This week I am having loads of fun turning “Kitenge” fabric discards from Nayah Ndefru-Kathurima's (Ahaya) and Sarah Wangeci's (Emstene Bridal) - both clothing designers in Nairobi - into fun flower brooches and hair pins. Once they discover what I have been up to they will begin charging me to take out their trash!
I’ve given them a fun twist using Maasai beadwork, and my fashionista sisters are having fun with them. Last night my youngest sister wouldn’t let me go to bed before I made her a purple limited edition one fixed to a comb, for the lovely natural Afro hairdo she has spotted in the last two weeks.
Last weekend she wore a yellow one in her Afro to match her sari to a wedding, and yesterday a teal and black one with white bead work to match her teal top to work.
I am now working on some for kids to go on an elastic band.
Thanks to my 8-4-4 training in needle work... I hear kids nowadays cannot even sew a needle onto a shirt ... and "hemming stitch" boys and girls is not a bird species.
Thanks to my 8-4-4 training in needle work... I hear kids nowadays cannot even sew a needle onto a shirt ... and "hemming stitch" boys and girls is not a bird species.
The turquoise and brass jewelry range to be tested in June is also looking good – rare ocean blue turquoise stones in brass rings, long earring pieces, turquoise seed beads wired onto brass bracelets and turquoise pendants set in nickel.
