Eocene Stone.

My Amber

Ever since I was a little girl, I found amber to be a fascinating stone. Admiring the jewelry worn by my mother and grandmother, I was spellbound by the golden colour and the imperfect texture, with all its small inclusions and trapped life forms of the Eocene period. It reminded me of a time capsule, as it preserved moments of the past forever.

Today I too have in my possession purchased amber jewelry, yet it has been my wish ever since Scandinavia became my home, to find raw amber on the beach.
I never did.

Me And My Find

Having recently moved to the westbound shores of the wild North Sea, I finally got my childhood wish granted. As we took a stroll along the surf on Christmas day, after a night of strong winds, glancing casually down, I suddenly spotted a large stone below my feet. After having picked up so many brown coloured stones before, only to end up in disappointment, I knew immediately this was different - I knew I have found my very own amber.

I keep it in my jewelry box and cannot help but feel it between my fingers almost every day. It is light as a feather, its surface is rough and uneven and when I hold it against light, it sparkles like fire. Over forty millions years old, it is the oldest item I will ever touch. A product of natural wonders, in my perception it reinforces the relativity of time and the incredible value of the short time we are given.

My Amber, found on the shores of the North Sea on Christmas Day 2011

Charm Bracelet.

My sister invited me recently to join an exclusive club. The charm club at Thomas Sabo. A club I am very honoured to belong to. A gift for my last birthday, she has added four appealing charms to my new charm bracelet and the collection will be only increasing by each year.

The charm bracelet is most likely my first encounter with jewelry. My mother used to wear one on her wrist and I recall how fascinated I was by the multitude of charms adoring the chain, playing with it as she cradled me in her arms, when I was a little girl. My sister, I recently realized, has exactly the same recollection, giving my new bracelet a special meaning as it bridges two generations and redefines the bond between sisters.

The wearing of charms is an ancient tradition and may have begun as a form of amulet to ward off evil spirits or bad luck. During the pre-historic period, jewelry charms would be made from shells, animal-bones and clay and there is evidence from Africa that shells where used for adornments around 75,000 years ago.
Thus wearing mine also connects me symbolically to all the prehistoric sisters of my past.

Stone And Glass.

I do not make my own jewelry, but I think I would enjoy it if I had the time and the experience.
To me jewelry appeals the most when it is different, unique in material or design. I like it to resemble or reflect the beauty of the metal, glass, or leather, using the motifs of nature or history. As in ancient times, jewelery was adornment, but it also had a meaning to the bearer. To me the most beautiful pieces are those made as copies of actual Historical Jewelry. Such as the Native American, Viking or Celtic jewelry.

When I took a walk with my parents on the beach this summer, I found a stone that was naturally hollow. Interestingly shaped, it immediately resembled a pendant to me. When some left over glass pebbles and a dark string was added, it created a piece with a natural feel of stone and glass. I love the result perhaps not because it is well made, but because it is a beautiful gift of the sea on a sunny summer day, bringing back memories of the best things in life.

"Bohemian Style".

Considering that I have mentioned the word Bohemian in my yesterday post, I though I would elaborate a little bit on the term Bohemian Style, which is a favorite style of mine.
Or I guess, the only style of mine.

I love everything about it, particularly in the more modern form, where it - at least to me - embraces the free thinking of unconventional living, in harmony with nature, focused on an artistic mindset. Both in fashion and home decoration, it is the design that appeals to all my senses of a romantic dreamer, with its incredible colours, natural fabrics and an eclectic, sensual femininity in every aspect.

I bet most of you are very familiar with the term Bohemian, but few of you know its origins. Initially a French word, the term bohémien was a common term for the Romani people of France, who had reached Western Europe via Bohemia, the country of my origin. It became a term used in the early 19th century when artists and creators began to concentrate in the lower-rent, lower class gypsy neighborhoods. The alternative lifestyle of Gypsies inspired a movement, that later came to encompass almost an adventurous existence, with at times eccentric thinking of like-minded people, such as artist, actors, musicians or writers.

Of course, today the term Bohemian or Boho has been adapted to be used in describing almost anything that defines a laid back, unhampered style, such as fashion (with the term Boho-chic), interior design, jewelry making, art, crafts, literary works or music. In the past, it has been associated with writers and numerous artist, such as the Pre-Raphaelites, my favorite art movement of all.

As for my own affection for this carefree style, I guess it started early on, when I already as a child became fascinated by the vivid multitude of colours of the flaring fabrics of long dresses of the seventies. I have always been allured by anything that was aesthetically pleasing and I guess, tried to also convey that into the romantic pictures I drew as a young teenager. They became a hit among my peers and I drew countless images of ethereal looking girls with flowing wild hair and dreamy expression, all of which I gave away as gifts to my friends.

