Homecoming

I am called to art that looks a bit raw -even slightly imperfect, affected by wear and tear, not quite balanced...pieces that reflect experience and living.  I love tribal and ethnic jewellery.  I love eclectic combinations, the conventionally precious juxtaposed with the surprising, a piece of intriguing beauty.  Something that you look at for a while.Maybe this rejoicing in wear and tear reflects a growing acceptance of my own aging form.  Today anyway.For some stunning examples of this sort of jewellery check out this link.The beads in necklace #18 called me. I passed the bowl containing these ancient looking beads and I found them quite compelling (and obviously  I didn't completely pass that bowl!)   My thought at the time was that I'd make a bracelet that symbolised SOMETHING.  The beads seemed symbolic.  I played around with them increasingly half heartedly, and less happily as my need for perfection and my expectations of what I wanted the bracelet to say grew to preposterous lengths. Eventually, the bag of original beads got popped in my ONE DAY I'LL MAKE THESE UP box and stayed there.I arrived back in Australia on the weekend with my head full of memories, dreams, thoughts, emotions, plans, ideas, joys, anxieties, griefs and anticipation.  All well recognised feelings associated partly with the Nepal/ Australia (and vice versa) transition and partly with an up to date picture of my hearing.I know from experience how creating something can be very powerful for me at these times. My beautiful, ancient looking beads called me again from their box, as did some of my beloved lapis, amber (real and faux!) and turquoise (gorgeous pieces of the real McCoy!) in my favourite squashed disc shapes, and some wonderful long treasured clay tube beads and the toggle clasps made by dear Suraj in Dharan.  And while I rested in their calming colours, textures and shapes, I let the beads tell me what to do.Often when I make a necklace I am torn about whether to make it shorter (I have a favourite length that nestles snugly around my neck and hope others like that too!) or longer and more suitable for Winter necklines. Driven by personal greed, I am experimenting with making an extender that doubles as a coordinating bracelet if you opt for the short length.  You get more flexibility for your buck.  You can see the extender bracelet on the left hand shoulder of the bust.  And the earrings for that totally over the top touch.My Homecoming Necklace.  My darling husband has just walked in and said That's happy! and I am happy with that.