As you all know, YMIB is a big supporter of Erika and Monika Simmons aka The Double Stitch Twins! I love their tutorial videos and thought that this headscarf was super cute! You can find their videos Here and on Youtube. You can click the picture to the left for the flower tutorial and the two videos embedded at the bottom shows you how to go about doing the actual scarf. I tried to link to the actual pdf pattern but it links to the wrong one, so of I get the proper link I will be sure to post it here!

This post also featured on JuBella.com: Get Your Creative Dose!

I wanted to post this earlier this week, but as you all know, with so much going on, I never know how my days will pan out. Nevertheless, there is so much being siad and debated about the disaterous incidents in Haiti. Most of the imagery that we see of Haiti, even before the earthquakes, have been filled with poverty and distruction, which does exist, but by no means is that the only side of Haiti. So, with that said, I wanted to take a moment to show the beauty of design/decor within Haiti amidst so many spectrums of heartache. Even in the smallest of homes, you will find bright and spicy colors that I am sure brings joy to their families, even when times are bad. It just goes to show that home really is where the heart is and no matter what type of abode you are given, you should always make it beautiful for yourself and for those who live within it...true thankfulness at it's best!

Who: Malick Sidibe: Malick Sidibé is Malian photographer noted for his black-and-white studies of popular culture in the 1960s in Bamako, Mali. He completed his studies in design and jewelry at what is now the Institut National des Arts). In 1958, he opened his own studio (Studio Malick) in Bamako that specialized in documentary photography, focusing particularly on the youth culture of the Malian capital. In the 1970s, he turned towards the making of studio portraits. Sidibé was able to increase his reputation through the first meetings on African photography in Mali in 1994. His work is now exhibited in Europe (for example, the Fondation Cartier in Paris), the United States and Japan. ~wikipedia

“It started out as a thesis project in grad school as a campaign to encourage African-American women to love and embrace their naturally coily hair.” ~Andrea Pippins, ilovemyhair.com

Hi there ladies! I am so excited to share this bit of news with you all! Many of you who have been in the Circle for some time now knows that all of us here finds a great amount of inspiration from creative and motivated women; with that said, I am excited to announce the launch of I Love My Hair! It is a brand developed by the super fly and fabulous Blogger and Designer Andrea Pippins of Fly Girls.

Check It Out: This Article Compliments Finding The Creativity You Never Lost

The lovely Melinda Lewis of the oh so fabulous décor, design, and lifestyle inspiration blog Get Togetha stopped by to share a few of her favorite purple inspired décor goodies!

Purple: It was Cleopatra's favorite color. Nuff Said. The color purple's got range: upbeat, electric, edgy, noble, mysterious, calming and funky to name a few. Because of it's warm and cool tones purple can be whatever you dare it to be. Add a little Crown Royal, a touch of sensual Mauve, or channel your inner Pop Princes with electric purple. These modern accessories give your space that unexpected kick, deliver high on style and gives your Pad Style a chance to get sexy like that....

How crafty is this! I love the use of recycling tin cans and using string to make such a useful accessory! This could work great in your studio space or in your kids room to keep all of their crayons, paint brushes, markers, and pencils! Click Here for the full tutorial!

Hello ymib ladies! So, I think I have found one of the many women that we as creative beings can gain pure creative inspiration from. Her name is Cozbi Cabrera and she exudes creativity. I actually ran across her fabulous Country Living interview as I was chatting it up with the lovely Kiandra of Que Jimenez about doll making and the lack thereof of handmade African/Multicultural inspired dolls(psst...you can read more about Kiandras dolls here).

Decadent blended tea, handmade jewelry, special stationary, aromatic body care, and sweet unique gifts..that's what Springcart Designs are made of!

I would like to welcome & introduce you all to ymib's newest sponsor Springcart Designs! I really love this online boutique as it carries lots of lovely items that not only would make you happy to receive in the mail, but would make great gifts for your friends and special family members.

As a teenager, I saw Zou Zou and Princess Tam Tam and those movies sparked my beginnings as a fan of Josephine Baker.  I have often wondered what a Josephine Baker inspired space would look like. It may be the ultimate bachelorette pad. This is not about banana skirts; it is really about the things Baker did best, a modern woman who knew how to entertain; and here is a space that I put together that is inspired by her classic beauty!

