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Saturday, August 29, 2009

Henna Applicator Bottles

Henna applicator bottles are normally the easiest way to apply henna, especially for someone new, because they are very natural to use. We offer a fantastic selection of soft squeeze bottles and applicator tips that are interchangeable.

We have our soft squeeze bottles specially made for us, so they are extra soft and can be used with either Moroccan tips or Jaq tips (both tips require a coupler to work with the bottles). We offer one ounce bottles and half ounce bottles.

1/2 oz Soft Squeeze Applicator Bottles
This is the bottle size I suggest for people new to henna.
These are what is generally used for henna application. They need to be refilled more often, but they are easier to work with and create less waste.

1 oz Soft Squeeze Applicator Bottles
These are nice if you need to do quite a bit of henna. You'll save time with fewer refills, but you will have more waste and need to use more henna to keep it filled.

Now that you know about the bottle sizes, you need to select the applicator tips to use with your soft squeeze bottles.

Jaq Tips
These are the most common applicator tips and are offered in three fine to medium sizes, .05mm, .07mm, and .09mm. Jaq tips are stainless steel and require a nip to work with our soft squeeze applicator bottles.
Pros
  • Precise and reliable
  • Long lasting
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • Only 3 tips sizes
  • The nip must be pulled out of the bottle to refill the bottle with henna
  • If you don't take good care of them the tip can separate from the cone
Many henna artists started off using these tips and will use nothing else. They are a classic option that does the job very well.

Moroccan Tips
These are a bit newer, and aren't seen as often, but they are AWESOME! I like to think of these as the next generation to the Jaq bottles. They used to be paired with squeeze bottles that were harder plastic than the Jaq bottles, but now we've had special syringe caps made that work with the softest squeeze bottles available.

If you are currently using Jaq bottles, our syringe caps and Moroccan tips will work with them!

We offer Moroccan tips in standard plastic/stainless steel tips and also a polished stainless steel variety that is exclusive to us. Moroccan tips require a syringe cap to work with our soft squeeze bottles.

The standard Moroccan tips (plastic) are offered in five sizes from fine to large, gauges 19, 18, 17, 16 & 14.
The stainless steel Moroccan tips are offered in five sizes from super fine to large, gauges 20, 19, 18, 16 & 14.
These are the tips I suggest for anyone looking to do henna for more than a few of times.

Pros
  • Precise and reliable
  • The stainless steel tips are polished on the inside of the tips as well. This allows the henna to flow beautifully.
  • Five tips sizes available
  • The stainless steel tips offer the smallest possible size (20 gauge)
  • Easy to use
  • To refill bottle, just unscrew the syringe cap
Cons
  • The standard plastic tips will degrade over time
  • I can't think of any cons regarding the polished stainless steel tips!
If you are unsure you can always try one of our combo applicator kits that contain multiple tips that can be used with the same bottles.

Personally I either use a mylar cone to apply henna or the Moroccan Stainless Steel tip applicator bottles.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Henna Tattoos...Jody Style!

Henna is a wonderful thing! It can be anything you need it to be... healing, spiritual, relaxing, an energy generator, or just plain fun!


Most people are familiar with henna in one of two ways, henna as a part of Indian weddings or henna tattoos at festivals. Henna can be both of those things and so much more.

Wedding henna is typically done by a professional henna artist hired by the groom's family. The bride will often get her henna done the day before the mehndi party and at the party will have gilding paste (to match her outfit) applied to the henna while guests are getting henna done. Sometimes there will be one henna artist for the bride and one for the rest of the guests.

Wedding henna is typically traditional freehand henna designs and goes from fingers to elbow and toes to knees. The grooms name is hidden in the henna for him to find on the wedding night (wink wink). Things don't bode well for a man that doesn't find his name in his bride's henna!

Festival henna is often fun and quick. Normally, there will be a selection of henna designs for you to choose from with a pre-marked price. The henna artist will typically make any modifications to the design that you would like. Hopefully you have found a festival henna artist that freehands henna instead of using transfer paper to trace designs. There is often a line and the henna artist must work quickly, but it's a great way to get a fun henna tattoo!

Aside from these henna experiences, henna can be done one-on-one or with a henna artist hired for a private party. I like to share our fantastic Orlando henna artist community with everyone whenever I can, but I also love to do henna myself.


When I do henna here at the shop, I like to use the energy within you and your personality to create a custom henna design just for you. Henna helps with the energy flow within your body and I want to direct those energies in a positive way to connect you with your henna. If you need empowerment, or healing, or balance, or whatever, I want to help you find it.

You should feel wonderful when you have henna on! If you start feeling bad or negative when you are wearing henna, look at your henna tattoo or touch it. Reconnect with your henna and allow that feel-good energy to flow!

For me, this is what henna is about. It's not just a cool temporary tattoo, henna is powerful!

No matter how you get henna done, enjoy it!
Jody

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Tour Of College Park Fun Run & Walk

Today is the Tour Of College Park Fun Run sponsored by Fleet Feet and Harmoni Market. It's a small 5K run/walk through College Park starting at 7:00.

Harmoni Market will be presenting a $21,000 check to the Mayor for the Burhnham Institute. Yea for a good cause!


We plan to be outside the store to cheer the runners on. We'd love for you to join us! Bring a chair and perhaps a snack. I'll provide the wine! I may even break out some henna...

See you there!
Jody

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Handmade Beaded Headbands


I am delighted to tell you about some of our local artists, Rose & Jo Designs. Rose & Jo are actually two people, Kimmy Jo and Jessie Rose, of Lee Middle School right here in College Park.

These young entrepreneurs started making their fantastic headbands because they were looking for something to make their outfits POP. Here's what they have to say...

"We devote about 35 minutes to create each headband using high quality and vintage beads. No two are alike! You can carefully position the flexible petals however you desire. All our pieces are double wired for strength & durability.

Each piece is a little story of love and life. We hope you choose to make it part of yours!"

We proudly off them at the store for ONLY $13.99! Stop in and try on a little happy!

Jody

Saturday, August 8, 2009

New Fancy Bangles ONLY 4.99!


Check it out! New fancy bangles to mix with your glass bangles!

These bangles are exclusively available at our store. I have acrylic bangles with dabka decoration and also wired glass bangles with floral motifs in a great range of colors. There is even a selection of basic jhumka bangles.

The best part? You don't even have to buy a full set! They are available in small half size sets for only $4.99! Mix and match as you will!

Happy Shopping!
Jody

Thursday, August 6, 2009

THIS Saturday, 2nd Saturdays On the Drive

This is turning into quite a monthly event! 2nd Saturdays On the Drive is a local College Park movement to get some fun and action happening along Edgewater Dr, once a month!

2nd Saturdays On the Drive is a free event held on the second Saturday of each month from 5:00 - 9:00 PM celebrating community, art, culture, music, shopping, and dining in College Park, just minutes outside downtown Orlando.

College Park comes alive with local artists, vendors and entertainers along the Edgewater Drive Business District. Businesses open their doors to patrons for food, fun, and shopping!

Come hang with us THIS Saturday! Henna guild members, Florida Tribal Dancers, Eyegasms, and vendors!

For more information or to get vending details check out the website,
www.OnTheDrive.org