Maureen O’Keefe

The beads I collect have stories to tell.  Someone somewhere made them; they’ve been worn; they’ve been traded. Some of them are hundreds of years old; others have been recently hand made in the valley of Pisac, Peru or in fire kilns in Ghana. They have all traveled across continents. Fancy Venetian beads I found in Lima came from old houses in Cuzco, which came from Africa, but were originally made in Italy. They are still on a journey.

When I was 8, I saw my mother receive a large, Navajo turquoise and silver squash blossom from Arizona. The beauty of the turquoise stone made a deep impression. Throughout my childhood, on hikes and trips to the beach, my eyes were always directed downward, ever in search of pretty rocks and shells.  For me they were jewels that the earth put in my path.

The souk in Nizwa (Oman) in the 80’s was just a large tent with many stalls. I loved strolling through it, bartering with the vendors and buying antique Bedouin silver jewelry. Later I did the same thing in Koforidua (Ghana), as I learned about old African glass, ancient stone beads, and antique European glass beads made for trade in Africa. Sitting at a table with Julio in Lima, I would barter in Spanish for hand cut semi-precious stones from Peru, spondylus from Ecuador, or amethysts from Brazil. My collector’s heart soared, just as it did when as a child I delighted in finding rocks or shells–jewels from the earth.

The beads that I use are all unique. They are either very old, handmade, well-traveled glass beads, or semi-precious hand cut beads from artisans in Third World Countries. I enjoy mixing contemporary tastes with ancient color combinations. When I design a piece, I try to combine a respect for classic designs and colors, with the taste of contemporary women.  Each piece is one of a kind, and my inspiration is usually based on a particular bead or color or form.  I also delight in remaking heirloom necklaces into something more updated.

I never repeat a design. Some of the Peruvian pieces are over 1000 years old. The Venetian trade beads are hundreds of years old. In addition to Venetian, there are Hebron, Bohemian, Dutch and African glass beads, all old, all traded, and all hand made.

By seeing and touching and wearing these creations, you will feel like you are stepping into a world of history, travel, and culture.

- Think of your necklace as a beautiful string of cultural history -

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To learn more about Maureen O’Keefe and her bead designs, visit her website at: www.jeweledhorizons.com