Work Of Our Hands

AFRICAN COLOR WILD AND FREE

2012-01-30T10:21:00.000-08:00

Ahh color . I have always loved it, and thought I was pretty liberated in using it; until I went to live in Africa that is...

African wax prints

In Africa there are no color rules, no color police; every color goes with every other color. If you like it, it goes !

There is a newer housing development in our town and everyone calls it Smarties.

Purple, pink, orange, lime green, you name it and there is a house painted that color.

Home owners association? What's that?

Bo-Kaap Cape Town

I recently come across this great explanation for the source of the African color palette.

(see link below)

I call the first palette our desert palette.

We are all comfortable with this palette I think.

The African color palette derives from two sources. The first is traditional and utilizes earth pigments and natural dyes. This palette is full of ochres, browns, rusts, burgundies, blacks and the whites of raw, untreated cotton cloth and other natural fibers. This is what I call the “natural” African color set.

When synthetic dyes were introduced to Africa a new range of colors appeared. The cloth dyers had not much experience with dyes, so they used each one on its own and at full strength. The result was a set of brilliant, strong reds, rich full blues, emerald greens, and golden yellows, colors never before seen. These form the “dyed” African color set.

quilt/http://www.denacrain.com/blog/tutorials/african-quilt/

Now that's the wild and free palette !

Sometimes I have to caution our artisans, that Westerners are not as liberated in color use as Africans, and selling wild color combinations is often hard to do.

Myself ?

I have to say, that how I think about color, and what colors "go together" has greatly expanded since living in Namibia, but I still have a very long ways to go before being truly FREE .

Fashion

and more fashion

Christie Brown fashion design

hand painted candles

Even in Nature African colors can be intense

http://theroadforks.com/photography/lilac_breasted_roller_weekly_photo

PAPER CLAY experiments & how we got started

2011-11-29T06:47:00.001-08:00

Oh my gosh it's been so long since I posted. Getting products ready for our anual trip to the USA is all consuming ! Somehow, as usual we made the plane, lugging suitcases full to within a gram of the allowed weight :) After 40 hours of travel door to door, we arrived in Denver more dead than alive, but in time for my daughter's and grand daughter's birthdays and Thanksgiving.

Here are some fired paper clay heart ornaments we will be test marketing this year. What's paper clay you ask. Check out my guest blog post here:http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4469792236996064066#editor/target=post;postID=8437742941792661520

These are hollow inside plus made of paper clay, so although they are ceramic they are quite light in weight. I'm thinking of making some really BIG beads when I get back to Namibia.

More ornaments .

These are ornament size, but I'm thinking of making them smaller for jewelry also. Ah so may ideas so little time !

Just before we left Namibia a friend helped me make a video about how Work Of Our Hands got started. I don't know who can spare 15 min. this time of year :) but here's the link just in case.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Work-of-our-Hands/111794712202760
Hope you all have a fabulous holiday season !

EXPRESSING MYSELF

2011-10-01T23:14:00.000-07:00

It's spring time in the Southern Hemisphere. Cool evenings and warm days. Soon it will be warm evenings and HOT, HOT, HOT days !

This post is confessing that sometimes I'm tired of designing projects to teach and I just want to make what I want to make! Here's a few pictures of my latest, combining love of sculpture with my new love of the potter's wheel.

I CAN'T HEAR YOU

A BEE IN HER BONNET

DAISY BOWL

QUEEN BEE (oops forgot to put in her earrings)

I hope to show these in November in the local pottery show.
Well, back to real work :)

ANOUNCEMENT

2011-09-13T00:41:00.000-07:00

Our ceramic beads: OKAWA BEADS are now available in the USA ! Thank you Gahanna Bead Studio for supporting out project !
Please contact Helen as the beads are not up on her web site yet.

helen@gahannabeadstudio.com

http://www.embroideredsoul.com/views_V2/view_home.php

Also the Beads of Clay's current blog post is about our project. http://beads-of-clay.blogspot.com/

Artisan series: HELENA

2011-08-24T01:07:00.000-07:00

IN HER OWN WORDS :

“Work of Our Hands” is a great help. I can make money with my own handiwork, a nice and honorable way to make ends meet. Maybe one day my children have to go to hospital or pay school fees, so I’m saving a bit of my commission for them. The rest I spend on foods and clothes for them.

