Tag: ibegan

Bloggerversary!!

Published on by maksu20135 Comments

Third time's the charm: Begin

So a year ago today I finally picked up enough pluck to publish my first post (btw alliteration game on point or nah?). Blogging this year has been a truly amazing experience so I thought I’d look back at a few of my favorite posts and talk a bit more about them :). Alrighty then, lets get started…

5. Skirting about with the magic of patterns

This makes it to my top 5 cause I truly love that fabric and I have gotten considerable use out of that skirt. I remember how giddy I was about making my own patterns. I haven’t really made many patterns since then but it’s still something that I would love to do.  I’m also thinking about making another pencil skirt, hopefully a year’s worth of practice would produce an even better skirt 😀

4. Old land New Vibes

This is a fairly recent post but I thoroughly enjoyed writing it! I had been reading naijahusband‘s blog right before I wrote it which is probably why it felt so conversational for me. I felt like that post truly captured how I feel about Nigeria most times; a little upset at the way things are done but truly in love with the country all the same.

3. Third time’s the charm

The victory I felt when I wrote this post is hard to describe. After many (well two is a lot) failed and miserable attempts at making this, I felt nothing but overwhelming pride that I had succeeded. I suppose what makes a great post for me is the depth of emotion I feel when I’m writing it, because for all the posts in this list, I love them because I love the way they made me feel.

2. How does one tame a ‘fro

This was another post that I absolutely enjoyed writing. My hair has been a really big part of my life in the last two and a half years and it has taught me many things. Loving myself has been one major thing but my hair has also taught me some practical things. For example; learning when to quit because not everything is for you, sometimes its better to just let go of one thing and find what really works for you.

and finally….*cue drum roll*

1. Think Responsibly

I remember sending this post to my sister because I was worried I sounded too angry. I’m so glad I posted it though, it is everything I have felt about the education system for a while and I am grateful for a platform like this that allows me say exactly how I feel without the pressure to sound too formal or intellectual.

I would like to thank everybody who has encouraged me to keep writing, sewing and thinking. Thank you for all the likes, shares and comments. I truly appreciate every single one…Here’s to another year of colorful blogging! 🙂

Old land, New Vibes

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My summer in Nigeria so far

 

Begin- Old Land New Vibes

Hey y’all!! So I’ve been in Nigeria for a couple of weeks now and I’m very content so far 🙂

My first week was plagued with jet lag of life but I wasn’t too bothered about that. My days have generally been easy, sleep, go to driving school, visit a friend or run an errand or two, nothing too exhausting and it feels great! All those all-nighters of last year have melted off and I feel well-rested and happy. This happens every time I come back…an air of absolute chill that I never noticed before overcomes me. Well a good 60% of that chill is cause I’m being fed round the clock. Speaking of food, can we just take a second to appreciate the absolute delight that is my mum’s food? Living with a food blogger is -pass out with glee after every meal- amazing.

With every amazing point however,  there are a few things that still shock/annoy/confuse me.

1) Peeing men.  This is something that I shocks me every single time! I always wonder if I just never noticed before or if more men are just choosing to pee on the side of the road. This is how the scenario plays out most times for me;

me: *sitting in traffic and staring blankly out the window*

Mr pees-a-lot: *strolls to the most public place possible, and starts to pee

me :*notices Mr pees-a-lot and looks away for his dignity’s sake

Mr pees-a-lot: *possibly even carrying on a conversation at this point zips up and walks away like nothing ever happened.

WHY??? I suppose when nature calls and all that good stuff but WHY??? why on the side of the road where everybody can see you? Why aren’t you more discreet sir?

2) Nigerian road users. I say road users because whether they’re in a Jeep, on an Okada (bike) or a pedestrian, Nigerian road users are a truly reckless group. Firstly, what is a lane? A lane is simply a suggestion on Nigerian roads, some people would much rather stay smack in the middle of the road and then abuse you for trying to overtake them. Secondly, crossing an expressway? not dangerous at all :). Go on, run across a four lane road with your entire family cause…why not? Finally Okada drivers and your Keke Maruwa (Three wheeled thingybobs) cousins, the road belongs to you, because if it doesn’t I don’t understand your need to threaten everybody else’s existence.

3). Customer Service. Okay this one annoys me and confuses me at the same time. I call the customer service line to resolve an issue I’m having  and somehow I end up being yelled at. Or the cheerful waitress who found it just as funny as we did that half the things on the menu were not available. Or of course the delightful sales girls who are eternally irritated at the presence of customers in the store, especially customers who ask questions about the product.

