Bloomingdales.... Here we come

Oh man!! To catch up on the 5 month lapse would be a job worth my time, but for now..

Let's celebrate the moment!!

Karazi Design will be the featured artist for a trunk show at
BLOOMINGDALES in Chicago (check out the link and scroll down, he he... so excited!!)
Oct 25 & 26, 2013
11-6

If you are in the area.. It would sooooooo amazing to see you!! Please pass this information on to all your peeps..

Bali blessings!

Ubud, Bali
May 8, 2013

The impending rain looming over the, nearly ready to be harvested, rice fields. It gently reminds me of the gloomy days lived out in Seattle. This is different though, taking the place of  bone chilling cold, this tropical heat is mixed with full on humidity and reminds me of my summers growing up in Wisconsin.

I’ve been here nearly two months. Here being Bali, my new home or should I say launching pad. The magic does not stop, even in the mundane of daily life.  Today being one of those magical days. Early morning wake up to the roosters and ducks outside my window, sunrise meditation, followed by a few hours of work.  The hours pass and I think to myself, wow!! This is my life, I live in paradise.

Feeling really blessed at the moment, working on many different projects from making and designing jewelry, to music, to setting up exotic tours and of course having fun…

Check out some of what’s been going on.

A recent performance of a new song I wrote while in India. It’s called The Space in Between 

The Space in Between performance

A big MAY (love) sale in my online store.. All jewelry is 15% off this month. Many new beautiful EARTHY.EDGY.ELEGANT pieces. Enter MAYLOVE2013 at checkout to receive the sale price ONLINE SALE HERE

And two tours this year

Bali

October 13-26, 2013

S. India

January 12-25, 2014

For more info you can email me samia@karazidesign.com

Do not try this at home (WARNING, graphic photos)

Kerala, India
27.02.2013

They go into a trance, with the wild rhythm of the drums, they pierce their bodies and offer them to the gods, in hopes of purifying negativity. For several days in advance, they prepare their bodies and their minds for this extreme ritual.

Unfortunately, information on this Thaipusam ceremony is minimal, but here is a little, Thaipusam



Oh Incredible India!

Holy Cow!!

The 2013 S. India tour just ended. I was not able to keep up the blog while traveling. So, now is the time to catch up.

This first entry is a guest entry by Efrat, one of the women on the tour. She wrote this beautiful post about the first day of the tour.

Enjoy!!

outside of chamundeswari temple, mysore

It is not easy to find time to write as we ebb and flow and bob around...The days are full from morning to night, each with its own set of lenses in this kaleidoscope of colors, sounds, smells and constant motion. The trip from Bangalore to Mysore was a typical series of fast forward, shrieking slow downs at potholes, bumps and occasional narrow gates at a fence across the highway, and of course, constant horn blowing.

Bangalore, while fascinating in its chaotic frenzy, was good to leave behind for quieter Mysore and for meeting Samia and the beginning of the first chapter of my "Injia Adventure".

The view along the way was fascinating, city scape giving way to country with huge, dramatic rounded stone boulders for a while then mellowing into rice fields and water buffaloes as we moved further south. The 3 hour trip was into its 5th hour when we finally rolled into town and found ourselves in the magical Green Hotel where a majestic former palace and blooming gardens welcomed us along with beautiful Samia.

entryway at Green Hotel

The wonders that followed are too numerous to describe - the incredible market, the palace fully illuminated on Sunday night ( only, and for 1 hour only), and going to receive protective blessings at several temples with Kumar, Samia's goldsmith teacher who was our most gracious and incredible host and driver.

The story I want to put in       momentary limelight, is the plan to see cows painted yellow with tumeric, decked and decorated parade in the streets and then jump through a fire in honor of the harvest festival that was happening that day. Our anticipation mounted as we watched cows being washed and adorned. But when we came to the appointed field we realized that things were way too quiet to portend the climactic event.

decorated cow for Shankranti

After some inquiries and as many different answers and speculations as those asked, we understood that this day also happened to be the Day of the Bull    and cows jumping was incompatible with this (which goes without saying in this male dominated society...). All we could surmise is that the said event either already happened the night before or will happen the next evening. We spent the next day trying to determine if the latter might pan out.
The sun was setting. The field was empty. We were crest fallen until a few more inquiries had Kumar turning his vehicle around and driving us down a narrow alley where we were assured, the cows will jump.

