Poya Days and Snow Days

People are often surprised to learn that I, a California girl, love winter.  The way I see it, it cuts two ways:  Either the California folks love it, or they won’t go near it.  There are plenty of Sun Belt natives who are fascinated by a phenomenon they only get to read about in books, or see in movies.  A snowy winter is practically magical to us, who only know a life where you get up and go out 365/12.  Sure—others can’t bear to be cold, or to ponder the added chore of shoveling. But I would gently submit to them that, in snow-covered climes, one doesn’t mow a lawn for half a year.

In Sri Lanka, there is something called a Poya Day.  This is a wonderful national holiday where the people celebrate the full moon.  That means that every month there is a day off from work and school, and shops are closed.  It is a religious holiday and practicing Buddhists visit the temple.  Alcohol and meat may not be sold. Sri Lankans consider the full moon an auspicious event.

Here in Maine, a snow day is our secular “Poya Day”.  On a snow day, the blizzard is so commanding that school and work and traffic stop.  We all stay home, cook soup, watch movies, and play games.  Our lives stop, as they do in Sri Lanka on Poya Days, and we are forced to reflect on our interconnectedness with the natural forces of our planet.

Snow days in winter are wonderful opportunities for me to create new necklaces in my studio.  Here is one from our January blizzard.

Long or Short?

In the picture is a "custom" I just finished for a friend.  Actually it is a second version of a custom.  My friend had a few beads she wanted me to make into a necklace, adding some of mine.  The result, a striking 25 inch piece, pleased us both, and it always elicited compliments when she wore it.  But six months later, she came back, having decided she wanted it to be longer.  That brought up the "short verses long" discussion.  Many designers prefer the shorter, 22 inch length, because it draws the eye to the face.  In fact, "Ornament" magazine  editor Robert Lieu writes in,  Collectible Beads, "I favor necklaces that do not reach lower than the bosom and prefer even a shorter length.  Longer necklaces tend to draw attention away from the face or neck.  Since any striking necklace attracts attention, this strategy may be compromised sometimes.  Neckware hanging lower than the waist often exposes the components to increased risk of damage, as the necklace tends to have more movement" (Collectible Beads,1995. p. 182).

Dr. Liu is the expert.  But  I think that each necklace has to work with the face, neck , body shape, height,  proportion of the wearer, and even hair style.  I am tallish and  straight, and favor a vintage style harking back to a time when women wore long beaded chains which echoed their slim dresses. But if I am designing a long necklace, I don't put a focal bead at the bottom. Instead, it would be placed on an upper side .  Some women don't want attention on their neck.  Some women want a necklace strategically placed above their chest.  Those without a chest would just as well accentuate their long line.  This is precisely why  making a necklace specifically for a client is the best solution.  The scale of beads, the length of the necklace, the color, the design-- all are factors to be considered.  The outfit or  top worn is the "canvas" for the necklace. Additional considerations are the neckline, the length of the top, the waist line, possible buttons, the color or pattern of the garment.  Will the necklace blend or be the focal point?

I bet you had no idea about all these factors in the simple wearing of a necklace!

Adventure in the Junk Souk in Amman, Jordan

I have a great belt.  It's really beautiful.  I bought it in Amman in 1980.  And like so many things, the memory of the adventure of buying it is the best thing about it.

I loved our first posting in Jordan.  I embraced the culture, the people, the food, the city, the climate--everything.  I was fascinated that everyone I met, including taxi drivers and shopkeepers, were so much savvier about world affairs than so many Americans.  And I loved exploring the Old City for old silver and Bedouin jewelry. "Shifty" and other entrepreneurs came to the house (see first blog), but I also wanted to explore on my own.  People told me I should visit the "junk souk" which was way down in the older central part of Amman, at "First Circle".   We lived at "Seventh Circle", and so I would have to take a taxi . The city was safe and I had no worries about hailing a taxi and making my way down to the souk alone.

I remember that I had to step down, to this place, as one steps down to a basement in New England.  It was dark, and filled with men working on metal—resembling booths of hardware and auto repair businesses. I had brought cash in my pocket, hoping to find some treasure in the form of a Bedouin amber necklace with silver beads, or coral, or lapis.  I had, if I remember correctly, fifty dinars in my back jeans pocket, which was the equivalent of one hundred fifty American dollars.  I walked slowly, peering right and left,  and visited several stalls.  What I found was not very different from the stuff on jebel weibdah, or jebel shmeisani, other neighborhoods in  Amman.  But then I entered one stall, and my eyes spotted a belt of silver and leather.  I had never seen one like it. Huge etched silver pieces adorned a 3-inch wide, worn leather belt.  In short, it was spectacular.  I asked to see it, and tried it on.  It could be worn at my hips and would  work with jeans,  skirts or dresses.  Heck, I could wear it with anything.  So I asked, "bikum hada? (How much is this?)"  My Arabic was simple but I got an answer. “Ktir” –a lot, I said, in my feeble attempt at bargaining.  I got them down from a hundred and fifty dinars to one hundred--still an exorbitant price.  Well, it was a wonderful belt I told myself.  I explained to the two guys there that I only had fifty in my pocket, but promised to bring another fifty next week.  They said okay: fifty now and fifty next week.  Then he said that I could take the belt home with me.  I thought that was more than fair.

