new jewels... new locations

Another week slipped by... This week has been all about studio time for me, making and delivering new jewels. It's been nice sitting and creating. I feel like I haven't had nearly enough time lately to make new jewelry or I haven't been inspired to make new designs, but a little travel can always spark a new idea or creative streak.

So, here is another peek at more of what is to come from the Byzantine collection. You can find a nice selection of this jewelry at two new locations in Seattle. Les Amis, in Fremont and Colaizzo Opticals on the top of Queen Anne.. As well as by appointment in my studio. just email me or give me a call (info in the right side bar).

prices range from $70-$100

Balance...

It's been one of those weeks. One of those weeks I dream about, I've dreamt about. The delicate balance between craziness and calm was felt.. Maybe even more than once.

It was one of those weeks where life was sad, and amazing at the same time, where I celebrated and grieved, where I promised myself to keep on doing doing doing... dreaming dreaming dreaming. Because one day, either they will come true or we won't be able to try anymore. Because everything is impermanent... EVERYTHING...

sing on sweet aunty... sing on...

Byzantine Collection. Sneak a peek!

Somehow, this week is already to hump-day... How did that happen? I feel blessed to have a day free of meetings, appointments and schedules. Today is a make jewelry day. Yay! So many new and wonderful ideas brewing in my head. It will be fun to sit down and see if they work in the jewelry form.

The Byzantine Collection is coming along. Tell me what you think...Les Amis in Seattle will be the first store carrying this collection and I am really really excited about it. Available early next week.


necklaces with the handmade, gold plated pendants. Each necklace is handmade by myself and the (symbolic) pendants handmade by my friends the goldsmiths in The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul..


oxidized silver chain with beautiful and rare Byzantine symbol pendants.


and, of course, the cute earrings to match. gold plate, with oxidized silver.


As I sit and create today, I will be thinking about the inspiration Turkey gave me. I still can't get over how unexpectedly and pleasantly surprised I was by pretty much everything we saw. The beauty of that nation will stay with me for a long time. And I'm already trying to figure out how to get back as soon as possible!

new jewels on Etsy!!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. It was absolutely beautiful here in Seattle... Happy belated Mother's Day to all you Momma's... Thanks for being so awesome.

Thanks to everyone who came to our Trunk Show on Saturday, great fun was had by all!

After way too long, I finally posted 4 new items in my etsy store, with descriptions... check them out here. I hope you enjoy browsing!

Happy Monday to you...

home again with jewelry on my mind.. + TRUNK SHOW SATURDAY MAY 8....

HI everyone,

Oh man, after 30 hours of travel, with a sniffly cold, I made it home. It always feels good to walk in the door of our home and settle in. Today has been catch up; send jewelry orders, return phone calls and all the stuff you do when you get home from a vacation.

Enough about all that... Let's talk jewelry...

We are having a trunk show on Saturday and I can't wait... I hope you can come and browse our treasures from India along with my jewelry (beaded and gold). It shall be a fun day in the International district. Join Kathy and I for our second trunk show of goodies from India, scarves, and jewels galore!!

SATURDAY MAY 8, 2010
1-5 PM
MOMO
600 South Jackson Street
Japantown Seattle

Byzantine Treasures & a day in the life of two Turkish goldsmiths

The magic happened..

Today was the day. I wandered, I looked and explored the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul. a maze of jewelry shops, carpet shops, cafes and a lot of scams. I asked a lot of questions, but the answers were not coming and suddenly there they were. A duo, best friends from childhood.

I was looking in their window, as I had so many other shops and somehow this one was different. I walked inside their pint size shop, they gave me Turkish coffee.

They had one work bench and they sat facing each other.. All these years, maybe 40, maybe 50 years, maybe more... One, a character excited and gregarious, the other, quiet and contemplative, Ilhan and Sabahattin.

I showed them photos of me working in India. They laughed and patted me on the back. They showed me how they work, (no one else here would do this).

They fed me lunch. I found some beautiful vermeil pendants. Ilhan told me the origins of the designs.. Somehow, in our broken languages. We laughed, they gave me tea..

Sabahattin, showed me how to take gold off of silver, I took photos, we smiled and laughed.

I bought hundreds of pendants.

It was a happy day for all!!

The Byzantine collection will soon be ready. I am designing and thinking and can not stop smiling about these two best friends...

a little more of Istanbul

Steven is flying back to the states to day and I have 3 more days on my own in Istanbul. It will be fun to explore and wander on my own a bit. I have plans to go to the goldsmiths and try to hang with them, but if that doesn't work out, there are about 4 million other things to do here..

We love the city.. After traveling to many places in the world, I have to say, from my limited time here, Turkish people and culture are absolutely amazing. So friendly and kind. I could definitley live here.

Istanbul is a huge bustling city, but there is a laid back feel, even in the high tourist areas. I love cultures that embrace and value relaxing.

Yesterday, we made our way (via ferry) over to the Asian side of Istanbul, mostly to visit a restaurant ciya we had heard about. It was so worth our time, we actually went over twice in one day. It's in a very cute little part of town called, Kadikoy. There is a beautiful little market, cafes, and people enjoying themselves. There were several cafe's with live music and it is so wonderful to see so many people out and enjoying themselves.

The other thing I love about this city is the public transportation. There are trams, metro, buses, minibuses, ferries (so many ferries), and of course taksi's (as they call taxi's here). the traffic as far as i have seen has been quiet and not so bad. I'm sure I haven't seen the worst of it. And the pollution seems to be low. but again, i have only been here 3 days. I can love anyplace for 3 days...

And one amazing story.. the other day we were walking through this crazy full of people walking area and I saw an old friend. We ended up having dinner and I will meet up with him again today... I love this small world..

so, i'm off to find a new place to stay and wander around for the day....