Learn to bead with Mama Beauty Maswanganyi

Our friends at Piece (please contact them directly to make a booking info@piece.co.za) are hosting a series of beading workshops in June where you can learn to make your own jewellery from an expert. Mama Beauty Maswanganyi is a master beader and the store manager; she will teach you African bead stringing or traditional beading in one of these workshops.

Like us, our friends at Piece have an entrepreneurial spirit. Piece is an organisation founded and run by women and it is focused on showcasing African artistry through responsible methods.

In their own words, this is what their mission is:

“We focus on creating sustainable business for our rural and urban producers and bringing to market unique items inspired by traditions or using traditional techniques, but speaking a language of today; offering you the opportunity to own treasures which reflect the essence and excellence of Africa and highlight the traditions and intelligent hands of her people.”

The team. From left: Thabo Nkuna, Eugenie Drakes, and Beauty Maswanganyi

We love our beautiful country and there is so much about it which we can celebrate. African artistry and how it is passed down from generation to generation is one of the many things that make our country so amazing.

Join Mama Beauty and design your own necklace under her expert and patient guidance. Share in African artistry and share stories while you make something you can treasure for years to come. In the traditional beading class Mama Beauty will teach you one of the four different stitches of traditional beading that she learnt from her grandmother.

The scheduled workshop dates are below, however, you can contact Piece to schedule an alternate time provided you have four or more people in the workshop. The stringing beads workshop takes two hours and the traditional beading workshop takes two and a half hours.

Stringing Beads workshops (2 hours)

  • Saturday, 2 June 2018
  • Wednesday, 13 June 2018
  • Saturday, 23 June 2018

Traditional Beading workshops (2.5 hours)

  • Saturday, 9 June 2018
  • Wednesday, 27 June 2018

One workshop will cost you R425 and this includes all beading materials, tea, coffee and tasty treats. Book a June workshop.

There are also some great jewellery pieces on sale so be sure to have a look around when you attend your workshop.

Felted wool necklaces from Piece

As a design team, Eugenie Drakes (Piece founder) and Mama Beauty have commissioned pieces for celebrities such as Lira, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

Their accessories have been included in fashion shows by many local and international designers including David Tlale (South Africa), Mataano (United States), and Mustafa Hassanali (Tanzania).

Attend a workshop or buy handmade jewellery at the workshop in New Doornfontein, Gauteng.