Ndebele Ruffles on Peyote

Getting a good picture of this bracelet was a challenge because the clear seed beads in the center peyote band created reflections that kept you from seeing the bracelet clearly. I tried taking the pictures in different settings, but none were acceptable to post. My husband suggested hanging it on the rose bush to take the shot. It turned out to be the best idea of all!

The beads placed between each Ndebele point created the ruffles along the edge of the band. That was not the original design intent, but I have learned the hard way to listen to the beads when they begin to speak. I think it gives the bracelet a more feminine look.

Movement on Memory Wire

This bracelet was made with memory wire as the base. Memory wire is a thin metal that goes back to its original shape, even after being stretched open. That way, no clasp is needed for the bracelet.

After stringing the cubes and bicones on the memory wire, I added the fringe of copper-coloured seed beads, cubes and oval glass beads.

The fringe beads sway with each movement of the wrist.

An Answered Prayer

Our family is giving thanks for an answered prayer. My nephew, NDA, was just accepted into medical school! Thank you, Jah, for making this opportunity possible.

He will attend the Florida campus of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine starting in August. We are proud of his hard work and dedication towards his goal. For the next four years we will be praying him thru each obstacle that arises.

According to Wikipedia, osteopathic medicine teaches that the primary role of the physician is to facilitate the body's inherent ability to heal itself. Osteopathic physicians use conventional methods of diagnosis and treatment, but are trained to place additional emphasis on the achievement of normal body mechanics as central to maintaining good health.

Two Crosses

These crosses were done as a special request for the wife of one of my husband's childhood friends. She couldn't decide whether she wanted the pendant to be flat or dimensional, so I did one of each to give her a choice.

She kept both of them!

The flat one on the left is done in peyote stitch and the thicker one on the right is done in right angle weave (RAW).

Where My Visitors Are

According to Google Analytics 53% of my blog visitors are from Jamaica. Big up to alla oonu! I know that I owe many thanks to Irie Diva, as her site has been one of the major sources of traffic referrals within Jamaica.

The next highest percentage of visitors are from the US. Canadian visitors make up the third highest percentage. Sistren Pearl, a Canadian blogger, of Beading Gem's Journal has sent many visitors my way also.

I am always curious to find out how visitors find their way to my blog. But in the immortal words of Anita Baker, "I don't care how you get here, just get here right away." I enjoy my visitors, new and repeat.

Google AdSense Update

This is an update for those of you who have continued to query the status of my appeal with Google AdSense. I thought this was a "put down and dun ting". When I filed the appeal and heard nothing from them, I just removed the HTML code for the Google Ads and continued blogging without them.

What a surprise to get this e-mail post from them:

"Thanks for providing us with additional information. However, after thoroughly reviewing your account data and taking your feedback into consideration, we've re-confirmed that your account poses a significant risk to our advertisers. For this reason, we're unable to reinstate your account. Thank you for your understanding. As a reminder, if you have any questions about your account or the actions we've taken, please do not reply to this email. You can find more information by visiting https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/answer.py?answer=57153.
Sincerely,
The Google AdSense Team"

Mi neva kno seh likkle mi inna mi likkle yaad on fi mi likkle compooter cudda "pose a significant risk" to hinnyboddy at all.

Zulu Flowerette Chain Bracelet

I enjoyed learning this stitch, the Zulu Flowerette Chain.

My subscription to Beading Daily allows me to download PDF tutorials from their free project library.

A recent project was an exerpt from Diane Fitzgerald's book Zulu Inspired Beadwork from Interweave Press. Some of her other incredible books include "Beading With Brick Stitch", "Netted Beadwork" and "The Beaded Garden".

Instead of the button closure shown in the instructions, I peyote stitched a toggle clasp. This is a labour-intensive stitch, but well worth the effort.

The next stitch I am going to learn is the Zulu Square Tube, which incorporates both N'debele and African Helix stitches to form a squared tube.

Silver Hearts

This set was a custom order. It includes earrings, an anklet and an adjustable choker. The tiny silver hearts were taken from a set of bridal shower jewelry to be used here. I hope the young lady in New York who this was designed and made for enjoys it.

Glad They Don't Work For Me

Blessed Earth Strong, MLK

Our world lost a visionary leader when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assasinated. His words are as true today, as when he first spoke them.

