All last month, and a whole new year.

The last month of the year has been really,really special, I’ve been doing so much, seeing things for the first time and learning about how rich and how beautiful traditions and people are here in Guatemala,prepare because this post might be a little long,  this is what happened in December:

First it was the burning of the devil, I had never heard of such thing and well after asking around, the version is pretty much the same but  I liked the most was the one of a taxi driver who told me that when he was a child  people would grab all their old stuff in December, their clothes, matresses back then made of hemp, etc and they would burn them in the front of the house in a way of saying “off with the old, on with the new” this is not done like that anymore because of pollution and sometimes because the whole burning of things got out of hand.. but we have the devil, that it was a must see.

Sadly I waited for it for like a week and then went to ship some packages to the city and didn’t make it back on time for the burning and couldn’t take photos, but you must see the Devil on a bicycle

This was on early December, then there were more celebrations which I managed to go to,

Folkloric dances,delicious food,music,costumes,good friends tons of laughs..

I made a whole album of the folkloric dances that you can find over here

Then there where the celebrations of the Virgin, the cutest thing in the world, with a bunch of little kids dressed up in typical clothing.

the little girls where so cute, and the little boys with painted mustaches it was just too adorable, they had this little scenes where they could take a photo with the virgin

 

I have a photo with the virgin but I didn’t fit in the chair , some little kids where cracking up when they saw me go in there to take a photo too, and then I told them my friend forgot to dress me up

You can see some photos of this day over here

 

Ohh I’m so in love with this country, can you tell? I feel so happy, I smile so much , I can’t remember the last time my neck was killing me from the stress..

I had a very mellow christmas with some amazing people around me who I’m happy to have in my life, and got so many cute presents that where completely unexpected that really need a blog post of their own.

I am a horrible blogger and didn’t do a Merry Christmas post, so MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Then some relaxing days where I did manage to make some jewelry, not pressuring myself too much just enjoying what I do.

 

Some just for fun:

Now the year is done and I am here on the first day of the year thinking what comes next, there is a lot going on, many decisions to take, isn’t it nice we have the power upon our own life to guide it to the path we choose?

There is a trip coming soon, there is a long journey , some sad decisions, some opportunities for growth,one more time of giving it all away to start in a new place, but all this I have to tell you later because is too early and I still have to figure out things myself.

I like the new year, I feel really good, today I’m starting RAW today, remember the ring a day??? now everyone is making a ring a week, is such a wonderful group of jewelers who do amazing work and support each other,  this time we are doing a ring a week, which is very exciting because there is really more time to make some really nice, more planned pieces.

Feeling ready to work, to move, to take on this year..

And wishing all you that this year is the best one  of your life and only my heart knows  gratitude  I feel , for all your support, in so many ways this past 2010

Happy new year!

-Nat

Methods of Transportation..

Tuk Tuk or Tuc Tuc got no clue how to spell it…

Fast,safe, and the best part $1.25 to take you anywhere you need in town.. maybe ,maybe $2 if it’s a bit far away..

You are shaken all around with the cobblestone and the guy riding as fast as he and really sometimes when you bump your head on the top of the tuk tuk, you are in there with  all the  grocery bags and you have to hug all your bags because everything is dancing around,  you can’t help but smile.

Van:

As many as can fit, and well I’ve been in one of these too, can’t say much of the experience it was about 7pm,raining, cold  and going on a closed road because of all the landslides..

 

Boat:

It’s so nice, when is not raining, it’s very beautiful to see all the other boats, the high, high mountains and all the houses on the shore, this one on the first photo is the one to get from place to place, you can see these boats filled with everything too, people who have to get their products around load the boats and then sometimes it can be you in the boat enjoying the sun, or the boat filled with people and bags and you holding someones little baby on your lap .

Then the other day the guy that was riding the boat told me that once the boat flipped because it was full and then when going out, everyone in the boat got on the same side and PUM!

 

Chicken Bus!:

I think every single person I’ve met has a chicken bus story..

I ride them to the city, from town to town, for very long trips I never go by myself, because being honest is not the safest way to move around.

For the robbing and for the guy driving like a mad man in extremely closed curves..

But let me tell you how it is, you sit there ready to go and you have the usual vendors, here I give them props.. they don’t come in just asking for money, or selling stuff.. here they go seat by set and hand you the cookie, pencil, incense ,toy, booklet, whatever random item they might be selling.. while saying ” This is for you to see the product up close, don’t ignore me, don’t humiliate me, just take it, it doesn’t mean you have to buy it..” then they tell you the price and go seat by seat charging the money, and picking up the cookie,pencil.. etc.. and well to say the truth I see a chocolate/cookie in my hand and my brain says “eat it”.. so it works for them at least with me..

Little by little people come in, each sit fits 3 people, you are lucky if you are by the window, you are always squished,but in the middle you the filling of a human sandwich, on the side you have to balance your body so you don’t fall when it hit s a curve..

