LOVE LETTERS

Mai McDonald

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Marlene Green

Jersey City, N.J.

Mzuri Hudson

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Sandra Oei

Atlanta, GA

I'm a woman of few clothes and tend to wear the same jewelry every day. Every now and then I feel the need to wear a power piece, and my funky graceful pair pearl earrings lift me up and make me feel like a million no matter what else I am wearing.  

Deborah Singletary  

 Brooklyn  , N.Y.  

www.visioncarriers.com  

 I first became acquainted with Shimoda’s work more than 10 years ago during the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans . At the time I purchased an interesting necklace of unique texture & design fitting enough for a man. I had admired her radiant energy & apparent dedication to creating passionately. Every time I have worn that piece since, I have received compliments. I remember hearing her work call my attention. I smile to myself for taking the time to listen.  

Still today, I feel a certain subtle pull and attraction and harmony, both to her pieces. For me, they are artistic compositions of color, shape, and material. There is a sense of rhythm and movement that is persuasive. Beyond moods, I find a near musical quality to her work. Like music, there is a musical quality to her work. Like music, there is a universal appeal it invokes element of cultures, continents and the passage of time pulsing through human veins.  

I feel a kinship like when my grandmother would sit in the kitchen and tell me of my relatives past and present. The nature of their character lingers in my mind. Perhaps that is what really impresses me most. Each pierce speaks of character. All at once I feel a sense of journey. I see the world a bit more richly. I embrace the nuances that give me moments of connection. She creates talismans for life – overflowing with energy, as grounding as a brass drum & as clearly refreshing as hope.  

So moved,  

Billy Mims Goodman, Union City, GA   

   I just came from Tiffany’s looking for something special to reward myself for reaching a goal I had set. I saw nothing I could relate to that expressed “ME!” Then I ran into Shimoda. She invited me to her house for lasagna. Shimoda showed me the new beaded accessories she was working on. “YES!” I said. “How exquisite,” I exclaimed. “How perfect, how me! I’ll take it,” I said. “How much?” 

Wearing Shimoda Accessories enhances my aura with healing vibrations; and reminds me to maintain contact with the Inner Goddess of Sacred Beauty.  

People often ask: “Where did you get that beautiful piece you’re wearing?” Take my advice, if you’re looking for the perfect right time to beautify your body, call Shimoda. Here’s a sister who has it going on.   

Kaitha Het Heru  

Bronx  , N.Y.  

www.kaithahetheru.com      

I just had to write you to let you know how excited I was to receive the beautiful necklace and earrings which you made for my friends to give me for my birthday.  

I never dreamed that I would have anything so exquisite of my own. It is ME!! Ever since I’ve been wearing it, I really have a burning desire to return to Africa . I’ve always wanted to go back again but this awareness has been heightened since I received the necklace. I can’t explain it but anyway I’m sure that you can understand.   

Thank you again for your patience and for doing such a splendid work of art created just for me.   

Peace and Love  

Kay Joiner   

Richmond  , Va     

 I am a person of self empowerment and self definition and Shimoda’s jewelry is part of my warrior wear. It’s a critical piece of who I am.    

Each time her earrings brush my neck I’m reminded of how queenly I am, and I hold my head up high so that they fall on strong even shoulders.  

Front to back, top to bottom, you’re just not finished dressing until you have Shimoda on.  

You feel cultured like her beads, exquisite and rare, like her stones.  

I don’t go anywhere that people ask where I got it from. It’s part of my personality.  

Mzuri Hudson, Brooklyn, N.Y.  

Dear Shimoda,  

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Everybody loved my earrings!!! I truly looked fabulous and divine.  

Warmly, Hafeezah  

Mt. Vernon, N.Y.  

Dear Shimoda  

I have one thing to thank you for. The first is my wonderful anniversary present. It arrived and it is more beautiful than when I saw it at the Hilton Hotel because the lighting was not very good there. When I took the necklace from the box and was able to look at it in the daylight, it was outstanding. I wore it to a show on Saturday and many people came up to me and complimented me on your necklace. I’m wearing it at work today and people keep telling me how beautiful it is. I look upon it as a wearable art pieces. My husband loves it too.  

Sharon Hillian  

Lanham  , MD  

Dear Shimoda  

I always feel at home when I indulge in the pleasures and delights of your beautiful creations. The energy, color, boldness, texture, shapes, and sizes of each piece I’ve carefully selected spirals and spins me back into childhood memories. Playtime evoked a ritual of music, floors and a circle of my favorite toys and objects. I am awaken to the same ritual when I sit on your floor saying “Time to play!” Oooh, Aaah, Yum-Yum, Wow, beautiful, are but a few expressions I can describe about your “handcrafted” pieces. I always walk-away vibrating, waiting for the next “time to play.”  

