Inspired Beaders: Soul of Somanya

Here on Inspirational Beading, we often get to see some amazing handmade beads, or jewelry designs that have a great story. Today, we get both! You may already be familiar with the gorgeous handmade products from Soul of Somanya - a fair-trade style bead and jewelry project based in Ghana, West Africa. Co-founder and director, Mel MacDuffee, joins us today to share a little insight into this wonderful organization, and how it all began.

Mel: Most people here call me Mel...my African name is Manye Dede Adanki Banahene III. “Manye” means “Queen Mother,” (I was made an honorary Queen Mother on my first visit to Ghana) and “Dede” means “first-born.” Someone there told me that “Adanki” means “Brave, Wise & Stubborn,” but that remains unconfirmed. “Banahene” is the surname of the Krobo family of which I am now a member. I am (by their customs and beliefs) the third in a line of Adanki’s in their family—hence the “III.” But the most mind- boggling part is that I instantaneously became the mother of I’m-not-yet-sure- how-many Banahene children and/or adults. Still trying to figure that one out.

Inspirational Beading: When did you first get started with beads and jewelry design?

Mel: Actually, I started out as a crocheter. I had developed a technique called “Overlay Crochet,” which I started applying to making crocheted jewelry. That’s what my first book, Crochet Overlay Jewelry (Leisure Arts, 2006), was about. But the real push came when my travel-writing business crashed after 9/11 and, after years of working for myself, I reluctantly applied for a job at a local bead store. Much to my surprise, I found that I loved working there. I started learning all different kinds of beading techniques, although I found myself increasingly drawn towards delicate wirework. Eventually, I started publishing some of my designs. It was one of those designs that ultimately led to the founding of Soul of Somanya.

Inspirational Beading: How did this passion lead to the creation of Soul of Somanya?

Mel: Somehow, a group of beadmakers in the Krobo region of Ghana, West Africa, got hold of an issue of Bead & Button magazine, in which I happened to have an earring design, along with my email address. Traditionally, the Krobo artisans have strung their beads on pieces of cotton string or twisted raffia, tying them off with bulky knots. Now, seeing what the rest of the world was doing with beads, they wanted to learn some of our fancier techniques. So I woke up one morning to an email inviting me to come to Ghana and teach them.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite bead design or style?

Mel: Well, of course I’m pretty partial to the Krobo powdered glass beads, especially the hand-painted ones. I got to watch the whole process of how they’re made the first time I went to Ghana, and I was awed by the amount of time, skill and creativity that goes into them.

Inspirational Beading: What’s the most interesting or unique thing about the bead making process?

Mel: I think the fact that they’re made out of recycled glass is important in a world that is finally becoming more conscious of the need to re-use and recycle. But I also love the fact that the homemade kilns in which the beads are fired are made of termite clay. It turns out that termite saliva is a binding agent that allows the artisans to fire at higher temperatures without their kilns cracking. I’ve always wondered who figured that out.

Inspirational Beading: How have your experiences in Ghana influenced your own designs?

Mel: My previous wirework tended to be extremely light and lacy. These chunkier beads have led me into experimenting with making heavier kinds of wire beads and lace. I also do a lot more stringing than I used to in order to find harmonious ways of combining the colors and the various styles of beads made by the Krobo people.

Inspirational Beading: What’s your favorite thing about working with beadmakers in Ghana?

Mel: I don’t really work directly with the beadmakers these days, except by trying to buy the beads we use and resell directly from individual artisans when we can, so that they can keep the full retail price of their beads rather than having to share it with their bead sellers. The young people who actually earn a living wage working for Soul of Somanya don’t make the beads—they make the jewelry. But my favorite thing about working with both groups has been their absolutely fearless approach to learning. They don’t seem to worry about messing up as so many of us here do, so they are free to just plunge in with joy and verve and give it their best shot. Consequently, they learn with astonishing speed.

Inspirational Beading: What is the most exciting bead or jewelry design in stock right now?

Mel: I really love the Adinkra earrings our artisans produce. They feature a range of traditional Ghanaian symbols meaning everything from “Strength & Humility” to “Friendship & Interdependence” to “Grace Under Hardship”.

Inspirational Beading: Are there any new projects or products on the horizon for Soul of Somanya?

Mel: I’m so glad you asked me that! Yes, we’re currently running a campaign on an online “crowdfunding” site called Indiegogo, where we’re raising money to launch a whole new line of products featuring the incredibly beautiful textiles produced in Ghana. It’s a very user-friendly site, and we are offering “perks” that are worth more in Soul of Somanya goods than the actual value of the contribution made. For example, for a contribution of $20.00 we give back a gift certificate for $20.00 plus a 15% discount that can be applied to the same purchase. So people actually come out ahead by supporting the campaign.

