High Street Pieces..

Just browsing online and came across these lovely pieces..

Topshop Earrings £28.00

Topshop Seed Bead statemnt necklace £25.00

Miss Selfridge wire wrapped pendant £7.50

Oasis Drop choker £16.00

Topshop £18.50 Earrings

Miss Selfridge £12.50

Miss Selfrdige disc pendant £14.00

Oasis bugle bead necklace £16.00

Oasis seed bead link necklace £14.00

Mala Beads

So as a keen Yoga enthusiasts, aspiring meditator and most things spiritual I've discovered mala beads. I love a spiritual connection associated with pieces of jewellery, spiritual or even practical, and as soon as I heard about mala beads (or mediation or Japa beads), I was instantly intrigued. 

These beads are commonly used by Buddhists during chanting, repeating mantras and meditaion, usually consisting of 108 beads, with each bead representing a repition of a mantra. Malas can come in vaious materials according to what you want them to be used for. For example, wooden beads are generally used for a variety of mantras, and even specific wooden beads from specific types of tree serve their own purpose.

So whilst in Thailand I knew I really wanted to find one. At first I didnt see any at all (not sure what I expected really), but after a night out on our way home in a taxi, I noticed the driver had in fact had the beads hanging from his mirror. After a few attempts at trying to communicate with him as to where he got them, he finally understood what I meant and said 'Temple'. So, off we went to the temple the next day for some sightseeing, and I was really hoping I would find them! Low and behold next to the Giant Buddhas was a little shop selling religious pieces, run by a monk who randomly and kindly gave my boyfriend and I some friendship looking bracelets for good luck.

Anyhoo, I finally found my beads which has taken pride of place on my own buddha, (naturally).

Update..

I haven't been writing for a while for varius poor time keeping reason, but I am indeed back and updating you with what I've been currently doing. So I am still going through my mild obsession with seed beads, partly because I love how they look, but also I bought a huge bag of the same colour seed bead and I'm creatively trying to shift them!

So I started with a multi-strand necklace. I personally absolutely love how multi-strand necklaces look. I found a huge amount of gorgeous inspiration online so I bit the bullet and made an attempt. The only an obvious setback with a multi-strand is the stringing! It can take awhile and be a tad tedious but I think its worth it in the end. Its even better when you're just chilling out in front o the TV and let your hands do the work! In one of my earlier posts I did mention I had bought a seed bead spinner. Sadly so far its proven (to me) not worth it. Its, fiddly, it feels awkward and doesn't look half as easy as it did online. So it kind of defeats the point. Not sure if my beads were too large, but a seed bead is a seed bead right?!

Anyhow, my first attempt was this..

I had bought the pendant from a random. backstreet shop in Barcelona, off La Rambla with a couple of other bits and pieces, and like a lot of ramdon bits and pieces, they tend to sit in the box awhile. Personally I like the result, there are some tweaks I probably would've done if I were to start over again, but I'm fairly satisfied with the result at this stage. 

Then I began to make a black version, however it took a different route naturally, and turned out like so ...

I must say, this is one of my favourites. Sooo naturally began working on a brown version....

Also here are some more bits and pieces...