My passions! jewelry and more

Keeping up with the Kashyaps

2012-02-02T20:23:00.002+05:30

Ya, me & my sister are going to have our own reality show, the indian media has become inquisitive what with so many co-incidences such as my sister sharing her birthday with Kim... we've got an offer to sell photo rights of our marriages to an indian tabloid well in advance... they've taken it upon themselves to find the grooms... even better.
The title is an influence of the recurring nature of Ks in ms.Kashyap at Kochi in Kerala while the former was just her, kidding.

Never mind I missed my much sought after icon, Anna Dello Russo just by a week, I was still looking forward to Kerala. For a north Indian going down south is an adventure in itself especially if months of tedious monotony(read: an arduous cycle of waking up to worldly pursuits & going to sleep) have tired her.

So I was back again in this exciting place. The cinema leaves me inquisitive & the food is sumptuous leaving me ravenously appetitive...

Inconsistent as it may sound but ships in Kochi go to & fro like it’s nobody’s business!

The continuous flow of integrated logistics all through the night, quite apparent from my window had me rapt. I was busy counting ship containers being lifted by cranes as tall as buildings. How something as mechanical could be this beautiful! Then again here was someone who had gotten away from arduous monotony.

All that glitters…
There is a feeling of exuberance in witnessing women extravagantly buying gold which can’t be shared otherwise. Karl Lagerfeld would understand. Which again makes me realize how i love jewelry unconditionally!

Glad to be born an Indian for there are few places in the world where a woman can get away with wearing opulent amounts of gold in such great taste. Hats off to them, it takes great skill to select that design which complements you a 100% amongst a variety of others that are a 0.01% less complementary. Yes, those are the odds...

We’re at the end of this post & there's… karl lagerfeld, ships, anna dello russo, gold, logistics, percentages… sigh… all in 1 post. No it’s not confusion...

'It is one hell of a holiday'

Letting go...

2011-11-06T19:15:00.002+05:30

The hardest thing in life is not growing up but letting go. Nobody can teach you how to let go. Not that the former can be taught either, but atleast it can be more or less left to nature.

… letting go of dreams, of habits, of inhibitions, of people! You question your chase for an enticing moon which on closer look is plain rock...

What is eating you up from inside are a million re-considerations, to know that you’ll have to get used to a ‘change’ is the least bit comforting. It doesn’t matter whoever tells you it is bad for you, it takes only 1 person to finally make you realize it, yourself.

However, this self realization is not something that strikes by looking into a mirror. Neither does it come by watching the sunset, nor by throwing pebbles in still water bodies.

It just happens. You could be listening to music, you could be dancing & you just know it, you come to terms with your tumultuous emotions. You don’t want to deal with unnecessary thoughts that are weighing you down. You want to move on. That day, you grow up (a birthday in the real sense)

This is what October does to me. A whirlwind of a month! So eventful! One day it is exciting, the other- liberating, insightful, nostalgic, pensive, festive probably, not in the same order.

And whirlwind it sure was, for someone,

who was pursuing a chase...

I'm a woman & when I think

2011-09-14T19:07:00.001+05:30

...I must speak

Amongst the varied choice this millenium has to offer, I admit that i do have a fever for this lady...

If there is 1 person who represents a woman physically, mentally, & emotionally more than anybody else then she is undoubtedly Beyonce.

If you’re as crazy in love with her to watch all her live performances on the web & gets goose bumps as a reflex everytime she has sung 'Halo' then you know what I’m talking about! I love ~~singing~~ trying to mouth the ill-fated notes of 'Dangerously in love'.

                  Right since teenage, naively taking pleasure in singing “Naughty girl” inspite of the misappropriate age for lyrics like that, i've been in love with her work.

Calling a woman like her 'hot' is a cheap ascription to someone who is more than just that! When she wears those rocks on her ears, she's nothing less than a goddess who has been adorned. Not to forget- Big crazy Beyonce hair, is something I LOVE!

She's such an inspiration to women, that it can scare a man. She’s a power-house, who can sing without ever missing a single note while dancing like a lady on fire.

She has already proved how modest she is after she got married to JAY-Z. You are allowed to think of me as a malicious brat for having said such a thing, but that only means…

...you have NOT seen JAY-Z.

Me & my faux pas

2011-07-03T19:37:00.000+05:30

I’m the kind of person who finds her foot in the puddle more often than not! It’s called waking up on the wrong side of the bed!

Days when...
--- I, already having run into a news reporter in my bid to speak to a corporate bigwig, I raced to meet this formidable man in my heels later realizing that if my speed per footstep had increased even by a fraction, I would've, much to the entertainment of media and corporate guests, had a head-on collision with HIM!

--- I happened to meet my professor after a few years only to realize that having asked him “You’re STILL teaching at xyz classes?” is not the least bit polite.

--- I, in my sheer innocence (& a little bit of blindness) usually end up mistaking a random guy as a salesman while in the store!

--- in a Q&A round, telling an international singer to do an album with Gareth Gates, just because I was fond of him. Yes I was 11 & I was telling HER, Tata Young, a singing sensation with a million followers to her credit! Its called the early setting-in of cheeky-ness!

---when I take the effort to make an English toast coated with a generous amount of imported cheese (usually reserved by indulgent parents for spoilt kids)
Walking on the road, I end up getting stranded while the dogs sense my pleasure in eating it & continue their pursuit in harassing me. In my flustered state (as if the strong wind wasn’t enough distraction) I decide to get rid of either the wind or the dogs. Since nature can’t be defied. I consider the latter... and in my most well bred manner place my toast on the side walk. Wait a minute!
Did they just sniff it & haughtily walk away?! (defying nature could’ve been more fruitful) Dear cheese, forgive me for the torment. My love for you explains why I can get so cheesy…

--- falling into a pond of moss is not as bad as coming out of it... to face jeering classmates while your still at an impressionable age. Even more belittled after having to wear the most ill fitting change of clothes brought for me!

From my detailed descriptions, one must conclude that the grass is not always greener on the other side... atleast not on my side...

