Inspired by Reading Book Club

I wish to express my appreciation to Andrew Thornton for his efforts in setting up this reading group. My hope is that the group will grow larger as more and more people learn about it. Even though I am an avid reader of pulp crime fiction,  I really enjoyed this opportunity to branch out and read a different genre, then design a jewellery piece inspired by the book.

Our first book was Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik.The part of the book that I most enjoyed was the description of the time spent at the carousel. Children try to thread the stick through a ring held by the carousel operator each time they go around. When I was younger, my own children loved to go for a ride on a carousel. We would ride wherever we found one. Because my daughter-in-law was born and raised in Paris, I enjoyed reading about the author's experiences while living there. As I read, I had to keep reminding myself that this was a series of short stories, based on his life, and not a novel. My family will be with me this fall in Paris. We plan on visiting the carousel and taking some photos! It is hard to imagine a carousel that has been in operation for so long (about a hundred years).

My usual jewellery style could fairly be described as being "over the top", because I incorporate many elements into a single piece of jewellery. But recently, I have been experimenting with a very simple necklace design. I made just 2 charms - not a very involved or complex arrangement - and then used a silver chain. The combination of a "stick" and the "ring" seem to me, to fit with the Paris that Adam Gopnik lived in. When I wear this necklace as I ride the carousel this fall, I only wish that I could  try playing the game myself. Maybe listening to this on my iPod.

"David" Line

I was stringing beads the other evening and could not decide what to put with what - my ever practical commentator suggested "what about putting some white with that", so.......

The "David" line was born. Each strand is a seperate necklace. You create your own piece by connecting as many or as few strings as you like. (And it does not even have to be black and white :) )

Roman Glass

These glass disks were found in Afghanistan, and are made from fragments of ancient Roman bowls. I think the colours are amazing.

Bohemian Wedding Beads

"Wedding Beads" were made in the Czech Republic specifically for the African trade in the 1950s and started being exported from Africa to the US and Europe in the 1980s.

These beads come in several different shapes, colors and patterns. One of the most popular shape is the round tear drop. Another attractive shape is the flat tear drop. "Wedding beads" also were made as flat tabular shapes, stylized claw shapes and other varieties.

Egyptian Faience

From Wikipedia.....

Egyptian faience is a sintered-quartz ceramic displaying surface vitrification which creates a bright lustre of various blue-green colours. Since it is not made from clay, it is often not classed as pottery. It is called "Egyptian faience" to distinguish it from faience, the tin glazed pottery associated with Faenza in northern Italy. Egyptian faience, both locally produced and exported from Egypt, occurred widely in the ancient world and is well known from Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean and in northern Europe as far away as Scotland.

source

Terracotta Beads

Ancient Terracotta Beads Mali Fish Net Weights  (19th-20th century)

Ancient clay beads excavated in Mali, Africa. These are incredible and very large beads. They were primarily used as fish net weighs. They were made of buff-colored clay and worn by women as valuable jewelry and are said to have the charm to attract men.

The beads (and photos) are from the collection of Africa Direct. Please have a look at their other pieces.

What is a bead?

"A bead is any object that can be strung to adorn or decorate a person, thing, or place. From early beginnings people have worn beads to proclaim their identity, status, and kinship; to bedazzle others and to please themselves. Beads have been used to tally property, pay for goods, and record events.

Beads invoke protection and well-being. They declare power and wealth. They tell of those who make them, wear them, pray, pledge, love, mourn, and celebrate with them.

Our fundamental human needs have found expression through beads. They reflect the history of Earth’s people and continue to be a part of our lives."

 

The quote above was taken from the website of the The Bead Society of Greater Washington. I want to learn more........