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. 

Designing a collection of jewellery inspired by my findings from the Phansi Museum.

Beaded neck piece.

Icansi/Isicephu  bangle

Ihlali bangle

ELPPAG branding iron

Letters punched to brand a leather strip on a denim jacket with challenges of the letters not on the same level and no equal space in between (no accuracy).

4 view design for iron branding on Rhino

Roland WJX 10 CNC (Computerized Numeric Control) cutting machine in a process of cutting a more accurate branding mechanism on wax.

 Finished wax piece, ready to sprue and invest.

Sprued, ready to invest then let it dry for at least 3 hours before being put in a kiln overnight to burn the wax out.

Casting brass in progress.

Patiently waiting for the metal to cool down.

Cleaning up the investment and cutting off the sprues.

Branding iron mounted on to handle.

Burnt branded bag.

Embossed branded test piece.

My old blog

http://louisnyc.blogspot.com/

silver reticulated ring with flared inner sleeve.

Decorex 2015 - Jewellery

Natural gemstones pendants

Beaded neck-pieces, gemstones on rings, musical instruments and juggling balls 

Natural gemstones on brass and silver bangles

Decorex 2015 - Mosaic

Brass camel with mosaic decorations

Decorex 2015 - Food art

Food art : Apple bird, tomato flower and cucumber roses.

Food art : Apple bird.

Food art : tomato flower and cucumber rose.

Decorex 2015 - Home deco

Mirror with wood mosaic cut out.

Wood mosaics heart shapes cut out in different sizes.

Work bench - humble beginnings

My work bench and inspiration at Tech.

My Drawings, paintings and beads.

Jewellery, leather and other material samples.