Belly Dance Princess Jewelry Slideshow

Everyday Glamour

I just added more to my welcome section in my Etsy shop to describe "my philosophy": I believe in everyday glamour. Adornment is a way of showing appreciation for the precious and temporary gift that is our body. Taking time to enjoy beautiful things is part of living each moment to the fullest.

I think it's interesting how many women worry about wearing "too much" jewelry or clothing that is "too flashy". They try to avoid things to suggest that they take pride in their appearence (outside of basic grooming and fitness). Beauty does not just exist with supermodels:)
Pic above is the "ULTIMATE LEAF Earrings". Pic below is "TINY PURSE Earrings". Both are pieces that make it easier to add a little glamour to one's daily life...

Show's over!

My annual "Aya's Spring Shimmy" is now over and was a great success!!! I love my dance students - I love watching them improve and develop into dancers they probably never imagined they could be. I made some jewelry for my mother and daughter class to perform in, but I wasn't able to make any for the others- mainly because everything I came up with would have taken way too long- their dancing, not them wearing jewelry I made was my main priority.

Since the show's over, I have been able to start a couple of new projects. I just started making another piece for my Turkish Crescent Line. On the left is an example of the line, my Turkish Crescent Pendant in gunmetal and jet black. The pendant I just finished has shorter garnet and black fringe.

We just had the show DVD viewing party at Alice's house. All the troupe girls were there except for Nesrin, who was really sick. Hope she feels better soon. I wanted to make my intermediates some matching jewelry, however the charms I ordered still haven't made it over from China! Oh well, I'll work on other stuff till then...

Picnic at the Palace

I just listed my PICNIC AT THE PALACE Chandelier Earrings in my Etsy Shop. They were inspired by my students Claire and Kiraz and their Mother-Daughter veil Dance. I loved the color combination of their silk veils- a rich teal green and a beautiful yellow.

I started out with sparkling crystal beads. The yellow beads are a lovely warm sunshine yellow and the emerald green beads have a dark rainbow sheen on one side, which makes them appear teal. As the earrings swing, the different sides of the beads display their color.

As I started putting the beads together, the colors made me remember visits to the Topkapi Palace Museum when I was little. I have been there sooooo many times. Some days the weather would be just perfect, sunny but with a cool breeze. And I used to imagine myself living in the palace, strolling through the lush gardens, and having picnics on the green grass. Oh wait... I still do that... Adding the vintage filigree pieces completed my Topkapi palace memory.

New Evil Eye Amulet Jewelry

For those of you like myself who are fans of evil eye amulets, check out these! The framed evil eye amulet earrings are accented with blue and green millefiori beads. I love the fact that the evil eye amulets spin within the frames.

These earrings below are called ALL EYES ON ME. I love wearing jewelry that uses all amulet beads...

Hey Alice, I finally finished this necklace!!! The long silver chain ended up looking the best. It's called HER CHARMING WAYS (below):

Silk Road Link Necklace

I've finally put more items up in my etsy shop! I have been making so many things but I can't get them listed as fast as I make them. I'm especially proud of my Silk Road Link Necklace (Choker) with matching earrings. It has lucky Chinese knots and tiny grape bunch dangles!

Spring Shimmy Cabaret

Check out my SPRING SHIMMY CABARET Earrings. I named these beauties after my yearly Spring Shimmy Belly Dance Show since that's what inspired me to make them...

I think fans are the perfect accessory for the glamorous- whether you use them for dancing or to cool off, they have no substitute. I loved seeing women actually using the fanciest fans to cool themselves off when I was in Spain. I guess that's the one positive aspect of watching an opera in Madrid without air conditioning, in the summer...

These Vintage Filigree Fans are so ornate and feminine. I added Czech Glass Flower Drops in Peridot Green and Pearlized Fuschia. They move ever so elegantly... They are also a great size- large enough to be noticed but small enough for versatile wear.

We have juniors with moms rehearsal tonight at Alice's house for the upcoming Spring Shimmy Show on Sunday May 24th (For details visit my belly dance website TurkishBellyDancer.com). I hope they're ready!!!