10 things you want to ask!

2011-06-12T22:31:00.000+05:30

This is neither a blog that criticizes movies, passing verdicts on god-may-care-less-for-innovations nor a ‘let’s discuss Rebecca Black’ So let me get this answered once and for all-

1) its…

decently pleasurable stuff straight from a little woman’s mouth... not pertaining to physical pleasures.

2) target audience…

may not necessarily be someone who agrees to what I write. There’s a method in all this madness of sharing with unknown people. They are mostly people who can bear my illicit cheekiness dominating my articles.

3) what happened to ‘my passions…’ the jewelry part of it?
I’m not a fan of bloggers trying to sell things all the time, let’s leave blogs to blogs.

4) the pics…

show my mood when I’m writing something or readers would assume I’ve appointed a PR agent to speak on my behalf.

PS: One of my former lying down image really helped in boosting page views, even perverts accidentally end up on my blog.

5) people say…

‘so who reads your blog?’ honestly, I don't know, which is why it is all the more exciting

6) propagating feminism?
who me???? There are days when I wish I could be part of the males, for girls can have this hidden CRUELLA in them that gets unmasked occasionally. So I’m not a feminist. No man is my enemy, after all, he is someone’s son (then again all boys are not MEN)

7) usp of the blog…
I make headlines when I give out insider details that even make JULIAN ASSANGE insecure.

8) why blog?

It’s a form of expression; not to forget, the cheap thrills when you cross 100 page views in a week. Beautiful women who have nothing to say are so dull! I didn’t want to be DULL(this is exactly why I warned you in (2) about how illicit it gets)

9) inspiration?
the fact that sometimes i feel like im talking to a computer screen is inspiration enough

10) why this pic?
I can always bank on a certain section of people to read my content with pics like these. No! they are not my friends! They are the same people as mentioned in (4)
Where do you think they will land up searching for ‘girl in her bedroom’ ?

When we committed Animal cruelty...

2011-06-01T22:11:00.001+05:30

(luckily minors can't be charged or we'd be guilty for an offense)

One of the few days when my mom is grateful for the OCD that strikes in me, I take to cleaning my drawer, which like always, brings out fossils. But this time it was different... I couldn’t bring myself to throw this valuable fossil. It reminded me of my childhood spent with partner in crime- my sister!

For most part of my life that I’ve lived with my sister we’ve fought just like other siblings on trivial things …and there it was in front of my eyes, so easy for me to grab… for she would never know about them going MISSING… But it became meaningless now for I didn’t have to share it with her… (in economic terms- their marginal cost had reduced to nothing)

We would scrupulously divide our odd number of jelly sweets so that neither of us (even by God’s intervention) got a millimeter extra. What love! Those were the small things in life… nonetheless they created memories.

Which brings me back to why I started this, from marshmallows to the tiniest of gummy bears that were mercilessly slaughtered & cut to ‘divide’ among us, we shared our favourite things. At times, generous enough to donate a whole non-dissected bear to the 3^rd party aka mom & dad. (god bless us our magnanimous souls)

What those gummy bears didn’t know were that they were being sacrificed to create memories & a bond of high tensile strength.

Amen to the slaughtered bears...

Some girls can fly!

2011-04-21T14:42:00.005+05:30

Never seen you shine so bright

Never seen so many people wanting to be there by your side & when you turn to me and smile

you took my breath away

...lady in red

The whole idea of a woman wearing red is so glamourized… how some dresses can give us wings to fly! So when a lotus-eater like me starts dreaming, you know that her mind will dangerously wander to other things- ball gowns, red carpet gowns, cocktail dresses, prom dresses, sundresses, dinner dresses... starting an all together new list of wants. And I make this list after a hearty session of shopping.

Considering that i'm skilled at finding the levity of any situation, i'll say it’s ok! people commit bigger sins.

1. The Exculpable Red dress

I’m talking no ordinary dress here but only ‘Valentinos’. A red gown can serve as an excuse for ANYTHING! Even if you're the one that stole candy from a kid.

From the designer whose red gowns are his magnum opus. They can even make a mannequin dance. No one does red better than him.

Pardoxically, a sinfully red Valentino is forgiving!

2. The Bandage

It appears like you’ve been held while they’d carefully wrap the bandages around your body.

Herve Leger does them in different shades & the result is a dress perfectly molded onto your body. I prefer the shimmering 1 worn by the ‘nobody can do bling better’ JLO!

3. The Eloquent Outfit

If an award was to be given to clothes that are most expressive, it would go to everything that Manish Arora has ever created.

I’d barely finished school & I was already eyeing a Manish Arora creation. Forever on my wish list! I think I might have to throw a party just to celebrate it.

PS: Manish is another reason to take pride in the Indian Fashion Industry. Especially if your a fan of WEARABLE ART.

4.The 'I AM OBSESSED' dress

I’m among the many men out there who are obsessed with Marilyn Monroe. To the extent that i would have been charged with stalking her if only we had her among us.

Attention: do not mistake my fascination for idolizing her. I’m not good at singing happy birthday neither do I have an affinity towards politicians *wink*

5. The Sympathetic White dress

There’s something about white that makes me at ease even if I’m having a bad hair day OR bad face day OR bad mood day OR bad work day OR any day.

Its a sympathetic piece of cloth that can rid the malice off you.

The adventurer in me will always opt for an LWD instead of the safer, LBD.

6. The Classic Ballgown

If you think of Jane Austen characters as your ancestors just like I do then I’m sure you’ve imagined yourself a million times wearing those ball gowns while a certain Mr. Darcy / Mr. Knightley asks you for a dance.

But who would care to be asked when wearing it itself would keep you beaming (even if you’re called to clean the dishes at the ball)

7. The Sari Dress

It’s ok! You are not the only one who has sinfully dreamt of those saris lying in your mom’s trunk to be stitched into a cute dress. This is the toughest item to get from the entire list.

Welcome to the ‘evil daughter’ club. I’ll keep your secret just don’t get your mom to my blog.

