Sequence Paj Ntaub
Posted on 6 October 2012 | No responses
Remember a few months ago I had post up a paj ntaub pattern that I have started for my nieces, well here is the finished product, well it’s not entirely completed yet. I just have to sew it into a shirt and a sev, but for the pattern part, it is completed. I finished it a few months ago but had put it away until after Ryla turned one. The Georgia Hmong New Year is in a month so I decided that it’s time to sew the shirt and the sev for her outfit! I am very excited for the outcome for her outfit! Will post photos once I am finished. 
Nu Nplhaib Caum Tsis Cuag Ntxawm
Posted on 5 October 2012 | 1 response
Nu Nplhaib Caum Tsis Cuag Ntxawm is a song that tells the story of Nu Nplhaib and Ntxawm. What I love about this song is Kawm Muas pretty much summed up a very old and popular folk tale in 4 minutes in a very interesting and very good song. The folk tale of Nu Nplhaib Thiab Ntxawm is one of the most told and most popular and familiar stories within the Hmong culture. It was believed that back in the days (hundreds of years ago, maybe) that the tigers and humans lives amongst each other. The Tigers are fierce animals that can portray themselves as humans. There are many different folk tales that will relate tigers and humans. Anyways, Ntxawm is a very beautiful woman in the village. Nu Nplhaib and Ntxawm are very much in love but because of her beauty the tiger posed himself as Nu Nplhais while he was away and kidnapped Ntxawm. Nu Nplhaib refuses to let this happen so he went after Ntxawm. Of course he’s finally reached her, but she was already slowly turning into a tiger herself. This is a happy ending story so he did finally was able to take Ntxawm home.
Nu Nplhaib Caum Tsis Cuag Ntxawm
Nu Nplhais was unable to reach Ntxawm
Singer: Kawm Muas
Featuring: Dawb Thoj
Released: 2000? 2001? a long time ago.
Mi vaj tsev nyob txias twb to
the houses are sitting quietly still
Tsis pom ib tauv pa taws ncho
I cannot see any smoke rising
Pom hneev tso pog ntxoog tsuj log laig hauv zoo
I see footprints of Tiger and ghosts into the village
Kuv nrhia koj tsis ntsib koj tus hneev taw
I look for you and cannot find your foot print
Zaum no ntshai tsov txaij nraum
Now I am afraid the stripped Tiger*
Em kuv mi nakuj ntxawm lawm
Has already taken my Nkauj Ntxawm **
Mus kaw rau qab tsuas ntab
And imprison her in a cave high above
Mus ciaj dab tsov sev lawm tiag
To become a Tiger
Tig rau qab loo los mus tsev
Then I turned around to return home
Nhov kuv lub siab roob khis rhe
I can sense my heart breaking into pieces
Los nrau ntaj ntaus riam hov ntse plias ntawm tes
I have sharpen swords and knives finely by my own hands
Sawv nce kev taug qab tuaj mus nrhiav koj
Then I am on my way to come find you
Tsis nco ntshai ntshav yuav nrog
I am not afraid of my blood spilling
Tsis nco ntshai qaij yuav to
I am not afraid if my skin will puncher
Tsis nco ntshai dab ntshaw tsov
I am not afraid of ghosts or tigers
Tsuas ntshai kuv raws tsis tau koj
I am just afraid I cannot find you
Tshav ntuj nrig mi kab noog quaj zom zaws
The sun is high the birds and insects are out crying
Koj lub chaw uas luag tso koj noj sus
Your place where they allow you to rest/eat
Tej mi qhov cub mi tshuav tub tuag nphob tsus
The stove has already died down with ashes
Nplooj ntoo nplooj hmab twb qhuav twb tuag daj tag
The vines and branches has already dried and died out
Kuv npuas yuav ncav koj lawm nas mi nkauj ntxawm
Will I be able to reach you, my Nkauj Ntxawm
Zoo nuj txeeg loj tis ua loj
The forest is so large and wide
Hnov liab cuam siab nthe ntshoo rooj
I hear the monkeys and animals cried out loud
Mi noog daum dab laug quaj ntxuaj tis plis plawg
The birds(?) are out flying everywhere (?)
Mi nkauj ntxawm koj nyob lub kaum zoo twg
Nkauj Nxtawm which forest are you in?
Fiv yeem nyuj fiv yeem twm
I’ve sacrifice*** cows, I’ve sacrifice buffalo
Fiv yeem bua fiv yeem ntxhw
I’ve sacrifice pig, I’ve sacrifice elephant
Kom kuv taug tau koj qab
so that I can find my way to you
Coj koj rov mus thiab tag
To take you home, that’s the only way
De li nrho daim npooj los tuav ntawm tes
I picked a leaf to hold with my hands
Pwm pwm sis cev nkauj ntxawm koj nyob qhov twg
Pwm pwm***** it said Nkauj Ntxawm where are you
Yog koj tau hnov lub suab qwv nplooj tuaj txog
If you can hear the voices of the leaf******
Thov koj ho teb nuj nplaib ib suab ib los
Please reply to Nuj Npaib******* one sound or one word
Zoov dav luaj no nkauj ntxawm koj puas yuav hnov
The forest is so big, Nkauj Ntsawm will you be able to hear it?
