Handmade Ebony Leaf Keychain with Recycled Glass Beads 'Cute Leaf' Item ID: 2671805417

"I'm a young artist, born in 1993, creative and imaginative. My friends say I'm honest and hardworking, and I certainly try to be.

"I'm the second of six children and I live in Northern Ghana, known for shea butter and basketry. Unfortunately, one of my siblings has passed away.

"Growing up, I was known for my artistic nature as I made use of odds and ends to create something unique. Here I am today, still soaring higher and higher!

"It was my love for beads that led me to begin crafting jewelry. My skills are self-taught, perhaps a God-given talent. But I had to practice continuously for hours to perfect this art.

"Life hasn't been easy for me at all. After junior high school, I had to stay home for seven years before attending senior high school, due to financial constraints. But I'm grateful to God, because a good Samaritan decided to pay my senior high school fees.

"During those seven years I spent at home, I decided to do something with my life. That's when I discovered that I can make jewelry. I started crafting necklaces, bracelets and earrings from pieces of calabash gourd shell. My friends loved my designs, so I stopped giving my jewelry out as gifts and started selling it instead.

"I use natural materials like calabash, wood beads, and shea butter, which are easy to work with and readily available on the market. I like to think outside the box. I draw inspiration from nature and find the process of getting a piece into its finished stage the most challenging aspect of my craft. Sometimes, my cousin Lumasha helps me string the beads.

"Finding a marketplace for my designs is another challenge, but I hope you will help me realize my dreams, which are to one day earn enough to open my own shop, further my education, and support my family."