Lea's Flowers - a print by Chris Cart, s/n by artist

Lea's Flowers - a print by Chris Cart, signed and numbered by the artist.


Lea's Flowers, a lithograph print by Chris Cart of Maine from the original watercolor. The print is signed and numbered by the artist. A very popular limited edition of 650. There are less than 100 left. (image size: 15 x 11 inches; paper size: 19 x 15 inches)


You can view this print and many more lovely pieces of art at SilverChicks.com.

Zethiopia

Zethiopia is a diversified news and information newspaper that represents America's local and national Ethiopian community. Zethiopia is a free bilingual newspaper whose production is based in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. Zethiopia is published bi-monthly by the Ze Ethiopia Corp.
The newspaper's motto is, "Not just both sides, all sides!"
Visit the Zethiopia Home Page for more information about subscribing or the publication itself.

It was my pleasure to meet the editor of Zethiopia, Dereje Desta, when he interviewed the founder of EBCEF. I think Dereje is doing great things for the Ethiopian communities in the United States.

Ethiopian New Year

Enkutatash or Ethiopian New Year is celebrated on September 11th according to the Western or Gregorian calendar. Ethiopia still follows the Orthodox Julian calendar which consists of 12 months of 30 days and a 13th month, Pagume, of five or six days, depending on whether or not it is a leap year. The Ethiopian calendar is seven years and eight months behind the Gregorian calendar.

Enkutatash is an important festival in the lives of Ethiopians. After three months of heavy rains the sun comes out creating a beautiful clear fresh atmosphere.

( A personal note is that Addis is never as lovely as it is after the rains - the skies clear and the views from Entoto mountain are fantastic - the lovely yellow blooms of the Meskel flower temporarily change the look of the entire countryside.)

When the Queen of Sheba, returned to Ethiopia, after her famous visit to King Solomon, her chiefs welcomed her forward by giving her jewels. Enkutatash which means gift of jewels - has been celebrated ever since in the Spring.

On New Year's Eve, torches of dry leaves and wood bundled in the form of tall and thick sticks are also set on fire in front of houses as the young and old sing.

As part of the celebration, in the morning everybody goes to Church wearing traditional Ethiopian clothing. After attending the religious ceremony, there is a family meal of injera and doro wat.

Jane Kurtz - Notable Book List - Congratulations!

2006 Kansas Notable Book List Announced

Topeka, KS- August 17, 2006
State Librarian Christie Brandau and Roy Bird, Director of the Kansas Center for the Book, today announced the 2006 Kansas Notable Book List. Fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books all populate the list which is considered to contain the best of the books published by Kansas authors or about Kansas in the preceding year.

“Each title—fiction or nonfiction, poetry, children’s or young adult books—speaks to the rich cultural heritage of Kansas,” said Bird. “This list proves without a doubt that some of the greatest stories spring from the prairies of our state. It is an inaugural Notable Book List of which we can be proud.”

The Kansas Notable Book List project of the Kansas Center for the Book (KCFB) at the State Library of Kansas is an annual selection of up to twenty titles of books by Kansans or about Kansas published in the previous year. A committee of the KCFB Board of Affiliates is responsible for identifying the titles. This year’s Kansas Notable Books selection committee included representatives from an academic library, a public library, a regional library system, booksellers, a publisher, a media representative, and a college children’s literature professor.

The Kansas Notable Book authors will be honored at the first Kansas Book Festival in Wichita on September 29 and 30. A special presentation will be made to each author at the Black, White, and READ All Over Ball, a gala during the Festival on the evening of September 29. For more information about the Kansas Book Festival, visit www.kansasbookfestival.ks.gov.

The alphabetical list by title of the 2006 Kansas Notable Books follow:

Airball: My Life in Briefs, by L.K. Harkrader
Capote in Kansas: A Drawn Novel, Ande Parks
The Darkest Dawn: Lincoln, Booth, and the Great American Tragedy, by Thomas
Goodrich
Deputy Harvey and the Ant Cow Caper, by Brad Sneed
The Great Blues, by Steve Semken
A Hungry Heart: A Memoir, by Gordon Parks
In the Small, Small Night, by Jane Kurtz
The Kansas Guidebook for Explorers, by Marci Penner
Maggie Rose and Sass, by Eunice Boeve
The Moon Butter Route, by Max Yoho
Oceans of Kansas: A Natural History of the Western Interior Sea, by Michael J. Everhart
Ordinary Genius, by Thomas Fox Averill
Wildflowers and Grasses of Kansas: A Field Guide, by Michael John Haddock
The Youngest Brother: On a Kansas Wheat Farm During the Roaring Twenties and the
Great Depression, by C. Hugh Snyder

Updated Availability on Most Popular Kazuri Beads

We have just received a shipment of Kazuri beads and have updated the quantities avialable on the most popular pebbles and pita pat style beads - now is the time to stock up on your favorite styles. These beads are available on eBay and our website, but we have NOT put them on Amazon.

