Kerala

I spent 5 wonderful days in Kerala, with Balan, the goldsmith. He lives in the jungle just along the northern coast of Kerala on the Arabian Sea. He has a very modest home and a beautiful wonderful family. During my stay, I attended puja (a blessing ceremony) at their family temple on his land, we celebrated my birthday with a beautiful little birthday cake, we saw scorpions, snakes and mongoose. We took the bus into a town nearby so he could deliver one of his pieces.

But mostly, I sat with him learning how to make a chain, Indian style. In my quest to learn and try to help keep alive the tradition of Indian goldsmithing (a dieing art). I made a chain with him and commissioned him to make me five more. Please let me know if you are interested in one. I will save one for you. The purchase of one of these chains will help support his family of 4. He works 7 days a week 10-12 hours a day out on his veranda making beautiful gold jewelry. He is a lively spirit and a wonderful man.

photo shoot

Yesterday, it was overcast, super humid and it poured rain (for about 10 minutes). It is unseasonable, global warming... India is seeing a lot of this "unseasonable" rain. It was, though, perfect for a photo shoot of my jewelry. So, here are a couple of my 2009 jewelry. Plus, I love this old mirror in our room, thus a few photos of that too.

I went to a spa and got an ayurvedic massage. It was wonderful, they cover your body in medicated oil and rub rub rub for about an hour and then put you in a steam bath for 10 minutes. I felt so good.

Tomorrow I leave Panaji, Goa for Kannur, Kerala.. I can't wait for the train ride through the lush tropical countryside. And to meet up with Balan, the goldsmith I met and learned from last year.

Panaji, Goa, India

We've been here a few days and I am liking it. It's not on the beach, but we are staying in an old Portugese house, all remodeled, very nice and airy. Goa was colonized by the Portugese for hundreds of years. So, the energy is very different here. There are a lot of Christians, the architecture is very European and the culture is different too.

My first day here I wandered the streets looking for goldsmiths. Unfortunately, this town is not the goldsmith town. It is a town near here called Mapusa. I did, tough find two men selling gold and one making it. So, I sat and chatted for hours, watching learning and I even bought a piece..

I've attached a few photos from my day of wandering.

one goldsmith is demonstrating a hand drill
some photos of the Portugese influenced gold jewelry. I've never seen silver and gold together in Indian jewelry. It is very distinct for Goa.

first 24 hours...

Drama... It always starts with a little drama. Our flight out of Seattle was delayed, which was not a good sign because our layover in London was only 2 hours. So, long story short, we had to sprint through Heathrow, and our bags did not make it on the plane to India. We are in Mysore now, we took a taxi, not my usual mode of transport, but the new airport is far from the railway station and we had a lot to do in Mysore, so we ended up with the taxi.

We are now in Mysore, still without our bags supposedly they are arriving this morning. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. One more day here and we fly to Goa.

flying to India

On this rainy day in Seattle, I leave for my 3 week journey to India... Please check in to follow my trip..

work in progress...

The first photo (from the bottom up) shows my finished 'big ring' on the right, and another one almost finished and one I am just beginning,

The second photo, a close up of the the work in progress

the third. These are all the components to making my ring, thick 1/2 round wire (I made by melting down old silver), small round wire, 14k gold bezel, silver sheet, and the stone.

4th. after soldering the silver sheet, gold bezel and round wire

5th. the finshed ring from the 1st photo.. fossilized petrified wood ~20mm round. size 6.5... and the almost finished gold bezel ring with a hammered band and same stone ~20mm.

fall colors

I can't get over this amazing autumn weather we are having. Blue skies and burnt orange, yellow, lime green, cherry red trees...They have been inspiring to me as I get ready for my journey to India.. The golden colors, the beauty of our earth...Wow!! It's really amazing.

I will be finishing two more rings, (like the one you saw last week) within the week and I will post pictures of the process of making it. All the dirty work that goes into melting metal to make our jeweled adornments...