by jess berry

Read more >>

by jennifer ackerman haywood

When Mindy asked me to be part of The Necklace Project, I wasn’t sure what kind of charm I would make. I’m not a jewelry designer, so I had some fleeting anxiety about contributing. But then I decided to just go for it.

And then life got busy. When the necklace arrived on my porch several months later, I didn’t open it right away. I was in the midst of distributing the second issue of CraftSanity Magazine and was as sick as a dog. The effects of overcommitment were weighing down and I was eyeing the necklace package with a twinge of regret. How was I going to keep all the plates in my life spinning and still pull off my contribution?

When the continuous coughing jags finally ended I opened the package and was immediately reminded why I said “yes” to this opportunity. Inside the padded mailer was a pink notebook and box containing the necklace that had traveled hundreds of miles to get to me. It was worn by a dozen women before me, each who made a charm to attach. This was a rare opportunity.

I tried the necklace on right way in my kitchen and felt like I had joined a community of creative women. There was no red carpet or fancy dress involved, but I felt like I was part of something very special.

I read the notebook in which all the women who wore the necklace before me had written about their charms and was moved by their stories and respect for this necklace as a symbol of connection and strength.

After looking over the necklace, I decided to add what I call “soft bling.” I love to crochet little motifs, so it seemed appropriate for me to add a crocheted heart. The red heart is symbol to remind us to find our passion in life and do what we love. I hope it’s also a reminder to do what we can to enable others to do what they love, too. I feel very strongly that empowering people from all walks of life to do what brings them joy is one of the greatest gifts you can give.

I realize it’s not possible to do what we love 100 percent of the time, but I believe that everyone on the planet deserves the chance to experience how wonderful it feels to be doing exactly what they believe they were born to do. Whether it’s to dance or sing or make an amazing piece of art or something else, this is my wish for everyone. We all deserve a chance to do what we love.

I decided to tie my charm to the chain because attaching a jump ring to the heart didn’t seem right for this piece. I secured the heart with a couple knots and then a bow. And then I made a wish.

After I returned the necklace to the box, I realized that I wasn’t quite ready to send it on. So I unpacked it again and tried it on one more time and had my 5-year-old daughter snap a few photos. And then I was ready to send it on.

by lisa johnson

When I signed up for the necklace project, I wasn’t sure if I could really be considered an artist. I write and take pictures. Make bookmarks and cards. I cook and especially bake. But was that enough to be considered an artist for this project? I wasn’t sure, but I signed up anyway.

So I followed along on the wishstudio blog. Reading the stories of the women who were part of the project and admiring the beauty of each new charm.

But then I stopped seeing posts. And I hadn’t received the necklace. Had the project ended? Was it lost? Maybe I wasn’t artsy enough after all. Luckily, within days, I received a package in the mail. What could it be? I wasn’t expecting anything. At that point, the necklace didn’t even cross my mind.

I opened the package. And there it was. It took more than a year to receive, but I finally had the necklace! Often when I’m about to give up on something that I shouldn’t, the universe seems to send me a sign saying not to get discouraged.

For the charm, I repurposed parts of a ring and an earring that had broken. The pieces were too pretty to discard, so I had saved them. I knew that they could be used for something. My life has been in transition for the past couple of years. Almost more changes have happened than I can comprehend sometimes. So taking something that no longer worked, and making it new and useful again by becoming part of something bigger, resonated with me on many levels.

After finishing the charm, I started thinking about where I’d wear the necklace. I wanted to do something exciting for the post. However, as each of my plans fell apart one by one, I decided to accept that the universe seemed to have something else in store. So I gave up and just wore it around the house one day.

This necklace was a lesson in patience and acceptance. I meditated with it and contemplated all the good that was passed to me from those who wore it before. And I hope I passed on that good and lessons learned to those who will wear it after me.

“Do not concern yourself with the questions, “What is art?” or “Who is an artist?” Everything is art. If what you see and do comes from your heart, you are an artist.”

Yesterday, I found the above quote on a Flickr page. It answered my initial doubts and made me very glad that I trusted my instincts and joined this wonderful project.