Here is a sampling:

Ethiopian Coptic Cross Necklace with Melon Chevrons

The SilverChicks are proud to present Silver Tukul Jewelry by artist Melissa Nordstrom.

We know that you will enjoy her creations & innovative use of African materials as much as we do.


This gorgeous necklace is made with wonderful African components.


Ethiopian Orthodox Cross from Gondar Region, home of Fasilade's Castles.

Handmade and Handpainted Ceramic Kazuri bead from Kenya.

Green Venetian Melon Chevrons from the African trade.

Cobalt blue German annulars - Bohemian Glass from the African Trade.

Silver beads, made from Maria Theresa Dollars.

The cross is hand forged of nickel; the necklace was made using waxed cotton cord and a pewter clasp.

Russian Blues and Venetian Chevron Necklace with Coptic Cross

The SilverChicks are proud to present Silver Tukul Jewelry by artist Melissa Nordstrom. We know that you will enjoy her creations & innovative use of African materials as much as we do.

Russian Blues and Venetian Chevron Necklace with Coptic Cross Pendant

This gorgeous necklace is made with wonderful African components.
An Ethiopian Orthodox Cross from Gojam Region is the pendant on this necklace.
Antique, rare Venetian six layer chevrons.
Faceted Russian Blue beads from the African Trade.
Ankara beads (sky blue glass cylinder beads) - Bohemian Glass.
Cobalt Blue German annular beads.
The cross is made of handforged nickel.
The piece is finished with a pewter clasp.

Kazuri Necklace - Beehive Colors

24 inch Kazuri Necklace in the Pebbles Design and the Beehive Color Family.

Beehive is a sumptuous color family with warm amber browns and black designs - very sophisticated.




These necklaces are handmade in Kenya.

Kazuri means small and beautiful in swahili and that is the absolute best description of these beads.



We have a large selection of Kazuri Necklaces and beads available on our website, eBay, and Amazon.com.

New Kazuri Necklaces at SilverChicks.com

This Kazuri Necklace is available in 18 and 24 inch lengths - we love the colors and the design - which is called Porini.


Handmade and handpainted ceramic beads from Kenya.

New Kazuri Beads at SilverChicks.com

We just received a new shipment of Kazuri beads & necklaces - here is one of the new designs.

Wardrobe Must Haves - Basic Black Earrings

Sterling Silver Mother of Pearl and Onyx Earrings
Gorgeous earrings - .925 Sterling Silver with Mother of Pearl and Onyx Inlay design hanging from a Kidney Wire!

Gorgeous Classic Earrings - Detailed Silver Swirl Post with Hinged Onyx Inlay.

Kazuri Necklace - Black and White - Contemporary Design

Here is another peek at Kazuri Necklaces we have recently added to our website, eBay, and Amazon. This necklace has a very contemporary look - black and white, and is available in 18, 24, and 36 inch lengths. Hate to admit that we know for a fact that this necklace looks great with a v-neck white t-shirt and jeans.

Kazuri Pebbles Necklace in Deepwater Colors

24 inch Kazuri Necklace - Pebbles Design in Deepwater Color Family.



We love these handpainted beads and gorgeous necklaces.


Kazuri means small and beautiful in swahili and that is the absolute best description of these beads.


The SilverChicks have a fondness for the Kazuri beads, they are handcrafted by women who work diligently to improve themselves and the lives of their families, and they are truly artisans.

We have a wide selection of Kazuri necklaces available on our website, Amazon.com, and eBay. We also have great bracelets, like the one below, designed and made by SilverChicks - with Kazuri beads - that complement the Kazuri Factory jewelry.

Queen Helina and the Donkey Mobile Library of Awassa - EBCEF

Latest Press Release about the Growth of EBCEF

Awassa, Ethiopia -- Queen Helina stepped confidently into the street, resplendent in her red cape and her silver-lined red crown. A retainer with a red umbrella shielded her from the sun, separating her from two other donkeys pulling a cart of books. Behind them were 3,000 children, marching in the inaugural parade of Ethiopia’s first Donkey Mobile Library in Awassa, a town 166 miles south of Addis Abbaba. The Children were chanting; "Queen Helina We Want Books!"

