California 1983 - Ear Wraps worn only on one side was my most
successful creation and best seller for several years. I couldn’t believe
how many women ‘needed’ one at the Renaissance Fairs in California.

 

California - A little get together at my house to look at my jewelry with
my friends Isabel Allende, Amy Tan, and Terry McMillan. Each wrote
something about my jewelry so I could put it in a pamphlet to give to
customers - that was many years ago.

California 1991 - I love to show Isabel my collections. Half the fun in
collecting is showing off your treasures. We have often searched together
for new pieces in counties from India and Nepal to Argentina, Brazil and
Guatemala and even at Gem Shows in San Mateo California.

California 2001 – In Marin County, where I lived and designed for over 20 years.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia - This is my first stay in Bali, some 30 years ago, I
had found the place where I knew I wanted to live – but how to do it? It
took me a while, but now I am here. I figured it out!

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia - Dressed up in a ceremonial kebaya and sarong, I
joined my friends at a Bali religious “Upacara” some 20 years ago.

Bali, Indonesia 2007 - Lipi is my “Bangladeshi Daughter”. I met her for
the first time when she was only 8, living in the village of Sonorgen. I fell
in love with that child so for many years I went every year to see her and
make sure she was doing well in school. She’s now 25 and graduating
this year from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh. Last year, she got
to visit me in Bali for a month. It was her first time to travel outside of
Bangladesh. The first day Lipi told me “Bali is like Paradise”.

Dhaka, Bangladesh 2003 - A group of young women in Bangladesh who
I worked with and for over the course of many years. For me, educating
young women is the best way to help raise the standard of living and bring
peace to the world.

Dhaka, Bangladesh 2000 - Getting your lands hennaed in Bangladesh is a
must. I couldn’t resist having my friend paint my hands with a traditional
marriage pattern. It took over an hour – but it was worth it!

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Africa - Bargaining for good prices at the
yearly crafts fair in Ouagadougou is expected and necessary, and of course, highly entertaining.

Havana, Cuba - While I was in Cuba, I came upon this poster. Che has
always been my #1 hero – so I couldn’t resist this photo. Yes, this is my
usual traveling attire when traveling anywhere in Latin America.

Cairo, Egypt 1991 - Egyptian women love their gold jewelry. It is seen as
an investment as well as something to enhance their beauty. I prefer
silver, but I can certainly understand the value of carrying your
investments with you and keeping them safe.

Aswan, Egypt 1991 - I’m learning to sew (kind of) from a Muslim woman
in the small village of Aswan in southern Egypt.

Lhasa, Tibet - The journey overland through the high passes in the
Himalayans to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, was difficult. The altitude left
me breathless and weak. But the women were beautiful, inspirational, and
definitely worth the trip – color combinations and patterns were unique,
and I took away many new directions and designs for my jewelry

Lhasa, Tibet - Buying beads directly from young Tibetan girls is what
I like to do for fun.

Ghana, Africa - Wow! Lots of beads! There’s some fantastic bead
shopping in the villages of Ghana.
I’d definitely like to go back there again.

Gujarat, India - Ok, here is where I plan to live when I come back in my
next life – among the nomadic Gypsy women on the plains of Gujarat, India.

India - I love the street women in India. A lot of what I’ve learned in
fashion, color, and pattern combination has come directly from
observations of their colorful clothes and jewelry. They tell me I’m their
sister because I dress like them.

Rajasthan, India - 13 is marriageable age in the deserts of Rajasthan. We
talked of husbands, children, and jewelry. We had lots to talk about.

Rajasthan, India - On this the holiest day of the year, the Gods come down
and “walk among the people”. What a crowd! Every one is having a great time.

Rajasthan, India - Once a year, traders come to Rajasthan to buy and sell
camels. I have never seen so many camels - in every direction, clear to
the horizon - enough to last a lifetime.

On the road to Jaipur, India - I don’t like snakes, especially cobras. I’m
more than a little concerned here that they won’t like me either. However,
interestingly enough, their owner wasn’t worried at all. Perhaps he knows something I don’t.