If we can raise enough money, we’ll eventually be offering handbags, tote bags, laptop and iPad sleeves, cell phone cases, men’s ties, etc. This will allow us to offer living-wage jobs to more of the at-risk young people in the Somanya area, ensuring that they will not have to become street prostitutes or thieves in order to feed their children and support older members of their families.

Inspirational Beading: Who do you hope to inspire with your work?

Mel: We try hard to help people understand the importance of supporting 3rd world artisans and agricultural producers by purchasing their products. My own interest, and that of most of our regular customers, is a humanitarian one. But if that isn’t a strong enough motivator, we try to encourage enlightened self-interest. Because, whether we are willing to acknowledge it or not, we are no longer a world comprised of dozens of unrelated economies. If the recent crashes in various Europe economies hasn’t amply demonstrated that, I don’t know what ever will. We are a world economy now. Our economic health depends upon that of every other nation in the world. So when we behave generously towards others, we are being generous to ourselves as well. And in the process, we are extending a compassionate hand to the half of the world’s population that struggles to survive on a couple of dollars a day.

You can learn more about Soul of Somanya, their products, artisans, and mission of hope on their website. To support their upcoming line of handmade textiles, visit their funding page on Indiegogo. Beautiful artisan beads and finished jewelry are also available for immediate purchase on Etsy. To see more photos from Ghana, beautiful jewelry, and lots of other bead goodness, check out Mel’s Soul of Somanya Blog.

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
Melody MacDuffee and Soul of Somanya
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Inspired Beader: Strings for Hope

Have you ever stopped before tossing something in the trash or recycling, and wished that you knew of a way to reuse it instead? We all know that recycling is the last option of the Three R’s, and if there’s a way to keep items from ending up in a bin, we should take it. Many artists, beaders and jewelry designers use this approach in their work by saving, salvaging and repurposing objects that others view as trash, and turning it into treasure.

Laura Wilson of Nashville Restrung keeps used guitar strings out of the landfill by using them to create beautiful upcycled jewelry. In addition to reducing a little bit of waste and making a great statement, she also uses her creativity to help support causes locally, and around the world, that aim to alleviate and eliminate poverty.

Inspirational Beading: How did you first get into combining guitar strings with beads?

Laura: I started working with guitar strings 2009; at that point I had been a beader for 10 years. My husband is a guitar builder and I kept watching him throw used strings in the trash. That perfectly beautiful wire was headed to the landfill! I learned that strings from musical instruments are made from mixed metals and therefore not recyclable. I thought the wire itself had far too much character to be wasted, and figured I should be able to do something with it. The first bracelet I made used an interesting triangle bead.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite material or color to work with?

Laura: Strings come in such a variety of textures and weights there is always something new to work with. I particularly enjoy when I get a set of violin or cello strings. They are so fluid and flexible they make very delicate, feminine pieces. When it comes to beads, I love stalking thrift shops and estate sales for pieces I can disassemble to reuse. I recently found a bracelet at a thrift shop that was commercially made from wonderfully carved Tibetan silver and accented with huge blue plastic pony beads. It could not have been more hideous! I redesigned the silver pieces and it’s one of my top favorites now.

Inspirational Beading: Where do you find inspiration for new pieces?

Laura: Each brand of guitar string has different characteristics. The ferrule ball end – the piece that holds the string to the bottom of the instrument, at the saddle -- can be round, bullet shaped, or even a loop. They can be stainless, brass or a variety of colors. I let the strings' unique character take me down a path to beauty.

Inspirational Beading: If you could master any new technique, what would it be?

Laura: I made some trial and error stabs at soldering and it hasn’t been pretty. I think soldering would allow me to add so much more dimension to the items I make.

Inspirational Beading: Do you remember your first jewelry project? Where is it today?

Laura: I was so blissfully unaware! I thought, How hard can it be to throw some beads together? I learned a lot of lessons from that piece. I still wear it often – a multistrand necklace of black glass and crystal beads.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite organization to donate to?

Laura: In the summer of 2011 I listened to a message based on Matthew 25 and the parable of the 10 talents. Before going away on a trip the master gave his servants his wealth to care for. To one he gave five talents, another two and the final one. When he returned they came back and presented his wealth and what they had done with it in his absence. At the end of the story the master states, “For whoever has, will be given more, and they will have an abundance.”

I looked around my life and was overwhelmed with how blessed I am with a great family and friends, a home, a job I love. It opened my heart to really see how many people in our own communities are struggling to feed their families. I had this great little hobby making jewelry, so why not use it to do something meaningful?

I’d had some success in selling my pieces but it wasn’t until we opened ourselves up to really giving back to our community that it took off. We’ve made a commitment to work equally with local and global agencies. In our community we support the Backpack Ministry that sends food home with students who otherwise would not have meals available on weekends, and we also support our local food bank. Globally, we’re currently working with two fabulous organizations – Jacaranda Kids in Kenya, and Mission Lazarus in Honduras.

