The Omphalos of Delphi is an ancient marble monument that was found at the archaeological site of Delphi, Greece. According to the Ancient Greek myths regarding the founding of the Delphic Oracle, the god Zeus, in his attempt to locate the center of the earth, launched two eagles from the two ends of the world, and the eagles, starting simultaneously and flying at equal speed, crossed their paths above the area of Delphi, and so was the place where Zeus placed the stone. Since then, Delphi has been considered by Greeks to be the center of the world, the Omphalos – "navel of the Earth."The Omphalos of Delphi is an ancient marble monument that was found at the archaeological site of Delphi, Greece. According to the Ancient Greek myths regarding the founding of the Delphic Oracle, the god Zeus, in his attempt to locate the center of the earth, launched two eagles from the two ends of the world, and the eagles, starting simultaneously and flying at equal speed, crossed their paths above the area of Delphi, and so was the place where Zeus placed the stone. Since then, Delphi has been considered by Greeks to be the center of the world, the Omphalos – "navel of the Earth." From Wikipedia
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Flower Earrings! I've got my own new special technique. I've layered hand-forged 24k gold over sterling silver and stamped it with Minoan nature symbols, Each piece is adorned with precious gemstones and designed to be mixed and matched. Contact me for special stones and more. Price is per piece.
All images and designs ©2021 Maria-Tina Karamanlakis
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RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP YOU IN DEALING WITH THE COVID-19 VIRUS.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical practitioner and none of the suggestions or links below constitute medical advice in any way. Always speak to your own MD about the information you find here.
The people and services on this list are professionals in their respective fields and may ease your own worries and medical needs as they arise. Everything from the CDC links to natural remedies to martial arts are included below. As always, you are responsible for your own health and at this particular time, for the health of those around you.
Blessings and good health to all,
Maria-Tina Karamanlakis, Greek Island House / Maria-Tina Minoan Jewelry
www.GreekIslandHouse.com
"The Green Dress" on Key Biscayne, Florida. Thanks to Barbara Robbins Photography
RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP YOU IN DEALING WITH THE COVID-19 VIRUS.
AIKIDO PRINCIPLES TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY AND THE COVID VIRUS
This information is from my dear friend Debra Sue Kelvin, L.Ac., Dipl AC. She is an experienced, licensed acupuncturist with 17 years of her own private practice. She constantly keeps up to date with new developments in Acupuncture, Integrative Medicine and Chinese Herbal treatments. Her practice is in Berkeley, California and her website is http://healthychi.com.
RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP YOU IN DEALING WITH THE COVID-19 VIRUS
United States Center for Disease Control (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
This is the U.S. government’s most authoritative site for Corona Virus information. It is divided into two sections: “How To Protect Yourself” and “If You Think You Are Sick” and provides concrete steps you can take:
How to stay well:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
What to do if you are sick
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html
TELEHEALTH DOCTORS
Everybody needs to know that you can talk to a doctor by phone or by skype or other video conferencing services. The ones below are just a small sample to get you started. None of these have been vetted so these are not recommendations. I have no way of knowing who’s good and who’s not. So do your research! You can start by googling “Telehealth”.
https://www.telehealth.com
A BUSINESS INSIDER EXPLANATION OF TELE HEALTH SERVICES
https://www.businessinsider.com/telehealth-industry-explained
MTMJ Jewelry Update:
Due to the California Shelter In Place order, I am not able to work on your special orders in my San Francisco studio at this time. I look forward to getting back to the big tools as soon as possible and appreciate your patience. Please contact me if you need any further information.
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Blessings from St. Nicholas the Miracleworker. Maria-Tina and LemonDrop from Greek Island House wish you a Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Joyful holiday season! This original St. Nicholas icon was created by the hand of Maria-Tina Karamanlakis at the Church of St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco, California 2019.
