June 2014: NO More Child Brides-Rebel for a Cause Series

Hello Lovelies,
      Today post is a hard one for me to write. It has a lot to do with an issue that I have seen more and more awareness being brought to. The fact that I've had this planned for a while seems rather fitting.

       Today's post and June's cause deal with the concept and actuality of child marriage. It takes many forms and almost always has devastating consequences. The other side to this is the sexualizing of small children, which leads us to the other and immensely devastating facts of sex slaves and human or child trafficking solely for this purpose. While some of the harsher environments this can be seen in are usually in southeast Asia, do not even begin to fool yourselves into thinking it is not even closer to home. The US has reported several hundreds of thousands of children, mostly females that are trafficked each year. If you think you know someone that may be in danger please report it HERE!!!

Do Something Org Facts on the trafficked.

       Sex slavery is very real and very serious. In this day and age, does it seem fair for a 4 year old girl to be dying of AIDS because she was either stolen and/or sold to the highest bidder? Does it seem fair that a 14 year old girl is taking care of her second infant while her husband, old enough to be her grandfather does absolutely nothing in the way of help or medical treatment? Her body barely big enough to pass a small baby, has been bleeding non stop ever since, she has no idea what to do... Is it ever fair to any of them to have to give up their childhoods for a depraved set of societal constructs? When is enough, enough? When do we say STOP? I urge you all to take a minute and think of your most cherished childhood memory...
  Now watch this and tell me any of those girls got to ever experience any thing close to that? 

Part 2, Somali Mom is my hero!!

BATAM's Sex slave trade

Phnom Penh's raging Child Sex trade

Here is another documentary about Sex slavery is SE Asia

India to Nepal, children trafficked...

And another one on India's children...

      The other part to this child sex slavery coin is the one presented in India, for our sweet and beautiful extra daughters, because as previously discussed in the May post, while one girl is fine, more than that is not,(Indian Proverb- Having girls is like watering a neighbors Garden)  these children are often sold or dedicated to the Temples in Southern India. For those of you that don't know, a Deva is a demi goddess, Dasi meaning slave, a DEVADASI is a child bride to god, AKA a child sex slave that is either abused by the priests left in charge of them or sold by them at night for sex, told to refuse is dishonoring god, they are child brides of god during the day, worshiped and honored, while sold as cheap sex slaves at night, worthless and ravaged by lack of education, diseases and any hope. That is the state for most Sex workers in India, but the children are even more desolate... Prostitutes of God Documentary

Full Length UK Documentary about the Devadasi system

Recycled from the Veil post, this video starting at 33 minutes in deals directly with Devadasi.
as well as the issue of child brides, caste system and female infanticide.

     The Collection this month is called, "No More Child Brides!" and after watching this live presentation of the journalist, Stephanie Sinclair, of the article in National Geographic, you too, will find yourself chanting, NO MORE...
Here you an see the Too young to wed page ran by Stephanie and Jessica.
Yemen's child brides

Ethiopian child Brides

      I feel like repeating what is in these documentaries is pointless, people are much more stirred by what they see, so watch it, and know that every time you share it with someone else, we are all helping to end these horrible practices.

Batam- Eye Pigment/Liner

The most beautiful turquoise, green shimmer liner you have seen. Now, I have not yet started making eye pencils, but get this baby wet and line the lash line, or over a white or even silver pencil, and watch out, it entirely transforms. As such, I warn against using it without first priming the lids with a heavier Primer or using a white cream base. If you don't, you are seriously missing out on the total beauty that is Batam. If you watched the video at the very top of this post, you know that Batam is a diverse island near Indonesia and Singapore that is Duty free. There is also very few governing agencies and as such is relatively lawless. This is great for the criminal underworld, not great for the average person. Batam is littered with brothels and a huge hot spot for sex trafficking. All things we can help end. For me, I tried to encompass a color we all get in those makeup kits we get as kids, as most of those sex trafficked, are children. Although this turquoise teal liner is anything but childish...