You can see more of Laura’s creations, and learn about her commitments to creating change through jewelry at Strings for Hope, and browse designs in her shop Nashville Restrung.

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading and Laura Wilson
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Book Spotlight: Colorful Aluminum Jewelry

What do soft drinks and scrapbooking tools have in common? They are both essential tools for making sensational upcycled jewelry. Just imagine taking the colorful labels of your favorite pop cans, and transforming them into unique designs with flair.

Helen Harle’s instruction guide to making aluminum jewelry is full of inspiring designs with themes from nature. It might be hard to see flowers when you look at your recycling bin, but Create Colorful Aluminum Jewelry will change the way you think about metal work.

This book begins with an in-depth look at the jewelry materials and findings used in the projects, plus tips for cutting and shaping pop cans with an assortment of simple tools that you can find at most craft and hobby stores.

There’s also a brief look at jewelry making techniques, like wrapped loops, with clear photographs to guide the absolute beginner.

There are 20 different jewelry projects to try, including earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces and brooches. Each design is a little more complex than the last, so there’s something for beaders of every skill level. You can work your way up from simple dangle earrings, to the elaborate and stunning wisteria necklace. At first glance, it would be hard to tell that this piece started out in a grocery store cooler.

Equally intriguing is the rose bracelet project. Using basic flower punches and careful shaping techniques, you can create realistic looking roses for all types of jewelry and even home décor designs. This project is definitely one to strive for.

Although the projects in Create Colorful Aluminum Jewelryare very feminine, the techniques used could easily be adapted to all kinds of tastes. I can see plenty of opportunities to make beer can jewelry for those guys manly enough to wear it.

And, just in case beaders didn’t have enough to obsess over, hunting down cans with unique colors and patterns could become a hobby all on its own. The import section of your grocery store would be a great place to start!

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
Helen Harle and Kalmbach Books
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Green Starfish for the Gulf

Photo Credit:
Greenpeace USA

Even though we live in a time when news spreads quickly and never really disappears, it often seems like a story is here today, then gone tomorrow. This is a bit of a chicken-and-egg scenario, because although websites, radio stations and news programs might push a topic to the back burner, we can still continue to discuss the matter and do investigations of our own.

Unfortunately, in the case of the Gulf Coast oil disaster, the news just keeps on coming. Tuesday will mark the 3rd month ‘anniversary’ of the Deepwater Horizon explosion that lead to the continuous oil gusher. Although billions of dollars have been spent to stop the flow of toxic petroleum into the ocean, the situation continues to get worse instead of better.

Last month, I shared an image from If It Was My Home, showing what the oil slick would look like if it were on my doorstep. Here is what it would look like today:

Despite the hard work of many organizations to clean up the sludge, the pollution is making it’s way inland. Tarballs have been discovered in the waterways of Southeastern Texas and the greater New Orleans area. Sea birds and other marine animals continue to attempt feeding and nesting in the oil damaged areas, having no instinct to pack up and leave a lost cause.

And, as we continue to watch in horror and wonder what the results of the catastrophe will be in five, or ten, or twenty years, we continue to do what we can to help. The Help the Gulf Coast Etsy collective is still going strong, and has raised nearly $8000 for Oxfam America and the National Wildlife Federation.

Deep Green Sea Ring

If you haven’t stopped by the shop recently, head on over to Help the Gulf Coast and see some of the new handmade donations. All net proceeds are donated equally between charities helping animals and families affected by the BP oil spill. This week, I sent along my latest ring, Deep Green Sea.

Just in case you need a little extra motivation, stop by Deep Sea News for the latest updates and informative links.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and The Sage's Cupboard

Helping the Gulf Coast and Ring Twenty-two

Last week, Help the Gulf Coast announced that they have received approval from the National Wildlife Federation to raise funds on their behalf. Just yesterday, they made their first donation, and matched the $2000 already raised for Oxfam America. Not bad for less than two weeks of fundraising!

The collective is still going strong, with over 400 amazing handmade donations still available, and counting. Every dollar raised will go towards efforts to halt and repair the damage done by the enormous oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico.

Once I had sent in Ring # 17 as my donation, I couldn’t wait to get started on another piece for the cause. After hearing the great news about NWF, I thought I would celebrate with one more starfish ring. The first ring, Baby Fish Blues, had a cheerful color palette, with not-so-cheerful inspiration. This time, I thought I would use some more somber colors, to reflect how we all feel about this disaster.

