Maridadi Showcase July 2014

Here is a sampling of what is currently on display in my 
Maridadi Studio
 

As you can see, I have been immersed in creating new designs
and having a grand time working with some amazing beads

Each necklace is unique

This bold, eye-catching necklace is named

"Spot On"

I strung glazed ceramic Kazuri beads (hand-crafted in Nairobi)

 with a single large East African "Amber" bead

  "African Sky"  

Beads made in Ghana from recycled glass, silver from Ethiopia, 

old Trade beads with a history, beads crafted from 

old cooking pots by the nomadic Gabbra in Kenya....


 
"Old Gold"
Rare and ancient Hebron beads made from Dead Sea Salts 
could be up to 500 years old
Eclectic mix of lost-wax bronzes -- Baoule and Yoruba

  "Treasure"

 Lapis Lazuli, Baoule Bronzes made with the ancient lost-wax method, 

Guilded Ethiopian silver prayer beads ... treasure indeed!

 "Fabulous" 

Old Dogon silver and yummy mix of East African Amber

"Starry Night"

More Lapis and a small baoule bronze

 "Nguni" 

Stunning cow horn beads hand-crafted and polished in Kenya, 

Vintage "donut" trade beads

 "Pulp Fiction"

These beads (selected over many years) were made 

by women in East Africa from old magazines and calendars.  

They are strong and light, fun to wear, and support a good cause

   "Raja"

Fantastic old pendant from India, silver Ethiopian prayer beads,

recycled glass, vintage trade beads ....

 "Quoize"

 Turquoise from China and the South West, 

old Indian clay bead, unusual metal

 "High Tide"

Gleaming shell and pearl

 "Pearlite"

Delicate pearl and coral

 "Tatu"

Mainly  hand-crafted pewter

 "Purple Punk"

Marble chip and amethyst 

  "Evergreen"

Kitengela glass, hand-blown in Kenya

fun metal I found in South Africa  

  "Volcano"

Old Venetian Millefiore 
Trade beads and Bauxite from Ghana

 

  "Royale"

Cherry "Amber" from Ethiopia,  
blue glass, ornate silver beads

  "Limpopo"

Old "Scribble" beads, glass, resin

 "Zamber"
Amber and jazzy metal

 

" Fall Flow"

Recycled glass beads individually fired in Ghana
  and Baltic Amber

"Resonate"

Dramatic mix of contemporary resin

and vintage donut trade beads 

"Buzz"

 Hand-crafted Krobo beads from Ghana

Kiffa beads from Mauritania,  Red horn Heishi

(inspired by tropical thoughts of a trip to Hawaii)

 

 Fun light-weight necklaces using contemporary glass and resin

and, of course,

earrings galore!

 Please pop by if you are in the area

  Let me know if you'd like more information on any of the necklaces showcased above


Adorn Yourself

Strand Sunset

Sometimes nature leaves me breathless 

Often, it is those moments that become an enduring memory

Something I hold close and can return to in my mind.

Or revisit

and share 

This sunset series was taken on May 1st.  Graham and I were walking on the Strand 

(not far from our home in Somerset West, South Africa) 

 Looking across False Bay at the Cape Peninsular. 

The "back" of Table Mountain is just below the sun

 

Looking the other way down the beach towards Hangklip

 time to head home for the night

rich with the memory of this beauty

Conching out on Cape Lookout

 

   When I was younger, I always sought out the most perfect and whole

But now, I find great beauty in the effect of time

the transformation with age...

 

The revealing of inner strength and beauty...

 acceptance

 scars of a life fully lived.

 a whittling down

 Dust to Dust -- or to Sand

 revealing the very core...

(sorry, couldn't resist)

And seeds of the future

The Circle of Life --  an egg casing "necklace"

Just us and the shells and the surf and the birds.

.

and on and on "to the Lighthouse"...

Maridadi Studio/Gallery

I now have a "Room of My Own" for beading and for writing.  Well, actually, a few rooms.  

The space above our double garage has transformed from an apartment into my 

Maridadi Studio

Welcome

 

 I have had such fun setting it up -- my beads and tools are now all consolidated in one place,

 my writing desk has a view over the garden and I've had the best time artistically  

displaying my jewelry and the other unique decorative items I am selling

I have wonderful African baskets for sale

My beading (and display) table

  

I can climb the stairs to my studio, close the door on the rest of the world 

and feel immersed in the energy of my special creative space.  

And, just as wonderful, I can leave to re-enter the world and simply 

close the door behind me -- close it on a chaos of beads or papers.  

No longer is our dining room table a place of clutter, unfinished projects and guilt.

I have my music up in my studio and a box of Rooibos tea and an electric kettle.  

I am keeping regular studio hours, and my stock of necklaces is soaring.  

This is when I wish I had a marketing department!  

Some of my latest creations.  Come visit!

Amber, bone, recycled glass from Ghana (ex beer bottles)

Fabulous hand-cut Jade from Afghanistan

Stunning collection of East African "Amber"

So elegant with ornate aged silvery beads and jasper

Recycled glass from Ghana and Autumn light

Bold & contemporary with the surprise of Tibetan Turquoise

Funky Mixed Metals

Chunky New and Old with a feel of Water

Vintage pearls and ornate metal

Beads so Earthy and Old

Beads so Old and Earthy

Pearl Tide -- polished and rough

In the Pink

Carved brown Jade.   Ethiopian Coptic Cross

Come and Browse