This handcraft creation is offered in partnership with NOVICA, in association with National Geographic. From Ghana's Rachel Armah, these handmade earrings exude African elegance. The earrings feature natural soapstone squares flanked by cat's eye beads enhanced to an intense green hue.
Product Features:
- Weight: 0.60 oz
- Dimensions: 2.2" L x 0.7" W
- Style: Dangle
- Gemstone colors: Brown, Green
- Shapes: Bead, Square
- Four rod-set bead-cut cat's eyes each measures 10 mm
- Natural stone - some variations in color and/or pattern are to be expected
- Materials: Soapstone, Bauxite
- Metal: Brass hooks
- Clasp: Hook
- Made in Ghana
Story Behind the Art:
I am a single mother of two daughters and due to the hardships I have faced as a single mother, I have done all I can to support my girls through petty trading and teaching. Growing up in Abiriw was enjoyable and exciting. It was very much a communal life, and every year in September we celebrated the Odwira festival to give thanks for a good harvest and year. Festivities included a grand durbar of chiefs amidst drumming and dancing. The highlight of the celebration for me as a young girl was the display of the beautiful traditional colorful attires that people wore and accessorized with gorgeous beaded necklaces and other adornments.I grew up with my father and sister, my mother passed away when I was a toddler, but I was fortunate to have an adopted mother who took care of all my needs as a young girl. She was such a blessing and she treated me like her biological daughter. My father was a teacher; we traveled with him all over Ghana to where he was posted so I have lived in almost every region of Ghana.Although we had some financial difficulties I was able to get a basic high school education in Cape Coast, followed by a Higher National Diploma in Secretarialship as well as a Diploma in Business Studies at the Takoradi Polytechnic. I also took a course at the Federation for Professional Business Women, an NGO, in Clothing and Textiles. From there I worked with the Ghana Education Service where I taught Secretarialship, as well as Clothing and Textile for ten years.I am a single mother of two daughters and due to the hardships I have faced as a single mother, I have done all I can to support my girls through petty trading and teaching. With my background in clothing and textiles, I started sewing for people to supplement my income and I realized the need for accessories to enhance the cloths I produced. With this new awareness coupled with the rich cultural experience I had growing up in different towns, I got into bead making.I learned the skill from a friend who graciously taught me at no cost. It was a very smooth and pleasant learning process and I was excited to put to use what I was taught. My friend was a good teacher and I a keen student, so in three months I was ready to start crafting pieces and selling them. However, due to financial constraints I wasn't start my own venture, I needed some capital to buy the materials and tools to start.
Please allow 10 business days for the product to leave our warehouse and to receive tracking information. You should expect to receive this item within 15 business days.