Day 30 !!!!! A necklace from Niger

Uff! We are done! Have you enjoyed the ride? Did you find any of all the 30 Necklaces that you liked it? You can tell me down in the comments !

And if you think they can be part of another project, please contact me! I would be very happy to license them too. But please don't copycat them or use them without my permission, thanks! You can see some of them in 3 pieces that I added in my portfolio

About the project: as I said yesterday, I enjoyed the idea and the work. Daily is a problem to be engaged at a high level, and I felt that some of them were not such good pieces because lack of time from my side. I did enjoy to paint, a LOT! And I am thinking to go back to painting lessons very soon. This is the first project that I make in a daily basis, and it was hard for me but rewarding because I have now more consistence pieces to my portfolio, and because I enjoyed to use different techniques. So the tip that I would give you is try to have a project that you can be engaged with, if it is "daily" might be more like "doodles" or "less techniques" challenges. Painting take time, even if it is a small thing, and more even if you are observing your model, which in this case were my own necklaces. So, for the next Project (YES! It will be another one!)I will try to keep in mind this to challenge me in a more smooth way.

About the daily basis: which has troubled me a bit, I decided, as you could see, not to work on weekends, and if I have some issues that prevents me of doing my project, just drop it to the next day, it is what it is, guys, and in the end, it is just a couple of hours more to wait for.

So, based on these project of Necklaces I will make some Prints to put on my shop, very soon. As I am updating my shop right now. So, April! Come! With flowers, less rain, more sunshine and more ideas to accomplish! A huge thanks to my Facebook and Instagram followers that were very supportive, especially Instagram, a total new experience for me!. If have some supportive comments will be so, so, much appreciated!! :D

Day 29: Heart of Glass (violet) Necklace (from Malakoff)

My heart is violet, maybe, or at least I feel it sometimes like that. I also feel it orange when I am excited. This is a simple glass piece but It is so nice. It brights a bit, due the lighteffect, and it is a bit heavy. I found it in the market of our old home, Malakoff, just one step from Paris, in the south of Paris area.

We loved that market, and as recently we went back, it is still the same, huge, and full of different things. The section where you buy your vegetables (and your cheese) is full of great options and almost every stand is of very good quality. I really recommend it if you are in Paris, because prices and other things are really attractive. And the vibe... too. This is one of the things that we most miss from our life in Paris, actually, in Malakoff. 

We are approaching to the end of this project and I have some conclusions about it. It was a good experience. Sometimes I really enjoyed, sometimes I was really tired and it was really difficult for me to complete my drawing, other times I did not have enough time as I would have love to have to paint carefully some pieces, but all the experience in general was great, as it was my first Illustration Project. I will say more tomorrow. 

Day 28: Necklace from the artist Vicky Biagiola

I love this one. It comes from long, long time ago. I received this beautiful piece as a birthday present from the Argentinian artist Vicky Biagiola. She is a great and versatile sculptor, animator, painter and jeweler. I met Vicky in the Animation School back in Buenos Aires. At that time, she used to draw lovely ladies and make colorful drawings that she used in several different objects. I think she started to work on sculptures when this piece came from, so, probably is one of her first pieces of jewelry.  We lost contact but I always remember her with tenderness and admiration. 

I love this little piece in pewter because it is a woman in movement, she is dancing and it tells me "freedom and life" at the same time. I bought it a new chain on silver back in Paris and It has been working well together for the last 6 years. You can see more of recent Vicky's work here as far as I could find on the web. I think I will look for her on FB. 

Day 27: Ceramic Necklace from Victoria & Albert Museum

This is the last purchase that I made on a necklace. I bought it in London last year in the shop of the Victoria & Albert Museum. That shop is really tempting and every time we go there it is impossible not to buy something, even if it is something little! 

The beads are in ceramic, in lovely pastel colors, and over that there are some little drawings too. I love it. It is a bit heavy but it looks so good. The thing that bothers me a bit is not to know who made it. I did not find any information on the label when I bought it and I would love to know who is the artist behind it. If you know it, just let me know! I will appreciate it very much!

Day 26: Another Colorful Beads Necklace (from Rio de Janeiro)

Another colorful beads necklace, this time from Rio de Janeiro. I bought it in the street too, as the precedent nº25. This Necklace means for me all those colors that you can see on the street, and on the beach. I miss Rio, and I still dream to come back and live there with my family sometime. Does dreams come true? I hope so... I miss the beach life, and the sun and the people. So, a couple of days ago I received a postcard from my friend Malu Lenzi, who was there visiting her family and it made my day, really. Malu, I know how you can miss Rio, living in Berlin now, nothing wrong with that extraordinary german city, but, if you were in Rio, you'll understand what I'm talking about... 

Day 25: Colorful crystal beads Necklace

I love this one. The beads are a bit heavy but so colorful. One of my favourite necklaces. I bought in the street in Argentina so long time ago... 

