An Open Letter to Our Federal Legislators from South Louisiana

You don’t get it. We were not made whole after Katrina. And now we’ve been struck down again. Now it’s the oil corporations at war with the people, with the legislators blessings. And here in Louisiana, we have no representation. We only have Mary Landrieu, who is more concerned about the oil corporations than the people who are being exploited and destroyed by the industry she so adores. BP has told fishermen, hired to help save their wetlands and their way of life, that if they wear respirators, they’ll be fired. Now they are demanding no less than our lives.

And for what?! Hasn’t BP killed enough of us already? Why do they need to kill more of us? This is our water, this is our oil, these are our people, these are our wetlands and fisheries that are being murdered for their greed! We have David Vitter, and Steve Scaliese, who have never seen a federal regulation they haven’t been against if it meant less profit for business, particularly if it could protect our rights as citizens. We have Bobby Jindal, a Governor that doesn’t see us as living breathing human beings he was elected to lead. All he sees is numbers on a piece of paper, to step on as he endeavors to make his way back to Washington, where he can really injure and maim humanity.

The planes that are dropping Corexit 9500, a poison, on the water are also spilling it on houses of people on land in Mississippi when they return to land. We have Haley Barbour, who has done nothing to help his fishermen. Why are we so hated by you? We are the ones that elected you. We trusted you to lead us, to look out for America’s best interests. And you’ve sold us out. You don’t care. You are great all great pimps and panderers, prostituting America!

What Kind of Necklace is Apropriate to Your Bustline

I don’t like that question because it presumes that women wear jewelry as mean of disguise.

Far from it! Jewelry is one of the highest and most personal forms of self-expression. It reflects who we really think we are. So there is no jewelry that can apologise for your existence. There is only jewelry that is designed to celebrate the joy of your being, no matter the size of your breasts (or how many you have)!

A better question might be what necklace is right for the clothes you have on at the moment? You wear different jewelry based on a variety of parameters. Are you wearing a turtle neck, are you wearing a bustier? Are you dressing for the office, digging a ditch or a cocktail party? What are you doing? Are you standing, walking around/active, or sitting at a desk or on a stage?

My philosophy is that with the right jewelry, it doesn’t matter what’s underneath; you could be naked. Because if you are wearing something that makes your heart sing, you will be beautiful.

Noor Pearl Necklace

The necklace Noor was inspired by the dowager Queen of Jordan. It reflects the calm and balance she displays, and her great work trying to bring cultural understanding the between the Middle East to the West. Noor means light. I saw her speak once several years ago, and was completely taken with her grace, calm, and serenity. She also represents to me some of the best qualities of America,acceptance and celebration of other cultures and ideas.

The necklace was not easy for me to assemble. I know what I envisioned. However, creating the balance was not easy to achieve. It took several attempts, before it came together. I dare say she might be able to relate.

Why I Knot Between the Beads

Knotting between the beads is important for a variety of reasons. Bead stringing, properly speaking, is a form of rigging. Where a knot is placed, it strengthens the cord three-fold. Consequently, if cord with a tensile strength of 17lbs. The cord is strengthened to 51lbs.10lb-test becomes 30lbs, etc. Thus, it secures the beads. This is especially true when a variety of different sized beads and materials are used. If the cord breaks, there is only one or two beads to pick up off the floor. Losing precious metal beads, or gemstones, can make it costly to repair.

I use a variety of different stringing material as well. I use anything that will take a knot. Generally, I will use silk, or linen. These are natural fibers, and are quite sturdy and durable. Cotton is too weak. I also use braided kevlar, of varying thicknesses. Kevlar is used in bullet-proof vests, as well as the suits astronauts wear. I often use kevlar with beads that have rough holes.

I never use tiger-tail, or any of the coated wires that many others use. Wire eventually will cut the beads, particularly pearls and opals, which are quite soft. Furthermore, when metal fatigue sets in, which it will, sooner or later that wire will kink. That kink will not only weaken it, but will cause the necklace to not to wear properly. Wire is just too stiff for necklaces and bracelets, in my opinion.