Hi Everybody! So, I am up late and had a major craving for a cool smoothie, but since I did not want to wake everyone in the house up with my incredibly loud blender, I changed my mood to something warm. Anyhow, I came up with this super easy and quite delightful chai inspired recipe. Its made with sweet & spicy spices and a dash of cocoa which leaves a silky, smooth, sweet, & chocolate aftertaste! Ok, have I convinced you enough to try it? Here is the recipe.

Tip: You can cool this recipe off by chilling it in the fridge and garnishing it with some shaved chocolate and whip cream or serve along side a scone, or biscotti, or a light shortbread cookie!

For The Spiced Tea Bags:

1/4 tsp: of: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Black Pepper, and Fennel Seeds

2/4 tsp. Cardamon

1 clove

2 Pieces of Muslin or Light Cotton, cut into squares

Cotton String

For The Tea Base:

While I love rich bright colors for the home, I also find that muted tones and backgrounds make for a wonderful slate to either bring pops of color to or keep it chic, calm, and collective!. I love these spaces from Stylist Selina Lake. They are perfect examples of how more neutral tones in your home can make for a very serene effect. So many times when we think of using color in our homes, we think that it has to be these bold bright yellows, pinks, and greens, but really when it comes to color, it is more about the color palette and the way different shades work with each other.

"Way back in 'Once Upon a Time' time, there was a little girl of only three who found a box of crayons and wished to be an artist. She used many surfaces as a canvas, such as white walls and the sides of the kitchen stove. This drove her young parents crazy and they quickly purchased a pad of paper for her. They sent her off to school where she met a wonderful teacher who was also an artist. This teacher would leave a lasting effect on her for years to come. Vanessa Newton knew that she wanted to be an artist just like her teacher."

There are many reasons why we hate going in the kitchen to cook dinner or even to prepare a snack. Here are five tips to get you on your way to being creative in the kitchen!

1. Clean Kitchen: This is the most important thing to remember. Having a clean kitchen will motivate you to actually want to cook.

2. The Decorative Kitchen: Adding some personality to your kitchen space really can effect how creative and inspired you are in the kitchen. This can be done inexpensively with magazine tear-outs, tea towels, decorative aprons, and so on. You will also want to stock your kitchen with creative and pretty cookbooks. Also, disguising all of your kitchen cleaning products such as sponges and dish detergent by using decorative bottles & containers can make the tasks of cleaning a bit more pleasurable.

Okay, so when you have an old piece of furniture that you wish you could toss away in the trash with love or if you just have a nice piece that seems boring, then you might want to try giving it a fresh coat of motifs! I love these armoires by Lucas Rise. They are the perfect example of the possibilities of what painted furniture can do for a room. Also, if you do not have a piece of furniture, you might try doing a colorful motif directly on your walls or even your floors given the right circumstance! Whatever you do, don't be afraid to experiment with color...the beauty is endless!

Also, here is a great video on "wallpapering" a dresser...Enjoy!

From the lovely Afya (author of the "Get Your Crochet On" series)...this is a jazzy pattern for a fantastic mesh style crocheted hat that would be especially perfect for those with locs...especially in the upcoming summer heat! CLICK HERE for her larger version

Psst.. if you have not checked out our past interview with Afya, then be sure to click on over and check it out now!

Check out these fabulous batik & wax prints from Ananse Village Fabrics! These would make beautiful pillows for your home, some super chic skirts/dresses, or great accents for your crafty projects. I can see lots of cute clutches made from these as well!

Decorating your home with color is one of the easiest ways to bring character to your abode & Color Swatch is the ymib series where we share some classic, chic, and funky color ideas to inspire your home decor!

Here is some color inspiration for your home that incorporates hues of pinks, oranges, browns, and neutral tones of creams, greys, and whites!

I think all of us here love inspirational ideas for decorating our homes..yes? Well here is a decorative bite of Stylist Lili Diallo. I love the use of color in her Brooklyn apartment..very simple, comfortable, artistic, and functional!

Here are some great tutorials on knitting stitches and casting on. For more great video tutorials, you must check out Cyberseams. Enjoy!

