Creative, right? I thought so!
Coming from a career in journalism, Gay Harrison entered the jewelry scene in 2002. Her work is in fact, a tribute to her late mother. After her mother's passing, Gay found jewelry making therapeutic, and transformed vintage pieces into new wearable jewelry.
She now uses rare items from all over the world to create her unique pieces, including Shiana's Fair Trade Thai Hill Tribe Silver. Her work can be found at high end retail stores, exclusive trunk shows in the United States and London. More recently, you can also find her work in silent auctions benefiting charities like the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute.
For more information on Gay Harrison, please visit Gay Harrison Handcrafted Couture Jewelry
[A piece from the "After Five" Collection]
[V301010026] Thai Sterling Silver 3.5 Small Stardust Donut Beads (25 Beads) 
[P301010026] Thai Sterling Silver 3.5 Small Stardust Donut Beads (25 Beads)
[103990057] Thai Karen Silver 30mm Connecting Leaf 2 Hoops Charms (4 Charms) 
[104040169] Thai Karen Silver 28mm Desert Archer Toggle (1 Set)
[102100171] Thai Karen Silver 40mm Hamsa Pendant (1 Piece)
[103100116] Thai Karen Silver 10mm Lotus Calm Charms (10 Charms) 
[102990022] Thai Karen Silver 55 Connecting 2 Hoops Flower Pendant (1 Pendant) 
Summer is all about being simple and edgy!
Try these bold pieces with hidden details for your summer collections. Like small paintings to adorn your neck, these etched pieces will draw attention wherever they go.
[104040156] Thai Karen Silver 50mm Sunflower Toggle (1 Set)
This toggle features a beautiful etching of a sunflower against a leaf clasp. Definitely a unique way to finish off any piece.
[102100110] Thai Karen Hill Tribe Silver 60mm Sunflower Soul Pendant (1 Pendant)
A big, bold pendant with an abstract flower design looks great with any color of beads. Go natural with greens and browns or Urban tribal with bright reds and black.
[104040159] Thai Karen Silver 29mm Simplicity Toggle (1 Set)
[104040158] Thai Karen Silver 29mm Octagon Toggle (1 Set)
[102100164] Thai Karen Silver 70mm Tribal Diamond Pendant (1 Piece)
This large pendant is for someone who really wants to make a statement. Because of the angles, it can really become a masculine piece, used as a buckle, or even a toggle (if you're feeling brave!)
It’s been a while since our last feature. Today we want to introduce you to Shelly Dyer of Rasa Rocks who is currently designing and showcasing her work on Etsy. Her handmade work blends mystics with a hint of playfulness.
Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? What are your favorite things to do besides jewelry? And, how did you get started in jewelry design?
I was born in
Can you provide some information about Rasa Rocks? Where did the idea for the catchy name come from? 
I have been a student of Eastern religions for years. So this is how the name" Rasa Rocks" came to be. The word 'rasa' is Sanskrit meaning the sweetness, richness, nectar, of things seen and unseen. Shiana definitely has the 'rasa' of the heart.
You said you are a student of healing arts, how does this affect the choices you make when designing?
Throughout all of my endeavors, the mystery of healing and the realms of the mystical called out to me. I have studied many forms of energy work, including a madcap study of Shamanism.
What are your favorite sources for inspiration?
When I began working with the balancing and healing powers of gems and metals, i soon began creating my own designs. Last year, I discovered Shiana and I find it to be the perfect product. Fair trade pure silver and gold in stunning designs! It is a pleasure to work with.
What do you plan for Rasa Rocks in the future?
My shop Rasarocks is now taking form, and to expand its offerings, I have included a section called 'Rasrocks Kids'. I believe it will be special for children to wear Fair Trade, non-toxic silver and gold. I will include a tag that explains to the child, and the parents, that with every purchase, they are supporting Fair Trade and the life of another child.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?
If I could travel anywhere, I would like to go to the Karen village and watch the artisans at work.
