She goes to old places
She goes through boxes she locked away
She locked them away because she felt they were landmines 
She feels over the ink that covers the papers from those years
She lets her hands feel over everything 

She closes her eyes 
She was so scared then 
She is older now 

In those old places locked in plain sight
That is where she goes to sit with her thoughts
No guests have been invited for tea because she now knows how people tend to be
People will bring you flowers after and rarely ever before
People will say they want to connect with you, and then break you after the connection is made because they were broken before
People can never just let a flower be
The only attendees she needs at this gathering, are the ones that matter
So there she sits, with her shadow, sunlight and dust   

She opens her eyes 
She was so scared then 
She is free now
(You can listen to the audio version below on Twitter)
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I like hearing why our clients select what they select from us. I like listening to why a particular piece has to go home with a client. I think people, as themselves, minus all we think we have to be, are interesting. So I wrote this for all of those that stop by our booths. I wrote it for those that have such depth to them, but no one to share it with in a meaningful way that will allow them peace while passing through this place. Some days it feels like stumbling upon unsettled dust. Those brief interactions are authentic, beautiful and priceless to me. I feel like certain purchases and pieces are the loud speaker and audience most of us never get to have in this life, wrapped neatly in one. 

we love to highlight other creatives, makers and content generators that are sharing a perspective that might help inform and empower our choices. 

This week, we highlighted@PrettyAuthenticated. 
She is from Roatan, Honduras and based in Indianapolis, Indiana. 
She shared her seven tips on how to thrift like a boss. Simply click on her her embedded Instagram post to see what the tips are. Hassan Minhaj offered a thirty minute breakdown, based on facts and research, on how thrifting, which is essentially how we create salvaged beads, can impact the amount of waste we are currently producing. The entire episode is available beside our shoppable slideshow (yes, just click on each image to be sent to Shoptiques where you can shop the actual design). 

We also featured some of our left-over bead bracelets below. 
We'd love to hear what you are doing to care for the earth and how you are getting your community, or circle of influence, involved. Otherwise, we wish you health and wellness through the holiday season. 
Thank you for journeying with us, 
The LHo Team (The Empowerment Initiative)

Hey there foodies, 
We have our dish for this week LIVE. 
You can place an order on our foodies page. 

We are giving you vegan curry on rice with grilled chicken and a side of kachumbari. 

Hey Beautiful People, 
How is your week going? 
I will openly confess I stood and cried about USPS. USPS not functioning (the way it should) impacts SO MUCH of what we do. I am me, I have found a solution, but I still needed to stop and allow my emotions room to be.

I took a moment to cry and then messaged a few people I feel shake things up across the globe. Confession complete, now, how are you doing? Are there any emotions you want to allow room? Make sure you allow them the room they need so that you can refuel yourself with better energy. 

As I pen about better energy, I also wanted to blog about what most of you might have noticed across social media. A lot of women are now posting black and white shots of themselves. Taylor Lorenz, covered the phenomenon for The New York Times, and stated... "The premise of the “challenge accepted” trend is that these photos promote female empowerment, and that nominating friends to take part in the campaign is a way for women to support each other".

I first noticed the images from a few of our customers in Vizag, India. Then, the tags started coming in. 

I didn't have the energy to post an actual image on Instagram (I have to use hashtags and I wasn't ready for all that action). I did however post a shot of me in our stories which I find way simpler to do. What about you? Have you participated? Do you think the campaign is useful? Do you think it changes or impacts anything?

Now, to go along with this theme of women supporting women, I chose songs that I feel celebrate women and sisterhood. Some support through lyrics while others support by having women just come together and SING. If you have any recommendations for this list, send them in. I listen to music while I do most of my life. Also, if you have any good recommendations from allies, send those in as well. I added Tarrus Riley to the playlist because he is the one artist I have seen perform live (I was in Dallas, Texas for business) and he invited people on stage to dance but he did not need the girls to do anything outlandish. When he saw one girl begin to dance a little to provocatively for him, he held her hand and asked her to step off the stage. She could have done WHATEVER she wanted to (I am in no way trying to censor her dance moves)... for me, it was just nice to watch a musician not expect it. It was nice to watch a man say, you can do that off stage, but let it not be because I asked you to come on stage. That wasn't part of the request. He just wanted company and hype on stage.

The song selection is full of older songs, but music to me is like wine. In between becoming grownup enough to travel from state to state for pop ups (alone... in a car or on a train), I found I didn't need the hippest, latest anything. I took comfort in either listening to thoughts through books, TED Talks, certain comedians doing stand up and/ or enjoying music that cemented a time in my life, a loved one's life or perhaps a song I bumped into while listening to a show. 

I was apparently no longer listening to music to prove anything. I select songs that in essence help me date and get to know myself, my thoughts and world views in a way. Music can do that.

