THE first thing that strikes you about Jamiela Baroudi is her gentleness. Her soft, childlike demeanor is not a put-on. She also comes across as a confident and fun-loving young woman who is easily touched by the things she sees around her. Hidden somewhere just beneath the surface, you get a glimpse of the artist in her too.

Jamiela is an ardent fan of jewelry designing and creates beautiful accessories like rings, necklaces and ear-rings with semi-precious stones and copper wire. She also teaches the craft and has already made quite a name for herself.

Syrian by origin, Jamiela lives in Riyadh with her “very supportive” husband. She has worked in diverse fields — as a kindergarten teacher, an English tutor at college level and also worked at the British, Canadian and Australian embassies in Riyadh. Jamiela had taken many roads in life but none gave her the satisfaction she looked for. And it was by sheer chance that she came upon an accessory making course that altered the course of her life, and so she carved out a place in her heart for the city where she found her artistic inspiration.

“It was during a visit to Cairo that I came across this course on jewelry making and thought this could be better than hanging out in coffee shops and lounging around. So let me try it. And after that, I was very, very happy, I was so thrilled with the course,” says a passionate Jamiela.

“I became addicted to it,” she continues excitedly. “Every time I met people or watched anyone on TV, all I could see were the accessories they wore. Just last night, I saw a lady on TV wearing a lovely ear-ring and thought, I can make something like that too.”

And so, after getting her 14-month-old daughter to bed for the night, Jamiela sat down to make a perfectly beautiful piece of jewelry.

Although she gives vent to her creative urges through these night-long ventures, Jamiela is not very thrilled with the idea of being just an entrepreneur of her wares.

“People have variable taste and I feel I cannot always do what they ask for,” she explains, the rebellious artist in her speaking out. Her work comes from deep within, it cannot be made-to-order.

She is more comfortable teaching others the craft of jewelry-making. She feels that like her, there must be other women who could be just as interested in learning something worthwhile. She also enjoys being a teacher and finds it very fulfilling when somebody shows keen interest and picks up the art fast.

“I am so not the business-type; I like to stay away from counting money and keeping accounts,” Jamiela confides. She does sell her stuff but is very selective about the clientele. Her designs are modern and each piece is a unique creation. She chooses the semi-precious gem stones for their color, hue and the kind of light they reflect. Whether its a pearl or amethyst, Jamiela brings in her own individuality to each piece of accessory she creates — delicate, simple and so wearable.

She keeps herself busy taking classes all week preferring to teach women in groups rather than individually, because it works as an impetus and is much more fun anyway. She also provides the material needed for her classes. She says that the technique she teaches could easily be worked on gold and silver too. “My aim is to have a fun environment while I teach,” she declares with her characteristic smile.

“I welcome everybody and I wish to have classes for all age groups in the future, although at present, I teach only adults; but if a group of teenagers is really interested I can organize special classes for it using materials, especially stones that suit that age group. I personally think it is important to have kids learn some craft at an early stage, which helps them develop creativity and other important skills.”

Eminent psychologist Abraham Maslow had once said: “A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be.”

Jamiela seems to have found what she must be; perhaps it is time for others to follow. Jamiela Baroudi can be contacted at +966 59 819 9563 or [email protected]