India Arie

"I Am Light" I am light, I am light [x4] I am not the things my family did I am not the voices in my head I am not the pieces of the brokenness inside I am light, I am light [x4] I'm not the mistakes that I have made or any of the things that caused me pain I am not the pieces of the dream I left behind I am light, I am light [x4] I am not the color of my eyes I am not the skin on the outside I am not my age, I am not my race, my soul inside is all light All light, all light [x2] I am light, I am light [x2] I am divinity defined I am the God on the inside I am a star, a piece of it all I am light

"I Am Not My Hair"
(feat. Akon)

[Talking:]
Is that India.Arie? What happened to her hair? Ha ha ha ha ha
Dat dad a dat da [4x] Dad a ooh

[Verse 1]
Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a Jheri curl
Thirteen and I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
At fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen and went all natural
February two thousand and two
I went on and did
What I had to do
Because it was time to change my life
To become the women that I am inside
Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone
I looked in the mirror
For the first time and saw that HEY....

[Chorus]
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

[Talking:]
What'd she do to her hair? I don't know it look crazy
I like it. I might do that.
Umm I wouldn't go that far. I know .. ha ha ha ha

[Verse 2]
Good hair means curls and waves
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
Its time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off
Like a South African beauty
Or get in on lock
Like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight
Like Oprah Winfrey
If its not what's on your head
Its what's underneath and say HEY....

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Oh
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
I am expressing my creativity..
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

[Verse 3]
Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh
On national television
Her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like HEY...

[Chorus 2x]

[Ad lib]
If I wanna shave it close
Or if I wanna rock locks
That don't take a bit away
From the soul that I got
Dat da da dat da [4x]
If I wanna where it braided
All down my back
I don't see what wrong with that
Dat da da dat da [4x]

[Talking:]
Is that India.Arie?
Ooh look she cut her hair!
I like that, its kinda PHAT
I don't know if I could do it.
But it looks sharp, it looks nice on her
She got a nice shaped head
She got an apple head
I know right?
It's perfect.

short hair by type

TYPE 1

TYPE 2

TYPE 3

TYPE 4

... but hey, don't listen to me or anyone, EXPRESS YOUR TRUTH! Jane

Jane ponders the universe....

I just discovered this app on Facebook to create comics, called bitstrips.

So I started revising my eBook which I'd written after the first year of writing this blog.  I have to say while I know a lot more, I don't necessarily have more answers and may even have more questions.

I've had a realization that if I am a 2/4 or a 4/2 and they are so close to 50/50, I'm not sure I can really understand pure Type 2 that is not influenced by 4, or pure Type 4 that is not influenced by 2.  It's a property of Quantum Physics that the observer changes the observed.  I can only see through my own eyes.

... but hey, don't listen to me or anyone, EXPRESS YOUR TRUTH! Jane

Astrology Art Chart Collages: Madonna

This is a collage representation of Madonna's astrology:

So she was born in Michigan, so that's always the background I choose if I can. Many may know that she is a Sun sign Leo, but did you know that it is in her private 12th house?  So that's why I put the black and white image of her near the back, looking demure. Her rising sign is Virgo, which I placed in the sky with a young black and white photo of her, looking, dare I say it "like a virgin?"  This is also where her mental Mercury is, the third black and white image with glasses marked "touched for the very first time."  And she also has Moon rising, which is said to make your face appear round, but also means you show your emotions vulnerably (though she may have that down to a crafted art), and is the golden luminescent image at the front of the image.  Her Mars is in Taurus, near the bull, which is of course very earthy.  Her Venus is also in Leo, but here it falls back into the 11th house of groups, so she is able to display her beauty to crowds.

---

View more examples here: http://turtle-dove.xanga.com/photos/tags/astrology/
or facebook

Order unique individual astrology collage based on birth data (date,time,city). $19.99 (for 5x7 .jpeg). Pay Pal:janerekas@hotmail.com

... but hey, don't listen to me or anyone, EXPRESS YOUR TRUTH! Jane

Dyeing Clothes... again

My kitty supervisor, Luna

four green items that didn't work

So I dyed two of these items with teal to be sure the greens 

were in the blue range.  The other two I dyed in navy.  

You can't really tell, but they are all much dustier and they work!

now they work

Another great redo is this tan shirt that I loved the shape but not the warm color.  Now it's teal!

Finally I used black and navy in small quantities to make these khaki pants closer to a stone or gray!

... but hey, don't listen to me or anyone, EXPRESS YOUR TRUTH! Jane

Re-Inventing Your Wardrobe

If you know your Type, or you are experimenting, one of the first things you're going to start doing is evaluating the clothes in your closet and seeing what works, what needs to be put in storage (don't throw it out right away!), what you need to buy, and what could be modified!

This post is about how to modify your wardrobe, so you can get the most out of what you already have.

Here's another link on how to UPCYCLE your clothes.

Mostly how to change color, but also design lines, etc.

