Soul of Somanya

Well, I seem to have gone dark here on FB without really meaning to. Just soooo busy on this fun and highly productive tour of the North East. My thanks to all the folks at the Baltimore Bead Society, Bead Everything in White Plains, NY, in Mansfield, MA, Crystal Bead Bazaar in Pittsburgh, and Breakout, LLC in Rochester, NY, all of whom worked really hard to make the tour such a success. I am grateful to you. One more stop before I go home for three days: Blue Santa Beads in Media, PA, here I come!

A New Year's Wish
for 2018

As the co-founder and director of Soul of Somanya, I want to wish every one of you a year filled with joy and the pleasure of bringing joy to others. I wish you open hearts steadily renewed by receiving love and by sending that love back out into the world. May your minds be ever attuned to our collective power to create prosperity for everyone, and may your actions help to transform our planet into a place where our empathy brings peace, mutual tolerance and a strong sense of how inextricably connected we all are.

A story: When I was in Ghana the first time, my co-founder Bernard gave his only good shirt to a friend who needed something to wear to an out-of-town funeral. My niece Megan asked him why he didn't just loan it instead of giving it away. His answer has stayed with me throughout the years. He merely shrugged and said: "When I need a shirt, someone will have a shirt for me."

This is what I want for all of us: the absolute certainty that we are part of a community---better yet, a world-wide community---where we are all there for each other.

To a wonderful 2018!

Mel

Pearl Blay of "The Beading Gem's Journal" fame, gave Soul of Somanya a wonderful write-up on her excellent blog today. Take a look at the post and, especially If you're a beader, take a look at the rest of the blog, too. It's well worth following! http://www.beadinggem.com/2015/01/jewelry-by-melody-macduff-and-soul-of.html

Jewelry by Melody MacDuff and Soul of Somanya - The Beading Gem's Journal Jewelry by Melody MacDuff and Soul of Somanya The Beading Gem's Journal Jewelry by Melody MacDuff and Soul of Somanya Informative and Inspirational Jewelry blog for jewelry making

Soul of Somanya has just celebrated it's fifth birthday. We want to thank each and every one of you for helping us make it this far!

Home Home

Mel is heading for Knoxville, Tennessee tomorrow for an American Gem & Jewelry Show. If you're in the area, stop in and say hello. She'll be at the Knoxville Expo Center, 5441 Clinton Hwy, and the show goes from 10-5 on Saturday, July 27th and 10-4 on Sunday, July 28th. Our booth will be overflowing with Krobo beads and handmade findings!

Knoxville Expo Center - Trade Show and Special Event Convention Center in Knoxville, TN From corporate meetings and training seminars to consumer shows and community special events, the Knoxville Expo Center has the right space for you.

Mel leaves tomorrow for the fabulous annual Bead&Button Show in Milwaukee, along with Soul of Somanya's board president, Margaret Crow. If you're attending the show, look her up at the "Meet the Teachers" reception from 8:00-10:00 on Wednesday night (June 5th). She's love to meet you and show you the SoS goods up close and personal!

Bead&Button Show - The Biggest Consumer Bead Show in the World

These folks were kind enough (and committed enough!) to list Soul of Somanya on their "Shop to Fight Modern Slavery" site. On it, they give tips on how to "Shop Like an Abolitionist." Great stuff--please take a look!

Shop to Fight Modern Slavery Did you know there are more slaves in the world today than there were two hundred years ago. If you didn't, you're not alone. Most people think of slavery as a tragedy of the past that ended with the Civil War. But while it's true that the Civil War ended...

Soul of Somanya will have a booth at Mobile's LODA Artwalk tomorrow night (Friday, May 10th) beginning at 6:00 PM--just in time for those last-minute Mother's Day gifts. If you're in the Mobile, Alabama area, be sure to stop by!

Welcome to City of Mobile Neighborhood and Community Services Second Fridays in downtown have become quite a popular time and place to be! With the LoDa ArtWalk in its 8th year, the event seems to be getting better each month. Join downtown art galleries, institutions, studios and unique shops as they open their doors and welcome you inside to see beautiful ar...