Although at first, none of the ladies were very good at painting patterns ( under developed fine motor skills) Helena has learned fast , and is now our best detail painter. She is the only one so far who has mastered the zebra pattern. It's time to challenge her to even harder things, (which she hates and loves at the same time.)

Helena is a treasure. She and I have worked together since the beginning of Work Of Our Hands. (about 2004)

As far as I know Helena has never been to school, yet she is very intelligent and talented. Because of the expense of school fees and uniforms ( about USA $30 per term) many parents of the poor, just don't send their kids to school.

At the beginning, Helena spoke no English and all of our communication was through an interpreter. Today, she understands almost everything said in English, and can make herself understood as well.( Ok we have to use a bit of pointing and hand signs, but we communicate well.)

Helena is skilled in paper mache, ( our first endeavor) seed bead jewelry making, ceramic bead making ( our best pattern painter) and lately she has been learning the potter's wheel.

Helena is unmarried, but is in a monogamous relationship, and has 1 son about 5 years old. At least one other boy calls her mom, but it gets confusing as the tribal people take care of children for each other, and it's sometimes impossible to really sort out the relationships. ( Cousins are often called sisters or brothers, plus there is no he or she pronouns in their language, so in English they might say for instance " my brother, she......") which makes it all the more hard to figure out.

Helena looking a bit tired after our week long wheel workshop.

I am unsure of Helena's age 26 maybe? She almost always has a smile on her face and is the first to help when something needs doing around the studio. As you can tell, I am very attached to her ! I feel all the ladies in the project are my African daughters, but I must admit Helena is a bit of a favorite!

She once said " Before you came Meme ( Meme means mother, Mrs. etc. it's a tribal title of respect) I was very bored !!

I have mentioned different times to the ladies that there is a proverb ( Proverbs 22:29) that says something like " if you are skilled in your labor, you will stand before kings. Last month we saw this happen ! Helena was one of two ladies chosen to present gifts to the honorable Mrs. Pohamba, Namibia's first lady, when she visited our center. Helena all I can say is " YOU GO GIRL!" I'm very proud!

How we make our ceramic beads

2011-08-12T23:25:00.000-07:00

Please check my guest post at Beads of Clay

http://beads-of-clay.blogspot.com/2011/07/making-beads-in-africa-work-of-our.html

Also for you that love to play in clay. How to make Terra Sigilatta.http://beads-of-clay.blogspot.com/2011/06/terra-sigilatta.html

POTTERY WHEEL WORKSHOP

2011-08-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

Our week long workshop on throwing pottery was a great success. Thank you Jacque Van Vuuren our most talented and generous teacher AND huge thanks to our American donors of wheels, kiln, slab roller , and every tool we could wish for ! Time to get the kiln going, then I'll show the results.

GIFTS FOR THE FIRST LADY

2011-07-29T00:21:00.000-07:00

The artisans of Work Of Our Hands are quite excited. On Saturday they will present gifts of the work of their hands to the first lady of Namibia. There is quite a cleaning frenzy going on in all parts of our community center and ceramic studio.

HOT FROM THE KILN

2011-07-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

Blue Leopard mug

Flowers and zebra vase

Francie's poka dot mugs

Protea mug

Safari mug

Herero container

girl mug: Ok, the earrings mean she can't go in the microwave, but I still like the earrings

I mentioned we were getting a ceramic equipment donation, but even I didn't understand the extent of it. Three potter's wheels, a slab roller, an extra kiln and every tool a clay artist could dream of. In fact I had been dreaming of some of them, just had no money ! We are jumping up and down with joy. Clay heaven!

Four ladies have signed up, and started the initial potter's wheel class, and we have a week long seminar coming up with an excellent teacher, the first week of August.

