earthbutter beads

South African Handmade Collection - Decorex Jhb

2011-08-21T09:12:00.001-07:00

It was such a great experience to be part of this - the most stunning South African craft from all the provinces in ONE space! There were smokefired ceramic coffeemugs, hand embroidered cushion covers, felt throws, beautiful bags, beadwork, stunning ceramic tiles, woven grass baskets, handcrafted silver jewellry, etc, etc.

Best Product Award went to Sithabe African Crafts from Cape Town - my neighbour on the Western Cape Handmade pavillion. Well done Mathokoza and Nono - I love your garland mirror frames! Go to www.sithabecrafts.co.za for their full range of products. Katie Thompson's repurposed furniture created quite a stir - people were in awe of her suitcase chair, petrol can lampstand, suitcase cabinet and other out of the ordinary decor items. Visit Recreate's website www.recreate.za.net to see her unusual products.

I came back inspired by my fellow South African crafters and craft designers to think out of the box and to move to the next level. There is so much more we can do - the journey has only just begun!

More bead samples

2011-08-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

Black spots on bright colours make stunning focal beads! The carved black bead is called Table Mountain...

Texture, Raku, Animal print, Marbles

2011-08-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

Colour, size and shape

2011-08-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

This is our updated range of shapes, colours and sizes. All the beads can be glazed in any of the colours. If there are any other shapes or colours you would like us to make, please let me know.

Happiness is.....

2011-07-26T02:03:00.000-07:00

....mixing a new glaze recipe and loving the fired result!!!

Getting ready for SAHC

2011-07-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have been stringing beads non stop the past 2 days and this is the result - beautiful bright beads on shwe-shwe fabric! Our stand at the South African Handmade Collection (Decorex Johannesburg) will be colourful and very bright. I was inspired by a fashion article in the July edition of Elle magazine and fell in love with colour all over again. So this is me in the studio with said beads in hand - watch out for us at Decorex Johannesburg and please come say hello.

Brights to warm up the studio!

2011-06-30T08:57:00.001-07:00

Its only 14 degrees in the studio today and its been raining the past 2 days. As we live in a winter rainfall area, lots of rain in June is not unusual for us. Autumn was beautiful and the vineyards looked absolutely spectacular turning slowly from green to all shades of brown. The vines are bare now and the soil in the vineyards are covered in soft green grass. Beautiful!

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the kiln today - bright red beads with white polkadots greeted me and the grey, cold day wasn't that bleak anymore! Angelico and Lidihanna worked on new marble beads this week and we can't wait to see them glazed and fired. We are using local terracotta to make them and they will be called Wellies - can you guess why?

Our booth at SARCDA Trade Show, Johannesburg

2011-04-01T05:18:00.000-07:00

I think that you will agree with me that our booth looked great at SARCDA. The original idea was totally different - the props didn't make it to Johannesburg and Calvin came up with this most beautiful and authentic Earthbutter look!

Happy New Year!

2011-02-15T01:13:00.000-08:00

Ja, I know its late but I would still like to wish you all a WONDERFUL CREATIVE 2011!! We were asked to give a pottery demo at the Department of Sport and Cultural Affairs' Award Ceremony last week at the beautiful Kronenburg Function Venue outside Wellington. On the photograph from left to right: Cheryl, Petronella and Faheema. Thank you girls for doing such a great job that evening!

Raku workshop

2010-11-18T11:40:00.000-08:00

The raku workshop during the Bollemakiesie Festival was hectic! The weather played along beautifully after two days of rain and we fired 30 pots with 100% success. Considering the high risk of breakage in a raku firing, it is quite an achievement.

Festive Season

2010-11-02T02:00:00.000-07:00

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Xmas decorations at a shopping centre in Plettenberg Bay last week - it came as a shock that it's that time of the year again and inspired me to glaze a few red hearts. The Festive season is of course much more than cheap "made in China" decorations and silly songs - its also about appreciating life and spreading love to each and everyone who crosses our paths.

Herb Pots Project

2010-10-31T13:28:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of my work is to introduce pottery to women who have never before had the opportunity to work with clay. The Breytenbachsentrum kindly funded 8 unemployed women and we've been coiling and pinching the past 12 weeks. The herb terracotta pots which they've made will be on sale during the Bollemakiesie Festival which takes place at the Breytenbachsentrum, Wellington from 8 - 13 November. For more information, visit their website www.breytenbachsentrum.co.za.

Wall Heart

2010-09-13T06:35:00.000-07:00

This decorative wall heart with beads is one of our new products. It looks great against a patio wall or hanging in a tree.

New beads

2010-09-13T06:23:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that almost a month has passed since my last blog entry! Sarcda was great and we will be busy working on orders for the next 6 weeks. In the meantime, I am also teaching ceramics and working on my entry for Ceramics SA's national competition...and enjoying every minute of it!!

Here's a few images of our new paste beads (dark blue) and others.

Lavender and blue skies

2010-08-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Its August which is usually a very, very wet month in our part of the world but we've been blessed with lots of blue skies and sunshine. Angelico enjoys working outdoors in the garden where she's surrounded by flowering lavender plants and busy bees. We're exhibiting at Sarcda's Xmas Trade show in Johannesburg from tomorrow until Sunday, 22nd August. Our booth is on the CCDI's exhibition stand and you are welcome to pop in.

All Sorts!

2010-06-21T13:37:00.000-07:00

In our latest necklace designs, we're combining leather, glass and ceramics - a collage of mixed media beads. The possibilities are endless and through research into materials used to make beads, we've learnt that we are only scratching the surface. Our main focus will always be our own handmade ceramic beads and we'll use other beads only to compliment our own unique beads. In the meantime, we are enjoying the journey of exploring and discovering - watch this space!

It is here!

