BodyBlingOnline

Some Things Really Are Better Less Than 6"

2010-04-09T20:38:00.013-04:00

I gotta be honest with ya. Until now, the only miniature paintings I've ever seen are exquisite pieces done by village artisans in rural India (of course brought to the big city for sale). Just incredible. The beauty and intricacy of these tiny pieces is mind-blowing. Never thought I'd see that anywhere else.

Enter my friend Melody Lamb - did I mention she uses India ink? Good segue way. Seriously, you have to check out this very talented artist - she is blessed with a crazy steady hand to carve out beautiful paintings in the form of ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions, & Originals about the size of a hockey card) - yeah, I just learned what that meant too. Wonderful renditions of fawna and fantasy. This lady's got a blog, a website, an iphone app, a twitter profile, a book she's illustrated, magnets, ornaments, OH MY! Hey who knows, if you come up with another great idea, she might even load that up too! ssssshhh, don't tell her I said this, but maybe you can ask if she takes requests - you know like for special occasions or special people...

Yes she is an extremely talented artist, but what impresses me most is the kind of person she is. She's a hard working stay at home mom, a giving human being, and a truly supportive friend to many. Check out this great miniature artist and spread the word!

Jewelry PR Launch of Colored Diamonds

2010-02-03T10:56:00.001-05:00

Jewelry PR Launch of Colored Diamonds

Ever Have an Entire Film Crew in Your House?

2010-01-21T11:56:00.004-05:00

So it's been a while since my last post. With good reason. I'm working on a new web project. Not sure how I'm going to air it yet, but working on that too. I'm sitting in my home office and have and entire film crew swirling around me. Directors, cameramen, lighting crew, sound crew, production staff, actors, tons of equipment, and of course the craft table (that's the yummy stuff). I feel like I'm actually in a movie myself. BRB - just going to have a look at the next shot....I'm back...so it looks like I'm going to get a profile shot done as some point too. Cool. It's been something I've been thinking about doing for a while. I think this site speaks more to the beauty of the pieces, but it's also nice to put a face to a name or a purpose. Somehow seems more human.

Will be putting up some beautiful pics of my trip to India soon. So look for those too.

2009-10-09T16:50:00.006-04:00

Ever Wonder Where to Find Incredible Victorian Hats?

Ladies, meet my friend Shawn. What an incredibly talented and inspirational artist. If you have ever craved a stunning and unique accessory, then you might want to consider the comeback hats are making and definitely check out the fruits of this WOW milliner! Shawn makes Victorian hats - antique reproduction hats, travel hats, straw hats, felt hats, bridal composition hats, and even special order pieces. Have a look at the pictures and you decide how gifted this gal is. Read her touching story and dedication to her dear friend who got her into the craft and make sure to take a glance at all the rave reviews! www.LaVictorianRoseMillinery.com - Hats for Ladies of Distinction.

The Matte Look

2009-07-27T23:52:00.005-04:00

I must say, I've always been a big fan of matte finishes, from photography to make-up. And it seems it's all making a comeback again now. I've seen quite a bit of press for matte nail polish recently, so if you've still got your old bottles, you may want to bring them out again (check to make sure they're ok to still use though). The nice thing about matte finishes in strategic places in your wardrobe is that they really highlight the sparkly stuff - so if you're into high gloss lip gloss, or any bling, it's definitely something to consider! One really cool thing about this new matte nail polish is the colors - navy and black and grape, just to name a few. And apparently they look best on short clean nails. Find out more at www.opi.com - you will love what you see!

YES

2009-07-22T00:18:00.003-04:00

Recognize that your "YES" has value. This is one of the best lines I've heard someone say.

I'm not one to jump on the bandwagon when I hear something I like just because it sounds good. It really has to resonate with me before I truly speak about it with others. I'm a type A personality. Love to learn. Love to experience. Love life. Want to do it all. I often give boundlessly to the people around me. I'm not very good at saying no - because I'm the eternal optimist, rather I say how? Always willing to help - sometimes at my expense. I'm a huge believer that if we all just focus on doing good things for each other, the world will be a remarkable place. So that's my I strive to do. Perhaps I'm the quintessential woman with goals, or a foolish one.

It wasn't until I was telling someone about my day recently, that I realized how tired I felt! And then I heard this line and it really hit me. So true I thought. It puts value in what I offer and that value is meaningful to someone - and meaningful to me. I have to recognize that first. Then others will also see my "YES" the same way. What do you think?

Diamonds

2009-07-19T10:19:00.008-04:00

From myths about diamonds warding off evil, curing illness, and casting spells to its magical draw of beauty and mystique, diamonds are one of the most interesting gemstones man has ever encountered.

The early history of diamonds always speaks about India - even the largest diamonds today come from India (the Koh-I-Noor and the Hope Diamond). Diamonds were valued for their ability to refract light, their strength to mark hard metals, and their beauty (not to mention the myths too). Soon spurred by the value of diamonds and the limited supply, the east enjoyed a very prosperous trade economy. Diamonds were given as gifts to royalty, used for trade, and considered a source of wealth. India was the only place diamonds were available until about the late 1860's at which point a new source was discovered in South Africa - unfortunately these diamonds have been referred to as blood diamonds. There have also been other sources unearthed around the world, but not in great quantity.

