Beading - significances in an Ephemeral Life.

This workshop is the first with the African Diaspora Foundation as part of our newly formed partnership in Ephemeral Lines with artists Elmira and Ramona Zadissa, aka the Zadissa sisters.

We have been working with Elmira and Ramona to develop Ephemeral Lines as a part of our Arts Council England supported Common Ground programme. In response to the pandemic, the Zadissa sisters created an online platform designed to collect stories during lockdown. Since May, experiences, images and audio have been shared and connections made, in the hope that these stories will strengthen bonds between our communities.

Alongside the platform, the Zadissa sisters have hosted public workshops with local communities in Milton Keynes exploring themes around lockdown and how self-isolating may have changed how we feel about the place we live and our surrounding communities. We have also collaborated with the Q:alliance and African Diaspora Foundation to deliver further workshops, which will take place throughout August and September.

Read and share stories here: elines.miltonkeynesartscentre.org

A message from Ophelia from the African Diaspora Foundation

The year had started off with promise; plans made, goals set, expectations high. We're suddenly thrown into the unexpected and unknown. First we asked ourselves what do we do with all this time and with ourselves. Then gradually we start adjusting using different means. What started as a way of killing time and coping suddenly turned in little projects, self-taught hobbies and honing our skills so we can monetise it once all of this is over. In the end, it all came down to self-reflection and ensuring when we walk out those doors, we come out better!

My ephemeral line focuses on

"Beading - significances in an Ephemeral Life."

Birth

Puberty

Marriage

What's covered?

Life stages in an ephemeral life - the significance of beading / beads in The Africans' cycle of life. We will look at :

History of beads

Role / symbolism of beads in the different stages of life i.e birth, puberty , marriage and death

Demonstration / tutorial on making a beaded necklace / bracelet

To support social interaction, and reduce or alleviate boredom and loneliness, Ophelia Daniels of Urbayne Accessories will take participants on a journey and engage them in a beading tutorial.

At the end of the workshop, participants would be equipped with basic bead making skills with opportunities to further develop these skills. They will also take away their own custom-made Accessory.

Who is this workshop / class suitable for?

This class is suitable for you if you're

aged 11 years and over.

open to Learning new life skills and experiences

Enthusiastic about using your creativity

Materials required

For this workshop you will need a carefully put together African bead necklace kit (supplied at a cost) which includes:

Beading board / jewellery design board (template)

Authentic West-African Glass Beads and beading supplies

Leather cord

Spacers

And lots of creativity.

Useful websites /shops

Amazon

Jewellery and findings

Hobby craft

The Range

Alternative at-home items to use

Shoe laces

Pasta (different sizes and shapes) with holes for threading

Straws (cut in different lengths)

Old beads from jewellery

Strings

Shels with holes in them

Let us know if you need help with materials!