While I Am Off-Line

This Is What They Will Do

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE OF SURGICAL PROCEDURE BELOW! DON'T SCROLL DOWN IF YOU ARE LIKELY TO BE TRAUMATIZED BY THE IMAGE.

So, this is what I will be doing on Tuesday.

First, they will be making an incision on the outside of of my ankle. They will insert a plate with 7-8 stabalizing screws thru the incision. Second, they will make another incision on the inside of my ankle and insert two (or more) cancellous screws into the bone.





I want to thank all of you who have shared comments, lifted me in prayer, sent emails and called to wish me well. Your prayers and positive energies will send healing out into the I-niverse to heal me and untold others.

Thank you, Jah, for your abundant blessings and the prayer warriors You have gathered on my behalf.

Crutches or a Wheelchair, Miss?

Those were the options offered to me at Hargreaves Hospital.

I slipped and fell, breaking my right ankle in three places. The closest hospital is over an hour away via rough, pothole-riddled roads. I think I only screamed out loud two or three times.

Glad to say I am no longer in agony, thanks to multiple injections and pain pills. The unavoidable surgery to put two metal plates and 7-8 screws in my ankle is scheduled for next Tuesday.

This is going to put a real crimp in my plans. I had a private jewelry show scheduled for the employees of JMMB (Jamaica Money Market Brokers), an invitation to a Thanksgiving dinner in Mandeville at the home of a lovely woman who knows how to entertain and has the resources to do it well, a visit from Kingston by two of my Loyal Readers, and all the holiday sessions that our sound system has booked.

The outside world is going to have to I-tinue to spin without Lady Roots for a while. Doc said at least 6 months before I can expect normal mobility.

I am giving Thanks to Jah that it was my right ankle and not my right wrist. I don't want to imagine 6 months without beading!

Our Wait Is Over

Right Angle Weave Cross

When Sistren Shauna saw Idren Clay's bracelet, she ordered this cross for her Mother.

The beads are size 6 opaque seed beads. The stitch is layered right angle weave. The base layer is black.

Sistren Shauna will provide the chain from which to hang the cross. The box chain in the picture is for illustration purposes only.

Walk Good, Empress Miriam

Banned from her own country for over 30 years, Miriam Makeba now sings with the angels in Zion. Sistren Miriam died at age 76 after a concert in Italy.

After singing the world famous Pata Pata, she collapsed on stage. She was prophetic when she used to say, "I will sing until the last day of my life."

Heartfelt condolences to the family.

Same Stitch, Different Beads

These bracelets show the impact of using different types and sizes of beads with the same stitch.
Angled brick stitch was used for both pieces. The smaller one was beaded with delica beads in a matte finish. The clasp is two snaps that are hidden in the design when worn. The larger one was beaded with size 8 seed beads in an opaque finish. The toggle clasp is a beaded bead.

I got a commission for a choker to match the seed bead bracelet. But since it is for a man, I will need to design a more masculine clasp.

Thank you, Jah, for giving me the gift of beading. I pray for the wearers of my jewelry, even tho I don't always know in advance who they may be. If it is a custom order, I raise their name in prayers as I bead their piece. I want the love and soul joy I feel while beading to be felt when my creations are worn.

Variation On A Theme

The bracelet on the left is the original. The faux pearls are lined up diagonally.

I was wearing the original and someone wanted one "just like it". To keep my pledge of making only OOAK (one of a kind) pieces, I designed hers with the faux pearls in a zigzag. Even tho it doesn't show, the toggle clasps are different, too. Hers has a spiral of faux pearls across the top of the toggle clasp, while mine was plain. The stitch used in creating the bracelet is N'debele.

For Erica

The receptionist at my husband's doctor's office saw several of the bracelets I beaded. She wanted one done in earthtones. I used clear, gold and bronze seed beads in right angle weave (RAW). The clasp is a copper toggle clasp attached with copper split rings.

The photo below shows her bracelet next to the one that inspired it.

Netted Cuff

On my monitor the red beads in the top photo look pinkish. Nuttin nuh guh so!(That's not how it really is.) The colours used are white, red, yellow and green.

The stitch is netting and the toggles are beaded beads.

Walk Good, Byron

Byron Lee now plays his guitar for the angels in Zion. Condolences to his family and the band members.

I was blessed to see him perform live in both Jamaica and in America.

Yes, even Lady Roots love fi wine when di music sweet she!

Yes, We Can! Yes, He Did!

Thank you, Jah, for answered prayers. Guide and protect Idren Barack as he strives to uplift America and the world. Come together, Prayer Warriors, and let us lift him in prayer.

I Want That One

Spiraled Peyote

This bracelet was beaded for my adored brother-in-law, CDR. He is now living in New York, but has begun the process of returning home to Jamaica. I know being home will be good for him and for my husband.

As young brothers they weren't given a chance to be close, but as men they have both made the decision to overcome childhood issues and work on their relationship. It is hard for them to vocalize the depth of their love for each other.

I used delica beads in a spiraled peyote stitch. The clasp is a silver plated lobster claw.