Inspiration
For me, inspiration and the ability, and need, to create comes from things, people, events that excite me! I think it works that way for most people. Anything that stirs ones feelings deep inside, drives that need to create, maybe to somehow translate that feeling into something… Excitement makes passion, makes inspiration. Without that feeling of excitement, there is very little of the creative that sparks in me.
Working with glass is in itself an inspiration. From sand comes this amazing stuff that one can twist and twirl, poke and pull as it melts over the flame. The colours, the glow, the special effects, and the way it comes alive as it cools. What excites me the most is the unending possibilities of working with glass; there is different glass with different qualities and always new techniques. Mixing glass with silver, gold and enamel makes the most incredible beads! There is glass blowing, fusing, slumping…, a whole world of glass out there waiting for me to explore!
The personalised aspect of the beads that I make was just the angle that I took naturally, as I was always most inspired when making a piece of jewellery for someone. The character of the individual provides the ideas and usually gives me the means to come up with a new design: unique character, unique bead! People also enjoy having something which has been made specially for them, and it works for me too! I recently made a range of jewellery for an ecotourism lodge. A place, rather than a person was a challenge, but luckily this place has great character and beauty!

Thanks and praises…
To the creation of AfreakA glass beads
To show what I do with my days
To all that gave the means
I give thanks and praise
For the roots and culture, to Mama Africa
To my parents that allowed me to dream
For the artists streak, my Opa
To Marzi for waking my artist within
To Howard for opening my eyes
To my brother, for showing me how to play
To Pops, for his creative mind
To Kimma, my sista, for support all the way
To Donna, for sharing the world of molten goo
To Corey, for making the glass dream come true
To Corinna Tettinger, for step-by-step direction
To Silvia & Sophie, for their healing attention
For the article in the Bead magazine
To Emma & Lia, who set the scene
To Bianca for the silver and pewter
For all the advice and her giggly laughter
To the friends that took all the photos
Without which there would be nothing to show
For this website, hugs to my friend Marco
It a work of art on its own
I could’ve never done it alone
To eclipses and art in natures great dance
To music, drumbeat and trance
To all the freaks, friends and family
That brightens up the world around me
With all your colour and light
That makes my creative spark ignite
To all the people and that are yet to come
On this journey of AfreakA that has just begun!