Seed Bead Braided Necklace.

This particular update on my creativity took me a little while to get to so let’s dive right into it. When I created the braided wristbands, at the back of mind it was a trial run for one of my most ambitious project and undertaking to date.

Finished product

I knew I wanted to make a braided necklace out of some of the remaining seed beads I had in my possession. The thought itself was challenging and took me longer than anticipated but the outcome superseded my imagination. Seeing it come to life and better than I’d imagined brought on a feeling of gratitude and pride – pride that It was I who had come up with something so pretty and gratitude for the skills however unprofessional.

Seed Beads braid

The comments I received from friends and family after posting to instagram  filled me up with joy. No one knows this but after creating the necklace and actually being overwhelmed with the outcome, I prayed. There are times when you just have to thank God for the littlest things and this was one of them. To have the gift for creativity, talent and imagination are things few people have and when you’re able to use them and come up with something better than you’d dreamed it, you appreciate.

First layout and color coordinating.

A March Retrospective.

Sad to see March go. It was filled with so much inspiration that I have nothing to do but appreciate. For those of you who are in any way or form artistically inclined, you’d know how rare this is.
As I was going through my sketchbook a few days ago, I noticed majority of my drawings were done in March this year. This is due to the fact that I successfully date marked most of them this year unlike the previous ones. There were a few moments where I had to scratch my head trying to figure out when I did a particular drawing.
Aside from the drawing, I made quite a few accessories this past March. I found a new home for my little heart, made my first pair of earrings amongst others. March has been really good inspiration-wise. I am glad my muse is still with me.

On to April now. April made me a few promises that it is yet to keep.  I keep on thinking and wondering if at all it will deliver? Only God knows this. But until then…
Happy month of the Fool everyone.

The Muse.

I am returning to work soon and I must admit, I’m absolutely looking forward to it because the month or so leave has been hella long. I love keeping my own company but not too much of it. No. Anyway, the time off has been greatly appreciated – creative wise. I have managed to make a believer out of myself with these words, ‘The muse visits during the act of creation, not before. Don’t wait for her. Start alone,’ by Roger Ebert ringing through my head.
Instead of writing about individual pieces, I have decided to share all of them at once even if they all were created on separate days, weeks with different moods. The proverbial ‘muse’ paid me a visit during this period and I went to work on nurturing my other skills – jewelry making.

From L-R: Button Bracelet, Rings, Necklace and Chain Bracelet.

Let’s start with the button bracelet. Most of you won’t believe that it is out of buttons because it looks really good and rich. I got the buttons off my sister’s sweater and I couldn’t wait to use them. With all my excitement, you’d imagine I’d get to it right away, no? Well, it took me awhile. The mood was never right. I don’t create just to create, I create when I feel it is time.
Then there was the little rings. To be honest, I just pimped up two plain adjustable silver rings. I added on this column of jewel stones and little flowers on both and they turned out amazing. It is the second time I do this with rings. First time was so long ago in that the ring even got stolen.
My first necklace! I’ve had the black squares sitting in my stuff for quite the longest time. They were a form of embellishment on a dress that I thought looked better without them. Besides, some of them had broken off so I proceeded to remove them entirely. Making this necklace was killer on my neck and nails. The process was painstakingly slow to say the least.
The little bracelet. I enjoyed making it. I got the little flowers and leaves to hang onto the chain from a pair of old earrings as I am in the process of getting rid of really old stuff. So, these little charms were quite the coup I needed to tweak up the chain.
I have enjoyed making all these pieces especially the necklace. I had never made one and to have it look really well done is unbelievable, so is the button bracelet. You know what really is exciting, knowing that most of my friends like everything and thinking I am a creative GENIUS!

A Few Edits.

The thing about artistic inspiration is; you never know when it is going to take a break nor return, it just does. All of a sudden, you find yourself thinking about these ideas for a design and how to make something work or you fail to come up with an idea when you want to.
By now, y’all know I am BIG on making something work for You, so this shouldn't come as a surprise. I've had these colored square beads for quite a long time. Whenever I would think of making something out of them, it wouldn't work. You won’t believe how many times I've made them into something then taken it apart because it doesn't gel until I resorted to leaving them be.

Well, artistic inspiration decided to return and on one fine weekend, I got everything I needed to work on together and accomplished it all…some of it anyway. I am so lazy. I took apart these beads and reworked them into arm candy. A bracelet, to be honest and I think (at the moment) it works. I like the crisscross shape it does when wound on the arm.

