The Bling Diary

Swarnima, the jewelry artist 

I stumbled upon Swarnima's Instagram posts a couple of days ago and I couldn't help but comment on her amazing outfits as I found them unique in the way she combined material, colors, accessories, and designs. She quickly replied in the most sweetest way and that's when I checked out her blog on her website The Bling Diary.  

The blog is very well done and invites to a level of fashion that is very detail-oriented, passionate, artistic but also "doable".  

There is a quote from the designer and entrepreneur Swarnima that says:

"Every woman is a reflection of her own values and identity. For each woman it is my purpose to adorn her unique charisma with the elegance of jewellery. To highlight her power with the vigor of stunning gems and precious metals that are befitting of her inner and outer beauty. To me, the tenacity of fine metals is the sculpted masculine space that holds the glory and exquisite face of feminine gems in its strength. The metal is the anchor and the gems, eternal luster. It is much more than jewellery. It is a story of her self expression. My craft is made with passion to match her individual shine wherever she is be it the East or the West."

This is the part that moves me most about a woman, who knows her values and knows how to express herself with design, colors, and accessories as I feel I don't really know yet how to do that and I hope that I can learn little by little how to embrace my whole body with fashion. 

Check out Swarnima's Instagram posts and her website and you'll see what I mean. 

Hans Söllner

Great titles

Armless Man and His Blind Best Friend Have Planted More Than 10,000 Trees in China

It doesn’t happen often, but every now and then you hear a story about people overcoming all odds to help others and it completely changes your perspective of the world.

Two Chinese men, 53-year-old Jia Wenqi and 54-year-old Jia Haixia, have been doing something amazing for the last 13 years. They have planted more than 10,000 trees around Yeli Village in northeastern China, a region which once was covered in nothing but rocks and weeds. But what is really stunning about this story is that both friends have severe physical disabilities – Haixa is completely blind and Wenqi is a double amputee with no arms. Yet, it did not prevent them from accomplishing their mission.

Haixia was born with congenital cataracts which left his left eye blind. In 2000, he lost sight in his other eye after a work accident. Wenqi had a tragic accident at the age of three years old, as a result of which he lost both of his arms.

But even despite these challenges, the pair of friends did not lose faith in the good and did not give up on their life. In 2002, when Haixia and Wenqi were struggling to secure jobs, they came up with a plan to make money on planting trees.

However, it was not only about money. The two friends wanted to revive the area around their village to create a better future for the next generations. Thus, they leased 8 acres of land near the Ye river from the local government and set to make their plan a reality.

“Our tree planting may not have much substantial benefit for the present generation, but it leaves a green environment to the next one,” Haixia told The Globe and Mail. “We are physically disabled but mentally healthy. We have this big dream in our heart to leave a stretch of green to our children.”

Since then, Haixia and Wenqi have planted over 10,000 trees in the area and it all became possible thanks to their dedication and, most important, teamwork. The friends have learned to overcome their disabilities by constantly helping each other.

Muhammed Ali

A Little Soul Comes To Earth ...

One of my dearest friends, Stefanie Wackar, has a website called Wolkenwerke (cloud works/factory). She has come a long (spiritual) way to call this her baby.

She creates personalised books for children. The stories are about dreaming, love, discovering your individual skills and characteristics, friendship, and gratitude. 

All you need to do is choose one content from a series of set stories, and add personal information about the child. Personal information varies from book to book  (e.g. from name, age, looks, characteristics to name of birth place, birth day, and name of grandparents and so on).

That's all. Stefanie gets the book ready within ten days and sends it to you. 

The books are great personal gifts for children for birthdays, Christmas, baptism, or just like that and a beautiful memory for life!

When Stefanie started with Wolkenwerke I was lucky to be a presentee. It's a very special feeling to receive something so personal and so touching. I'm still moved when I hold the book in my hands to go over the pages once in a while. 

The only hard to fix obstacle is that the books and website are in German. If you are hooked on the idea though, have a look at the colourful pictures of different characters who appear in her books. My two personal favourites are "Rosalie", the butterfly queen, and a guardian angel. I love the thought of a guardian angel, especially for a child. It makes you feel protected. 

If you have any questions, then please don't hesitate to contact Stefanie. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Have fun!