Knitting: Casting On

Knitting: The Purl Stitch

I ran across the work of Brooklyn Artist Mickalene Thomas while reading one of my favorite design blogs "AphroChic". I immediately fell in love with the decor of her installations and photography; and her collages just makes me want to go and create a huge collage. One other thing that has definitely inspired me about her work is her silhouette/paintings of nubian women. After seeing these, I have to come up with a way to add this effect on one of my bare walls! I'm thinking that blowing up a photo, tracing it, and then painting it in will work for a non-realistic artist as myself.

Ok, back to Mickalene! I would describe her work as "bohemian feminist". She uses lots of patterns, and colors, and pairs them all up so beautifully!

Nestled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Indigo Arts boutique carries some really beautiful tribal and folk art, textiles, home decor, clothing, and sculptures primarily from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Have any of you been here? It looks to be filled with not only artistic inspiration but lots of color inspiration as well!

This bite was inspired by Circle Sister GirlBlue.

More art to be inspired by! Thanks to Girl Blue for sharing such a wonderful Artist with the Circle. Karin Turners Art is so cheerful and full of color. I love her little mermaids and the pops of color would liven up any room in your abode!

"My figurative portraits speak of the past relating to the present, while forecasting an optimistic future. Subscribing to the belief that "everything will be all right"; they reflect both whimsy and pride of my African American heritage." -Karin Turner

Hoping this offers up some creative inspiration for all those who enjoy painting or simply adorning your home with beautiful art!

I am so excited to have come across this tutorial for an East Indian embroidery style known as Shisha or little mirrors. I have always loved the textiles and pillows that are lovingly adorned by hand and I cannot wait to try this out on one of my own creations!

"You don’t have to have a massive ego to be and succeed as an artist, and as long as you maintain your integrity, remain truthful to yourself, and do your work with a certain sense of humility toward your craft, it is perfectly alright to be an artist" - Lichiban for Leisure Lab

I was so excited to see Writer & T.V Producer Mara Brock Akil on the cover of this months Domino magazine! Mara is quite an inspirational beauty as she was a writer for Moesha supervising producer of the The Jamie Foxx Show, executive producer of Girlfriends, and now the producer of "The Game', starring Tia Mowry & Wendy Raquel Robinson, in which her husband Salim also directs!

Nevertheless, i felt compelled to share these photos of her home which I find to be a nice mix of elegant and bohemian chic!

This bite was inspired by Circle Sister detroitmelody

"I will be moving, one-day, to a studio because that's all I can afford. I was thinking about using a sit down on the floor dining area-like a round wooden platform or slab and pillows for the seats, instead of the traditional dining set. Got any suggestions, is that functional?" -detroitmelody

I think floor seating is practical depending on the age of your company. If you have older company then you might reconsider this or maybe just make a little eating nook on the floor that is more for your personal lounging and small meals and snacks. But if most of your company are younger in age then I say go for it! The biggest inspiration for floor seating would definitely be that of Morocco and India. I have selected a mere few images below to offer up some inspiration.

I love the imagery, products, and the philosophy of the Side Attraction 3 collection. Based out of South Africa, their pieces are rich in color and texture, embroidery, beads, leather, and tie dyeing; and to top it all off they outsource work to the local crafters in disadvantaged communities. A percentage of the proceeds of the sales are channeled back into the community! I scanned these images from their catalog that you can order for free (psst...they send you a nice little coupon along with it too!) I only wish that I had those "Blooming Pillows" The flowers are made from felt and the centers are crocheted! I am sure for all of those that crochet, that this would be a breeze to make on your own!

"I started sewing as a girl...that inspired me to study Fashion Design...that led to designing clothes, handbags, pillows and drapes which led to my becoming an interior decorator. It's funk-tional design for the new Urban Lifestyle..... Welcome to my World." -Soul Pretty

Who We Love: Soul Pretty

Why We Love It: Interior design, fashion, handmade goods, motherhood, creativity, could we ask for more? Soul Pretty has such wonderful taste in design and style and it is no wonder that she is an Interior & Fashion Designer living it up creatively with her daughter in New York. If you are ever in need of a little design inspiration then this is a blog that you will want to check out often & be sure to take a stroll through her etsy shop and pick up something handmade and “Soul Pretty” (psst...this top is darling)!

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