About Toi-!kwiten Light & Afri-bead Originals
Oh how I would have liked to be a jeweller like Fabergé, able to play with the egg form and produce the captivating and intricate collectors' pieces that are so treasured around the world.
The egg form has always held a fascination for me but since I am no jeweller, becoming Fabergé number 2 was not an option. Then, when I began to realise there were other ways to explore this egg form, I began working on my own approach using natural materials that I soon discovered hold their own equally special charm.
The boldness of the ostrich egg was my starting point - very elegant in spite of its size, and so very African. It offered a most interesting canvas on which I could present the designs in my mind. I am still amazed at the variety of textures and variation of form that make each egg different from all others.
Next step was to find other natural objects that complement the ostrich egg form. I found them in natural, large "beads", things like seeds and gourds (plant eggs) that added their extensive variety of forms and textures to the mix. Like the ostrich eggs, each is perfectly imperfect, reflecting the complexity of nature in its infinite variety. Ostrich eggs are still the main feature of my Toi-!kwiten Light range.
Soon other beads were added to my palette, beads made from the natural resources of Africa, wood, bone, horn, metal, amber and glass. This gave rise to my complementary Afri-bead Originals range.
So, with ostrich eggs and nature's beads, I had found a way to use the inspiration I draw from both nature and jewellery design, to produce useful objects that are both earthy and pleasing to the eye. My candle holders make a bold yet natural statement and have offered me just the right expression of my passion for my craft.
But while I obviously enjoy producing them, it is even more rewarding when others share and acknowledge my work. And I know also that each item, by way of its subtle, natural imperfections, has a unique elegance.
Mary Cameron
Welcome to Toi-!kwiten
Toi-!kwiten Light is situated in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
This page was last updated on 13 June 2019 11:04
Copyright - Toi-!kwiten Light and Hare-Yama Ryu