Little Blue Chip

"Look, look under that rock, in the water is something blue, do you see it?" My daughter was pointing into the wave. I reach and here it is, a chip of porcelain with a beautiful cobalt blue glaze. Now this is interesting, and I smirked because I knew that this was special.
"What do you think it is mom?" My daughter asks me.
"Well," flipping the piece in my hands and turning it towards the sun to have a better look at it, "why don't you try to feel it first? This is not a piece of bone china, but it is light as a feather, chalky white on the back, and to me this looks like a fine quality piece of porcelain. It looks very old. Let's see. Who used cobalt blue glaze in the old days? This chip is not made recently obviously. It could be a piece of Dutch china, after all they did colonize this part of the world and brought here plenty of Delft pottery. It also could be English too. They began to use blue cobalt glaze in the 1800s, or it could be Chinese. However, I tend to believe that it was manufactured in Delft. This cobalt blue color is very special. As you can see the chip is flat, and it could be from some sort of a plate, not a vase, or a cup. Anyway, think of it as a tiny token of history. What you have now in your hand, is a true conversation piece, and you and your girlfriends could play Nancy Drew to figure out it's history and origins. Isn't it mindblowing to figure out who were the people that manufactured it, who were the people who used it in their daily lives, and of how it came to end up here in the Atlantic waters, on the New York Gold Coast."
  Some time ago, I listened to the New York City leading hurricane historian Nicholas Coch, a professor of coastal geology at Queens College, discussing about the beach findings at Rockaway beach with a team of students. With that occasion, he realized that the artifacts washed ashore were coming from the only island that had been swallowed by the ocean on the night of August 23, 1893. That night a devastating category 2 hurricane made landfall close to the NYC. The following morning, August 24, Hog Island had dissapeared. Now you have to know that a large sand barrier island began to raise during the Civil War times, and that barrier island was named Hog Island. It seems that the Native Americans used the island to raise pigs, and later people had built inns, hotels, and used the island for sunbathing like a resort area. Now what if that little chip was part of a plate somewhere on Hog Island. Its not impossible, no?
 "As a matter of fact, you and the girls can research further on the history of Hog Island as well as the surrounding area. You can learn from this little blue porcelain chip; more about the history of these shores than I can tell you now. Think about it, very few New Yorkers know about the existance of Hog Island, and many more when asked about it will just shrug their shoulders and say, 'Why should I know? I wasn't born then', and sadly enough not many are interested in learning the history..a chip of what?"

 To make it even more interesting I mounted this little blue chip on a piece of mother of pearl, and secured it with a crocheted silver wire. That's how the little blue porcelain chip became a beautiful piece of jewelry, a true conversation piece that will spark many interesting discussions. It is a piece that long after I will move to the Rainbow, it will help my daughter to teach her children how to keep an open eye and mind for precious treasures like this and spark the imagination.
 

                                                                

     

What A Beautiful Day!!

What a beautiful July day! Perfect beach day! In the morning I called a dear friend of ours, "Aunty J" as my daughter calls her, to join us for a lazy day under the sun. We like to spend our lazy beach days on the part of Long Island that used to be called the "Gold Coast".  We discovered a more secluded stretch of beach, not too crowded, but where you can relax an unwind yourself away from the frenzy of day to day life. Swimming in the cold sea water is so refreshing, what a total bliss!! I wish I would be able to do this every day.
  Late afternoon the tide receded and we took a long walk along the shore combing it for treasures. You never know what the sea may bring you.

  Today we found a few awesome sea glass pieces, and some very interesting stone pebbles. Coming home I felt inspired to make a new pendant for my daughter as a reminder of the beautiful times that we spent together like today. I call it Sea Angel. Happy and smiling with a twinkle in her eyes, she gave me a hug and a kiss while whispering in my ear, "Mom you are the best! I'll treasure this forever!". Need I say more?
 What a wonderful day!!

Our beautiful sky at the beach.