“Queen Helina and her fellow donkeys are at the forefront of bringing books and the love of reading to Ethiopia’s rural areas,” said Yohannes Gebregeorgis , founder of the Ethiopian Books for Children and Educational Foundation (EBCEF). Since the parade last year, Queen Helina’s team has increased to four donkeys, enough to share the burden of carrying more than 2,000 books. The Donkey Mobile Library sets up shop in poor neighborhoods of Awassa where children check out books for the day or just sprawl on the bare ground to read.

This mobile library is the latest project Yohannes uses to reduce illiteracy and promote reading in Ethiopia. Not much has changed since he fled his country as a political refugee more than 25 years ago. The government estimates that 58 percent of Ethiopians aged 15 and older cannot read. A World Bank study reveals that only 76 percent of boys and 52 percent of girls enroll in primary school. A third of them leave before reaching second grade.

Yohannes grew up without access to a library and he did not read his first non-fiction book until he was 19. As a political refugee in the USA, Yohannes studied to be a librarian. He then worked as a children’s librarian at the San Francisco Public Library. Despite the large Ethiopian community in the area, he found few books in Amharic or other Ethiopian languages.

In 1998, together with children’s book author Jane Kurtz, they organized EBCEF. Their first project was to publish a book based on an Ethiopian tale, Silly Mammo. Sales of the book, as well as grants from The Global Fund for Children and others, now support the EBCEF’s work.

Yohannes returned to live in Addis Abbaba in 2002 with a container of 15,000 books. In 2003 he opened the Shola Children's Library -- the first such library in Ethiopia – in the groundfloor of his house. Eventually two tents were pitched outside to accommodate more children.

About 8,000 children use it, making as many as 60,000 visits a month. An 8-year-old boy, Robel, who used to hold books upside down until he learned to read, is now the library’s star reader, reading aloud to other children every Saturday. “We have successfully connected the children with books and have given them a sense of empowerment,” said Yohannes.

His passion for literature and the need to raise literacy rates led Yohannes to establish a reading center and the first mobile library in his home region of Awassa. There Queen Helina reigns as a symbol for reading and Yohannes plans to expand her kingdom with more libraries for Ethiopia’s children.

Arussi Necklace from Ethiopia

This necklace is one of my favorite finds from my last trip to Ethiopia. The vibrant colors are inspiring.


22" Gorgeous Beaded Strand from Sidamo Ethiopia


This beaded necklace, from the Arussi in Ethiopia, is exactly how I found it in an "antique" shop in Addis Ababa.

Gorgeous deep red white hearts are the base for this colorful & unique beaded necklace.

Sterling Silver Teacher Appreciation Charms

We love to give teachers charm bracelets and then coordinate filling the bracelet up with charms that will make the class room memorable - as a class gift. We choose charms that represent the year long events, including field trips and special parties. Great gift.

Simple and Fun Summer Abalone Earrings !

Gorgeous, eye-catching Abalone earrings - .925 Sterling Silver. Hinged dangle earrings on kidney wires.

Kazuri Necklace - Fantastic Monsoon Blues

30 inch Kazuri Necklace - in Edith Design and Monsoon Color.

Monsoon Color Family is made of vibrant blues and rich greens. This necklace is 30 inches long, we like to wear it wrapped twice as a choker.

These necklaces are handmade in Kenya.
We love these handpainted beads and gorgeous necklaces.
Kazuri means small and beautiful in swahili and that is the absolute best description of these beads.
We have this necklace and so many more available on our website at www.silverchicks.com. You can also find them on Amazon - search for silverchicks. Last, we're on eBay - user i.d. silverchicks.

Kazuri Necklace in Diani Design & Moonwalk Colors

18 inch Kazuri Necklace - Diani Design and Moonwalk Color Family.

I love the way this necklace looks, the larger bead has a dot/eye on each bead.



These necklaces are handmade in Kenya.

Kazuri means small and beautiful in swahili and that is the absolute best description of these beads.



Click on the picture and enlarge to a great close up of your item!

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Antique Copper Twist Necklace from Silver Tukul Designs

The SilverChicks are proud to present Silver Tukul Jewelry by artist Melissa Nordstrom.

We know that you will enjoy her creations & innovative use of African materials as much as we do.



This gorgeous necklace is made with wonderful African components.



The copper twist is collected from Ethiopian pastoralists who use copper to adorn themselves and their horses.

Handmade copper and brass beads from Ethiopia.

Leather beads and twisted cord are handmade by Aksumite monks from the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

Brass accent beads.

Black bohemian glass beads.

The piece is finished with a pewter closure

Gorgeous Necklace with Harar Silver

The SilverChicks are proud to present Silver Tukul Jewelry by artist Melissa Nordstrom.

