One of Beloved Beadworks kindest and most enthusiastic supporters is Dr Jennifer Fish, a brilliant academic and dear friend of mine from Old Dominion University in the States. (Her latest co-publication is Women’s Activism in South Africa: Working Across Divides and is well worth a read). Jennifer organises groups of enthusiastic young (mostly) women to come to South Africa every year to learn and perform some voluntary service. Last year she organised for the lovely Hayes to join us at Beloved Beadwork. We still miss her greatly.

South Africa was lucky enough to receive a second visit from Jennifer in December last year, and while she was here, she fell in love with a new colour scheme we were trying out, combining turquoises with deep reds. At that time, we only had it in rings, so Jennifer asked for a Thousand Hills necklace in the same colour. And wow, did we love the results! So we called this colour scheme ‘Jennifer’s Sea’, in honour of surfing adventures!

I feel so incredibly blessed to have the support Jennifer, someone who really really gets the feminist and transformative principles we try to live by at Beloved Beadwork.  We miss you Jennifer, come home soon!