Triburban Crochet Project

So a few months ago, I had a great idea. I love to travel ad I love to crochet, so why not fuse the two together?



My idea is simple. I reach out to my friends and family who live all over the world and I ask them to create an item with me. We work together to come up with a product, color scheme, material, etc.

I then send it to them and they take pictures with the item. Those very pictures I then put in my store to display the new custom made item, now available for anyone who wants to purchase it.

The very image becomes a literal translation of what Triburban is and means.

I am so excited, I just sent out my first item to my friend Heather in Denver, CO!

Heather went with a neck warmer with tribal buttons. I really love how it came out. This item will be available in my Etsy shop shortly and in several different colors.

as always, I love custom orders! If you have an idea, please contact me via e-mail, Twitter, Facebook or my store. I would love to get creative with YOU!

Artist Feature: Shantell Bancroft

I recently decided to follow a young fashion designer on Twitter with the handle TheUrbanTiger_. I liked the name and I thought her clothing line looked interesting. To my surprise, she sent me a message! I use twitter but I never really got the whole interaction part of it - until now. I am very proud to introduce to you, my newest creative friend: Shantell Bancroft!

Shantell Bancroft, the face behind the Urban tiger

Shantell Bancroft is the Fashion Designer behind the label, The Urban Tiger. Born in London to
Barbadian parents she blends the culture and heritage of the Caribbean with a chic London look,
producing statement handmade and up-cycled fashion and accessories. Shantell designs, makes and
hand prints all the garments.

How did you first get involved in fashion design?

I’ve been drawing ever since was knee high as I was brought up in a very creative household. My
mom is a writer and an amazing cook. She would read her children’s stories to me and my sister.
Most weekends my mom and I would bake or pickle onions. My dad was always drawing and loved
photography. There was always music playing in our house from my mom and dad’s precious vinyl
collection. When I was little mom taught me how to hand sew by mending the elastic back onto our
knickers, as well as darning socks and holes in clothes. Around ten years old mom taught me to use a
sewing machine and to knit. Every few months I would start a new elaborate knitting project (always
a scarf) but never finished any. I learned to sew on a 1950’s green Singer sewing machine. So from an
early age I appreciated all forms of Art.

From about age 12 I began designing dresses and bridal gowns. I would sketch on any and everything.
In my teens I worked at a very large department store, if I had an idea I had to get it down. I’d
sketch designs on the till roll paper and plastic bags. I went on to do a B.A. Hons in Fashion Product
Innovation in women’s wear at Kent Institute of Art & Design, now called UCA (University for the
Creative Arts).


Describe your creative style in 3 words.

Eclectic, vintage, urban

http://www.theurbantiger.com/cock-it-back-jumper-dress.html

Where does your inspiration come from?


The Caribbean is beautiful. The culture is colorful, bold, sensual and engaging. The languages,
slang and food tell stories. There is beautiful steel pan, fun and uplifting Soca and Calypso music.
The history of the West Indies is vast and its heritage includes a rich melting pot of Amerindian,
Creole, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, French and West African culture. All this inspires my work.
The inclusion of all these cultures within Caribbean history is the cause for an allusive ‘Caribbean
aesthetic’. I design in focus on searching and resurrecting it. I want to make this aesthetic visually
distinctive within British fashion. Being from London which is a fashion mecca for individualism, I

wanted to produce statement clothing in plus sizes because designer fashion should be accessible and
enjoyed by all.

http://www.theurbantiger.com/cock-it-back-leggins.html

Do you work alone or do you have a team helping you?

I design, make, print, photograph and do everything else involved with a business by myself. It would be nice to have a small team of people and not to have to juggle so many jobs.



What kind of sewing machine/s do you use?

I use a domestic Brother machine and a Janome Over locker. (serger)

Who do you design for?

I design for attention seekers, who treat the streets as their catwalk. Women that enjoy prints, have an
eclectic taste, and an appreciation for handmade and statement sustainable fashion.

http://www.theurbantiger.com/doux-doux--lace-bolero.html

Do you make custom orders?

No, all items are either ‘one of a kind’ or limited editions.


What do you do when you are not working on your clothing line?

I like going for walks in the park and people watching. I enjoy being creative but it’s hard to make things for
myself when I spend most of my day doing it for the label. But I do enjoy crocheting. I’m working on
a scarf at the moment. I read a lot. I like to draw portraits and I also enjoy making YouTube videos on
hair care and natural beauty.


Tropical Island or Ski resort?

Tropical Island




What is your favorite travel destination? (a place you have been and like to return to often)

Barbados. I haven’t had many trips but I am in love with that Island. It’s my dream to live there.

http://www.theurbantiger.com/island-earring-ss12.html

What is your next upcoming project?