We know that you will enjoy her creations & innovative use of African materials as much as we do.




This gorgeous necklace is made with wonderful African components.


The focal point is rare antique silver ball, from Harar, Ethiopia. One like it can be seen in Angela Fisher's wonderful coffee table book entitled "Africa Adorned". Harar is in East Ethiopia near Somalia and is known for it's wonderful silver (and gorgeous baskets!).


Hand twisted leather by Aksumite monks. Aksum is in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

Brown hippo bone, from Kenya.

Ethiopian silver accents, from Oromo silversmiths.

Blue Annular and Powder Glass Necklace

The SilverChicks are proud to present Silver Tukul Jewelry by artist Melissa Nordstrom.

We know that you will enjoy her creations & innovative use of African materials as much as we do.


This gorgeous necklace is made with wonderful African components.


Ethiopian Silver Promise Ring as focal bead.

Coral Powder Glass from Ghana - gorgeous.

Silver spacer beads from old Ethiopian rosaries.

Cobalt blue German annulars from the African trade.


This necklace is set on woven cotton, hand-spun in suburbs of Ethiopia's capital city, Addis Ababa.


The piece is finished with a pewter clasp.

Brass Mask and Millefiore Necklace

The SilverChicks are proud to present Silver Tukul Jewelry by artist Melissa Nordstrom.

We know that you will enjoy her creations & innovative use of African materials as much as we do.



This gorgeous necklace is made with wonderful African components.



"Lost Wax Method" Brass mask from the Ivory Coast.

Solbera brass beads from the Ivory Coast.

Vintage Venetian Millefiore Beads.

Small white glass beads, Southern Nations of Ethiopia, the Bume Tribe, beads are commonly referred to as Goomba beads.




The brass mask is made one-at-a-time by means of an intense artistic process in which each mold produces only ONE mask. Each mold must be destroyed to remove the freshly cast mask.




The piece is finished with a pewter clasp.

Kenyan Batik and Carnelian Double Strand Necklace

The SilverChicks are proud to present Silver Tukul Jewelry by artist Melissa Nordstrom.

We know that you will enjoy her creations & innovative use of African materials as much as we do.



This gorgeous necklace is made with wonderful African components.


Carnelian Spacers (red stones) from West Africa.

Black and white bone batik beads from Kenya.

Coconut shell disks.

Ethiopian Silver two hole terminators.

The piece is finished with a pewter clasp.

Silver Tukul - Turkana Bone Pendant Necklace

The SilverChicks are proud to present Silver Tukul Jewelry by artist Melissa Nordstrom.

We know that you will enjoy her creations & innovative use of African materials as much as we do.


This gorgeous necklace is made with wonderful African components.


The Turkana bone pendants are used by village healers to ward off evil spirits of sickness, these elongated bone beads are covered with "eyes", adding additional protective measures.

The black center bead is a bone bead from Zanzibar.

The oval shaped beads are bone beads from the Great Rift Valley of East Africa.

The Coconut Shell spacer bead and black glass beads came from Nigeria.

Copal Amber and Coptic Cross Necklace by Silver Tukul Designs

The SilverChicks are proud to present Silver Tukul Jewelry by artist Melissa Nordstrom.

We know that you will enjoy her creations & innovative use of African materials as much as we do.



This gorgeous necklace is made with wonderful African components.


Ethiopian Orthodox Silver Cross, Dessie Region.

Antique silver fertility beads, Gojam, Ethiopia.

Venetian Millefiore Beads from the African Trade.

Copal Amber.

Black glass, Nigeria - Bohemain Glass.

Silver closure finishes piece.

Caramel Colored Kazuri Choker Necklace - SilverChicks

Simple Pacific Blue Kazuri Choker Necklace

Super Kazuri Pendant Bead Choker Necklace - SilverChicks

Blue Kazuri Bead Choker by SilverChicks

Kazuri Flag bead Bracelet - with Mother of Pearl

7 1/2" Flag Kazuri Bead bracelet featuring mother of pearl, black onyx beads, sterling silver Bali beads, and a sterling silver toggle. We love these diamond shaped beads from Kazuri - they are great fun to work with.

Natural Mother of Pearl Pendant Necklace

Simple and elegant 16 inch Greek Leather cord necklace with a Natural Mother of Pearl, swarovksi crystal, and Bali bead pendant.

Glorious Original Beaded Belt from Maji, Ethiopia

Traditional Beaded Belt

Rustic, tribal beaded belt from Maji, Ethiopia - fabulous beaded detail with multi-color glass beads and cowrie shells. The beaded part of the belt measures 30" in diameter and is approximately 8" from top to bottom. There is an additional 6" of rope to tie the belt around your waist.