 Top to bottom are the shadows Raw/Dry, Center is wet, Bottom is Primed over NYX Jumbo liner in Milk.

Left to Right is Batam and Devadasi

Devadasi- Eye Pigment

This matte violet/orchid eye pigment is also one of those dramatic yet youthful colors we get in our play makeup sets. This color is more demure, what I imagine someone would being told to perform horrendous sexual abuse in the name of god would be like. Not that I can even begin to imagine. I hope as well none of my readers ever can either.

Khui- Lip Glassy Gloss

This was a lip gloss I made that was very sheer pink with high shine and shimmers and a slight vanilla taste. I only made three and have since ran out, I really don't want to make any more, don't make me...

I do wanna explain KHUI ( Said like- cootie without the T) is a practice in Cambodia by which a hymen is surgically resewn to resell the virginity to the highest bidder. Khui the word in Vietnamese means to un-bottle, uncork, or make a hole. ( I know, I come up with the worst names ever for stuff... But 1 Million girls is a really long name)

 Hey Guys, I never promised you good pics... LOL, but excellent products, I think yes!

***It was a very sheer and glossy lippie, made it mostly for my 16 Year old sister who is obsessed with lip gloss! I think it's safe to say, I have enabled that addiction and nail polish, quite a bit. I may also have mentored her and her beauty regiment. Oh, when lil girl was afraid of eyeliner and would cry, last year.***

Girls of Phnom Pehn- 5-Free Glitter Topper Polish

This one is a person favorite for me out of the collection. This crazy beautiful mix of purples, white and black glitters in all shapes and finishes are amazing. It's got sweet lavender daisies and black diamonds, holographic fine glitters with white and black stars.  Phnom Penh is the capitol of Cambodia, as such, it has the highest incidence of children, girls; trafficked for Sex in world. Girls are trafficked into Phnom Penh as well from all over south east Asia.

In Shade

With Flash

GOPP Layered over a light purple! Great Combo!

Swatches from Kimber

.

This is Freetown with Girls of Phnom Penh layered over

Swatcher Credit Goes to IG@tbergy97

 The Child Bride polish duo

Child Bride- 5Free Grelly (AKA Glitter and Creme Jelly)

Named after the collection, this polish reminds me of the darker side of what should be a beautiful choice, for Everyone. Marriage equality means to me any two consenting adults, that final bit is what is lost. Children are not capable nor able to make those kinds of decisions, let alone make that decision willing. No 8 year old girl is begging to consummate her wedding night with her 50 year old husband, let alone die as a consequence of this forced decision... I dress all the girls in their innocence lost, all in black, filled with red.

This Crelly may not be your typical spring polish, but is a stunner, just jelly enough to showcase the numerous sizes, shapes and finishes of red and black glitters. 

 Natural light

With Flash 

Swatcher Credit to IG@tbergy97, With top Coat

Child Bride with Matte Top Coat, Showcases the glitter, super awesome Swatcher Credit to IG@millnpolish!

    Thanks again for all your continued support and stopping by or taking the time to share! I hope as I grow to be able to bring you a better platform or format for all of this! What are your thoughts? How much of all this is new for you? 

      I am unfortunately still searching for the charity that works with Somali mom, I want to help her, if you guys know, help me, so we can help her! This will be where your donations go!

Xoxo,

Ashlie

This has very little to do with anything, but maybe I will bring it up in my October medicine collection.

Swatcher Application

Hi! 

Thank you for your interest in swatching for my product. I have a few questions for you before we proceed.

 Please answer thoroughly, thoughtfully and professionally (Grammar, spelling, etc will indicate your ability to communicate with potential customers as well as with this business.) 