Ring # 22 - Heartbreaker

I started with the starfish, and used a jet black druk with transparent smoky gray seed beads. I knew that I wanted to use a black and red palette, so all that was left was to choose the band color. When I mentally went over my red bead stash, I thought the best choice would be lustered cranberry. Imagine my delight when I opened the bead box and found a little packet of black-lined garnet 3-cuts tucked away in the corner. It was as if fate had kept me from using them up all this time. The garnet contrasts with the starfish perfectly!

You can learn more about the Help the Gulf Coast collective, and their fundraising efforts, by visiting the Help the Gulf Coast blog, or following them on Twitter. If you still haven’t shopped or donated your own handmade treasure to the cause, here are a few sites to get you motivated:

National Geographic - A photo gallery of the oil spill.
Louisiana Oil Spill 2010 Photos - Over 300 photographs with informative captions.
If it Was My Home - Type in any location to see an up-to-date size reference of the BP oil "spill".

As a tribute to Help the Gulf Coast, and all of the animals that they are helping to save, I created this Etsy treasury with my favorite sea life designs from the shop.

One Creature at a Time includes creations from these wonderful artists:

amyperrotti.etsy.com
CirclesRoundtheSun.etsy.com
iktomi.etsy.com
seabelly.etsy.com
FolkArtFromFlorida.etsy.com
HollyEdwards.etsy.com
LiaLane.etsy.com
SeaDayDesigns.etsy.com
leefee.etsy.com
arttales.etsy.com
handknitbycara.etsy.com
AjBCreations.etsy.com

I would like to send out a huge Thank You to the wonderful sellers who keep Help the Gulf Coast going, and to everyone who has donated or purchased an item for the cause. Every dollar is a drop in the bucket!

Copyright 2010
Inspirational Beading and The Sage's Cupboard
Etsy.com and IfItWasMyHome.com

Seasonal Treats and Ring Twenty

Candied Apples
Photo Credit: ranzino.

Candy apples are traditionally an autumn treat, served around Hallowe’en when the apples are ripe enough to eat. And yet, ask anyone to list their favorite summer confections, and chances are, candy apples will be one of them. They are often found in the midway at the fair, in the concession at the amusement park, and they are even sold by vendors at the beach.

Thanks to advanced growing techniques, artificial ripening, and refrigerated trucks, we can have seasonal fruit any time of the year. When you think about it, so many of our favorite things would cease to exist in a more natural world.

While making Ring # 18 with ripe summer cherries, I got to thinking about some other summer fruits. Candy apples instantly came to mind, even though apples are supposed to be an autumn fruit. It seems like I can’t go a day without discovering something that I should give up. It makes me wonder how we ever got this far, and how much further we can go, living the way that we do.

My train of thought ended pretty darkly, so I decided to cheer myself up with a new ring. The inspiration might not fit in with the 100 Mile Diet, but the ring is almost good enough to eat.

I used lime green AB seed beads for the ring band, and added transparent red pinch bicones and a dark pink shell coin for the focal. I love a red/green combination that doesn’t look at all Christmas-y. This one is sweet and tangy, just like an apple covered in syrup!

Ring # 20 - Candy Apple

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and The Sage's Cupboard

The Power of Handmade and Ring Seventeen

One of my favorite things about being in Etsy seller is knowing that I’m part of a community that is making changes to the world. Just by providing local goods that are not mass-produced, handmade artists are changing the way that we consume. Many artists are also making a difference by up-cycling and reusing materials that might otherwise be thrown out. Still others are setting an example by using sustainable materials, or reducing the amount of waste that their business produces.

Some very dedicated Etsy sellers take this challenge to the next level, by offering their time to raise funds for important causes. When I learned about the shops fundraising for the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, I decided it was about time I got involved, too.

So, today’s ring was created especially for Help the Gulf Coast - a collective Etsy shop run by a handful of dedicated Etsians. 100% of the net profits from this shop go to charities that support communities affected by the disaster, including Oxfam.

This organization is already well known for it’s humanitarian efforts. They have been assisting low income families in the Gulf area since the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Now their focus has had to shift, as the continuing oil damages change the lives of everyone in the area. Oxfam is now working with communities to assess the environmental and economic damages, while still working towards safety measures for the arrival of the next hurricane season.

Ring # 17 - Baby Fish Blues

With my Ring a Day project well under way, I had every reason to create a brand new design to donate to the cause. I thought an aquatic theme would be appropriate for this piece, so naturally I went with a starfish ring. The first beads I chose where abalone blue lined crystal. I did the starfish in coral pink, and added some frosted magatamas for accents.

The color combination is pretty, but also meaningful. This ring is my own tribute to the innocent creatures affected by all that we humans do. Red and pink coral, abalone, whales, salmon and sea birds are just a few of the animals that are being threatened by our activities. They are constantly bombarded by pollution, habitat destruction, and of course, human consumption. It’s a cruel irony that only we can help them from our own wrongdoings.

