Afro-Punk Stars: Erykah Badu with the artist formerly known as Mos Def

Margarita Corporan

Read the AfroPunk highlights in the Rolling Stones.

New Style: "Urbane Jungle" Leather Earrings

See more at Jypsea.com

Bitch Bad by Lupe Fiasco

Sends chills up and down my spine. #BRILLIANT! Watch. Share.
New album, The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1
Available 9.25.12
Pre-order here: http://store.warnermusic.com/lupe-fiasco

3-D Printed Shoes. Are You Ready for Them?

 

The avant-garde design studio Continuum Fashion is introducing its 3D-printed shoe collection called “strvct.” Price point: $900

Shoe printed by 3D modeler Inner Leaf.

Shoes made by a 3D printer B3dge.com to fit your specific foot shape.

GIVEAWAY: Jypsea "Star-Studded" Fringe Leather Earrings

Like these genuine leather and antique gold large multi-faceted studded earrings NEW from my line, Jypsea? Win them at Bibi's Next to Blow.

Jypsea Leathergoods at Creative Grove Artist/Designer Market Tomorrow

Natural fiber belts $55

Whipped these waist-cinching belts up this afternoon. Buttery soft leather with burlap is the perfect juxtaposition of textures. The elastic back creates the perfect fit and gold finished magnetic snap makes them so comfortable to wear.
Would look DREAMY with floaty dresses from Anthropologie, don't ya think?

I will have these  for sale tomorrow, 8/17, at Creative Grove Artist & Designer Market. 3-9pm It's located right outside of the Jersey City, NJ Grove St PATH Station.
 Looking forward to meeting so many new people tomorrow. If you can't make it, you can find these online at my site, Jypsea.com.







  
 Other available pieces include the following and so many NEW leather goodies for the courageously stylish.

earrings

clutches

cuffs

leather jewelry

DIY Envelope Laptop Case

courtesy of I Spy DIY

Koa Kristina Gives Back to Jersey City

Koa Kristina Collection is a fabulous online boutique that sells my line, Jypsea Leathergoods. The owner, Koa Kristina stay so involved in the community and always finds a way to give back.
She took the time to "record" her News 12 clip on her iPhone to share with all who missed it.

Koa Kristina embodies the concept: Think globally, give back locally.

Visit Koa Kristina's website: http://koakristina.com/

My NEW Fashion Design Workshop

What is a Jypsea Design Studio Workshop?
(1) 2 hr session that teaches a specific skill set in a fun, group setting for children or adults. Age 9+
All available topics:

• T-Shirt re:Design

• Make Your Own Tote Bag

• Leather Jewelry Design

Cost:

2-6 attendees $200
6-12 attendees $300
12-25 (max) attendees $500
Mini 1hr workshops for younger children are also
available. $150 (2-6 attendees)
Parties are also available!  A party is a workshop with gourmet cupcakes, party favors, and goodie bags full of Jypsea Leathergoods accessories for all attendees. Perfect for birthdays and bachelorettes! Age 9+

Book now: jypsealeathergoods@gmail.com
Learn more at www.jypsea.com
Currently serving NJ, NYC, Philadelphia.

Amanda Ebokosia: CEO/Founder of The Gem Project, Inc.

Source: thegemproject.org via The on Pinterest

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
My name is Amanda Ebokosia, 26, I am founder and CEO of The Gem Project, Inc. and freelance writer for various publications on topics of leadership, empowerment, and women issues.

The Gem Project, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that develops educational enrichment programs that hone leadership skills for youth and young adults, which address youth affairs and issues of their communities.Our focus is primarily the ages between 4-25, our programs involve: public speaking & debate workshops, lecture series, awareness luncheons/seminars, college campus marches, traveling awareness exhibits, and more.
Currently we do our programs through different participating sites which include schools, youth centers, colleges, and community centers.

We do a bulk of programs in Newark, NJ and are expanding to other areas by need.

Scholarship benefit to aid Dunrobin Primary School in Jamaica! One of our favorite events.

Source: thegemproject.org via The on Pinterest

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED ON YOUR CURRENT PATH?