1. What is your real Name:

 IG ID:

 Facebook ID?(Clickable Links Required):

2. Do you have a blog or YouTube channel? Or any other Social Media (Pinterest, twitter, etc?)

(Clickable Links required)

3. How long have you had social media profiles listed above?

4. What kind of camera/set-up do you use? 

5. Which products are you looking to review or swatch and how long have you been using these kinds of products? (I don't just sell polish)

6. Are you over 18? (Birth date please, for verification purposes, as well as for fun Bday goodies!)

7. Where are you located? 

8. Please submit a photo and/or a link that highlights your work. 

9. How long from receipt of items to be swatched until they are ready to post? (Turnaround)

10. If opting to swatch polish, which nail shape do you wear and are your nails your own? Explain. If opting for makeup or body care, will swatches be done on yourself or on another and do I have permission to use photos of that person?

11. Do I have permission to use and edit any all pictures you take using my products? As well, as use in how I see fit? ( Your answer, for our purposes, becomes legally binding)

12. Tell me something about you to better get to know you and how you would make the best brand ambassador for I,A.M...CustomColor?  IE: what do you think is unique about you, what are your hobbies or interests. What makes you, you! How you heard about my brand and how you think you can best communicate the cause collections as well the product.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions before  we begin discussing the parameters of a working contract. 

Ashlie Jade

I,A.M...CustomColor

Custom Crafted Cosmetics and Lacquer

Iamcustomcolor@gmail.com

www.iamcustomcolor.blogspot.com

www.iamcustomcolor.storenvy.com

Kik-iamcustomcolors

Fb-/iamccnp13

IG-iamcustomcolor

 I am always accepting applications for those that think they may qualify, however I have gotten a lot of people who like to paint their nails who just want free stuff. I DO NOT GIVE ANYTHING OUT GRATIS, especially not after the first time working together and depending on how that all goes, maybe not even after. I am too small of a business to incur that kind of expense for the potential of non return. Sorry if this all sounds harsh, but I need customers, not swatchers. 

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about the offer and its use. Also feel free to check out my store and see what you like. I always send freebies and personal goodies in every package and with every item purchased. For Swatchers, I would first need to be contacted to create a private listing. I feel like this way you get to try what you want, in the size you want and with a decent discount when collections are not being released.

Let me know what you decide, either way.
Thank you for your time,

Ashlie Jade


*Please Note I prefer shots of products to have multiple lighting, as my products have shifts, etc. Nail polish is acceptable with some nail art or accent nails or bling. It shows a polish's versatility as well as being eye catching, please take pics before doing so as well as leaving one nail plain to showcase the polish you were hired to promote. I love Macros, as well as bottle shots, even if just a mini, these make a polish pop, give good hand poses, make for consistency and showcase the brand and polish, what it is really all about! I also prefer even and well shaped nails.
  For Makeup, All my pigments are very highly pigmented, as such, only require about a 1/4 of product that commercial brands do. They look very different when applied, Raw/dry, wet/lined or Primed, which I prefer to use a white to really showcase the pigment in all it's beauty. Please be aware, not all eye pigments can be used on lips, not all lip products can be used on eyes, and no blushes can be used on eyes. Thanks and hope this helps!*

Rebel 4 A Cause: May 2014 Caste Shadow Collection/inspiration

Hello Loves,
Onward and upward and that means another inspiration post. As I am sure you all know, this blog is for those without a voice, to stand up against injustices and wrongs, whether it is Orca, people, the earth or me. This is MY PLACE where I get to unload and be me, if no one likes that, I am sorry, this is literally for me to explain me, my thoughts, opinions and reasoning behind what I do. Just because you don't like it, doesn't make it my problem, it's yours. I'm sorry if that is harsh, but again, you know where the little red X is... For those of you that understand and appreciate what it is that I am trying to do and accept me for me, faults and all, that is the most I could hope for and those of you whom I consider friends, I am even closer to after all the lamas yesterday!
     MAY 2014 was and is about India's Caste System. To me, such a beautiful people's and culture, seems like such a marring pile of awful. What is worse is that it is an ancient concept. The Hindu Manus , an ancient Indian cannon, says that the Dalit (Click me)or untouchables are the foot, to serve and be the support of the rest of society. Obviously this was written before all life was considered sacred, that the individual is not born into a caste... Unfortunately, just like American racism, while said to be eradicated, is actually ever present, even in today's modern societies. Now just like America, it is obviously worse and more prevalent in rural societies, but can be seen even in huge cities. A huge part of the caste system comes the idea that even in the lowest of the low, one gender is still worth more than another. This has led to one of the most appalling acts I can think of, Female Feoticide and infanticide. I feel like I cannot even begin to describe this, so I will let you watch what I have and decide yourself...
National geographic article
Nat Geo article specifically about the untouchables and the violence they experience.