8. The Majescule Fantasy Dress

The fashionable Marie Antoinette who resided in the grand Versailles Palace wore gowns that were nothing less than a fantasy for every girl.

...I can visualize myself in it while the butler comes to serve me a 3 tiered cake, cookies & tea while I look at the Eiffel tower from the french windows, then dismiss him not before ordering him to cancel the ball...

The gown could house a beggar!

9. The Fierce dress

"She looks like a flower but she stings like a bee ...Like every girl in history"

All women have that fierce side to our misleading exterior. This dress spells power. Just like the Roksanada Illinic outfit that I wore in my previous posts & then 2nd handed down to Ash.

There’s nothing that can beat the pleasure in wearing a fierce outfit. It feels super woman-ish! It helps when you want to put off somebody who intimidates you. Just put on your fierce dress & watch how the tables turn.

10. The morbidly fascinated with Kitty dress

A kitty dress would be unfathomable for ordinary mortals. It would be tough explaining them the art of deriving happiness from it!

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. I envy Gaga.
Have I thought of a place to where it? tough one but I know even if I’ve to wear it & stroll at home all day it would give me the kicks.

oops how did I forget that I already have one of these. 9 to go!

Whoever thought that Marilyn & Kitty cannot be on the same list is mistaken.

As Michael Buble puts it, ‘so you want to be a rockstar but you have bunnies in your bed’ -thats me!

Timeout Magazine

2011-03-12T17:58:00.000+05:30

how silly of me for not haiving shared this before! Well here it is, the feature in Timeout, dated- Jan issue...

Like the official Cheyenne'11 page on http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Cheyenne11-Jewelry-by-Shyan-Kashyap/122202087802281?v=app_2392950137

The Annoying breed!

2011-03-09T22:19:00.000+05:30

I was walking down the street, alone. The silence was now disturbing, clutching my bag so hard it was begging for mercy when suddenly… it happened. My heart was in my mouth. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

It was a heist committed in broad daylight. There was nobody around me. I felt my blood running cold. I thought I was dreaming until… it struck me...

...that I wasn’t!(for nobody smells waffles while dreaming) It’s happening! That annoying breed of cats was stalking me... once again.

…those copy'Cats'

Seeing those envious feathers (which I had passionately blogged about) on a huge billboard! They say cats have 9 lives but I can vouch that this breed has far more. For they keep crossing my path. But now, I'm wiser, stronger, taller (PS: Boost is not the secret of my energy but hell ya they should sponsor this) And I will take all this in my stride.

It’s not even funny that I had it as my Facebook dp in Dec while VOGUE was out in Feb!

Million dollar question, ‘Could the Vogue Fashion Editor from my friend list have taken inspiration?’

I’m not even complaining… after all… isn’t it a disguised form of flattery?

Look at her, trying to outdo me! They put my used outfit on the world’s most beautiful woman and thought it could look any different... Silly people

PS: Kudos if you’ve survived through the repulsively cheeky shyan-ism ^
NOW The original- http://shyankashyap.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-found-my-model.html

Behind every success...

2011-02-24T00:08:00.000+05:30

...was first a rejection, a bruised ego, a fire to prove yourself, a race track to catch your dream. Blinkers on your eyes, you shoot out, but along the process of chasing it you realize it is no longer a question of your ego, the ego invariably shakes off & you enjoy the chase.

You learn to ‘humble’ but then you also realize you can’t ‘fit in’! Why? because ‘your’ aged mortals haven’t learnt as much as you did along the path, basically you would’ve been just as indifferent as them if you HADN’T got that first rejection.

You forgive them for their ignorance, you give up on fitting in; instead you wade through the waters. Afterall, all great innovations are built on rejections! You realize your destiny is a conspiracy, how it intentionally throws at you unexpected situations out of which you MAY come out as a winner OR you may have to learn the hard way!

(OR might as well come to terms with your unintentional urge to put your foot in your mouth - as in my case)

You don’t want to be the big fish in the pond. Rather be the small fish in the sea. After all there is far more adventure in those salty waters.

That’s when you learn the difference between being passionate and being ambitious. An ambitious man is pleasant only for awhile.

..............................That’s also when you realize your getting too philosophical & your a grandma at 19!

..............................Much to the tired eyes of the grandma- nite nite!

Confessions of a 40kg multi-tasker

2011-01-17T22:09:00.010+05:30

Whoever thought that modeling is a cakewalk, let me give you a bite. Posing for 200 snaps in a 20 by 20 sq foot area is not all that creamy as it seems.

woke up at 8- rushed to college- invariably turned up late despite ALL my efforts- rushed for makeup- lipstick went awry- friend came to the rescue- supposedly all set- got accidently punched by a woman (who had this random urge to fling her arms in the sky just when I crossed her path) strong women like these shouldn’t be exposed in public (felt like my eyeball was going to pop off the socket)- Checked my bruised eye- “everything’s fine”- reached the studio- forgot lunch- got scolded for the same.

awaiting me was a 4 hr shoot- flattered to have 3 grown ups at my disposal- arc lights blinding my cornea- smiling till jaws hurt- asked to continue- 3hrs- still have my shoulders squared- wrap up- returned to home sweet home with a spine as stiff as Barbie. Felt like I was totally worth it (having said that, I’ve not yet got my cheque from LOREAL)

Designers always work behind the scenes & getting recognized once in awhile is flattering. Yeah that's exactly what you don't read in between the lines, that I love every minute of my work. Indeed tired but as content as a kid who comes home from play.

The only difference in life when I was 11 to where I am now is that- ‘now when I have 10 things to do, life gives you 20 more’

No complaints, I'll do them all (doesn't quite sound the way i wanted it to)

PS: women never disclose their weight... but this is what you get for being on my blog... another WikiLeak..

KittyLeaks: I get the truth out

2011-01-06T23:10:00.002+05:30

Today I’ll be leaking out the true story behind my Kitty that has been leaked. Caution fellow kitty-ites! The following content may get you teary-eyed.

I’ve been depressed lately my face speaks it, I went into gloom when my parcel for SANRIO Kitty turns out to be lighter & lesser than what was originally sent from USA.