This much coveted stone has received much press from its initial discovery. Diamonds continue to captivate audiences everywhere!

New Year, New Beginnings, New Blessings!

2009-01-31T00:27:00.003-05:00

I think all the new years in all possible cultures have now taken place! To all of you - may you be blessed with all the good health, wealth, and love that life has to offer. To all of our artisans from around the world, we pray deeply for your continued success and your ability to pay it forward - forever. We are honored and humbled to be part of your lives.

Indian Weddings

2008-11-22T23:45:00.005-05:00

Have you ever seen the vibrant, breathtaking colors of the saris and jewelry in an Indian wedding? Absolutely stunning! Ruby, emerald, sapphire, gold, bright orange, the deepest of reds...all woven together in beautiful embroidered patterns of bursts and paisley, studded in yards and yards of the most exquisite silk fabric - silk like you've never seen before. And the exquisite jewelry! Of course traditionally it's always been pure gold, but now with the birth and growth of beautiful imitation, it gives the wearer of the jewelry a bit of a break in terms of weight and cost. Each outfit is just an absolute magical combination of color and while we might think the adjacent colors may clash, somehow they come together beautifully. It's a time of joy, spirit, celebration, and unity - all so reflected in wardrobe!

Mini History of Jewelry

2008-10-20T22:10:00.007-04:00

Since the dawn of time, various civilizations have used all kinds of adornments to symbolize beauty, fashion, status, possession, culture, belonging, magical powers, mood, and faith – especially in warding off evil. Amazing isn’t it? It’s likely that you may have not given that much thought to the trinket other than as its role as an accessory to your new wardrobe.

Traditional ornaments for the body were made of seeds, twigs, berries, leather, ivory, shells, horn, bone, feathers, and various other findings amongst the landscape. Found objects in the day of primitive man were considered very precious and were worn and showcased on the body as prized possessions, although the jewelry so created was very organic in its construction. Stories were told and memories were cast between all the little findings woven together in full circle – quite a mesmerizing concept.

Over time, as religion started to play a greater role in historical civilizations, jewelry espoused one’s convictions and belief system and began to take on a deeper symbolic role – that still exists today. Think about how many times you’ve seen someone with a religious symbol strewn on a simple chain dangling as a pendant. Precious stones were thought to contain certain protective powers and curative properties (both of which are still believed by many today) and precious metals were connected with worship. Thus, composition of jewelry became a little more sophisticated and pursuant to that its scope of placement on the body broadened. Hence we saw the dawning of earrings, hair jewelry, rings, etc. Eventually jewelry in the role of functionality blossomed – like the watch or the belt or barrettes for example, and so was born the category of accessories! Stay tuned for more on that one!

Today, jewelry still holds most if not all of its original values. The artists that create it have such a wonderful and monumental task of ensuring it is represented in the most expressive way – a real tribute to it evolution and meaning to man.

We are back!

2008-10-14T21:28:00.003-04:00

Sorry it's been this long since our last post. It has been a busy few weeks. We are often asked about the artisans on and soon-to-be-on the site and thought it would be a nice idea to tell their stories every so often. So here's the first...her artisan name is Asha.

She is simple, creative, and peaceful. Her art flows from the heart and is boundless. She makes jewelry that resembles visions she sees in her dreams and her reflections. Each piece of jewelry is made one at a time, handcrafted with care and precision. She sees each creation as a new birth and dedicates her craft to the birth of every child, calf, seedling, idea, star, friendship, and beyond. She is truly blessed to be a witness to the magic that unfolds before her. And thus she is inspired. Asha is delightful and she is real.

The magic that comes from within each artisan is so amazing. We salute and respect each and every one.

Mary Frances Handbags

2008-09-18T22:25:00.009-04:00

Have you ever seen Mary Frances handbags? Exquisite!! The first time we saw these, we totally fell in love. It's hard to believe that these are all handmade. Mary Frances designs about 250 handbags a year and retires a set of them every season, so over time, the value of these bags actually goes up! Very smart in so many ways.
These handbags are so incredibly designed and crafted. Colorful stones, exquisite fabrics, flighty feathers, meandering beads, shiny metals, silky threads, sparkly crystals - all like you've never seen before - coming together in a handbag so chic and so yummy, you will want want one! We'll publish more about this collection soon, but until then, if you'd like to see more, click here.

A First!

2008-09-16T21:59:00.000-04:00

BodyBlingOnline.com joins the blogging world! OK, so maybe it's about time, but we have had such a great time putting together the site and making it come to life. With tremendous gratitude we thank our artisans, our visitors, and our ambassadors for making the last few months such a success. We have learned much and lived much. But we realize this is only the beginning. We now reach for the next star in the sky for inspiration, for depth, for destiny. We remain as always, Yours in Bling.

Body*Bling*Online

Some Things Really Are Better Less Than 6"

Jewelry PR Launch of Colored Diamonds

Ever Have an Entire Film Crew in Your House?

The Matte Look

YES

Diamonds

New Year, New Beginnings, New Blessings!

Indian Weddings

Mini History of Jewelry

We are back!

Mary Frances Handbags

A First!

BodyBlingOnline