]]>Fri, Sat, Sun, March 2, 3, and 4, 2018. 11am - 11pm, Sun. 11am - 9pm
Enjoy Opa! Dance, Music, Cuisine, Culture, History, Hospitality.
https://www.stsophiamiami.org/upcomingevents
]]>We look forward to seeing you at the St. Sophia Greek Festival in Miami, Florida this February 24, 25, 25, 2017. Shop Maria-Tina's new jewelry pieces and icons.
Eat, drink, dance! Opa!
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Growing up in St. Sophia Greek Orthodox church, I have always loved the symbols and icons that were all around me. I've always wanted to learn more about Byzantine Icons and finally, I've been able to take classes in Byzantine Icon painting for a few years now and I love it! Icons are more than art; they are "windows to heaven" which facilitate an eye-to-eye and heart-to-heart relationship with the holy person depicted.
I am happy to introduce St. Sophia.
Here is a brief description of a long, beautiful, symbolic art process (at least 40 meditative hours):
This amazing traditional Byzantine icon painting technique and process incorporates meditation, prayer, patience and many layers of paint. The painting begins using dark colors and then coming into the light. The first painted layer is called "Primordial Chaos" and brush strokes are small and made in a spiral. No long strokes are allowed because they are of the ego. All of the materials are natural. The colors consist of crushed pigment mixed with egg yolk and white wine.
The halo images the solar disc, and earthy clay is raised to a likeness of heaven.The 24k gold leaf, creating the halo, is breathed upon invoking the breath of life and to make sure it adheres to its base which is a clay and honey mixture called bole. The clay symbolizes the earth from which Adam (and all humanity) was created. With the gold leaf, you "breathe life" into the clay, as God breathed life into Adam. Just as raw clay is fired into a handsome and durable pot, applying gold leaf "fires" the clay bole into luminous beauty, reflecting earthly and heavenly light. The halo image, the solar disc, and earthy clay is raised to a likeness of heaven. Just as raw clay is fired into a handsome and durable pot, applying gold leaf "fires" the clay bole into luminous beauty, reflecting earthly and heavenly light.
As the final step, Olifa, a mix of two kinds of linseed oil, the traditional, all-natural, breathable finish is applied and represents the anointing of the icon, in preparation for its final blessing. It imparts a soft sheen and a touchable, kissable surface. The icon then must lay flat for weeks or months until it has cured.
The 9.5" x 12.5" original was painted in the Church of St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco, California by the hand of Maria-Tina Karamanlakis using traditional Byzantine Icon painting techniques and materials. Special thanks to instructor & iconographer Betsy Porter.
Sophia has many interpretations, here are some:
Sophia is the receptive, feminine force of God who created the world and everything in it. She appears in the Bible as Hagia Sophia, the Holy Wisdom of God and is the root word of the Greek word "philosophia" meaning friend of wisdom.
Sophia is God's Holy Wisdom, the Mother of All things, the feminine force of God in the world. Sophia is celebrated in numerous religions in the Mediterranean and Near East as the co-creator of the world. In Eastern Orthodoxy Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) refers to Jesus Christ -"Christ the wisdom of God and the power of God," 1 Corinthians 1:24. Sophia is God's Holy Wisdom. The St. Sophia of Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches was a Christian woman martyred in 137 AD who had adopted Sophia's name, and is now known as St. Sophia. The famous church in Constantinople, Hagia Sophia was the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch for hundreds of years.
The 9.5" x 12.5" original was painted in the Church of St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco, California by the hand of Maria-Tina Karamanlakis using traditional Byzantine Icon painting techniques and materials. Special thanks to instructor & iconographer Betsy Porter.
Please visit our St. Sophia Holy Wisdom Collection
for items incorporating this design. For information on commissioning your own custom original Byzantine icon painting contact Maria-Tina at jewelry@Maria-TinaVision.com. Thank you!All information & images © 2016 Maria-Tina Karamanlakis
Wishing you much Joy and Wisdom! Love, Maria-Tina
Make your favorite summer outfits shine with Maria-Tina's latest piece, the Star Path Ring. This sleek, simple design is inspired by the modern lines trending now but with a signature Maria-Tina ode to antiquity. Simple enough to be worn with your favorite tee shirt and shorts yet elegant and sparkly enough to stand out against your best dress at an elegant evening party. No matter how fancy or festive your summer plans, this piece is sure to make your outfit sparkle and bring the Greek Isles to your fingertips.
