We can all relate to that teacher that would stay afterschool to tutor a student on a troubling subject. If not for us then for someone else. How about a teacher that grades papers during his/her lunch break or during what’s supposed to be weekends off?

I know that my scholar’s teachers work very hard. My scholar keeps improving and it’s obvious How he loves them. During such a week, how can I even begin to say Thank You?    How about some handmade original jewelry?

This one was in the working stages still and almost finished. It’s made with hand painted different shaped glass beads as well as matching earrings. This set isb youthful and can be used with many different styles.

This set is also in its finishing stages. I’m Very excited about this set as it has amber, glass and wooden beads. It’s Very earthy in the tones and quite colorful. I’m hoping that the teacher will be able to enjoy this set.

As an artist, sometimes what you put on paper as a design doesn’t really work when you put it together. I have done this necklace three times until the 4th time was the charm and it is exactly the way that I like it. I like the way that it looks. I like the way that it feels. I like its weight. And even better I like the way that it falls on the bust and looks on the neck.

Here it is.

Here is a closer look at the pendant wrapped in beads and I love the feathered look on it

Here at the earrings when they were  almost finished.

Of course I had to make a matching set a earrings, and I chose to make something that is lightweight on the ears and still looks beautiful. Check them out.

They are now ready for their photo op. I am very happy with how stunning this set looks.

Blogs can be a little deceiving, just because you don’t see posts; that doesn’t mean that a person has not been busy.

Check out this wonderful custom made ochalde for priest of Shango. 

This with made with wooden beads as well as glass beads. There are different bead  sizes and colors and it was able to fit with the correct amount of links to fit my client’s wrist.

I love it when things go right! It feels good, and then sometimes things go wrong. What happens when things go wrong? You can either, brush it off, OR you can learn from them. One of my clients purchased a necklace set which I was told she wears basically every day. And then after one fateful day, one of the strands broke off. I said… OMG it did what? I told her that I would fix it for her no problem!
Then when I got the necklace, I looked at the pieces, the beads, and the wrapped wire, and my creativity began to flutter furiously. I decided that maybe the necklace needed a make-over. Now, this is what the necklace looked like before. The original Oshun Inspired necklace.

Beautiful right? I loved that set ever since I made and didn’t make another one like it. Until now.
I broke them all apart and completely deconstructed it.

First I decided that it should have one more strand. Originally two, and now three. I decided to apply a slight change of color to the back of the clasp. I changed the clasp to something bigger and bolder as the new piece was evolving, the clasp needed to evolve as well.

Then she told me that she loved her pendant a lot. I decided that it needed to be showcased a lot better.

And this is what it came out looking like. I will be taking professional pictures and posting them soon enough, but I wanted to share with you the progress on this gorgeous piece. This style is not only beautiful, sturdy, but absolutely stunning. I do hope that she enjoys this new Oshun Necklace Reconstructed!

So you are pregnant? And you are frugal? Then you might be in the same boat that I am. Pregnant and Frugal! I think that with a little bit of creativity, one can do wonders. And why not. I purchased a book about skirts not too long ago, and I like the way that A Line Skirts look and fit on me. I decided that if I make it, I can tweak it a bit and make it really mine. Now I am in my third trimester and I still only have one maternity dress (that I will probbably wear every week until I deliver — just because I love it.) So I think that it’s about time that I make things for myself that I like and can fit me properly. All that I needed was some fabric, a good pattern, elastic, and a tank top. I also added a trim, but that is very optional.

I went to the fabric store last year hoping to make myself some fall skirts and have delayed that creative work. I pulled out a beautiful yellow fabric, and took a blank stretchy tank top and began to work.

These pictures are to show the making of the skirt. I will post pictures of the finished skirt in a later post (or add it here). I have worn the skirt several times, and I haven’t taken any pictures. (I can’t believe I haven’t done it, but I do love my skirt!).

I made myself a pattern out of brown packing paper that I purchased at the local Office Depot. I find that it is very sturdy and it lasts much longer than pattern paper. We have to also count that it is much cheaper.

Once that you have measured once and twice, it is time for the cutting. I decided to cut the full pattern instead of doing the folds. Next time I will pin it and cut it. I find it easier to trace the pattern to the fabric and then cut, or if not the cuts become a bit jaggedy. (Not fun while cutting).

I cut two panels, front and back. If you have a pattern for multiple panels, I don’t see how that wouldn’t work either. I just wanted something easy. Next I got a stretchy black tank top. I cut in a straight line right under the bust. I also cut a little on the sides so that it would be snug on my belly, but still room enough for more belly to grow.

I took out my trusty Brother sewing machine, and began to sew the sides first.

I sewed elastic at the same time with the tank top, and then a cute trim at the bottom. It is a very comfy skirt which now fits my growing belly. I will be sure to post pictures the next time I wear it.

Being quiet on the internet isn’t due to inactivity. There are so many things that I have worked on. Here is an update on what Olubunmi Creations has been working on these past few months. (I do need to be better at bringing my camera with me everywhere to share.) I designed and made a Shango mazo for an Ocha. It came out fantastic! (I’m a little jealous lol) I also got personal orders for a couple of new iyawos for white hats and kufis. I completed a couple of custom Shango ides as well, and other requests related to that ocha. It was a very busy time. I helped to do the custom outfits for the drumming on that ocha (traje de gala). The outfits were not designed by me; however I helped with the embelishment portion (big grin there – it was a lot of work, but worth it.) Again, I should have taken pictures of them, and I will just have to carry my little camera everywhere I go.