* * *

Lisa Johnson lives in Quincy, Massachusetts and blogs at Anali’s First Amendment.

by rebecca kousky, founder and executive director of Nest

Nest was born of my desire to combine my passions: social activism, entrepreneurship and the female artistic tradition.  I’ve always had an artistic sensibility and a love of fashion and design, but during development work in rural Mexico and India, I became interested in the lives of the women there. Through these experiences and others, I was able to see firsthand the plight of women in developing countries who face hardships complicated by lower levels of education, lower social status and talents and abilities that do not always translate into productive employment.  I observed that when women are given the opportunity to create their own businesses and earn a steady income, families are strengthened and communities are stabilized.  Returning from my travels, I received my Masters in Social Work and then made my entrée into social enterprise.

From rural India, to small town Turkey, to the highlands of Guatemala, to the plains of Africa, Nest has created, and successfully implemented, a unique model that allows women to turn artistic skills they have learned from mothers and grandmothers into a way to provide a living wage for themselves and their families.  Ever since Muhammad Yunus designed a credit system for the rural poor in Bangladesh in the 1970’s, the idea of microlending has exploded and there are now more than 7,000 microfinance institutions assisting 16 million people in poverty worldwide.   But microcredit is only part of the answer.  What Nest has done has added two other essential elements: business and artistic mentoring and access to a western marketplace.  I am convinced that it is this more comprehensive approach that has given us our remarkable success.

Social enterprise is a deliberate blurring of lines between business and social work, conservative and liberal ideals, self-sufficiency and meaningful altruism.  But, in particular, Nest has found an unoccupied niche, comfortably at the intersection of what were once considered competing approaches.  Nest gives people a hand up, so that they can stand up.  And because our loan monies are repaid, Nest has created a revolving loan fund and a way to continue improving the lives of women.

In the words of Congolese loan recipient Christine Lshi, “I am a dressmaker…with my (Nest) loan, I bought fabrics with which I made shirts which I sold to diggers working in mines in Ruashi and this activity gives me a three-fold profit.  With the profits, we eat more and also higher quality foods.  I live with my family and sometimes I buy food and clothes for my brothers, as my father is jobless.  We also share our food with our neighbors, if they do not have any.  In the future, I want to buy other sewing machines so that I can have a big working shop and many clients.”

*******

wishstudio is excited to be a supporter of Nest with our collaborative art and community necklace project.  we also will be offering a karma class with photographer katrina sloma of the mortal muses in january where proceeds from her class will benefit Nest as well!

to date, our necklace has traveled around the globe and has passed through the hands and lives of 11 artists.  11 links have been added to the necklace and most of the stories and photos of each charm has been shared here in the wishstudio.  the last 3 artists to have the necklace, for a variety of reasons did not share an image or post (links #8-10), which is why you haven’t seen a post about this project in some time.  the 11th link is in the process of being created and will hopefully be shared soon!

it has been so exciting to see this project take flight and hear about all the experiences of all the different artists participating, but it is taking much more time than anticipated (which is no surprise).  i will keep you updated as the necklace progresses and will share with you everything i hear about its travels.  when finished, there should be 31 links in all and the necklace will be auctioned to a lucky recipient and will benefit the inspiring work of Nest, supporting rebecca’s vision.  please stay tuned and follow along!

Read more >>

by jenny swanson

When the necklace came to me I was excited and a teensy bit intimidated to be a part of this project. No matter who you are and what you do, you most likely have moments (sometimes days) of questioning yourself: Who do I think I am to contribute to this? What will I make that will be good enough to be on such a lovely piece?

I had thought about what I would make to hang on this lovely collaboration and finally decided on a rolled paper bead, inspired by these women in Uganda.  Suubi means hope, and these women have overcome amazing odds and are providing for their families by making necklaces and selling them.  I have a necklace and a pair of earrings that I just love.  They take what they have and make it into something beautiful.

I made my rolled paper bead charm full of inspiration and hope.  I myself am facing a difficult season in my life.  I want to do as these Ugandan women are doing.  Drawing strength and hope from my Creator, I will press on and inspire hope to others, doing the best with what I have.

