12:26 AM
Raw… Rough… Within the dirty heap, are gems. I just have to show you their true potential and it will take time. It’s like the process of the pearl and the clam… Anything that’s truly rewarding and beautiful in the end, takes hard work…
I polished these by hand, with my little fingers, using classic methods that were used to polish stones in the genesis of jewelry making of the 17-1800s. I still have A LOT of work to do to these… My entire approach is to keep things natural and real. I’m not trying to ‘over-do’ these. Not fake. Natural raw beauty is more aesthetic and realistic when it comes to some stones to me… You know?
I’ve never taken the ‘easy or lazy’ route with anything. I had an interest in learning how things were made. I reverted back to the old school/classic jewelry smithing and polishing techniques, after doing much research for several months, precisely about 8 months worth of practicing, trial/error, oopsies mixed with lots of uh-oh’s and it was hard. This entire process humbled me.
It takes love for the craft, devotion, dedication, patience and more. It doesn’t happen over night. See? Did I get a few injuries/owies??? YES!
I told you good things were on the way… No child’s play here or convenient wrap ups. To me, this is what artistry is all about.
Stay tuned and please check back. I’ll be adding these pieces to the jewelry website @ www.stonedsoul.com - Stoned Soul Urban Jewelry. I’ll be back soon with more changes and developments of jewelry pieces in a few weeks or so - hopefully…
Oh and for those of you who have said that I don’t do my own jewelry work and that I pull photos of already finished jewelry photos from the net… Each photo is electronically dated/watermarked by me, from my cameras, with gps/date and true file location. Yes, I do my own work. I take my own photos. I’m ‘competent’ and a humble artsy chick.
P.S.: Can you spot the diamonds???
There’s about 4 types in several color…
Pick them out if you can…
XO
Gia K/Anje… :)
All images are so ownership of Gia K./Anje and are copyrighted exclusively for ‘Stoned Soul Urban Jewelry’ and are not to be copied, cut, pasted, uploaded, blogged onto any other website/internet entity. Thanks. Enjoy.
11:35 PM
2:50 PM
Questions?
Just read bio please!!! Thank you :)
6:44 PM
Ummy… No, I’m Really Thinking About Something Here…
I am still searching for the ‘right/perfect’ tumblr layout. May have to buy one to get what I want. I really am. I am not too happy with this one, but I’ll make it work for now.
Also, please stay tuned for my idea of ‘organic artisan designs’ in the next few week. Yeah, I’m taking a huge leap of faith and going with designing what I know and feel.
XO and Happy magnificently amazingly awesome Friday!!!
Officially back on track as of today. Doc says all clear. Ends an 8-month period of extreme patience and a real head trip… Back to it… See you soon.
Loving your return and sending all of my love and support - as you know, always. Hang in there and I can’t wait to hear about born and raised. I’m keeping it professional here, since this is my business blog.
11:34 PM
Back to Basics… Back to the Genesis of Artisan Handcrafted Designs…
2012 will be about returning back to the basics or organics and being the true artisan that I am and started out as years ago. Somewhere along the way, I got a bit distracted and mildly lost my focus on what true design should be or look like. Well, it’s back and I’ve been so hard at work that it’s scary…
Many of you sent me questions and requests, asking if I could make more rings, bangles, bracelets and earrings styles… And it looks like many of your wishes will be granted for 2012… I’ve already started.
I had to do so much research and soul searching within myself to prepare for this process or design and giving you the customer/friend/supporter what you wanted and have been dreaming of…
So stay tuned for the natural, esoteric, artisan styled, handmade ideals of my 2012 designs. I have been doing a lot of research on how things and jewelry items were made in the old west and mid plains states. I’m talking old school metal-smithing/gold smithing/silver smithing primitive practices. I’m originally from Arizona and I was born and raised there, so a lot of my inspiration comes from there. Sooo many of my styles come from my mixed blood of Native American and Brazilian heritage (plus so much more). Arizona is the genesis of my design and rock hounding. I learned so much from that place and it’s deeply interwoven into the fabric of my very being. Nearly everything I do, or design is inspired by the old southwest, and this ranges from colors, shapes, styles and conversation pieces with a soul and purpose.
Art of ‘any medium has a intrinsic, soul healing, and spiritual purpose on this earth. Art also has a soul and one must have a true passion and devotion to their work, in order to give their art a face and soul. I think it’s important that one must also believe in their work, and in themselves to instill passion, clarity, and a voice in their pieces. Does this make any sense to you??? Also, any art medium is about love and kindness… It’s impossible to design and not love yourself or others…
Maybe it’s late and maybe I’m rambling, but please stay tuned. I plan to do so much more for 2012.