I also added our latest designs because our team needs to be paid and the makers and interns that have gotten used to earning with us actually rely on that money to do portions of their lives.

​So here you go. 

​...and until the next post, try as much as you can to be kind and thoughtful of others, even if others are not thoughtful of you... being honest to yourself and the path you were chosen to walk in this life is all you are required to do. So, be truthful to that journey and you will find that the rest settles as you return to dust. 

Cheers,
​E. A. Wasonga 

Reflecting is not a sin.
We wrote this piece from a genuine space and to provoke thought.

Sharing thoughts in a respectful manner can provoke reflection and growth.
So this was written so we can listen, reflect and share with each other.

Listening to each other is not a sin either.  

There will be more pieces written and shared through our platform that promote conversation and growth. 

If we do not speak with each other and/ or ask questions, while connecting as human beings (and allowing each other a listening ear), then nothing changes. 

We also wrote this piece to mark days... otherwise it's all just sunrises and sunsets jumbled together (especially in 2020).

We added various dresses that are still available for purchase online. 
Only dresses though they vary in style (may that provoke thought and conversation too)

Happy Friday 
Stay healthy, safe and open to The Universe
The LHo Team

Hey there, 
We've decided to take the "extra time" available now that we are social distancing, and not popping up across the country, to share stories. Stories are how people learn best, in my opinion. I see it happen every time I hold a jewelry making class and share the stories of the various beads from across the globe. When we closed down our physical store, we received a lot of concerned messages about not being available as a resource that people could learn from in Noblesville. We did listen and we are working to share as many stories as possible online. So, the first person we interviewed is an artist whose work we've followed for years via Instagram and her name is Jasvir Panesar.  

LHo Team: How did you end up on this journey? Were there teachers, parental figures etc that endured you had access to the arts?
Jasvir: My mum is an artist, and I guess she passed it on to me..
I did O’level art (GCSE) I never took it seriously, the art teacher always threatened to throw me out of the window... because she knew I had potential, however being a teenager I had other things on my mind. I got an A in art without really trying.
I didn’t go to an art school or take my art any further because I had a lot going on personally, so I hate to admit but I wasted that time of my career life. I gave up art all together. I guess it was only after I had my daughter, I was home a lot and decided to pass my time painting, that’s when I started getting orders for portraits from my friends and family. Some paid and most wanted a freebie. ​I was approached by many people wanting my art for their projects or business ventures. I was naive and excited that my art would be showcased. Little did I know it was just a way to get my art for free. I have learnt a lot since and now I’m very cautious of how I let anyone use my artwork.

LHo Team: What places on earth do you call home?
Jasvir: I was born in London, UK, When I was three years old my parents decided to move back to Kenya. I grew up in Nairobi, returned to London when I was 22. Currently London is my home, but Kenya will always be my first home.
​
I love America. It's one of my homes, A lot of times though, living in America feels like having to "choose sides" because identity here is so race oriented. You can't just wake up in America when you are a minority. I can say that because it's a load I realize I'm lifting specifically as I prepare to travel back to various African nations with our customers. Once we are at the airport and especially when we are flying via an African airline, I feel my body relax and put the weight of my color, hair and accent down. It's not like the other parts of Africa I lived in. When you are a minority and you wake up in America, especially when people are not social distancing and sheltering in place, every morning feels like waking up, remembering you have color (or difference) to you and figuring out how to appropriately carry your color (difference) in an acceptable manner in between everything else you have to do that day. Yes, it's a daily thing just like brushing your teeth or taking a bath. For those of us at LHo who were not born or raised here, it feels like having to walk around with a load on your head and shoulders that no one else can sees you are carrying. Sometimes, you think you are safe because you are still in your neighbourhood until the neighbour's child sees you eating fruit and comments out loud about you being a monkey to his friends (loud enough for you to hear) when all you were doing was trying to get your vitamins for the day. Sharing some of these experiences became very important to me because I have a lot of treasured customers who come and discuss race, justice, global culture, women's rights, the struggles that their adopted children, who might be of another race, face with me. I have been invited to dinners where we had to discuss immigration because they felt I was the person they could safely have a conversation with in a manner that birth growth. I am grateful for everyone who trusts me enough to want to discuss these issues and grow from these discussions. I however noticed that not sharing my experiences or the experiences and voices of others was almost a robbery in a way. A lot of the people who gravitate to our organization want a better world. They want to be part of building that better world and they want their children and grandchildren to be part of that as well. For that reconciliation to take place, our truth has to be shared so there can be awareness and from that hopefully, healing. We specifically wanted to know what inspires Jasvir because she creates outside racial lines. Sharing her story is our way of sharing "another existence" or a world where color isn't always such a source for turmoil. I have shared with LHo Team members that I didn't know I had color until I got here in 2004. I learnt it in under two weeks of arriving in America. I cried so hard that day and vow I was going to work as hard as I could to never allow anyone to box me because I had "color to me". Jasvir represents The Old World I lived in. The one where we celebrated difference through acculturation and enculturation. The Old World where we tried to grow from difference instead of look for ways to shame or automatically judge others for not being like us. 

