I took a little break from making earrings.
I made quite a few necklaces that I will share with you soon. This post is a tribute to the woman in my life who inspired me so much in my jewelry journey and who has taught me the basic things of life.
Thanks to her, I grew up surrounded by nature and she taught me how to live in harmony with nature.
Thanks to her, I ate organic and fresh foods everyday while growing up. I spent some of my most fabulous summer vacations with her in her plantation.
She was the most wonderful story teller and comedian I ever knew. She was so funny and always made us laugh.
I remember how after a hard day, working on the plantation and cooking dinner, she used to thread beads for our waist.
I liked to help her, because I knew that she would tell another one of her fabulous stories.
She explained the meaning of the beads and of course, the name for them. Unfortunately, I don't remember anything of what she told me.
She passed away, but my grandma is still with us. We are very lucky because even at 92 years old, she still has her brain which works very well !
Thanks to her, I never felt like an orphan.
This important and inspiring woman of my life was my great grand aunt, my grandma's little sister. She was more country, while my grandma was more urban. Today, while making these necklaces, I was thinking of her.
How beautiful she looked with all the strands she wore on her waist and how colorful the beads were.
Women mostly used red cotton fabric to wear with the beads, and this was their underwear.
Someone once told me that "thong underwear or panties" is the modern style of our grand parents underwear. I am in love with these simply beaded red necklaces, which also take me back to this period and time of year, when you got plenty of ripe delicious fruits and when we would climb the trees to collect these fruits. Sometimes we would eat so many that we would get sick ! 😊
Odiche
The pendant is made with an extinct fossilized squid specimen called "straight horn" found in Morocco in grayish and black tones and handmade lampwork beads which I wrapped with recycled silk fabric.
I strung with red jasper, vintage black and white terracotta beads from Mali, 10 mm round red agate surround the pendant and the other beads are mixed vintage beads that were from my Grandma's, and then some are reused from a broken Tibetan necklace that I had.
Obioma
Obiama means kindness.
Beautifully strung with red jasper, red agate, vintage African beads, Ashanti brass and vintage Tibetan beads along with handmade ceramic beads.
It always takes sometime, between the moment I share my new work here, and listing them on etsy.
My pain always increases when I work on computer. So, I need to go to my physiotherapist and acupuncturist in order to be able to use the computer again.
My pain is hindering me from running a good business !
Well, slowly I will try to use my phone or tablet, which is a little better for my back and my shoulder. But old folk like me, we prefer the computer. Lol.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by.
Merci beaucoup. :)
It sounds like your childhood was amazing! Great mentors and Mother Nature are so important for us growing up. My husband and I talk about growing a couple of fruit trees when we move south someday. Maybe an avocado and a mango. :) Your necklaces are gorgeous as always! Red is so bold and stunning to wear.
ReplyDeleteI laughed at your comment "old folk like me, we prefer the computer". That is me too! It is way too difficult for me to do things on a tiny phone or pad. I need a real keyboard and a large screen!