I’m evolving the brand, developing my skills and some of the printing techniques I used for Autumn
Winter 12. Currently I’m working on the collection for Spring Summer 14.


What is your advice to someone interested in starting their own clothing line/boutique?

There are many ways to begin a business, but I would advise anyone who is thinking about setting

http://www.theurbantiger.com/tek-we-boyfriend-shirt.html

up on their own to know what you’re getting yourself into by doing as much research on managing a
business as possible.

Attend as many business workshops in your local area. I started The Urban Tiger
blog and YouTube Channel to show what is involved in starting a creative company because at the
time, I struggled to find insightful information on the Internet. I share all the good business tips and
advice I find as well as my progress with the brand.

Research your product and the production process involved in getting it made. Don’t give up your
day job until you’re sure you can make a living from your work.

Work out your wholesale prices then
double it for retail.

Lastly, have fun and be patient, a business is a journey not a destination.

Favorite saying/quote.

"Unhappiness is the difference between our talents and our expectations"
                                                                                                          - Edward De Bono 1993


 To learn more about Shantell and the Urban Tiger, follow her on on any of the links below!

Website and shop: http://theurbantiger.com

ETSY shop

Blog: http://theurbantiger.blog.com

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

Instagram: TheUrbanTiger_

Youtube Channels: TUTInsideOut and AfroTales Natural Hair Care & Beauty


Until next time,

Cecile

Triburban - 2013

Only a few more days until 2013!

The new year marks a anew start for many of us, including myself. I have many goals for this  year. I am determined to make 13 my lucky number! I do not do resolutions because I never keep them and also, the first of the year is not always the best time to change certain things, why restrain yourself?

I want to double my revenue from last year at least.

I want to organize my work space and put a shipping procedure in place.

Have at least 100 items in the store.

Develop a home decor collection.

Continue to grow my business and my creativity towards the ultimate goal: To be self- employed!

Post blogs regularly about my progress and about others like me who are striving to make the world more beautiful through their art.

Some of my personal goals include:

Get another tattoo.

Get out of debt  (at least a big chunk of it)

Road trip down the west coast with my best friend (already got my ticket!)

Document my room mate starting a business on my blog.

But first on the list is to clean up my space.My great aunt told me that however you bring in the New Year in your house, that is what your whole year will look like! I don't know about you, but I sure don't want my 2013 to look like dirty laundry and old hat.

End of the year but the beginning of new beginnings!

As 2012 is coming to a close I figured I would write a little bit of a reflection blog. Unique - no. Creative not so much. My prerogative- Abso- freaking -lutely!

So here it goes:

This year has been interesting to say the least. I spent half the year in Sweden and the other half back here in Montgomery, AL. In the past year I have been working with kids, seen the Czech Republic, learned how to sell and buy property, attended a funeral, done some souls searching and ultimately learned what I am capable of. I am far from knowing who I really am or what my life is for, but I know now that I can do anything and the only one who can really stop me, is me.

My online Etsy store has changed names from Intertwyned to Triburban, a transition that I think is becoming more and more symbolic of myself and my evolution. Rather than seeing myself as intertwined, constricted by my multiple heritage, I am starting to see myself as a triple threat. someone who transcends multiple cultures, embraces them and becomes them. I am and will always be Swedish but I am also a black woman in America. That automatically connects me back to Africa. My father's family has a lot of Native American blood as well, Choctaw to be exact.Three cultures that I can call mine. That is amazing! I believe all of us can claim at least three cultures and I think it is possible to blend them harmoniously both within yourself and for the world to see. That is what Triburban is all about.

Traditional Swedish Dress

Traditional Tunisian dress.

Traditional Choctaw Dress

In the months to come, I will be working hard to bring my vision of Triburban to reality. what we wear is a reflection of us, what we want people to see and know about us. Clothes and accessories tell a story and are very personal. Triburban is a store for anyone who wants to bring that tribal, original deeply rooted culture into the modern urban world that we live in. Sometimes subtle, sometimes in your face. It is up to you. Triburban is about fashion, but more importantly- it is about people. It is about how you feel in your skin and your clothes and how your clothes make the people around you feel. Embrace your originality, become Triburban!

I just did my first photo shoot last week and I will be doing two more session next week. I am also initiating a project that will allow my items to travel around the world to my friends and family.I am so excited about this and I will tell you more about this in the months to come! 2013 is going to be great, I feel it in my toes!

See you next time! (Unless the Mayans had it right in which case none of what I just wrote will matter in a few days!