(why I mention Sanrio is because they are the original Kitty merchandise makers which make these KITTIES darn expensive & more disheartening)

This is not the 1st time Indian postal services have ~~SHOPLIFTED~~ Envelope-Lifted my stuff! They define the words ‘petty thieves’. I mean how cruel can you get?! Stealing dainty kitties = stealing ~~CANDY~~ IPOD from a kid. Not cool people! not cool!

It doesn’t end here, here’s the mystery of the 10 MISSING WISHES… Not even Sherlock Holmes can solve.

Since my birthday fell on 10-10-10, I was super excited with my luck, so my sister sent me 10 birthday cards with a message in each but in the transit I got only 3. Drawing me to the conclusion that-

1) either there are kids at the post office waiting to swipe anything sent for Shyan Kashyap

2) the crafty officials are planning to open a gift shop very soon.

Me thinks that I should take my girly parade and ransack the post office! ( yeah i already have my grudges against the Post Office courtesy: overvalued custom duty that i had to shell out!)

Oh! By the way, I started my new year with a spiritual note and I just learned that one shouldn’t be attached to materialistic things… and certainly not when the material is kitty (gulping my sob as I say that)

Earlier kitty obsessions- http://shyankashyap.blogspot.com/2010/01/call-me-fanatic-or-whatever-you-please.html

I found my model

2010-12-08T23:49:00.019+05:30

I’m picky & I choose the best, I’d like to replace the otherwise self employed for free(& under necessity) model (read: me) with Anna Dello Russo for my brand Cheyenne'11. Which is only when I earn in additional no. of zeros. Pray, are they listening up there?!

Luxury she lives in

drama is her wardrobe

leopard, feathers, fur, & gold she has them all

‘re-incarnated Marie Antoinette’ she is!

Worked as fashion editor for style bible ‘Vogue’ ADR is one lady who has a wardrobe I can kill for.

‘Spunky Superwoman’ is the word for her! She makes heads involuntarily turn 360 degrees as she walks by, I bet superman can't beat that. Fierce yet lady-like is her appearance! Luxury is burgeoning in her wardrobe. She’s the kinda lady who takes chances, is upbeat and humorous- all that a lady should be! Confession: I want to be ANNA!

I sense ADR is as cheeky as me. She says “when I was a kid my friend told me oh! Let’s go to buy jeans! I’d say, Jeans! Why would you go to buy jeans?! Why we don’t go buy a Versace jacket”

I'm awestruck by the exaggerated shoulder dress, which I think can give me power not even Prime Ministers have reveled in …so I take my fancy for this fashion BOMB to a higher level by sticking my face out of that fab outfit. Now you ask why? Because dreams are free and I just lived mine…

Note: I do not claim to have rights over the pic

Shoulder dress courtesy: Roksanda Ilincic

Count your blessings……& your Bags

2010-11-24T20:25:00.002+05:30

I finally admit that I have spent an * amount on my bag fetish! Europe can make you a sucker for all things classy & chic. It propitiates materialistic ~~WANTS~~ needs; result: splurges on bags! At these times, one should follow the adage ‘always count your blessings’ here, count your bags. So, I’ve taken an oath that I’m not falling prey to anymore bags for the next 2 years! (my subconscious has already read that as 1 year)

Count your blessings, name them one by one, & it will surprise you…. what the lord have I done?!

I HAVE 20 BAGS as on 24-11-10!!!! Ask a collector and he'll say its not much but hell yeah when it exceeds your age...
Big small neon shiny printed & all want to rest on these arms! My current collection boasts of shoulder bags, cross body bags, leather backpacks, bucket bags, beach bag, oversized bags, basket bags, holiday bags, PVC bags, & finally a clutch (which refuses to make space for my zillion necessities). Few are branded, few bought from quaint shops, & more are handed down to me (if raiding momma’s closet means handing down). Sometimes occasions fall short when it comes to carrying them.

Ask me to part with any of these? Come to my place!!! I’ll serve you cupcakes & cyanide.

Defense plea against alleged charges that i'm a shopaholic:

Shopping is an art. It takes skill to patiently browse through racks & pull out hangers in constraints of time. One shouldn’t be deriding women who shop. Maybe bags are my idiosyncrasy. But everyone has one! And mine can be pardoned for these are ‘beauties’ on my arms & help me carry all my baggage (pun unintended)!
To all those who expected full fledged pictures of my bags…. I may be silly but not naive.

*undisclosed amount just in case the IT officials take fancy to my blog
wild guesses are allowed...

Cheyenne'11 Earrings

2010-11-10T20:24:00.000+05:30

Bulgari inspiration!

2010-11-03T22:41:00.004+05:30

My love for jewelry drives to me to take fancy in absurd things, and one of them is the Julianne Moore Bulgari Ad with Cockatoos(i'll save you time on google- Bulgari is an Italian jewelry brand!) The ad which has been banned in Venice due to its inappropriate content has been recreated. This is me doing the- 19yr old- version of the Bulgari ad with my cockatoo. The cockatoo shouldn’t irk animal rights activist for I can officially state that its stuffed & belongs to the ‘stuffed bird’ sanctuary in my bedroom. Anyway do you know why i'm luckier than Julianne? My birds neither ask for food nor do they have intestines...
Who did it better? Or is Bulgari going to sue me for my cheek?

Man! I feel like a woman

2010-10-26T15:35:00.000+05:30

I’m 19!!! Now I can say. Last yr was my 18th & this year too I had a special reason to celebrate as it fell dramatically on *drum rolls* 10-10-10(say ‘wow’ for it comes once in 100years)

                       Another reason is the 8 yrs of Cheyenne’11 that have passed… my interesting affair with jewelry & how it continues to broaden my horizons teaching me more about myself (which otherwise could’ve taken decades) …the inspiring people I’ve come across, the creative exposure! Saying ‘I’m passionate about this’ is now an understatement…

Yay! Cheyenne’11 is now 8yrs old! Older than most brands by people elder to me! It doesn’t stop at this!