POTTERY

2011-06-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

I am learning the potter's wheel, but have not graduated beyond mugs. And even with mugs, I can't make 2 the same size yet. I had only tried the wheel once back in high school, and could not get the hang of it at all. Now, at least I'm making progress. I am dreaming of tea pots .

We have a donation coming of a spare kiln, a potter's wheel and a slab roller ! I'm so excited , and it's coming just as we move into our new studio space. God is good !

Goodbye Prague on to Africa

2011-05-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

Create your own free picture slideshow

SMILE BOX

2011-05-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

This free picture collage personalized with Smilebox

KIND OF A NIFTY WAY TO COMPOSE PHOTO DISPLAYS

NEW POTTERY STUDIO AND YOUTH CENTER

2011-05-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

OUR YOUTH CENTER AND POTTERY STUDIO WERE FINISHED WHILE WE WERE IN THE USA ! WHEN WE GET BACK AND MOVE IN, WE WILL HAVE A REAL STUDIO FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE WE WERE WRONGLY EVICTED FROM THE PREVIOUS PLACE. NO MORE GARAGE, KITCHEN TABLE, AND SIDE PORCH AT MY HOUSE. A STUDIO AND I GET MY HOUSE BACK :)

BEAD BAZAAR

2011-04-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

I am exhausted, but our first public showing of OKAWA beads went very well! We have worked so long for this day! I wish all the artisans could have been there.
People liked them (yea) and more important, bought them, and some even said they liked them better than the famous Kazuri beads.
I'll be selling them on Artfire as soon as I can put up the pictures.http://www.artfire.com/users/Work-Of-Our-Hands

Art Bead Scene Blog: Garden Gate Clasp Tutorial

2011-04-13T18:58:00.000-07:00

Art Bead Scene Blog: Garden Gate Clasp Tutorial: "Garden Gate Clasp Tutorial" This is such a beautiful clasp. Also a bit different than usual. Thought you all might like the link. Myself, I can't wait to try it!

http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/04/garden-gate-clasp-tutorial.html

WORK OF OUR HANDS home show

2011-03-27T07:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the first home show since opening the business WORK OF OUR HANDS USA. I was very pleased with all the nice comments about quality and good pricing. The sales were nice too :) Thank you so much Deb for hosting the party.

Please contact me if you are interested if supporting us in this way.

Now I have to work on my talk..............too long for Americans :) It's like my daughter in kindergarden when the teacher said she talked too much. She said: "but mommy, I have important things to say"

Hildegard's house

2011-03-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

Hildegard, we are so proud of you for saving your money and using it to build . Some of you remember earlier posts showing her tin shack, and house getting started. Now it's almost finished !http://workofourhands.blogspot.com/2007/09/making-difference.html

THE BEADED EDGE

2011-03-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.amazon.com/Beaded-Edge-Inspired-Designs-Crocheted/dp/1596683007 I Found this book exploring traditional Turkish bead crochet.......( and we thought bead crochet was sort of new :) ) anyway, it's a nice book, with a little different twist on bead crochet. I of course couldn't wait to convert the patterns to wire and beads !

BEADS FOR SPRING

2011-03-04T19:27:00.000-08:00

I'm a nervous wreck about doing our first bead show. It's in Denver. April 16 and 17.

Of course we always want our artistic endeavors to be accepted and approved of, but more importantly, the ceramic bead part of Work Of Our Hands, has been a money pit! So many mistakes and learning curves for me, as well as the African artisans. We really NEED to reverse the money flow for this part of the project to continue.

NEW BEAD DESIGNS

2011-02-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

BEADS, BEADS, BEADS!

2011-02-25T10:59:00.000-08:00

FOR OVER A WEEK I HAVE BEEN SORTING,COUNTING, PACKING, STRINGING, BEADS, BEADS, BEADS! DENVER BEAD SHOW HERE WE COME !

New Tribal style beads

2011-02-11T04:08:00.000-08:00

Had terrible troubles with glaze over the holidays, turns out it was a bad batch of brush on glaze.( Too old) But the good side is, it forced me into experimenting to make beads with no glaze. These beads are carved by the ladies in leather hard clay, then "painted" With Terra Sigillata. for shine without glaze. I'm really happy with the results.

