Naila

Hello folks, thank you for coming back to Caprilicious today. I'm happy to report that the sun is still shining over the UK - we've had the best summer since 1976 apparently, and it is set to continue for at least six weeks more. I have to say there's nothing like England when it's warm and sunny - if it were always like this, we'd never go abroad.
​The fly in the ointment is that the reservoirs are running dry and we are looking a hosepipe ban squarely in the eye - if that happens our gardens will go dry and brown, rather than the beautiful verdant green England is famous for. We forget so easily that to be green, lawns need the rain! Just now we are still allowed to water our plants and Mike does so diligently, hence the scene above, photographed yesterday.

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As I mentioned last week, I was gifted a ticket to Paul Simon's Farewell Tour concert in Hyde Park, at which James Taylor was his warm up act. We stood listening to these two giants play for over five hours and my feet are still recovering from that ordeal. As it was the day of the World Cup, Wimbledon finals, and a beautiful warm day to boot, London was heaving with tourists. The concert was fabulous, and I came home sad that Paul Simon was retiring, but happy that I'd been there to cheer him on his way.

James Taylor at Hyde Park

There were 60 thousand people at this concert and the music was exceptional!

Homeward Bound - Paul Simon's Farewell Tour

Carnival

The warm weather is bringing back memories of my life in India and the colours of the East are prevalent in my pieces of jewellery this week. It has in recent years, become quite fashionable for those who wear statement necklaces to look towards Eastern influences in their choice of apparel. Colourful jackets, scarves and even trousers (remember harem pants?), have become commonplace, and an East meets West vibe is now quite the thing, especially with linens and lagenlook clothing.

The pendant was handmade by artisans in the border area of Tibet and Nepal, and is inlaid with coral, lapis lazuli and turquoise, and filled with scroll work. The amount of workmanship in the pieces that originate from this area is mind boggling. I have been to a jewellery makers workshop in Nepal a number of years ago, and remember the artisans putting in the inlay work after painstakingly soldering in the scrolled metal, one piece at a time. 
The pendants in the necklaces I make are purchased from Fair Trade sources, ensuring that the artisans are paid the right price for their labours.

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Naila

Naila is a girl who you think is the most gorgeous, beautiful girl you have ever met. Someone who has changed you and made you a better person. She has the best sense of humor out of everyone you know and she has the greatest personality that can brighten your day .........
​Urban Dictionary

I made this necklace with matte cylinders of lapis lazuli which are hard to come by, and found accidentally when I was recently looking for matte amethyst beads. I added coral cylinders and a ghau box pendant inlaid with turquoise and coral which brightened the piece to my satisfaction. With the addition of a beautiful box clasp from Jaipur, the piece was good to go - simple but effective, as the best pieces often are.

That's me for this week folks. I'm off to enjoy the garden in the fabulous sunshine. I'm working all next weekend, so I'd better make the most of it!
Have a fabulous week, and I'll catch you next Friday, same time, same place.
Until then,
​xx