Second and more important, a knotted necklace will lay better against the body. Indeed, knotted necklaces will conform to the body of the wearer. Thus it actually becomes a part of the wearer. And you will wear the jewelry, rather than the other way ’round. So there is no “Afghan hound” effect. That is particularly vital when wearing a large piece.

Yes, it takes longer to assemble a knotted necklace. I knot each bead into place, by hand. I do not employ any of the bead-stringing devices that are available, because it does not allow me to place the knot closely by the holes on each side of the bead. Again, this is of particular importance when using beads of differing sizes, shapes or material (metal, glass, gemstone). I create my jewelry the time-honored traditional way, one bead at a time, and one knot at a time.

Beads reflect a tradition dating back to 3000 BC These beads were worn to promote good luck, and for protection from misfortune (the evil eye or malocchio). Archeological evidence suggests that concepts linking eyes and protective magic to beads evolved in western Asia and Africa, and were carried west and east with developing trade routes. The oldest eye beads made were drilled stones like agate and carnelian.

I see both antique and contemporary beads as a link to the past through work that will last into the millennium. Beads and jewelry reflect where we are today, what we were, and who we will become. One can neither break nor ignore the thread of history, for like a strand of beads, the result would be chaos.

Wear your beads in good fortune!

How I came to Love Beads

My introduction to beads and jewelry came early. Our family’s German landlady had come to America after narrowly escaping the Nazis. She had rescued her personal collection of antique Venetian glass and African trade beads, and she kept them in several small trunks that looked just like a pirate’s treasure chest. We admired them together; Mrs. Kaplan shared her knowledge of bead designs and the history of beads. She passed her love of these exquisite works of art to me.

Growing up in Hyde Park district of Chicago, I could spend lots of free time at the Oriental Institute of Chicago, and became an avid student of ancient Egypt. In sixth grade, my research project on King Tutankhamen accidentally turned into the first biography ever written about him. (Much had been written on the treasure found in his tomb.) I was fascinated that a child about my own age had ruled a fabulous country and wielded so much power if only for a short time. The Oriental Institute included my paper in their stacks.

Formal study of jewelry craft began during my high school years. In college, I studied Greek and Roman archaeology, anthropology and physics. During my senior year of college, while studying in Oxford, I had the opportunity visit the Ashmolean Museum often and view their extensive collection of antique beads. The Jewel Room at the British Museum was also a frequent haunt. I have continued to expand my knowledge with courses from the Gemological Institute of America.

I use antique and contemporary Venetian, French, Dutch, Bohemian and Turkish glass beads to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other unusual ornaments. Precious and semi-precious gemstones of the highest quality, gold and silver are used to accent. Quality craftsmanship distinguishes my work from the rest.

Beads reflect a tradition dating back to 3000 BC These beads were worn to promote good luck, and for protection from misfortune (the evil eye or malocchio). Archeological evidence suggests that concepts linking eyes and protective magic to beads evolved in western Asia and Africa, and were carried west and east with developing trade routes. The oldest eye beads made were drilled stones like agate and carnelian.

The evolution of glass beads began with human discovery of glassmaking techniques in ancient Egypt. Beads were incorporated into jewelry, personal adornments, and everyday utensils of Egypt, the Hebrews, China, India, Persia, and Italy.
Beads are still used and admired in Africa, the Middle East, and southern Asia, as well as the Americas. As in ancient times, they adorn people, homes, pets, livestock and vehicles as protective talismans.

I see both antique and contemporary beads as a link to the past through work that will last into the millennium. Beads and jewelry reflect where we are today, what we were, and who we will become. One can neither break nor ignore the thread of history, for like a strand of beads, the result would be chaos.

Wear your beads in good fortune!

