Beadwork is definitely not a quick activity. It takes hours, days, sometimes even months to finish a piece of jewel. My family and friends know the reason why do I spend so many hours in the studio, and why do I refuse going out sometimes and choose sitting behind my desk instead of having a drink and a late night talk. Don’t mistake me: I enjoy the company of my loved ones very much and I have fun when I get to know like-minded people. My new home offers numerous opportunities for that, and I like to take advantage of it.
However, making jewellery is more for me than just stringing one bead after another monotonously. I don’t care about efficiency when I bead. I focus on creating itself. The shapes, the colours, the harmony and the balance of the piece forming between my hands. Sometimes the necklace, earring or bracelet is getting its final shape on first attempt, but more often I am trying, cutting and re-trying again. My thoughts are free-flowing while I am in creative mode. Sometimes an experience from my own life is popping into my mind, sometimes a book I’ve read, a place I’ve visited or a person I’ve met.
In most of the cases creating itself is fulfilling enough, and I can let the jewel go after I cut the last thread. I take some pictures, write a tutorial or add it into the finished jewellery section of the shop. However, it happens occasionally that hitting the enter button does not leave me in a peaceful and satisfied state of mind. I am not getting curious who will fall in love with the jewel and who will wear it in the future. Quiet the opposite: I am not looking forward to see the e-mail with the words “new order” in the subject line, and am unable to focus on a new project entirely.
That’s when I know it’s a piece I can’t let go, not even for a 1000 euros. I sneak into the admin area and quietly delete the piece. Today I would like to show you some jewels which went through this and will stay with me forever.
THE AQUA-TERRA NECKLACE
It was the piece which started me out on my journey as a designer. Until then I mostly followed tutorials and beaded other people’s idea’s, so this is a very important piece for me. The beautiful blue aqua-terra jasper was the component which really kicked my mind, then it was complemented with a stone I bought while visiting the Himalayas.
Instead of getting numerous offers for it when wearing it, I will never be able to part with it. It’s not only because it contains my favourite colours (blue and avocado green), but because it reminds me of the beginnings as a designer and of traveling to India.
BEAD EMBROIDERED HANDBAG
Truth to be told, I’ve never worn this turquoise handbag anywhere. Still, it’s close to my heart. I crossed a line with the making of this: I have never made a non-jewellery item before and never embroidered on leather except of this piece. I had to be careful: the needle left holes, so there was no space for changes and corrections, once I’ve made the stitches. I like this piece, because instead of all the challenges it was made after a lot of initial planning and preparing, but without much hesitation.
THE BLUE MAHARAL EARRINGS
The focal cabochons on these earrings were bought in Hamburg, while I visited the Beader’s Best show two years ago. They are handmade by the Golem Design Studio. They remind me of the fair I visited with two of my colleagues / friends, Zuzi and Alexandra, but also of the precious time I spent in Prague, the Czech capital.
According to the legend of the Golem the late 16th century rabbi of Prague, Judah Loew ben Bezalel (also known as the Maharal) created a golem out of clay from the banks of the Vltava river to defend the Jewish community. The only care required of the Golem was that he couldn’t be active on the day of Sabbath (Saturday). Rabbi Loew deactivated the Golem on Friday evenings before the Sabbath began, so as to let it rest on Sabbath. One Friday evening Rabbi Loew forgot to deactivate it. A different story tells of a golem that fell in love, and when rejected, became a violent monster.
The rabbi managed to immobilize him in front of the synagogue, whereupon the golem fell in pieces. The Golem’s body is stored in the attic the Old New Synagogue, where it would be restored to life again if needed. (source: Wikipedia)
Do you have a piece (or two) which you decided to keep for some reason? Tell me about it!
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