High Five

    I arrived from work today, parked my car, took out my groceries, and wrestled to find my keys to open the front door to the apartment building. As I was talking aloud to myself, and yes using my tush to actually push myself in, I heard, "Hey!" a shy voice sounding from the mailbox area, "It's a hot day, no?". Oops! I was caught in the act talking to myself by one of my neighbors.
   "Oh hi! Yeah that's summer in NYC. Hot and sticky."
   "You know..." Her voice continues, "I just mailed you an invitation, did you get it?"
    "An invitation?" For a moment I froze in thought. My lettuce escaped from one of my bags, and here come the tomatoes rolling down the lobby floor. What a mess.
    "No, no I didn't. Not yet." I picked up the bruised vegetables, carefully put them back in my grocery bag, and I entered the mailbox area.  "What invitation did you send me?"
     The voice suddenly had a head too. A pretty freckled face with two vivid hazel eyes.
    "To my wedding, of course!"
    "To your wedding? Congratulations! When is the happy event?" I asked. Well, you have no idea how light I suddenly felt. A wedding? No kidding. That's good news!
  
     I met this girl a few times before in the elevator, she moved into the building last year, and we exchanged the usual morning and evening greetings. In December the first snow arrived, and I helped her to shovel her car out of the largest heap of snow you can imagine. Later that day she knocked at my door, and brought a beautiful assortment of herbal teas, with a cute 'thank you' note. My daughter was back from college for the weekend, and we invited her to join us for dinner. That's how we got to know her better.
    She moved here from Cleveland, OH and works as a dental assistant in the city. As a young girl, she was eager to meet new people and make new friends. I invited her to also join us the following day to go shopping at the best place in Forest Hills: Austin Street. We shopped at Eddie Bauer, Banana Republic, and the girls had their hair cut at one of the hair salons. In other words we had a great day!
    Just before Valentine's Day she knocked at the door again, and asked for my advice. She had a new date and wanted to look special and beautiful.
   "As a present for the occasion, a good luck piece, here is a necklace that I made. Hope it will bring you joy, and don't forget, invite me to your wedding." I finished with a joke. We both laughed, and as I gave it to her she gazed in awe and appeared touched by the gesture.

   Well, as you can see she will get married and it so happens that it will be with the very date she had that Valentine's Day. I made just one other, and named it Valentine. I told my daughter the news, and she just smiled and said, "High five mom!"



http://www.etsy.com/listing/66571534/valentine-black-lace-heart-necklace

Fontana di Trevi

   With all the "bad news" that the media is bombarding us, I just felt the need to cut it off. I wanted to watch an old movie, yes, romantic, a bit goofy just to lift my spirits and enjoy a lazy July afternoon. To let go of all the bad energy. Looking through my old tapes, yes, I still have my old VCR, I came across "Three Coins in The Fountain"-- Oh ho ho ho! What a story!! I bet very few people know the secret of Fontana di Trevi.
    Hundreds of tourists every day throw a coin, make a wish, but have no clue whatsoever as to why they do it. I was one of them long ago. Finding myself in Rome, spending time around the fountain, I followed all the others and made my wish, closed my eyes, and threw a coin over my head. Bocelli's voice filled the August air, the sun was high above, puffy cotton clouds reflected in the blue water, and pigeons were cooing. What a beautiful day. My wish came true and a year later about the same time I was in the same place once again, making my wish, and hoping from deep in my heart that it will become the reality one more time. Needless to say, somehow, somewhere, somebody heard me. And yes, my wish became a reality a few months later.
     Years passed one after the other. One Sunday morning, attending the mass with my daughter we heard our priest telling us the story of the Samaritan woman. Legend goes, that as a young and beautiful girl she married a wealthy general who died soon after. She remarried quite a few times and became a very wealthy, and influential woman. At some point in her life she became a Christian, left her palace, and traveled along the African-Mediterranean coast helping the poor, and gave away her money. Arriving in Rome, during the persecution of the Christians, as she continued her charities she was arrested by the Romans when she was in her eighties. Her punishment was cruel, and was skinned alive, with her skin thrown into the Tiber River, and body into a well. Years later a fountain was built on the site of the well, now known as the Fontana di Trevi.
      I know I remained so impressed, not only by the story, but by the understanding of why my wishes came true. The Samaritan woman continues to this day to fulfill the deepest needs from our hearts, of which we cast as a wish in return for a coin at the Fontana di Trevi. By giving a coin you replenish her wealth, so that she may in turn help others by granting the wishes to those who cast them at the fountain.
     Watching the movie "Three Coins in a Fountain", I felt compelled to create a necklace in aquatic colors, pearls, and silver.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/77479792/mademoiselle-blue-crystals-and-pearl

Feel free to let me know what you think!