Despite my many grievances and frustrations with this country, something about it still makes me happy. Maybe its cause this is where my family is and so it will always feel like home, or maybe it’s because as much as these things annoy you they make you laugh even just a little bit. Whatever it is, Nigeria has a texture to it that makes me feel something that is pretty difficult to explain. There is so much content in this country that is just sitting there waiting to inspire you. *Speaking of inspiration I need ideas for a play so if you think of something please leave it in the comments.* It took me leaving the country to see its potential because when you live in Nigeria  its too easy to get caught up in the redundancy of your daily hustle. Sitting in pointless traffic for 3hrs would suck the zeal out of anybody. Anyhow I’m excited for my next few weeks :D…just taking each day as it comes and trying to enjoy every minute of my stay.

I’d also like to know some of your grievances with where you live 😀 so feel free to leave a comment.

 

Picture by Willyverse

Living through filters.

Published on by maksu20132 Comments

I’m done.

I’m soo ready to start my holiday and not have to deal with assessments for a while.

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine and he said something that I have been mulling over for a few days now. He said that in this social media age more and more people are starting to live their lives through filters. This means that people are no longer being genuine with what they post on the internet and they are constantly trying to keep up with the characters they have created. For example if you always have pictures of you being “sexy” you feel the need to maintain that “ooo I’m bad and I don’t care what you say” persona. (except you kinda do or you wouldn’t have posted it for people to comment on)

The problem with this is that you may not necessarily be that person that people perceive you to be on the internet.  Of course if people think you’re a perfectly responsible member of society who is also very fun, attractive and drama free, its a little difficult to see what could be wrong with that. BUT in the event that the above description does not fit you perfectly, it could be hard to open up to people. You could find yourself stuck with the burden of maintaining everyone’s expectations of your perfection and seeing as you’re not perfect you obviously do not have the time for such tom foolery. You should be spending all of that energy working on yourself instead of pretending to have it all together.

I don’t know if this need to live a double life was created by social media or if social media has only come to fan the flames of an existing problem. Maybe the internet gives us a place to mask our insecurities and hide from the vulnerability that comes with everyone knowing your flaws.It may  very well be impossible to be entirely transparent on the internet because what you post is simply a moment in your 24hr day and in that fact there would always be bias. I suppose what I am suggesting is that we teach ourselves to live real lives when we are away from the internet. We need to have genuine conversations and vulnerability. I believe that there’s more to every individual than what they post on the internet. We all need to act like it…

#nofilter 🙂

You Mad Bruh?

Published on by maksu20131 Comment

Heyyyo

In second year, introduction to Equity Studies I had a reading that still moves me till this day. Unfortunately I do not remember the title of this article or who the author was but the gist of the reading was that the author was often labeled as the “angry black woman” and she felt that people in social justice and human rights advocacy weren’t angry enough because in her opinion anger was the very thing that ignites change.

Now as somebody who has trouble staying angry even when I know I should I found this idea particularly moving. Not being angry often means people take advantage of you, they don’t make an effort to remain on your good side, they are not respectful of the things that offend you because they know you will let it go and carry on like nothing is wrong. For these reasons you need to be angry and you need to be explicit about your anger. Being passive aggressive will get you nowhere.People aren’t mind readers and they surely wouldn’t know that you’re upset if you carry on masking it with loaded statements and subliminal messages. Be verbal, be expressive, let the world know without a shadow of doubt that you’re angry. Bask in it.

Here’s where things get tricky however, I don’t feel that you should speak in anger. With biblical support (James 1: vs 19-20) I can say that speaking in anger will not edify you. In your anger you say things that you may not really mean, you will be hurtful and cutting, you will burn more than you heal. So what is a girl to do? You can’t ignore your anger and you shouldn’t speak in anger so it seems like you’re pretty stuck. Except you’re not.

What I have come to understand is that we need to learn to use our anger. Using your anger means that you detach yourself from the heat of it and channel that energy to effect positive change. This means unpacking your anger. Ask yourself a few key questions; why am I angry? am I justified in my anger? what can be done about it? Often times, I discredit my anger on the second question because I try to think of why the other party would have acted as they did and its usually more difficult to stay angry when I do that because I realize how imperfect we all are and how I could have acted similarly. This should however not stop me from acting. Just because we are all imperfect doesn’t make everything okay. Sometimes we need to be called out on our imperfections in order to grow.

Basically, whether you are upset at a situation or a person you need to use your anger to create the change you want to see. That change may start in you or it may come as a result of you speaking about it. I wish I remember who the article was by just so I could re-read it and fully appreciate the wisdom in that piece. Nevertheless it caused me to think and consequently learn.