The estimated wait time being 15 minutes, we rolled down our windows and prepared our cameras for action. In only a couple of minutes we were surrounded by throngs of young boys screaming and asking for chocolate, young mothers feeding their babies and men who just stood and stared. The crowd thickened, the wait became less clearly defined but we were going nowhere as the alley was completely blocked. Then we noticed that straw was being piled in the corner not far from our car and in the thick darkness we saw that cows were being brought into the crowd. We scrambled out to find a safe spot when a match was lit and all of a sudden there was flame and dust and dragging hoofs and slappings and loud calls. Mayhem. The last cow was dragged through the embers and it was over.

chocolate??

cow jumping over the fire

The crowd quickly regathered around us. We realized that the true spectacle was US... We posed for endless photos, shared our names and where we are from until finally being able to get back into our car and drive away giggling in disbelief.

A silver sliver of a moon appeared. We knew, the cow did jump.

But remember, what happened in Mysore stays in Mysore.

Much love and magic,
Efrat

Reconstructed from report written a week ago. Please get ready for "Did the elephant cross the road?"

Beyond Bali

It’s been a ‘take your breath away’ kind of few months. My life is with the wind these days and I am, once again, on my way to India.  After 2 months in Bali and 2 days in Bangkok, I am sitting in the airport, reflecting.

ceremony in Bali

ceremony in Bali

blue sunset, Bali

Bali is one magical land, where even the word enchanted doesn’t mean much.  I have found it to be a beautiful place to ground my wandering soul and make beauty with my art.  From the luscious green of the jungle to the bright green of the rice paddies, the gentle flow of the feminine steeps in to every bit of everything.  The soft rolling land and the kind people of Bali with their smiling faces and eyes, make me feel welcome. I often say the lush green reminds me of the place I was born, (Wisconsin) in the green of the summer. As I  think back on the last two months, my mind thinks nothing but positive thoughts, from jewelry making to journeying. But alas with my big love for Bali, I am still drawn to India.

It has been 14 years since I first landed in India. I have visited the same number of times. I am still excited about the energy it brings to my soul.  The vibration of Ma India.. boom boom.. Can’t wait to see you soon!

enchanted. mystical. twisted & turned

Bali on two wheels.

I've been in Bali for the last two months making jewelry and making music. It's quite amazing to be here again.

Last week a friend was visiting and we decided to go on a 3 day scooter trip around Bali. It was a first for both of us, normally just scooting around town. It was magical...

Lyrics from a new song.
by Ken Pascoe and Samia Shalabi

I can hear your voice
I can hear your voice
through the wind and the rain and the trees
I can hear your voice
whisper to me
whisper to me

enchanted mystical
twisted and turned
windy road unknown
tell me what you heard

beauty unspoken
where are we going
so mind blowing

fly.....
fly......
flying high...
 i can hear your voice
whisper to me... 

New locations in the Pacific NW

Well, it's been a while. We've been busy around here!

You can now find the NEW Bali Collection at several sweet boutiques and museums around the Pacific NW

check out the new spots.

KOBO in Japan town and Capitol Hill. A great boutique in Seattle for high end Japanese inspired gifts, amazing jewelry and fine art from artists around the world.

NEW!!! Hitchcock in Madronna. One of the hippest jewelry shops around. Check them out. The new Bali Collection fits in perfectly with this classic, yet edgy shop.

Vixen in Magnolia. This wonderful buzzing day spa and boutique, reflects the amazing energy of it's owner Courean. Love this place, cute clothes, great jewelry and great spa services!

Les Amis in Fremont. Oh la la... My favorite place to shop for clothes in Seattle. So excited to have my jewelry there!

COMING SOON! Museum of Glass in Tacoma. Dale Chihuly's Glass Museum.. Need I say more!

You can also buy this jewelry online here

In addition to this:

Samia will be giving a talk in Wisconsin
 River Arts on the Water
Monday October 15 at 6pm
Journey's East: The dying art of Traditional Metalsmithing