A Mother's Prayer

  We are having a summer storm, thunder, lightening, and lots of water pouring down in a heavy rampage as if even the sky responds with anger at the news coming from my TV set. I do not feel very well, as a matter of fact, I found myself traveling back in time, more often that I would like. I see myself playing with my daughter when she was about two years old, having her in my arms I can even smell her sweet young skin, and I remember telling myself what a miracle that she is in my life. I was dealing at the time with the aftermath following my husband's death from cancer, trying to reinvent myself in order to be able to take care of her as a responsible parent. Yes, she is the apple of my eyes, the most important person in my life.
  I remember an image that I saw long ago in a documentary on PBS. This image remained with me since then. A snow monkey mother carried her dead baby for days as she followed her clan still fiercely protecting it, not ready to let go... What a powerful  message. Caylee Marie two years old was killed, by accident or by human hand; her smile and big eyes immortalized in pictures haunt the news every day. A woman who was supposed to be a mother failed miserably to protect her young life. I am not going to tell you more. You all know her name, you all know everything about the trial. What I am writing now is for me to let go of the pain that I feel thinking of the innocent soul, betrayed by the woman who was supposed to love and cherish her, and in the same time betrayed by our society. Yes, I feel pity for this woman who will never know the joy of real motherhood; of seeing her daughter grow up, blooming into a beautiful young lady as I have seen mine who is now eighteen years old. 
  All I can do is pray. Pray to God that he takes care of Caylee, and cradle her close to his heart. Sleep in peace Caylee and forgive us all. As I am writing this, the rain has stopped and the sky is clear. On the horizon I can see it. A huge arc, a beautiful rainbow comes as a sign from the heavens as an answer to my prayer.

"Kaatskill" pearls

  The last pearl has been attached to my new piece, and a swarovski hook clasp finished my new necklace, nice, I like it. It is Sunday morning and our apartment is filled of with a suave bouquet of french lavender and chocolate mint leaves that we found yesterday while traveling in the Catskills. After one rainy, oppressive foggy week, it was a blessing to see the sun break the clouds and smile upon us. Summer officially began this week, and it marked the five-hundred year anniversary since Captain Hudson's historic trip up the river. What really happened to him and his crew? It is a mystery to this day. Yes, we know there was a mutiny aboard, and Captain Hendrick (Henry) Hudson was never to be heard of again. However, I like Washington Irwing's story about Rip Van Winkle (1819), and I make believe that it is true. Every time we travel in the Catskill area and hear thunderous noises, I tell my daughter, "Hear that, they are playing nine pins again". According to the story the ghosts of Capt. Hudson and his crew keep drinking  rum from the kegs and play nine pins (like modern-day bowling). With each trip into the Catskills, (or Kaatskills as the Dutch settlers in the 17th century called the region) we wonder about the history of these old crumbling mountains that once were at the bottom of the sea, millions of years ago.
 Yesterday we roamed around the Slide mountain, which is considered to be the tallest being 4,180 feet (1,274m) above sea level in Ulster county. I found that the mix of basalt, feldspar, and granites deposits from an ancient Delta, and glaciers all make a fascinating mix of mother nature's treasures. What I found to be the most mesmerizing are the quartzite stones ranging from bright white, banded orange-tan, to a deep dark red and grey. They form a true symphony of colors.  The most beautiful of all are the slates of blue sandstone, a reminder of the wave-beaten sandy Delta shores. Well, last night after we returned from our trip, I began to work as I wanted to seal the impressions of the day with a new jewelry piece. The earthy tones of the Indian agates I felt to be the most appropriate as the basis of my theme. I added small mother of pearl rings as a symbol of eternity, as well as bright green freshwater pearls and nacre sprinkled with hematite beads and bright grass-green crystals.This sweet overwhelming chocolate mint and french lavender bouquet give me wings, transporting me to another magical place. Oh yes! I am ready to go, and please no GPS needed. This is a BIG NO NO! Adventure awaits!


http://www.etsy.com/listing/76694551/indian-agates-jewelry-set

                  Our pooch Muffy who travels with us all over.