Third time’s the charm

Published on by maksu20134 Comments

How to make a romper

Third time's the charm :Begin

Hey guys! So you remember that Aaliyah song;  “try again”? I was sitting in front of my sewing machine a couple of weeks ago and this song had never been truer. After two failed attempts at making a romper daddy Lord has delivered me!!! My first attempt resulted in my patterned shorts, my second attempt failed so woefully I didn’t have the heart to take pictures but well well, third time’s the charm dearies 😀 ( I need to stop watching once upon a time).

Third time's the charm Begin

I did a number of things differently this time around but what made the biggest difference was the fabric choice. I made this with double knit fabric which has plenty of stretch. I also made the top very roomy to account for the issues I had the first time around. Finally, I tried to make it “high-waisted’ because I have realized that shorts without waistbands just don’t quite get to my waist, then again maybe I’m just doing something wrong.

Begin Romper

The difficulty of this project, taking into account that I only got it right on my third try is an 8/10. This specific romper however was not as challenging, possibly cause I had done it a couple of times before.The only thing I would change is the way the back hangs. I think I might have been a little too generous with the fabric on top. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be to match up the stripes. I also decided to cuff the bottom because hemming this fabric made it spread all weird for some reason.Third times the charm: Begin

 

All in all I was very satisfied. I shall now live in this romper and my kimono for the rest of summer.

Third time's the charm: Begin

I took advantage of the first hot day in a long long time and went to the park with my brother.Got some delicious Vitamin d in.

Third time's the charm: Begin

Pictures by Willyverse

Friday Night

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Showered, changed, sitting in bed…

 

There’s something about Friday night that makes me not want to do squat. My hair is only half finished but I can’t be bothered right now. I certainly don’t feel like studying, as a matter of fact anything “productive” just seems too much right now. I was hoping to come up with something profound to say, something that I would read months from today, maybe years down the line and say “mehn I’m good”, but I simply can’t be bothered. I just want simplicity tonight.

Tonight reminds me of a painting I did a while back.

Friday Nights- Begin

It really didn’t have some deep meaning, it was just fun to do and it made me feel good. I didn’t have to explain it, in fact an explanation would have soiled it. Tainted it with pretentious depth. I guess this Friday night is one to be alone with my thoughts. The utter randomness of this post probably testifies to that.

I’d probably paint my nails and watch Friends and pretend to have no responsibilities. Or maybe I’d try to think of a solution to world issues and then stumble on an amazing idea. Or I’d watch a disney movie, cry at the sad parts, then think of how the movie had underlying themes of gender or class inequality. I guess it really doesn’t matter what I do tonight. Not everything has to be deep and profound and meaningful. Like my professor told me today; “sometimes its enough to just notice certain things and not assign any meaning to them”. Tonight, I will explore my mind, its been a while since I just pondered for pondering sake.

I would make myself some tea but that requires moving. ughh. Yea I’d just sit here and not do that thank you very much.

Goodnight 🙂

K is for Kimono

Published on by maksu20138 Comments

or  Kermit, have it as you would like :).

Kimono-begin

Hey peepullss

So at long last I own a kimono! I’ve been stalking this little wardrobe addition since last summer. Brandy Melville was killing me with their floral kimonos last summer. I’m sure I went to the store about 4 times just to check on “Alexis”. Anyhow I decided to make one of my own since we’re right on the cusp of summer. Despite the chilly weather in Toronto I continue to believe its spring. If I believe it then its true right?

Kimono-Begin

Making this kimono was relatively easy. The most challenging part was working with chiffon which is an eternal pain as I’ve mentioned before but I shall overcome! Another issue was that I had to make do without my scissors. I recently moved so I don’t quite have all my tools in one place but my exacto knife did the very best it could . Other than my cutting issues and the slippery fabric this was a 3/10 for difficulty.

Kimono: Begin

I love how flowy and light this piece is. It won’t keep you warm in 7 degree weather but it would be perfect for those 16 degree days when you don’t want anything too heavy. Plus taking pictures for this post was so much fun! I felt all downtown (okay that doesn’t make sense but I know what I mean) I think my brother did an amazing job making me look super cool! Begin Kimono

I’m looking into making a couple more kimonos for sale but I would like to gauge interest first. If you would like to purchase one either comment below or send an email to maks_u(at)hotmail.co.uk with “kimono” in the title. Depending on the responses I get, I’d let you all know whether or not sales would be happening.

Kimono--Begin

 

pictures by Willyverse: http://willyverse.tumblr.com/

The trouble with perfect

Published on by maksu20132 Comments

cropped-photo-21.jpg

Hello, hello!