It’s like eating candy without gaining weight.  

Audaciously Yours,  

Lisa Holkmon  

New York, N.Y.  

 Dear Shimoda  

Margaret and I wish to sincerely thank you for your contribution of pieces to BEAD WEAR\BEAD WONDER. The show was a terrific success and we are extremely grateful that you were willing to entrust us with your artwork. Each and every one of your pieces added to the great look of the whole program, and as one of the guests said, “It was like a Cecil B. De Mille production”!  

Many thanks, and best wishes,  

Mimi Wolford, Development Chair   

Margaret Saukel, Fashion Show Chair   

The International Bead Museum  

 Kensington, MD  

Shimoda’s jewelry is exquisite and unique. Which is important to me.The jewelry helps to define my style. I never go anywhere and see someone else wearing what I have. People are drawn to it and I get many compliments. It’s a definite conversation piece. The fact that I Support a sister friend and look beautiful at the same time makes it is even better.  

Linda Johnson  

Queens  N.Y.   

I love Shimoda’s earrings – they bring good karma when I wear them. In fact, I wore them almost daily for the first month of my daughter’s life – in part because they are versatile and made me feel a bit dressed up in a very dressed down month of my life.  

Joan M.  

New York, N.Y.  

Love shimoda’s earrings. It’s not just the jewelry – but the energy behind the jewelry that comes through!!!  

 Brenda Howard, NJ   

I’m so glad you’re back making your very special jewelry. I always felt so beautiful, regal and special in your pieces.  

Ariaaemast Maat, Brooklyn, NY  

We are not seeing jewelry; we are seeing a piece of the spirit.  

Claudette Faison  

Teaneck  , NJ  

I love my bracelet. I can’t believe how much it goes with. I was only wearing it with green at first, but there are actually some shades of purple in there too.  

Porsche Reid  

Long Beach , Ca  

 I have seen Shimoda's jewelry on several occasions and each time I was drawn to her work. However I created a box called "less is more" and so I only wore small post earrings I would always look at her jewelry but the conversation in my head was too big.  

Anyway I was at a woman's retreat and there were Shimoda's pieces again and I was drawn to them again. So I tried on a pair and one woman said those are NICE, another wanted to try them on, another those go with your skin tone, another ohhh the length goes well with you face and I was in love with the design....so in that moment I chose to live outside the box. I purchased them. I must be honest I don't wear them everyday....however when I do wear them I ALWAYS get a compliment. I love them and usually wear them when I dress up....guess I need to get out of that box too as every day should be a day of beauty regardless of what I am wearing ... thank you Shimoda...you truly have a gift!  

Love & light   

Beverly Dunn, Brooklyn, NY  

The earrings are so beautiful – a true reflection of you. I wore them almost everyday in Egypt and they were widely admired.  

Getting to know you is an even more precious gift.  

Love Romaine Bailey, Bethesda, MD   

Thanks sooooo much. I get a lot of compliments on your earrings. They always ask who made those? I tell them a New York designer. “Wow really?” they say. I tell them these are Shimoda Accessories.  

Jamiylah, Saudia Arabia  

 When I first saw Shimoda's jewelry, it resonated with me and I said to myself, "If I ever made jewelry, it would look like this."  

One of the reasons I find it so appealing is that it is unique without looking clunky or jarring. Each bead or finding is thoughtfully arranged so that there is harmony between pieces as well as overall. As well, there is a bit of whimsy in marrying stones from Africa or South America with Asian artifacts!  

Naomi R. Henderson, Bethesda, MD  

I saw these lovely earrings of etched brass that beheld a stunning bead of red carnelian. Below that, there was a brass hand with an opened palm. I was hooked.  

Suddenly, this laughter from deep inside welled up and came out. It was laughter of recognition. You see, Shimoda’s jewelry “spoke to me.” The message I received at that time was a playful reminder to be open to receive as well as give.  

As someone who is active in life, it was a wonderful reminder that “The grass grows where we take the time to water it.”  

Shimoda’s earrings are complimented wherever I go. However, as you can see, one can be moved to treat oneself to Shimoda’s wearable art. Hey, what better way to celebrate oneself and look great in the process?  

 Rosa Waldron, Brooklyn, N.Y.