If you’re any Etsy seller, you too can donate a listing to the cause. Visit the Help the Gulf Coast blog to learn more about how to donate, or to see the latest fundraiser stats. If you can’t donate, many beautiful new items are added to the shop everyday. Even the tiniest purchase can help!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and The Sage's Cupboard

Poster Sketch: Beautiful Earth

For every person that makes caring for the Earth a part of their daily routine, there is another person who just doesn’t see the point. Most of us know one of each - the fanatic and the apathetic. I’m proud to be of the fanatic variety, and I’m constantly alienating myself with my no-tolerance attitudes toward pollution and wasteful living. I can’t watch television without yelling, because I can’t understand how the censors can allow green-washing in so many advertisements.

On days like today - Earth Day - there are plenty of people shrugging and saying “What’s the point?”. I’ve often heard people say that having a holiday for the planet isn’t going to change anything. I disagree, or course. Earth Day, Earth Hour and every opportunity that we take to talk about the environment helps to keep the issues current, topical and on our minds. For today, I invite everyone - especially the skeptics - to think about these questions:

How much plastic am I throwing out every week?
Do I really need to eat imported produce?
Am I recycling everything that I can?
Am I pouring anything down the drain that I wouldn’t want to soak my fish dinner in?
If I had a choice, is this the kind of environment I’d want to give to my children?

In honor of Earth Day, I have collected some Etsy favorites that can remind even the most cynical person what a beautiful world we’re messing up. This week, I’m trying out the new Treasury East tool. To see the entire collection and the artists, visit the Beautiful Earth Treasury List.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Etsy.com

Poster Sketch: Fresh Flowers

Spring is a time of flowers, not only because gardens and wild patches everywhere are blooming, but also because there are so many flower-friendly holidays. Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Mother’s Day are often considered an occasion to buy a bouquet, but many people don’t know the environmental and social impact of the gift they are giving.

The cut flower industry that provides so many beautiful bunches of flowers for consumers is about as natural as a plastics factory. While many companies try to compare the carbon footprint of greenhouse flowers vs. imported ones, other issues are overlooked. The perfection of a store-bought flower is achieved through the use of pesticides - some of which are banned in many countries - and irrigation. Water is diverted from the farms and villages that desperately need it, and used to feed luxury flowers that are unlikely to provide food for pollinating insects, let alone humans.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to give and enjoy flowers, while giving Mother Nature a break, too. Buying locally grown, in season flowers is one way to do it. And if you can’t grow your own flowers, you can always make them. This week’s Poster Sketch features a collection of handmade flowers that are free of DDT, and will never wilt.

Row 1:

Flower Bead in Antique Blue from Claybykim
Spring Flowers Pearl Necklace by gabbeyxxx
Spring Sunburst Bracelet by dreambeadweaver
Sunshine Yellow Poppy Ring by muchloveilly

Row 2:

French Beaded Tulips by Craftymoose
Couple of Florals Lampwork Bead Set by YasminSivan
Pistachio Green Romance Pearl Necklace by PoeticDesigns
Hand Forged Copper Flower Pendant by WabiBrookStudio

Row 3:

Blue Flower Red Thorns Bangle by njema
Felted Rose Flower and Crocheted Lariat by BigFrozenMelon
Blossom Focal Bead by pipsjewellery
Violet Necklace by roiaobrien

Row 4:

Rose Pink Flower Ring by blackdogwhitedog
Tropical Holiday Beaded Bracelet by Fivefootfury13
Red Wine and Freshwater Pearls Bib Necklace by AtelierEdytaLoukia
Pink Shpritzi Flower Polymer Clay Cane by marsdesign

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Etsy.com

Caterpillar Bangle

Beautiful Blue
Photo Credit: Églantine.

Two of our favorite spring characters - the flower and the bird - could not get on without the insect. Bugs are often thought of by we humans as annoying, terrifying and even destructive enemies. The truth is that most of them are very important for keeping some of our favorite things thriving. Pollinators like bees, and decomposers like worms, make the flowers thrive. Every bug imaginable is food for some kind of bird, if they‘re unlucky enough to be on the menu.

Because I’ve never been concerned with things like having the perfect lawn, flowerbed or garden trees, insects have never been my enemy. Apart from things that skitter in the night, like spiders, I would rather photograph a bug than squash it. I say, let them go about their business.

The Inspiration:

One of my favorite bugs from childhood is the caterpillar. Every few years or so we would be bombarded with black and yellowish tiger moth caterpillars. It was like having a yard full of tiny stuffed animals to play with. I also really enjoyed the bluish forest tent caterpillars, which drove everyone else crazy by eating everything in sight. I liked them because they have these sticky little feet that tickle when they crawl across the back of your hand, and a very interesting pattern of color along their backs.

