Maridadi photoshoot

My bags are packed, I'm on my way ... leaving for South Africa today.

A quick blog before I head out the door.   I've been beading up a storm -- had two jewelry shows in the past three weeks. I was so honored to have some talented young photographers and a lovely model come to my house and take photos of  a few of my Maridadi necklaces.  

The photos deserve a wider audience, here is a selection.

Photo by Justin Peele

Deep indigo glass and Indian silver.

Photo by Tyree Cheatham

I found these remarkable vintage clay beads at an antique show in Cape Town a couple of years ago.  They are actually spindle whorls from Mali (used to weight spinning shafts).  I have paired them with black coconut shell discs from Nigeria and hand-cast powdered glass beads from Ghana (possibly started life as beer bottles!) .  A very exotic and elegant necklace. 

Photo by Samantha Potter

These rich looking beads are known as Cherry Amber -- highly esteemed in Ethiopia.

Photo by Samantha Potter

 Baltic Amber (millions of years old) and African Malachite.  I found the 

unusually large bead in Nairobi years ago and have been saving it for something special. 
  This necklace looks stunning on Autumn skin tones.

Photo by Lauren Hawkins

The focal bead is from India with lapis in the center.  The blue beads were hand-cast in Ghana from crushed glass (possibly old iodine bottles)   

Photo by Lauren Hawkins 

I named this necklace "Zen". It has a fine old Baoule Bronze, Chinese turquoise and Jasper.

Photo by Shanita Dixon

A dramatic long necklace with a large old Baoule Bronze made in the ancient lost-wax
 casting method,  and a wonderful irregular cow bone bead from Kenya. 

Photo by Tyree Cheatham

A collection of handsome Cherry Amber necklaces I've made and paired with 

old silver and bronze beads from Africa and India 

Many thanks to Michelle for encouraging her talented photographic students in this project

Must run to catch my plane --- oops my carry-on bag is awfully heavy --- 

 WAY too many necklaces.