trinidad carnival diary

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Looks as if Mc Farlane is getting ready to launch his website for registration on Friday. Check out the introduction To EARTH - CRIES OF DISPAIR, WINGS OF HOPE!

A media launch will be held tomorrow at 10:00AM on San Fernando Hill followed by registration for Loyalty card holders from Friday 14th September to Sunday 23rd September, 2007. This time period is a private period reserved for Loyalty Card Holders to register with the Band for 2008 before the general public. Open registration starts on September 24th.

Here are some more photos of costumes from Curtis Eustace’s new band Revolution and the presentation “Imagination of Colour”:

Though the price of costumes have been steadily rising it seems like the amenities we get in out “goody bag” have been decreasing. Forgive me if I am wrong but what happen to the times when we got little pouches that matched out costumes, an essential carry all for the must have items such as vex money,lip gloss, cell phone and blotting sheets? Nowadays we are lucky to find some ugly container or coin purse with the sponsor’s name emblazoned on it in lieu of the cute little pouches that accessorised out costumes perfectly:

The pouch could then be worn attached to the waist band:

Tribe 2005

Attached to the wrist:
Tribe 2005

Extended with a longer string and strapped across the body:
Tribe 2005

For those of us with a little craft skills coupled with time and patience you can make these pouches yourself; it is fairly easy and the good thing is you can make it as big or as small as you like. The hardest part will be finding a matching fabric to your costume. Cratgrrl has an excellent article with drawings and instructions on making your own drawstring pouch here.

Now, for us ladies who have neither time or inclination to whip out a needle and get started on sewing anything there are pouches being sold online at papermart.comfor CHEAP. The ONE caveat is that you cannot buy them single, they only come in a package of say 12 to 20 bags however with prices around $0.29 to $0.75 each it works out pretty cheap still. The best thing to do is to order a package and split it among friends. I have ordered from papermart before and the prices are good with a quality product.

What I love about papermart is the variety of pouches available, they come in metallic fabrics, topped with feathers, leather, faux fur, animal print, faux suede, velvet, beaded lace.. you name it they have it. The pouches also come in different sizes as well, the key is to pay attention to how many inches they are in length, width and depth so you know how big the pouch is. Some people would want the smallest size while others will prefer something a bit larger. The metallic lame bags for example come in the smallest size of 3 inch width and 4 inch depth and the largest at 6 inch width and 10 inch depth.

Here are examples of different style pouches being sold at papermart.com:

TRIBE - Isis B

Island People - Egret

TRIBE - Water Nymph

Island People - Polar Bear

TRIBE - Silver Mist & Mystical India

Island People - Brown Bear

TRIBE - Black Magic

Island People - Zebra

And finally don’t be afraid to add some extra embellishments to your pouches by way of some “bling”, sequins, feathers or beads… you know the motto.. Go Big or Go Home!

Did I tell you how much I love the fact that this blog has not only brought all the lovers of mas together but also those H.O.s who indulge in all the extras for Carnival and are generous enough to share their tips and ideas. Yesterday franny, who has been playing an Individual with Sonia Mack for years informed new H.O.s like myself that she customises her own “blinged” out cup for use on the road. Being the diligent student that I am I immediately went out and did some research and found cups fit for PIMPS that we H.O.s can definitely use!!

These totally fabulous blinged out cups have been seen used by the likes of Snoop and Little John but my mission is to have all the F.H.Os and even the Backline Bettys take them to the streets of Port of Spain for Trinidad Carnival 2008! I mean what use is looking hot in your fab costume, killer boots, professional makeup and carrying around a dingy old plastic cup?

Custom Cups has a pretty good inventory and gallery of customised pimp cups that they offer for sale, a google search will also turn up other sites that sell similar items but they are all made of glass. Looks great but not practical for the road in my opinion, if you think you are Diva enough to carry around a glass cup all day go ahead and check them out.

photos of cups from Custom Cups

For the more creatively inclined I suggest buying a plain Cocktail glass, Goblet or Margarita cup in some sort of hard, sturdy plastic or even metal for the goblets. The caveat with buying them online is that they are mostly sold wholesale so it might be better to go shopping for them in stores. If you know by the end of the day the cup will go missing get a cheap cup at that. I have found, however, these pretty cheap heavy plastic glasses than can do the trick at Acemart.