Ode to Miss Minnie!!

    Oh, oh, oh this is funny. I just can't wait to share this event with you. I decided to work with a few beads of green turquoise some nights ago. I made myself a fresh cup of coffee, and comfortably sitting on the floor in a my yoga position (which I find to be very relaxing), I let my fingers play with my stones trying to decide the most appropriate design. Next to me our pooch Muffy, busy munching on a homemade carrot treat and lifting her eyebrows in contempt from time to time. Well my creative impulse seemed to be stuck at the moment, inspite my urge to produce something. Frustrated I opened boxes after boxes of supplies looking for that something to compliment my green turquoise. Miss Minnie, our indescribable magnificent feline companion, (she is a mix of norwegian and siberian forest cat with something of unknown origin) was watching me toil with my beads from underneath the dining room table.
 Her golden green eyes sparkled with interest. "Ok!" I said, "why don't you help me here? You choose what beads I should use for this." I reached for my cup of coffee. Miss Minnie stretched and fluffed her bushy tail, moved her "bloomers" as if to tell Muffy "Watch me in action", and gently began inspecting my boxes of beads one after the other. She pushed out a small bag of white beads, next one of black beads, and finally some grassy green ones.  As she finalized her action, she stood silent as a sphinx locking her eyes into mine as if to say, "These are your beads, this is your challenge, take it or leave it."
  Well, I guess I accepted her "challenge" and here it is, my new feline-approved necklace and earring set. Beautiful, feminine, and lets say different. Thank you Minnie!!!


http://www.etsy.com/listing/75879012/green-turquoise-jewelry-set

                 Our Miss Minnie

Turkish Delight

"Wake up it's time!" my father said and gently lifted me up from under my blanket.
"Oh! What?" but he couldn't speak no more because his powerful laugh filled the room, and for good reason--- I was all dressed up, with my boots on ready to go. Where? Well to see the most mysterious place on earth.
   The night before we arrived in Orsova, a small town in Romania where the Danube runs through. My dad promised me that we'll take the first boat early morning to Adakaleh, a small island that was soon to be swallowed by the river as the construction of the Iron Gate Dam will be completed. The Iron Gate is a gorge on the Danube river that forms the boundary between Romania and Serbia. Two power stations have been built here to supply electricity for both countries. This is the point where the river separates the Southern Carpathian Mountains from the foothills of the Balkan Mountains.
  I was nine years old and the rich history as well as the many legends of the Adakaleh mesmerized me. Needless to say that I couldn't sleep that night, and long before the birds woke up, I was up dressed and cuddled under the cover waiting for Dad's call. It was a cool August morning and heavy clouds announced a rainy day. We arrived early on the pier and the boat captain invited us to join him for tea and cookies.... mmm...mmm hazelnut cookies, my favorite. This day announced itself to be a special one, and it was indeed. My dad told me more about this place and it's history, about the Ottoman-Habsburg Wars, how the Austrians built a Vauban-type fort in the island of Adakaleh to defend it from the Turks, and he told me how the locals  survived. The population of roughly 1000 inhabitants lived from fishery, cultivating tobacco, and in modern times tourism.* Adakaleh had a Porto Franco status (free port) and also had a reputation of being a smuggler's nest. Can you imagine pirates on the Danube? Of course, this was long ago...
 The trip was most exciting, the Danube water embraced us with its magic and it transported us to a place where time stands still. Adakale means "Fortress Island" in Turkish. Adakaleh is the Romanian pronounciation. Pictoresque little white houses were sprinkled on the Island hill with 1000 narrow twisting alleys, many with steps of stone. In front of each door, women dressed in black sold what they produced: the most luscious preserves, green walnut, wild berries , and the one that stole my heart was the wild rose petals preserve. Also, everyone offered hot Turkish tea, sweet and aromatic, Turkish coffee made as it should be in the old way in an copper "ibric" simmering slowly in hot sand to make Caimac (foam), and of course a glass of ice cold water. The air was full of an eerie blend of sweet pungent smells of drying tobacco leaves, salty fish, and pink roses. Climbing the serpentine of stairs, holding my dad's powerful hand, trying hard not to skip anything while memorizing this world of 1001 nights to the last detail, I remember how my eyes gazed in awe. All at once I saw the most beautiful girl that I had ever seen. She was dressed in a traditional Turkish costume, white with colorful embroidery, and the beads around her neck had made her a princess in my eyes. She smiled and waved her hand inviting us to taste her rose sherbet, cookies, and handmade fruity Turkish delight that was arranged on fine glass plates. In that very moment, the clouds disappeared and the sun made the Danube to glisten in millions of sparkling, trembling waves bordered with the finest white foamy lace. Was she human? Was she a fairy? I will never know for sure...
  Yes, we visited the mosque that was built where a Franciscan monastery once stood. I remember the huge unicorn carpet, the Pascha's house, the Bazaar, and the pool bath in which everyone threw a coin to make a wish.

