Meditation is not against mind but it is the art of going beyond mind.

 

These last few weeks, I’ve been working on jewelry for a shop that sells Yoga-Meditation related jewelry, when I got this topic, well you can just imagine how happy I was, here is some of the jewelry I sent them..

Yogis.

Chakras

 

Some of the smaller pieces…

 

   Stones..

I also made some lotus rings, more ohms.. etc, the order is all shipped and now I can focus a little more on my shop, so far I made one ring,

this one is quite heavy and will be listed some time today..

 

 

What do you think, should I make more along this line for Etsy?

December,chocolate addiction, too many beads, new work and perfect coffee, 2012

I started the first day of the year like this…

Yesterday I got some Costa Rican coffee and was like Gollum from LOTR, waiting for the morning for a cup of my “precious” coffee.. this you see here is the typical Costa Rican way of making it, boiling water is just poured in, this particular way makes the whole house smell like coffee, brings memories of childhood, of trips around the country when you feel incredibly happy to find a place they pour coffee on the table for you..I could seriously go on..

While having my coffee I decided to write a little about these last few days

I spent December moving stuff into my house…

Arranging and arranging, buying little zip lock bags, boxers, arranging, by color, by type.. arranging the tools, hanging photos on the walls, making this place my own.

Then by the middle of the month a wave of food came by, and I had no choice but to eat it all…

I just love trying new food and one of the great things about living in another country is discovering all kinds of favorite things..

Plus I’m extremely lucky, H. likes to cook and he makes beauties like this..

If you want to see more photos look at this album..

But to be honest with you I had way too many of these platters in front of me and they are the ones responsible of me stepping out in the cold streets and running every other day.

Little by little I am getting ready for my shop to open, making some new pieces,  I apologize ahead for the poor quality of the photo but I took it right after finishing  tonight.

 

2011 was a year of many lessons, which I will not take for granted, as for this new year, all I want is health, make the best jewelry that I can, seeing more of Spain, and always remembering what really is important and living as humble as I can, being grateful for the opportunities life gives us every day..

2011 was a year of sacrifices, 2012 will be one of enjoying everything around me.

As much as I love changes and places, today I can tell you I am happy where I am , with who I’m with and what I am doing, and not having that self-pressure of “What’s next?” is  the best feeling I’ve ever had.

I’ve spent my afternoons with this lady.

She is a hand carved shell cameo and has been with Don Juan for about 35 years, passed on to me and will be listed in my shop when it opens,

waiting for someone who wears a size 8.

14k gold details all over the frame, and on the sides little signity cubic zircons..

 

 

 

Isn’t she pretty?

I should be making some presents but I couldn’t wait to share her and wish you a beauuuutiful Christmas!

Sending hugs your way..

Nat.

Surreal days..

Let me start by telling you a little story,

When H. and I decided to move to Spain, one of the biggest questions always my the tools, where to get the metal,etc… for this I asked my teacher which also happens to be from Spain to help me see what would work better..he advice to look for second hand things over here.

I have some tools but I always hold back on the shopping since I have just the basics, or what I can carry in 2 suitcases, and so while looking online for used tools in Spain , prices and such.

I found Don Juan.

He happened to live just 10kms from where we, were to live and well after some conversations, photos, he decided to sell us his tools.

How can I explain?

The closest I can come to, is like if you have a dream, something that you know will take years to achieve, I had an idea to have something like this in a period of 10 years, some of the larger tools like an electric rolling mill was out of that list, it was beyond my reach, then the torches, smaller tools,files,burs, so to me is  like having a loan for college and suddenly finding out is all paid for, like winning the lottery, like having that one thing that would change everything,right there.

 

 

 

No room for excuses,no need to think what’s next..

If I could only tell you how much I’ve cried, happy tears that is..

When I got here, saw the tools and started unpacking, I would cry with every single thing, had a little nervous smile, with each of the things I pulled out of the boxes, we are talking boxes and boxes of these..

I adoreeeeee that each and every one of these tools, has a story, you can see the years, I cherish and respect experience, and he as kind as he is, is willing to help me set up the workshop and explain things, his tools are his tools and well there is a bond, they are what make us earn a living, and facilitate to make whatever comes out of out head, and now little by little I’ve spent my days, sorting them out, cleaning, trying to convince myself this is real and they are mine.

The jeweler’s table, sitting there makes me think how many things have been made there, I am enjoying myself,  I feel like a little girl just playing with everything, getting to know everything..

Moments like this make me feel humble and grateful..

New work is coming soon..I’ll have fire!

I can’t wait!

And so it went..

Woke up at 7am last Monday after about 4 hours of sleep and 5 days of being in a fair for 10 hours a day.. more on that later, there is so much I need to tell you about..

 

Everywhere I go I have the luck of having a mountain near me.. so after months of seeing these mountains every morning, it was time to say goodbye.

I love how everything is always green in Costa Rica.

After a few goodbyes and the strongest hugs my arms can give, I went off to my grandmothers to have a tamal, in CR we have tamales for Christmas, and although it was a bit early, she made sure I had some home made ones before I left..

Then off I went, this time it was a bit particular, I was not alone, specially travelling and going somewhere specifically.. my house!, every time things are more planned and everything is done before I get to the country, so wow! lol! adult behavior? …I mean this is a big deal coming from a girl who used to just think “Once I get there I will figure it out” …

So first a plane, good 10h on it.. the great thing was that after such running around packing I can assure you  I slept at least 6h on the plane,this is right before landing..

Running around in the airport, changing money, 2 suitcases, ruuuuuuuun, I wanted to be out already, Madrid was so sunny, chilly but sunny, got there at noon on Tuesday.