Then you can decorate them as you wish,using rhinestones, feathers and even fur as I have seen in the gallery of pimp cups at The Warehouse; if you need to see some do it your self cups check out the gallery here. And if you need step by step instructions on you do it your self H.O. cups The Warehouse has an EXCELLENT article here (though I would be wary of spray painting a cup I will be drinking out of).

Check out this diva at Nottinghill with her H.O. cup!

Let your imagination be boundless when decorating your cup; use a cup the same colour of your costume so that it matches , bling out the name or initials of the band you are playing with in rhinestones, trim the base of the cup in feathers, sequins or as we have see even fur to make your cup stand out! Remember a H.O. is all about being a High Maintenance Over Achiever so to quote franny, who is the brains being the H.O. cup “GO BIG OR STAY HOME”.. make that the motto for Carnival 2008!

Trinidad Guardian’s Sunday magazine “Womanwise” featured costumes from Curtis Eustace’s band, Revolution which is set to launch on September 23rd. Here is the article:

Eustace, Carvalho adds Colours to Carnival 2008

After copping the King of Carnival title eight times, Curtis Eustace will, in 2008, be putting out his first band.

And if you’re thinking that this move was long overdue, Eustace confirmed that it has been all he’s been hearing for the last week.

Colours is the name of the band that Eustace will front along with fellow bandleader Faried Carvalho.

According to the veteran masman, Colours will be contemporary mas with costumes that cater to all body types.

“Not every woman could go to the gym and get buff. This band is also for the mother who just wants a break from her kids for two days,” said Carvalho.

Photographer Calvin French gives a taste of what’s to come in Colours for 2008.

Modelling the costumes are Kim Seethai and Anya Inniss.

So, I like the costumes I am seeing thus far, but I am really interested in seeing the designs for the ladies who cannot go to the gym every day and “get buff” as these two are pretty skimpy!!

SOURCE: article and photos from the Trinidad Guardian

Mas Jumbies j’ouvert band website is up and though it is just a preview the full site will be up very soon. In the mean time here is another Jab teaser, this one is “Jab Noir”:

For those who are not aware the man behind Mas Jumbies, Brian Wong Won is also an artist with 19 Carnival inspired solo exhibits in South Florida, London and even Trinidad. To learn more about this talent please visit Brian’s new website “Brian Wong Won Fine Art“.

And the countdown is now on for section IV which will be revealed in 5 days, don’t forget to check the website!

SECTION III FEMALE

This Earthly experience is riddled with opportunities for us to prove exactly who it is that we are ‘not. Due to the din of life, we get frightened away from being loyal to who we truly are or can be. We make the decisions we believe to be expected from us. Who we think we are expected to be is usually a person that is so far away from who we truly are inside, that we almost feel exhausted with the burden of ‘the new me’or ‘the sexier me’ or ‘the outgoing spontaneous me’ (this list can easily court infinity). At work, in school, at home, screaming and tortured we silently push the knowledge of our greatest self far away from all recollection, too be once again dreamed upon in some selfish moment of self gratification. Wearing our ‘acquired’ persona as a mask we silently grin ourselves deep into the very darkness from where we must now try in earnest to recollect information that was offered us on the proverbial ’silver platter’ we then begin a many stepped journey to ‘finding self’, ‘remembering self’ and ultimately (and hopefully) ‘knowing self’.

SECTION III MALE

‘WHO NAME MAN?”. Where did we find this, drab, shadow of a man that is characterised by his emotional rigidity, coarse social values and complete inability to ‘feel’ any music or truly ‘dance’ through to a rhythm’s end? When did we throw away pony tails with little bows for army fatigues and pants under our asses? Why can’t we be men, why do we have to be MEN?
Grunt instead of sing, shift instead of dance, have sex with instead of make love to. If self does not dance then self does not dance, but how would we ever know if self is not given a chance to speak? This is obviously my personal interpretation for this section, basically shutting up ourselves so that we ‘fit in’ is like a slingshot in reverse, sending us wheeling into a dark self created pit, far far away from our ultimate destination.But then again without this dark pit, a starting point for progress, how would we know progression at all?

If you have been looking at the photos on Sonia’s website there are several options being offered yet some are not labeled. So far what is clear is that there is an Option A and B which offers a frontline and backline as well as the Individual costumes which are available only by special request.

This version as well is on offer as a special costume consisting of the decorated body suit and headpiece with no feathers; cost $4800.00 available by calling Sonia direct.

Check out the full galleries of Labor Day Pics at Carnivalvibration.com!