What is Hill Tribe Silver?

by Julie Holmes

I love Hill Tribe silver. It has an ethnic feel to it, and a spiritual quality. I've seen the name around for a while, but didn't understand why it was called "Hill Tribe". ...so, I've done a little research and found this good information here:
Hill Tribe Silver Beads Story

The Karen tribe (Kariang or Yang in their native language) is the largest of the five more prominent hill tribes in Northern Thailand, where the largest city is Chaing Mai. As many as 500,000 members of 20 hill tribes in the region are known for a variety of skills, and most support themselves as farmers in this mountainous area. Early in the last century, these tribes were formed when people from Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Tibet, and China, emigrated to start a new life. Their numbers still grow slowly as people leave behind their previous homes for various social and political reasons.

The Karen hill tribe people have made a name for themselves with their expert skill as silversmiths. This craft is a generations-old art that in the 1960s was recognized and promoted by Thailand’s king at the time. Once channels for production and marketing were opened, it was only a matter of time for the particular appeal of these hand-crafted, pure silver creations to raise significant interest. Karen tribe members produce beads like these that are now sold through many avenues worldwide. These pure silver pieces have a natural, rustic-refined personality that draws quite a following. A few distributors have built personal as well as business relationships with the crafters, and take pride in these positive connections.

Hill Tribe silver is a fair-trade product, so the artisans are paid a fair wage for their work. This rate of pay is often called a “living wage,” since it allows for a healthy and sufficient lifestyle in the culture. As part of the fair-trade arrangement, the crafters are also required to meet international conservation and environmental-protection standards

Look at this beautiful Hill Tribe Silver ring from Overstock

And this beautiful bracelet by Mary Jane

Hill tribe silver is more "pure" than sterling, therefore it's softer and more malleable, but will also tarnish less quickly. You can buy it at Artbeads , and many other internet stores.

If you use Hill Tribe Silver in your work, please post your pictures on our FB page! We'd love to see it!

stand in wonder

mary jane dodd

praying mantis wings that were respectfully collected

'he who can no longer pause to wonder 
and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead;

his eyes are closed.

- albert einstein

these delicate wings belong to those of the praying mantis - a creature i have been strongly drawn to since i was a child.  my daughter and i found one that had been stepped on and was still living - we wrapped it up and put it in a quiet place.

some small rodents (i am guessing) ate the body and left the wings... and so now i have them... and i am grateful for this reminder of strength and fragility, of the cycle of life... of the fact that, somehow, this creature ended up in a place where i was... 

small bronzes by daniel fleming

these beauties grace my home... 

fortunate enough to have lived near to manhattan my whole life, to have aunts who lived in the city and who had me visit, i was brought to art museums at a young age... always knowing to never touch the sculpture - though the metal and its surface called to me - i admired from a close distance... with my camera i would try to catch light on texture, in shadows and fractures... 

daniel makes small bronzes - 

daniel makes it possible for me to do what i was never able to do - to run my fingers over the surface of the bronze, to hold it for however long i choose,

to admire his work not from a distance, but as up close and personal as i can be... 

he cannot know what this means to me - 

there is a reverence for these little figures as they stand with me at the bench... 

they bring me joy

and return me to wonder... 

Artists Helping Artists

For even the most careful and properly prepared people....life can take unexpected turns. Add any number of twists and turns to the road and as we become more wizened, we see how delicate our existence really is.

Since I've joined and become a part of this community, I've witnessed miraculous blessings by people coming together to help one another out. From simple words of encouragement when someone has had a bad day to coming together in the midst of tragedy like the loss of a home, loved one or studio due to catastrophe.

Currently, There are a number of artists including some of our very own members here at LMAJ hosting silent auctions in order to share the load of a friend in need. If you're still looking for a perfect gift for the holidays, you may be able to help us help another artist and perhaps mark some gifts off of your list by visiting the blogs below. Most are offering to start the bidding well below the normal retail price!

“We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.” 

                                                                                                             ~Mother Theresa 

 

 "matters of the spirit" ~by maire dodd. currently up for auction here

sea glass and copper patina-ed with sterling pendant and necklace ~by staci louise smith up for auction here

handcarved polymer clay and rainbow washed ring ~by barbara bechtel up for auction here

Visit all of the auctions:

marie cramp and lori anderson

heidi post

barbara bechtel and staci louise smith

erin fickert-rowland

erin prais-hintz

jennifer justman

keirsten giles

andrew thornton

karen totten

kristi bowman-gruel

nan emmett

mary jane dodd

amanda cargill austin

janice everett

rebecca anderson

shannon iko chomanczuk
kerry bogert

And I'm Feelin........

Gooooooooood.......

And wearing these FABULOUS earrings made by Mary Jane Dodd ought to do just that! 

They could be yours.....

What makes you feel good?

Is it a special friendship?

A kiss from one your children?

Completing a piece of jewelry that came out just like you wanted it?

A big huge piece of chocolate cheesecake?

Leave a comment letting us and everyone else who reads this blog know what makes you feel good!

And as usual.....share those good feelings on your blog, your facebook, your twitter or anywhere else that you might share on the internet and come back to leave multiple comments letting us know each time.  Each comment will only be counted once....

Thank-you for...

~creating handmade with handmade~

The winner will be picked at random on February 7th.



LMAJ MONDAY GIVEAWAY...

Today is a special giveaway for the designer of these gorgeous earrings.....

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY JANE!" 

Thank-you for sharing your birthday by donating these very cool earrings for this weeks giveaway.  If you want to be the new owner of this stunning pair, just follow the "how to" below....

BLOG OWNERS:

Leave a comment on your own blog about the give away and then let us know by following us and leaving a comment letting us know where you left mentioned our giveaway.

NO BLOG OF YOUR OWN:

If you don't have a blog, please sign our guest book on the Love My Art Jewelry Website and let us know what your favorite handmade components are.  If you don't create your own jewelry, please let us know what you like about owning your own handmade jewelry that you have purchased or were given as a gift or....would like to own!!...like these FAB earrings!

Then, stop back here and let us know that you signed the guestbook.

A random winner will be chosen from the...

Love My Art Jewelry BLOG POST Comments on Monday, October 18th.

 Please make sure to stop back on Monday to see if you are the lucky winner!

Our next Giveaway will be Monday, October 25th.

Thanks for creating handmade with handmade!