This project first developed during my sophomore year at Rutgers University - Newark. In the Fall, I found out that my mother was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, fortunately she is a survivor. The start of 2006, I looked into how cancer affected youth. I knew then, I wanted to create something that was informative and inspired my peers to act. I did not want to create a breast cancer foundation-- So, I had an idea to address youth affairs in ways that were both creative and engaging through the development of various programs centered on leadership building, team-work, and self-expression.

We started our first program then, which was called, "The Gem Project Benefit Photo Shoot." The program involved having a photo shoot that would bring awareness to an issue that youth were concerned about. The photos generated, featured young adults holding up boards, which displayed facts about the present cause.We enlarged these photos life-size and entered them as a traveling awareness exhibit, going to different schools, including
Rutgers University and New Jersey Institute of Technology at the time.

It started out as a a single idea, that sprouted out to other ideas, which were then implemented as the programs we have today.

The Gem Project's vision is to create more purposeful enlightened leaders. We believe in fostering growth in the critical stages of life when self-awareness and developing a personal identity is more of a concern.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

People--- and at the root, life. People can create impact. "Impact" means different things for different people. I see impact as the ability to move and change something--anything. It could even be the ability to make someone else crack a smile. When you view impact as that, you can see that it is powerful.

http://amandaebokosia.com/2012/08/11/the-rug-underneath-our-feet/

I like to get away with the arts and like to do things that involve stimulating that side of me. I used to take on sculpture when I was younger now I just doodle in Adobe Photoshop -- because I can--- not because I am an "expert." I gain inspiration from simple things like--listening too.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING BY BEING YOUR
AUTHENTIC, CREATIVE SELF?

I am a freelance writer. I write for various online publications on topics that relate to what I am most passionate about. Most of the topics I currently right for are centered on Leadership and Women issues. I am using my writing as a way to strengthen my values and also branch outside into other projects. I do speaking engagements and recently developed a 12 week curriculum on Topics of Leadership. It is partially based off of books like, The Leadership Challenge, 7 Habits of Highlight Effective People, and Basic Black.

August 1, 2012, I held a free introductory class at the NCC Adult Learning Center in Newark, NJ. We discussed the 6 leadership Styles and 5 types of exemplary leadership and two games that involved finding solutions from different problems with leadership.

I plan on having the first session this Fall, starting mid-September.
I'm currently performing free introductory course into leadership for the month of August.

For information about that, you may e-mail: contact@amandaebokosia.com.

WHAT NEW PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON?

We have spent the summer looking for new talent and consolidating some of our programs and making them better. We are planning a summit that well attract thought leaders in February 2013.

The goal is to strengthen people as leaders and empower them to be who they are destined to be.







HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED and SUPPORT YOUR VISION?

We're always looking for volunteers and people to join our team. We can be reached, project@thegemproject.org or call: 973-506-9275.

People can fill out volunteer forms at:
http://thegemproject.org/

Join us on social media at:

http://twitter.com/thegemproject
http://facebook.com/thegemproject
http://pinterest.com/thegemproject

We're also on Linkedin too.

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Wrap Star

Source: milanmeili.tumblr.com via Munaluchi on Pinterest

Turning Graffitti Artists into PAID artists

Streetcraft LA is an outreach project that aims to help youths divert their creative impulses into products that could earn them a profit instead of a trip to the police station.

The organization operates in the low-income area of Wilmington, where a type of graffiti known as tagging has become a problem. Streetcraft LA hopes to encourage youngsters who commit this type of vandalism to use their artistic talent in ways that won’t land them in jail – which could affect their opportunities later in life. Instead, the initiative is offering kids the skills and facilities to put their art onto products such as t-shirts, skateboards and even furniture, which are then sold in the Streetcraft store. Profit from each item sold is then split between the organization and its young creators. The artists are also helped in devising their own marketing strategies, helping them to continue to sell their goods once they graduate from the program.

Design for your Favorite Brands with Stylyt: Cool Fashion Innovation

screenshot of the website

Ever found that almost-perfect handbag (clearly it isn't a Jypsea--sorry, I digress ;) ), but it doesn’t come in that color you love? Stylyt lets you design the perfect product from existing silhouettes. You can click-and-drag your own colors and fabrics to make the perfect item. Then, your item is uploaded to the site and whichever design has the most votes is put into production.

(re-blogged from Thirdwavefashion.com).


Stylyt has a partnership with Rebecca Minkoff and will have more partnerships once they have their public launch.

Sound like fun...will be waiting.