September in NY Pt.2 Carnival!! West Indian Caribbean Day Parade

Happy Labor Day! I usually attend the West Indian Day Parade that is held every year on Labor Day in Brooklyn, New York. I wasn't able to make it but I wanted to share this video with you. Yes, yes I know there is alot of booty shakin but I have been to Mardi Gras parade and um..well this is tame compared to that lol!



Video by Lupital Photography

Enjoy the colors, pagentry and music of the event. Thanks for visiting.

Balance - Family Time

I was sitting at home with two slightly swollen feet and a bp reading of 145/90 feeling miserable. I wanted to go out so badly but I was too tired to take the baby for an outing. Then my son's father called: " What are you doing today? He says. "Feeling sorry for myself LOL!" I replied.

"Oh yeah, he chuckled, we just have to see about that, I'm coming over."

Two hours later, I found myself in Coney Island, Brooklyn taping the same ride I experienced as a child for the first time many years ago, the Saturn 6. Just looking at it again made my stomach turn just as it did as a child;-P I had forgotten how much fun this place is for the young and old. I've been so busy working it's hard to schedule in family time. But I do and enjoy every moment if nothing else for the sake of sanity.

It was a perfect 75 degrees, with a few gusts of wind at 20 miles per hour.

The water was so calm you would never think we just an Catagory 2 Hurricane blow past here just the night before.

Though we are separated, I have noticed my son's father has become increasingly active in our lives, esp my son's. I just wish the support was here 3yrs ago when I needed it the most. But I'll take what I can get;-)

I love this little shell;-)

And yesterday was the Wonder Wheels' 90th Anniversary

It was a beautiful day;-) Thanks for visiting

Balance : Supporting Sweatshop Socials

Sweatshop Socials are amazing free events presented by BagsforthePeople.org that teaches participants how to use a sewing machine and how to construct a reusable bag made from repurposed materials.

"The goal of Sweatshop Socials is to have at least 1000 New York City residents make their own reusable bags as well as donate to a local Greenmarket over one calendar year. If the goal is met, this will greatly help reduce the carbon footprint of plastic bags usage and waste in NYC, salvage wasted scrap fabric from local landfills, and help continue the timeless, energy efficient skill of sewing".


Next Saturday, I plan to attend the May 22nd Sweatshop Social at 3rdWard. But in the meantime I posted this widget on my blog to remind me to donate to the June Sweatshop event. each Sweatshop Social Project is funded by public support and hosted by Kickstarter.com You can donate yourself or go to http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/892860272/sweatshop-social-make-plastic-bags-a-thing-of-the-0 to learn more about them and cut and past the widget onto you website or blog to spread the word about this is great group of eco crafty folk!

The Balance: It makes me feel good be a proactive part of helping the environment by crafting something for others and supporting organizations that do the same as a collective.I will blog about this event again next week. If you are in NYC, maybe you could stop by , make a bag or two and party on! ;-)

Thanks for visiting

Ashanti

Bag Making Night at EtsyLabs

Hey family Elcome to Brooklyn - LOL I typed that on purpose;-) I didn't notice I cut off the W in this photo till it was too late. But this is one on the cool Wecome signs you see when you enter downtown Brooklyn just off the Brooklyn Bridge. I took a pic of this one on my way to EtsyLabs Monday Craft Night November 16th.

Hey, who needs building  numbers when you can have a super bright neon sign located right in your building's lobby LOL! This is the first thing yuo can when you reach the address when EtsyLabs is located;-)

Here we are on the fifth floor where Etsy is located;-) My camera battery was dying so I had to limit my pics..so not happy about that;- alot of the pics came out fuzzy and out of focus- these are the best ones I had till I can get he others ones fixed up;-(

Me ironing my bags" wrinkles out the following day post crafting.

Sewn in "Bags for the People " tag that Glen Robinson provided

Glen Robinson and I taking a quick photo together with my large drawstring bag made from repurposed fabric, Glen is an awesome teacher.

Tthis post doest do the Organization justic so I have included some links to learn more about them :

Log onto the website for the latest event pictures, news and information:

http://www.bagsforthepeople.org/

Check out the upcoming events calendar below:

http://www.bagsforthepeople.org/events.htm

***Upcoming Event***

If you are in NYC, come out to Bags For The People's Sweatshop Social -- Monday Nov 30, 7pm – 10pm: Sweatshop Social @ 3rd Ward( www.3rdward.com );195 Morgan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237

You bring the fun and the fabric; they'll provide the sewing machines, instruction, Beer by Brooklyn Brews( http://brooklynbrews.blogspot.com/ ), food from Nha Toi( http://newyork.timeout.com/restaurants/williamsburg/36016/nha-toi ) and live music curated by Pendu Org Arts & Actions( http://www.pendu.org/ )
 
Also, you can show your support for Bags for the People with a tax-deductable donation that will not only help us continue, but expand our FREE programming. You can view more info at the link below:  http://www.bagsforthepeople.org/donate.htm


You can also see more EtsyLab Photos on their Flickr Pages

Etsy Labs Photostream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/etsylabs/


Etsy Labs Show & Tell Flickr group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/etsylabsshowandtell/

Etsy Labs Meetup group:

http://www.meetup.com/etsylabs/

EtsyLabs Profile Page
http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=8314911


Thanks for visiting!

Be Crafty,

Ny