LHo Team: What inspires you?
Jasvir: I love colour, I’m mostly inspired when I’m around colour of any nature, be it skin, nature, wildlife or even jewellery (especially African jewellery) because it is so colourful and vibrant. I love watching other artists create, that really inspires me. I’ll be honest I’m quite a lazy girl but when I have an art idea I forget to eat!

I feel they have so much depth and history in them. They have the perfect features and such beautiful and colourful head wraps. I love colour as you can see from my Instagram feed. It’s all colour!

LHo Team: So what is the most expensive piece you’ve ever sold. Tell us about it and what was it? Do you have images of it?
Jasvir: I did a portrait of a couple married for 40 years a few years ago. I sold that for £250 as it was a very large painting and needed a lot of detail. I don’t have an image of it unfortunately.

LHo Team: Okay, what about your most beloved piece of art? Why is it precious to you?
Jasvir: It’s one I did recently of an African woman. It was an experiment, I was trying out a fluid art technique with a glue gun and the portrait on top. It turned out so beautiful and has over 80, 000 views on YouTube.

​LHo Team: Who would you like to work with art wise and/ or create a piece of art for?
Jasvir: I don’t really know of any particular artist, but I always dream of seeing my work on the international catwalk someday. May be Gucci might come across my work someday... I can dream... :)

LHo Team: Where can people buy your art? Do you offer virtual art lessons?
Jasvir: I don’t have a website yet, but people can check out my Facebook or Instagram page..contact me if they like anything. I also have a YouTube Channel where you can watch the process to most of my paintings.

LHo Team: Is there anything else you would like anyone that bumps into our blog to know? 
Jasvir: I’m a self taught artist and I learn more everyday. I create art that makes me happy and is full of colour. I’m a rebel, very moody but extremely friendly. Hit me up!!

​Supporting indie is not hard and doesn't always have to involve you spending money (especially if you are not in a position to do so). You can support indie businesses and artists by liking posts or letting your contacts know about various artists you might have bumped into while doing life, in case your contacts do want to shop. Please follow Jasvir on Instagram or subscribe to her YouTube channel. That's a way of supporting her too. Below is the video from Jasvir that got 80,000 views, a playlist from our intern Shem and some of our latest designs on Shoptiques that hail from Maasai Market or have beads that were sourced from there. If you would like to commission a piece from Jasvir, get in touch. She is all types of awesome!!! We'll put up another post once her work in available within the US. 

We wish you good vibes, peace, love and a great weekend!!
Hugs and kisses
​The LHo Team. 

Scarves are a fashion accessory that can be spotted irrespective of the weather. According to quite a few members of our styling team, there are scarves for cold days and scarves for warmer days. Either way, scarves can be worn all through the year. 

Scarves have a way of adding sophistication, class or a breezy and carefree vibe to your look. As an accessory, they are also versatile because they can be rocked by both men and women alike. They can be spotted around the neck, shoulders, as a head wrap and in this age of Covid-19, as a mask. So, what are all the ways you might be able to wear a scarf? We have the perfect videos thanks to, Wendy's Lookbook and Wabosha Maxine. 

Our selection of scarves is constantly growing. Feel free to click on each picture to shop the design or visit our Shoptiques store. The scarves, like all our pieces, have their individual stories from the various makers that supply us. Enjoy the stories, the entrepreneurial spirit and the designs we have available. More designs coming soon. 
Bisou Bisou 
LHo Team 

We decided that fall/ winter was the best time to launch these designs online. For the shirts that are short-sleeved, they can still be rocked during winter by layering. Most of our designs are gender neutral and can be dressed up or rocked for a more casual look. With each shirt, we hope to inspire healthy conversation about globalization, Africa, travel and so much more. 

Please tell a friend about them by sharing this post. The best way to encourage others to shop small business is by sharing businesses you already frequent in person or online. 
​
Lastly, we wanted to share music. Emily decided to look up some of the older albums she enjoyed and still listens to today. The lady that came to mind for this post was Angelique Kidjo. When Emily moved to America with her mother in the winter of 2004, Black Ivory Soul, was one of the albums gifted to them by an American who simply wanted them to feel welcome. It has been years and she still listens to most of this album, so here you go. We hope you fall in love with Angelique Kidjo, just as we have. Also, if you like Dave Matthews Band, they are featured in this album. 
​
If you have any questions, concerns or requests, please get in touch. 
We love hearing from you. 
Take care and remain dipped in culture
​The LHo Team.