I wore the necklace and felt surrounded by the community of women involved in the project.  It feels as though we are a tribe, each contributing, each adding a part to a beautiful whole.  I wore it around the house doing mundane tasks, and I wore it out on a shopping/ play date with my sister and our kids.

I said a prayer over the necklace before sending it on its way, and I pray that everyone that wears it will feel embraced with love and hope.

by suzanne vinson

There’s a joy in receiving an expected package.  You open it up, knowing what you’ll see. The object is there and you hold it with baited breath.  Opening up the box for the Necklace Project, I was excited to see the created charms I’ve followed along online in person.  Each creative piece is amazing and unique.  That you know.

Immediately I put on the necklace, went to pour a cup of coffee, and began to dream. I had not chosen the piece I would add to the necklace before seeing it, but I knew that I wanted to add one of my fabric pendants.  So I began creating using combinations of colors that speak to me life lived in the summer time: greens for growth, blue for water, and lavender for the blooms of color shooting from our lavender & hydrangeas among others.

The turquoise flower is a vintage flower bead that I adore. The lime stone is sweet and ends up in a few pieces of work these days.  The lavender bead was purchased at the Maasai Market in Nairobi, Kenya.  But the story is truly in the fabric piece.  Over the past few months, I have reconciled with someone who meant a lot to me, who I was once very close to.  There’s a story within this story of that time of separation.  To honor the links that are on this necklace and the links of the stories we share, I wanted to include a piece of fabric that honors this reconciliation.  The fabric is from an silk pillow once given by this friend, but the fabric had torn away from the pillow.  I’d saved this remnant for so long.  Now, the remnant connects those who hear the story and see the necklace unfold.  I honor the story of friendships broken and lost that find their way… whether the journey returns what was lost, restores what was broken, or blesses the parting.  This fabric speaks of that summer life: bright, growing, and returning to life once again.

As I wore the necklace I was connected to the Creative Spirit, the creative muse, who speaks to us through the work of our hands.  My hands gravitated toward making a few new works that have been percolating for months and months.  I began the work of a custom pendant: an orange top celebrating a young woman’s thirtieth birthday. She’d carried this with her for over a year looking for the right artist to turn her cap into a pendant.  I was honored.  Then I began working on some lovely new goodness… and then took a break for some good backyard play with my son.

Watering the plants, Blowing up balloons, and surveying the growth of the garden.

We took time to cut fresh hydrangea after watering them.  Then we moved to the butterfly bush, the gardenia, the rose, and the zinnia.  Whew.  We had a good time.  Wearing the chains, I could feel their weight around my neck.  I could sense their presence as we worked, played, and watered.

The necklace hangs on the fence I use to create painted play silks with my son for use in his imaginative play (and sometimes created for our friends, too).  I chose to place my addition near my heart, though that would count in many spaces on these chains.

At the end of the day, I took off the necklace, lit a candle and wished all those who have added the work of their hands peace, healing, and blessing.  I wished all those who are yet to add their mark, their touch of goodness peace, goodness, and blessing of the creative spirit.  I sipped something special, took in the scents of the flowers I’d tended while wearing the necklace, and was thankful and at peace.

Because I wanted my experience with this necklace to begin and end in the morning, a full 24 hour cycle, I awoke to the new day, moved into the morning routine and enjoyed wearing the necklace as I wrote about my experience with it in the Necklace Project journal.  I had one final picture and repacked it on its way to the next.  The time spent in creative play during this process was amazing.  There was a creative spirit at work and you could sense the creativity of so many before and to come in holding this piece.  I am touched by these and will continue to enjoy each step, each charm created along the journey.  Thank you for the opportunity to create and for the space to share.  peace to you.

How I learned to ride a bike….
by jennifer quinn

As a kid, I was thrilled to spend the entire day on my bike: creatively transforming the steel frame and the long banana seat into a time machine: riding down dirt hills that warped into Mars, zooming over flat asphalt while vocalizing a larger than life muffler. My bike could transport me to a multitude of magical places without hesitation or limitation.  My bike could transcend me to extraordinary experiences without judgment or ridicule.  My bike was a joyful creative practice.  Exercise was an art form married to my imagination.

