It’s that ugly time of year when the weather is nasty and the government wants their money (ack). While waiting for my info to load, I decided to snap a few [very blurry] pictures of me today. 

For me the high bun, red lip and dramatic earring combo is the easy go to for casual chicness. Add skinny jeans and loafers and you’re the most fashionable lady in the tax office, or where ever. 

The earrings are a prototype. I made them to go with these (oh, so cute) boots I bought that didn’t go with anything I had. Why I always do that, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I know I can make jewelry to go with it..?

Anyhow, what do you guys think? Would you rock these earrings? How? 

fuckyeablackart:

Chocolate Beauty by ~Miyukua

I love big earrings and big hair. Her earrings remind me of the Taesha earrings

(Source: fuckyeablackart)

I might have the most beautiful customers ever. The gorgeous @kissiMee on Twitter sent me this photo of her wearing some of the bracelets she got at www.absynia.com. She is a model and I’m very flattered she wanted to wear my bracelets in her head shots.

The very first Nzinga necklace on a very happy customer. One of my FAVORITE customer photos to date. 

Btw, if you’ve purchased an Absynia piece and want to show off (because we both know you look stunning) you can always email me at info@absynia.com or post it right to the Facebook page I upload it to the site and share to my social networks.

The Africana collection up close

Africana- n. (used with a pl. verb) Materials, such as books, documents, or art objects, relating to the history or culture of African peoples. (www.thefreedictionary.com)

I created this collection based on descriptions I’d read about African jewelry, before the introduction of European glass beads. I loved the idea of women and men in ropes and ropes of wood beads and made my own interpretation. My favorite without a doubt it is the Nzinga necklace series. Each one is unique but they all add a look of complete…regality. That isn’t a word. I had to make it up because that’s how serious this necklace is- it  NEEDS it’s own word. 

I talked about my influences before, when I first introduced the Nzinga bracelets Since then, I’ve continued to add to the Africana collection, it is still my favorite.

It’s time you get out out there and prosper folks. Today is the last day of Absynia’s three day savings extravaganza.
For Cyber Monday everything is 30% off with code “CyberMon”

Between the nature based, nickel-free jewelry for you, and the gifts your loved ones will love, you’re probably gonna add some years to your life.

And at 30% off quality, hand-made,American-made jewelry, it’s hand-madeleine no question we’ll all prosper.

so go ahead. Visit www.absynia.com, shop the sale . Live long and prosper,my friends. Live long and prosper.

Why shop small?

When I first started making jewelry, I did so out of necessity. I was buying $4 earrings and $5 necklaces that would pop, tarnish and have to be re-purposed. One day I had an allergic reaction to a pair of earrings I bought and was grumbling to myself about what a waste of money they were. It hit me then that I had no power in that transaction, that I had no one to complain to, no one to hold responsible. The store policy made sure: ‘NO RETURNS, EXCHANGES OR REFUNDS’. They knew they weren’t selling quality and they didn’t want to hear from me once i found out, either.

A short time later when I began making jewelry to sell, I thought about that experience…And similar ones: Leggings that start to rip after the first wash, that cute party dress which begins to unravel when you tug at that one thread. 

As a consumer, I was sick of it. There was no pride in the work, no pride in what the store owners were selling and marketing- just cheaply made products marked up 200% more than what they cost and so much more than they were worth.  After re-buying the same hoop earrings, re-buying the same black leggings over and over, I realized the cost of buying cheap was quite high.  

When I started my business, I told myself I would operate like I was my customer. I still do. I think to myself, “if I paid $25 for something, what would I want it to come packaged like? how long would I want it to last? How would I want the store owner to treat me?” and that’s how I make my decisions. I take pride in my work, in what my jewelry looks like, what the packaging looks like, how they still look after three years. I take pride in how my customers feel wearing my jewelry and how they feel about the entire transaction. 

I love that they know who made their product, where it comes from. In the off chance that something goes wrong, they know exactly who to talk to. I love that. 

And I’m not alone in that. I buy small. There is a sense of responsibility these small business owners have to their customer’s that makes me feel cared for. I’m not just another transaction, I am a valued customer. It’s a great feeling.  I feel edified knowing my purchase will be of quality and that I’m supporting another small business own. 

That is why I shop small. 

I got an email not too long ago saying the web version of instagram is finally available and that www.instagram.com/Absynia was a thing…this is what it looks like. I very much approve. ^_^ 

I love the Ankh as jewelry for women. The Ankh is the key of life or the symbol for physical and eternal life. How fitting then for woman, who can carry and nourish life                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 within her, to wear the Ankh since she in actuality is the perpetrator of life eternally on Earth.

*Jewelry pictured available through www.absynia.com only.

I came across this photo of myself and felt a small twinge of regret. I recently chopped off my hair after 3 years of growing it back. It grew into a gorgeous curly Fro but the longer it got, the more the upkeep. The longer it got, the more compliments I received about my “good” hair. I squirmed uncomfortably under the scrutiny. Suddenly natural hair was in style and my loose curls inspired more than a few women to try and see if maybe they had “good” hair too.
Now I’ve almost always had natural hair. In middle school, my intricate braids made the kids compare my hair to spider webs, in high school girls asked when I planned to “DO something” with my then signature Afro puff. Boys stuck pencils in it. When I discovered a curl defining cream the compliments rolled in. I got angry, became militant wrote a speech and performed it with my curls combed into a giant puff. I won an award but my intended audience didn’t received the message about pride in self or finding beauty in our natural selves. Clearly.
Years later, I am still hearing women and men praise features that aren’t Bantu. Now natural hair is supposed to be about a healthy self image AND healthy hair but if the goal of going natural is to look “mixed”, “exotic” and essentially less Black (or Bantu to be more specific) then you haven’t come that far from the relaxer. You are still bound in your mind.
When I began internalizing the messages fed to me about my hair, I knew it had to go. My hair is pretty- not “prettier than” and I am sick of that conflation. I won’t participate in it and if it means a bald head for a while, so be it. When my mind is right again, I’ll grow it back. I encourage my sisters of the diaspora to do the same sort of soul-searching about their hair and their ideas of beauty. I encourage you always to make sure you haven’t absorbed the complexes and negativity of those around you. If you have, do what you must to purge yourself of it. Your healthy self should always be the goal. By any means necessary