Business Profile: Monrovia BossBabes Holiday Boutique & Vendor Expo

By J. Shadé Quintanilla

Just in time for the holiday season, the Monrovia BossBabes Holiday Boutique & Vender Expo is the perfect opportunity for the community to support local businesses.
Organized by Monrovia residents Melanie Ward and Kathleen Thompson, the idea of the term “Monrovia BossBabes,” was a part of Ward’s vision to have a boutique that empowers women. Calling it an event that is “For Women, By Women, Empowering Women,” the boutique will be held on Sunday, Nov. 15, at Paint N Play from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be unique and eclectic merchandise from female vendors who own small businesses–either as an artist, an independent owner or the owner of direct sales company—and many of the proceeds will go towards helping women. Vendors will sell anything from handmade pet blankets, cosmetics, vintage linen designs and jewelry.
“It’s kind of like a woman’s dream come true, and with the holidays coming up it’s a great opportunity to shop for gifts,” said Thompson, an organizer of the boutique and seller of LAGA Handbags.
One of the vendors at the boutique will be local Monrovia artist Mohna Manihar. Born and raised in India, Manihar is a mixed media artist who will sell beautiful handmade ornaments with henna-inspired designs. Manihar has been greatly influenced by henna designs and embroidery work seen in Indian dresses. She also uses many of the bright colors of dresses from her home state of Rajasthan. According to Manihar, Rajasthan is a desert state; so many of the dresses are bright in color to make up for the lack of color in nature.

– Courtesy Photos

For her ornaments, Manihar makes each one unique by adding designs on two-dimensional wooden pieces and includes a special meaning. A motif throughout her work is the paisley leaf, a design commonly seen throughout henna tattoos. In the shape of a mango–a fruit that comes from a tree never devoid of leaves–the paisley signifies prosperity and good health. One of the ornaments Manihar will sell at the boutique is called Kumbh. An intricate golden design on a black wooden piece, the ornament features a pitcher full of precious jewels and life-giving nectar. In addition to making ornaments, Manihar also creates customized initials out of Indian designs for couples and children.
A good portion of the proceeds at the Monrovia BossBabes Holiday Boutique & Expo will go towards outreach programs that help women around the world. Some of the programs include the Younique Foundation, an organization that helps sexually abused women and LAGA Handbags, which is a company that donates its proceeds to women affected by the 2006 tsunami in Indonesia. Some of the profits will also go towards Paint N Play’s Holdn’ Hands, Helpn’ Hearts program helping children with terminal cancer.
The event will take place at Paint N Play, 418 S. Myrtle Ave., in Old Town Monrovia. For more information, call (626) 256-4848 or visit the Holidsy Boutique’s Facebook page. To look at Mohna Manihar’s artwork, visit https://www.facebook.com/MohnaManihar.

The Third Eye Ornament – In honor of all the women who work to empower other women.

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