ArtFire

These African bead tribal earrings are stand outs with their earthy combination of blue, orange, and pale yellow beadwork focals and copper wire spirals and beads. The eye-catching highlights of these handmade dangles are their focal components, which were created in Zambia by women of the Muchila Expressions project. They are sturdily made and constructed of glass seed beads that have been woven together in a tribal pattern. These little treasures have a lovely texture, with matte orange coppery colors at either end and alternating bands of dark blue and very pale (almost cream) yellow beads in the center. The blue beads are extremely shiny and metallic-looking, with a touch of iridescence. The pale yellow alternates are partially transparent glass.

Copper was the natural choice for making earring dangles with these wonderful African beads. I used daisy spacers to border them, with cone beads included as a special extra. The "petals" (or knobs) of the spacers a nice echo of the seed beads and contribute a rather regal touch to the whole. The spirals seemed a perfect way to end the dangles, and are hand-fashioned and slightly hammered. Their shiny, reflective smoothness adds variety to the texture of the dangles.

A wire wrap was used at the top, and copper crimp covers added to the copper-plated French hook ear wires. (These hooks come with clear earnuts, aka stoppers, to keep these earrings more secure on your ears.)

The length is around 2 and 3/8 inches, including French hooks. Please see my photos for an illustration of the length with a ruler.

All together, these African tribal beads earrings are very special handmade dangles!

About the Muchila Expressions project:
I purchased the African beads at a bead store (BeadCache) in Massachusetts that has partnered with Options for Children to establish a women's craft collective in Muchila, Zambia. The store donates 100% of the profits from its sale of the beads to Options for Children, thus helping to support this most worthy project! The women make beads, bracelets, and baskets.

Spirals:
The spiral is such a special shape, with an amazing dynamic sense to it that expresses movement and growth. It can be seen in the form of immense galaxies in the cosmos as well as in the relatively tiny whorls of a human fingerprint and the microscopic structure of DNA. We see spiraling shapes in certain seashells and plants, and since primitive times, the human imagination has found symbolic meaning in spirals in and across a wide variety of cultures. Possible interpretations of spirals as symbols include growth, the journey through life, time and its passage, the journey beyond life, fertility, the sun, protection against evil, and infinity.

The beauty and well-crafted quality of the African-made beads were themselves the inspiring element here.

African beads, copper daisy spacers and cone beads, copper wire, copper plated French hooks, earnuts, crimp covers

To see more PrettyGonzo jewelry, please visit my shop! It's just a click of "Home" away! :)