Creativity Born from Need

It wasn't until we were adults that my sisters and I realized how poor we had been growing up. In fact last week we were laughing about the english muffin pizzas our mother use to make for us because all it took was half an english muffin, a slice of tomatoe, half a slice of cheese and a piece of bacon. We all loved it and couldn't believe that other families didn't have that. Back then my mother was a great seamstress and made all the clothes for our family of 6. Aside from my youngest sisters "abominable snowman" coat, which we use to tease her about, we were always complimented on what we wore. My dad did incredible work with wood and made most of our furniture. In fact my parents still have some of his furniture in their house. I wish I still had the jewelry box he made for me. I can remember around Christmas time helping him in the basement while he made ankhs and other gifts for people. They both are retired now but every now and then my dad will drag out his tools to help me out by making displays for my jewelry.
I also remember as a little girl going to visit my grandmother in her one bedroom apartment in Wiggins Village. She crocheted and had things on display all over the place. Plain dolls that she had bought were adorned in outfits that she had made just waiting for someone to take them home to their little girl. She crocheted and sold stuff to her neighbors until she lost her eyesight. My grandmother, a mother of 13, was the first entrepreneur that I knew.

Black Crafters

I recently read an article asking where were the black jewelry designers. It got me thinking about that so I did a google search to see just what was out there. I didn't get a lot of hits but that doesn't mean they are not out there. In my searching I came across a jewel of a site called Black Crafters Guild. It is a group of black men and women from around the world who are all very talented. Not only did I find jewelry designers there but also seamstress, quilters, doll makers, and other wonderful things. If you are interested in black artistic things or are a crafter yourself then I urge you to go have a look.

Kazuri Beads

Kazuri beads are beautiful clay beads handmade by women in Kenya. This video tells their story.

More information and where you can buy beads can be found at http://www.kazuriamerica.com/

Men's Jewelry

A while back my dad challenged me to make some jewelry for him. He has always been a great supporter of mine and one of my best PR persons so I figured I would give it a try.

Here he is wearing the first piece of men's jewelry that I made. Its wood beads mixed with carved bone beads. The focal bead is a carved bone arrow head with curved horn tubes on either side.

This next piece is a choker made with wood and bone beads. It's actually for a man or woman but my dad snatched it up first. I don't mind since he shows them off and gets orders for me.

Au Naturel

I originally chose the name Naturel Sight when I was deciding on a name to use for my upcoming Etsy shop. I wanted something that was different but that also described the type of work I like to do. I mostly like to work using natural beads with some seed and metal beads thrown in for design.
The other reason I chose the name was because it reminded me of growing up with parents who instilled a strong pride in our African American heritage. My parents were both involved in civil rights so my sisters and I grew up surrounded by people and books full of rich black history. We were taught to take pride in who we were and not let anyone or anything keep us from doing the thing that was set in our heart to do. I try to pass that pride on in the jewelry I create.