~ 2014 - 2015 PIA ~
(NA = not available/sold ~ A = available)
The PIA Jewelry Collection features organic gem stones designed to
compliment your natural beauty or unique style of gift giving.
Simplicity highlights the classic & contemporary beauty of natural,
original & elegant one of a kind designs.
~ Visualized & Created by Oni Lasana ~
Oni Lasana is a Performing & Teaching Artist, Poet, Storyteller, Musician, Theater Director, Playwright and Radio Producer.
The PIA Collection is Oni's latest creative offering to the world of jewelry making & design. This website showcases Oni's fresh & fabulous passion for the art, as well as her special gift as a Jewelry Creator & Designer.
Since 2010 PIA Jewelry Collection offers an endless variety of brilliant precious stones, gemstones, African trade beads, Ivory, Coral, Bali beads, Lampwork Glass, Wood, Cloisonne', Shells, Crystals,
& organic elements.
Like humans PIA is... Pretty, yet imperfect.
Natural... from the Earth
Original... from the Creator
Elegant.... from the Heart
~ 2011-2013 PIA ~
Sets: Necklace & Earrings
(NA = not available/sold ~ A = available)
Intuitively rooted in Oni's expertise & experience in fashion & theater. The PIA Jewelry Collection comes alive in with a sharp eye for color, tone, textures & brilliant creative vision.
Limited editions and custom made necklace, earrings & bracelets will adorn your natural beauty lifting you up into the impressive world of absolutely gorgeous!
Before or after 5 - Pretty Imperfection Artwear's single strand statement necklaces and earrings will enhance your natural, elegance, beauty & style.
If you are not one to follow the crowd, wearing mass produced trinkets, charms or "made in China" jewelry ~ PIA is exclusively you!
Pretty Imperfection Artwear is constantly evolving with original designs created for the artisan spirit with an eye for beauty, style & class.
Be it...conservative, eclectic, classic, bohemian, chic, sassy, soulful, folksy, fab-funky, down to earth, or up in the air with an aura of flair!
Original & one of a kind. You won't ever see a PIA on anyone else.
To our friends who possess a PIA...may it compliment you
in the best of health!
Feel free to share the online showcase of Pretty Imperfection Artwear, a Jewelry Collection with family & friends at the "+Share" link at the bottom right of this page.
If you have a favorite necklace that is damaged or needs restringing?
I also offer jewelry repair & redesign services
~ Satisfaction Guaranteed ~
PIA ~ OUR STORY
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Years later, Doni left her career on the road as a dancer with Sammy Davis Jr. and a few stints with the James Brown Revue. While on tour she met and fell in love with a military man. They married and she settled down in Hagerstown, Maryland raising three wonderful sons and a daughter. As adults, we remained close as sisters do.
Later Doni moved to Philadelphia and became a strict "I don't eat any flesh" vegetarian wheat grass drinking, health advocate, long before it was popular. In the early nineties, she asked my advice on how to naturally lock her hair, as I had lived in Jamaica during the 70's and had grown "dreadlocks" as we use to call the hairstyle. In 2008 Doni always supportive of my cultural and storytelling activities, came with me on a trip to Baltimore for The Griot Circle of Maryland's Love Concert. On the bus I snacked from the plastic bag of seasoned raw kale she prepared especially for me. We knew on this diet, we would live forever.
Doni was employed by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. However, on her own time, she nurtured her creative spirit with a home based business. "Gems of Desire" a signature collection of waist beads made with precious and semi-precious gemstones.
The waist beads are worn from the cradle to the grave by many women in countries throughout Africa. She introduced this practice to American women and had a growing clientele in the Philadelphia area.
Doni traveled the world, from Africa to China for conferences, as an advocate for women and children's rights. She also developed programs and ran her own business which benefited many families in need throughout the tri-state area. Doni's popular "Homemaker Home Healthcare Agency" trained and employed women as home health aides. Many woman benefited from this training and also have fond memories of Doni's positive and productive impact on their lives.
On a personal level, Brenda "Doni" Johnson serenely lit up any room she entered with her lovely locks flowing or wrapped up neatly in a crown. Her classic Afrocentric eclectic attire won many admirers. Doni was an original organic earth mama, beloved, and admired in her community of social activist, artist and the Philadelphia Parking Authority employee's.
