Solange,Stop buying beads!!!

On this beautiful sunny cold day, I couldn't help but to walk a little further than usual.

I don't often go to this side of the city.  I don't know why because it is on the same street as the bakery in which I buy my daily baguette.  The name of this side of  the sreet is different though ^^.

For some reason,  I decided to change my habit and I went further than the covered market which is also in the same street  "Rue des quatres églises". I always ask myself , why is there no church in a street called "Rue des quatres églises" (Four Churches street )?

So I googled it and this what it said: "The street owes its denomination to the presence of four places of prayers on its course in 1728, they changed this name to "Rue de la revolution" in 1791 and in 1814, they changed it again to its actuel name".

Well, after the small historical interruption concerning "La rue des Quatre-Eglises, let us return to what brought us here!
Last summer, I came across a Tibetan shop and I was kind of reluctant  to go inside but I entered it anyway.. And I am glad I did because the owner is a nice and sympathetic man.

So, since I had some spare time before the next thing on my busy "to do list" (I am always have  a million thing to do, I know I should slow down a little bit)  I decided to  take a moment to go inside this shop  to see everything it had to offer .  I couldn't help myself  not to hoard all the marvelous treasures it had. The truth is that, the prices were very appealing because it is winter sales time here! :)
I really enjoyed the store. Going out of my usual area was a good thing.
However,  I have discovered another place to buy beads. I must stop buying beads.

Solange, stop buying beads! Lol.

I am already working with these treasures and I can't wait to share it with you! 

Aren't these Tibetan beads gorgeous and worth the visit?

Tibetan Repoussee Pendant Prayer Box, Brass Repoussee Pendant and  Dorje Brass hollow pendant

"Repoussee is a method of embossing a metal sheet (silver, copper, brass) by punching and hammering a design from the back, then polishing it up in front with a chasing hammer, producing a three-dimensional bas-relief surface."

"The dorje or thunderbolt is a symbol of divine power and the wisdom of the Buddha".

Red. Red is amongst my favorite colours. Seriously, look at these!

Aren't they the prettiest with the murrini!

They are definitely worth the detour!

Naga conch shell beads inlaid with crushed coral and turquoise

They are so smooth beads!!!

I have always wanted these naga conch beads but they are so expensive so I could never afford it until today. They are still expensive but this was my only chance to have them for my own. :)

When I visited Ghana, I was on a mission to find a variety of Krobo beads that I had invisioned in my head.  We searched and searched but I could not find the variety that I wanted.  I was told we could find what I wanted but we would need to travel to another city which meant we would have to drive 9 to 10 hours to get them.  Unfortunately, I wasn't in the mood and I needed to go back to Côte D'ivoire to catch my return flight, so instead I ordered these online.  So while it was worth the visit and definitely worth the detour, it was so much easier to order these Krobo beads online.  

Fish Vertebrae Bone Beads made in Senegal and recycled Krobo beads made in Ghana.

The reverse side of the repousse pendant is Ohm symbol.

I like to use handmade beads, recycled, upcycled and unique materials from around the globe to make my jewelry!

As always, thank you so much for stopping by!

SanKoFa

I can't remember how often I heard or used this word "SanKoFa". It is just one among others in my native language but I always liked the rhythm of the sound when Grandma used it. 

Then I googled it and wow... I learned a lot about it. How it has become a symbol in traditional Akan Art, in African American and African Diaspora.

SanKoFa mean to reach back and get it.

It comes to this moment in my life that I need to return to my roots!

When I first started my jewelry journey I wanted to make plenty of tribal jewelry, but with a comtempory influence.

I made some of them which were sold very quickly to people like me, who like the jewelry they wear to be noticed. ( In my case, it was not the sole purpose but I feel more comfortable this way!)

Then, we moved to this city where I currently live and I lost my interest in making tribal necklaces.  I was selling more earrings than my tribal necklaces.

Recently however, I felt the huge need to make the necklaces again and the inspiration came to me naturally.

Africa, Africa, Africa...

My beautiful land,

Land of proud warrior,

in our ancestral Savannah.

Don't tell me you are a myth,

because that's the way, I see you.

Beautiful land,

You have so much to give,

So much to forgive,

Africa, my land, Africa the broken heart. I see and feel your pain, but through this pain still I see your beautiful smile. I hear your Heart of a broken land crying. This is my Land and I won't deny it because I love you more than ever before... Africa

I see your hidden beauty, I see you like a very timid beautiful woman.

I see your potential and I love you ever more.

My land, My broken land,

I love you more than ever before,

Forgive us, Africa!

Forgive your children,

Because they didn't teach us, how to show you this love!

I love you more than ever before!

I never really left you Africa, because I carry you in my heart wherever I go!

