Pursuit of Beadwork-Umoja Uaso Women's Group

Wonderful article in Beads & Button magazine by Wendy Ellsworth (August 2011, Issue 104) about the Samburu women of northern Kenya. They have an all women community of around 40 to 50 women with around 80 to 100 children, no men allowed. They call it Umoja Uaso Women's Group. They are all there fleeing different atrocities that patriarchal society has thought up. They find refuge in this little village and create. They all make amazing beaded jewelry as their primary source of income that allows them to live on their terms, not the men in their lives. Empowered women!! I always will support women who are active in their own destiny and do not wait to be handed things. What an amazing way adornment can change a way of thinking.
If you would like to know more about these amazing women they have their own site at
UmojaBeadedJewelry.com

Inspiration

I just love opening up a new jewelry magazine!! There is something so exciting for me. I don’t know what new ideas will inspire or what will stir something in me. It is like treasure hunting, finding a gem in the sand. Opening your mind and seeing the immense creativity that is out there, inspires me in with my humble training and studio to stretch myself and my way of thinking about jewelry. Magazines like Ornament, Art Jewelry and Belle Armoire Jewelry are just some of my favs. So I will take some time to expand on my favorite articles, or ones I found interesting. Maybe just a sentence I read or colors an artist used to express themselves may move me to write or create! I love to know about what moves artist to create or sparks their internal flame. So look for more to come!