Day 24: Blue and Red Necklace

I think this one I found it in a shop in Brussels, the first time I came here. We live in Brussels now, but that time I came invited to a Latin American Studies Congress in the ULB (8 years ago now) and I invited my boyfriend (my present husband) to come with me. We loved the city and its vibe and we really had a beautiful time, walking and watching all the comics references that we used to love as kids. Brussels is a good place to find comics and there are several murals painted with popular characters of famous comics, made in Belgium.

I found this necklace in a little shop in the downtown. I loved the combination of colors and I found it amusing. But I guess I wore it just a few times. Since I live in Europe I must admit that I lost a bit my love for strong colors, but this winter I went back for them, looking for something more fun. I guess this necklace has lots of possibilities... 

Day 23: Green Little Necklace from Marianita

Many of my necklaces were gifts that I received. And I love them because of that. This is a little green necklace with separated beads. My friend Mariana (who I call Marianita) gave it to me as a present. Green is one of my favorite colors. And I love to use it with tops in summer. 

I mentioned before the seasonal necklace subject. I always thought that you have different jewelry for each season as you have clothes that normally are designed for different seasons except for those which you can use any time; it works the same way for necklaces. Summer is a wonderful time to show your jewelry, and colors and shapes are all wearables, I think more than in Winter. I don't like to put metals on my neck as I feel them too cold...  so, that reduces a bit the options.

I'm looking forward to summer arrives... 

Day 22: Pink Pearls Necklace from Bangladesh

I bought this necklace in Bangladesh 6 years ago. I learnt there that Bangladesh has these beautiful type of pearls called Pink Pearls. Bangladesh is almost the unique place where you can find them. They have a wide range of prices according to your budget but the good thing in Bangladesh is that all the crafts are amazingly made and affordable. They are cultivated in the wild and sometimes they conserve their wild shapes like this one, where you can see every bead is a bit different. I love this necklace and I used to love pearls but definitely this is my favorite pearl necklace. 

As long as I was working on this little project, I came across of so many places that I've been and that I would suggest for you to visit. One of those is Bangladesh. It is not a touristic country as its neighbor India is, and it is due to its difficult accommodation conditions, I guess. Anyway, there are many old treasures in Bangladesh and the good thing is that you barely see other tourists, so the place is really authentic to show their beauty. People are so, so friendly and even you don't speak the local language (sometimes english is not easy to find in the interior) locals are open to understand and help.  I have the worst and the best experiences in this country. Worst with the job that I had, best with the people I met. And I decided to save those lovely memories instead of the bad ones. Pearls are difficult to paint, or at least it was for me. I used watercolors and Ink. I'm doing my best  with a little time these days... 

Day 21: White Shiny Necklace

I love when a necklace shines. I mean its brightness as its colors are very important for me in a necklace. Yes, completely superficial thought but, give it a bit to think about it.

I bought this necklace for a wedding. I had my clothes already chose (I admit that I just went with the flow and my mother in law just chose some of the clothes for me, trusting her good eye for styling) and I just needed a necklace. I loved this one, hanging on a row in a regular "bijouterie" shop. Sometimes, you can find so many beautiful things behind tons of cheap stuffs.

I enjoy that one of the balls has a silver paper screwed inside, that, makes me laugh. Watercolors and pencils.

Day 20: Vintage Black Necklace

Another necklace of my vintage collection. This one might be from the 50'sor 60's, not sure, really. Also came in the group with Milk glass one (nº 17). I repaired it a bit because it looks that it has been a triple strand necklace but I just have two lines of beads. Black beads are faceted. The brooch which straps the necklace hang on the front. I love its brightness. It was difficult for me to make the details, I first draw on pencil and then with ink, and then I put the watercolors over the inky lines, thinking that, in this way, the shades will look better. Don't know if I achieved that... 

Day 19: Wedding Necklace (from Brazil)

You might find this necklace very simple for a Wedding day but for me it is so nice and still would wear it if I go back in time, for that day.

I bought this necklace few years before I got married, and at that time I was single and I haven't had meet my husband yet. I found it in a stand on an open craft market in Rio de Janeiro, close to the National Historic Museum. The guy who sold it to me was from the North, from Bahia and he really made lots of beautiful jewelry pieces at a reasonable price. He had several types of gems and he made the work in metal too.

I chose this one because because as I said before, violet was one of my favorite colors (and I think it still is) and I loved the simplicity of the shape. I did not use it, because I found it that it wasn't never according with my clothes and unexpectedly I saved it for a special day, as it was my wedding day. 

5 years later I wore it then, and I saved it again, as a wonderful memory of that day. 

Day 18: Pewter Necklace from Bangladesh

As you may imagine, Bangladesh is the land of textiles, not just because most of the big brands make their cloths there for cheaper prices (and as you can remember, in the worst conditions), but because there is a long tradition on embroidering handmade. But this is about necklaces and there also great pieces on different stones, like pewter. This is a small necklace my husband found and I simply love it. I love simple necklaces too. I have more Bangladesh pieces for next week. Stay tuned! 

Day 17: Faceted Milk Glass Necklace from the 40's

This is part of a small collection of vintage necklaces that I received when I was a teenager from a friend of my mom, whose name was "Mecha". This is a very common nickname in Argentina for those who are named "Mercedes", a very Spanish name.

