KAZINI DAILY

KAZINI DAILY: August 2013

Wednesday 21 August 2013

MY HUSTLE: HANDMADE AFRICAN DOLLS- LILLIAN WAYODI


Growing up, I was never a girlie girl neither was I a tomboy but I spent a lot of time with my elder brother and dolls were not really my thing. However, my one encounter with a doll was with a childhood friend of mine. Her name was Celia and she had a blue doll.
All features were incised on the doll. It was plastic(I have never liked plastic-ish things). It was hideous. She called it "Monica"- I didn't like the name. She would sometimes drag it through murky water and it had stains and things(things that I lack words for) stuck in its crevices. It gives me the creeps just describing it. Let's just say I never really warmed up to that doll or any other doll for that matter.
I was 5.

Fast forward 20years later. I saw a doll that I loved. A doll that I warmed up to(..,and No, I'm not  needy nor I'm I experiencing a quarter life crisis..lol).

Meet Lillian Achieng' Wayodi.(Pictured above)


Lillian is an exceptional artist who designs and makes handmade African dolls. She studied Business Administration in college and began her business with a little pocket money she had saved up. She re-invested each and every penny she made till she registered her business.
..,this is my favorite.

The beauty with art is that its easy to improvise, recycle and re-create a product that one can make money from and so no one should complain about little or no resources. Simply, seize the day and do what you need to do.
Maasai Dolls
Lillians business has not been without challenges. However, the irony of her main challenge is that living in Africa where 80% of the inhabitants are black, her main clientele is composed of caucasians/wazungu who like African handmade products. Only a few black people buy her dolls. Apparently, most people seem to prefer the white barbie dolls and  there is a mentality /mindset with Africans of wanting imported products..“white” looking products. People need to realize how psychologically damaging it is to an African child if all they are exposed to are white dolls. It damages their self esteem and perception of beauty. A study was actually carried out. Check out this link.
Also, its interesting to note that most of the dolls stocked in the shops here in Kenya(..,and i'm sure most African countries) are white dolls. African/black dolls are extremely few.
Do we think so little of ourselves that we can’t even stock our shops with that which reflects who we are? I am very pro African. I would like to see our African people buying African dolls for their children.
Here are pictures of some of Lillians products:

Turkana Dolls



Kikuyu Dolls

Like Lillian, let's ALL be pro-African and support products and projects that speak volumes about our rich heritage. Each dolls costs Kes 1500. She can reached via here FACEBOOK page and delivers internationally. 


Buy African,Build Africa!!

If you're a young graduate who has delved into business(or are thinking of doing so), E-MAIL me and get featured on 'My Hustle'.

Xoxo,
Kazini Daily.

Tuesday 13 August 2013

MY HUSTLE: ALICE-YARN


Occasionally on the blog, I have people e-mail me asking me to link them up with jobs. It has me in stitches sometimes considering I'm also in the process of finding one. The best I can do is add them onto a network where I get job alerts sent to me by friends from specific organizations and some times basically send an encouraging message asking them to keep still and hope for the best.

However, I've mentioned tit bits about my side hustle which involves designing hand-made jewelry for sale. This small enterprise has been my financial rock for the longest while now and though it has not yet churned figures to get my bank suspicious, it certainly has had me get by as I embark(ed) my job search.

Today I’d like to introduce a new segment to the blog: MY HUSTLE. This shall entail me featuring a reader’s hustle from time to time irrespective of whether they are just starting up or are well into the business(in this case for motivational purposes).
All you need to do is e-mail me HERE with details of your hustle irregardless of your location(Africa, Europe..,) and a few pictures ( where necessary)  to accompany it. The hustle does not have to be fashion related. Basically anything that gets you going or puts food on the table. It could be farming, sewing, crafts, selling worms<I actually know someone who does this..lol> etc.

In this inaugural segment, meet Alice Muthoni of Alice Yarn. She works for an advertising firm in Nairobi. To help her meet the basics and get by, Alice designs and crotchets products made of yarn.
Her Products range from simple house slippers, jewelry, home decor, mats and clothing ALL made from yarn.
Below are pictures of some of her products.


House slippers(for men)
House slippers(for ladies)
Scarf
Home decor: mats










You can check out her business website HERE and make orders or on her FACEBOOK page.
What's your hustle? Drop me an e-mail or reach me via FACEBOOK if you'd like to be featured on "My Hustle".
Keep warm!!

Xoxo,
Kazini Daily

Wednesday 7 August 2013

ONWARDS ONWARDS..,



A lot of bad things have been happening..like me writing this post on my phone seated on a cars bonnet 'coz e-mails were becoming much!!

I mean, Uncle Bob 'won' the elections yet again. All the same,
congratulations to Grace, you shall continue to rock Ferragamo,
Gucci and Versace all in one ensemble while Oxfam goes hard with
e-mails on the starving masses in Zimbabwe! Oh my dear Grace, why can’t we just get clothes from uncle Bobs fashion label, House of Gushungo!! (oh boy! There goes my
chance at diplomacy in poor old Zim).


