Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Indulge in the Magic of Asia - Affordably!

I am smitten, and I think you will be too, by a new style of bead and the bracelets, necklaces, and ankle bracelets my muse inspires me to make of them! It's all about BEAUTY. I believe that beauty feeds the soul and spirit, creating joy, which makes our hearts sing - we should all be able to carry this with us at all times to soak up and rejuvenate by, no matter where we find ourselves.


Cloisonne ROCKS!
I am head over heels in love with these beads because they lend themselves to SO many different ways of expression - I can make 10 red bracelets using the gorgeous cloisonne beads combined with different spacers and put them all on my arm with a good red dress and they're spectacular. OR I can put on (as I have on right now) black, navy blue, forest green, red, white, turquoise, and gold, for a delicious combination that matches absolutely anything and everything. 

Besides my Etsy shop, Dreamkeeper Creations, I sell my work at the Green Drake Gallery and I'm making a special display for these wonderful bracelets in the Gallery. It's soooo much fun!!! I'm all thrilled with the whole process of how cloisonne is created, the process, as well as the history of it. The beads come from China, and the history of the cloisonne technique originates in India, then moves into China years and years ago to the practice today (yay!).

Cloisonne factory in China. Somebody please pay me to do this all day!
Here's what I'm doing for the display, which I'm very excited about, can't wait to share it with you! 


Selecting Images
I had a lovely visit to Barnes and Noble in search of images of Asia that I could use to decoupage the treasure box that these bracelets will be displayed in. I LOVE creating a whole "buyer experience" so that after you get home with your treasures you have a sense of the history that went into the making of the beads and a special experience to remember as you wear them - a tiny piece of history and art captured humbly by yours truly. I love creating an admiration for cultures different from our own. Definitely something to celebrate and revere. I'm sure the publisher of this book on China never imagined its buyer would "cut it up," but I got over that in pure enjoyment of creating this display....


These images will be on the back of the treasure box.
It was way past bedtime when I finished going through this wonderful book on China and I so enjoyed the hours spent choosing just the right images to adorn the treasure box, which will be lined with black velvet and heaped with bracelets for you to choose from.


The Treasure Box


So to give you an idea of what you can do with these bracelets (combine totally different colors or do sets of all one color) I'm making "mini" bracelets to fit these beautiful wooden stylized hands that I will stain so the color on the wood lends its warmth to the display.
Stylized hands waiting for adornment.
The trick for me right now is waiting for the humidity to pass so I can finish the staining without bubbles. Am totally looking forward to making "mini" bracelets for them.

And this is what you'll have to choose from, and more....WOW, have fun!


How long is my arm and how many can I pop on?


Namaste


Jen : )