Star Path Ring $2400
Introducing Blue Diamonds! Natural ones are rare and expensive like the "Royal Blue Diamond" ring above.
Maria-Tina has sourced some "enhanced" blue diamonds which are much more reasonable! She's in love with their bright colors and sparkle like the color of the Greek Island seas.
Diamond, a symbol of clarity, resiliance and new beginnings, is the perfect stone to give to the people you love. Whether you’re celebrating Mother’s Day, an engagement or just because, the Greek Island House team is happy to provide these unique sparkling blue diamonds to help you send your love in a very special way.
Take a look below at Maria-Tina's most recent hand made custom pieces, a 14k rose gold engagement ring and 14k & 18k lovely mini spiral rings featuring only the best, hand selected Blue Diamonds.
To start your own custom piece, call, text or write Maria-Tina directly at 415-299-1442, jewelry@Maria-TinaVision.com.
There's still time to order for Greek Easter (May 1) and Mother's Day (May 8) 2016
"Poseidon's Daughter Collection", .08 carats tw, and 18k gold, $850.
"Poseidon's Daughter Collection", .06 carats tw, and 14k gold, $550.
]]>If you do end up joining us, don't forget to dress the part at these Greek events with some Maria-Tina Minoan Jewelry. This season we are loving turquoise tassels (shown below). SHOP NOW.
May 1st – Greek Easter, celebrated at all Greek/ Eastern Orthodox Churches
May 20 – 22nd – Greek Festival in Oakland CA more info here
The other day I found this ring on Pinterest. I was totally enamored with it the second I saw it. It had a gorgeous broad band covered with engravings that just kept me thinking, despite the turmoil and strife of their times, Medieval people had some of the most amazing jewelry and artwork. What kept me thinking about it later was its name, “Coventry ring”. I had to know more so I started googling until I came up with a book by Peter Murray Jones on “Visualizing Medieval Medicine and Natural History” and his passage on the meaning behind the Coventry ring.
It turns out that the Coventry ring and all of its engravings were symbols to remind its wearer of the pity, mercy, comfort, grace and ever -lasting life of Christ. To me this message is far more than a Christian one; it works today for anyone feeling lost in society. The ring much like the symbols that decorate Maria-Tina’s jewelry are a reminder of the ever-lasting love inside each of us. If you have pity for yourself, in your poor judgment and mistakes, you have mercy for those mistakes and comfort yourself in those moments, grace and ever-lasting love will surround you.
Featured Product:
Nature Symbols Ring with Turquoise $188 SHOP NOW!
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to think about this Coventry ring, its message and the symbols of life, love and transformation that cover Maria-Tina’s jewelry; after all Valentines is about love, whether that is for your partner, your pet, your children or your community, love emanates from within. And there’s no better way to remind yourself of that source of ever-lasting love than to get your own reminder, a piece of Maria-Tina Minoan Jewelry this Valentine’s Day. Go to www.greekislandhouse.com to order your own Maria-Tina original or call Maria-Tina directly to set up a custom design consultation.
Sending you love, light and laughter this Valentines Day.
OPA!
]]>Spirals, hearts, gold and turquoise, Maria-Tina's designs on paper, video and now in jewelry have always attracted the attention and adoration of artists from across the world. For years she has been collaborating with fellow artists, creating unique, often outrageous and always beautiful custom pieces that blend their style with hers. Now Maria-Tina is working on a series of headpieces for festival goers (AKA Burners) at Burning Man!
Browsing the fashion jewelry section of Bloomingdale's or Nordstrom today you might find more pieces made of Ancient Bronze than you've ever seen before. Larger jewelers and retailers are starting to catch on to something Maria-Tina has known for years. Ancient Bronze is a great metal for that sparkly rose gold look for a lower price.
So What is Ancient Bronze?