Find out more about Shelley at her etsy store, or send her an email. Please also check out the Etsy storyteller group she belongs to:
Anna of Sakura Jewellery, is a First off, what got you started in your jewellery designing career?
I have always been creative and loved anything to do with art at school but, as my work as a lawyer became more hectic, I felt that my creativity was increasingly becoming buried due to the stresses and strains of my life in the corporate world. My interest in jewellery designing was really born of a need to escape from those strains and stop me becoming 100% absorbed in my day job!
I am self-taught and enjoy exploring new techniques and processes without any preconceptions about what is or isn't possible. In my mind there is never any right or wrong way to create a piece so I feel complete freedom when designing. I love every moment that I am creating my pieces because it is a purely self-indulgent process as far as I am concerned and creating makes me feel totally absorbed and filled with creative energy which leaves no room for stress or strain. Simply put, when I am creating my jewellery I feel truly happy :)
Starting up Sakura Jewellery has allowed me to channel my creative energy into a tangible form. I also wanted to offer an alternative to the mass-produced jewellery abundant in the high street stores these days. I felt sure that it was possible to offer beautiful, hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces at affordable prices and that is my mission for Sakura Jewellery now and in the future :D
What are the things that inspire you?
I am definitely inspired by the materials that I use and, in particular, the array of colours I find in the gemstones I use. I think colour affects us all hugely perhaps without us ever noticing and I really love to use harmonizing combinations in my work. I must admit that I don't follow fashion trends at all and generally make what pleases me and puts a smile on my face lol
Many of my recent pieces have been heavily influenced by the gorgeous Karen silver I have used. For example, when I look at a Karen silver Sakura (cherry blossom) the rest of the piece just builds itself around that focal in my mind.
How would you describe the creative process you go through when making a piece?
My designs either come to me in my dreams or just pop into my head when I least expect it. It is an almost magical process which I don't really understand myself. I must say it can also be rather worrying at times because there is always the possibility that the flow of design inspiration could stop at any time (fingers crossed that it won't :S).
I generally only ever make one of each design because I believe that jewellery should be as unique as the person who wears it.
I always start off by sketching what is in my head before I start to make anything tangible. This way I can get a feel for the balance and harmony of the design and also a sense of whether the finished piece will work in its entirety.
Once I have the design sketched out I start making the piece and make adjustments to the design as I feel necessary. I think because I sketch my designs first it is very rare that I finish a piece and then feel like I need to start again from scratch.
You mentioned that you quit your corporate life as a lawyer to start Sakura Jewellery, what urged you to do that? What challenges did you face in the transition?
My work as a lawyer was interesting in that it provided a technical challenge, but the environment didn't nurture me spiritually and left me very little time to pursue anything creative outside of work. So, I decided it was time for a complete overhaul of not only my career but my life!
I think the biggest challenge for me was not really leaving my old life but battling the perceptions of others that I was somehow wasting all my education by leaving the Law. Luckily I had strong support from my family and partner who really believed in me and my designs.
To be honest, I have found it much easier and much more rewarding being self-employed lol Now I know that every minute I spend creating my jewellery is for me and my baby "Sakura Jewellery" :)
What is next in for Sakura Jewellery? What are your hopes and plans?
I have enrolled on a silver-smithing course from this November so I can continue to expand my skills and hopefully bring a fresh new twist to Sakura Jewellery come 2008 ;0)
There is also a new Sakura Jewellery website in the pipeline which I am excited about so the future looks bright :)
My hope is that my designs continue to be well received and that I can continue to indulge my passion for the foreseeable future ♥
You can find out more about Anna and Sakura Jewellery at her website and Etsy store. She also runs a blog:
http://www.sakurajewellery.com
http://sakurafubukidesigns.blogspot.com
http://sakurajewellery.etsy.com
I know it’s been a while since we have updated the blog. June and July has been quite busy for us as we prepare for the winter collection of designs. If you haven’t received the email newsletter, we’d like you to know that Shiana is giving site wide discounts on our items for bulk purchases :) the details can be found at http://www.shiana.com
Now, enough about that and more about the village and our greenery themed blog post! It’s been rainy for several days, which caused some trouble along the road sides (mud slides, broken trees, the usual rainy-season hindrances.) Luckily the village is at a high spot, and flooding is rare, and with the rain in full swing, we’re lucky that the forest plants were thriving.
