It’s finally here

And so it has begun. The feeling I was waiting for. The feeling that actually arrived much later than I anticipated. I’ve started to miss home.

Spring is arriving in Europe and it’s truly the best time of the year. After a winter that lasts for way too long it is like everything and everyone are reborn – the colours are returning and so are the birds and sun and the smiles on people’s faces. The streets will soon be full of summer parties and the parks will be full of sunbathers.

Pure magic.

But travelling is addictive and it’s difficult enough to decide which country to head to next, let alone deciding on a return date home.

I’m on Bali now, Lombok from tomorrow, and my Indonesian visa runs out in 2 weeks so I need to book a flight out of here. I can’t decide – too many options. My heart says Philippines but I’ve always wanted to celebrate Vesak which falls on the 24th of May (the Buddhist new year) in a Buddhist country…

I want to be home before the end of the summer but I also want to visit northern Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and Shanghai! Maybe I should simply take a break from the Asian trip - go back home and work over the summer, and then head back to Asia later in the year?

Too many options makes the heart restless.

Take yourself there

In the last few days I’ve had two of the most spectacular experiences of my whole life.
It’s quite a statement but it’s true.

First there was Mount Bromo – a 2329m high active volcano on East Java.
I saw the sun rise over the mountains to reveal Bromo and its sand storm landscape. It was a surreal place, it felt as if I was in a dream.

Then there was Kawah Ijen – a volcano containing one of the most poisonous lakes in the world. Here, men are working in the dangerous gases, carrying loads of up to 100kg of sulfur for several kilometres. I have never seen anything quite like this place before.

Last evening I arrived in Bali and although I’ve had a great night’s sleep and a long relaxing morning, it all still hasn’t quite caught up with me. I need some time to reflect over what I’ve just seen and been through and I think it’s important to allow yourself that time during your travels or you may not really realise the amazing things passing you by.

But this is what travelling is all about – to get out of your comfort zone and your regular world. It’s about putting yourself in situations and places where you never thought you’d go, or even knew existed – it’s about taking your body, mind and soul there.

In the last few days I’ve been there. It’s a life changing experience.

Buy more stuff

I know it’s an overload of jewellery lately but in the middle of this stressful pre-travel time, being creative is the one thing that keeps me sane.

Most jewellery is for sale too, in case you missed that, on my Etsy shop. Except for a couple of pieces I got too connected to while in the making.
And speaking of sales – if anyone wants a DKNY handbag, Alexander McQueen scarf or a couple of PS Vita games (WipEout 2048 & Uncharted: Golden Abyss), you can buy them off me here.

Wonders of the www

Ain’t it funny, how we think we’re so clued up these days. 24h news on the tv, all kinds of news on the web, free newspapers all over the streets, your friend’s status updates on facebook, strangers posts in forums.

And still we know absolutely nothing.

Don’t make assumptions before you get the whole story – don’t believe everything you see on tv; hear on the radio; or read on the World Wide Web.

 

If you are on this page because you are angry over someone who have made assumptions, only to go make your own assumptions about me, here’s a message to you:

Peace & Love x

The crawl

A beautiful walk around Highgate, that turned into a pub crawl around north London. Feeling a little fragile today..

2013 resolutions

The new year’s resolutions. Let’s hope they don’t get lost in space.

Into the unknown

Today I woke up unable to sit still. Normally I don’t have any problems with it so I thought I had yet another day of getting things done online. But the thoughts in my head are racing and I can’t keep up. I’ve started a million things all at once – the online shop, photoshop, ordering bits n bobs, writing in the diary, taking photos of yesterday’s creations…. but I’m unable to finish any of them. I get sidetracked and I want to leave the house. Don’t know where I’d go, I just need to walk. Forward.

I believe it’s the restlessness that has kicked in again. It’s in me all the time but sometimes it brings its buddies anxious and guilt and that’s when things gets really bad.

A few weeks back I booked a one-way ticket to Bangkok. I’m going to be away for a while, going from place to place, wherever the wind and opportunity takes me. I got no plans. Part of me loves it, just going with it, but as I’m an organised bitch it also stresses me out. How do you write a to-do-list for a no plans backpacking trip?!

I got a month and a half left with my lover London. I’m sure I’ll be back but for now it will be bye-bye. It’s like setting a date for a breakup. But, as with boys, I keep looking for something better and more suitable for me. I just want to find some kind of peace. Maybe I’ll be looking forever.

Crystal healing

I’ve always adored crystals and the more I learn about them, the more I fall for them. I can spend hours in crystal shops, picking the ones I feel the most connected to. I feel they’re alive, I can certainly feel their energy. And if used correctly and with respect, they can help you with all of this life’s obstacles and sorrows.

So when starting to make jewellery, the most natural choice for me was to work with gems and other organic material such as leather. And although I build up a special bond with the stones during the creation progress, I will eventually put them up on sale. I shall let you know once I’ve opened an online shop.

I have created a Jewellery category in the Creations menu above where you will be able to find all the finished pieces. If you click on any picture in there it will take you to the blog post about that specific piece which will include additional photos.

Thanks for reading and hope you like! And don’t forget to check back in to see the progress, I’m only getting started… :)

Next adventure

Photos of me by Simon Wisbey.

I just booked a one-way ticket to Bangkok. My heart’s racing, it’s finally happening. Much later than initially planned but the time has come. I’m going in February without plans; I’m letting my lovely room here in London go, I’m storing all my belongings, to go bum around Asia for a while. Who knows for how long or where I’ll end up next. It’s an adventure.

Jamm it up

Met my brother the other day for a coffee in Kensal Rise and after the rain came glorious sunshine so we walked. Walked down to his job in South Kensington, just in time for his shift to start. I carried on walking and ended up in Soho at my old job. Few beers with ex collegues and then time to meet my brother again, this time in Brixton.

The thing with Brixton is simple – it’s funky as hell. We went to Brixton Jamm which was pretty empty, but we don’t mind – more room to dance! And as always after a night out there, you come home with several new phone numbers on your mobile, hundreds of new friends and thousands of photos you don’t remember taking. Oh, and that rediculous hangover for the morning after.