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If you had a chance to read my last blog, I shared some thoughts and feelings about my Indian heritage, and the beauty that she holds for anyone who is blessed to go there.

As the summer began in India in March this year, I visited my manufacturing facility in Jaipur,  the desert capital of Rajasthan, to see first-hand how my jewelry is hand-crafted from start to finish.  Can I just say that the word “manufacturing” sounds almost artificial, like somehow, there could be machines involved.  That couldn’t be further from the truth, friends!  It really is more of an art than a science.  There are no machines casting and stamping out pieces of jewelry by the thousands every hour.  There are just humans - real people, highly skilled artisans if you will.  It’s amazing how many artisan hands touch every piece of jewelry during the manufacturing process before it gets to you!

I understand that it takes about 10 years or over 31,000 hours for a jewelry craftsman in India to become a true artisan.  Most of them are trained and work in Jaipur, known as “The Pink City” for its pink and red sandstone desert landscape.  I have to wonder, how many of us could be so dedicated to such a craft for our livelihood?

After seeing their work with my own eyes, I can tell you that I hold these artisans in the highest esteem, for their impressive years of commitment to their craft and their unparalleled skills.  The Indian artisan’s devotion to hand-crafted jewelry making shows their life’s work on display in every piece created.  Each piece of jewelry truly is a work of ART, and no two pieces are ever the same.  I am so honored that their skills are put to work making jewelry with my name on it.

I write this blog on the first official day of summer 2012, while it’s heating up to a sizzling 91 degrees here at my North Carolina home.  Something about this heat reminds me of the recent trip my husband Spencer and I took back to India to visit my dear family and friends, and about those warm, delightful summers that I spent as a child in India, roaming through the palace halls and family fort walls.

What kind of memories do you think of when you think of your childhood summers?

Please tune in and watch me on QVC’s Global Artisan-Crafted Silver Jewelry on June 27th, from 1-3 am and 7-9 pm EST, as there are many more royal stories to tell and a very unique piece of jewelry that I’ll introduce during the limited edition show, designed from an original exotic Cartier necklace for my great-uncle, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala.  I hope to see you then!

With my love,

Sandra