Beads Then and Now
When I first began braiding hair professionally, I had a goal of learning how to do micro-braids and micro-beads. I had no one to teach me; it was something that came with practice. Initially, my braids were the width of a pencil, but I eventually widdle them down to the size of a needle.
Pony beads and Medium Size Braids - circa 1979
Hours and hours of practice and then one day it just clicked, just like that, I was able to create perfect micro braids. It was necessary to make the braids that small in order the beads I wanted to use to fit onto the braids. These beads weren't the plastic pony beads made famous by Venus and Serena Williams, used on the pencil sized braids above. These were 3mm Czech glass beads from Czechoslovakia, as seen below.
Beads and micro braids by Anu Prestonia - circa 1984
The first time I ever saw one of these micro-beaded hairstyles was on composer, musician, and singer, Patrice Rushen. I ran into her in the west village, in New York, while on summer break from college. Patrice was stunning, beautiful, energetic, and smiling. Seeing her with that magically beaded style that day, made me feel as if I was looking into my future. This was the mid to late 70s and this kind of braid work that was coming out of Compton and Los Angeles California and was just making its way to the east coast. One of the most popular hair braiders back then was Rosa Johnson, aka Malakia. Malakia was the first to braid Stevie Wonder's hair and is considered Queen-Mother of braided hairstyles. Many years later when I began braiding Stevie's hair, he was so tender-headed that I convinced him to allow me to lock his hair with tiny braids and beads. You can see him with this style in my video, Beading Then and Now.
Patrice Rushing
I have thought about my relationship with beads quite a bit lately, as I have once again incorporated small beads into my work. This time around it’s jewelry instead of hair. Initially, when I began adorning pearls with miniature semi-precious and precious stone beads it hadn't dawned on me that I was returning to something I thought was far in my past. I then had an aha moment realizing, here I go again with small beads. I am enjoying working with pearls and adorning them with gemstones of labradorite, rhodochrosite, Ethiopian opals, rubies, and sapphires, just to name a few. There is a special feeling I have when working with beads. I can go without sleep or food. It's crazy! It also reminds of the fact that countless indigenous cultures around the globe have been working with small beads for eons. The native people of this land used and still use small beads on their clothing, moccasins, tools, head gear, etc. In South Africa, bead work is a phenomenal form of art. For me, it's a sacred kind of work.
Gray Baroque Peal Adorned With Aquamarine stones.
Like with beading braids, I began working with larger beads for Intention Bracelets and eventually worked my way down to smaller, more refined beads for my work with pearls. Just as with beading braids, I am enjoying this new beading medium. Perhaps you have had a similar experience in your own work. You may have started out doing one thing and then morphed into something new for you. If you've had such an experience I would love to hear about it. Leave a comment here or drop me a line and share with me your story of transformation at anu@anuessentials.comIn the meantime, please take a look at my latest beaded creations, Baroque Pearls.