said to be rich in Vitamin C, potassium and magnesium. And not surprisingly - some antioxidants. It's also reputed to help with hormonal and pre-menopausal imbalances.

Sounds good to me!

The photo above shows a simple herbal infusion that I made with organic honeybush leaves and lemongrass. Just boil one part honeybush with one part lemongrass. You can drink it straight up (no milk or sugar), but if you use a little honey that will enhance the overall flavour of the tea.

I haven't tried a cold honeybush infusion yet, but it's supposed to taste delicious as an iced tea or combined with fruit juices.

Moringa Rose

2008-08-31T15:51:00.001-07:00

I've just finished creating a natural facial serum. I used cold-processed moringa oil, olive squalene and rose essential oil. Moringa is a beautiful oil from Southern Africa. Its properties are quite similar to olive oil, except it is much lighter in texture, and has almost no odour.

The rose oil I sourced for this serum was gently extracted via the carbon dioxide process - no chemicals or solvents were used at all.

I love facial serums - they are lighter and feel much better on the skin at night than regular cream moisturizers. Let me know your thoughts on facial serums, if you use them.

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King Tutankhamum at the O2

2008-08-29T15:34:00.001-07:00

My sister recently went to the Tutankhamum (or Tutankhamun) exhibition at the O2, in North Greenwich, London, England. All the pieces were in glass display cases and the feel was sort of like an art gallery. Audio guides were available, but my sister preferred to view the displays without them, and thus be able to form her own ideas and thoughts on what she was seeing.

Her three favourite pieces were the Canopic Jar of Queen Kiya, the Funerary Figurine of Resi and the Chair of Princess Sitamun.

All three were just beautiful objects to look at.

There were also cup-like objects made of calcite and decorated with gold.

However, what struck my sister during the exhibition was how easy it is for our children never to learn or fully understand that Ancient Egypt had anything to do with people like us. How certain things are displayed and highlighted can really give one a certain impression and not another.
For example, the chair of Princess Sitamun – you would miss the Princess’s features unless you were really checking for them mainly because the Princess’s portraits were so small and delicately portrayed on the chair.

The exhibition runs until August 30th and is highly recommended for children who are interested in Egypt.

(Photo of canopic jar copyright Metropolitan Museum of Art - www.metmuseum.org).