Bead work

Imfibinga/Ubuchwabasi (Jobs tears/river stones)

These beads are usually found along the side of the river.

They come in natural grayish shades and they are almost shaped like an onion, with a semi oval top and a slightly rounded bottom. They have a hard shell like cover and they are soft in the middle with a hole that runs through, from top to bottom.

I felt interested in the way they naturally come in different shades so I decided to used that to create patterns for beaded neck pieces.

Triangle patterns using the Zulu love letter stitch to make a choker.

An Ombre of the variety of the shades from the beads, using the Rope stitch on a 4 strand pattern.

A twisted effect using the rope stitch, on a 3 strand pattern

I would enjoy to explore a bit more with these beads, for an example, to colour them in bright colours and use them in smaller jewellery pieces. 

Plat Africa Competition 2015

                                                          working drawings

Inspiration

Design concept 

Finished piece

Artist statement

Midi-rings on display

I felt the need to display them with pictures to show how and where should they be worn.

Stone cutting

My interest of cutting stones resulted to a pair of oxidized silver and Transvaal jade studs.

Now looking forward to find out what is this mysterious looking stone. It is predominantly brown with white and some beautiful spectrum colour specs. 

3rd Year jewellery pictures I found on my facebook

Calla lily inspired 925 silver ring with blue and grey pearl beads 

925 silver pendant with claw set enamel 

Oxidized 925 silver ring, pieced out pattern and green resin set on tube

Silver filigree center piece 

Silver filigree earrings

925 Silver pendant with red resin 

925 silver earrings with red resin

925 silver earrings with red resin

My old blog

http://louisnyc.blogspot.com/

silver reticulated ring with flared inner sleeve.

2nd year jewellery pictures I found on my facebook

925 Silver earrings with blue bead on shepherds hook.  

925 Silver earrings with blue bead at the bottom.

925 Silver earrings without the blue bead.

Copper, brass and 925 silver bangle

925 silver and colorful resin stud earrings

Turquoise beads on 925 silver wire earrings

1st year jewellery pictures I found on my facebook

Casino inspired 925 silver signet ring with brass dice.

3x925 Silver flat bands, what I called a "tree-spoon" and a brass signet ring

925 Silver Autumn inspired bracelet with cherries, pumpkin and autumn leaf with a tube set green plastic cabochon 

925 silver autumn leaf with a tube set green plastic cabochon

Custom jewellery

jade, 925 silver and cubic pendant

Elephant hair and 925 silver bangles

Quartz and 925 silver ring

925 silver and Turquoise ring

925 silver horse heard pendant

The Pretoria Social Market

Meet The Choker that I made with pleated fabric material and gold plated silver.

I used cotton to create that clothing feel to it. The aim was to make a jewellery piece that feels like it is part of your clothes but also stands out as a jewel to adorn the neck, where most clothes don't reach.

I love to work with models that take their fashion to extremely unusual levels but also keep the ethnic african look.