Upayes, the Hindu astrological remedies

I was asked by a friend who is very keen on Hindu Astrology, to make him a jewel using a 2ct diamond that should be in direct contact with his skin to work as an astrological remedy .

This was quite a challenge for me because, except from cufflinks and tie clasps, I don't usually make men's jewellery and my designs are quite feminine.

As this is a piece he's going to wear every day, it shouldn't be too eye-catching but at the same time, I did not want it to be dull...

I ended up making a blackened silver necklace with a pendant as rough as the beautiful diamond set on it.

Here's the result:

And here's a little explanation he sent me about Precious Stones and Hindu Astrology (in portuguese, but if you need a translation, please feel free to ask me for it!)

Pedras Preciosas e Astrologia Indiana:

Quando um Jyotishi (Astrólogo Hindu) faz o nosso mapa, ele consegue ver quais as forças e as fraquezas das energias envolvidas. Estas energias são simbolizadas pelos 7 planetas visíveis mais os 2 Nodos Lunares : Sol, Lua, Mercúrio, Vênus, Marte, Júpiter, Saturno, Rahu e Ketu.

Cada um destes planetas possui uma pedra preciosa que lhe corresponde :

Sol : Rubi Vermelho

Lua : Pérola

Marte : Coral Vermelho

Rahu : Água-Marinha ou Lápis-Lazúli

Júpiter : Topázio Amarelo

Saturno : Safira Azul

Mercúrio : Esmeralda

Ketu : Crisoberilo

Vênus : Diamante
Estas pedras devem ser de pelo menos 2 quilates, de boa qualidade, em um único pedaço (não várias pedrinhas que somam juntas 2 quilates), sem tratamento químico, e ficar necessariamente em contato com a pele da pessoa. Podem ser brutas ou lapidadas.

A que corresponde ao planeta regente do Ascendente Astrológico (Sideral, e não Tropical – não é o “nosso” Ascendente da Astrologia Ocidental) deverá ser usada por toda a vida. Recomenda-se também usar as pedras correspondentes aos planetas dos Dasas e Bhuktis em curso, apenas durantes os respectivos períodos.

Podem ser usadas em anéis, braceletes ou pingentes, desde que toquem diretamente a pele.

Para saber quais pedras usar, procure um Astrólogo Indiano, pois este é um assunto bastante técnico. Em São Paulo, há por exemplo o Professor Kesavan Nair – tel 11 3742 4584
Junto com os Mantras e os Yagyas, o uso de Pedras é um dos meios pelos quais nosso Karma, descrito no mapa astrológico, pode ser amenizado. Os 3 métodos são eficazes e foram testados e comprovados pela tradição hindu.

The Beauty in Chaos

Son of Jean Vendome, one of the most influential jewellers in France, who retired four years ago, leaving him some faithful clients and the taste of applying precious metal and stones to common, found materials, using high craftsmanship, Thierry Vendome said about his work:

"To me, that is taking the idea of Haute Joaillerie and turning it on its head". 

"My work is about chaos and showing the beauty in it", he explained, about his jewels made with original materials, coarse textures and free flowing designs", and added:

"I experiment with objects found in nature and combinations of ‘wild’ materials and precious ones”.

In his boutique in Paris, you can see pieces of rusted metal found in the dunes of Normandy set with diamonds and opals and made into breathtaking and beautiful jewels. Driftwood picked up on a beach is matched with a piece of coral and diamonds to make a pendant. A slab of obsidian found along a mountain road on a trip to Armenia is transformed into a diamond-set pin.

"Natural materials exude a kind of power, but some of that force is lost as you reduce objects in size to make jewelry, to compensate for that loss, I use an unexpected combination of materials."

Thierry Vendome creates an estimated 350 pieces a year, all unique or limited editions. He makes all his pieces entirely by hand, himself, except for the stone-setting.

Have a look here to know more about Tierry's work.

Golf Tournament prize

I was yesterday looking for some pictures in my computer when I ran across these ones I had forgotten about, of me handing over the prize I donated to a Charity Golf Tournament some time ago, in São Paulo - Brazil.

