To BEAD or not to BEAD?

Beads, beads, beads. Something I have always LOVED and something I will always love. Over time, as I have searched for my “inner” what-turns-me-on-the-most-in-art-and-fashion, I have discovered I have two sources of my greatest joy. Fabric art, as in quilts, wall hangings, etc. and jewelry, with a concentration on beads. It may stem from my hippie days, but beads have long fascinated me.

So many beads, so little time!

During trips to the country of Ghana, I’ve been privileged to travel to a local “Bead” Factory where my interest and love for beads continued to increase. It was also during those trips where I gained my understanding and knowledge of the manufacturing of glass beads that speak to and represent life events in the culture of Ghana. 

The hand manufacturing of Glass Beads is a simply amazing process. I continue to emphasis Glass Beads, because there are several kinds of beads produced in Ghana, including brass beads, but the process I was able to witness was the production of the Glass Beads. Glass Beads are what are sold at The Cumberland Shop.

It takes quite a bit of time to drive to the Bead Factory. Of course, roads continue to improve in Ghana, and the last time I was able to go to the Factory, although we did have to travel over some clay roads, most of the trip was on a modern highway.

I always love making the trips to these remote locations because over time, we have been able to scout out several places where nice bathrooms are available to take advantage of on the sometimes bumpy parts of the road. You have to think about those things! Yay! I love a good adventure!

When we arrived at the factory on this last trip, I noticed the addition of a new sign, and a new swinging door to assure the security of the compound, which tells me bead sales are helping to add improvements as well as employ a nice number of people. That is great news.

We drove in, were welcomed by a security guard, parked our car and then made our way past piles of glass bottles waiting their turn to be transformed into something beautiful! The bottles were sorted according to color, with piles of clear, green, blue, brown and assorted bottles.

Glass bottles waiting to be turned into beads.

On a previous trip, sitting to one side was a young man who was VERY carefully breaking the glass bottles with a small hammer, continuing to crush them until they had reached the stage of a powder. We were instructed to stay far away, due to the possibility of flying glass and for the protection of our feet. I noticed the young man’s shoes were sitting near him, but as he pounded, his bare feet were tucked underneath his body as he sat cross legged. Thankfully, he had plastic goggles on that would protect his eyes, since he was obviously sitting in very close proximity to the action.

That first step alone blew me away! But soon we were able to observe as the powder was carefully placed in small handmade molds of different size that were gently placed inside wood and charcoal fired ovens made from the clay harvested from large ant hills. These ovens were so hot, that we couldn’t stand to be too close. In the already hot air of the spring in this equatorial country, being anywhere near these ovens gave you a real sense that one day, ‘hell’ was not the place you desired to spend eternity! LOL!

The powder was melted down into the mold and then removed and a piece of metal was inserted into the middle of the beads. This forms the hole that enables the bead to be threaded with wire, cord, plastic or elastic. There are various shapes and sizes of the glass bead molds, and the sizes of the holes also vary to accompany the bead sizes. It is indeed a fascinating process.

After the holes are formed and the beads are cooled down, a light polishing needs to take place on each bead to give them the slight glimmer or clean look that you want to see.

Beads that will remain a slightly see-thru quality will stay as they are after polishing, and they are importantly one solid color. Many other beads, though, have just begun their journey and will be painstakingly hand-painted by Artisans, one color at a time, forming glorious flower and geometric designs. Afterwards, they are fired again to set the colors and after they are cooled, they are beautifully paired with any number, size and color of beads to make breathtaking bead jewelry, unlike nowhere in our world.

Beads are used for celebrations and festivals. They are an artistic expression for a particular family or tribe. In Ghana, beads have a spiritual meaning. Beads are obviously a fashion statement and beads are also used as a trading currency. From as early as the 16th century, beads were used as a bartering tool, unfortunately some were used to barter for slaves. Beads remain a vital part of the culture and commodity of the nation of Ghana and you don’t want to leave Ghana without beads and jewelry made from these beautiful ornamental pieces.

Beautiful finished projects!

Since the quality of materials to properly construct the bead jewelry is hard to find in Ghana without ordering from out of the country, The Cumberland Shop has purchased beads directly from the factory in Ghana at full price, to make into jewelry to sell here in the USA. In doing so, we have been able to make quality pieces that have become very popular as gifts and for individuals to collect benefiting the makers, and the Oasis International Training Centre in Ghana. Each piece purchased helps to support students at the Training Centre as they learn Life Skills and trades that pave the way for a skilled job, position and possible entry to a school of higher education. In just two months of sales at The Cumberland Shop of our bead jewelry, over $1,000.00 has been given back to the school to support the work being done in Ghana.

The teachers working with the OITC students.

Please stop by the shop to take a look at our gorgeous, original Ghana Bead jewelry. Each piece you receive comes with an original batik bag, hand sewn and made from hand dyed batik, also from the country of Ghana. Thank you for reading this short article about this amazing process that has a long history in West Africa, I know it will give you a new appreciation for how much more lovely the jewelry made with these beads is.

So to answer the question, To Bead or Not To Bead.... we’re definitely going to BEAD!

Ghana Beads finished products - beautiful!