Tumaini

I am a lover of all creatures great and small.  In fact, I cannot recall a period of time when my life did not, in some small way, revolve around their presence.  It had been my dream to achieve a college degree that would allow me to work with them, but, as it goes, life happened.  I fell in love, got married, and had my boys.  Now my days are filled with them and my bead/jewelry businesses.  My life is good.  But, there is a slight void that is aching to be filled and as it so happens, I came across the solution.

I just recently found out about a private sanctuary here in Bend, Oregon called Chimps Inc.  Their goal is to offer lifetime sanctuary to adult chimpanzees in need and at the moment there are 11 chimps in their care.  I was blown away by their story and what they have done to care for these creatures, each of whom has been saved from horrific conditions.  I will be applying for a volunteer position there, but I also wanted to do something special; something involving my art.  So I came up with a new collection of beads/jewelry that I have named Tumaini.  Tumaini is Swahili for hope.  Hope for awareness, hope for habitat renewal, hope for a better future...

The start of this collection will soon be up in both stores and 30% of all sales will go directly to Chimps Inc.