Happy October!

It's been a longtime since my last post !
The fact is, when you suffer so much from pain, it is hard to enjoy even the basic things in life ! You cut yourself off from the world.
There is no longer any interest in things, and everything seems indifferent, almost offensive. But the truth is, when suffering so severely, it is even more important to remain connected with the people and things that make you happy. Because when we are disconnected from those people and things that bring us joy, the pain becomes worse and lasts longer, because then we focus only on the pain. Having constant pain is exhausting. Exhaustion and pain make it hard to think clearly and even makes it difficult to have a decent conversation with someone.

I have been far away from everything since we returned from our vacation!
I even ventured to stop my activity as a jewelry designer, which I know is not a very clever idea . 😊
My family and my friend Linda think the same way ! 😊

I need to continue with what brings me joy.  I love what I create, and I am so very happy that this activity leads my path to each of you.
I appreciate each of your actions, each of your smiles when you come to hold one of my creations, and your kind words.

Thanks to my acupuncturist, osteopath and other plant medicines  (which I really hope, will be reimbursed by the insurance company one day) I have gotten a little bit of relief.  

I never would have thought that eating something, that I have eaten my whole life, would make me feel so miserable.  I stopped eating my daily "baguette "  and now eat gluten free foods.  However, in my case, I am intolerant to rice, and rice flour is commonly used in gluten free foods.  So that makes being "gluten free" a lot more difficult.  But for now, I am making some delicious vegetarian dishes, which are a mixture of African, Indian and European foods.
One of these days, I will try to share these dishes with you.

I am up to working again, albeit in slow motion, but I am here ! 😊
I wonder where all this will lead me.
For now I want to share with you, my precious customers and friends, what I have made.

 It was deemed to be beautiful and unique, warm to the touch and light in weight. Washed upon the shores by turbulent north seas, intrinsically formed by light and life, preserved by time.

This  marvelous necklace is made with raw authentic baltic yellow-gold amber, in a nugget shape. Vintage resin from Morocco,Brass tube from Ethiopia, Tuareg brass bead from Mali ,recycled Krobo beads, Acai seed beads and vintage glass beads.

Subtle, mystic, dreamy and serene, ethereal yet solid. Inviting, isn't it ?
How can you go wrong with this gorgeous sea blue color necklace with its matching pair of earrings !
It's said that the light blue colour marks the beginning of life and emotion, and is a colour of faith and trust.
I just love blue chalcedony gemstones with its amazing soft blue translucence, and an almost imperceptible movement within that invokes a stillness of silent reverence. It's so calming, and speaks of spirit. Alongside are handmade ceramic beads,vintage Berber silver as center piece, Krobo beads and Recycled Indonesian tube glass.
Feel free to visit my shop for all my new designs! 

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup. :)

La discrète!

Here are another series of earrings, more in earth tone colors.

I know it is spring and everyone wants color in their life especially during this period of the year.

Personally, I don't wear a lot of colors!

I like to be discret, so I will wear more brown, Ivory and pastels.

Plus, colorful items looks uggly on me! :)

The other day, I felt the urge to buy a new trench coat because it was so warm and I almost passed out on the street from the heat in my winter jacket.

The only trench coats I like were in two different colors. But in effort to change from my style habit, I tried the colorful one and I scared myserlf to death. Lol

Even the sales woman agreed with me.

She was nice and politely said "we are not used to see you in such color"

However, I really like red and I look great with.

Even if these beauties are made with earth tone colors, you can't go wrong with them. Because they can be matched with most colors.

Ilozumba

 Ilozumba means distant from home is forgotten  

I like the earthy feel of this combination of materials.

A pair of slim rustic hoops in buff stoneware and fired with bronze and river rock glaze were the start of this design. I then added rustic handmade lampwork, handmade ashanti brass and I adorned it all with faceted black obsidian. I then wire wrapped them with my own oxidized pure copper wire.

Even with such neutral colors, you are sure to be noticed and the center of attention with this amazing pair of earrings!! :)

 

I love these ceramic droppers so much!

It was hard to capture the beauty of these drops in picture.