It’s now 11:27 and I’ve had a long and beautiful day. I’m sorry for not blogging more, but I’ve been really, really, really busy. So bare with me. Think of others. Be kind always. Respect everyone always. Don’t fret the petty things and don’t make mountains out of mole hills. Hope everything has a beautiful tomorrow (Friday) and weekend.
XO… Nothing but love and smiles.
2012 is Looking Promising and Oh So Lovely…
I’m excited for 2012… Aren’t you??? How on earth could you not be??? Now that we’re over all of the Mayan speculations about the world ending, and we’re midway into January, there’s so much to be happy about and thankful for. I know I am very thankful… I have so much love and positive things to be grateful for.
I’m excited about the newest edition… Yeh, only a few days left until it’s introduced. I’m thrilled to share with you that ‘Stoned Soul Urban Jewelry’ will be overhauled in shades of blue. It’s like torn paper and fabric that I actually snapped photos of, uploaded and used for the background. I told you that I may love red, but that I am forever blue. I’ve always been an indigo woman… Even as a small child, I favored blues that ranged from the palest blues to the darkest blues. So my site, jewelry and everything and anything ‘Stoned Soul Urban Jewelry & Accessories’ will always remain blue for many reasons.
I’ve also gotten into the textile business. Been doing this and developing it for some time now. It’s a task that I love and I’m a true artisan. I do everything myself and everything is made in America, but little ole’ me. No team of helpers. It takes loads of hard work, patience and devotion…
Got more copyrights for jewelry items in for 2012 and have things sealed, which is something I try to do every 3 months. So I’m a busy little bee and social business butterfly. Thank you all so much for your kind and wonderful words too. You all inspire me. I’ve also gotten so much love and I’m working on the facebook, vimeo, tumblr themes, and more affiliations. It’s not an easy task either, but thank goodness I have a background in PR/Media PSY/Strategic Business Mgmt. Planning/Photography/Journalism. I know… It’s a lot, right??? … It humbles me so much and I an so grateful that it gave me an idea as to handle things. It’s a blessing, but it all takes time.
So stay tuned and January is super special this month… Won’t say why… It just is. Hoping that everyone had a wonderful and safe Holiday and that you all have a beautiful 2012. I’ll be doing more charitable events, collaborations and more for 2012. I am currently working on a few projects now that I can’t talk about, but I’ll update the news section on the site ASAP.
Life is too beautiful. Remember to stay positive and only to think positive things, always. Do not let darkness into your love, light, and life.
XO - Me. Anje/Gia
9:44 AM
Oh… Forgot Merry Christmas Eve & Merry Christmas. My Tumblr, e-mail and web card that I sent out and posted for the Holidays and yes, I made it ;) I try to be ‘unique’ and I love working with graphics and such…
XO and see you all next year for 2012!!!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year…
I’m humbly excited. Won’t say about what, but I have this beautiful feeling inside me. My heart can’t stop beating a million miles a minute and I have butterflies. Right now, I have like this goofy smile on my face. So yeh, I can’t wait for everything. I have a good feeling for 2012 and I have lots of things to do, and clear out the way before Christmas and thereafter. New Years and thereafter will be ‘awesomely amazing’.
Wishing every single one of you, a Merry Splendid Christmas, Festive Hanukkah, an amazingly awesome New Years, and beautiful 2012. I ‘may be’ m.i.a. (missing in action) for a bit because I have lots to do ;)
XO with lots of smiles!!!
5:36 PM
a message from Anonymous
Awh!!! Thank you for your compliments. I’ve been designing jewelry since I was 8 years old. I started out making the hippy hemp and friendship bracelets like most kids. Then I got interested in stones. I grew up in the hot desert and my parents were very strict. I had little options when it came to fun. I wasn’t allowed to be like other ‘normal’ kids who got to go outside, run around the neighborhood and reek havoc. One reason for my parents being so strict for a while was because a little child, who was our childhood friend, by the name of Micheal Leland, was kidnapped and abducted, so this kind of caused a pandemonium of an epidemic where my neighbors made their kids stay inside for several summers and after school days. The worse part is that Micheal’s body was found only two blocks away from our house in a drainage ditch, and so our parents, police department and investigators believed that the abductor lived in our desert community/neighborhood. Arizona had a very long bout of child abductions, which terrified several parents… So that is part of why me and my older sister at the time, had to stay inside. We learned to focus on studies, getting good grades, playing my instruments (violin, cello, and clarinet) and finding something other than math or science to spend my extra time doing. I had to get a hobby.