 

Finally outside! Find the bus to the train station, literally running once again hence this photo..

 

3 and a half hours later,time for a train, AVE makes a 400km drive in just one hour and a half..

 

From the train… if you look close enough you can see my messy head haha! Of course no self portraits at this point, between excitement and jet lag, I was quite the crazy lady..

Finally in Valencia, a 1h drive..

And after all this I have to say, I was dead but you have never seen anyone happier.

H and I are in Spain! ready to start, planning around, buying incense for the house, moving things here and there..

And  my workshop, oh my workshop!… needs a complete blog post, I am overwhelmed, the first 3 days I was here when I saw the tools, I would cry, literally, I would go from the kitchen to the living room, see the workshop and smiled, is like when you were little and you liked a little boy and you looked at him and then quickly look away, dear friends, I am this crazy about it! and I am familiarizing myself with everything..unpacking has taken me a week, because every single thing is cleaned, observed and cherished for a good amount of time.

Love is all around, loving H, love for life, for work, for realizing all our hard work finally paid off, love for all the people in this world who we meet and sometimes have to say goodbye to, loving this relationships getting stronger, for adventure..

I could write how much I am grateful for, but I pretty much can sum it up to the point, I am grateful for everything, even the smallest things have a meaning and I have taken a week just to enjoy them..

These days, we wake up to this..

And excited to see what each day brings..

Secrets of the Sea.

About time I made some jewelry huh?

    I’ve had this stone for 2 and a half years…

 

A Fossil coral cabochon, I just love these stones, they are mineralized remains of ancient coral. Some fossil coral has been agatized or become agate over the millennia and is a hard stone which can take a high polish and each is unique, made by mother nature

 

The stone is the main focus and the whole bracelet is designed around the patterns in the stone, front and back.

 

Oh! and 2 little 5mm freshwater pearls, well because you know me…

This sea inspired  piece will make her way to the shop sometime tonight..

Running away..

 

These last few weeks I’ve had a need of running away from everything, yes, everything.. even jewelry, that’s why things have been quiet around the blog,shop,facebook.etc..

I am quite stubborn, and usually when things don’t go as planned, I am embarrassed to admit, I feel annoyed, like crying, like not doing anything, and whine,Oh! yes I whine… but then after I am done letting it all out, I come back to my senses,think of the good things and start planning again, thinking what could I do for my business, for time to go by faster…

Why am I sad? Right now I was meant to be in Spain, H and I have worked so hard,but there is still so much to do, so we can have everything we need over there, going to Guatemala was hard, but moving to another continent, uff is proving to be a whole other deal..we need to wait a little longer.

The future will be wonderful and is almost here, but sometimes there is a bit of desperation when something you want is so close, yet so far.

I have been taking some time for myself..

There was a quick visit to the farm, which was particularly beautiful this time of year..

Let me give you a tour of the garden.

It’s been raining a lot in the city, there was a tropical storm.. over here 6hours away, it was sunny with very little rain, just enough to make everything bloom..

 

We call these “Mamon chino” in Costa Rica, but found out is called a Wild Rambutan in english, anyways right now they are everyyyywhere and I could eat a thousand of them…

 

The colors are so beautiful, funny how I can wander in this place for so long, looking at all the flowers,

 

at all the leafs..

 

And always find something new..

Don’t these look like the stripes where drawn on them?

Grapefruit!

 

 

This tree has dozens of pink bells..

 

 

Little corners..

Walking on moist grass, the smell of earth, the hugs of my brothers, smiles,

and my grandma making tortillas of course.

When I feel like running away, I run away to my home, more than enough to give me that much needed boost..

Hopefully tomorrow I will have some jewelry to show, this blog needs it

Buenas Noches!

La Strada

 

 

I decided to go ahead and blog about certain scenes and movies that really get to me, this one for example from “La Strada” , I think what we watch, hear, read, should have an effect on us, if not what’s the point..we are used of just diversion, but details,words and images that stir something inside you are the ones worth watching.

I can’t get enough of  Giulietta Masina she  is perfect in this film, her face is incredible, she is capable of expressing an array of emotions without a word and making you feel closer to the character she portrays..

The Fool: I am ignorant, but I read books. You won’t believe it, everything is useful… this pebble for instance.
Gelsomina: Which one?
The Fool: Anyone. It is useful.
Gelsomina: What for?
The Fool: For… I don’t know. If I knew I’d be the Almighty, who knows all. When you are born and when you die… Who knows? I don’t know for what this pebble is useful but it must be useful. For if its useless, everything is useless. So are the stars!

If you want a  sweet yet powerful movie with amazing acting..you should check this one out.

A week of flowers..

 

 

 

The set is done! Today I had some time to finish some other custom orders and realized, that  there are flowers all around me..

At the fair..

This last week, I was sooo busy! I was preparing stock for a little fair we had on Wednesday..

Went with my friend Gabi which makes it waaaaaaaay more fun than going by myself, our styles are very different and this time just like others we can go ahead and sell side by side.

This is some of the stuff I had for sale..

 

It rained in the afternoon which didn’t help very much but then at night things got better, a little sangria and all..

I promise you I am not awfully serious, but this would be me doing my hypnotize attempt “ Yeeee want to buy pearls I tell yaaaaaa”

Wahaha ! well  more like the only photo I am not making faces and was awfully tired, the fair was from noon to 9 pm this is close to the end..

We both  did pretty well, had sales and 4 custom orders.. most importantly it was a lot of fun..

I’ve started listing some of the stock I had left from the fair in the shop and will be doing a Free Shipping Sunday, starting today at midnight!

Good night!

Nat.