My favorite documentary about the Caste System Pt 1

Part 2

India's Missing girls: A documentary about India's Female Infanticide

Documentary Fighting against Indian Female Infanticide, what is being done to try and end it!

Shakti Movement- Empowering India's women and changing what it means to be an Indian woman in India

It's a Girl Documentary

While I think the Caste system is a horrible social construction only given power by those that choose to observe it, the by product of killing it's girls hurts even more.Another report

The Collection itself deals with the different aspects of the Caste system, a shadow that hides those that work hard and yet cannot get ahead, because purely be being born under the wrong roof, makes them worthless...

Golden Dalit

This shadow is a gorgeous opaque golden yellow shimmer, named to empower and remind everyone, that no untouchable cannot be golden...

 Untouchable

Untouchable is a dark chocolate brown shimmer that is beyond belief gorgeous, one of my favorites from this collection. Untouchable is the common word in English for those that are so low in a the Social Totem pole they don't even really have a caste, just a name, Dalit.

Caste Shadow

This awesome ConShimmer concrete grey creme with bright green contrasting shimmer is a must for the neutral lovers. It reminds me of a poltergeist, which I feel like the Caste System does to people, makes them invisible ghosts in society that haunt the dark corners of the unwanted. Caste in shadows....

Gorgeous swatch by the Amazing IG@Glitterordie

 Brahmin Blood

This Red Grelly, Glitter crelly is actually really gorgeous. It has many shapes, finishes and sizes of red and silver glitters as well as some pink larger particle shimmers which makes it completely different than other red on red Grellies. Hearts and diamonds and all the things that make blood so sacred. Problem is we all are the same on inside, whether Brahmin, Dalit, white, black, red or rainbow, when you get to the root of what makes us all so different, really makes us all the same...

Swatch By IG@Millnpolish

Swatch by IG@GGCouture

F.F.I.- Female Fetocide and Infanticide Lip Butter

This gorgeous color is a semi matte Lip Butter, that is a dark Cranberry red and absolutely conditioning and luxurious. 

I Unfortunately cannot find any swatches of it, these will be added later, when I have them...

The organization to benefit from the donations made to this collection have to yet be decided.

Here's a Christian based one you can make donations to.

This is an action based group and blog to end Gendercide

Dalit International Org

Hindu American Foundation to end Caste System discrimination

The best donation you can give to any of these peoples and me, is to tell a friend, share the blog, share the documentaries so that everyone can know. Only through international social pressures and awareness will any of this actually start to change, be the change you want to see, be the difference, speak up for those, without a voice.

XOXO,

Ashes

Rebel 4 A Cause Series April- Gaia Love Collection and inspirations

Hello Loves,
Since my Hiatus I have changed a few things around. I realized I was making myself bonkers thinking I can do monthly releases and keep up. So I decided to release three months at a time, this gives me time to formulate, package, plan and release the collections while giving myself time in between each collection release for other things like collaborations with other indies or releases that are more fun and not cause based. Don't get me wrong I love the cause collections but it has been a nightmare with logistics and quite frankly I'm not making any money off it. Which isn't even a profit issue so much as a make enough to keep going issue. SO I did try to resolve that with the Invader Zim releases. Anyway...