"Those who love peace must learn to organize as effectively as those who love war."

"Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men."

"I criticize America because I love her. I want her to stand as a moral example to the world."

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing that it seeks to destroy."

" This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice and love."

Lady Roots on Beading Gem's Journal

Once again, Sistren Pearl has been kind enough to feature my creations on her amazing blog, Beading Gem's Journal.

This post focused on jewelry made from recycled materials. She displays a picture of a bracelet made of buttons cut from business suits I used to wear in my former corporate life. Another link within her blog post shows a cuff I made from recycled material.

She has graciously helped to increase readership on this blog by featuring my work on Beading Gem's Journal.

Thanks and itinual Ras-pect to Sistren Pearl.

Netted Stone Necklace

This necklace was designed to showcase the colours of the stone, as well as let the owner have a way to keep the stone close by. He had been carrying it in his pants pocket.

Initially we discussed drilling the stone and creating a wire-wrapped bail, but small flaws in the stone made it susceptable to splitting. Instead, I created a 5-point net in which to suspend the stone. Since a 30-inch chain was requested, no clasp was required. The chain is done in a two bead wide peyote stitch.

Session Flyer

I don't usually post images of the flyers used to promote the various sessions where our sound system plays because, quite frankly, most of them use quasi-pornographic images of young women. I strongly believe that our young ladies need a more positive self-image.

This poster, for a session this coming weekend, is one of the less offensive ones.

My husband says that when someone else is paying to promote the session, they get to choose the artwork and my personal feelings about feminine modesty don't enter into the equation. I will reluctantly concede that point. We have been hired to play music and generate a money-spending vibe for the session promoter.

I am glad, however, that he shares my distaste for the filthly, misogynistic lyrics so prevelant in dancehall today. Our selectors and DJ's know that we only play clean, conscious music. They also know that dutty wuds nuh fi flow. (translation - no cursing)

Blog Housekeeping

Over the next several days this blog may look strange. (OK, stranger)

I will be attempting some housekeeping tasks that I was previously avoiding because of my internet access issues. If you stop by to visit with Lady Roots and tings dem a look chaka-chaka, come back soon.

Of course, the purpose of this endeavor is to make the blog more readable and easier to navigate. I am open to suggestions that will make your visit here more enjoyable.

As a relatively new blogger, I am still in the learning curve.

Thank you, Loyal Readers, for your visits, your shared thoughts and your support.

My Cup Runneth Over

I need to take a moment to let everyone who is reading this know how abundantly blessed I am. Jah showers my life with with His love and itinual guidance. When life's tribulations threaten to suffocate my soul-joy, I hold firm to the knowledge that He loves me with a perfect, unchanging, ever faithful love.

Thank you, Father. I know I would be completely lost without You. Just look at how flawed I am, even with You in my life! May I never be foolish enough to turn my face away from Yours.

Big-Up & Nuff Nuff Ras-pect to MiPhone

This is a Public Service Announcement for my Jamaican readers who are being held hostage by an uncaring corporation. Now we can kick them to the curb!

I seem to have found the solution to my multiple problems with Chaos & Wutless (Cable & Wireless), the local phone service provider here in Jamaica.

For over 10 years now, I have been subjected to poor or no service from C&W along with a callous disregard for the negative impact this has on my personal and professional life. On the rare ocassions I could get an internet connection, the speed would be a notoriously slow 28.8 kpbs. Dropped calls were the norm.

I was paying JA$2,800 per month for the access and another JA$9,000 per month for the calls to the C&W dial-up number. Since the passage of Tropical Storm Noel, last year, I have had no service at all. Calls to C&W repair were ineffective and aggravating.

So I begin to look for an another ISP (internet service provider) and I found MiPhone! For a one-time start up fee of JA$5,000 and a monthly rate of JA$1,400, I now have unlimited internet access at 115 kbps.

This is a public "THANX!" to Michelle, Mario and Nicole of the Mandeville MiPhone store. Each of them were helpful to me in their own way during the application and setup process. I look forward to many years of satisfied service from MiPhone.

Hello to 2-K-GREAT!

I am so abundantly blessed!

As rough as the end of 2007 was, I know that JAH will meet my needs. Maybe, not all my desires, but most certainly my needs.

I pray that all of you be blessed with good health, loving relationships, financial security and wisdom in the coming year.