It’s a wonderful arm workout too because you have to grab yourself so tight..

People use it to transport products, and the top of the bus can be filled with everything you can think of.. There is a guy that helps the driver, his job is to tell people where the bus is going by yelling it out loud hanging on the side of the bus , then helping people come in and putting the stuff on the top of the bus , charging the money.. etc

Everytime I get on one of these I usually end up talking to people and hear their story, everything from an old man  who used to be in the army and told me he was trained to use telepathy on his enemy and now he sells incense((not sure if he uses the telepathy on that too.. .I told him that and he cracked up))) , to a lady with 5 kids getting on a bus and me carrying the smallest one, to guy saying that cellphones are really the devil and talking about the church he went to, best part is then someone called him, and I asked “Aren’t those from the Devil” and he said well he blamed his jealous wife   , and since I speak spanish and because of my skin color, thank God people don’t even give me a second look or think I’m a tourist of any sort and to this day I’ve not had any problems and like I said, for long trips I take shuttles or go with several people and just move around to near by places on these.

 

Anyways it is fun  to get from place to place

 

I had to tell you about this..

I’ve been meaning to write this post for a month now..

Few posts back I mentioned a new beginning

All happened so fast, until now I am really getting to enjoy it.

What happened is I moved to the little town I dreamed about, and I’ve worked for over a year to get to.

Not only that but I came here with the smallest expectations, I was hoping to get a little place one bedroom,room for at least my workshop.. and then thank you to an incredible god sent new friend , who didn’t only helped me to find the house but also to realize I deserved it..

I live here now:

And it’s by far the prettiest place I’ve ever  lived on, back in CR I had a nice little house but it was  empty , I was going through this minimalist stage in my life where I thought I didn’t need anything but my workshop,a fridge a stove and my bed..and I’ve been taught to be grateful for what I have so I’ve never asked for much.

I guess I’ve always had this little fear, everything I do , everywhere I go has to be with the money in my purse.. because of that fear of not selling jewelry anymore of something happening and having no sales to back me up ((( I know I shouldn’t think of this)))..

Since jewelry is my only income I live with that fear, but this last month living in this place, making it my own has actually given me the strength to have more confidence and not think about it..

How could I? , I am doing what I love in a place I love and have friends who lift me up and make me smile, I couldn’t ask for anything more and the realization of this I guess is what is confusing, when you’ve been working for years and running for years I guess you get used to that and when it’s time to enjoy what you worked for you kind of have that feeling of there is more to do.

I’m happy also because nowwww my friends and family are coming over to Guatemala! there is a place to stay! also a place I can tell people come over, drink coffee and search for stones! ahh!

Now there is nothing more to do for me, but enjoy and grow.. make better pieces and work with love.

And well I can’t show you the 239 photos I took of the house but my 2 favorite spots the living room:

And the roof:

I go up there every morning and every afternoon, there is this breeze that always runs through there and I look up and is just too much haaa!

That’s all, hope to be blogging more often have too much to tell you and show you.

I feel blessed

…

Making..

A…

Ring.

Some things …

I think a good design is that one you really feel you should keep..

One you made up completely..

A surreal way of seeing an everyday thing, your own interpretation no matter if you can’t draw..

One that not everyone will like.. but some people will love as much as you..

And I much rather not sell as much jewelry but take my time and cut tiny little eyes..

These are my little birds.. the only picture of them because it’s been raining so much here.

I love long necklaces this one is quite long.. more photos tomorrow when they make their way to the shop.

♥

A rainy cold night  where rain is so loud you can’t sleep until is really late.

And there is such sense of normality around everything around you, you can’t help but smile and know things will always be ok one way or another.

Small things like having soup and crackers at 11pm and then watching a really old film

♥

This song..

Whattt???????????????

Psssssss… the shop is finally open: www.Nataliaraya.com

New listings randomly all this week!

A day in the market

Finding new ways of packing jewelry  in the market..

Ahhh there was so so much to choose from and all of them were so nice, I finally decided to go for this last batch, the mustard dry flowers were so pretty ((I’m still loving every single mustard thing in this planet)) … Anyways here here you have to do the whole bargaining.. which I don’t like so much since things are already really cheap but hey! everyone does it and you truly can get some deals.

The girl selling the flowers gave a price, I said “What if I buy a ton of them and keep buying them from you months to come” she gave me another price. Then this guy comes in and says well I want 2, I look at him and say .. “oh no they are actually not that cheap that’s my price coz I’m buying 100″.. he looks at me like “what are you gonna do with so many flowers?”, looks at her ..she nods.. he pays  all confused and leaves.. she laughs and gives me what I ordered plus one more as a gift for helping her..

I really dislike to take pictures of people I don’t know for me there is a lack of respect in doing so, how mad would I be if people offer me $0.5o to take my picture, every single day..