Tastes like chicken !

2011-01-14T09:39:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

I was thinking, now why are the ladies not coming to work? They are just back from Christmas holidays, and they know I'm anxious for them to get a lot finished before I go state side next month. Then I remembered...It's mopane worm season ! Free food, just for the picking, and it tastes just like chicken, ...........well................the one I ate didn't really taste like much at all. But I'll bet with some butter and garlic I could create escargot ala Africa !

Bead "camp" Workshop

2010-12-29T09:33:00.000-08:00

My friend who works with orphans and vulnerable children in Namibia, asked me to teach some young ladies in her program. So we had a week of bead camp over the summer holiday break . Here is what they made. Good work girls !

Lucia

2010-12-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

Meet Lucia , one of our ceramic bead artisans. Lucia is an orphan, yet persisted in completing her grade 12 a few years ago. Quite an accomplishment in Namibia where after grade 10 many students do not pass the exams to continue school. Because Lucia could not pay her exam fees, she still does not have her grade 12 certificate. This has hindered her from quite a few opportunities so far, but she just learned that orphans can get a waver on the no pay, no certificate, rule.

Lucia is very smart, and I hope to see her running the ceramic bead operation in a few years time.

How to have beautiful posture and grace

2010-11-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaI never see African women with bad posture, and I think it's because they learn to carry things on their heads from a young age. Click on the link below for some beautiful photos of African women and the amazing things they carry on their heads!

http://artpropelled.blogspot.com/2010/11/20-chickens-and-kitchen-sink.html

Digital Scrapbook Keys

2010-10-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

Any of you interested in digital scrap booking? Here's an image I made. First I rusted the keys, then photographed them, then got rid of the back ground in Photo Shop and added a drop shadow. Please copy, use, and enjoy :) P.S. we actually still use this type of key here in Namibia.

GOING TO BERLIN

2010-10-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

We are honored to be chosen by Namibia's ministry of Trade and Industry , to go to the Berlin Trade Fair November 10 -14 2010. But are we ever exhausted from getting ready! Today was the deadline to have everything ready to ship, so last night was very short :) as we finished up all the pricing and packing, and Lon finished up all the forms. Isabella, (shown above), will be the person actually going to Berlin to represent us. We've come a long way, by God's grace, from those first beading classes!

Generous People and turkeys

2010-10-09T21:53:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful for generous people! I met Deb LeAir at an art show in Colorado www.debleair.com and after I told her about what I do in Africa; She offered to share her techniques with me! Wow!
Lately I've been driving her crazy with e-mails. The jury is still out on whether I can translate her techniques to beads, but I'm sure gonna try because I hate glaze, and she achieves these beautiful clay objects without glaze !

The most recent challenge for Deb's technique was finding a turkey baster in a country that (except for expats) doesn't eat turkey. But I found one! YEA!

Once we took a small 12 lb turkey to the check out in our capital city, and the check out girl said "wow that's the biggest chicken I ever saw!" We tried to explain, but I don't think she believed us :)

Well back to the studio/experiment center. Just had a thought ......"I should have bought 2 basters"!! or I'll be tempted to use the clay one for the turkey one day:(

TYPICAL DAY in our African "HOME"

2010-09-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

We sometimes get comments that our home is large for "just two people". HUH? Lon and I live in the main house with our Namibian grown up daughter , then two people live in the flat. We often have visitors in the guest room, and then there are the daytime people, as seen in the photo. I took the pictures all on one day, around 9 am. Somedays it doesn't seem large enough :)

FINALLY BACK IN BUSINESS

2010-09-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU soccer team !!!! for moving the kiln !!!! That baby weights over 600 lb ! After a lot of time and frustration I had to give up the idea of hooking the kiln up in my garage. Now it's new home is our shipping container turned into a shop. After 10 months or more of waiting, the ladies can resume work. Africa really teaches patience.

CALENDAR for your screensaver

2010-09-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

Feel free to copy the image for your screen saver. To make your own, PNG calendars are available at Cottage Arts.net. Let me know if you want another calendar for November and I can share my next one also.

