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Beaded Jewelry

Inspired by Asian Art

Eastern culture has influenced us for so long and in so many ways that it has slipped into our consciousness. We don’t always know why or how a thing looks or feels Asian; we only know that it does. As I pulled together the beads and components for this book, I also began to examine my own views of the Far East and how Asian culture has influenced me when designing jewelry. I didn’t have far to look. My mother’s family were Portuguese immigrants to the Hawaiian Islands, where East meets West. Cultural diversity abounds in every aspect of life from food to fabrics to religion to architecture, so it wasn’t hard to see how Asian color and texture have become part of the creativity I so enjoy. The arts of Asia can be highly practical or purely decorative. They range from the most austere and simple to the most ornate and intricate. The Eastern ability to observe, appreciate and capture beauty, especially the beauty of nature, is such that the most mundane objects can seem an act of worship.

Beads, too, have been a part of many cultures from time immemorial. They have served as currency, as well as ornaments, and even expressions of status. They have been invested with power and spiritual meaning and are a wonderful medium for creative expression.

This book aims to bring these two fascinating phenomena together. The designs included here borrow from the Asian use of color and texture as well as from aspects of Asian design. Some are simple pieces that can be completed in minutes, while others are more challenging but equally fun and rewarding. Hopefully, the designs in this book will inspire you to try variations and experiment with your own sense of Asian style.