2010-06-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

The day has finally arrived - also in our small town! Vuvuzelas are heard, people of all ages are dressed in yellow, businesses closed early, our flag is seen everywhere... I took these pictures at the Breytenbach Cultural Centre where my studio is. No need to go to the Grand Parade in Cape Town to catch the "gees" (spirit) - it's here in Wellington! Go Bafana Go!!

4 days to go!

2010-06-08T07:38:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that the long expected World Cup Soccer tournament is about to start - its here! We were selected to sell our products in the Cape Craft and Design Institute's Collective Shop at the Cape Town FanFest on the Grand Parade. We made a variety of products which we hope will be snapped up by soccer tourists wishing to take something home which is handmade in South Africa.

Thank you to the Cape Town City Council and the Cape Craft and Design Institute for showcasing 200+ Western Cape crafters products during the tournament. It is here!

Colour Chart

2010-05-31T03:14:00.000-07:00

At last - our bead colour chart!

Recycled glass pendants

2010-05-28T05:37:00.000-07:00

We've made these pendants with discarded wine bottles and ceramic clay. There are so many glass bottles lying around begging to be recycled. Our next recycling effort will be to make glass beads. One small step towards improving our environment.

Handbag buddies

2010-05-17T12:56:00.000-07:00

Add a touch of authenticity to your handbag with one of our handbag buddies - as each bead is made by hand, your bag decoration is 100% one-of-a-kind and truly South African! Retail price: R85-00.

Bracelets

2010-05-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

Our bracelets are very popular as they are so easy to wear - simply slip your hand through the strong elastic cord and off you go - no uneasy hooks and clasps to deal with! They are very, very reasonably priced at only R75 each (retail). Discount for orders above R2 000. Send an e-mail to earthbutterbeads@gmail.com to order.

Marzipan - don't eat it!

2010-05-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

These two gorgeous necklaces were made by Marzipan in Cape Town using amongst others our very own turquoise raku beads and stoneware discs! Please visit their website www.marzipan.co.za to see more of their very highly original jewellry.

Raku firing - demo

2010-04-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

I did a raku firing demo for the Drakenstein Art Society recently and thankfully all went well! My friend, Christina Vosloo took these amazing pictures of another friend, sculptor Nanette Ranger's dancing ladies. In raku there is always the possibility that just around the corner there will be something extraordinary that will take your breath away - they certainly did!

Unglazed cream discs

2010-04-01T00:51:00.000-07:00

These beautiful cream beads were custom made for a Cape Town jewellry designer - aren't they gorgeous?

The 2 crosses are made of terracotta clay and glazed lightly - they look beautiful as wall decoration or draped on a coffee table.

We are all looking forward to the long weekend and wish you a blessed Easter. Enjoy a peaceful weekend and drive safely. From Desiree and the Earthbutter team.

Necklaces

2010-04-01T00:37:00.000-07:00

On request from our fashion conscious supporters, we've made these 2 necklaces - they're 105cm long, unglazed, raku and bronze beads strung onto cotton cord. We think they are very hip and at the same time - earthy! What do you think? Please comment below.

Latest gifts from the Raku Kiln Goddess

2010-03-29T06:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our team

2010-03-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

I've been asked by the Breytenbach Cultural Centre to teach ceramics to a group of unemployed women - they've never worked with clay before and we started off making small pinch pots. Thami, Doreen, Lidihanna and Genevieve were very pleased to see what can be done with a lump of clay! I'll put images of their progress on this blog over the next 5 weeks. And yes - they will also be joining our team of dedicated beadmakers.

Raku beads

2010-03-12T01:16:00.000-08:00

Raku firing is a very unpredictable process & the results are often not what I expected - maybe that's why I'm a Raku addict!

A selection of our glaze colours

2010-03-12T00:47:00.000-08:00

From our rich african soil

2010-03-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

Now this is what I call "earth butter" - from our rich african soil, unglazed, real and one-of-a-kind! These beads are 100% NOT MADE IN CHINA...

In the studio today

2010-03-05T01:58:00.000-08:00

It is extremely hot in Wellington today - 40 degrees Celsius! Working with ceramic clay in such high temperatures is difficult - when the clay dries out too quickly, it cracks and goes straight to the recycle bin. But we have orders waiting and work must go on....hey, we're still smiling!

Bead colours

2010-03-03T02:33:00.000-08:00

Earthbutter beads are either matt and unglazed or covered with a glossy glaze. We can even custom glaze for you in a glaze colour of your choice. As glazing takes place at high temperatures in the kiln - external factors such as power fluctuations and weather conditions may lead to variation in colour. This is one of the reasons why handmade ceramic beads are so unique and beautiful!

The photographs show a few of our glaze colours.

Design Indaba

2010-03-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

Our beads were exhibited in the CCDI's Gift Shop at Design Indaba and sold like hot cakes! The stoneware decor beads were especially popular as were the turquoise raku and black beads. Interior decorators and decor shops take note: handmade ceramic beads adds a touch of authenticity to any decor setting. A leading home decor magazine has declared turquoise as the colour of 2010! Stoneware or biscuit seems to be as popular as ever - a classical colour which will never date.

The decor bead range consists of different lenghts (60cm, 80cm, 100cm and 120cm) with or without a pendant (heart, cross or round flat disk. The colours are matt black, terracotta or stoneware (biscuit).

To receive our wholesale pricelist for the decor bead range, send an e-mail to earthbutterbeads@gmail.com.

More about our beads

2010-03-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

Most of our beads are made with local clay from Wellington as we wish to limit our carbon footprint. They are one-of-a-kind originals and the beadmaker's fingerprint can often be seen on the bead. No two beads are exactly the same size, style or colour which adds to their uniqueness.

If you are looking for original beads, you have come to the right place. Enjoy!