BEFORE

2010-09-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

This called to me at the plant nursery the other day and I could not resist !

2010-09-10T12:50:00.000-07:00

Jenny's new house

2010-09-04T23:00:00.000-07:00

I just love this girl. She makes very nice jewelry, is such a hard worker, and always positive. Yesterday she took us to her new house. She was literally jumping up and down for joy over this improvement in her circumstances. Then she was told her son's school fees are being paid by our Austrian volunteer, and she was over the moon.

Okahandja Herero Parade

2010-08-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Here's one of the few yearly events in our little Namibian town of Okahandja. The Herero parade to visit the graves of fallen chiefs and heroes. I took these pictures on the way to church this morning. The women's clothes are thanks to Victorian era missionaries. :) The hats represent cow horns.

Culture shock

2010-08-12T23:59:00.000-07:00

I was in the USA too long, I adjusted to "return to USA culture shock", and now I have to punch through the adjustment of returning to Africa . I forgot how very very long it takes to accomplish anything. I am trying hard to get the ceramic bead project back up and running, but hitting road blocks at every turn. It's so frustrating, but the only thing that actually works, is not giving up. Even though it's incredibly slow, and seems impossible, I just have to just keep moving forward bit by bit. Going around, or pushing through the road blocks.

Youth Center & Ceramic Studio

2010-07-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

It's been such a long time of struggle. Of betrayal, of waiting, of cancer...

but hope is renewed !

ENDEARING ?

2010-07-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

My daughter says my blog is endearing. "With all it's misspelled words and questionable grammer, it's so you mom ! " en-dear-ing: inspiring affection or warm sympathy (New heritage dictionary.) Italics mine. What can I say? The photos kind of explain why NO ONE UNDERSTANDS ME!
Brain photos: compliments of The Graphics Fairy

LEO NECKLACE

2010-06-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by Christi Friesen's book on sculpting Cats..........I think i feel a series coming on

EASY PEASY EARRINGS

2010-06-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

You can make these earrings in 1 hour or less.

Buy: 2 metal links, matching 28 gauge beading wire, ear wires, 2 jump rings, and your choice of seed beads. ( these are size #11)

Add 1 bead to your wire and leave about 1 inch tail. Make a blanket stitch around the link. Hold the bead and tail next to the link, wrap the wire around the back, cross in front of the link, and when you come back to the top, duck under the wire and pull tight. Repeat around.

Twist the end wire with the tail, and pull it through a bead hole. Cut twisted wires, just as they come out of the bead. Add your jump rings, and ear wires, and you're finished.

BETA TEST NEW BLOG

2010-06-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

For years now, it's been on my "to do" list, and FINALLY I've had the time to start a blog for selling our work on line. Unfortunately I don't have much stock from Namibia left to sell, so most of the items are my proto types, but "a good start is more than half finished" I always say. It's in BETA so please give your feed back. I think all the links and buy buttons are working :)

www.workofourhandsforsale.blogspot.com

What a great husband!

2010-06-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

When African Weaver birds go courting, they first have to prove themselves by building a nest their sweet hearts approve of. There is always a lot of bird bickering going on, because he wants to build in peace, and THEN have her inspect, while she, wants to check out, and comment, on every step !

2010-06-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

We watched one poor guy build all these nests before he got approval. Now that's persistence!

Summer Dreams

2010-06-13T21:29:00.000-07:00

I took a picture of some sun flowers and one thing led to another.... thank you to: Cottage arts, and The Graphics Fairy

Queen of the Laundry

2010-06-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

My daughter works so hard at her day job, and then as mom .

I made her this award and then plan to frame it or what ever other inspiration hits......

Images are from the wonderful Graphics Fairy

Photo enhancement contest-before

2010-06-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

Photo enhancement contest-after

2010-06-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

www.mcklinkyblog.com

What I did to enhance Abby's photo

2010-06-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

www.FreeFoto.com

1. Straightened the photo
2. created a feathered mask of just Abby
3. Brought in a new background from FreePhoto.com
4. increased exposure on Abby .41
5. increased vibrance (saturation) on Abby .22
6. added a frame

Meet the artisan : Isabella Shilongo

2010-05-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

I'd like you to meet Isabella Shilongo, the Namibian I am most blessed to know. She is truly beautiful inside and out !