You made me the strong woman, I am today!
I am so thankful for that!

I know like everywhere else in the world, you are changing. You are making a transition in your own style. Unfortunately these changes are not for the best!

We are losing our culture.
We are losing our native languages.
but still

Africa, I love you evermore

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika

God Bless Africa

In this project, I used handmade vintage recycled vinyl beads from Mali, vintage Bauxite, African trade beads given to me by my Grandma,Yoruba Bell spiral charms, brass from Nigeria, brass cast metal from Ivory Coast, recycled krobo beads I bought in Ghana during my last trip there. The pendant mask was specially made for me at my request a few years ago by a Senegalese Artisan in the Ivory Coast, using the technique of lost wax,
and of course: gemstones, bone, handmade ceramics and polymer clay beads  made by my friend Leah Curtis.
I also, repurposed a Tibetan necklace my sister gave me which her friend bought in Nepal a very long time ago!

What you may think is just a long string of beads, is in fact a lot of: work, research, assemblage and disassembling to make the most perfectly imperfect tribal necklace from recycled objects that I have collected from all over the world over a period of several years.

As always thank you so much / Me daa si  :)

Magical Spell of Gemstones

I  have been in the process of creating a lot of earrings, 10 pair of earrings mostly with gemstone beads. I know, I know... you are thinking "but she always uses gemstone beads in a her creations so that's nothing new". Yes, you are right, but this time I am using a pair of gemstones as the main focal.
I find it very calming and relaxing when working with stone. I have been praticing meditation recently.  It is kind of hard to be totally focused but I am getting there slowly.  
 Honestly, this moment of mindfulness is nourishment for my soul, my body, and a peaceful interval of time with my inner me, and a source of inspiration that connects me to the beginning of all.  There is no secret to meditation but to practice.  Practice is the best way to learn anything and everything!!!  Thank you to Mary Jane for being my long distance teacher. I appreciate so much all of your advice. :)
I always intentionally work with specific purpose and awareness of color combinations and harmony with the materials.
 
                                                                            Mind of a Wanderer

A lovely, alluring vibrant blue-green slab of chrysocolla gemstone dangling below a Indonesian tribal carved burnt orange tube bead. 

The more I learn about meditation, the more I know that we are all connected in this world. I now remember a ritual practiced by the elderly: give a small part of what you eat or drink to the Mother Earth, by spilling it on the ground and keep in touch with the spirit. That represents a sign of respect and heartfelt thanks to Mother Earth, the one which feeds us constantly.

I was in the mood for messy wire wrapping when I made these earrings.  When I am in this messy wire wrapping mood my hubby will always ask me if something is bothering me.  It is unusual when I do this so he notices. :)  Nope, I just feel the need to do messy wire wrapping and smash on copper or brass sheets sometimes!

I've had these gorgeous etched copper pieces by MaireDodd for almost 4 years now.  I kept them for myself but it was time to let them go.  I assembled them simply because they did not need much. I added messy wire wrapping with a natural nugget of turquoise and vintage brick red glass on oxidyzed pure copper wire

                                                                                Totally Asymmetrical

Nugget Ocean Jasper gemstone with druzy and lovely shades of green on an ivory base handmade lampwork beads. Another one of my old stuff, which need to find a new home now!  :)

                                                                              Beauty In ImperFecTion

Gorgeous Leopard Skin Jasper gemstone dangle below handmade lead nickel free Pewter charms

                              Tangled in Purple

Handmade withered gem cut ceramic beads with vintage text decals, Rainbow titanium quartz, handmade  tuxedo black, sterling silver, white and a hint of rose bicone  lampwork beads.

                                                                        Wanderlust Soul

Tribal yak bone mala Inlaid turquoise and coral Chips, chrysocolla gemstones and A pair of banded, oblong droppers hand formed in buff stoneware, grooved and fired with rock garden, Apple Green, Bora Bora, Jade, crackle glazes, and Bronze Clay.

                                                                                      Minimalist

A  pair of flat, glazed scales, hand formed in Southern ice Porcelain, that resemble fish scales fired with Bronze clay, Grapel and Sour Apple glazes, wire wrapped with oxidyzed pure copper wire.


                                                                                     CarMeL

Lemon Chrysoprase , rustic soft lime green glass organic, ethnic Indonesian Beads, purple Czech glass.

                                                                                   Vamos A La PlaYa

                                                         
Handmade seafloor, shoreline shell in shade of  aqua with beautiful vivid red starfish and a little a touch of sand adorned with red red tube of lucite and hand dye horn beads.

Aqua green sea aquamarine tone rustic square barrel,recycled Indonesian glass and rainbow blue mystic titanium AB quartz crystal .