Born to Love Jewelry

I believe I was born with a passion and love for jewelry. I was born back in the fifties. There used to be a baby blanket that was made with plastic rings that could be secured around the rails on the gates on drop-down sides of baby cribs. They came pink or blue. My parents got me the one with the pink rings. According to my parents, when I was about three months old, my mother came into my room and discovered that all of the pink plastic rings had been removed from the blanket and the side rails. There were, however two pink rings on each of my ankles, two pink rings on each of my forearms, and three pink rings on each of my wrists! And I had, I have been told, a very smug, self-satisfied smile on my face.

When my parents tried to take to rings off of me, I understand the din was deafening. They let me keep them on.

Fast forward about twelve years. I’m going to my violin lessons at the Roosevelt Conservatory of Music in downtown Chicago. Where I get off the subway train is very near the entrance to the jewelry store, C.D. Peacock. When I would walk past the jewelry store, the old man that often stood out front when I passed by, always spoke to me. “Good afternoon, Miss Timmons. How are you today?” he would cordially ask. I was thunderstruck that he seemed not only recognize me but he knew my name!
I would always reply, “fine thank you”. And he would smile broadly at me. I would hurry to my lesson, but it would really non-plus me every week.

Finally, one Saturday, I gathered up my courage and I asked him how he knew me. “I’ve know you since you were a little baby. You haven’t changed at all. He smiled broadly, and said “Oh, You’re the baby that cried for diamonds”. I was stunned! No, thunderstruck, might be a better description. I demanded to know what made him say that. He asked me to step inside his jewelry store, and he would explain. He held the door open for me, like I was some great lady. I became very embarrassed, but he demurred and insisted I precede him in.

Upon stepping through the doors, the sales staff all looked up and greeted me, like a long lost friend! “Look!” the old gentleman announced. “The Baby Who Cried for Diamonds has grown up!” I was ready, in my mind, to turn and bolt out the door in confusion and fear, but my feet were oddly unresponsive. I just stood there. “What do mean?”I stammered.

At that point the old man had gone in and out of a door marked “Private”, with a photograph in an exquiste silver frame. He showed it to me. There I was, sitting on the counter, beatifically smiling. He said it was back when I was sixteen months old, when my parents came in with me. My mother needed to get her pearls re-strung. Evidently, while my parents were being waited on, the sales help offered to hold me. I was fine, he said, until I saw the diamond bracelets in a jewelry case. He said I started crying, so to pacify me they took the bracelets out of the case. When someone put a diamond bracelet on my wrist, he said I stopped crying. “Look, the baby is crying for diamonds!”, is what was said. The picture showed me with several diamond bracelets on each wrist, with my foot sticking out as one was being clasped onto my ankle!

I was thunderstruck! I mumbled I was sorry that I had been so much trouble,and had to go as I would be late for my lesson They were all smiles, and encouraged me to come back and visit any time. Later that afternoon, when I got home, I asked my parents about it. My father was tickled that there was a photo of the event. He remembered it, and thought it was very funny. “That’s why I got you all those books about minerals and gems when you first learned to read”.

When did you first realize that you loved jewelry?

Tell me your story….

Introduction to Anne the Beadbear

My name is Anne Renée Timmons-Harris and I have collected antique glass beads and unusual beads of all kinds from around the world for over thirty years.I use antique and contemporary Venetian, French, Dutch, Bohemian and Turkish glass beads to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other unusual ornaments. Precious and semi-precious gemstones of the highest quality, gold and silver are used to accent. Quality craftsmanship distinguishes my work from the rest.

My domain name is based on my craft, designing jewelry with beads, and my name given to me by my Cherokee grandfather, “Bear”. There are others on the web falsely using the name Beadbear. They are being dealt with legally. Don’t be fooled.

Each bead is knotted into place by hand, for strength and durability.

I knot with braided kevlar, linen or silk. If the cord should break, I will re-string it free.

Visit my website www.beadbear.com and see my jewelry designs