Sometimes it is the expanse...

Ah to be able to flirt yet again with the feeling of freedom...

Walking with the dogs ...

How can you do better than nature's design? This seedpod is beautiful just the way it is. Maybe I should look at casting it in copper and silver. I can see necklaces and earrings right away. Can't you?

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Jewel Quest - A day I spent choosing the right gemstones for my next collection

That's Mr Sasi Kumar- my partner in crime as far as jewels are concerned. He's my go-to guy for gemstones for setting. For the last couple of years he's patiently sifted through thousands (yes, THOUSANDS) of  gemstones to satisfy my need for the right cut, the perfect size and the right colors in stones.  

From conception to jewelry

What is the journey from conception to jewelry? Sometimes it is the need to create something which I've never seen before.

I wanted to create a ring that would 'span' two fingers, but would not look like it was being worn on two fingers..

And what emerged was the floating knuckle-duster - I call it that because it does not look anchored to the fingers in the conventional sense.

No sketches - it was all in my mind. My artisan Raj and I share a special understanding after years of working on weird and wonderful ideas together. Now he does not bat an eyelid when I suggest a design which is completely crazy. He does, however, smile to himself and shake his head from time to time.. Here's the first prototype we created in copper (left) and the final product (right).

 

 

 

Ring Sizing

Here's a post on ring sizing.

 

Wrap a piece of loose string around your finger. Be sure to allow for the size of your knuckle.

With a pen, mark the point on the string where the end meets.

Measure this length against a ruler or scale.

Match your results with the table below to get your ring size.

It is said that a more accurate measurement is possible in the evening. 

Circum Inch Circum Mm US and Canada UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand India, China, Japan, South America Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland 1.89 48 4½  I  8 8 1.92 48.7 4¾  J  8.75 1.94 49.3 5 J½  9 9.25 1.97 50 5¼  K  10 1.99 50.6 5½  K½  10 10.5 2.02 51.2 5¾  L  11.25 2.04 51.9 6 L½  11 11.75 2.07 52.5 6¼  M  12 12.5 2.09 53.1 6½  M½  13 13.25 2.12 53.8 6¾  N  13.75 2.14 54.4 7 N½  14 14.5 2.17 55.1 7¼  O  15 2.19 55.7 7½  O½  15 15.75 2.22 56.3 7¾  P  16.25 2.24 57 8 P½  16 17 2.27 57.6 8¼  Q  17.5 2.29 58.3 8½  Q½  17 18.25 2.32 58.9 8¾  R  19 2.34 59.5 9 R½  18 19.5 2.37 60.2 9¼  S  20.25 2.39 60.8 9½  S½  19 20.75 2.42 61.4 9¾  T  21.5 2.44 62.1 10 T½  20 22

A trip to Old Delhi - A Visual Delight

I'd gone gemstone shopping for my next collection - but could not, as usual, overlook all the visual stimulation that Old Delhi (Chandni Chowk) has to offer. From the way the jeweler's tools are stacked neatly in shelves to the bright scarlet bundle of devotional scarves that sits bathed in the April mid-day sunlight, to the window display of bundles of delicate lace stacked together. And of course all the food! The colours, textures, aromas... and changing with each season too. Here's just some of what I experienced this week... 

I love these stores - they're well-stocked and they follow a neat organizational schemata all their own. When you ask for something, the store-owner knows exactly which shelf to go looking into. I've almost never been disappointed...  

One of the many colours of Hindu devotion - a bundle of devotional scarves used for pilgrimages and as offerings at temples. 

A motley collection of trimmings and embroidered yolks. I love the blue stool that stands outside the store - for a tired customer or when it gets too cramped inside for the store-owner. Imagine sitting on one of these, sipping on a hot 'cutting' chai and watching the crowds move by.

In all the squalor and dirt, a window display of delicate tatting and 

cutwork lace.

A loquat vendor - proudly sells his fresh produce. 

Packets of sweet corn and green choliyan...

Green chillies and limes...

Another loquat vendor - I love his mobile stall.

Naan Khatai: ghee, flour, semolina and sugar - put together and baked right in front of you on the hand-cart in a make-shift oven. Irresistible! 

   

Making an exception for a dear friend - wedding bands

I know, I know - I don't really do bespoke pieces. But Anit is different. Even a second in time spent with Anit is most likely to leave you feeling uplifted and happy. He is a valued friend. Here he is unwrapping his wedding rings. Love the expression of sheer happiness on his face. Makes it totally worth the effort.

I made Anit's band with a geometrical pattern etching and for his wife, her personal totem animal the tortoise was carved out of silver and added to the wedding band. It's not a very clear picture, but here's Anit trying to show us the lucky tortoise.

I'm glad I got the opportunity to create something special for such a wonderful occassion.