Niam dab tsov hlob tis ua hlob
The monster Tiger who is the boss(??)
Koj yuav tuaj ua tus dab tsi
Why did you come for?
Koj mi ntxhais nkauj ntxawm
Your Nkauj Ntxawm
Twb ciaj dab tso lawm
Has already became a monster tiger
Ua ib siab rov qab mus koj mog
Please brace yourself and return home
Txawm yuav ciaj dab ciaj tsov
Although you’ve became a ghost or a tiger
Txawm yuav ciaj roj ciaj tsuag
Although you’ve became weeds and wilderness ********
Los kuv yuav pus koj rov
I will still take you with me
Coj koj rov mus thiab tag
I will have to take you with me, that’s the only way
Tiger* -the tiger monster, the evil spirits in Hmong fork talss. It is said that the most fierced creature in the Hmong culture are the tigers. There are many different stories and folk tales about Tigers and Humans.
Nkauj Ntxawb **-a folk tale lead female in this story
sacrifice*** -It is believed that if you ask your ancestors for help, you must sacrifice an animal (as food) for them. You can promise them the animal if they are able to bring you to/or help guide you to get what you want (it only works if it’s for good cause). If they are unable to help you reach your goal, then the promised is dismissed. I am actually a believer in feev yam.
pwm pwm****- it’s the sound of a leaf
leaf*****-certain kind of leaf can be blown and will make certain kind of noise. Because the leaf makes its noises very similar to the Hmong language, it is actually understood when a leaf blower blows his leaf. (my parents knows how to understand the sound of the leaf and they too can blow the leaf, sadly this amazing talent is slowing going away) It is actually another form of communication, especially during courtships.
Nuj Npaib******-the main guy in this fork tale
became weeds and wilderness ******** – death in this term
You and Me, Since 2002…Props
Posted on 4 October 2012 | No responses
As I’ve said in my earlier post, Pang is very creative and all the probs for this shoot was made by her and John. The only thing I put together was the basket of fruit and the flowers, besides that, Pang spent her vacation working on putting the probs together for her and John’s 10th year anniversary shoot. John hand made a bench that we used for the shoot as well, but somehow I cannot find any photo of that bench. It was a very nice bench as well.
Either way, enjoy.
Me and You, Since 2002
Posted on 2 October 2012 | No responses
My good friend Pang had asked me to do a photo shoot of her and her husband, John, for their 10th year anniversary, thus the theme of the shoot and of course the title of this post “YOU AND ME, SINCE 2002″. Pang was very creative with the probs, all I needed to do was pretty much show up with my camera and my basket of fruits. I got to Pang’s house pretty early to do her hair and help with her make up. We didn’t go far for this shoot, we went as far as Pang’s back yard for this photo shoot. Considering the small place we have, it was a very good turn out. I did enjoy shooting Pang and John, they were great models. This had been one of the sweetest photo shoot I have ever done! They were very sweet with each other, how envious! Photos were taken back in September, I do apologize for the delay to post them up. Do enjoy the photos.
Paj Ntaub Tutorial: Border
Posted on 28 August 2012 | 2 responses
Here is the last tutorial on this particular pattern that I was working on. This is a border tutorial, in Paj Ntaub Hmoob. It’s nice to have a border for the pattern; it gives it a nice finish. A lot of time that border would be this greenish yellow; in Hmong this color is translated into full moon, I supposed for the brightness of the color. Another green color would most likely be sandwiched in between the two greenish yellow colors for the finish look. It is very simple and very easy and makes the paj ntaub complete with an elegant look.
I can get a bit confusing with my bad explanation but if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Tutorial: T Shape Paj Ntaub Pattern
Posted on 27 August 2012 | No responses
Here is another tutorial on the T shape paj ntaub pattern, which is from the previous tutorial’s pattern. It’s a very easy and simple pattern; it’s always used to compliment the pyramid shape pattern. It pretty much uses to fill up the white spaces from the pyramid shape pattern to make it look nice and also it also added more color to the design.
If I get a bit confusing, which I know I am, let me know and I will explain as much as I can! Enjoy the tutorial!
