CasaSugar

Inspired: Miriam Makeba's Vibrant Style

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:00:07 -0800

Afro-pop legend Miriam Makeba, also known as "Mama Africa," died on Sunday at the age of 76 in the south of Italy, following a concert appearance. This powerhouse songstress's long and varied life included marriage to Black Panther Stokely Carmichael, exile from her home country of South Africa, a starring role in the film Sarafina!, about the 1976 Soweto youth uprisings, and an appearance in the 2002 documentary Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony.

Over her lifetime Makeba made dozens of records and was responsible for bringing the issue of apartheid to the forefront in Western countries, though she always identified herself first as a singer, not as a political activist. In a condolence message, former South African president Nelson Mandela said "It was fitting that her last moments were spent on a stage, enriching the hearts and lives of others . . . "

To see how Makeba's stage presence and definitive look can translate to your home (as well as aid African women and charities), read more.

As T Magazine noted, "From African headdresses and shoulder-padded caftans, to this very right-now dashiki minidress and go-go boots, Mama Africa’s 76-year-old heart may have given out as she was exiting a stage near Naples, Italy, last night, but her look - and the spirit that inspired it - keep on keeping on."

In honor of Makeba's vibrant voice and beautiful stage presence, I wanted to find some home items that reflected her rich persona as well as honored her homeland of Africa. Many of these products also directly benefit charities and artisans in Africa. You can take a look at the widget for some of these Makeba-inspired finds, or shop South African Fair Trade products here.

African Market Basket - $49.00	Kuba Cloth Pillow - $250.00
Artecnica - anemone shade by heath nash for artecnica - $15.00	Coral Impressions II Outdoor Print - $159.00
African Wedding Basket - $89.00	CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading Large Kuba Star Tree Topper - $59.99
CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading African Bird Christmas Ornaments - $11.99	CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading Rwanda "Village" Table Throw, 42"x80" - $35.00
CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading Rwanda "Sky" Table Throw, 42"x80" - $35.00	Ebony Black Dinnerware Set (16-pc.) by Block - $239.99
Zig Zag Stool - Green - $375.00	CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading Rwanda "Night Sky" Table Napkins, Set of 4 - $20.00
Fair Winds Trading Rwanda "Sky" Apron - $20.00	Origins - $29.95
CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading Zanzibar Large Star Christmas Ornament - $5.97	Shweshwe Salad Plate - $20.00
Fair Winds Trading Rwanda "Lattice" Apron - $20.00	Bamileke Tables - $1,295.00
patty johnson Maun Windsor Chair - $750.00

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Obama Buys $4,800 Recycled Chandelier For Daughters' White House Bedroom

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:00:56 -0700

In last night's episode of Man Shops Globe, Keith Johnson traveled to South Africa, where he was on the hunt for not-so-typical African crafts. After stumbling upon some unusual pottery and a handmade wooden dining chair straight out of a Van Gogh painting, he wandered into a magical art collective shop called Magpie , which sells knickknacks and décor made entirely from recycled objects. Be it a lid to a dog food can, a wine cork, or a Barbie, the eco-conscious craftsman turned the disposable into the extraordinary. Johnson was blown away by a tall, dramatic chandelier made from found objects, trinkets, and castoffs, and ordered one for Anthropologie.

As it turns out, President Obama bought the $4,800 recycled chandelier for Sasha and Malia's bedroom in the White House. We did learn back in January that the Obamas planned to decorate the girls' room with Pottery Barn and Anthropologie, and that they already have a large collection of African and Asian art, so it's quite fitting actually! While the purchase is certainly expensive for young girls, as is the family's celebrity decorator Michael Smith, Barack and Michelle did decide to pay for their White House renovations personally, and forgo the allotted $100,000 presidential decorating budget, so you can't blame them!

Casa Verde: Kristin Davis's Eco Choices

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:30:15 -0700

If you're looking for inspiration on ways to go eco chic look no further than Kristin Davis. Perhaps better known as Charlotte from Sex and the City, this celeb is surprisingly green in her lifestyle choices. While it's true that she did drive a Beemer to the Sex and the City movie premiere, her BMW was actually hydrogen powered. While hydrogen vehicles are still in the experimental stage for the general public, research suggests that they may help to curb greenhouse gases, since their use doesn't involve the burning of fossil fuels.

Another eco choice? Well, Kristin is an ambassador with Oxfam, a charity that works to find long-term solutions to poverty and injustice in over 100 countries. Kristin's worked with Oxfam since the South East Asia tsunami in December 2004, first as a donor and most recently traveling on behalf of Oxfam all over Africa.

Kristin's biggest eco change, though, is probably her new solar-powered house, which is currently being built in LA. To see a video of Kristin talking about her house, read more.

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Crave Worthy: Sans Parapluie Cabinets

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:00:30 -0700

Lucas Risé, an Argentinean artist who spent most of his childhood painting street signs in Buenos Aires, now makes a living by creating wonderfully colored cabinets inspired by carnival, circus, and park imagery. His experiences on trips to Europe, the U.S., South Africa, and Brazil have influenced the style of these cabinets, known as Sans Parapluie ("without an umbrella"), the edges and borders of which he says, "disappear to become an open space where different cultures come together and which reflection is life itself." The names of the cabinets (painted with enamel on wood) are as whimsical as the bright and busy designs themselves, such as "Carousel," "Circus," "African Breeze," "Violin," and "Flower Park." Inquire for price.

Cool Idea: Smart Design Can Save Lives

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:00:26 -0800

It's my belief that good design doesn't have to mean expensive design; fortunately, Project H Design believes the same thing. This charitable organization champions industrial design as a tool to address social issues, a vehicle for global life improvement, and a catalyst for individual and community empowerment. One of their latest projects addresses the need for an efficient way to transport water in developing countries, since many women and children walk more than two hours to the nearest river or borehole each day to fill a single bucket with water.

Project H is sponsoring the Hippo Roller to deal with this issue. To find out more about this cool water transportation design, how to sponsor a family's Hippo Roller, and to see a short video about it, read more.

Project H is sponsoring 50 Hippo Rollers for a series of 17 villages in Kgautswane in northeastern South Africa. Hippo Rollers are barrel devices that allow people to safely and efficiently access and transport water. The roller holds 3-4 days worth of water for a family of seven, about five times the amount of water that can be moved using traditional methods. Thus, families that would otherwise spend the majority of their time transporting water can spend more time educating themselves and improving their economic situation.

For $100 you can sponsor the manufacturing and delivery of one roller in your name, which will be personally delivered to a family in Kgautswane this April by Project H Design. If you believe in the power of good design, here’s your chance to show it! Check out the Hippometer to see how many rollers have been funded to date.

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New and Noteworthy: Poppytalk Handmade Online Virtual Street Market

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Poppytalk goes live today with Poppytalk Handmade, the first online virtual street market, curated by Poppytalk. The market will last one month, and will showcase handmade and vintage goods from 75 international emerging designers and artists. This month's designers come from everywhere from Paris to Israel, South Africa, the US, Canada, England, and beyond. The market will offer details and enlarged views of the products, and will also direct customers to the vendor's online shop (be it etsy, mintd, dawanda, or other) with just the click of a "buy" button. I can feel my wallet getting lighter already!