Head & hands
At work, I use my brains most of the time (yes, I have some for those who have doubts), but during leisure time I prefer working with my hands.
I’ve always deeply admired and respected handicrafts. For many years now, I’ve been making jewellery with beads, using all kinds of techniques (including Mieke's original textile techniques).
A special interest goes to ethnic decoration. For thousands of years people have adorned themselves with jewels. Beads and jewellery are of all times and all cultures, I love it!
At the moment I am focused on my 4 year education “goldsmith” at Syntra (a local education organisation for adults), but I'm still crazy about beads in all shapes and sizes. As nervous and impatient I am in my “normal life”, I’ve got tons of patience in my “world of beads”.
Beads & embroidery
Hence the choice of what I want to show : beaded beads and bead embroidery.
For the beaded beads I sew small seed beads around a larger wooden or plastic bead using the peyote technique. Small is beautiful, I should say!
At work, I use my brains most of the time (yes, I have some for those who have doubts), but during leisure time I prefer working with my hands.
I’ve always deeply admired and respected handicrafts. For many years now, I’ve been making jewellery with beads, using all kinds of techniques (including Mieke's original textile techniques).
A special interest goes to ethnic decoration. For thousands of years people have adorned themselves with jewels. Beads and jewellery are of all times and all cultures, I love it!
At the moment I am focused on my 4 year education “goldsmith” at Syntra (a local education organisation for adults), but I'm still crazy about beads in all shapes and sizes. As nervous and impatient I am in my “normal life”, I’ve got tons of patience in my “world of beads”.
Beads & embroidery
Hence the choice of what I want to show : beaded beads and bead embroidery.
For the beaded beads I sew small seed beads around a larger wooden or plastic bead using the peyote technique. Small is beautiful, I should say!
The last few months I explored the beautiful “bead embroidery” world and the possibilities are endless. I will use Mieke’s cloth medallions which we will embellish in order to make a beautiful accessory (ring, pendant, brooch, button, …)
An & Zanzibar ?
Why travel to Zanzibar… First of all because Mieke asked so nicely. It is always a pleasure to follow a workshop with Mieke, she is very creative and relax!
I also expect to learn the tricks of trade from the local women, as they are the specialists when it comes to handicraft. And I hope that, in return, I can contribute a little to their creative projects.
Furthermore, I plan to immerse myself in the African culture, a culture that is still unknown and unexplored territory for me. My knowledge of Swahili is better than expected, but my “West-Flemish” definitely needs to be improved. But travelling in the company of six nice and sweet "West - Vlamse madamn", I certainly will succeed.
Why travel to Zanzibar… First of all because Mieke asked so nicely. It is always a pleasure to follow a workshop with Mieke, she is very creative and relax!
I also expect to learn the tricks of trade from the local women, as they are the specialists when it comes to handicraft. And I hope that, in return, I can contribute a little to their creative projects.
Furthermore, I plan to immerse myself in the African culture, a culture that is still unknown and unexplored territory for me. My knowledge of Swahili is better than expected, but my “West-Flemish” definitely needs to be improved. But travelling in the company of six nice and sweet "West - Vlamse madamn", I certainly will succeed.