After months of essays, tests, meetings and the sort, third year is over. At the end of second year I decided to take stock and see what I had learned. I learned in first year that sometimes its okay to let go, in second year I learned that just because you let go of a plan doesn’t mean you have to let go of a dream. After third year I’ve learned that just because you’re used to something doesn’t mean you don’t need to work at it anymore. If anything I learned that the being good at something is simply an invitation to be better

Speaking to my sister last night, she told me something that I thought summed up my “discoveries” quite nicely; “life happens”. Its really important to have a plan and know where you want to be and where you’re heading at any point in time, but it is just as important to remember that just because you have a plan doesn’t mean that’s how things are going to go. Sometimes even the most perfect plans are ruined by the smallest, most mundane things and what do you do? You deal with it.

Often times we become so wrapped up in the perfection of our plans that we’re crushed when things don’t go as we hoped they would. In my experience, life “happening” is usually just the thing you need to help you find your way. Its kinda the way things tend to go; you never try you never know, you never fail, you never grow. (really wasn’t trying to rhyme there but hey!). Anyhow I’m grateful for another year with its new experiences and all the things I learned so far. I’m looking forward to my fourth year and all the novelties it promises to bring.

What are some of your most recent life discoveries?

The trip to midi

Published on by maksu20132 Comments

Hey hey!

It’s been a little while since I posted about my sewing so here we go :). At the start of the year, my cousin asked if I could upcycle a dress for her. (Upcycling is basically recycling old clothes). This particular dress was custom made for her but well…things didn’t quite turn out so great. It was challenging but exciting to remodel this skirt. I was quite pleased with the results. Made me want a midi-skirt for myself actually, I guess that will be a project for another day.

My main challenges with making this skirt were;

-fixing previous mistakes

-attaching the zipper (as usual)

-attaching the lining and *wait for it*

-pockets!!!

The lining was really only difficult because I wasn’t working from scratch, or maybe not. Either way it was more than just a little difficult to basically sew a skirt within a skirt. As this was my first time SUCCESSFULLY adding pockets to anything, I was pretty excited.

I would rate the difficulty of this project at a 6/10 if you’re making a skirt from a dress or a 4/10 if you’re starting from scratch (I would assume).

Ibegan-Trip to MidiBegin- Trip to midi

I started off by cutting off the top piece of the dress and cutting the bottom of the skirt to midi length then I hemmed it.

Trip to midi- BeginBegin-Midi Skirt

I opened up the sides of the skirt and added pockets. Finally, I took off the waistband, adjusted the size and reattached it to the skirt, being careful to maintain preexisting pleats.  While this seems fairly basic, it was rather time consuming.

IMG_0103IMG_0104

I feel it turned out pretty well all in all. Seeing her in this skirt made me really really want it though, 0_0. *skips off to sewing machine*

 

 

Midi Skirt- Ibegan

 

Dream in color

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Dream in Color. Begin

On the 16th of March last year, I had a showing of the first play I ever wrote. It really all began the summer of 2012, I was attempting to read a book and then my mind began to wander. My first play really had nothing to do with that initial idea, it was really just me putting everybody else’s thoughts into words. I was still grateful for the experience nonetheless because it showed me that I could do it if I wanted to. In some way I feel it also showed where I was in my life at the time, I was more concerned about what other people wanted me to do than what I wanted for myself.

By the summer of 2013, I was at it again. This time I was going to write from my heart. It took a lot of poking and prodding from my family to get me to expand my vision but it was well worth it. By January this year, I had written something I was truly proud of. The play is centered around the theme of domestic violence. While I may have no personal experience of domestic violence, it hurts me to think that there are several people dealing with this everyday. I say “people” because while many women suffer physical abuse in the hands of men, there are also men who are abused by their partners. For some reason, I felt that I needed to tell this story; which is by no means a perfect representation but  felt that it captured a key piece in the problem of abuse: the disconnect between expectations and reality.

It became clear to me after reading several accounts from women who had lived through abusive relationships that they had held on to the image of who they thought they were with but the fact was, that man had changed. Often times, we continue to hope and trust that someone is just going through a “rough patch”. This expectation that he or she would once again become the person you thought they were at the beginning only leads to more hurt. Maybe that’s why many women remain. They don’t want to give up on somebody they care about so they stay to “help”, so that possibly at some point things would be as they were before. In not letting go, they become the woman that they pitied and despised. The one who didn’t recognize her worth and the one who was too blind to see how awful her abuser was.

I wrote this play with the hope of possibly touching somebody. Perhaps if I put a mirror up to their lives they might try to get help. Abuse is more than just the moment someone physically assaults you, it is the hurtful words, the disrespect, the lack of regard for your opinions or emotions. While some people are really just in a bad place in their lives and will rise above it, you need to know when to back away and be supportive from a distance.