The Beads:

I wanted to recreate a caterpillar, so I started with 11/0 seed beads in light beige. This would be the base of my caterpillar, or his belly. The color is just like ivory, and I thought it was perfect for a new spring bug. Then I added 8/0 seed beads in light blue, marbled hematite, matte pumpkin orange, and light beige as well. I finished off the palette with some matte black magatamas for little insect feet.

The Beadwork:

When working on my Dandelion Bangle, I had wondered how it would look when using drops along the outer edge of the right angle weave tube. Making a caterpillar was the perfect opportunity to experiment with the extra texture. The magatamas make wonderful ‘feet’ along the edge of the beadwork, and stitching around them was easy.

I used the beige, black and orange beads to make a buggy pattern on the outer face of the bangle. It does remind me of all the caterpillars I collected as a kid. Although I know that these tiny bugs can do a lot of harm, I can’t help thinking that there would be fewer caterpillars if there were more birds to eat them.

I would like to thank Artbeads.com for providing the TOHO™ seed beads used in this piece. Inspirational Beading has not received paid compensation for including Artbeads.com products or reviews in this blog post. I have shared my honest opinions about the products used in this design.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and The Sage's Cupboard

Bracelet for a Mermaid

South Pacific Pearl Mermaid
Photo Credit: Joanne Schempp

The legendary sea creatures known as merfolk have been a part of many cultures for centuries. The half human, half fish beings are known for their beauty and mischievous antics. In fact, before being softened by popular media, mermaids in particular were considered somewhat villainous. They were thought to be dangerous, killing sailors and swimmers either by accident or for spite.

Whether mermaids and mermen are vicious or not, they are often considered to be protectors of the sea, defending other creatures from the dangers of fishermen and the like. In many stories and legends, these rangers of the ocean live in beautiful underwater cities, far from the eyes and influences of humans.

The Inspiration:

When I decided to rethink my entry for the Etsy BeadWeavers Ocean Challenge, I thought of what the theme really meant to me on a personal level. What came to mind were the plump, colorful starfish that dwell all around the Nanaimo Waterfront. The resilient little things seem to flourish, even though the environment is less than ideal. On any given day, one can see pink, orange, and purple starfish ranging in size from tiny coins to enormous dinner plates.

With the amount of oil, garbage and other detritus that ends up in this little stretch of seashore, it’s amazing that anything can live there at all. It was with this thought in mind that I started designing a bracelet for the EBW Challenge. I wanted to create an ocean scene that was fit for all aquatic dwellers, including something as fantastic as a mermaid.

The Beads:

I started with the starfish, using orange and purple 6mm cat eye rounds, and matching 15/0 seed beads. For additional accents, I also grabbed some green cat eyes, white CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Pearls, and Czech glass scallop shells in blue and yellow. For the beadwork, I selected an assortment of blue 11/0 seed beads, and added a touch of gray lined crystal to help blend them together.

The Beadwork:

After deciding on embellished herringbone for the base of the bracelet, I spent a lot of time working on a pattern for the accent beads. I had considered placing them along the beadwork at random, but I wanted to make sure that each bead was evenly spaced and well represented. Using graph paper, I sketched out a pattern of diagonal rows for the assorted sea beads.

Once I had started stitching, it occurred to me that the larger shell beads might cause the beadwork to appear crooked if they weren’t all together in the same row. I had to modify my pattern, but what happened was even better than my original design. The layout of the accent beads moves symmetrically in all directions, including on the diagonal.

The waves created by the bridges between herringbone rows really brings the ocean theme to life. I looks so much like tide swept sand that it’s almost possible to hear the waves themselves. Incredibly, if I hadn’t been so dissatisfied with my original challenge piece, this bracelet might never have been made. Sometimes failure is a great thing.

Voting for the Etsy BeadWeavers Ocean challenge opens on February 9th. Stop by to see all of the amazing team creations and vote for your favorite!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading

Helen of Troy Necklace

Like most ancient tales, the story of Helen is never told the same way twice. The most common threads in the myth are that Helen was a daughter of Zeus, married to Menelaus, and the reason for the Trojan War. Some versions of the story are romantic; seduced by Paris, she flees with him to Troy to start a new and happy life. In other, darker stories, she follows Paris to Troy under the influence of the goddess Aphrodite, and eventually returns to Sparta with Menelaus after murdering her second Trojan husband, Deiphobus.

Whether she was a villain or a heroine, Helen of Troy is still known as a great beauty - the face that launched a thousand ships. As a queen of many countries, she would likely have owned some of the most wonderful treasures to compliment her legendary good looks.