A pair of wing droppers,  hand formed in earthstone glacier porcelain, embedded with leaf skeletons, and fired. Coated with black slip to fill in the skeleton of the leaf, sanded down, and fired again. Coated with turquoise crackle glaze and fired. And finally a layer of mother of pearl lustre glaze which captures and becomes the center of attention on this pair of earrings. I simply stacked a small carnelian stones with the most beautiful color, nuggets of turquoise and sandwiched with very unusual handmade lampwork beads.

They will be surely be a part of your everyday life story and you will never grow tired of them!

 Imbiana

Imbiana means unity in song

It is always so wonderful to find lampwork beads that have a tribal feel!

I no longer buy lampwork beads. I think I have enough lampwork beads in my current collection to last me for the rest of my life! Lol

These beautiful handmade pair of tube shaped porcelain beads are fired with a coil of nichrome wire wrapped around and down each for a dramatic and beautiful effect then dipped in lovely glazes. Then I added a tribal flair lampwork bead adorned with a dots in a lovely shade of purple with a squiggle line in shades of ivory.  I added black silver spacers and round tibetan agate with a cream band.  

At the top of the earring I added a large loop of copper to finish the piece.  I really liked making this large loop to finish the pieces. I felt that it added some elegance while at the same time was eye-catching, which gave each a  nice finish.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup. :)

Sebèkolo collection

At all times, throughout the history of the world, men and women of all cultures, whatever their origins, their locations, their beliefs, have always possessed a symbolic object to protect themselves from evil spirits and/or to attract the good graces of the spirits.  The object commonly referred to as: an amulet, a talisman, or Gris-Gris depending on the name given in the region of the people who wear them, has various meaning and significance for whoever wears them.  Whoever wears the object is free to interpret the meaning of it from their own beliefs and traditions.  The symbolism of the object is associated to them.

It is on this theme that I created the Sebèkolo collection.
Sebèkolo is a malinké word, which means protection.

I have always thought that both amulet and talisman offer protection to whomever wears it. I was quite surprised to learn that there is a subtle difference between them.

First let's explain this difference !

"An amulet is an object whose most important characteristic is the power ascribed to it to protect its owner from danger or harm.  Amulets are different from talismans as a talisman is believed to bring  luck or some other benefit, though it can offer protection as well.^"

^{Source wikipedia}

I made this necklace with an antique key which is archeological dug, on which I dangled a fossilized Orthoceras, also known as "Straight Horn" from Mother Earth's underwater garden,

tied with Tibetan mala seed, bone and Dzi beads, petrified rainbow wood, a leather bag (reused from a tibetan necklace) and handmade ceramic drop bead.

Each of these gemstones have their own properties, but when associated together, they have a protective and healing power.

I wire wrapped handmade ceramic egg shell  crackled tube beads with pure copper wire, then, used vintage rusty metal skeleton key with  patina as pendant and I dangled a variety of artisan beads, intricately handmade leather bag with a cowry shell, handmade tribal ceramic drop,deer antler, wood bead and silk ribbon.

Amulet vary considerable according to their time and place of origin.

I made this simple and elegant amulet which has a powerful healing resonance to them.  It has African turquoise, mixed gemstones, handmade lampwork bead etched with tribal Sgraffito design.

   

Dangled from the necklace is a vintage Ethiopian camel bone pendants which is also known as medicine stick pendants, as they were used by the tribe's Shaman for healing purposes.

The circular pattern was believed to protect from the evil eye.

Amulets are like magic charms, worn by people to protect themselves from negative energies, evil and injury, and also to bring good luck.


As always, thank you so much for stopping by!

Necklace!!!

I made this simple, minimalist, very elegant, timeless necklace by using mostly materials handmade in Africa. I wire wrapped a unique handmade white raku bead and African Jasper gemstone with my own oxidized  pure copper wire and I dangled the necklace with a large pendant which included large handmade Ethiopian metal, vintage African glass, handmade raku and ivory lampwork spacers and raku ceramic beads to make this stunning African Inspired necklace statement. I finished the assemblage with oxidized silver chain reminiscent of the handmade Ethiopian silver pendant.

I'm on my way...

 

Sometimes,  I like to be my own model.  A souvenir of my short-lived as a model in the 80's.