                      It makes me proud & not to forget, responsible (or do I sound too big for my ~~boots~~ ballerinas?) The compliments come in & stay close to my heart. How swell it is when a 40 something Brit( & mind you very good looking) said "Shyan, you're so cool” thanks to GLOBALISATION I feel like a WORLDLY CITIZEN. A European designer I look up to complimented me (from now on all the single ladies will be a regular at my blog) & when my esteemed teacher once told me ‘you are going to be a big success’ or when I get ‘you’re already a star’ ‘you have a great future’ they boost me up my ladder.

They sound encouraging enough to take you from cloud 9 to 99 but we know how pressure at high altitudes can be uncomfortable. Great Expectations can be misleading (even Charles Dickens would agree with me) Few turn into rebels while I take it all in my stride… putting it this way, the expectations are the guards. They’re at my disposal; I shake it off whenever it gets heavy.

                 …One lifetime is neither enough to discover my passion nor to receive all the compliments!
(Surprisingly the cheekiness doesn’t fade away)

The legendary Ms. Miley Cyrus & Shyan Kashyap

2010-09-16T23:28:00.004+05:30

I have to start by saying that Miley Cyrus’ live performance of ‘Climb & These 4 Walls’ are nothing to go by. It’s a non-lip-sync & inspiring (considering how a teen can enthrall a stadium of fans) performance. Apart from her bfs(Nick, Justin, Liam, Douglas) I adore her ability for managing criticism.

And then when I own a pair of RayBans & come across Miley wearing the same pair, I’m thrilled! Not by the fact that we both own the same pair but I see her wearing it after almost a month after my purchase. A little thrill on a rather dull day… I owe you Miley!

We do have certain things similar- she started her career at 11; I created Cheyenne’11 when I was 11 :-)

PS: this post is dedicated to my anti-miley sis... how excited she'll be to read this!

Visiting the Mall!

2010-09-06T14:49:00.011+05:30

Are you a mall rat? Then you are sure to be familiar with every floor...

Supermarket Section: Shorts & slippers should be restricted to the home unless you are Bradley Cooper

This place will get you drained out of your happiness & you don’t even want to get here on weekends or be prepared to spend the rest of it in gloom. Here’s where 30 something adults come with their seemingly accidently-born-children ( these parents are anything but happy) they look depressed. While women sadly pick up groceries (can’t blame them, the groceries behold them, they have to be cut & cooked) The husbands accompany them in their worst attempt at looking casual. I mean I know you can’t dress up for a visit to the mall but this! Shorts & slippers?! Already most men are chivalry-less & to add to that... a sucky get-up! Beware of the dirty looks from fellow shoppers if your trolley is full & there’s a queue!

Shopping arcade: Even a desert storm in the Sahara has more people

The arcade is so deserted that couples tend to find their privacy here & stroll through. It goes to say that now people are saving a lot & its not helping the economy! Some shops are too tacky while the others are too overpriced for a mall goer. You may also find 13 something yr old teenagers who try outfits that make them look 20 something & the mothers are surprisingly pleased! The salesmen seem drugged, shops have more salesmen than customers ironically, they are never around when you need them.
The unimaginative window display adds to the disappointment, take a cue from Harrods & Selfridges!

Food court: Ok! I love kids but what’s with parents not teaching them to behave & talk in human hearing decibels

Shyness is not in their dictionary unlike in our times, they want everything(not that i wanted anything less... teeheehee) But here are the happiest people… you know why? For the men are happy their wives are not shopping & women are happy they’re anywhere but in the kitchen!

Visiting the mall can really get you worried about the world!

My European Travelogue: Italy

2010-08-14T00:37:00.003+05:30

Italy is invigorating… no doubt! Driving from one country to the other in Europe can’t get anymore scenic. We chase the Italian hills that overlook the sapphire clear Mediterranean. I’ve not even reached Genoa & I’m already in love with Italy! Heard so much about it… brings back memories of how I first heard the word ‘Italy’ when I was a kid … my dad was going to ‘Itlee’-I loved how it sounded! The following events have been ingeniously compressed for blog reading…

Genoa: I love all things nautical!

Yachts, Huge Cruise liners & there nestled between them was the Pirates of the Caribbean ship. Very distinct, you just can’t miss it.(Time for a serious chat with the driver… annoyingly frisky man who has no idea what he’s doing to my photographs) I see a stark white cruise liner so huge that it terrifies me (the growing up on Titanic-effect) But I love all things Nautical. I discover Genoa- the banks, the buildings by foot. I see a red satin suited lady with wait a minute, hold your breath, black Lace corset inside a fitting blazer & towering heels, looking more eye catching than the bride herself. Yes I was witness to a wedding in Genoa (& this is just the beginning)!

Rome: It wasn’t built in a day, doesn’t take a genius to find out… only takes a ticket to Rome to figure that out!

Rome owes its beauty to archaeologists who have restored major part of history & continue to carry out excavation work. After a bitter taste of wine from the vineyard & seeing the Pope’s summer residence (to be apt, mansion) I head to the Trevis fountain. Magnificent is an understatement! Breathtaking Baroque work! Each movement of the muscle was immaculately carved. The fountain is ALIVE! 1000s of people like me throw coins in the fountain daily. No, I’m not telling what I wished for but if it comes true I’m heading back to the Trevis. I drool over the yummiest pizza & soothing gelatos. Rome is bustling with people(did I forget to mention hot?) I must add that the Colosseum is not a very happy place to visit considering the history behind it. Smiling in the C is not very becoming! Men walking casually outside in gladiator get-up liven up the C. I could see archaeologists working on a nearby monument. Talk about more history being unravelled in Rome, Phew!

I relive Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons while visiting the Vatican & by the time I’m done touring it I’m exhausted- the detailed work on walls, Michelangelo’s dome, ceilings, paintings take a toll on my eyes And to come out in the bright open St. Peter’s Square is peaceful!

Pisa: I love Pizzas, so naturally even Pisa!

