etsy shop now open!!!

It's been awhile. I've been re-acclimating back to the states and have finally set up a small etsy
shop where you can buy my items online. I am sooooo excited about this and will slowly add a few more pieces as I can.. please be sure to check this out..

Here are 3 photos of small jewelry workshops near Kumar's shop, where I spent most of my days while in Mysore. The area of town is where all the gold and silver smiths are. I love it there. There are small winding lanes with tiny little shops on either side. No doors, just an opening into which you remove your shoes and sit down. sometimes the spaces are so small you have to sit outside. While inside, so many things are happening. Cows are wandering by, the goldsmiths are busy doing their things, beggars come around, men with bicycles loaded up try to sell their goods (grapes, plastic containers, whatever it may be), the boys come by with chai and people come and go with work for each goldsmith. I just love love love it!!!

some of our new pieces!!

The first piece is a beautiful piece of basalt I found on the shores or Victoria, B.C. This stone is actually very sacred in India and is considered the Goddess Kali. Kumar showed me this amazing trick.. He put a piece of cloth around one of the stones and put the cloth in a flame. The cloth did not burn at all..The stone absorbed all the heat and therefore can take on a lot and is considered the Goddess who is the protector. the pieces is accented with a yellow sapphire and the backside has a hand engraved Ganesha.

the second piece is a combination of antiquated beach glass from the shores of Maine and a rare and old piece of Mexican Fire agate..The back of this pieces has the tree of life hand engraved.

all the pieces are set in 20k gold.. For more information and prices, please contact me.

samia@karazidesign.com

these beautiful photos are taken by Rupert Lorhalder of Sri Rangapatanam, India

back from India

wow!! It seems like it's been forever since I've written and so much has happened. For one, we are back in the United States. Here are a few photos of my exhibition while in Mysore. It was a great success and so much fun. It was at India Song House and you can see the photo of Kumar performing the puja or blessing before the exhibition started. We had the exhibition the day before I left. so, as you can imagaine, it was a bit stressful.. All went well..

village goldsmith

I left Mysore for a few days and serendipity happened. While on the beautiful Keralan coast in a small village with my husband, we met a goldsmith. He just happened to live next door to where we were staying. the manager of our guesthouse took us there and the goldsmith immediately put me to work.. I learned how to make gold balls, and a chain. we spent only 3 days with him and it was so amazing. I learned so much and had a wonderful time. He invited me back and told me if I studied with him for one year i would learn everything i needed to know.. I think I may spend one month with him next year and learn all i can during that time... so the photos show me working and his little studio out on his veranda overlooking the palm grove... it was so peaceful and he is so laid back and eager to teach me.. another amazing experience in india. I'll keep posting about it.. i have a million pictures.

cheers,
Samia

more custom work!!!

Two more amazing and very special custom pieces.
the ring is a hand drawn cut and made Tibetan om of pure gold with a dark blue sapphire.

the pendant is very symbolic. it is the hand drawn,engraved and cut image of Kali in both of her forms. fierce and calm.. the two plates have been attached to the rudraksha seed (a symbol of Lord Shiva). When Kumar gave this piece to my client, he performed a blessing ceremony so that the goddess Kali really does come out through the pendant and release her powers...

please click on the pieces so you can see the detail!!!

i love india