I was teaching tennis lessons, at 10 dinars an hour, so after five lessons,  I had the second fifty within the week.  I got a taxi on the street, and made my way down to the junk souk again.  It was a little tricky finding them, but finally I recognized the shop where I found my belt.  I caught the eye of the same shopkeeper, and proudly made the final payment. The surprise in his eyes made me realize that I was one foolish girl. 



silver belt from Jordan



Julio in Peru

Some amethysts I bought from Julio

One common theme in my life overseas was the pursuit of crafts.  In every country I lived in I immediately set out to discover the beautiful craftwork of the region.  Often, the craftwork came to me.  Back in Jordan in early 80’s, the Arab vendors would always know who the new expats were and where they lived.  Within the first month, they were knocking on my door.  Americans were prime targets, but so were European residents.  Over twenty years after my initial forays into souks, pursuit of native arts, I began sponsoring craft shows for the embassy community in Lima.  This way I got to know the artists and learn about their lives and families.  In one show in the large side yard of the house, I had Willi, the painter, Oscar the woodworker, Ana Miranda , who had a sweater business, Pablo the gourd carver, Jaime the chess set maker, and Julio, the Rock guy.

Lima was difficult for me in some ways.  My Spanish was only so so.  While I could communicate, my comprehension was not adequate for the rapid language that bulleted back at me.  I felt handicapped and inadequate in my Spanish.  And while Peru is a beautiful country, Lima itself is cold and grey and crowded with nine million people.  I was so fortunate to have discovered Julio.

He was a small man, probably Quechua.  He talked fast and walked fast and liked to do business fast.  He arrived in a taxi and brought  bags with stone beads in them.  Sometimes he had old Venetian beads from old houses in Cuzco.  Usually he had amethysts or quartz or chrysocola to sell.  I like to think that I started designing necklaces out of some creative explosion in myself.  But in hindsight I realize that I started making/ selling necklaces so that I could buy beads from Julio.  He would arrive, run-walking up the walk, come in, and we would do business.  He would name his price, and I would balk, but I wanted the beautiful beads and so I would make offers, and then try to get them ALL for something much less.  Julio’s business plan was to move his inventory.  And I know that he loved coming to my house for that reason.  I learned the prices; the serpentine and onyx and orange jasper were very inexpensive, while he could ask more for the Peruvian opals and turquoise.  Once he caught himself up because he asked more for small quartz heishi beads than the large quartz beads.   When I asked him why the small ones cost more he told me that there was so much labor involved in the cutting.  I didn’t fall for that one; and I told him so. 

I miss my bead buying with Julio, and I remember those business transactions with nostalgia.  The thing is-- Julio didn’t know one word of English.

The Craft Fair at Pt Lookout in Northport

Over the weekend I participated in a show called Artfull-Gifts, in Northport, Maine.  The setting was gorgeous, as Pt Lookout is the former midcoast home of credit card giant MBNA.  Fine crafters from as far away at New Hampshire brought their work to show and sell.  Friday was a party night.  Wine and snacks were served as guests, who dressed up, strolled down the several aisles admiring the goods.  Saturday was the most hard core shopping day.  I sold several pieces at my booth.  I was lucky to have the help of good friend Beverly at my side.  I have yet to learn the skills of salesmanship, and it was Beverly who would encourage a potential customer to try some necklaces on.  I couldn't determine any trend in taste.  I sold simple and short turquoise necklaces, and more funky African styled pieces as well.  A few weeks ago I had seen pearls sell quickly, but not a one sold at the craft fair. 

All in all it was a lovely experience and I look forward to doing it again next year.

I'll be at the Artfull-Gifts Craft show at Point Lookout on November 19, 20 and 21.  My booth will be on the right wall as you enter.  Besides several necklaces featuring turquoise and pearls and amber, I will have a wide assortment of earrings for stocking stuffers.

My horizon

This is my horizon.  Today is grey and breezy out my window.  The island is shrouded, holding back its form.  But it’s just a game of peek-a-boo, because in a few hours it will appear in sharp focus. Actually we Mainers welcome these  times of fog and mood.  The clear sunny days present a triumphant concert in stero high volume and there is little that we can do but listen in rapt attention.  We need the chance to get work done, go about our business, with the single tune of an Irish  flute which is a cloudy day. 

Today I will make a necklace of Tibetan pearls, brass and quartz.