Two strand pearl necklace with 18k gold and smoky quartz clasp
                      Design: Christine v. Schönburg

From protection of roman soldiers to abundance

Sterling silver , Tiger's Eye, afghani hammered silver beads, black and brown Agate.
Design: Christine v. Schönburg

Apart from its beautiful golden colour, I specially like Tigers Eye because it is an excellent stone for increasing the power of personal will. It helps us acquire abundance and wealth and enhances the stability and balance that lead to maintaining the acquired wealth. 
It's known as the stone of grounding, abundance and protection and has been used since the Roman soldiers, for protection and clarity during battles.
You can read more about the properties of this powerful stone here

Chic Halloween

Via Notorious Mag

Great gifts from San Francisco

Some time ago, my husband was strolling along a crafts fair in San Francisco, where he found a beautiful milky light green pebble like stone that he bought for me, among other things such as ostrich bone necklaces from Africa... What great gifts!

I decided using it with silver as a clasp, in a chunky necklace made with corals and parts of the african necklace and quite liked the result:

Sterling Silver with Agate, pearl, coral and ostrich bone beads
Design: Christine v.Schönburg

Gardens and Jewels - Jewels and Gardens

One of the most beautiful gardens (if not the most beautiful!) that I've ever seen in my life is in Brazil, between Rio and Sao Paulo, at "Fazenda Vargem Grande", a wonderful farm from the coffee golden era, circa 1837, bought and restored by my husband's uncle in the 70's, when he also commissioned the garden to Burle Marx, who, if still alive, would have turned 102 years old this month.

Roberto Burle Marx is internationally known as one of the most important landscape architects of the 20th century. Born in São Paulo in August 4th, 1909, Roberto Burle Marx moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1913, where he lived until his death in 1994, at the age of 84.

During the years of 1928 and 1929 he studied painting in Berlin - Germany, where he was often seen at the Dahlem Botanic Garden's greenhouses. In this garden he noticed for the first time the beauty of the tropical plants and the Brazilian flora. 

His first landscape project was a private garden for a house designed by modernist Architects Lucio Costa and Gregory Warchavchik in 1932.The famous black and white sidewalk from Copacabana beach was designed by him, as was the landscape from Flamengo in Rio, and many other wonderful works of art around the country. 

Besides being a landscape designer he was also a remarkable painter, sculptor, singer, and jewelry designer, and his style is so strong and with such character that his work is easily recognized, be it in gardens, tapestries, jewels or paintings.

                                     

Looking at his jewelry drawings today, I almost cannot distinguish them from his garden projects, and I really like the idea of wearing a necklace or a brooch that could easily be a tropical and exuberant garden !

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If you'd like to have the feeling of country living in Brazil at the time of the coffee barons, in an extremely beautiful valley at the feet of the Mantiqueira mountains and on top of it, see this amazing garden, know as Burle Marx's work of art, "Fazenda Vargem Grande" is currently receiving guests! for more information : www.fazendavargemgrande.com.br

Did you say "Bold" ?

We've already had Lanvin, Versace, Jimmy Choo, Matthew Williamson and other great designers collaborating with the fast fashion chain H&M, but the next chosen one is not a designer but a fashion editor; italian Anna Dello Russo, editor for Vogue Japan.

Her one-of-a-kind style is already well known in the fashion world and with the line of accessories that she's designing for H&M  inspired on her own personal heap, she will, like a modern fairy-godmother, turn any Cinderella into the coolest and most stylish princess !


Her collection is made up of really bold jewellery in gold, gold and some more gold (!!!) and turquoise, bejeweled minaudieres and sunglasses and seriously high heels, and will be available at all 140  H&M stores around the world on October 4th. 

"This is the sign of an important evolution in fashion, I am both thrilled and humbled to be the one chosen to lead it" says Dello Russo about the collection, "With these pieces everybody can have fun, turning an ordinary day into a fantastic fashion day."

Watch next Dello Russo's announcement of her up-coming special collection of accessories and her thoughts about the importance of accessories and jewellery:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0nwLrHuwlY&feature=player_embedded