The Matte Look

I must say, I've always been a big fan of matte finishes, from photography to make-up. And it seems it's all making a comeback again now. I've seen quite a bit of press for matte nail polish recently, so if you've still got your old bottles, you may want to bring them out again (check to make sure they're ok to still use though). The nice thing about matte finishes in strategic places in your wardrobe is that they really highlight the sparkly stuff - so if you're into high gloss lip gloss, or any bling, it's definitely something to consider! One really cool thing about this new matte nail polish is the colors - navy and black and grape, just to name a few. And apparently they look best on short clean nails. Find out more at www.opi.com - you will love what you see!

YES

Recognize that your "YES" has value. This is one of the best lines I've heard someone say.

I'm not one to jump on the bandwagon when I hear something I like just because it sounds good. It really has to resonate with me before I truly speak about it with others. I'm a type A personality. Love to learn. Love to experience. Love life. Want to do it all. I often give boundlessly to the people around me. I'm not very good at saying no - because I'm the eternal optimist, rather I say how? Always willing to help - sometimes at my expense. I'm a huge believer that if we all just focus on doing good things for each other, the world will be a remarkable place. So that's my I strive to do. Perhaps I'm the quintessential woman with goals, or a foolish one.

It wasn't until I was telling someone about my day recently, that I realized how tired I felt! And then I heard this line and it really hit me. So true I thought. It puts value in what I offer and that value is meaningful to someone - and meaningful to me. I have to recognize that first. Then others will also see my "YES" the same way. What do you think?

Diamonds

From myths about diamonds warding off evil, curing illness, and casting spells to its magical draw of beauty and mystique, diamonds are one of the most interesting gemstones man has ever encountered.

The early history of diamonds always speaks about India - even the largest diamonds today come from India (the Koh-I-Noor and the Hope Diamond). Diamonds were valued for their ability to refract light, their strength to mark hard metals, and their beauty (not to mention the myths too). Soon spurred by the value of diamonds and the limited supply, the east enjoyed a very prosperous trade economy. Diamonds were given as gifts to royalty, used for trade, and considered a source of wealth. India was the only place diamonds were available until about the late 1860's at which point a new source was discovered in South Africa - unfortunately these diamonds have been referred to as blood diamonds. There have also been other sources unearthed around the world, but not in great quantity.

This much coveted stone has received much press from its initial discovery. Diamonds continue to captivate audiences everywhere!

New Year, New Beginnings, New Blessings!

I think all the new years in all possible cultures have now taken place! To all of you - may you be blessed with all the good health, wealth, and love that life has to offer. To all of our artisans from around the world, we pray deeply for your continued success and your ability to pay it forward - forever. We are honored and humbled to be part of your lives.

Indian Weddings

Have you ever seen the vibrant, breathtaking colors of the saris and jewelry in an Indian wedding? Absolutely stunning! Ruby, emerald, sapphire, gold, bright orange, the deepest of reds...all woven together in beautiful embroidered patterns of bursts and paisley, studded in yards and yards of the most exquisite silk fabric - silk like you've never seen before. And the exquisite jewelry! Of course traditionally it's always been pure gold, but now with the birth and growth of beautiful imitation, it gives the wearer of the jewelry a bit of a break in terms of weight and cost. Each outfit is just an absolute magical combination of color and while we might think the adjacent colors may clash, somehow they come together beautifully. It's a time of joy, spirit, celebration, and unity - all so reflected in wardrobe!

Mini History of Jewelry

Since the dawn of time, various civilizations have used all kinds of adornments to symbolize beauty, fashion, status, possession, culture, belonging, magical powers, mood, and faith – especially in warding off evil. Amazing isn’t it? It’s likely that you may have not given that much thought to the trinket other than as its role as an accessory to your new wardrobe.

Traditional ornaments for the body were made of seeds, twigs, berries, leather, ivory, shells, horn, bone, feathers, and various other findings amongst the landscape. Found objects in the day of primitive man were considered very precious and were worn and showcased on the body as prized possessions, although the jewelry so created was very organic in its construction. Stories were told and memories were cast between all the little findings woven together in full circle – quite a mesmerizing concept.

Over time, as religion started to play a greater role in historical civilizations, jewelry espoused one’s convictions and belief system and began to take on a deeper symbolic role – that still exists today. Think about how many times you’ve seen someone with a religious symbol strewn on a simple chain dangling as a pendant. Precious stones were thought to contain certain protective powers and curative properties (both of which are still believed by many today) and precious metals were connected with worship. Thus, composition of jewelry became a little more sophisticated and pursuant to that its scope of placement on the body broadened. Hence we saw the dawning of earrings, hair jewelry, rings, etc. Eventually jewelry in the role of functionality blossomed – like the watch or the belt or barrettes for example, and so was born the category of accessories! Stay tuned for more on that one!

Today, jewelry still holds most if not all of its original values. The artists that create it have such a wonderful and monumental task of ensuring it is represented in the most expressive way – a real tribute to it evolution and meaning to man.

We are back!

Sorry it's been this long since our last post. It has been a busy few weeks. We are often asked about the artisans on and soon-to-be-on the site and thought it would be a nice idea to tell their stories every so often. So here's the first...her artisan name is Asha.

She is simple, creative, and peaceful. Her art flows from the heart and is boundless. She makes jewelry that resembles visions she sees in her dreams and her reflections. Each piece of jewelry is made one at a time, handcrafted with care and precision. She sees each creation as a new birth and dedicates her craft to the birth of every child, calf, seedling, idea, star, friendship, and beyond. She is truly blessed to be a witness to the magic that unfolds before her. And thus she is inspired. Asha is delightful and she is real.

The magic that comes from within each artisan is so amazing. We salute and respect each and every one.