 Looking among my beads, trying to organize them as if I will ever be able to...(who am I kidding!)  I rediscovered some beautiful Indian lampwork glass beads that I had put aside long ago. Strangely enough, the beautiful Turkish girl had appeared smiling before my eyes with gorgeous beads around her neck---Yes, Yes, Yes I know what I have to do! Feverishly, I began to put together the necklace that you now have before your eyes, Turkish Delight. I must say, the chain symbolizes the Danube River, and the rest is history, as the beauty of the sunken Turkish enclave shall forever be a mythical symbol of peace---Adakaleh.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50650075/turkish-delight

My gift from Rio

  A very dear friend of mine had recently went to Rio de Janeiro to spend a magical vacation for a couple of weeks. She absolutely loves to visit exotic locations all over the world, and Brazil had always been at the top of her list. While she filled her days with adventure, such as  having fun in the sun at the Copacabana, dancing the samba and the Bossa Nova at the clubs, and touring the Sugarloaf and Corcovado mountains, in browsing through one of the local markets she found these exquisite Murano glass beads and gave them to me as a present. In one set are these round-like (yet slightly shaped as a hexagon) beads that are of a rich bright red with subtle horizontal stripes. The other set of murano glass beads are periwinkle blue, striped, and are twisted. Of course I accepted my present wholeheartedly. It was such a  very kind and thoughtful gesture on her part.
    To think of it, these Murano glass beads have had their own adventurous journey around the world themselves! From Murano, Italy they landed in the fabulous Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, and finally, here in New York City!!
  I used some of these exquisite Murano glass beads for a unique pair of earrings that only one woman in the world shall have. They are wired in silver, and for a "dangle" I  also added these opaque moonstone beads as a finish.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50757983/free-shipping-rio
Feel free to let me know what you think!

River Pebble

    Recently at a sale event, watching women come and go as they looked at our pieces, I realized that most of them were not looking in fact for that special OOAK (one of a kind) piece. They were just browsing for a bargain. With today's economy it is understandable. If it were otherwise, it would be different. However I noticed that, although they looked for a great bargain, many didn't really have a clue as to what they were looking at. I pride in myself  of using quality materials such as semi precious stones, silver, and swarovski crystals. But to some of these women, they could have been looking at plastic, cheap metal, and glass for all they knew! It struck me really hard, and I had the compulsive need to shout out and say, "Hello! May I have your attention please! This piece is..."
  Yes you are looking at necklaces, earrings, and so forth, but you are also looking at the manual labor that was put in to make them. Hours of toiling with a few beads, as well as coming up with the concept that would please a woman's eye. What you are looking at is also made of love, imagination, and dedication, for not saying the many years behind learning the trade. They are unique as are women individually. Only one piece of that concept exists for only one woman to have in the world.
  Sometime last fall, somewhere on a river bank, just before sunset I packed up our picnic stuff and called out to my daughter, and pooch Muffy. Funny enough, Muffy came running to me holding a pebble in her mouth! I love collecting stones and as a joke I said, "Thanks Muffy you have great taste!". I spent that night playing with that pebble in my hand, and suddenly a light bulb lit up! And that is how the "Fisherman's Daughter" came to be created! I crocheted silver wire into a delicate mesh that framed Muffy's pebble. Like the pebble, this piece is unique, and only one woman can have it.
   Sure the pebble is just a pebble, but I made the piece in such a way that the pebble is not just a pebble anymore.  It is now a piece of jewelry. One woman thought so and she bought it. Bonne chance my little pebble!!

Fisherman's Daughter