Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Running With The Tribe

Dini Bruinsma is hosting a jewlery challenge on my favorite bead forum: Bead Soup Cafe. The inspiration photograph was taken from her trip to Ethiopia a few years ago, featuring the Turmi people/region.

Photo by Dini Bruinsma

HISTORY LESSON TIME!!!  (I know you're excited)...

Turmi is a market town in southwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region.  Its home to many of the Hamer people, Turmi also has a weekly market. One product available at this market is incised gourds, used by local women as shopping baskets. Turmi is also notable for its traditional dances and the Jumping of the Bulls.





The people of Turmi appear full of character and steeped in tradition...and I love the jewelry influence!

Photo Credit:  TrekEarth


I have a penchant for tribal jewelry...almost an absurd fascination, actually.  The significance, craftmanship, and presence of tribal wares keeps my muse entertained for hours!

I hoard collect African trade beads, vintage tribal amulets, beads, pendants, and other baubles from the region.  They usually just lay in their respective containers for me to enjoy on a whim, eye candy if you will.  There's something magical about those boxes that makes me want to keep them all to myself.

As usual, I went large with my piece.  While it's approximately the size of a salad plate, I already am in love with it!

My own polymer clay hollow "horn" and squished disc beads, with lots of hemp, green adventurine, red sponge coral, collected shell, and a horn pendant.

Yep...its definitely a wall hanging statement piece.

I can't wait to see everyone else's interpretations and creations!  By all means head on over to the Bead Soup Cafe and take a peek!






Saturday, February 9, 2013

Stirring My Soup.........

My ingredients for Lori Anderson's BSBP landed today, and I had to share!!


Cherrie Fick was MORE than generous!  There's some beauties in here, including Gaea ceramic beads,  and a mesmerizing lampwork focal by Divine Spark Designs that Cherrie picked up while at the Tucson Bead Show last year.  There's also some awesome Czech glass, sari silk, a lovely copper toggle, more lampwork by Sea Shore Glass and Chevelle 2, brass washers, Vintaj arte metal leaf, and I adore the upcycled steel beads!

Now...what do tribal, shabby chic, bohemian, and rustic have in common?  Not a damn thing, but that's a hint of what I have up my sleeve!  

Come back on April 6th to see the reveal!!!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

BSBP + Partner = Happy Dance!!!

Lori Anderson of Pretty Things 7th Bead Soup Blog Party is my favorite time of the "beady" year!!!  It's like Christmas without Aunt Ruth's infamous one-arm-is-longer-than-the-other-100% acrylic-crocheted disaster of a Christmas sweater...from hell!



Today, I received my partner for this round!  Yet another happy dance...if I don't stop I'm going to break something...like my hip!

Cherrie Fick of En La Lumier're and also on Facebook is my magnificent, and well published partner!!  I have to say that every BSBP I've done I've been over the moon happy with my partners!!  How Lori does it...I don't know!

Let's take a little look-see of just a few of Cherrie's amazing creativity:

This simple, yet gorgeous necklace caught my eye...



Love, love, love these colorful ear candy!!


Stunning!!!  I love birds, and nests...and Cherrie's rendition is perfection!



And, of course I picked a favorite...back to the birds...but the colors are divine!!!  So...if anyone is looking for birthday gift ideas for my big "39 & holding" (you only have 3 months) THIS IS IT!!!



Well...I have my work cut out for me, now don't I?  Cherrie's work and eye for color are brilliant (pun intended), and I can't wait to see the soup that she picked out for me...I'm one lucky girl!!!

Come back by on April 6th too see what Cherrie & I have come up with!!  

See y'all then!!