Strings and Seed Beads




That's my Grandma

 MY fascination with beads began even before I could talk. My late grandmother Mdm. Manonmani was my greatest influence. As a child, I sat on her bed, watching her get dressed for church every week (it is also by watching her that I learnt the art of tying a saree). Grandma wouldn't deck up jewellery on herself like a Christmas tree. Her style was simple and elegant, and many remember her for that. She wore a high bun, a pair or earrings and a matching bead strand, which was usually strung by her. She bought loose beads and strung them to match her clothings.

Seed Beads

As I grew up to be a little girl, I got my own beads. She'd buy me strings and colurful seed beads to play with and I'd string whatever I could with them. Grandma also made me necklaces. I remember an elaborate piece she made using faux pearls one birthday. I loved looking at it rather than having it around my neck because when I did, I couldn't look at it to admire. But then again, as I am now, I wasn't a person who loved wearing jewellery then. I enjoy admiring and making them more.

Back in secondary school, I did beading to earn some extra pocket money. It was an interesting period of my life at school when I made bracelets popularly known as 'friendship bands'. In the 90s, it was a huge trend among teens. Strings or threads, combined with seed beads got the girls at S.M Tarcisian Convent go crazy. They ordered the beaded ones for themselves and the string-woven kinds for their boyfriends(unfortunately I don't have any pics or samples of those I made). No big bucks there, but it helped to buy more revision books and fancy stationeries that kept me happy. 

The kind of band I made in school



Some of my
basic tools

Many years later, beads and beading came back to me when a friend, Esther, discovered a place that not only sold beads, but also offered beading lessons. I was interested but had too much in my hands to handle beads patiently. So it was put on hold till about a year ago when I was ready to commit myself to it. Today, Derek T Creative Studio is a place I go to for my lessons and beads. It's just not about beads and stringing anymore but there are more ways to create fun and beautiful pieces. Working and experimenting with various materials such as wire is simply fascinating. Some techniques may require more hardwork (tonnes of patience and concentration) than others, but I guess it's all worth it when I look at the finished work.