Isabella grew up in a traditional village in northern Namibia near the Angolan boarder. (Yes my friend, there are still grass huts in the 21st century). In-spite of the rural location, Isabella's mother was a strong believer in education, so Isabella graduated from high school and is extremely fluent in her second language -English.

When we moved to Namibia in 2002, Isabella was one of the first people I met. She quickly became my interpreter and friend. She interprets not only words , but also culture. I often have to say " what just happened there Isabella" ?

As the years went by, I watched Bella struggle with deciding on a career choice, and commiserated with her as doors shut on many of her ideas. In the mean time, she kept helping me, and also helping children get into school, and adults learn English.( English is the official language of Namibia which also has about 28 tribal languages, plus German and Afrikaans.)

Isabella always learned the hand craft skill I was teaching as she interpreted for others, and we all saw she was talented at it too. Well, to make a long story shorter, she is now the production manager of the entire beading division of Work Of Our Hands ! She also has her own business, designing, making, and selling her jewelry ! I'll write more about Bella one day soon, but for now this post is getting rather long.

Making ribbon flowers

2010-05-25T12:55:00.001-07:00

Lucia's head band

2010-05-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

It's spring, so let's make flowers.
My daughter wanted a flower for baby Lucia's head band. I searched my brain files and remembered this one. It takes less than 1 yard or meter. Just measure 5 equal spaces and sew a u shaped gathering stitch in each section. (The pink one had 4 inch sections) . Use thin ribbon, and heavy thread. Pull the thread to gather everything and Wala! It makes it's own petals as you pull. I even made these once in crepe paper.

Studios

2010-05-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

So have you seen those USA magazines of beautiful studios? Are they for real? I make the biggest mess until I can't find anything, and then clean up. If I were really rich I would have a studio fairy to clean up after me and find everything I've misplaced! In Africa I have more room, which just means I lose more things, and it takes a lot longer before I have to stop and clean up.

St. Petersburg double chain stitch

2010-05-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

I've been so frustrated waiting for my work permit renewal , and worrying about the ladies loss of income while I'm out of the country ! I got the idea to start videotaping the "how to" of the new designs I've been developing while in Denver. This way my African daughter Isabella can start teaching before I get back.

Tutorial for St.Petersburg double chain bead stitch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoGILkyrv0Y
Ok don't laugh , it's my first try at video .

2010-04-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

A Big Big hug and thank you to Jeannette Cook ( www.beadyEyedWoman.com ) who gave me this pattern of her design and, best of all, is allowing me to teach it to the bead ladies in Namibia! I was like a deer in the head lights at the Denver bead show yesterday. I think I saw more beads than exist in all of Africa! For sure more than in any one place in Africa.

ceramic bead work shop (hopefully)

2010-04-16T14:51:00.000-07:00

lAfrican
I hope this will work out as a short term place for the ladies to work. Now if I can just get back there myself :)

rust and resin

2010-04-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's hard to see the resin, but I carefully applied resin over the photos on these rusted charms. (See the rust how to in earlier post.

2010-04-08T13:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a few more resin coated ear rings. After trying the water based resins, I went back to the real thing. It's a lot more durable I think. Just don't be a total ditz like I was, and mistakenly use the part a twice :)

Faux Rust secrets

2010-04-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

Ok, some people wonder why I want things to look rusty???...... but you crafty people know! I've been experimenting for a long time, and even tried the "real" 2 part rust paint with no luck. ( and it's very expensive) Alcohol inks work pretty well on bare metal, but in Africa they are not so available. I think the step by step explains itself........ Then I used StazOn inks for stamping.

2010-03-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

I'm stuck in the USA waiting for our work permit renewal, but enjoying all the wonderful craft supplies available here! Lately i have been obsessing over making photo charms on the cheap, with an African/Namibian theme. After 100 or so experiments, I think I've got it. Recycled materials plus Diamond Glaze. What do you think?