Another thing I had to do on my edit list was this chunky necklace I got last year…I think. It was so long and heavy what with the chunky balls. The first time I wore it, people kept asking me whether my neck hurt. LOL! If it could look that heavy to onlookers, how about me the wearer? I made the decision to reduce it to a collar necklace, not a chocker but those that hang to above or on the chest first chance I got.The thing about ideas is you can think it, keep it at the back of your mind until you get round to working on it.

When I was done with re-working the beads into a bracelet, I reduced the necklace too. I made sure to keep the original ball arrangement so as not to spoil the colour combination. On editing, I got more beads to make arm candy to go with the necklace. They were so many, I made two beaded bracelets out of it.
I also had a necklace my sister had given me that needed editing. Some of the stones had fallen out but the pearls were intact. I took out the empty stone shells, remained with the pearls and made two bracelets. One chunky one with the large pearls and a smaller one. These are faux pearls, by the way.

Guess where all this is, in my little basket of arm candy. Yeah, I keep my jewellery in these little baskets for easy access and storage. I have enough to run a small boutique apparently, people keep telling me this but I refute it.

A Case Of Chains.

Believe it or not but the chains in the above picture came on a pair of shoes. I loved the shoes before and after they were mine-my sister gave them to me a couple of months ago. Before they were mine, I kept looking at them wondering why someone would waste chains and beads on shoes and yet that is what made them appealing.
Once in my possession, I got to wear them and uh…they were a little uncomfortable and made my already chubby feet look like stuffed sausages in them not forgetting how one of my gurls laughed and told me in no uncertain terms that they were so last season. These are the last things you want to happen when you wear shoes you like. With all that happened, is there any wonder as to why the chains turned into arm candy?
Obviously, I could have given the shoes to someone else which I didn’t. I wanted the chains on them that badly. They were the closest I could get silver chains without having to scour the boutiques and break the bank. As you might know, chains are really on trend and being so, it makes them that much expensive.
As an accessories whore, I have a lot of bangles, cuffs and necklaces with a handful of bracelets. There are times when you don’t want to wear neither bangles nor cuffs. It was that kind of day when I failed to find a different bracelet to go with a pair of hoops. After coming up with zilch, I made the decision to invest in a few silver and gold bracelets in the form of chains.
Since this particular pair of shoes was in the dog house for said reasons, I asked myself why not? After all I was never going to wear nor give them away. So, yes, I took off the chains and was really happy when they fit my dainty wrist-fortunately. They look super cool, don’t they?

Still bonkers over my white watch

By writing this; I am admitting to a crime I wouldn’t otherwise like anyone to know about but creativity comes in the least expected places. Or maybe it is just me who looks at things and immediately know what they would look best on?
You might call me a spoiler whereas I prefer re-user or recycler because before I throw something away, I take off what I loved most about it and use it for something else.

Busy Little Bee.

Lately, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands, enough to turn into one busy little bee. Aside from maintaining a facebook page, making tracks in my French lessons and doing my damnest to follow what’s going on with fashion week in the comfort of my room, sofa and telly. I have had a little time to return to my DIY box of knickknacks.
I did some of it in between all that and bouts of boredom especially when most of the Fashion week shows were on repeat! I usually tweet these pictures of how I  spend my time and I thought, 'why not share them here so you could all see what I get up to when bored?’ I still maintain that in another world or life, I would be a jewellery designer. Jewellery is my poison. Give me something good and I will love you for life! If not, I will at least remember you by it whenever I wear it.

Materials for the chains are from my mum's stuff.

September has come to an end and I am glad for it. I felt a little bit overwhelmed because it is fashion month. I had to be a little more attentive this time round for the other blog. Actually paying attention has made me realise a few things and also learn from it. I’ve realised that if you like what you do be it profitable or not, you try your hardest to be good at it, nurture it and make it into something to be proud of. You learn a few things along the way- things which enable growth especially where creativity is concerned. I also know now that what I did before was just a drop in the well!

I love the braided ones on the left. and the right, big beaded bracelet.

Most of my friends would check on me and ask how I was and I’d tell them I felt overwhelmed. I wouldn’t go into details because some of them would not get it. With the end of September comes the end of Fashion Week and month! I am quite looking forward to returning to my French lessons which I had to put off. I am making progress and surely proud of it. If you could know the dream for these French lessons, you would laugh. LOL! I tell a few people in an offhanded way to make it seem like a joke and something I am playing at – honestly, the French is something I would like to see bear fruit. Yes! InshaAllah.