APRIL-GAIA LOVE COLLECTION

      Since April is Earth Month to me, or at least it has an Earth Day, I wanted a collection that not only made one think but also made one aware of themselves and this wonderful planet we live on. I am fortunate enough to live in a state where drought and fires are very prevalent. This is supposedly one of the worst droughts in 30 years on record. I say fortunate only because it makes me very aware of my water usage, my electricity usage and my own carbon footprint. Do you ever think about these things? As a whole global planet, we are abusing the crap out of our home. If you don't keep your own domicile clean and happy, what happens? I can't pretend to understand everyone else's mentalities, only to share my own.

   Our earth is a finite resource, this means, when we have used, abused and destroyed her, what then? We are very much on a solid path of destruction. Everything we do either contributes to one side or another. Who uses Dove? Did you know dove uses south east Asian rain forest for their supposedly sustainable palm farms. Did you also know that they give their farmers free range to murder ANY animal that enters the farm, whether it be our closest living genetic relative the Orangutan (My fave Great Ape, not Monkey, although we are all PRIMATES, and to prove their closeness, just watch a video of a baby orangutan crying, shave it and its just an ugly human infant) or any other endangered or protected species, such as Elephants, Tigers and Rhinos. 

   I'm not a huge Greenpeace fan, conceptually yes, action wise no, they have become as inflammatory as PETA, however this video sums up all I just said in about 1.5 minutes...Anti-Palm Farm campaign

Here is an article that explains in detail the info on the Deforestation of Borneo, Sumatra, Indonesia and elsewhere and what that actually means for us as a global community-Article, Click me

If you can't read, Click and watch me!

Here's another by product of the Palm oil deforestation-Slash and burn problem...

   I personally refuse to use palm oil or any unsustainable, conflict or inorganic oil in my products, the organization I hope to benefit from this month's collection feels that this is not the answer. There are ways to meet market and global demands of products that don't include killing the earth or her children- WWF solution

   This is only one example of deforestation and it's devastating ecological effects in the world, all over raw and pure, unexplored forests are cleared for man's greed and the production of cheap and unsustainable products for the global market. What can you do to help? 

   DO reduce, reuse and recycle and my new fave to upcycle items that can be, watch your carbon foot print, I guarantee you wont die walking less than a mile to the store or to run a few errands, and when you do chose to purchase products, know where they come from and what your purchase supports, if I do nothing else in this world, I want to create conscientious shoppers...

This Months 25% will go to benefit one of my fave organizations ever- http://worldwildlife.org/

 Up First we have Gaia Love-

This gorgeous mid tone green shimmer shadow is the perfect mix of greens, golds and shimmer

Sunlit swatch

Shadow jar pic

Flash jar shot

This is Gaia Bruies on the left and Gaia Love on the right in natural light. top is raw, middle is wet and bottom is over NYX jumbo liner in Milk.

Next up is Gaia Bruises, a dark, almost brackish green with strong gold, teal and green shimmer in it, these two blend perfectly for a green based smokey eye. It almost reminds me of a deep bruise, initially I called it bruises heal, as in Bruises heal but extinction don't... Ruminate on that as I try to explain why Gaia- This whole collection is Gaia, it originally was inspired by my love of Bob Marley and his Song Kaia Love, for which I named my last dog. Here is what Senior Wiki says:

             "In Greek mythology, Gaia (/ˈɡeɪ.ə/ or /ˈɡaɪ.ə/; from Ancient Greek Γαῖα, a poetical form of Gē Γῆ, "land" or "earth";^[1] also Gaea, orGe) was the personification of the Earth,^[2] one of the Greek primordial deities. Gaia was the great mother of all: the primal Greek Mother Goddess; creator and giver of birth to the Earth and all the Universe; the heavenly gods, the Titans, and the Giants were born to her. The gods reigning over their classical pantheon were born from her union with Uranus (the sky), while the sea-gods were born from her union with Pontus (the sea). Her equivalent in the Roman pantheon was Terra.^{[3]" Gaia-WIKI}

Gaia Bruises in Lightbox, top is raw, middle is wet and bottom is over NYX jumbo liner in Milk.

