#Baluva

[baluva]

Today’s Memories: Olympic Peninsula Fun

Today, I’m remembering beaches and rainforests and starfish... behold memories of the Olympic Peninsula!

One of my other favorite vacations I took was during spring break when I was in grad school at the University of Washington in Seattle. My friend and I headed over to the Olympic Penninsula to have some fun.

We took the ferry over to Kingston. We kept pulling over for pictures because the scenery was so beautiful. In some parts, the trees were blanketed in fog and the contrast of green moss with white clouds was breathtaking. 

Then we stopped because the trees we were passing seemed to reach on forever, their branches covered in moss so thick that there was barely any room for the brown bark to show through.

And then we stopped because this was 2009 and my friend’s digital camera ran out of space. We had to buy her a new memory card.

One of the biggest surprises for me was the beaches. I grew up with sand dunes and wide open stretches only broken up by a jetty. I was surprised to see driftwood logs on the beaches. It just wasn’t something I’d expected, but they were great to lean against when I was dumping water out of my boots!

I really loved looking into the tide pools. I’d never seen starfish or sea urchins other than ones in aquariums, so when I some all clustered together, I was enchanted.

We also drove to the Hoh Rainforest to check out the Hall of Mosses.

All I remember was silence. My friend and I were too stunned to speak, so the only sound we could hear was our footsteps and the stream of the babbling brook. There were so many shades of green that it was overwhelming. My photos show olive and evergreen and hunter and jade and artichoke and even some chartreuse.

That break was so fun! It was amazing exploring the stunning scenery, poking around the beach, and gazing at starfish. I went back a few more times to explore other areas. I’d love to go back someday. Until then, I’ll smile at the pictures!

[baluva]

Sand rosaries on the beach 😍 Beads made from Wildwood sand!

[baluva]

SALE!! Inspired by the starry desert sky, this Southwest rosary is made with red sand from New Mexico and paired with sparkly goldstone pater beads.

Find it here: Southwest Rosary

[baluva]

From Ireland! Sold this gorgeous green-and-gold decade rosary bracelet - the beads are handmade with sand from Dingle, Ireland!

[baluva]

Ran into this gorgeous sand rosary made with sand from Harwich, Cape Cod. The blue and white pater beads reminded me of the cresting waves crashing and foaming on the shore 💕

[baluva]

Devereux Sand!

Gorgeous sand at #Devereux beach in #Marblehead!

[baluva]

Go Monadnock!

Just created a necklace inspired by my high school in honor of this year’s graduates! Coordinating with the school’s colors, the necklace chain is gold-filled and the beads cobalt.

The feature bead is made with sand from the location of your choice.

[baluva]

Go Monadnock!

So excited for the Go Monadnock virtual pop-up market this weekend! 

Welcome to Baluva! My name is Cara and I create beads out of sand. They are then incorporated into pieces such as jewelry, prayer beads, rosaries, ornaments, worry stones, and other gift items that remind people of the places they hold dear.

There are pieces for sale at my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Baluva

I also take requests and make custom designs! And stay tuned for a ConVal-theme necklace design coming shortly.

If you want to learn more:

- A while back, I wrote about Baluva’s beginnings

- And Baluva’s name.

- I really enjoy traveling. And blogging about it.

And as for the Go Monadnock event, I am a ConVal graduate.

Proof - a picture of me and Holly (of Grey Cricket Studios) 💛:

[baluva]

Buy Now on Baluva’s Etsy Site!

[baluva]

PEI Red Sand

Today's project: bracelets with RED sand from Prince Edward Island! My client went on vacation with a few friends and ordered commemorative bronze bracelets for them to remember their time together. All of the bigger beads you see are made with sand collected from their trip.

What an awesome way to remember such a meaningful trip!

[baluva]

Niagara Visit

My friend and I took a short visit to Niagara Falls. I was eager to visit a place that many have seen as a sacred place that holds a special spot in their hearts and associations of America itself.

My first impression of the Falls was when we drove in. Looking at the city of Niagara ahead of us, all I could see was mist. It looked like something out of a dream. I was awestruck.

I saw many tourists and was struck by how deeply they reacted to the beauty before us. So many people stopped and just stared.

Once we got there, we took a tour of the Cave of the Winds. I also enjoyed hanging out with Nikola Tesla.

We ended the night watching the glow of the light display at Horseshoe Falls. Everyone around was awestruck by the beauty and power of the rushing water and there were many people standing silently to watch as the night came to a close.

[baluva]

I recently took a trip to Australia with my aunt that involved a three-day layover in Hong Kong. Here’s some more information about our trip - with pictures!

Unfortunately, my body isn’t always great with travel and I had a pretty bad reaction to the long flight. Luckily, the SkyCity Marriott is a great place to be sick - the staff was incredibly accommodating and when I was finally able to eat again, they catered to my special diet (and gave me a spoon because I could barely operate the chopsticks with my bad wrist!) .

On our last day, I decided I could not just sit in the hotel room and be sick anymore. So I told my aunt that I would rather faint than not see the Tian Tan Buddha (or Big Buddha, as everyone referred to him as!). So we took an awesome cable car ride to see it.

Honestly, when this picture was taken, I felt thisclose to fainting. So walking up the stairs to see the Big Buddha wasn’t an option, but that didn’t stop us from taking pictures at the base!

Later, we went out for dinner at Victoria Harbour with some of my aunt’s students. It was wonderful to see it at night - it was so beautiful!

I want to visit Hong Kong again! The city looks like it is so much fun to explore and I would love to visit a few places that I missed, including the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. Maybe next trip?

[baluva]

This gorgeous bracelet was inspired by New Hampshire's Mt. Monadnock. Beads from soil are combined with purple amethyst beads (to represent the "purple mountain majesty") and green stones (to represent the pine trees that dot Monadnock year-round). These mountain beads are a gorgeous way to wear your favorite hiking and bird-watching locations!

Available in bronze, gold, and silver. Featuring beads crafted from soil. These are a perfect accessory for the Mt. Monadnock Purple Finch Earrings!

Buy Now!

Write to us at info@baluva.com for more information on ordering custom jewelry!

[baluva]

Photo shoot with the Blanket of Stars earrings - inspired by the night sky at Joshua Tree, the bottom beads are crafted with sand from the famous and much-beloved Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace!

Find them here: Blanket of Stars earrings

[baluva]

Said goodbye to a favorite necklace at the Living Local Craft Fair today! Glad it gets a good home 💜💜💜

[baluva]

The Star Thrower necklace takes a field trip to Australia!

And it’s for sale! Check it out here: Star Thrower Necklace