Old Delhi, India - Raji is my best friend in India. Buying stones and
beads for my jewelry, we traveled together each year for more than 15
years – from Gujarat and Rajasthan to Kerala in the South. She was a
great translator with perfect English and a wonderful sense of humor. I
haven’t seen her now for five years. I miss her.

Mali, Afrida - In a large, darkened room of a very old house in Mali,
Africa, I chose beads for my latest collection – but that was a very long
time ago. Now I search the back rooms of gem stores in Denpasar, the capital of Bali, Indonesia.

Darwin, Australia (actually a small island off the coast) - While I don’t
plan to take up weaving in this lifetime, as making jewelry takes up all my
time, it was fascinating to watch an expert in the Australian Outback. She
was a loving woman with a look of wisdom in her gentle eyes.

Katmandu, Nepal - A Nepalese woman taught me how she strung beads.
She used lots of turquoise, coral and bone – exactly the combinations I like to use.

India & Nepal – Isabel and I are traveling around India and Nepal. Her
husband Willie is taking the pictures. He says, “Just think ‘I love you’ for
the camera and you’ll look great.” Obviously, it worked for Isabel.

Inner Mongolia, China - This old woman in Mongolia is probably one of
the last of the women with “bound feet”. It was an amazing experience to
see first hand such small feet and realize how much suffering women have
endured over the centuries in order to be fashionable.

Bahia, Brazil - Talking with a high priestess of Candomblé was one of the
highlights of a trip with my friend Isabel to Bahia in Brazil.

Chichicastenango, Guatemala – This mountain village market is in the
Guatemalan highlands - the best market I’ve ever been to. Mayan Indian
women sell their hand-woven and locally grown flowers - it doesn’t get more colorful than this.

Chichicastenango, Guatemala – Guatemalan children are my favorite in
the world. Their Mayan features remind me of the sculptures, paintings,
and pyramids I studied at the University of Mexico City. For me,
Guatemalan Indians are the most beautiful people in the world.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Besides stones and beads, masks and wall
hangings, I collect women baskets. There’s no better place than Ethiopia’s
Central Market in the Capital of Addis Ababa.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - This Ethiopian woman intrigued me. She was so
shy, but wanted to talk. Our common interest was jewelry.

Tokyo, Japan - At a conference in Japan years ago, I was asked why
Japanese people should buy my jewelry. I explained, “It is difficult to
know why Japanese women would buy my jewelry, but they do and I love it.”

Egypt 1991 during the Gulf War - Well, yes, I rode the camel – but not for
long. It’s not “my thing”.

Irian Jaya, Indonesia 1995 - I really, really wanted to get to the other side
where an important (to me) jungle village was waiting – it took an
immense amount of courage. I’m very frightened of heights and I don’t
swim well…. I heard later that two men fell through this bridge just a few
days after we crossed it – and were never seen again.

Irian Jaya, Indonesia 1995 – It’s hot and difficult but Irian Jaya is by far
the most amazing place I have ever been to. The religious animistic
customs of the people are unbelievably creative. And the way they dress!
Well, it’s hot, so they get comfortable!

Irian Jaya, Indonesia 1995 - I didn’t ever learn what the purpose of this
particular interesting outfit was – but there were many more women
wearing versions of this fashion creation in Irian Jaya. And each was
more wonderful than the one before.

Irian Jaya, Indonesia 1995 - I’m doing some hard bargaining here for
small pieces of pig bone, rat teeth, horse hair and chicken feathers that I
planned to use in a very ‘interesting’ necklace later – it probably won’t
sell. It’s okay, I’ll keep it!

Irian Jaya, Indonesia 1995 - I just kept thinking “Wow, I can’t believe
this!” It was a truly unique experience - difficult, hot, and sweaty, with
beyond dangerous infrastructure - 100 % of the local people suffering
from regular bouts of malaria - but still “wow!”

Tabra - Bali - 2009

Tabra - Bali - 2009