Mel is on the road to Denver, along with two state-of-the-art volunteers (Myra and Sandy), to tell the members of the Rocky Mountain Bead Society the Soul of Somanya story, to participate in their highly-rated annual bead sale, and to teach four wirework classes. If you're within reach of Denver this weekend, be sure to stop by the Denver Merchandise Mart at 451 E 58th Avenue and visit our booth. It's this Saturday, April 27 (10:00-6:00) and Sunday April 28 (10:00 to 5:00). I've heard nothing but good things about this show of some 100 vendors!

2013 Bead Bazaar - Rocky Mountain Bead Society The RMBS annual Bead Bazaar is the best event of the year! Open to the p***c at the Denver Merchandise Mart, this annual show offers over ninety industry vendors, over 40 classes in a variety of disciplines, and all the beading information you want! All under one roof which includes free parking!

Mel, Susan, Myra and Andrea (a new volunteer!) were inspired by the fifth-graders at Council Elementary School in Mobile yesterday. Mel spoke to them about Africa, stressing what their lives would be like if they had been born in Somanya and how effective they can be, no matter what their ages, when they pool their resources and energies to help people less fortunate than themselves. By paying a modest materials fee to participate in a bracelet/bookmark-making workshop, the group raised $369.00 for Soul of Somanya--that's almost twenty full weeks of work at a living wage for one of our artisans! Aaaiiieeekooo, fifth graders! ("Well done!" in the language of the Krobo people.)

All you Jewelry Artists out there...lower your bottom line by making your own findings rather than buying them! Join Mel at The Danish Princess in Milton, Florida, in her "Make Your Own Findings" class on Thursday, March 28, 2013 from 5:30-7:30. Call 850-490-0310 to reserve your seat!

Join Melody MacDuffee in her "Make Your own Wire Beads" class on Thursday, March 28, 2013 from 2:30-4:30. Melody is a jewelry artist and writer, who now assists the Soul of Somanya artisans in Ghana to design jewelry and to market it throughout the world. Instructor fee is $25 and will go entirely to her Soul of Somanya non-profit. Call, message or email to reserve your place! 850-490-0310.

Soul of Somanya will be in Atlanta this weekend. Come visit with Mel and browse our inventory up-close and hands-on, Saturday, March 16th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday, March 16th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We'll be at the DoubleTree Hotel in Roswell, along with a variety of vendors who will be offering everything from basic jewelry-making supplies and components to pearl, lampwork and gemstone beads!

Hotels Near Atlanta - DoubleTree Roswell Hotel Near Alpharetta – Map Find maps and directions online for the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Atlanta - Roswell. Print maps and step by step directions from our hotel's site.

We always love seeing what our customers are making using Krobo beads. Here's a winner from Kay Miller ofLaVelle Designs in Wildwood, Florida. To contact Kay about making a purchase, email her at [email protected].

This wonderful project was founded in 2012 by one of Soul of Somanya's most loyal bead customers, Lisa Tresch of Tulsa Oklahoma, and her sister Erin. Ankaase is a village in the Asanti region of Ghana, which is north of the Krobo region where we are located. Take a look at their beautiful bracelets, which are helping their organization to fund its wonderful "Laptops for Learning" center.

(no title) To Make Life Better in One African VillageWe’re walking arm in arm with the people in Ankaase, Ghana. Join us! Continue reading »

Arkuh Bernard Tettey and the SoS artisans had today off from work so that they could celebrate the Kloyosikplemi Festival. One of the largest festivals of the year, it commemorates Saturday, the 4th of July in 1892, when the Krobos were attacked by the British colonizers in a deadly, cruel night raid. Families were separated and the whole tribe was driven out of their homes and forced off of their mountain into exile and, eventually, to their present settlement on the plains. As part of today's festivities, the young people of the tribe (including, probably, most of our artisans) will have tried to climb to the top of this very steep little mountain to pay homage to their great (and great-great) grandparents, who endured this terrible tragedy.

It's that time again! Mobile's wonderful International Festival is this weekend. This is Soul of Somanya's fifth year to participate in this event, and it's always a lot of fun. This year, Soul of Somanya will be offering activities for children, including "Make Your Own Bracelet" and "Design Your Own Ring." Saturday, November 17th, is "Open to the Public" day. The hours are 10-5:00. If you've never attended this festive event, consider doing so this year. It really is a special treat!

Mobile International Festival Deadline for online and mail orders from within the continental United states isNovember 9, 2012. Orders received after this date will not be processed.November 16, 2012.