But still I had to take informal pictures at the market

This is also another hidden shot I took, which I still don’t like to do but I must give credit where credit is due..

This is the “El Abuelo” not sure of his name coz everyone just called him grandpa, the 4th day after  I got to Guatemala I passed right where he was at and saw him making small boxes which caught my attention and then after seeing them I told him.. I’m going to come buy a lot of them in a couple of weeks.. he was like “Yeah right…”

Then I did stop by and check this out..

I am a happy person when they give me a pile of things to see, touch and find.. He says he has been doing this since he was 5, his hands are shaking now because of his age but when he starts weaving they stop and this really gets to me, can you imagine how many things he has done in his life???

Well back to the packing.. I am still looking at options.. so you might be getting this…

Then you open it..

And you know the tiny earring I make??? i found tiny pouches from handmade woven fabric

I am thinking what to do.. what do you think?? for pendants I could use woven boxes too or I could ship them in a small coin purse…

Ahhh I don’t know!!! .. anyways… jewelry is being made right now it feel so so soooooo good!

And now I leave you..with the flower dance bit late to be blogging but want to have the weekend off to make jewelry to open my shop again!

Good night!

Dom di domm…

Should get back to work soon, for now I’m a bit of a bum, got my gas, got my chair , got my silver got my tools.. tonight I will start working again.

I hope I don’t burn my fingers, feels like it’s been forever, been cooking, been doing way too much cleaning, literally washing the whole house, arranging every bead,stone and pearl is a bit of a task too..

And thinking, what to make? which way should  I go with my store, feels wonderful to have a white page and be able to reinvent everything..

I have a swing a little to small for me, and a green slide where I don’t even fit..a rose bush in need of trimming, a peach tree and a fountain for the birds..

I’m so sorry for my lack of blogging, I should be boosting this blog with pictures, but it’s been so peaceful, I’ve been with no internet, and been taking it so easy not enough pictures have been taken.. ah!! Anyways.. jewelry pictures coming soon!

Fishing 101

Find silent river in the afternoon, where others go fishing..

Throw fishing cane really far into the river…

This is when you relax, you are one nature,with the river, call the fish with your mind and just stay still hoping something that is not branch bites..

Freak out when something actually bites and the person who was supposed to help you is taking photos..(oh and by the way hold the cane with 2 hands in this step or else it will fall off in the river,the fish will be gone and the photographer  must go swim after it)

Give the cane to someone else and chill by the river, promise to try another day, try to lift some weights previously

The end.

Confessions from a Prehistoric Lady

There was a time when I used to move around a lot, I was in the city with an office job the next thing I was giving everything away and I was in the beach working on a surf camp..

I tell you this because I’m kind of writing an excuse to what I’m about to confess you see.. I kind of got the idea in my head that everything I had was supposed to fit in 2 red suitcases.

Then time flies and now I find myself a bit more responsible and with my tools..

So now everything fits in 2 suitcases and around 3 big boxes ( but that’s about to change this year when I get more tools ! )

Anyways my friend Elgie is out of town for a month, she is so wonderful and we live 2 houses away and she understands my weirdness and she lends me her washing machine.

I don’t own a washing machine,I don’t think I should buy one yet since I’m moving but when she is gone I have to hand wash my clothes..

Not a big deal really but it builds up with so many other things to do during the day.. so what I do is I put this up really loud:

And I washhhhh awayyy and sing really louddd: ” I Want no waterrr with my wineeeee” and my neighbor the one that already thinks I’m weird (because of this )  and for some reason is ALWAYS in his backyard waves at me and asks me if I want to use his washing machine to which I kindly respond “No thank you I’m almost done”

Ermm..

I also confess I have a terrible sense of style these days, I own the same style of shirt but in different colors..there’s 5 right here…

So what else do I don’t own, besides a washing machine and cute shirts (apparently)..

• Microwave: I gave it away, I could bother you with a whole talk about it not being healthy but I’m not and the truth is I’m getting one when I get my new place.. for now I heat everything in my kitchen (which is tiny)
• Ricer cooker: I was supposed to get one from Christmas from a fellow Etsyan and blog reader but I didn’t for some reason .. haaaa and I don’t think I needed either I eat rice twice a week and I cook it in my tiny kitchen.
• Couch: I need one.. if you come to my house you are going straight to the workshop where is the only place you can sit down in the house..
• Table: If you come to my house there is only one small table, if you want to have dinner has to be in the floor with cushions..

I’m stopping here hahaa you get the idea.. I live in a house with 3 rooms one is totally empty, the other the workshop and my room.. and the truth is I’m prehistoric, all I’m missing is chopping down a tree to cook with fire and going hunting in the afternoons  but  hey! i’m happy.. minimalism at it’s best

Besides remember all my “Living simple” Ramble.. well I  live by it

What a random post…

And here is some of the jewelry I’ve been making in the last 2 days

Can’t wait to get more silver next week…

Have a good weekend