Shadow Swatch Credit to IG@AkroGirl 

She used the veil on the inside lid and that stunning shifting dark smokey green on the rest of the lid.

In this Collection we are offering a Blush called Gaia Blood, it is a very rusty, red blush with shimmer, it is a bit darker than our first blush, Addis Ababa. I thought of the rust reds we get from the iron core of our planet, the blood of our earth. This blush will give a healthy glow to any skin tone and is, as all our pigments are, always oil, paraben waxes and filler free.

In Sunlight

 With Flash

In Shade

The Beautiful Karin Using all three pigments from this collection

The Polish in this month's collection, if you could guess are green, go figure, my style lately has been to include one glitter bomb and one either grelly (Glitter Crelly) or a ConShimmer (Contrasting Shimmer)

I have one Glitter bomb and one Conshimmer for you, the Glitter bomb is proving to be a crowd fave.

Up First is Gaia Graffiti, a glitter bomb with black, white, and all shades and finishes and sizes of green glitters, I consider it the earth tagging us back...

 In shade

With Flash

My favorite!!! Macros: Swatcher Credit: Kim

IG@Tbergy97 

Her swatch shows Gaia Graffiti over Gaia Tears with some fun nail art added.

The second polish for April was Gaia Tears. It was a mossy army green with strong blue and turquoise shimmers. This would be the tears part of Gaia.

Swatcher Credit: Kim

IG@Millnpolish

***Also since the release of this collection I have added 5ML Mini bottles for press samples and also for purchase as I know that budget and desire sometimes do not equate 15ML, lol.

 I have decided I will not continue any of the polish from this collection, when gone, it's gone, get yours before that happens****
XOXO,
Ashes
I,A.M...CustomColor Cosmetics and Lacquer

I'm Back, I promise

Hello my lovely colorists,
I am sooooo sorry about the unexpected hiatus, it was not intentional and I feel like a horrible blog owner.
I did have some unexpected puppy trauma and bills and did close down the shop for a few weeks, with surgery for one and a seizure for another I was a distraught dog mom. I can always count on the pug to be the rock tho, she seems to always be just fine when the other two "delicate" flowers have problems.
I did have to rework how I view blogging. It did sorta of become like a chore, like homework. I've been out of college for a while, even if I do plan to go back eventually, it still feels like I am writing papers and doing research for things when I just want to sit in my craft room and create...
I didn't feel this way about blackfish at all or even the veil collection. So how do I get myself as motivated for the others? I just gotta do! lol.
I think my solution was to release a crazy and fun collection all just for me! I mean, I hope you all enjoy the heck out of it too, but I really did it for me! LOL
Anyway, my loves, I sincerely hope that you forgive my absence and remember to check in on our little Custom Corner of the world ever so often or if you feel like a laugh or a cry, I can guarantee in these pages you can find both.
Your support and love mean the world to me and I appreciate every single one of you, so with this I want to remind you all to come visit my FB or IG and enter my giveaway. I do now have a relatively neglected Pinterest now too! lol
You all are the best Custom Colorists a girl could ask for,
XOXO,
ASHES

One of my fave pics, Zoe Pug and Kaia Love is a Frenchton, They use to love our California Coastal Highway 1 beach trips~

Yes her tongue is always out, yes puglet almost always looks this pathetic!

Here is the love of my life, my BF, and Kaia using Zoe as a Pug Pillow and Jah, the rescue bossy.

The top pic was two xmases ago, where my mom's dogs and my dogs had to help us wrap presents, or at least form a QC line...

SHHHHH, don't tell anyone, this goofball is my fave!

DOG PILE!

New logo/label in the works and new collections to come as well!!!