You can’t help but giggle looking at it the leaning tower. The marble stands out like a set of teeth in the misty wet weather. My 1st rain in Europe, how could I not get wet?! I pulled mom too!

Florence: David is anything but embarrassing!

The Statue of David stands naked in the busy square, he’s a familiar friend, i’ve known him ever since I was a kid when he peacefully took his place as a showpiece in my house.

Venice: This is Carnival, kid!

The Gondola takes me through the Venetian canals & the gondolier whistles & sings for me. I love his uniform! Heading to St. Mark’s Square where Murano glass excites me. Romance is in every pillar of Venice! Reminds me of Richard Gere’s Razzle-dazzle in Chicago………….. that’s what Venice does to you, razzle-dazzles you!

Monuments in Europe have been covered on tv, journals, newspapers innumerably but actually standing in their reflection in flesh & blood beats every imagery of it!

Italy spoils you to every blood cell! My favourite place in Italy? It’s like asking me which shade of pink do I like!

PS: Have you ever seen bubblegum pink on the highway? What eye-candy for the obsessive pink disorder in me! Trucks can be pretty sophisticated in Italy, just like the population!

My European Travelogue: Austria

2010-07-23T20:43:00.030+05:30

We head to our hotel in Innsbruck! I see people walking on the speckless street & wonder if their shoes ever catch dirt! I head to the street where cafes are full & wine is served in plenty! More shops, more wants, hear those cash machines go Ka-ching! What therapy! I walk into the courtyard to see a stage put up & watch the austrian dance troupe! Like Austrians were waiting for my arrival.. what luck! The young girls & boys dancing in traditional outfits give you a sense of déjà-vu, because they look like they’ve grown out of a Charles Dickens book!

My my, I’m in a fairytale!

We drop down at Wattens, clouds stuck between mountains… we see SWAROVSKI in bold, touching the clouds… which makes for a beautiful picture (how can I forget? everything in Austria makes for a beautiful picture!)

Then comes the famous Swarovski fountain, which leads to the museum & has been filmed in movies time & again… hiding the museum in its green cover, I hardly know what to expect from this landscaped entrance! But this place keeps a jewelry junkie on her toes!

What greets us is a huge crystal drooping chandelier, which shines like a million diamonds against the pitch dark interiors… followed by a Swarovski adorned Chetak-Indian Horse! I swell with pride & we enter a huge faceted room, which gives the feeling of walking into a diamond! Before I get lost into the million facets I capture it & make my way out, It’s so dark that I feel I’m walking in space & the crystals shine like planets & stars!

What catches my eye is the pink lips & shimmering lady on the Swarovski LCD… My god! Man can create such splendid things to lure us… how can we not be materialistic! Looked like liquefied diamonds swaying on the wall! It was a short movie directed by Shekhar Kapur, called Passage. My pride swells!

I enter the much awaited showroom, which has everything from pens, showpieces to jewelry- which my hands fail to put back once pulled from the shelf! Lots of work here, but I quickly make time for the loo- which had a never seen before mirror with blue embedded crystals! This was the 1st time I was looking into a mirror & not even looking at myself! Impressed? I sure am!

Hail Daniel Swarovski!

My European Travelogue: France & Monaco baby!

2010-07-13T21:07:00.164+05:30

Credits to my small eyes that have worked overtime & taken in so much of beauty!

France: Heading to Cannes from Nice

I wouldn't have named Nice as Nice, for the word is demeaning to its understated beauty. Its a holiday in itself to even work in the Mediterranean climate. I see the clearest aqua washing the pebbled shore on the French Riviera, where nude & burnt things (chuckle) i mean people, are lazing & tanning.

The Cannes Film theatre is not as big as i expected. I walk its stairs to experience how it feels to be in a starlet's shoes... oops heels! I feel the rush with every step, the red carpet where dreams have come true! I turn around & imagining the bevy of photographers & flashlights, I give a million dollar smile... Few moments of thrill...

...time for reality to strike & descend

Heading to Monaco(2nd smallest country after Vatican)

Monaco is a swanky playground of the super rich where cars & bikes are so seductive that while checking them out you might walk into a pole & still turn back to admire them.

Street Fashion is nothing like what one expects on a street, its live FTV. The ‘real’ people walking the ramp (here: pavements) are clad from head to toe to the hilt of sophistication (PS: manicured dogs are part of the fashion fiesta). I can spend a day just looking at people!

Fact: only by visiting Monaco, stopping & looking will surely upgrade your style knowledge. It’s not even surprising that Louis Vuitton is the bag of the common man here!

And what a sight to see the saleswomen mopping their high-end boutiques because never will you see such finely dressed women mopping floors & still look like they've just attended a cocktail party! (mind you if saleswomen in the world are half as stylish as these were, demand would always exceed supply!)

Just wondering what were they mopping? the shiny grey pavements? God forbid they ever visit Mumbai!

Heading to Monte-Carlo

An array of the biggest & shiniest yachts boast of opulence. I got a glimpse of people partying on these yachts. We hit the famous Palace-turned-Casino! I tried my luck at the roulette table only to come out discontent but glad this is illegal in India. What a waste it would be(now that I lost)!

Food! just the smell can drug you- the coffee, bread, puffs & apple tarts. Even regular stores & gas stations match qualities & standards(unlike Mumbai where you are accustomed to flat coke & heated russian sandwiches)

Buildings & hotels looking like creamy cakes in pastel pinks, yellows, peach & whites... i see Segways & colourful toy-trams, am i in a videogame?

Heading to Paris, back in France

Paris is flooded with monuments, you turn your head to look left & you'll miss one in the right!

PS: Lido show is not to be discussed in the blog! Sorry guys!

Louvre

I relive Robert Langdon’s adventure while visiting the Louvre museum, housing the most famous paintings. It’s no ordinary museum, airport-sized, with a starbucks, shops & eateries inside, you can have a 6month long picnic. Fact: it takes 6 long months in Louvre if each painting is covered in 1min.
I smile at the inverted pyramid when I recall Dan brown’s fictitious belief of what lies beneath it!

