Tami will be at Three Sheep for two full days, designing jewelry and sharing Kazuri story.

“ I’ve always had a passion for creating unique pieces of jewelry that incorporate handmade beads and other components, so when I stumbled up Kazuri beads, I was excited to start designing jewelry with them. their beauty and the impact they have on the incredible women who create them drew me to become a Kazuri bead dealer. I travel the US and as a vendor in bead and jewelry events and love sharing their story !!! My customers love buying and wearing these pieces and feel happy that they can positively impact the artists daily life.” Tamie Simpson

FROM THE EARTH TO THE PEOPLE

Kazuri, the Swahili word for 'small and beautiful' produces a wide range of hand made, hand painted ceramic jewelry that shines with a kaleidoscope of African colors and Kenyan art that reflects a culture and appeal to a worldwide fashion market.

The Beginning of Kazuri Beads

In 1975, Lady Susan Wood set up a fledging business making beads in a small shed in her back garden. She started by hiring two disadvantaged women, and quickly realized that there were many more women who were in need of jobs and so Kazuri Beads was created and began its long and successful journey as a help center for the needy women especially single mothers who had no other source of income. In 1988 Kazuri became a factory and expanded hugely with over 120 women and men. Here women are trained and apply their skills to produce these unique and beautiful beads and jewelry. The beads are made with clay from the Mt Kenya area thus giving them authenticity to their craft. The factory acts as a social gathering with the hum of voices continuing throughout the day. With unemployment so high, one jobholder often ends up providing for an "extended family" of 20 or more. Kazuri is a member of the Fair Trade Act