As I grew older, I was drawn to almost anything eclectic and while living in the US, my personal style developed in the direction of almost a hippie like fashion. Coincidentally, the nineties brought a revival of the 60's style, with wide pants and loose tunics with flower-power patterns. I enjoyed immensely the travels I did in the Four Corners states, where the crafts and jewelry of the Native Americans was readily available. To this day I wear rings, earrings and bracelets that are hand made in this part of the world.

My home is filled with colours and patterns as well. The style is wild and free, very much like my personal outlook. I like to think of my home as a safe heaven, always cosy and inviting, perhaps never stylish or modern and rarely organized. My visitors often tell me, that they experience a feeling of well being and relaxation, when staying at the house. The airy space and the wide windows, with mesmerizing views of nature might have much to do with that. But perhaps some of it can be attributed to the vivid colours and the unrestricted freedom of the Bohemian Style.

Two Gifts - For No Reason At All.

Recently I have received two gifts that made me happy.

One was a gift from me to myself. Last week, while my mom was in town, I had an opportunity to go an a wild shopping spree, something I have not done for a long time. My mother and I are very similar when it comes to purchasing; we both enjoy it immensely and never walk away from anything we like. We both share an avid interest in fashion, perfumes and makeup and can spend hours in a cosmetic store. This time was no exception.

I stumbled upon a new fragrance and immediately found the scent extremely appealing. The perfume was just right, in every aspect. I have not had that experience since I found my favorite perfume of all, "Light Blue" from D&G, about 5 years ago. This one is now a very close second. With such an endearing name, "Funny" from Moschino is the best gift I have given myself recently.

The next gift came in a wonderfully wrapped package with Irish stamps all over it. And a very neat handwriting. It contained an incredibly beautiful necklace of colourful stones and beads, handmade and exclusive.

The best gifts are gifts given for no reason at all.

"Anklets".

In my late teens I used to wear a thin, silver chain around my ankle. I never took it off and I loved the small ornament that would shine so brightly against my tanned skin in the summer.
Ankle bracelets, or "anklets" come and go when it comes to fashion. They originate from India, although today they are worn as accessories by women all over the world.
I have recently received a few different ones as a gift and although I have not thought of wearing ankle bracelets for over two decades, suddenly I am feeling like a teenager all over again.

Precious Adornment.

I have a particular taste in jewellery. I do not care much for silver or gold, or precious stones. I will not crave diamonds nor pearls. To me, jewellery is much more than that.
I love when it tells a story, when the style is unique, when the occasion at which it is given is an unforgettable one. I enjoy wearing vintage jewellery, that I have inherited, as well as ornaments purchased at fairs and flea markets, at second hand stores or antique shops. I am always intrigued by historical jewellery, made to look as if made from times long gone. Celtic, Native American or Viking styles have always mesmerized me and I own many of these. This doesn’t mean that on every day bases, I will not buy inexpensive oversize plastic earrings, necklaces or bracelets. I have often been complimented on the accessories I wear and many are surprised when I disclose the source or the cost. To me, it has always been about mixing quality and beauty, meaning that often I wear something I really like despite the origins or the value. Anything we tend to wear with joy or pleasure will look stunning on us. In my humble opinion, one doesn’t have to wear expensive brands from top to toe, in order to look stylish and interesting.

Very few people in my family, if any, have ever given me jewellery as gifts. I think my style is so unique (and complicated), that no one ever dares to try. However, the Irishman seems to have certainly tapped in to what I like. He keeps giving me wonderful earrings and pendants, broaches, bangles and rings, all of which have become my favourite. The ones presented here have been the lovely gifts he brought on his last visit.

Friday The 13th.

This is the first Friday the 13th of the year.

To superstitious people, this is not a good day at all. Why all this superstition came about is very well explained here. Which also gives me an opportunity to make you aware of the "How stuff works" site, if you did not already know it existed. It is a great site explaining anything between heaven and earth.

In any way, in short, Friday on its own has always been considered as an unlucky day. Particularly sailors disliked embarking on voyages on Fridays and I just know that it means bad luck to get married on a Friday as well. This is all bad news for a Friday lover such as me. Although I am not married, I have embarked on numerous journeys in my life, all starting on Friday and they all were very lucky and safe. Actually, I once flew to California on Friday the 13th.;)

Why Friday the 13th is a particularly bad day is not clear either, although one story relates it to the Friday the 13th, 1306, when King Philip of France arrested the revered Knights Templar.

I myself am sometimes puzzled by the fact that number 13 in the western culture means bad luck. In my Slavic culture, 13 is a lucky number. In fact I was given a golden number thirteen pendant (picture) as a newborn, for good luck. I still have it to this day, but I do not wear it. However, being reminded of the fact that I have it, I might wear it again.

Eventually I like to believe that neither numbers nor particular days of the week has anything to do with our luck. Nevertheless, I will be paying extra attention to everything around me today.;))