Juju or Zuko or Cool bean

I have finally printed the cartoon that i wanted to. i cant seem to make up my mind on what I should name this cartoon. Please help me JUJU or ZUKO or COOL BEAN?

My Sicret is out.

I guess my sicret is out, yes I love teddy bears and I am a big fan of Garfield. I have been collecting these for a long time but some are missing because someone felt that they needed them more then I did and still do.

Almost doesnt count.

I almost missed the show but I’m glad it was a success, everyone looked good. We had a chance to see old friends just show them how hard we had been working.

Dinner for one.

Every year we have an Exhibition of all the Beautiful work that we have done during the year and this year I couldn’t wait to see how it would turn out because I have not been around so as to see all the students working and some of the pieces that would be on show. I would be seeing for the first time. This year the lectures said they will not be hands on with the way we displayed our jewellery and that did not sound like music to my ears. I had a plan of building a little hut and inside it, would be my jewellery, the quarter heard this and was not pleased for one bit. I was given an idea. I was asked how would I give something to someone or how would I give food to the male figer of the house and as a black person, you would give anything to the man of the house on your knees as a sign of respect and showing them that you are beneath him. The jewellery that I make is more different, one could say contemporary. I had to think of a modern way to present my jewellery hence the table or the dinner for one, where my beaded jewellery is to be served. At first everything looked plain and I had to paint the wall so as to claim my spot or area. It looks gr8 now, don’t you think?

Saprise!!!!!!!!!!!

I have not seen one of these cakes in a long time. I through my sister a surprise birthday party at News Café in Suncoact Casino. This is the cake that I ordered for her and she loved it. I know she would have loved Jd’s cup cakes, DON’T YOU?

Jadi Clark's cap cake, one of DUT emerging jewellers

Family tree

This is what I call the family tree bracelet because I had help in putting it together. The youngest person to help me with it, is 10 years old, that proves to me that you can never be too young or too old to bead. It has taken me a while to blog about this piece because something just didn’t feel right about it. As I type this blog post it is at the DUT gallery and sadly someone has broken it. It is clear that, that person felt that I did not need a complete piece. As people we need to respect other people belongings.

Sun shine

Bear with me, this is not one of the most clearest picture ever, I cannot seem to get my camera to focus due to the bright colours and the shakey hand. The stitch that I used on this stitch is the same one as the curb link chain; it’s just that I added bright colours and more beaded rows. I am just testing the different ways and colours that I can put things together. It is not easy to get a stitch and colours that will complement your jewellery or piece.

Beaded curb link chain

This is a long beaded chain that was inspired by a curb link chain. It is very long and can be wrapped around the neck a couple of time. I decided to make this piece in these colours so as to create a neckpiece that can be worn on a day to day basis, worn by people that are colour shy or conscious. I basically used the same stitch as the fashion piece that can be found on my blog posts.

Too bold for you?

I have been looking at beadwork and have been trying to figer out how some of the other beaders bead. I wanted to bead round a bigger bead to see how it will look like. I got the two big red beads from Lusande, one of DUT emerging jewelers. She used them in some of her jewellery and has used them very well. I think it would be a great idea for the student to be given one common thing or element and they would have to design around it, yes this might be restricting but it would also test one’s creativity and design skills.

Follow your heart

This bracelet goes with the Broken hearted brooch. it took me a while to make but last it is done.

School trip

We went on a school trip yesterday, to Hluhluwe Game Reserve. It was ment to be the grade 10, 11, 12 and their teachers, well some of their teachers. I teach grade 8s but I did not want to miss out on the opportunity to see the big five. I think it is a shame is your South African and have not seen the big five, so you cab imagine how excited I was to go. The trip took too long and the learners where not the most quite of people on the bus but I have been there so I understand. I was abit sad at the fact that I did not get to see the lions or any elephants, one would question if there really were any lions or elephants in that reserve. What do you think about these beautiful animals?

Juju

Last week we learnt how to print images on t-shirts or any fabric and that got me thinking. This is Juju and I would like to have a brand of caps and t-shirts with him on it. I think he is cute yet stylish and a lot of young teens will love him. I just want to try out something different then jewellery.

Mbali

My sister has helped me out a lot, with modeling for my jewellery, being my image consultant “that is what she calls herself” and in many other ways. She sometimes complains that I don’t make her any jewellery and she is the only family I have “or so she likes to think”. Her name is Mbali which means flower in English. That is why I made these flower looking earrings, after her.

Joker's ring

I could not stop looking at the card and want to do something creative with it, so I looked at it while drawing or doodling. I noticed that the joker had some kind of staff or stick so I tried to design a ring from that. As you can see it above. I call this the joker ring because of the fact that I drew it from a joker card and the fact that I think it’s a joke. It does not look the way I thought it would. It’s just funny looking.

Being creative

I took some playing cards from one of the learners and they had been laying around the house for some time. I have been stressing about my work not being creative enough. At first I wanted to stick them in my book then after that, I reminded myself that I want to been creative or to think out of the box. So I started cutting the card to see what would happen.

Then I stuck it in my book but that seemed normal to me so I wrote around it. This is what I wrote “Sometimes when we do things in life, we call that taking a chance and it is only when the pieces of a puzzle come together that we truly understand what is going on. I’m trying a lot of things and one of those things, is to be creative in another level, not to lose my mind but just to be creative. To push the bounders and to go over the top without worrying or without a care in the world, as long as I’m happy.”

