Episode 2 – Noam talks, I smile and nod

Episode 2 – Noam talks, I smile and nod.

My favorite henna historian, Noam Sienna, is my guest on this episode of the Caught Red-Handed podcast. Enjoy via your earholes!

Have your own Moroccan henna experience or give it as a gift

Now that I don’t believe in Santa anymore and can buy stuff for myself my attitude about gifts has shifted. I love handmade gifts or things bought while travelling, but I especially like experiences. There are so many great sites now offering classes and tours, among other things, that are great for gifts. I’ve been shopping around these sites for myself and for other people. Then recently I was contacted by this really cool start-up called SideTour that organizes really cool experiences; they wanted me to do something related to Moroccan henna and I’m excited to tell you about it. You can see more information here: http://www.sidetour.com/experiences/experience-the-mystical-art-of-moroccan-henna-painting and also sign up for a spot. There are only 8 spots left so don’t miss out on this. If you have always wanted to have henna done this is a great way to do it: you’ll learn about henna, meet other people who share your passion for it and get henna done on you by an expert…me!

By the way, I liked this site so much that I got someone on my list a gift certificate and he said it was the best gift he got all year!

Le Moor c’est L’amour – Moroccan henna class in Montreal!

Lumanessence Henna Body Art is proud to host MOOR Henna Master Class, with renowned henna-artist and author Lisa Butterworth — aka Kenzi — who will be coming to Montreal at the end of July to teach this exclusive class on Moroccan henna art.

THE MASTER CLASS
During the workshop, you will learn about the history and culture of Moroccan henna, as well as an in depth look at how to break down designs, construct patterns, combine elements, and more.
• Jamila henna cones will be made available, but if you prefer working with your own, please feel free to bring them.
• In keeping with our Northern African theme, there will also be succulent Moroccan delicacies that will be served during the workshop.

THE BOOK
You will also have the opportunity to purchase the book Moor: a Henna Atlas of Morocco (which Kenzi co-authored with another accomplished henna-artist, Nic Tharpa Cartier), and have it autographed. Please let us know if you would prefer the book in hardcover or soft cover so that we can plan in the advance the exact amount of copies needed.

RESERVATION
Places are limited so to confirm your reservation, a non-refundable deposit of $30 is required before Thursday, June 28th.
Below you will find a button that will lead you directly to Kenzi’s Paypal account where you can make your secure online payment.
The balance amount is to be paid in cash the day of the class.

The Tuaregs: From African Nomads to Smugglers and Mercenaries

 

The Tuaregs, a nomadic tribe in North and West Africa, dominated the caravan trade through the Sahara Desert for thousands of years. Their entire way of life was disrupted, however, by the imposition of borders, natural desertification, urbanization and the rise of maritime trade. In their quest to survive, the Tuaregs have launched several revolts in Mali and Niger, fought as mercenaries in the Libyan civil war and used their expertise to smuggle illicit goods, which brought them into contact with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). It is the development of these skills and links to AQIM that have brought the Tuaregs to Western governments’ attention.  More here: The Tuaregs: From African Nomads to Smugglers and Mercenaries | STRATFOR.

New York City Moor Workshop – October 16th

At last and thanks to great demand, Nic and I will be doing another Moor Moroccan Henna Master class in NYC.  The class will be on Sunday, October 16th from Noon to 5 pm in Brooklyn, NY.

 

More info and registration here: http://tinyurl.com/moorclass

New Moroccan Henna

New Moroccan Henna, a photo by kenzilicious on Flickr.

This is a quickie, late-night henna I did with some new henna I just got. The henna will be available soon and I think you’ll love it: quick release, mixes into a smooth, creamy paste, goes on like a dream and stains rich and dark. More on that soon.

The design is pretty typical Moroccan of my own creation. I felt very inspired using this yummy new henna from a new supplier; I wanted to cover my entire body with Moroccan henna designs. Unfortunately it was late!

I’m still working on getting this henna out to the public; I want everything to be perfect. If you want to be notified when this henna powder is released, follow me on twitter @moorhenna.