Tutorial: Pyramid Shape Paj Ntaub Pattern
Posted on 26 August 2012 | No responses
Where have my summer gone to? I felt like this year summer went by quick, too quick! I haven’t even done anything productive nor have I accomplished much! I felt like summer had just started but then look, it’s already the end of August which means school had started and summer is slowly coming to its end whereas fall will slowly begin. Speaking of fall, I am very excited! I love the changes of the leaves and the nice fresh autumn air; the smell of wood burning early in the morning with a mixture of slightly chilly crisp fresh autumn air with a beautiful sunrise and to end the day with a beautiful sunset to complement the colorful changes of the leaves. I can go on and on about how wonderful it is with the changes of summer to autumn, but this post isn’t about that. I tend to day dream of autumn often! J
I know I have promised to do tutorials for such a long time now and when I do, things always come up such as my computer crashing or I’ve gotten busy with homework, midterms, quizzes, finals and etc therefore I could hardly get to do any tutorials. But luckily I was finally able to whip up a super quick tutorial on a super easy pattern. I recorded this tutorial on my cellphone and upload it directly from my cellphone so there’s no editing or fixing anything so sorry for the unprofessional tutorial. But I do hope that this tutorial will help you all with this pattern. With this particular pattern, once you master it, there’s many different pattern/design you can do with this pattern.
This pattern came from one of my traditional Hmong outfit my mom made me a few years back and when I say a few years, I meant over 12 years ago. It’s a very basic pattern with all X’s. Super easy! If I start to get really confused (which I know I am) then just ask me and I will explain as much as I can! Enjoy the tutorial!
I recorded this tutorial with my cellphone so I am so very sorry about the quality!
Hmong in National Geography, 1974
Posted on 23 August 2012 | 4 responses
This year has been such a great year! Not only did I purchase my round trip airline ticket to California for December the day before my birthday at only $227, I too was able to get my hands on the original National Geography’s January 1974 Vol. 145, No. 1 issue! This issue featured a 34 page of beautiful colored photos and text all about the Hmong people! I haven’t started reading yet since I just received it today but I will have to say I was able to skim through the photos and boy, these are some amazing photos! Every single image tells a beautiful or heart breaking story, you can truly tell from just looking at the image! I found this issue on ebay for only $3, shipping was another $3, my money was well spent. The issue is still in perfect condition. There’s no wear or tears, just a few very minimal digs at the top corner, I can survive with that!
I am a very happy person right now and decided that I will want to start a collection of Hmong related books and magazines. I’ve already have a few great books about the Hmong people and I am glad to have this National Geography issue added onto my small but growing collection of Hmong related books!
I just have to note, 1974, wow! I wasn’t even born yet!
Newest Paj Ntaub Project Summer 2012
Posted on 14 August 2012 | 2 responses
Shame on me!! Where have I been for the whole month of July and the first half of August? Well, I’ve been trying to finish up my summer semester at school and then I had also been hiding myself in my room finishing up all of Law and Order SVU and I had also started Criminal Minds while I work on my newest paj ntaub, oh yes, and also, working. I do apologize my slacking off. I should had updated and let everyone know my newest project, but I had been so into it that I keep forgetting to get online to update and inform.
For the last few weeks I started a new project for myself. I decided that for the past few times all my cross stitches were somewhat more modern and less of my clan’s cross stitches so I started working on something my mom would truly approve, my clan’s pattern of cross stitching. All my Hmong clothes that my mom made me have this particular pattern, my mom loves this pattern because it’s beautiful and also because it’s both my parent’s family clan’s pattern. So to my mom, this pattern is more traditional therefore she likes it best. I too like it too but I had so many of this pattern I didn’t want to make one but out of no where, I decided to just make myself one but once I sew the outfit together I’ll put a modern twist to it in the shirt and sev while I keep the cross stitch traditional.
I have already completed the cross stitches for the sev (which is always the first item I start with, it’s a habit), I’ve already completed both front pieces and one hand pieces. I am 90% done with my last hand piece and then I’ll work on the small back piece which should be fast and easy since it’s only a small piece. If I really put my heart to it, the back piece should be done in one day. I’ve developed a somewhat speed on my cross stitches, especially this type of patterns. With this type of pattern the dominate colors will always be green and red, which is a very important Hmong color, notice that in my traditional clan, the two man slash colors are also pink and green. For instance, for my clan group, if we were to wear our traditional Hmong pants (which not every clans girl would wear pants) the green slash will be shown int he front while the red slash is shown on the back.
Anyways, I will give more updates on my newest paj ntaub project and more pictures up soon. I will have this whole outfit completed within the next few months including sewing of the shirt and sev. I’ll complete it before the Hmong New Years. I have great news for the New Years, a trip to come very soon.
o
Karen and Koua’s Wedding Photo Shoot
Posted on 8 July 2012 | No responses
My friend Karen had asked me to do a wedding photo shoot of her and her husband so over the weekend I made my way to Savannah and shot them with their formal wedding attires. We didn’t do too well with the schedule we had set for ourselves therefore we did not have much time to do the shoot, but over all we had some great photos from the shoot.
The photos were taken in Fort Pulaski and Savannah Oglethrope Square.
ENJOY!