Broken hearted

I did the whole reed dance research and found out that I don’t really like beads on their own, without any silver. I started to look around me and think of something that I could design around or be inspired by. Then I remembered a book I read called 500 beaded objects and what made me like some of the pieces that were in it. I realized that the story behind them moved me or I could relate with some of them. Someone told me to play around with shapes and that is why I decided to make this heart brooch. The heart is broken because I think we all have felt some pain in our life and our minds tells us that when we are emotionally hurt, it is the heart that feels the pain. Whereas, I think that the heart pumps blood and the mind is the main drive.

Can not make up my mind

It has been a very long time since I last blogged but I have not being lazing around. I have been making jewellery. I posted a drawing of a neck piece that I was longing to make but unfortunately it did not come out the I was hoping it would, so I’m stuck not knowing wether it should be a brooch or a neck piece. Please help me choose one.

Drum role everyone!

I have been making beadwork that is worn at the reed dance and now I’m proud to say that the whole outfit is complete. It took some time but it’s done and with the help of my sister, I managed to take this beautiful picture of her.

Frames for my image.

I have been thinking about the artspace exhibition that we are having in July the 13^th, I’m very scared because I still don’t know how to put things together. The one thing that I’m glad about is the fact that while I was drawing these frames I completely shutout the classes noise and all I could see, was their mouths moving.

Nothing's for nothing

I have this wonderful idea of a neckpiece, it’s such a pity that I cannot draw very well because this drawing doesn’t do it any justice. I can’t wait to start making it. I made earrings last year that had a beaded section but to my surprise people or my classmates didn’t like the way I had put them together. So hopefully by re inventing those to a chain or a neckpiece will work.

Finally it's done.

I’ve been working on this skirt for sometime now and I’m very proud that it is finished. One thing that got me down or that brought my hopes down is the fact that black or black beads are not welcomed at Emhlangni “The reed dance.” It is said that if you seen wearing them, they are taken away from you, never to be returned. It is clear that if I want anyone to wear my work at the dance I will have to start from scratch. It is a lesson to be learnt sooner then later.

What's wrong with smarties?

In the btec lesson or meeting that we have every Thursday we were asked, “What is the image or picture that guides you or that comes to mind when you’re making your jewellery?” At least that what I thought it ment. I took some time to answer because I did not want to say the wrong thing. I answered smarties come to mind when I do my beadwork because of their bright colours and the taste of cause. Some people agreed that when I mentioned it, my beadwork does tend to remind them of smarties. Amazing enough the other members of the group thought my colour co ordination is a bit off or at least that’s what I got from the conversation. What’s wrong with smarties? What’s wrong with bright colours?

Almost peace of mind.

This is my classroom, its not the best looking class but you should have seen it when I first got it. I say almost peace of mind because the classroom looks empty but the noise don't say so. The kids or learners are actually standing on the sides, avoiding to be in the picture. I find that funny because sometimes I jump at the opportunity to have my picture taken.

My first pic

I bought a camera this weekend, I know im ment to be looking happy but it had been a long day and I still had a long way to go. Hopefully now I can take more pictures and blog more.

Praying long and hard.

I titled this picture, "praying long and hard" because those girls do not want that reed to break under any circumstance. That would be blowing their chance with the king or with people ever respecting them. Do not get me wrong, not all the girls that join the reed dance want to be chosen by the king.

Proud

These young ladies are very proud of their culture as you can see that they are not afraid to take part of the reed dance, where the king is ment to chose his next wife. I love their bright colours but I guess that has to do with wanting to stand out of the crowd. Every tribe or area has their own style or taste for beadwork. They can be told a part by the different colours or stitches. I'm in the process of making the fool beaded outfit but with a small twist or should i say "Isimodeni?"

Bold pieces

I have been beading what I call traditional jewellery and I think that the jewellery or the items are very flat so as to go or flow with the body. David Chatt is an artist that I was referred to by Suzanne Golden. I love his use of colour and the fact that his jewellery or his work is three dimational.

The zulu reed dance

Once a year young Zulu or African ladies attend the Zulu reed dance that is held at Ulundi or kwaNongoma. Before this function or this gathering the ladies have to go to a virginity test and if you’re no longer a virgin, you do not take part. The ladies have to carry long reeds and hand them to the king, King Goodwill Zwelithini. It is said that if your reed breaks before you hand it over, you lied about going throw the virginity test and passing it. I made this neck piece because it is one of the items that ladies wear at the reed dance and I would like to make the whole out fit. I made it this long so that it can go past the breast and hide a bit of the flesh.

Whats your flav?

This is the picture that I want to use for the artspace invite.

Ceramic brooch

I have been reading a book called Speaking With Beads to try and find out more about traditional Zulu beading or beadwork. The colours of isibheklane grabbed my attention, the shapes and the pattern. That inspired me to make these ceramic brooches. They are nowhere near being finished but in time they will be master pieces. I chose ceramic so that I can give them dimension and to use a medium that I’ve never used before

African art center

I have been asking around for some help and the art gallery is one of the places I went to. I guess I could say perfect timing because they loved my work and wanted to include it in the next gallery new comer’s line. I went home and started beading and beading till I ran out of beads. These are some of the pieces that I made for the launch on the 29^th, I still have to make more but the question is, WILL I FIND TME TO?