Everyone ignores the priceless art in the alleys while heading for the Monalisa, for she’s the star of the Louvre… moreover, it takes only a min to be lost in the Louvre & hours to be found! Finally… we meet her! Her eyes follow me! She’s the only one smiling in the room, for everyone else is stoned in awe! So we take in the marvel & run to see Rembrandts & Rodins. Walking is out of question!

Versailles

The grand chandeliers, hall of mirrors, paintings & garden are grandeur personified! I cannot give the palace justice by describing it here!

Heading to the Eiffel tower which appears to spy on me from every corner of Paris

There it was right over me now! Jaw droppingly beautiful! I elevated right to the to topmost floor(called the 3rd floor) Originally designed for an expo in Paris, & criticized by many artists for being huge & a fierce contrast to Paris. Damn the artists, this was too overwhelming, yes, funny how a manmade structure can be spiritually overwhelming… but it damn right was!
For I had forgotten I had a face that people know as Shyan, forgotten I had lived 18yrs of life, forgotten the people united from all over the world around me, forgotten I was this timid somebody in Paris, forgotten I was away from home.
Suddenly nothing in life was important! I was seeing the world from the top! I could feel him looking at me from the clouds! It was a realization! I didn’t have to tell anybody, it was a secret between us...

PARIS, I LOVE YOU!

The Encounters of a teenager

2010-05-16T16:55:00.011+05:30

I consider myself to having had the most unsusual encounters with celebs! Most of them have occured whilst doing jewelry business! If you're not a fan of boastful writing then you're not going to like what you read! But I ought to share their civility towards a skinny teenager like me!

Let me start with British R&B singer Jay Sean, whom i managed to catch while walking out of a store with my mom & granny! Reading the newspapers had given me some idea that he was in town for a concert... as if i could go so far! What i didn't know was that after 2 days, totally unaware i'll be bumping into him on a busy street! I was quick enough to stop him before he crossed the road & he obliged with a smile! He wished my folks in his very Punjabi-British accented, Namaste! And then very surprisingly he touches my granny's feet!

Not that my granny knew who he was but she knew i wouldnt ask any Tom Dick or Harry for an autograph! And you don't have people touching your feet in Mumbai, to show respect! (unless the beggar wants to harass you) Then exchanging a few more pleasantries he hurries off!
Isn't that chivalry at its best!

Celina Jaitly was another surprise as she dropped by at this flea market & walks towards my stall after a pair of Cheyenne'11 Earrings caught her eye! She buys 1 for heself & after seeing more she buys another for her mom too! Now isn't that sweet! And she addressed me as 'babe'! Wow.. considering the way she looked that night, i was certainly not the only 'babe'!

Hmm.. so i had my head dug into the accounts, when director, choreographer Farah Khan walks into the store... She was happily gushing to the attendant when she catches my eye & scrutinizes me from top to bottom... now shouldn't i be doing that?! I smiled not knowing if i had a wardrobe malfunction or what! She loudly asks the attendant why don't they design tops like what i was wearing! ....That day I returned home like a gushing bride!!
This is the part where i have to give credits to my sister! Thanks for buying me such a lovely top, Shubhra!

It was not long ago that i was supplying jewelry to Mad O Wot, a Boutique-Salon now Salon only! The- always having spoilt me with loads of compliments, rockstar that Sapna Bhavnani is!(India's answer to Kat Von D) encouraged me & spoke so well of me that i always considered them overstatements! Once when i was showing at a sale- this top notch model comes to me 'Hey gal, your jewelry is rocking at Mad O Wot!' And busy that I was into jewelry, I looked up to see the ravishing lady returning the smile!

While i had just started out... a very young stylist now a designer(also designed for Freida Pinto) always came by my counter to pick up her favourite "Beyonce Styled Cheyenne'11 Earrings" & always introduced me to her accompanying friend! Now that is one inspiring lady! (wouldn't like to bank on her success) So let's keep her name under wraps!

For Shahrukh & Mira Nair encounters read-http://shyankashyap.blogspot.com/2010/01/kochi-indias-monaco.html

Thats all for now! These have been the most special meetings that i've had! while the other encounters have not been as interesting! Wishing you similiar luck!

Shyan

4 Cartoons in a girl's life!

2010-04-28T01:04:00.028+05:30

New Age guys! Look around they are all over! Just read the Symptoms to recognize him & how they affect you!

1) the 'Male Bimbo'- Yup you heard it right... if girls were not enough, guys are taking to bimbo-ism!

Symptoms- He never gets what you mean! He'll comment alot on your appearance(even more than your female counterparts do!)
Effects- He claims that you get angry very fast/overact! Duh! obviously... if his understanding doesnt surpass to that of a kid!
Solution- Don't hesitate to use your fist to align his brain, if it doesn't help treat him like your younger bro!

2) the 'Wannabe' Player- I really don't get it! How being a 'player' can feed the male ego? I always thought its something to be ashamed of sadly, I was born in the wrong generation, where its so COOL to be a player that i see them yearning to earn the tag!

Symptoms- He tells you he's had abcd......xyz girlfriends!
Effects- You don't want to be a name in his list!
Solution- Ask him to talk to you after 10yrs!

3) the 'Stalker'- These are the ones i have great pity on! Believe me, they are good people who are not aware of their self-obstructive obsessive behaviour!

Symptoms- He's dangerously over-friendly!
Effects- Everytime you are with him you look for SPACE!
Solution- Cut off all ties! Your simple 'Hello, how are you?' can make him think you're in love with him!

4) the 'Enemy'- Oh! he's the Bad guy! Who in everyone else's view is perfectly normal but only you know how bad he has crossed you! You want him written off!

Symptoms- You don't see his face, you see SATAN!
Effects- The mere sight of him will evoke the Gladiator in you!
Solution- Sarcasm helps! Each time he crosses your path tell yourself, "What an amazing guy he is!"

My Message: (for boys)You know you are good enough if you don't fit in the above categories!
(for girls) They'll bring out the worst in you! So next time you recognize any of the 4 Idiots! Tell him you think you've seen him before! He might even think its a compliment!