Henna isn’t just for redheads…or wannabes! Free class!

Henna isn’t just for redheads; we can all have gorgeous, healthy and shiny hair naturally and in virtually any shade. Time to amp up your natural beauty!This FREE class will teach you everything you need to know about how to color and condition your hair naturally with henna, indigo, cassia, as well as other natural products. The class will include a detailed handout, a short lecture, a live application on a real human head of hair as well as a period for questions and answers. Products will be available for sale after the class. Did I mention that the class was free?   Saturday, July 9 · 12:00pm – 2:00pm Kenzi Henna Studio – Brooklyn, NY Details will be emailed to all who RSVP to kenzilisa@gmail.com. Class size is limited so be sure to sign up early.

Hard to believe but this is my first Moroccan bridal!

I do a lot of bridal henna and especially now that it’s spring-going-on-summer.  Most of my brides are S. Asian women or women marrying S. Asian men and they all want Indian-style designs.  I get to the point where I don’t even bother showing them Moroccan designs because they skip right over them and I get sad thinking about how underappreciated Moroccan designs are.   I had a bride meet me for a consult a few weeks ago and I handed her all my Indian bridal books; as I was turning away from her to hang up her coat I caught the tiniest glimmer of disappointment in her face which confused me, so when we started talking I tried to observe her and see what that disappointed look meant.

Moroccan bridal henna….at last!!

As we talked it dawned on me that she didn’t want Indian-style designs but had come to me specifically for Moroccan designs.  I chucked all my Indian books and proudly pulled out Moor, and her face brightened immediately.  As we got talking she told me about the time she spent living and studying in Morocco as well as Egypt and it was fun reminiscing.  I finally met her again yesterday for her bridal henna.  I had a moment of panic because I haven’t ever done full Moroccan bridal henna and I feared that I wouldn’t be able to do it.  After a few deep breaths it all came to me and I was able to just go with the flow.  I kept thanking her for requesting Moroccan and I think she started to think she had a nutcase on her hands.  I will nag her in a few weeks for some photos from her photographer at her wedding but here is my quick snapshot of her hands.

K’s Moroccan belly

K’s Moroccan belly, a photo by kenzilicious on Flickr.

What a pleasure to create something crazy and Moroccan on this big canvas. Pregnant bellies are so potent with possibilities that I find them a bit unnerving. My creativity runs for cover at the sight of all this space; I try to coax it out of hiding by asking the clients lots of questions about what she wants from her henna design. My client’s instructions to me were “random and tribal stuff all over”. Confused, I tried to tease out more information until I realized that she wanted Moroccan designs. My client is a painter who has lived in Morocco and has been very inspired by Moroccan rug designs as well as henna. I went with the idea of Moroccan rugs–which I also love with a passion–specifically the bands of design that are a common feature especially in the kilims from the north of Morocco. I also wanted to stay away from a radial and centered design on her belly which is very common. I think that I definitely got the “random” that she asked for.

I had a blast doing this design while pumping my client for information about her experiences in Morocco. She was thrilled with what I channeled for her and I hope that she and her baby will always be protected from the evil eye!

Metropolitan Museum’s Moroccan Courtyard Takes Shape – NYTimes.com

Metropolitan Museum’s Moroccan Courtyard Takes Shape – NYTimes.com.  An excellent story about the creation of a Moroccan courtyard in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC by traditional craftsmen from Morocco.  I love this kind of mosaic and plasterwork, and this article says that this courtyard may be one of the best examples of this art.  It’s opening in the fall of 2011. I can’t wait to see it here on my home turf.

Moroccan zellij - photo by Jonathan Khoo

“The Moroccans, who are known for their restoration work on important mosques and other landmarks in the Middle East, are in essence living historians who have carried on patterns and designs preserved in practice for generations. But they have never attempted a job requiring this level of historical attention or artistry, one whose goal is to look as authentic to Moroccan eyes as to those of scholars.”