Wednesday, March 25, 2009

What Came Before....Kiffa and free bead winners

Ancient beads are amazing to me especially when you think of how they're made. I find much inspiration in them.

Kiffa beads are rare powder glass beads according to Wikipedia.



Kiffa beads inspire me to try more complicated design in my work.

Is there something that encourages you to do something more? Do something more complicated?

Before you comment, here are the winners from Monday and Tuesday:

Monday: Sharon

Tuesday: Tish

Congratulations!!!!

And today's giveaway beads are eye beads in keeping with the ancient theme of inspiration:

10 comments:

Deb said...

Now those ancient Kiffa beads are something special, aren't they?

I love to look at tribal masks for inspiration - my beads rarely come out looking anything like what inspired me though.....but no-one knows that unless I am foolish enough to post pictures ;o)


Your beads are wonderful - & they are very much in keeping with the Kiffa beads picture.

angelinabeadalina said...

Hey, I agree with Deb, your beads in this set have that same feel as the Kiffa ones! Cool glass!

Katie said...

I tend to get inspired by seeing work that others have done...As I do more with my beads and get more comfortable with techniques, I see other people's work and realize that "hey, I can do that, too." So, it inspires me to branch out and try new things to see what I can come up with...

Those Kiffa beads are pretty cool!

Just A Tish said...

I have never heard of Kiffa beads - they are wonderful.

*runs to read some more*

Cindy Gimbrone said...

Hi Deb,

I love tribal masks too and Navajo sand paintings, they're like the sand mandalas of the Tibetan monks. My beads don't end up looking like the masks or sand paintings. Maybe that's good because the masks and sand paintings are religious symbols and we don't want to be disrespectful of another's religion. So I think they're great sources for inspiration and if you create a piece that doesn't look like it - terrific! You've been inspired and respsective and creative!

Thank you for the kind words about the beads.

Cindy

Cindy Gimbrone said...

Thanks Angela! I love the Kiffa beads - they're amazingly intricate.

Cindy Gimbrone said...

Hi Katie,

Others' work can be very inspiring - most definitely. It can make us try things we didn't think we could do - I keep trying with the Kiffa beads - I'd like to do it with glass stringer but it's not the way they make modern Kiffas, it's done with powdered glass and "painting" on the design.

Geez, I hope the glass beadmakers have some kind of safety equipment.

Cindy

Cindy Gimbrone said...

Hi Tish,

Aren't Kiffas amazing?!? I remember when I first learned about them - I was just amazed and wondered how I'd never heard of them! Enjoy learning about them!

Cindy

Dave Robertson said...

I'm lucky enough to work at a place where I'm near kiffa beads every day. They've always amazed me too. I keep hoping someone outside of Africa will start experimenting with variations on this ancient technique. (Or how about those powdered-glass / "sand" beads?)

--Dave

Cindy Gimbrone said...

Hi Dave,

I'm sure there are those like me who are working on it but they're just so dang intricate! I'll keep trying! Yes, love the "sand" beads those are cool too.

I keep wanting to say "bless you" when someone say "Kiffa." wink!

Cindy