The Inspiration:

When I learned that the theme for the January Etsy BeadWeavers challenge was the ocean, the first thing that came to mind was red coral. The material has been stirring up more controversy than usual of late. CITES - the organization responsible for the care and catalogue of endangered species - is considering adding red coral to the list of taboo creatures. This would essentially put an end to the use of red coral in art and jewelry.

For my challenge entry, I wanted to create a piece in tribute to the fight to save this amazing species. Coral of all kinds are so important to ocean habitat, and protecting them is a worthy cause. As I considered how to incorporate seed bead ‘coral’ into a piece of jewelry, I had thoughts of exotic, Mediterranean necklaces. I decided that I would create something worthy of a Greek queen.

The Beads:

To represent red coral, I chose some ordinary opaque red 11/0 seed beads. To make the palette regal and luxurious, I added 8/0 seed beads and hex cuts in various jewel tones like sapphire and emerald. To add a touch of gold, I grabbed some sandy colored light amber seed beads. Although I was making a necklace for Helen of Troy, I also wanted it to look somewhat primitive - something you could find in a seaside stall in Ancient Greece. I hoped that this mixture would help create the rich elements of royal jewels, and the rustic look of archaic craftsmanship.

The Beadwork:

I sketched out an arrowhead shaped pattern for a bib necklace, to which I would add fringes of red coral branches. After creating the sketch, I decided to add a freeform pattern within it - a line of loops and whorls for the jewel toned beads to follow. As I stitched the necklace, the changes in bead sizes caused the beadwork to take on a new shape which had the rustic look that I had hoped for.

Once the base of the necklace was complete, I added the coral branches. Although this had been my main focus, when I stepped back to look at the finished piece, I realized that it had been better without the fringe. I don’t think that the shapes or the colors compliment each other. If I were to do it over again, I would replace the amber beads with blue, and stitch a structured base to allow the fringe to play on it’s own.

In the end, I decided not to include “Helen’s Treasure” in the EBW Challenge. And, since I’ve been wanting a bib necklace for myself, I put it straight into my jewelry box!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading

Inspiration Tip: Pretty Packaging

Whether you make beaded items for sale or to give to friends, having something beautiful to send it in is always a nice touch. Everyone loves to open a gift or pretty package tied up with string, and even if the item inside was a purchase, it’s still fun to dress up a trinket or treasure.

Fortunately, being green is not only really trendy, it’s also really affordable. So there’s never been a better time to try making your own gift packages to add that little something extra to your beadwork. Using repurposed materials like old calendars, coloring books and magazines is not only economical, it’s also really creative and charming, too.

To make the paper gift bags shown here, I searched through some of my old fashion magazines for nice, bold pages with big pictures. Then I took apart a small store-bought gift bag that had been re-used many times, and figured out the folding pattern that would transform my fashion pages into tiny gift bags. After making two or three, the technique becomes almost second nature. Different sizes of bags can be made without using scissors, just by changing the width of the top and bottom folds.

The paper bows are also made with magazine pages, using a tutorial from How About Orange. I made the smaller bow by cutting away the rough edge of a magazine tear-out, and cutting the strips width-wise, about ½ thick. These bows are a metal-free version of the original design. Instead of using staples, I glued each component together. This method works great, as long as you don’t mind waiting for the glue to dry between steps.

If you give handmade packaging a try, you might be surprised to discover how much it can inspire beadwork. You’ll be eager to create some beaded treasures to hide inside!

Copyright 2009 Inspirational Beading

Mother Nature Necklace

The use of gemstones as beads is one of humanity’s oldest art forms. Colored stones have been used for adornment for as long as we have had the tools to work them. Many cultures throughout history have used the unique stones of their region not only for their beauty, but to symbolize deities, ward off spirits, and bring good luck. It is ironic that, to enjoy the gorgeous gemstones that nature has created, we have to extract them from the earth, leaving scars on Mother Nature that cannot, or will not, be erased.

The Inspiration:

I wanted to create an amulet that not only represented the power and beauty of the earth, but included a piece of her as well. Rather than use a traditional ‘natural’ bead, I chose a simple stone as the focal point.

An ordinary rock, polished by erosion, can be just as awe inspiring as the bluest turquoise, or shiniest diamond.

The Beads:

In addition to a dark gray stone, I selected a few earthy beads. To represent nature as vegetation, I picked lively green apple 11/0 seed beads. To compliment the stone, I grabbed some copper-lined gray 6/0’s, and white and brown flecked 4/0 seed beads.

The Beadwork:

To make the amulet portion of the necklace, I encased the stone in seed bead netting. I was pleased to discover that, under the thick jacket of beadwork, the stone has a very ova-like shape. This adds one more element of “Earth Mother” that I hadn‘t counted on. The straps of the necklace were made with right angle weave, and I added looped fringe with some turquoise Picasso teardrops and leaves. Although the pendant isn’t the lightest of materials, the necklace does not feel heavy at all.