Ancient Bronze is a metal alloy first created in ancient times and composed of a combination of 10% tin and 90% copper. Bronze has been used since the 4th millennium B.C.E. by many different cultures and civilizations around the world. But it was commonly found in archaeological dig sites in Iran and Thailand where both tin and copper are found in the same location naturally. Ancient Bronze was such a strong and useful metal it was used for everything from tools and weapons to jewelry and headdresses.
Today Bronze is a beautiful alternative metal for fashion jewelry offering the look of rose gold without the hefty price tag. Like great art, each piece of Maria-Tina's bronze jewelry is unique because of her process and how special properties in the metal react under fire. The color/ finish of bronze can range from antiqued gold to rose gold with different patinas.
Maria-Tina offers many of her best designs in Ancient Bronze at great prices. Shop her Ancient Bronze collection now!
]]>East Asian: These gorgeous pieces draw our eye with their tinny shine and bright colored stones but its important to keep in mind that currency exchange rates aren't the only reason prices are cheap.
METALS: The tinny color of some east Asian silver jewelry comes from a slightly different metal content. In Asia a piece of jewelry considered sterling silver contains only 90% silver and 10% zinc compared to USA 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. By using tin instead of copper, East Asian jewelry is produced more cheaply, is less durable, and may tarnish quicker than American sterling silver. Maria-Tina's silver is always high quality sterling with no less than 92.5% silver. Check out Maria-Tina's Sterling Silver collection.
Native American: High quality, authentic Native American jewelry can be hard to find, but if you know the signs of quality craftsmanship you're more likely to score some great deals. As always, get to know the logos of notable artists and look for the maker's mark on the back of the jewelry.
TURQUOISE: Over the years Maria-Tina has taken apart old jewelry for makeovers and discovered the dirty secrets behind cheap Native American jewelry. Behind those gorgeous stones there is sometimes cardboard or sawdust used as a filler to make up for very thin pieces of stone. As a buyer, it is very difficult to detect if the piece you are buying has as much turquoise appears, but if you look for heftier pieces that have a substantial feeling in your hand you are more likely to get a good piece of jewelry. Using only thick, solid pieces of turquoise in her pieces, that hefty feel is always present in Maria-Tina's Minoan Jewelry. Check out her extensive collection of turquoise jewelry.
Maria-Tina has a collection of her own bohemian baubles and loves them all. At greekislandhouse.com we want you to be educated and enjoy these bangles and baubles too but know when you want museum-quality pieces Maria-Tina is the one to go to!
Wishing you love, light and a little bit of Opa!
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Check out Maria-Tina's Solid Gold and 24k Vermeil Jewelry!
HAND HAMMERED – hammering makes the metal in your jewelry solid and more dense by actually condensing molecules, and getting rid of air pockets in the metal. Many of Maria-Tina’s pieces have been hand hammered, so you get more metal for your money. All pieces are made in San Francisco and
CASTINGS – Cast pieces are used by jewelers to reduce costs and production times but they can mean a compromise on quality. Most jewelry is cast. During production, metal is poured into a mold which may form tiny pockets of air that makes the jewelry lighter. To detect if a piece was cast, look along the sides of the jewelry for ridges or seams. The better the jewelry, the less you can see. The majority of Maria-Tina’s jewelry is hand fabricated (sculpted by hand). Some pieces have been cast by hand using the lost wax method with the utmost attention to detail. Unlike commercial castings, Maria-Tina’s are made from originals maintaining the integrity of the design.
MIX & MATCH – Inspired by the art of Ancient Greece, Maria-Tina’s jewelry can be mixed and matched with other pieces to create a unique and inspiring look every time. No matter what metal or stone, all of Maria-Tina’s designs have a cohesive style that can stand alone or be combined for a statement look. There are unlimited options, pairing Maria-Tina’s ancient look with modern pieces gives your outfit an air of old world sophistication like the eclectic architecture of Athens, Paris and London!
Whatever jewelry you buy we wish you radiance and happiness and a little bit of OPA from Maria-Tina and the Greek Island House Team!
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