The Tunisians are still holding anti-government rallies and the Egyptians overthrew their president!! (..,I have a mediocre opinion on coups and will not delve into that)

The Nigerian elite (some governor in a state called Zamfara) are looking to marry girls as young as twelve!
Governor Yerima and the rest, get a grip on your ***** (you don’t want to
know what I said in my head there but I'll subtly settle for education
has done little for you! Let those little girls be..you grew up to
that advanced age, accord them the same chance and pray their sons
will not make the same shady choices you’re making!
Oops! I am told you apologized but I figured I’d take a go at you
before the issue runs its sell by date
!

Some people sent the wrong electricity bills to Madibas house. Shame on them!
How'd you even get his address wrong!!

Kenyan women are not only looking to have men who promise to marry
them fulfill that promise through a parliament bill but are also
looking to pass another bill to get them off days during their period!
Don’t you just love us Kenyan women..drama all the way!
Ps..honey, I have you on record promising me marriage!! (Yes, I have a
boyfriend in case you're wondering! My un-diagnosed madness needs an
outlet)

Well, that's just about it on the continental scene.
In my scene, some 'mysterious'(read as my blog followers, friends and
others..lol) people have been e-mailing me. Complaining about my
'lack' of personal posts. Where personal refers to posts of me ranting
and giving a random banter before I post photos of me trying hard to
be work appropriately fashionable (Basically what I set out doing at
the onset of setting up this blog).

My abject apologies for the loooooooooooong hiatus from posting such.
I am working on managing my time better so I can deliver better(see
how I managed to sound like a government official right there)

'
No matter what kind of a hurry the buttocks may be in, they will always remain behind' (not the best of proverbs for what I'm about to express or
explain but I had nothing else on me)..The slight entente from writing
has not been intentional but like that phrase goes, do allow me come
back at a pace I can keep up in light of recent activities.(SMH..see this girl! So why'd you start a
blog if you can’t keep up. YES! I see and hear you, whoever said
that..in my head and yours as well..you who's reading!)

Updates;
1. I'm still going hard on my hustle and grind.

2. I turned a big age not too long ago! So big I'm at that stage I'm
turning into one of those lame women who don’t 'tell' their age! I
should get over that pretty soon. Probably around November..lol.

3. I'm thinking of going back to school! Before you say anything, NO,
I didn't like campus that much..merely looking to settle a
score that was in my to-do-list since I was a 3'1" six year old!(I
haven't grown much have I..only added 3'5" inches to that in all these
years! Smh! Genes!)

Have you not vented enough Rosaline? (Can you believe this is how they
have my name spelt on my birth certificate?!)

Ok, enough! I'm back. I'll try being a regular on these blogging lanes.

ION, how have you been?

Xoxo,

Kazini Daily!

Monday 5 August 2013

ACCESSORIES FOR THE WORK PLACE

You may be running out of options when it comes to accessories for making a style statement at the office, but you may also be overlooking some accessories already in your wardrobe and in the form of presents that you could mix and match to turn the heads of your coworkers (they may perhaps even start to consider you a fashion icon at the workplace).

Here are accessories that will usually be overlooked by someone trying to project confidence at the workplace.

Pearls
You may have a string of pearls that you don’t wear anymore.  However, they can be easily pulled off at the office.  Pearls are the dandiest of jewelry – they are simple, elegant and make a statement that’s loud and clear.
career fashion
You don’t have any real pearls?  Do you have fashion pearls?  Your fake pearls can be as effective as the original ones.  You can put them on with a white or pink collar shirt and a grey suit.  If you have a long string of pearls, you can cut it up to size to make a necklace and wrist band, which will be very appropriate for the office.

Rings
Rings never go out of fashion, but they have to be appropriate for the occasion.  You simply can’t walk into office wearing a huge imitation char coal ring, especially if you have an important presentation.
office fashion tips
Formal rings, like a tiny stone on a thin band are more appropriate for work.  Braided rings as well as plain metal ones also work well and add a little lady like sparkle to your hand.  On a day where you’ll be presenting and your hand actions will be complementing your verbal tone, don’t forget to wear a ring (even the engagement ring mentioned above would be appropriate).

Brooches
Women have toned down on the coat accessories.  However, wearing brooches isn’t the thing of the day anymore, but a style statement that can be louder than your wrist watch.  Just make sure your brooch is occasion appropriate.  A chic feather brooch, an English rose brooch or the jewel studded would look best for the office.
Loud animal shapes or statement logos wouldn’t go too well if you’re in a serious corporate environment.  If you don’t have a brooch, you can take a trip down to a vintage or thrift store and hunt for a nice 2’’ by 2’’ brooch in rusty gold that will go with every color suit you have.

Ps..the kind of accessories you wear are basically determined by the type of environment you work in. This post is more for a serious corporate environment.

PPs..I'm having a 50% off on this piece!!
















Splendid week guys!!
Xoxo,
Kazini Daily!

Credits