2010-01-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

Several people have asked " what now? " Since our ceramic bead work place is gone. In Africa people always "find a way" or "make a plan" when life's road blocks come along. It's very inspiring .

So my plan is to extend the roof off the back of our home, for a shaded outdoor work space. The kiln has been moved to the the garage . ( it took 8 young and strong guys ! It weighs 600 kilos, or 1,400 lb.)

Home sweet home-or so we thought !

2009-11-21T04:03:00.000-08:00

We had a humble home for our ceramic bead project, but it was ours; or so we thought ! However one man's greed equals 7 marginalized women out of work and the end of our project! At least for now.
The weird thing is, that I'm more upset and stressed out than the women who will now be going without. They actually were comforting me on the last day of work as I stood crying my eyes out.
" Don't worry Meme, God will take care of us. He will find us a new place to make the beads".

Meet some of the bead artisans

2009-11-21T03:53:00.000-08:00

New Work

2009-11-21T02:27:00.000-08:00

Okawa Beads

2008-11-11T03:48:00.000-08:00

We have named our beads Okawa. This means small treasure, or small and lovely in Oshiwambo, the language of the Ovambo people. The Ovambo make up our largest people group here in Namibia.

Okawa Bead artisans

2008-11-10T22:36:00.000-08:00

Here area few of the bead artisans.

Our beads are hand rolled, or pressed into molds, then fired once. After the 1st firing, the beads are hand painted, glazed, and fired again at a higher temperature.

The process may sound simple, but it's actually very labor intensive, and the learning curve to get the firing right is a steep one. None of the beads can touch in the final firing, or they will stick together. Also the wires one puts them on, tend to sag in the high fireing heat so it is always a guess how close to place the wires.

New Venture

2008-08-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

We have recently added ceramic bead making to our project in Namibia. Getting our beads imported is aways a problem here, and we hope this new venture will provide more jobs as well as lessen our imports. As our project purpose, is to to help the unemployed, we have always used Fair Trade principles. Now, we are starting to wade through the paper work to begin the long process of certification.

Work Of Our Hands jewlery

2007-09-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

Here is our work in a new shop in Swakupmund Namibia.

Bead class

2007-09-03T07:55:00.001-07:00

We have a special "bead room" at the back of my house here in Okahandja. Thursdays are bead class day.

Jo Jo teaching a new bead stitch

2007-09-03T07:49:00.001-07:00

Jo Jo our new German volunteer teaching Stella in Stella's home.

Making a Difference

2007-09-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

Development work is hard and discouraging at times, so imagine our joy and surprise to find out how Hildeguard has been spending her bead money ! Here you can see her "before" tin house and below her new brick house in progress.

As we say in America " You Go Girl!"

Evening bag

2007-02-09T17:21:00.000-08:00

Lined ,bead crocheted evening bag
4.5 " w X 5"h with shoulder length strap
us $45
other colors available

Lacy Bangle bracelets

2007-02-09T17:11:00.000-08:00

pull on style can be gently squeezed to size . ask about available colors

Knot Necklace

2007-02-09T17:01:00.000-08:00

Ethnic choker necklace

2007-02-09T16:52:00.000-08:00

Crocheted glass beads & copper wire with ostrich bead accents

crocheted lariat necklace

2007-02-09T16:26:00.000-08:00

Wear looped once or twice, or even as a belt. Lots and lots of beads are crocheted with strong thread and then glass beads and coral fringe complete the lariat. 150mm us $ 42

Snow Queen necklace and bracelets

2007-02-09T16:11:00.000-08:00

These are crocheted with tiny stitches of copper wire and lots and lots of seed beads.

2007-02-09T15:40:00.000-08:00

The Bauble necklace bracelets and ear rings are net stitched with tiny seed beads over a wooden base bead. Only two ladies in our group are able to do this detailed and time comsuming work.

2007-02-09T15:18:00.000-08:00

Crocheted multi strand necklaces are crocheted with fine copper wire and glass beads. They are available in many color combinations.

2007-01-21T15:23:00.000-08:00