Please reach out to me if interested in iyawo hand knit and crochet hats, ides and mazos.

My latest project is all baby baby baby related. Expecting a new baby is always a blessing, and we are so excited for the new arrival. I have knit a few hats, and now I am working on a baby blanket for the baby. I hope to do some sewing as well. Last night I began to work on a nice maternity skirt for me, since I don’t have anything maternity wise to wear. It has been soooo busy and I am blessed. I hope to share a bit more with the darn camera. I did begin to take pictures of the making of my skirt. I don’t plan to sell those, but it sure keeps me busy when I get home from work. I also have new ides for African Orisha inspired jewelry in the works. Pictures to come soon.

Thank you for your support and your friendship!

Already three months have  passed, and life continues with many blessings.  I have some thoughts in mind regarding jewelry and sewing.  I have some projects that I cannot wait to begin, and I am glad to have a little more time of sunlight.  On March 2nd, there was a fundraiser event at Lighthouse International, in which many things were raffled and auctioned to raise money for the Lighthouse.  What is Lighthouse?   They are an organization who is devoted to helping people with vision problems in order to help them be independent, and truly improve their quality of life.  My aunt is a person who has always been very independent, from a world traveller, to business owner, and she was driving when women just weren’t doing that.  (Only the rich ones hee hee hee).  My aunt has always been an inspiration to me.  With the loss of her site, she hasn’t lost her spunk, nor her Gusto de Vida (zest of life).  I called them at the Lighthouse, and they were very caring, and really took care of her, her needs and frankly… I am very pleased with how they are working to help her become more independent. She is so cute, she even has a clock which tells her the time in spanish, and now it’s not ‘good morning at 4pm int he afternoon.  It’s funny how the little things make such a difference in a person’s life.

Remember the dream that I had which woke me up in the middle of the night and I had to create jewelry that I was dreaming about?  Well I grabbed a necklace and a bracelet and packaged it Olubunmi Creations style, and submitted it for that event.  It participated in many of the raffles.  If you were interested in a particular item, you would have to purchase tickets and put it in a bowl in front of the item.  I didn’t realize how much of a hot ticket item it was.  I was very happy to see the response that it brought on to people and how many of them wanted it either for their wives, or for themselves.  I am working on getting pictures of the event to post here.  It was an absolute joy to participate in the event.  I hope to participate further, as I can see what that organization can do for people.  Check them out by clicking on this link.

Here is a fun little story for you.  One night I am happily in dream land.  Dreamland is supposed to be a place that one can get some rest right?  Well apparently that is not the case for me.  Apparently I tend to also work in my dreams.  I dream of a necklace choker style, and I wake up and see that it is 1:ish AM (yes in the morning!)  I say to myself… Hmmm well I have to work in the morning so I have to go to sleep.    I close my eyes, and what do I see?  That darn necklace is back and I see myself putting the beads together and crocheting this necklace with beautiful wire.  I wake up… and it is now close to 2am.  It seems that sleep isn’t going to happen anymore.  I decide that if the dream was strong enough to interrupt my sleep, it deserves to be made into reality.

I got up quietly so that I don’t wake up my family.  I got my tools from the hall, and the beads from the bedroom (shhhh… ever so quietly.  Lucky me, I live with a bunch of really light sleepers. )  I got my small table and set up my working area, turned on the television and set to work.  I worked for hours straight until I realized that it was close to 5am and I have to wake up at 6am in the morning to go to work.  What is a bead crazy gal to do?  Well put every thing away ever so quietly and try to get that one hour of sleep.  (Which I did!)  Was I tired the next day?  Of course I was; however I had a wonderful satisfaction all day because of two wonderful necklaces that I made and one wonderful bracelet.   Check them out below.   I will be posting them for sale soon enough on my site’s store.  For now, check them out.  They are made with brass non tarnished wire, I crocheted this wire and added these glorious colorful vintage glass beads.  (Those beads were hard to get, and I am glad that I did get them!)  The creations came out just like I dreamed they would be.  No!  They came out even more beautiful!  What do you think??

There was gift giving at the office, and I toiled with what to buy, what to get, what will she like?
Then it dawned on me, that I could make something and it would be special in many ways.  Special because the item will be unique, and special because it was made specially made for her.  Then I wondered if what I made would meet the qualifications of the money allocated for the gifts.  That is when I realized… Not only does it
qualify but it also shows that if it were sold in a booth by artisans in SOHO it would cost $50 at least!

Armed with a new confidence about this gift that I was about to make, I reached into my semi-precious stones and brought out a beautiful focal piece made of…. Amethyst.  The stone symbolizes humility, spiritual wisdom, balance, courage and inner strength.  Why not?  We all can use some balance and wisdom in our
lives.  I picked up this great piece of tumbled amethyst, and began to work.
Purple is a very regal color.  It has always been associated with royalty.  What else is associated with royalty?  Ahhh yes gold!  Golden hues would make this pop!  Then, in a little cubby of my bead stash, I saw a few of these great glass beads with what… a wonderful golden painted mark on them.  Perfect…  Then I wanted to add some sophistication to the piece and added black to complete the ensemble.  What do you think?

Beautifully wrapped and ready to go!