Copyright 2009 Inspirational Beading

Inspired Beaders: The Andean Collection

Sustainable, natural materials have become more popular with beaders and jewelry designers in recent years. Many of us are familiar with the Tagua Nut beads that are made from excess vegetable matter, instead of our more familiar man-made glass and plastic. Unlike shell, pearl or gemstones, these types of beads are collected with little or no impact on animals or the environment.

Thanks to the growing popularity of sustainable living, marvelous products like these are becoming more accessible to artisans and jewelry lovers alike. One company that is helping to inspire a love of natural jewelry is The Andean Collection.

Founded in September 2008, this small jewelry company is making waves in the fashion industry, by providing shoppers everywhere with gorgeous accessories made with natural materials - some of which are still rare in the US market.

The owner and founder of The Andean Collection, Amanda Judge, has brought new fashion ideas to cities like Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York, while bringing hope and fair pay to the jewelry artists of South America.

Inspirational Beading: What was your first reaction to seeing the beautiful natural bead designs of South America?

Amanda Judge: I was simply stunned. I couldn’t believe that these beads were actually natural materials. When The Andean Collection was just the sliver of an idea, I would spend days wandering through the markets of Ecuador asking all sorts of questions so that I made sure that I was learning all I could about the beads. I asked for introductions to the people who dye and process the seeds and visited a lot of home workshops to observe the process myself.

Now that I know how the process works and how each seed is handled individually, it makes these pieces all the more interesting in my mind.

Inspirational Beading: There’s always something marvelous and special about hand-dyed beads, and the Andean Collection is full of lush shades. Which color is your favorite?

Amanda: Definitely turquoise. When the tagua is dyed turquoise, for example in our Riverbed bracelet, it actually looks like large chunks of turquoise stone. It’s so cool.

Inspirational Beading: How has working with fair trade affected the way you view jewelry, and the world as a whole?

Amanda: I could probably write a book on the answer to this question, but I’ll try to keep it shorter here. It’s not so much working in ‘fair trade’ that has changed my world, but working with the artisans themselves that has impacted my life the most. I talk with the artisans daily or weekly (via email – I’ve taught them how to use email; and cell phones) and in this manner I get to be a part of their day-to-day lives. If they have a problem, like it’s really cold and rainy in Ecuador and they haven’t been able to sleep well, I know about it. If the price of grain has shot up and they’re having difficulty buying enough to feed their families, I know about it. And then I go out and figure out how to increase sales quickly so we can give them more work.

This makes me continually grateful for what I have in life. It’s all too easy to get caught up in your own world and take for granted all the niceties you have. Starting a business is extremely difficult and I have definitely had my own moments of maximum stress. During these more taxing times I tend to feel disconnected from Ecuador & the artisans as I get caught up in the operations in the states. Once this starts to happen, I book a flight to Ecuador or make some phone calls to check in with the artisans to see how they’re doing. This reminds me of what I’m working for and gives me the extra push I need to make sure things are successful. My relationship with the artisans just puts my own life into perspective. And a good perspective is amazingly key to a happy life.

As far as how working in fair trade has made me view jewelry…I am delighted that big beaded necklaces are all the rave now, but I see so many of them make out of synthetic beads and think, what a shame! The same designs could be made out of natural materials and would be so much more interesting.

Inspirational Beading: The Andean Collection features some very unique materials, many of which are new to North American fashion. Which of the natural materials do you enjoy the most?

Amanda: My favorite bead is the Pambil seed. From far away it might look like a plastic synthetic bead, but then you notice all the natural irregularities in the bead that make it really dynamic. Tagua is also great as you can do almost anything with it! They call it vegetable ivory because it can be carved and molded into anything smaller than the size of the seed itself, which is about the size of an oversized golf ball.

Inspirational Beading: Who do you hope will be inspired by The Andean Collection?

Amanda: By focusing on high design, I hope we inspire other fair trade companies to market themselves more to the mainstream so that the movement of fair trade can compete on a larger scale. I also hope that we inspire consumers to ask more questions about what they are buying. If an organization says they are fair trade, ask for photos and videos of the artisans and their testimonials. And ask for evidence that an organization has done the due diligence of examining their entire supply chain. Ensuring that products are fair trade takes a lot of oversight on the part of the organization, and as companies grow that gets increasingly difficult. If anyone is thinking about starting a fair trade organization, make sure not to grow too fast so that that oversight gets lost!

I also hope people realize that you don’t need to pay a premium for fair trade, eco-friendly jewelry, nor do you have to sacrifice style to wear ethical jewelry. But most importantly, I hope The Andean Collection inspires people to go out into the world and do meaningful, exciting & life changing work – in whatever way you can.

Copyright 2009 Inspirational Beading - The Andean Collection