Mecha lived close to home, at the time I met her, she was pretty older than my mom but she was really nice and joyful. She always talked about his husband, who died several years before, and the way they lived their artistic lives, going from party to party and meeting other artists of the time. So, she had several necklaces from the 30's and 40's really nice and she gave to me some of them that I still have with me. They are nor completely in good condition but I could repaired some of them like this one. I confess I never had an opportunity to use this one but I find it so nice and its brightness really got me. It was a bit tricky to paint it. I really couldn't make it better in a short time, but I guess it looks funny, as a comic drawing. I hope you like it anyway. 

Day 16: Nacar Necklace from Argentina

As you may know I am originally from Argentina. I was born and raised in Buenos Aires and I still keep part of my family and some of my best friends there. Every time I go I try to buy some artisan jewelry which I love and I always find some beautiful handmade piece to come with me. 

Craft markets used to be very successful long time ago. You could find several jewelry pieces well finished, original and unique there at reasonable prices. Unfortunately, I don't think that is still going,

Anyway, this beautiful necklace comes from one of those markets and I love it. I had a "violet" phase in my life, when everything was on that color,  and I still have some pieces from that period which I still love. Violet, lilac, rose are beautiful colors that I am fond of.

Nacar is the material segregated by molluscs that is normally used by them to protect their shells.  It is also the surface that cover the pearls. So, its brightness is very special and if you move it, changes its hues and colors. Isn't it lovely in a necklace? You don't need so many to have a beautiful necklace. Nacar is applied on several uses, like buttons which I love! and jewelry. 

I chose watercolors this time. Hope you like it!

Day 15: Brazilian handmade Necklace

This is a handmade necklace, bought in Brazil. I found it in a craft market in Rio de Janeiro and they told me it comes from the North of Brazil. The yellow ones are açaí seeds, which is a powerful fruit with lots of vitamins that Brazilian use to have for breakfast or in juices. Nowadays I discovered that in France and Belgium açaí became a very precious fruit that is used in different kind of natural medicines. 

The necklaces is very fragile and I used with care. I chose color pencils this time. 

Day 14: Ethiopian Silver Telsum Necklace

Ethiopian Jewelry is one of the most incredible arts in East Africa. Completely different from the colorful beads from West Africa, Ethiopian pieces are mostly worked on silver or gold. They include also little wood pieces and the quality of silver varies from one to other according to their price. Normally, the models are copied from ancient jewelry pieces that were used as part of traditional ceremonies as marriages. I saw lots of comments about Ethiopian necklaces as part of an amulet costume. But, as you see, lots of information on the internet are very erroneous. Ethiopians are christians, profoundly, and they don't use amulets as other (most of) countries of Africa do. So, check out and go back to books instead of wikipedia because there are so many things so wrong there... 

Back to the piece that I draw today, it is a typical telsum necklace, but it has little silver beads  instead a cord as is normally linked, which make it so beautiful.  Telsum is a type of bead that is used in many different arrangements in necklaces and normally responds to triangles or rectangles. I will say that some pieces are very close to old hebrew traditional jewelry and it is not strange because Ethiopia has a christianism very close to judaism, having had a small population of jews that flew up to Israel  in the late 70's. Yes you can tell all that in these beautiful necklace. I used colored pencils today. Hope you enjoy it! 

Day 13: Another Nigerian Necklace

There is something attractive in these necklaces. Niger has beautiful colorful glass beads but the way they coordinate them is simple and fresh. It is not so sophisticated as they do in Ghana, but it is beautiful and transmits so much joy. Green is one of my favourite colours and I love the way it looks with yellow!

Watercolours and color marks. Hope you like it! 

Day 12: Murano Hearts

The first time I went to Italy I really wanted to visit the Murano Islands where you can see how they work the glass in different colors. I have always been in love with the pieces on glass from that place. I chose these 2 hearts in Murano glass. The red one is really old, my father gave it to me as a present and I always keep it close to me. I did not use it because I was afraid to lose it. The black one, I bought it myself in Florence, Italy. It has two faces. And I wanted to buy others more expensive but at that time my student budget was extremely limited. 

I am happy to have them and put them together for this "portrait". Watercolors and gouache and then I put a bit of ink just to add some fun on them.  Yes, you can see a little spot there... my coffee was too close this morning.... 

Day 11: Red Necklace from Butler&Wilson

When I got married, I received this necklace as a present from my sister in law. She travelled all the way from London to Buenos Aires, and I guess she won't repeat such odyssey, considering she is not particularly in love with planes. I did love the gesture of hers, and I fell in love with this little necklace, immediately. I did not have idea who Simon Wilson was (a jewelry designer based in UK look for Butler&Wilson.co.uk) but I really liked it and I wear it usually in Summer. Once again we go back to seasonal jewelry... It fits tightly around the neck and it looks fabulous with shirts. It seems that this might be one of the most simple designs of this artist looking at his website. It is from 2007.

I continue using watercolors... I guess is the more accurate medium for shades at my level, but I am pretty eager to get back to acrylics with some piece. Hope you like it :)