Riquee.com

I’ve updated this post.

Some events that are taking place in my neighborhood, more specifically, shootings, have reminded me of this video I made around three years ago.

Young people are tired of being told that they’re a problem while older people act as if they don’t know how hard it is to be young and under the influence of everything around them.

I remember my younger years (12-23 or so) being some of the hardest times of my life.

I made this video after I saw a video of a girl getting beat-down by a group of people in a house – I guess they were her friends.

Jayson Sessions is a liberal studies major at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT. I like his style.

Jayson Sessions - Style

“I basically just buy things and put them together and that’s what I call fashion. So vintage is my style and that’s the way to go,” said Sessions.

JS-Style

Sessions said his favorite brand of jeans is Levi’s and he likes for them to fit, but not tight. He said he’s wearing “Ice Cream” Nike’s designed by Farrell Williams.

Sessions said he made this t-shirt at an on-campus event recently. The Ray Ban frames are shining as well; he said they’re his favorite brand. I think he’s fly!

My aunt is the co-founder of an organization called Parents for Positive Change. She puts together activities for the children in the West Rock neighborhood, so that they’ll have something positive to do instead of getting into negative things.

Saturday, April 9, 2010, she held a “Spa Day.” We agreed that I would polish the girls’ nails and apply nail art. It was a very nice experience. I love talking with young ladies and reassuring them that they can be anything they desire.

I look forward to working with the group again very soon.

It’s time to get your ideas for summer shoes. Here is a preview of what’s in the Shoe Shop:

If you’re not ready to purchase a Kindle yet, download it onto your PC. According to Amazon.com, it will be available for Mac OS soon. Here is the link to download Kindle to your PC. Then you can start purchasing books, have them instantly placed into your Kindle For PC, and begin reading the books you love immediately! It downloads fast and isn’t complicated to use. I still want a Kindle, but I can wait now that I have it on my laptop PC.

Kindle For PC!

Here is my selection of books so far. There will be more to come in many different subject areas. If you’ve read any of the books I post, please leave a review. Thanks for visiting the site.

Books

This is a quilt I’ve been trying to make for – brace yourselves – around 10 years. 

It’s a sampler from a beginner’s quilt book I bought when a woman named Martha Brown, who I worked with years ago, inspired me to want to learn to quilt.  I went out and bought all the supplies and the fabric I needed for the sampler along with a beginner’s book.  It was very relaxing once I started piecing together patches to make blocks.

This block was the most difficult for me.  I think it was something about the way the instructions were worded.

This block, the basket, is what made me take a long break.

Here are more pictures.  Some show the backs of the blocks as well.

It’s all done by hand.  I’ll post more as I make more progress, but I’m sure it won’t be too soon.

I just hung up with a rep, Yasmine, from Louis Vuitton.  I called the company because I want to be clear about the things I say about their merchandise on my Web site.  I asked Yasmine what goes into the details of a Louis Vuitton bag; I asked her how one can tell if a bag is authentic or not. 

She told me that Louis Vuitton (pronounced vee-ton) is a private company, and now that ELuxury no longer sells their merchandise, the only way one can be sure their item is authentic Louis Vuitton is to buy it from one of their flagship stores, or from their Web site, LouisVuitton.com. 

I asked about the stitching and the logo design and if there were any clues in that which could distinguish a bag.  Yasmine said that because they don’t want to encourage knockoffs, they don’t like to give that information. 

I asked, “So, the only place that sells Louis Vuitton is Louis Vuitton?”  She said, “Yes, that’s right.” 

So, other than the straps and trimming darkening, as claimed on the official Web site, I don’t know any other ways besides stellar stitching, to tell if a bag is authentic or not.  I guess Kayla is right, it’s probably all in how it feels.  I’ll ask her in 10 years if she still has her bag.

Kayla Goggin, interpersonal communications major at SCSU, said when she had to choose a graduation gift, she chose her Louis Vuitton handbag over a vacation.  I don’t blame her.  She’ll have this bag for years to come.

Kayla Goggin, SCSU student from Wby, CT

The second I laid eyes on her bag, I knew it was authentic because of the dark color of the handles and trim.  They start out light tan and darken within weeks, due to oxidation.  Go to the Louis Vuitton Web site to examine the bags and see the detail that’s put into them.  

If you look closely at the bag, the logo lines up perfectly and there are no “LV’s” in the seam.   

The logo lines up perfectly on this bag.

“It makes me feel good,” she said.  She said there’s a certain level of confidence you feel when wearing an authentic item or garment.  Kayla said she’s never worn a knockoff and she never will.

I made  a waste paper basket and a small bowl a while back out of magazine page strips.  It lasted a couple of months before they collapsed.   The glue stick and rubber cement didn’t hold up as well as I thought they would.  Those are both on posted on my blog, riquee.wordpress.com. 

Here is the newest basket I’ve made.  This time I used a hot glue gun and I am very pleased with the results.  It’s harder, more sturdy.  I was able to work much faster using the glue gun because it dried so quickly. 

I use a closed hairpin to hold the ends of the strips down; it works for me because it doesn’t squeeze too tight and make glue ooze out. 

I like the way these look because they blend in like DVD’s.  I’ll be crafting more with magazine pages; I have so many magazines and it’s a great way for me to do my part to help limit the trash level in the world.  I won’t be throwing out any more magazines.    

I guess paper crafted products are becoming popular in home decor, because I’m starting to see them in department stores.  Although I like seeing all the different ideas, I’ll make my own.  It’s nice to have old magazines finally come in handy!