You can find this on SilverChicks.com & Amazon.com - look for more authentic African beaded items to be posted.

Strand of Antique Moon/Opalite/Annular Beads - African Trade

30 inch strand of wound European glass moon beads, the bead dealer in Ethiopia referred to them as opalite, but they are commonly called white annulars or moon beads by the other bead dealers in Ethiopia.


These beads average 12 mm in diameter and 8-10 mm in thickness, the holes are 4-5 mm. There are approximately 100 beads on this strand. Please note that these beads are temporarily strung and are not a necklace. We show them on the bust, so that you may better see the entire strand.

Ethiopian Silver Coptic Cross Necklace

Silver Ethiopian Coptic Cross measuring 22x35mm from the Gojam region of Ethiopia. This cross is hanging on a 16 inch Black Greek Leather cord that is finished with a sterling silver clasp.


For over 1600 years Christian Ethiopians have worn neck crosses as a proud confession of their faith. Ethiopian crosses are either cast by the lost wax method or cut from Maria Theresa dollars. The crosses are usually named after the towns or provinces of the highlands of Ethiopia - and each has their own design.

Rustic Hand Forged Ethiopian Brass Cross Necklace

Rustic brass cross from Ethiopia that measures 25 mm x 19 mm and is on a 16 inch black Greek Leather cord finished with a Sterling Silver Clasp.

Ethiopian Coptic Cross Necklace - from Gondar region

Ethiopian Coptic Cross Necklace
This heavy silver cross measures 50mm x 35mm and is from the Gondar region. The cross is hanging on a 16 inch Black Greek Leather Cord finished with a .925 sterling silver clasp. If you need the necklace to be longer you can purchase a 2 inch sterling silver extender.

For over 1600 years Christian Ethiopians have worn neck crosses as a proud confession of their faith. Ethiopian crosses are either cast by the lost wax method or cut from Maria Theresa dollars.
(The crosses are usually named after the towns or provinces of the highlands of Ethiopia - and each has their own design.)

Rustic Bronze Pendant Necklace from Ethiopia

Bronze Pendant Necklace - Pendant from Sidamo, Ethiopia
The pendant is from the Sidamo region of Ethiopia. It is hand-forged and bronze, tear shaped and averages 30 mm wide by 50 mm long. The pendant is on a 16 inch black Greek Leather cord finished with a sterling silver clasp. Very rustic & unique look.

Super Cute Enamel and Sterling Silver Tennis Charm

Enamel Tennis Racket & Ball Charm


Our charms are great quality .925 shiny Sterling Silver, never plated! This charm measures 10mm in length, great for the Tennis Chick in you or the one you know.
This charm looks great on a bracelet, we think five of them is the perfect number to go around.

Old Ethiopian Dangle Bead Necklace - Unique!

Antique Ethiopian Silver Dangle Bead Necklace

Much of what the SilverChicks company loves about African trade beads are the stories that go with them. The story told in Addis Ababa about these silver beads is that they came from King Menelik's uniforms, they were adornment sewn onto the cloth. Who knows if it is true or not, but we love the story.


We have created this necklace by placing 10 dangle beads on a 16 inch Greek Leather cord that is finished with a sterling silver clasp. You can make your necklace longer by adding a two inch sterling silver extender.

Ethiopian Silver Pendant Necklace - Pendant from Jimma

Old Ethiopian Silver Pendant Necklace


The pendant is from the Jimma region of Ethiopia and is silver, the pendant is heavy and substantial measuring approximately 20 mm in diameter. It is on a black Greek Leather cord measuring 16 inches and finished with a sterling clasp. (You can purchase two inch sterling silver extenders if you need the necklace to be longer.)

We have a solid selection of pendants from Ethiopia. Quality & unique items.

Sterling Silver Tennis Racquet Charm - SilverChicks

Sterling Silver Tennis Racquet 3-D Charm

Our charms are quality .925 shiny Sterling Silver, never plated! This charm measures 23mm x 8mm.
This charm is great, three dimensional - works well as a pendant or a charm.

So when Valissa and I went to Newk's Tennis Camp

we couldn't find a thing in the pro shop that we wanted as a momento - sure they had fun retro style t-shirts that we bought for our kids - but there wasn't a thing for us - so we came up with these necklaces, for ourselves. We can customize these necklaces with your motto or logo, as well. We made one that says "Rock Solid" - term you hear the pro's using at Newk's - and the other says "Newks" - both feature Swawrovski and look simple and blingy at the same time.