Living in AZ, is like living in the Mecca of rock and gem shows. I enjoyed going to them every year and I’d save my allowance that I got to buy large geodes, stones, and things here and there. I almost majored in geology, but I couldn’t stand to hear about the earth’s formations, and how the core had lava. Yes, we all know about Pangea and how the earth was once connected like a huge puzzle. I wanted a shortcut. I wasn’t interested in knowing about how there are like 8 layers of materials/minerals before you get to the center of the earth, or where earth quake faults lie. I just wanted to know where to find the goods and get my chance to go on geological digs to collect my own mineral samples. I tried to major in geology for a year and after falling asleep in class, due to boredom, I changed my major… I figured out that I could get around the schooling and do what I wanted to do, without having to sit in class and hear the earthquake history of the world. By the time earthquake lectures were over, I’d be terrified because there’s nothing cool about earthquakes, the ground shaking like jello beneath your feet, stone buildings and freeways crumble, highrises in LA swaying like jello, or seeing it’s destruction. Plus I wasn’t planning on working for the USGS, or Cal Tech… I was enthralled by stones and their genesis and as soon as I got to the level of where I could name any stone just by looking at it and feeling it, raw or polished, I was set. As for patience? Well, when you love something, patience is the key and is nurtured. When you’re doing what you love, patience is something that comes with the territory and I don’t care what it is, whether it’s music, learning an instrument, learning a career or whatever… So it’s more like devotion and being partially married to your craft, whatever that may be. Hope that explains and hoping that I haven’t made any typos. Yes, I’ve carved/shaped some stones. Happy Holidays and may your 2012 be amazing!!!
Yes… these are all coming back, along with things from way back when. They were some of my very first designs and many customers have bothered me to the ends of the earth to bring them out of retirement. I’ll do it, but it’s a sweet thing that my design copyrights have been updated for 2012-2013. This prevents one from copying/stealing designs. Humble beginnings. I’m still in my learning and creative process. Humbly so… In life, we’re always learning and always growing.
XO
Inspiration from Love, Lyrics & Music…
I get inspiration from love, lyrics and music. I also get inspiration from what surrounds me and what’s happening around the world. Sometimes, I’ll be hard at work, meeting deadlines, designing a few websites or two at once, doing projects for clients, sewing, re-arranging and just burning my candlestick at both ends entirely for hours, upon hours.
To keep me company, being that I work/design alone and do everything alone, I’ll turn the music up so loud that it drowns out my diamond drills, my electric saws, and my carving and polishing wheels. My tumbler’s are drowned out and those things are noisy. I become enthralled and lost in music as I carve, string, shape, facet, and wire/chain away… I get lost in and by memories, mementos, thoughts, find myself giggling, and wanting to use all blue stones. It’s odd because I hear words to a song, and I get an idea to make something… I’d describe my vision as being a multi-faceted spectrum. I have no limits, even when I am terribly stressed. I keep going and keep pushing. So tonight, it’s a busy day. I have lots of things to get done. I have been swamped because it’s the Holidays and I had 350 orders and out of the 350, 80 were custom requests from the boutique, not the websites. So I have been busy and my fingers, wrists and arms are sore. My back is sore from leaning over and my jeweler’s bench is hard as a rock. I can’t complain. I’ll take two advil and then smile about how beautiful life is and how blessed I am.
For me, 2011 was pretty amazing, and 2012 will be so much more. I have high hopes. I’m able to do what I want and I’m living my dream. It didn’t happen all at once, but took many years and an investment of never giving up, some tears, lots of hardship and frustration, long hours of getting my degrees and having to delay my designing dream, mostly my soul and determination. You just never stop and you never accept ‘NO’ or someone telling you that you can or can’t do something. You define and determine what your own limits are, not someone else. That’s my thoughts on life, going after your dreams and finding happiness… Oh, and happiness isn’t always nothing but a run of straight/pure perfection and happiness. ‘Happiness’ is like a highway. It has it’s lumps, speed bumps, tickets, stop signs, red lights, yellow lights, green lights, bad weather, pedestrians crossing & jaywalking, impeding your journey, and other drivers… but you still have to keep on driving on that road of/to ‘finding your happiness, and life’s contentment. We all have our own ideas of what ‘happiness and contentment’ are, right’ ??? Define yours.
May you all have a very Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, and Happy, Beautiful 2012.
XO ;)
Sometimes…
You just have to tell people what’s truly on your mind and in your heart. Sometimes, you just have to thank them.
I need the calm we create.
Slow this aching heart."