As a kid, I was thrilled to spend the entire day making art: painting and drawing flowers, clowns, designing houses minus bathrooms (no time for a bath when you want to be out on your bike).  Making art was a joyful creative practice.

Most children love bikes and most children love art.  As adults we often misplace the practice of riding a bike and/or the practice of making art.  Art is viewed as childish or fun.  Who has time for fun? A bicycle carries the same undertone.  Exercise is viewed as an extra rather than a necessity.

Most adults only see a bike as an object to get you from here to there: a straightforward and healthy mode of transportation.  Can a bike help your emotional and spiritual outlet?  How I learned to ride a bike might have started in childhood but how I learned to ride a bike has taken new root.  (and I am all giddy with the discovery)

Over the past 11 years, I have been given the privilege of making art with adult cancer patients.  My goal is to offer a much needed distraction from the hospital environment and to offer an outlet to safely explore/express emotions.  A patient can create an image of their favorite place or even a symbol of hope.  When subjected to defensive statements such as, “I can’t draw a straight line”, my immediate response or rebuttal, “Great, a croaked or curvy line is far more interesting”.  Making art requires taking a risk.  For a cancer patient making art can give a gift of power and control.

Life happens in the curves of the road, not on the straight and narrow.  Art is made with the intention to stimulate thoughts and emotions (during the process and while viewing the product).  Art can channel worries, anxieties and fears into a positive outlet.  When a patient makes art, they are transcending into sacred time and space where healing can occur: the clock stops, the anxiety lessens, the pain subsides.  Studies have shown that making art can lower your anxiety or depression as well as increase oxygen levels and respiration.

As a working married Momma of two, creativity slips into my day unexpectedly: my job is to recognize and honor creativity’s presence: sweet morning songs for the two year old, allowing creative clothing choices for the five year old.  Art embraces the heartbreaking stories I hold from cancer patients: the dying 32 year old mother who prepares to leave her grade school daughter, the elderly woman who yearns to cradle her unborn grandchild.  I paint the hurt, the anger, the joy and survival.  I know art.  I am art.  Art provides me comfort, release, hope and inspiration.  Making art blends my world, providing that flat asphalt road.

This Spring I took a risk to purchase a bike: put aside my fear of not being good enough, questioning if I had what it takes to venture 50 miles down the road.  Just like the risk a cancer patient takes when I ask, “Would you like to make some art?”  I swallowed butterflies and put trust in those who have ridden miles ahead.  For the cancer patient, art models creative problem solving.  Art welcomes the patient with the opportunity to exhume their very own trust; betrayed by the body and struggling to find solid ground.

From the moment the bike wheels set in motion, I was hooked.  You know that creative itch or cloud nine motivation to keep painting into the wee morning hours?  I found that itch on a bike, the “get out there and ride” whisper.  I regained a mode of communication that I didn’t know was missing: a childhood delight.  Unearthing a playful side shelved during adult goals and hurdles, exercise and creativity have been reunited.

How I learned to ride a bike is a joyful creative practice. A bike can transcend me into sacred time and space where healing can occur: the clock stops, the anxiety lessens (the pain is only temporary: filling those lungs with fresh air, pushing muscles to do new work).  I arrive home refreshed by shifted gears and better able to focus on the terrain: the crying toddler who feels misunderstood, the cancer patient who is metaphorically lost.  How I learned to ride a bike has taught me to be in the moment: seeing what is presented just as it is: the climb to the top of the mountain, the tears of worry in an elder’s face.  Art is in everything I do.

For The Necklace Project, I created a charm using a bicycle chain and glass beads to symbolize the marriage of art and bike.  The chain symbolizes the here and now: pushing ahead pedal by pedal: consistently, confidently.  I hope my patients succeed, find that giddy point within the art process to shout out “I am still here, get out there and ride” finding the point they connect to reconnecting.  I hope to succeed on the road mile after mile paying attention to the scenery, honoring what is and always taking the risk to learn how to ride a bike.  Who knows maybe next year, I will learn how to cook, no maybe knit.

by blanca gonzalez

i wanted to pass along this book, the necklace by cheryl jarvis, because it was a big part of the inspiration behind the necklace project here in the wishstudio. here is a little about this true story…

“The true story of thirteen women who took a risk on an expensive diamond necklace and, in the process, changed not only themselves but a community.Four years ago, in Ventura, California, Jonell McLain saw a diamond necklace in a local jewelry store display window. The necklace aroused desire first, then a provocative question: Why are personal luxuries so plentiful yet accessible to so few? What if we shared what we desired? Several weeks, dozens of phone calls, and a leap of faith later, Jonell bought the necklace with twelve other women, with the goal of sharing it.