Artist Feature: Heather Harris

My Facebook fan page is entitled: Triburban - Cultural Travels Reported from the Urban Jungle. I want this blog to be the main platform for such reporting. So far my blog posts have consisted of my travels around my local area but that is about to change. I strongly believe that we can all travel through the various mediums of art. A texture, smell, image, color or experience can transfer you across the world and back without you moving an inch. This is why I have decided to feature various artists who in my opinion have mastered this skill. Take a look at this picture taken by my friend Heather Harris; can you guess where it was taken?

Where in the world is Heather Harris?

Below is a Q & A session with Heather Harris along with some of her amazing photography.

Heather Harris

What do you want people to know about you?

 Art = life come get some.

First thought in the morning?

Get up you have to go to the gym.

Cous Cous or Bulgur?
Cous Cous!


Tropical Island or Ski resort?
Hard one but less clothing gets me every time, Tropical island.


Favorite travel destination?
Although I know this will probably change in the years to come, but out of all the places I have been I must say Aspen, Colorado. I know I live in Colorado but going to Aspen and being in this place so beautiful, serene, and quiet in the middle of the day surrounded by nature...wow! Just the best place to get away

from the city life to think and meditate.






How did you first get involved in art /photography?
I have always been an artist, I was born with art in my blood. I consider myself
more of a multi media artist because I create with everything. All my life I have
painted, drawn, sewn, and after my second year in college, I decided I wanted to
go in another direction which led me to photography. I am well rounded in art.

What do you love most about being an artist?
I absolutely love being able to express myself through my work. I love being able
to educate people with what I know.


Describe your photography in 3 words.
Heather
Shot
You

What do you do when you are not working on your art?

Thinking of things to create.

What kind of camera/s do you use?

I use a Canon Rebel XT. I'm way past over due for an upgrade, but the photographer

takes a great photo not the camera.

Do you edit your pictures and if so what do you use?

I edit some of my photos with Photoshop through the site Befunky.com. Although I edit, I think my most beautiful photos are the ones that capture that natural light and beauty and I do that so well people might think I adjust and saturate my colors.

Do you prefer editing in the camera or on your computer?
Editing in the camera is way more exciting than the computer. When it is done in the camera its like opening a present when you upload your images for viewing, always nice surprises!

What is one thing that you would like to accomplish in your life time?

I want people to know who I am and what I stand for as a Black woman, mother,

and artist.

What is your dream photography/art project that you would like to create?

I wish to continue on with my installation Myself When I'm Great, I want to fill even more walls I feel this is one of my strongest projects. With my photography I want to go on a years trip around the world documenting art culture, people like me.

View Myself When I'm Great

Name some of your inspirations.

Theory and art combined inspires me. I love reading the thoughts of Bell Hooks, and

Audrey Lorde. Artist that inspire are Carrie Mae Weems and Lorna Simpson just to

name few.

What is your advice to someone interested in getting involved with photography?
It is a field that takes dedication, a lot of learning, and a lot of money!

Favorite photo blog/s?

Dapperlou

Spaceshipgeorge

Sirrealphoto

Favorite saying/quote.

“Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.” –

Imogen Cunningham

Last thought before going to sleep?

I love my family.

If you would like to see more of Heather Harris and her artwork - and I know you do- please visit her website Heather Shot You and follow her on these social networking sites:

Instagram: @HeatherShotYou

Twitter: @ImBornRebel

Google+: @HeatherShotYou


Tumblr: ILoveHeatherShotYou or HeatherShotYou

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/heathershotyou/

Heather's Blog: http://heathershotyou.blogspot.com/

Heather's Art is for sale here: http://heathershotyou.bigcartel.com

When in Athens, GA...

At the last minute, I decided that a weekend adventure was in order. It seems as though I just can't manage to stay at home for more than one weekend in a row lately. I did stay home the previous weekend and was nearly bored to tears so I swore I would make something happen the following weekend.

Athens, GA is about a four hour drive northeast of Montgomery and you have to pass through Atlanta on the way. Because my car is from a time where the youth of today was a mere twinkle in their fathers' eyes, I made a decision when I got home. My car is not allowed to leave the city limits of Montgomery. In case the engine falls out or something begins to smoke.

I could have borrowed my room mate's 1991 Buick skylark and arrived like a pimp(read old person) in Athens, GA but I opted not to. Instead I decided to spoil myself and rent a car. That way I could pretend that I have a car from this century, even if it would just be for one weekend. I know, I am living a large and in charge lifestyle, somebody stop me!

I arrived in Athens after a nice comfy drive in "my" 2013 Chevrolet Impala, around 7 pm. It was great seeing my longtime friend and also meeting her boyfriend Patrick and super cute kitty Tweep. Since they live close to downtown, we walked to a local restaurant called DePalma's for some pizza.