Which leads us to this package right here:
Given to us by sweet Siwaporn, who makes Shiana’s lovely fish beads. The package is full of Phak waan (Pak wan) which when literally translated, means “sweet vegetable”, a leafy green vine, which really does taste sweet when stir fried or boiled in soup. Imagine a leafy sweet asparagus and you will get the basic taste of Phak wan.
We also saw that Ngu-ga started to grow some hot green chili in his garden. These were also picked right after the photo was taken to make a spicy chili salsa. The villagers often eat their vegetables with a spicy dip which is a bit different from the traditional Thai spicy dips and sauces because they don’t contain fish sauce. The dip contains soy sauce or salt, shallots, green grilled chilies (pictured), garlic, parsley and lime juice. You have to eyeball the amount of ingredients you put in, but it makes for a great dip, and tastes better on the second day.
Lastly, there is this odd tree. We found it while visiting Ngu-ga’s orchard. No one really has any idea what it is, but the “fruits” are hollow inside and the skin is quite thin. If any one knows, feel free to let us know!
Take care and have a great summer!
Angie
[104040146] Thai Karen Silver 30mm Moon Fish Toggle (1 Set)
[Picture of Road at 11:00am: What should have been clear day]
The seating area was divided into sectioned mats for the different streets or sub-neighborhoods in the village. We greeted a few different neighborhood leaders before I saw Tutara who had saved us a seat next to his family.
We sat in silence, listening to the Buddhist mantras. My dad explained to me that this was the first day, and that the monk will stay to continue chanting non-stop for seven days and nights. The prayers explain the life of the Buddha. It is done at least once a year to ensure the village’s health and for prosperity, and for everyone world-wide to be generally at peace.
Some villagers sat with candles in front of them, while others lit candles outside. After a while, we went out to the fish ponds with Tutara & his son, Sudee (Tutara’s brother-in-law) and Sudee’s nieces Jajan and Jahaair to feed the fish. It was a special occasion, so the village fishes were eating coconut shavings and rice that had been blessed by the monks.
With our spirits rekindled, we reflected on what an honor it was to have participated in such an event. As we were leaving, I asked Tutara if the village heart will be closed by the time we come back. He laughed and said, that while the doors to the building may be closed, the true “heart of the Karen village” is never closed so long as there are people who care.
While Sa'cher has gone out to purchase new gasoline for the torches, one of his apprentices sets up the soldering table for him. Today they're making leaves.
It's warmer to sit in the sun while you build a fire. Today's breakfast is rice pourage and picked vegetables. Many of the villagers choose to be vegetarians as part of the Buddhist belief to not harm other living things.
A villager sands down the edges of a silver shell. This household also owns a small village grocery store, where cotton strings for beads, shampoo, and cans of Pepsi can be purchased.
While we try to record all the information we find, some things do get lost. I found some old notes on spirit locks (at least four years old), which may be of better use if shared, this is unedited, and I think I’ve written a better version else where, but I will get to recording that later.
The spirit locks are strung with the loops on the top, not with an external loop or bar. They are in a traditional padlock shape to help keep the soul within the body. So, they are used to basically to “lock” the soul (which resides in a person’s head) in the body.
They are traditionally worn to the back of a person, similar to a clasp.
It is good luck to give new born babies spirit locks to protect them from evil spirits that might try to steal the child’s spirit away.
In ancient Thai culture, if a spirit becomes unhappy it will leave the body to go back to live in the forests. A person can loose their spirit when they are frightened or in times of great stress. Loosing your spirit does not actually mean dying, a person without his or her spirit will loose their Charisma, and they will be unable to focus.
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