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I truly love to go on the quest for special focal beads for the center of the kippah. There are so many possibilities. They can be made of glass, Swarovski crystals, semi-precious gemstones, enamel pieces, buttons, ceramic, mother of pearl, Fimo, or even a piece of jewelry. Designing a kippah, tallit clips, or a piece of jewelry is limited only by the imagination, and this is what dreamakippah wants to represent, imagination... I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. Michaelangelo Buonarroti I have collected a number of focal beads and have photographs of them so you can see just a sampling of what is available. It is my desire to give you, the wearer, an opportunity to choose your own focal bead, if you so desire. We can then work together to choose what type of smaller beads will work well to complete your piece. I have a number of stunning vintage Swarovski crystal focal beads. The beads that have two different finishes, one on each side, are photographed from the two different angles so you can see the different finishes on each side. When I create the kippah, you will be able to rotate, or flip, the center bead to have it show the side you want to display for that day. I have also found some incredible handmade glass beads. There are so many fantastic glass artists. Some of the beads are one of a kind, and some are part of a set, or grouping, but even in a set by an artist, there are different nuances in each bead. If I have more than one bead from a set, I am able to also create matching tallit clips and/or a piece of jewelry to coordinate with the kippah. Sometimes I am able to find gorgeous square, oval, flat rounds or rectangular-shaped semi-precious gemstones that make incredible kippot and matching tallit clips. One thinks of gemstone beads as being a more elegant presentation, but they can also be a more casual presentation, depending on the finish of the beads. There are many beautiful color combinations; different colors in a single bead. These will be featured soon on the website. Tikkun Olam - Repair of the World I have been fortunate, indeed, to find some bead companies that believe in this phrase, on a couple of different levels. One company purchases beads from Ghana, Indonesia and Africa. The people in their villages make beads from recycled glass, which helps the environment, as well as providing much needed income for their families. I have also discovered the company, Kazuri Beads, from Kenya, Africa. Kazuri, in Swahili means small and beautiful. The women who create these beautiful ceramic beads are paid fair wages and have favorable working conditions. Many of these women are often sole providers for their children and families. Each of us can contribute to tikkun olam by continuing to purchase recycled glass beads, as well as other beads made by these communities. If you do not see a focal bead that speaks to you, then please let me know what you would like. I am very happy to find what you are looking for, or to give you different ideas if you are unsure of what you would like. I can create a kippah to match a tallit, a special outfit, or even for your wedding. I can also create a kippah that is neutral and will work with anything. I will be adding different kippot, tallit clips and jewelry to the site, so please check back often. |
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