Downtown Athens feels pretty large considering that the city only has about 100,000 people in it. The city owes most of the bustling activity to the University of Georgia (UGA) located downtown. There is definitely a very young population here. I felt ancient walking around the area.

Saturday was chill yet eventful. Danielle and I had breakfast at home, then hit up some yard sales. I found two really cool Haitian paintings at the first one and a bought a third one for Danielle, all for $5 bucks! Danielle found lots of things for the apartment and some clothes for herself.  We then came back to the house, hung out for a while, had some beer and home made pasta before heading out to a local craft show. Being a crafter myself, I must say that I admire people who participate in craft shows. I have not done it yet and perhaps I will in the future but it just seems like a lot of work for nothing. Many things were beautiful and wonderfully crafted, but I am just not going to buy a $40 mug to drink coffee out of. There is a thin line in the world of handmade between charging for craftsmanship and charging for crap. Some of the items were very ellaborate and took a long time to make I am sure, however it looked terrible. You just cannot expect people to pay outrageous prices for your time when the item is hideous. I was taking mental notes on what NOT to do if I ever decide to partake in an event like this.

DO NOT tell embarassing personal stories about your friends. It is awkward.I don't know you nor your friend and now, I won't know your products either because I walked away from the awkward.

DO NOT forget your business cards. Even if you don't have cards, print or write small notecards with your info so that people can get in touch with you or see more of the things you make and possibly buy them. It also helps if you have an etsy store, a website or even a facebook page where I can look at pictures. E-mailing you and randomly asking to buy something from you is odd. How will I know what I am ordering?

Moving along. After the craftshow we ran some errands around town. Since I had a car and Danielle does not, it only made sense to get some grocery shopping done while I was there. 7 hours later we were done and starving. Patrick suggested a Mexican restaurant that he had been to once before called Tlaloc. If you like authentic Mexican food i.e. not Chipotle, Taco Bell or Moe's, this is the place to go. We ordered a bunch of different combo plates and shared them between us. The customers are mostly Mexican but there was also a few groups of college kids dispersed in the restaurant. As a former resident of Colorado, I know my Mexican cuisine and this hit the spot. I would frequent this place often if I was living in Athens, GA.

Sunday was my travelling day but we had time for a quick brunch downtown at Nona's. It is a New Orleans inspired restaurants with a cool looking dinig area in the back and a bar/bistro area in the fron of the building. we sat in the window so that we had a view over the campous and the people walking by. I had the French Quarter Breakfast which included cheese grits, honey bacon, and three beignets. Three!! I really liked them....The bacon was very sweet, a bit too sweet for me especially since I had beignets too. Did i mention you get three of them?

After brunch it was time for me to head back to the Gump. I really did have a great time and it was great seeing my old friend. We are a little bit older, a bit wiser and if I may say so myself, a bit hotter. 30 is the new 20, I don't care what anyone says.

Road trip planning -Stand your ground

OK, I just had to come on here and rant a bit. A few weeks ago, I booked the airline tickets for me and my best friend to go on a roadtrip down the west coast. I'll fly out from Atlanta and she will get on in Denver on my connecting flight and we will end up in Seattle. On the way back we will do the same thing except in reverse and from San Diego.

So, a week after i booked everything, I get an e-mail from Frontier Airlines stating that my flights have changed and a  big link saying: "Click here if you accept the changes to your flight". Underneath it, in the smallest print they could find that was barely visible it said: "Call 1-800-xxx-xxxx for further assistance" or something like that. Obviously, I did not drink the Kool-Aid, I picked up the phone and called them.

The flight schedule from Denver had changed. Frontier Airlines therefore took the liberty to put me on a 6 am flight from San Diego while my friend was not leaving until 3 pm that same afternoon. Their afternoon flight to Atlanta from Denver no longer exists so they bumped my flight out of CA to 5 minutes past buttcrack of dawn. That was not going to work for me.

I explained to the lady that I did not mind spending the night in Denver and leaving for Atlanta the following afternoon. I personally thought this was very accomodating of me seeing how I did not book the flight that was now offered to me. I was working with the company, making their life easier. I thought.

The lady told me that normally they would not make those kind of changes without charging me extra. She did say that she would check and placed me on hold. I was getting ready to put on my grumpy customer face and play hardball. I figured if they wanted to charge me more, I would just cancel the entire return trip. I was just going to buy 2 new tickets with another airline and the joke would be on Frontier Airlines.
Luckily, the lady came back on the line and informed me that the ticket prices were equal and she rebooked my flight from San Diego back to the original departure time and gave me a overnight layover in Denver!
The moral of this story: always buy that little travel insurance that they offer at the bottom of the page when booking airline tickets online. Also, you don't always have to play hardball. :)