Harnessing the Power of Affirmative Ornaments: Soft Jewelry for Hard Times

Instructor: Diana Baird N’Diaye

September 3-4

Throughout time and across the globe, human beings have created, worn, and exchanged jewelry imbued with their longings, their aspirations, their sense of belonging, their desire for protection, and healing. In communities where writing is revered, mark making and the use of meaningful texts are at the core (literally and figuratively) of amulets, brooches, and medals. In this workshop, we will take inspiration from traditions with origins in Africa and the Middle East, combining personally significant texts and symbols with fabric, thread, digital images, beads, shells, twigs other natural materials and recycled objects to create ornaments that evoke feelings of courage, pride, hope, resilience and recovery. On day one we will explore traditions and contexts for amulet and medal making. We will explore different techniques for creating the texts and marks for our ornaments—embroidery stitches, applique, digital transfers, and other methods. On day two we will create amulets, medals and brooches using a rich variety of stitched and sewn techniques including applique, collage, embroidery, drawing, hand and machine stitching. Beginner and Beyond