To this day her shinning presence is deeply missed by all who knew her.
After her sudden illness and passing, her daughter Tiffani, kindly offered me her mother’s collection of precious gemstones and jewelry findings. Handing them over to me, in 3 big brown boxes. The boxes held just a small part of Doni's creative spirit, unique style and generous nature. I found over a thousand beads in various containers, little tiny precious stones. 14K gold and sterling silver findings (clasps, spacers, etc.) It was with mixed feelings that I accepted the gifts. I had no idea what to do with all the stones and didn't know what "findings" even meant. Ultimately, I was happy to have something more than my inner vision memories and photos of her. I was so saddened from the circumstances of her sudden death, through my tears I graciously accepted the unexpected inheritance.
Making jewelry was never on the top of my list of things to do in life. When I finally sorted through the box, seeing Doni's client list, unfinished pieces and just thinking about Doni, no longer a phone call away, I put the box aside. Her VHS videos "Beading 1, 2, 3" I transferred onto DVD, and as I watched it...it was soooo boring. I was certain I'd never find the time or interest to pursue the art of jewelry making.
My creative passion since my teens years, was arranging music to my poetry, creating songs, writing poetry, storytelling, and most recently playing (Barry Black & Ruby Red) my bass guitars.
Jewelry, I don't wear much jewelry, so to make it? Well, I just wasn't feeling it.
I never imagined it would transform my life.
In September of 2010 I met a lovely young lady name Felicia of Rahway, NJ. Felicia was visiting with our congregation in Pennsylvania with her husband and friends. My husband and I hosted a gumbo dinner for our new best friends on our backyard patio. As Felicia and I chatted, I mentioned I had "inherited" a box full of precious stones and jewelry findings. Felicia lit up, exclaiming that she also made jewelry. Felicia offered to teach me and a friend who was visiting with us, how to make jewelry, and before I could say, "If I find the time"…we were off to the nearby craft store purchasing the necessary tools. My credit card was crying out..."Not again"! But I suddenly felt that this was a purchase that would really lift my spirits, as I was in a creative slump. The same time Doni died, my 88 year young mother was diagnosed with cancer and her condition weighed heavily on my heart.
Felicia gave one demonstration, she made a necklace and a few sets of earrings. I was fascinated at the simple beauty of her creations. Later that evening I copied her hand, the detailing and creative process proved to be comforting, and very peaceful. Since then, the zen of it all takes over me and I can’t seem to stop making necklaces, earrings and eventually I made bracelets.
Back at the craft store, I discovered silver drama mask center pieces, you know, the sad and happy faces. So with my "drama mama's" (The West Chester Community Performers) in mind, I designed and made 8 necklaces in various colors, using stone, glass, and Doni's "Gems of Desire" gemstones.
After the drama groups business meeting, I displayed the necklace and earrings on a black velvet cloth on Diane's dining room table. The ladies were calm, complimentary, then excited, then buying, and placing orders for more! I was pleasantly surprised to see my creative vision was appreciated through this new found creative outlet. I was amazed!
A month later, I was one of the featured poets at the "Sound of Jazz & Poetry" event in Philadelphia. At my merchandise table of CD's, I also put on display a few of my one-of-a-kind jewelry creations. I named that first collection,"Divine Inspirations" because it best described the moments I spent making them. After my performance, we (my good friend Darlene) sold sets, earrings, and took orders. I was thrilled!
The jewelry making process is quiet, tedious, detailed and time consuming. Yet, for some reason, designing came natural and the finished product lifted me, and I felt creatively satisfied.
One day my husband gave me a special gift, the newly released box set of the Soul Train TV show collection. I popped in DVD after DVD. I sat and sang, laughed, jumped up and did the funky chicken (to keep the bones movin’) and continued designing and making jewelry as I rode on the hippest trip on TV! So I often take the liberty to advertise, that my designs are created and inspired with a healthy dose of love, peace n’ soulllll!
