Regina MJ Kyle Offers Trunk Show

Falmouth artist Regina MJ Kyle has teamed up with the Inkwell Bookstore, 199 Main Street, to share her jewelry and Serenity Beads made from ancient Chinese jade on Thanksgiving weekend. The event takes place today through Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM and is free and open to the public.

For the last few years, ancient Chinese jade, which is so important in Chinese culture, has had a strong influence on Ms. Kyle’s jewelry designs. Her necklaces have featured small pieces from the Neolithic periods of the Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures and unusual symbolic pieces from dynasties ranging from the Shang through the Ming. A graceful Chinese sword dancer from the Western Zhou period centers one necklace, while a tiny, white Ming dynasty peanut with a mouse on it highlights a delicate jade necklace. Many of the larger jade pieces are pendants on leather or ribbon cords.

Ms. Kyle’s trademarked Serenity Beads are made of ancient Chinese beads with strong symbolic meanings of health, abundance, longevity, transformation, and good luck. Each has a major piece with a special meaning, such as the fish for abundance, the cicada for transformation, or the dragon for strength and power; or it refers to an honored calling, such as the dancer or the shaman. The smaller beads, many of them from the Neolithic cultures, include turtlebacks for longevity, frogs for money, fish for abundance, and others with the general meaning of good fortune.

“I also do special orders on the Serenity Beads for people; I have made several as gifts for those needing comfort in trying situations or for celebrations such as a birthday or wedding,” Ms. Kyle said. The pieces can be worn as jewelry or hung from doorknobs as a kind of feng shui protection.

Also on display will be the artist’s signature necklaces and bracelets. She includes components from all over the world, including handmade lampwork beads, Thai fine silver and vermeil, Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stones, and freshwater pearls.