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

NEW! The Bali Collection

Well at long last, it's here. The Bali Collection

Samia has spent over a decade traveling, studying and creating jewelry with amazing goldsmiths and craftspeople around the world.

Her most recent collection ‘the Bali Collection’ is a collaboration with the highly skilled carvers & incredible silversmiths of Bali. They have created a line of true Balinese beauty. She has combined intricate Balinese carvings with silver & gold plating to bring you precious & unique jewelry.

soon in retailers near you

now available online, to shop click right here

 

Morocco during Ramadan

Morocco..

Ramadan 2012.

After years of dreaming of the magic of Morocco, I finally arrived.. during Ramadan, of course.  A special time to be in a special place, the festive air at night, the subtle quiet kind energy during the day. Ramadan, a time to be at one with those who have less.. there is no eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset, a time to be more healthy, as fasting can be so good for your health, a time to be at one with God and sacrifice our comforts. The practice is no small feat, as I tried it most of the time I was there.. Except, I couldn’t do the no drinking thing in that crazy Moroccan heat.

About an hour before breaking the fast, the buzz was wild, everyone running around to go shopping for the food or running home to be with their families, delirious from not drinking all day.. There are traditional foods to break the fast, soup, dates, sweets, bread, juice and tea. So lovely really. I enjoyed it so much.

My journey to Moroccan was amazing, from visiting the coast to the mountains and of course a lot of lovely time in Marrakesh. I hope to visit again one day soon!

Marrakesh.. Magic!

Sometimes days are days and sometimes DAYS are DAYS.. Today was one of those DAYS!!  If you know what I mean?

18.07.2012
Marrakesh
Morocco
DAY 2

It's hot!! I mean HOT!! 122 degrees hot.. I have never felt such heat in my life.. Ok.. Enough about the weather.

It's been 7 months (and some change) since I started this around the world journey. Since the beginning, I have (mostly) refrained from shopping (been wearing the same pair of shoes for 7 months and if you know me, that's a feat).. I just have my backpack with a few pieces of clothing and my computer. I believe life is a bit simpler without a lot of things... But now I am in Marrakesh and coming to the end of my journey. Marrakesh is a neverending artistic shopping haven. Soooooooo... I decided to go shopping with a mission, a beautiful handcrafted leather bag. Wandering the magnificent souq, I came across shop after shop with the same leather bags.. They were nice and beautiful, but I wanted something different.. At one point, I turned down a little windy lane and there was a small small shop with 2 men working on leather bags, I walked right by it, but then turned around and came back. There was something different about it, the energy was different, the people inside were calm and the bags were beautiful. So, I went inside.

I saw the bag I wanted and then another one and why the hell not.. 2 more (gifts of course). I sat with the artist (Hamid) for a bit and chatted, he was a bit aloof, but super nice. And anyway, I like aloof in this kind of situation.

 We started to chat a bit more, he offered me tea and then another man came, we all continued to talk, at some point during our conversation, I asked where I could buy a guitar. They then wanted to hear my music, which I happened to have with me.. So they listened and listened and frantically started running around trying to find a guitar. It was so cute.. To no avail.. We didn't find the right kind of guitar.. Oh well.

Each place I go in the world, I like to connect with the ancient traditions still alive and here in Morocco, they have a lot of superstition.. So yesterday while I was wandering, I met a man selling hair oils and creams made from argan oil and I ended up sitting with him for about an hour, we talked of many things and he told me about some of the superstitions in Morocco. At that point, he pulled out his little jars of herbs and spices and put together a little mix for me.. Good luck for my business, good luck for my family, etc... Today, I still had the little plastic sack of good luck in my bag, so I asked the leather bag artisan, Hamid, if he could make me a tiny leather pouch to put it in...As soon as I pulled it out of my bag.... Everything shifted.. He started to glow with a grand smile and suddenly took my hand and started to read my palm.. I couldn't believe it (as a similar thing happened in Thailand, read here).. He was soooooo happy about my little treasure bag, he immediately made me a small leather pouch and made it into a necklace for me to wear around my neck.

I ended up spending the rest of the day with them, sitting and talking and I even lead them through a short meditation in his shop in the middle of the Medina. It was amazing! They were so kind and I can't believe he read my palm. He told me his family has been doing this for generations. He invited me to stay with his family in the mountains.. So, I may do that.

I ended up buying 4 beautifully artistic leather bags with 100+ year old berber rug inlaid.. Wow!! Another magical day on the road.

French Road Trip

Can it be?? The magic of travel does not linger, it is busy tapping at my heart now and forever.

Barcelona was a wonderful few days of catching up with old friends, eating yumminess, writing songs and.. and.. of course a little bit of cosmic encounters..

You see.. I have this funny way of bumping in to people..

I arrived in Barcelona without a plan, except to meet one of my friends, which after a day of miscommunications.. We met.. It was fun and wonderful spend time with her and her family.

Then one night I decided to go to a concert. I was sitting listening to the music and I looked up, a friend of mine from Bali was there. I couldn't believe it. I had just seen him in Bali 2 weeks before, but heard he had left to go to France.. So there he was in Barcelona, at the same concert as me.. We laughed and laughed.. I mean, it is quite hilarious, as he had just decided that morning to drive from France to Barcelona to visit some friends.

I asked when he was going back to France and he said, on Monday.. I asked where he was going? He told me.. And I asked if I could have a ride.. And he said yes.. I needed to be in France on Monday night and he just happened to be driving where I needed to be.. So, he and I and another crazy gypsy, got in his 1971 VW bus and had a super fun time driving the tiny winding roads through the French countryside.

I love it!!