My related pinterest boards:  shoe refashion

My related posts: shoe refashion and spray paint for leather

http://paintedthreadsprojects.blogspot.com/2008/12/mixing-rit-dye.html

Dye: How to mix your own custom colors

Type 1                                                                     DIY Type 1                  No black: Put your black clothes away in storage for now, until you are pretty sure you're Type 1. Color palette: Use the ColoRit Formula Guide to choose tints of colors to redye some of your lighter clothing. You can also buy all kinds of women's clothing items in white and then dye them in your palette colors, by visiting Dharma Trading. Examples,    Rayon Crinkle Gauze - Gypsy Blouse, Smocked Romantic Tank Shoes: Add polka dots to your shoes, see this post, or perhaps spray paint them a tint. these are dip dyed How to Mix Your Own Custom Colors 500 Warm Red: 2 Tsp Tangerine, 1 Tsp Scarlet, 1 Cup Water 80 Coral Rose, 1 Tbs Golden Yellow, 1/8 Tsp Cherry Red, 1 Cup Water Tinted Yellow 75 2 Tsp Lemon Yellow, 1/8 Tsp Tan, 1 Cup Water 586 Seafoam, 1 tsp Aquamarine, 1/4 tsp Kelly green Tinted Blue 198 1 Tsp Royal Blue, 1/2 Tsp Teal, 1 Cup Water Tinted Purple 473 1/4 Tsp Purple, 1/8 Tsp Navy, 1 Cup Water Trying on T1

Type 2                                                                   DIY Type 2                                                                  No black: Put your black clothes away in storage for now, until you are pretty sure you're Type 2. Color palette: Use the ColoRit Formula Guide to choose greyed tones of colors to redye some of your lighter clothing.  Or dye items with Rit Pearl Grey, to tone down colors. You can also buy all kinds of women's clothing items in white and then dye them in your palette colors, by visiting Dharma Trading. Examples,   3/4 Sleeve Twist Front Tee, Peace and Love Halter Top Shoes: Update your shoes with designs that add femininity, such as with ruffles or bows.  Or spray paint the a gray or silver tone.   How to Mix Your Own Custom Colors   Pink: 116 (1/2 Tsp Petal Pink, 1/4 Tsp Taupe, 1 Cup Water) Cool Red: 133 (1 Tbs Fuchsia, 1 Tsp Violet, 1 Tsp Dark Brown, 1 Cup Water) 493 1 Tbs Wine, 1 Tsp Tangerine, 1 Cup Water Toned Orange (Salmon?) 79 1 Tbs Golden Yellow, 1/2 Tsp Cherry Red, 1 Cup Water Tone Yellow (though T2 doesn't really wear yellow) 49 1 Tbs Lemon Yellow, 1 Cup Water Toned Green 227: 1 Tsp Teal, 1 Tsp Kelly Green. 1 Cup Water Red-Violet: 431, 354, 169, 389, 430 (too many to list) Purple: 525 (1/2 Tsp Navy Blue, 1/8 Tsp Wine, 1 Cup Water) Blue-Violet: 164, 212, 184, 178, 435, 391 (too many to list) Blue: 438 (1 Tbs Royal Blue, 1 Tsp Black, 1 Cup Water) 173 (1 Tsp Denim Blue, 1/4 Tsp Taupe, 1 Cup Water)  Add   Pearl Grey to mute any color Trying on T2

Type 3                               DIY Type 3 The Type 3 Woman                                                              Peacocks & Leopards                                                                 No black: Try reverse dye with bleach to change your black clothes into rich tones of neutrals and rusts.                                  When "throwing out all your black clothes" isn't in the budget. Color palette: Use the ColoRit Formula Guide to choose shades tints of colors to redye some of your clothing.  Also try tea dyeing. You can also buy all kinds of women's clothing items in white and then dye them in your palette colors, by visiting Dharma Trading. Examples, Asymmetrical Tunic, Asymmetric Rayon Tank Top Shoes: Add a natural element to refashion your shoes and increase texture, or spray paint them to change their color.   How to Mix Your Own Custom Colors      143 Chile Red: 1 Tsp Tangerine, 1 Tsp Scarlet, 1/4 Tsp Cocoa Brown, 1 Cup Water 89 Shaded Orange: 1 Tsp Tangerine, 1 Tsp Sunshine Orange, 1/2 Tsp Cocoa Brown, 1 Cup Water Shaded Yellow: 55 1/4 Tsp Purple, 1 Tbs Lemon Yellow, 1 Cup Water Shaded Green 293: 2 Tbs Lemon Yellow, 1 1/2 Tsp Dark Green, 1 Cup Water Shaded Blue: Evening Blue Shaded Purple 419: 1 Tbs Navy Blue, 1 1/2 Tsp Wine, 1 Cup Water Trying on T3

Type 4                                                       DIY Type 4                                                                                     Saturated Black: The only type that can keep their black clothes.  In fact, you might want to dye some of it a crisper black if it has faded, such as your jeans or slacks. Color palette: You can use a lot of the pure Rit Dye colors to dye some of your clothing items with more saturation. You can also buy all kinds of women's clothing items in white and then dye them in your palette colors, by visiting Dharma Trading.  Actually, you can wear white too! And they sell some items in black. Examples,       3/4 Sleeve V-neck, Ladies Jersey Tank Shoes: Redesign your shoes or spray paint them to create a more chic look.           classic Rit colors Trying on T4

... but hey, don't listen to me or anyone, EXPRESS YOUR TRUTH! Jane