Now get this...while focusing on Doni's beautiful stones, it just so happen that TJ's Rocks & Gem Crafts, a gemologist shop, opened up in nearby Downingtown, Pennsylvania. With Tom's help and great discounts, I was able to add to the Doni's gemstones. From TJ's, I invested in the new beauties, and whatever caught my eye. Tom was patient and kind with all my questions as he taught me all the names of the stones. This part of the journey gradually revealed in me a natural curiosity to learn more, to design and continue making jewelry.
As I passionately designed, strung and created into the night, I marveled at the various markings, swirls, curls, blotches, pimples, dimples, creases, and various imperfections in the stones. I fell in love with the caramelized flow of Carnelian, the organic glow of green Adventurine, the mysterious Onyx. They felt crisp and cool in my hands. I held them up to the light and was amazed at the creamy swirls of lovely unique inner-markings. Natural variations make each stone unique. I became fascinated with the history and variety of stones, quartz, gemstones, minerals and crystals.
A few of the favorite beauties I love and inherited from Doni's collection are:
Tiger Eye, Aventurine, Agates, Amethyst, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Citrine, Coral, Goldstone, Hematite, Howlite, Jasper, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Moonstone, Mother Of Pearl, Obsidian, Onyx, Peridot, Rhodonite, Opal, and Turquoise, to name but a few. All black stones in my collection are genuine Onyx or Obsidian. My niece had given me Doni's treasure box!
The collection is not extravagant, only valuable by enhancing the beauty of the wearer. Formed from minerals in the earth, I price mainly for the value of time, the elements used, and it varies by cost of stones, making for reasonable pricing. Stones are complemented by glass, ceramic, resin, bone or shell beads, and I feel my designs are unique and elegant, like my friends. The ethereal sounds of the names alone, have opened a new world for me in appreciation of our paradise earth.
I ordered a precious stone & gem book, googled information on the stones. I gazed in amazement at the intriguing world inside of Tom’s earth shop. A store filled with lovely natural stones, rocks, gems and crystals gathered from around the world.
Thom's Gemstones is a stone's throw away! Showing off, right down the road from my home studio. Folklore tells of precious gemstones holding medicinal powers. It is not my personal belief, and I don’t promote them as such. As we all know, fruits, whole grains and vegetables are the best medicine. What we put IN our body, not on it, is what really makes us healthy and pretty.
However, the natural, original, elegant, organic stones are birthed from our earth.
For centuries gem stones have found their way around our necks, waists, wrists and earlobes, enhancing our natural beauty. Eventually, I needed a public persona for my growing collection, a byline, a description, a moniker, something that speaks to the stones, to me,
and to all unpretentious ladies of natural beauty, class and style!
Stones from the depths of the earth...imperfect....like humans.
Hence, the name:
Pretty Imperfection Artwear
(A work of art, you wear!)
The statement: "B in the NOE!"…Natural ~ Original ~ Elegant!
I also offer an awesome Artist Showcase/Literary Salon in private homes, intimate spaces or places of business. I will plan with you, and make your next gathering, unforgettable!
With spoken word while playing my bass guitar, poetry from my CD's, "Sister Wings" and "Feelin' It" a compilation of spoken words like you never heard or dramatic interpretations of Paul Laurence Dunbar poetry. With The Pretty Imperfection Artwear Collection, on display for your guest to purchase. No hard sell, no duplications. Each set, individual necklace, earring or bracelet is a one-of-a-kind creation, like you.
It is my hope that you will enjoy adorning yourself or giving a gift with "Pretty Imperfection Artwear" in good health, love, peace, and like the jewelry, it will last a lifetime!
I know this was a long story, consider it a blog. You can't follow me on Twitter, (I'm busy making jewelry!) you can "like" the Pretty Imperfection Artwear page on Facebook
and "liking" it for more updates and to support me by sharing what I do, with your friends.
(Thanks for reading this small chapter of my book;-)....I had to record the unique history of my new found love affair!
In any case, I hope you will enjoy this labor of the unforgettable love & inspiration I continue to hold for my beloved sister, Brenda "Doni" Johnson and her "Gems Of Desire."
Positively in peace & continue to..."B in the NOE~ Natural, Original, Elegant!"
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