Part charm, part metaphor, part mirror, the necklace weaves in and out of each woman’s life, reflecting her past, defining her present, making promises for her future. Lending sparkle in surprising and unexpected ways, the necklace comes to mean something dramatically different to each of the thirteen women.

With vastly dissimilar histories and lives, the women show us how they transcended their individual personalities and politics to join together in an uncommon journey. What started as a quirky social experiment became something far richer and deeper, as the women transformed a symbol of exclusivity into a symbol of inclusiveness. They discovered that sharing the necklace among themselves was only the beginning; The more they shared with others, the more profound this experience–and experiment–became.Original, resonant, and beautifully told, this book is an inspiring story about a necklace that became greater than the sum of its links, and about thirteen ordinary women who understood the power of possibility, who touched the lives of a community, and who together created one extraordinary experience.”

so if you are interested in reading this book, i would love to see it passed along (which really is in the true spirit of the book). leave a comment on this post, and i will choose one person to send the book along to. you must be willing to pass it on when you are done reading it, and don’t forget to follow our own necklace’s journey right here in the wishstudio! i will announce the recipient right here on wednesday, april 7th.

**********************

laura, please get in touch… you are the one who will be sent this book!
and because of all the interest, i am thinking of hosting a book group around this title
… anyone interested? let me know!

“Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?”
-Frida Kahlo

Hello, My name is Carmen Nessman. I am a mom, a full time admin assistant, and a self taught jewelry and mixed media acrylics and collage artist. I carry my camera everywhere with me and I blog and write with a not very perfect English. You can call it Span-glish. That’s okay. What matters is that I blog with a purpose. I have been sharing my art and life journey online for five years –my challenges, fears and some sad stories too.

I believe life is good and, creativity is your birthright. Art is my light. When darkness appears, art has shown me the way.

This is Frida Kahlo… She was born in Mexico about one hundred years ago. Frida was an artist. She tells us, using vibrant colors, about her life in her paintings, about her family, her love for animals, about her beloved Blue house and her husband Diego. Frida used to paint from her bed because she was often sick. Her painting carries with it the message of pain, reflects her struggles and suffering. Frida often painted herself, too. How beautiful she was!!! She enjoyed braiding her long hair, wearing flowers and all kind of handmade folk jewelry.

“I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.”
-Frida Kahlo

A very quiet prayer for Frida from me, What a courageous life and spirit of hers!

And with this inspiration in mind, I took the wish project necklace to work with me.
During my lunchtime, I went for a walk and stopped in the library to do some of this writing. Also, I reflected on the purpose of this necklace and how honored I am to have added to it my own uniqueness, good energy, intentions and my true heart’s desire

My wish and mission as a person and artist is to keep on sharing my life and art as it is, regardless of that sensation I have sometimes of vulnerability and also of not being noticed and or taken seriously. Oh gosh! How much I yearn for validation for my art that I do! And as part of that wish, I will keep on sharing publicly my visions by writing, painting and other creations. I will keep on persisting and engaging. That’s the way!

Just like frida, my art makes me feel complete no matter what. And I enjoy sharing it with the world.

I have to admit that I have another wish. If possible, I wish I can be a light to you, to inspire and empower you to believe in yourself and dare to express what you really want. Enough of the pleasing! Live, enjoy and create to your heart’s content!!! Be curious. If you need help say it aloud. Act. say no, or say yes, but act!

Now, I’ve gotta go, time to put a flower in my hair, dangly earrings on, and go out and lay down in the grass to watch the clouds and sky.

Life is good, love is the way, live artfully!