How I got Disillusioned, Liberated & Got A life!

2010-04-11T21:11:00.011+05:30

There are times when i get highly disillusioned with things( read: people) but getting disillusioned is not all that bad a feeling when it drives you to rise above worldy things & look at life from a higher perspective! At the age of 30 i don't want to look back & think, "ALL THAT MIND BOGGLING YOU DID AT 18 OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN FOR SOMETHING MORE WORTH"

I realized i had to do cease my endeavour in "trying" to understand people who are really not worth! Yes, i do have these "bouts" of realization a little late(better late than never! no regrets!) I shift focus from "People" to "My life"! And i feeeeeeeeel LIBERATED!

--- I get back to my "driving" course which had come to a standstill! whew! Its a wondeful feeling to be in control of the wheels! An 18yr old must enroll themselves into this even if it means defying your mom & then convincing her (this requires days of honed 'soft skills')

---So i do something that i once considered impossible! "Cooking" i kept delaying it, always thought i'll have to live on restaurant food! But HOLA! Feels so much better that i won't owe my survival to a restaurant or a chef! And believe me it's not all that difficult! It's so much fun- Toss a Little here 'n' there
( advice: avoid the "here 'n' there" if you're still in the initial stage, stick to the rules)!

---The cooking course turns out to be therapeutic! You start enjoying the smell, taste, texture of every vegetable! I eat more, now!

---I get back to my "reading"! I love the way the Classics take me into the old world of charm, grace, beauty! I prefer the old world charm to today's rushhour! Time was still & people were less complicated compared to today's bunch of crazy-junkheaded-bodies!

Result: it was like mental flossing on a worked up brain!

....and this is how i got back my life!
Conclusion: A disillusioned mind gets back your life on track!

Modeling for Cheyenne'11 Jewelry

2010-03-29T18:30:00.001+05:30

hi,
this is for all customers who own Cheyenne'11 Jewelry... feel free to send me your pics wearing your Cheyenne'11 purchases! Here's your chance to model for my jewelry brand!!

Go Mad with your ideas!
shyankashyap@gmail.com

Go Live a Little!

2010-03-21T21:49:00.024+05:30

IT IS
-ok to think that Cute is the most boring compliment ever
-ok to cuddle a Dog & say 'i don't need a Boyfriend'
-ok to befriend the wrong people
(you'll only get better at decision making)
-ok to get embarassed when you fall in public
-ok to think that Prince Charming looks so girly, almost gay
-ok to fear nothing at all & face this world eye-to-eye
(until someone reminds you about your appointment with the dentist)
-ok to not love someone but only genuinely like them
-ok to eat chocolates for Lunch & then despise them for a week
-ok to get highly impressed with people who pronounce your name right the 1st time
-ok to save bucks for 'this thing' & only to realize you're over 'this thing'
-ok to wonder whats wrong with Mr. Crush-on-you
-ok to dread the Mistletoe!
-ok to be curious about someone you have only seen
-ok to be an Adult & still like the Jonas brothers(did i forget to specify Kevin?)
-ok to think Taylor Swift writes songs just for you
-ok to enjoy hearing a guy bitch about his mate
(whoever said Guys are dogs, well they are bitches too!)

-ok to dump people who make you feel like the terrible person you are NOT!
-ok to NOT say 'SORRY' when you are NOT guilty
-ok to blame yourself for getting your back under that knife
-ok to have a terrible day & keep quiet about it
-ok to be honest all your life & never get paid for it
-ok to miss your Braces

-ok to remain foolish & speak straight from the HEART!

Take a deep breath, girl! take a deep breath & just walk through the doors...

2010-03-09T23:04:00.010+05:30

Loving, tolerant, misunderstood, forgiving, emotional, we couldn’t care less for our egos so don’t bother feeding it, “No” still being the hardest word for us, Whether u pass d BILL or not! We find our way out...

Always proud to be a woman!

For all the strong willed women, who haven't grown strong by mere luck but by years of experience!

My guy

2010-03-01T14:48:00.013+05:30

I had warned my pals to behave well with this guy i was to introduce them to... They heard "GUY" & had their hearts in the mouth! So they try every permutation & combination to guess who it could be! One of them actually thought it was somebody from my batch & went as far as making up my love story with him! So before it caused emotional damage i made it clear to them that this is someone they had never met!

So all excited they come to see me & my "guy"...

and there i stand ashamed of how he looks...

He was earlier a halloween decoration until i gave him a reason to live!

HELLO KITTY syndrome

2010-01-31T20:40:00.021+05:30

Call me a fanatic or whatever you please BUT please dont stop me! For i still havent outgrown my love for HELLO KITTY! To be precise, i have entered adulthood & for long as i can remember, right from 2nd grade i would eye HELLO KITTIES & embarassingly I STILL DO!
But i have to control myself from expressing "hello kitty love" publicly cause an 18yr old wearing kitty can attract alot of attention! Having received lot of flak for wearing my kitty hairband, people just cant connect with it! Guys think its very 'blonde'! BULL****' Dont make us feel sorry that you were born "MALE"! Let us revel in our femininity!

Another reason to be thankful that i was born a GIRL or i would have been soo gay...

KOCHI: India's 'MONACO'

2010-01-14T15:39:00.054+05:30

I had the tastiest bite of life while holidaying in Kerala! Kochi(Kerala) is much like Monaco, South of France. Surrounded by water, yatchs, a breath-taking view of the harbour, small islands which are frequented by boats...

Luxury Hotels, Naval Ships, Cruises, Cottages, Churches, Curio shops, Houseboat-ing in the backwaters, Tea gardens, The Most Unsuspecting Thunder & lightning, The Taj Ambience, Less of people & plenty of space...
A quiet dinner with Japanese friends, mind you, they are the most humble folks, they can talk to you about everything under the sun that sound so appropriate even in a formal setting...
Kerala has its own film industry! So all the billboards & ads feature (no offense)fat UNCLES with THICK moustaches!
The houseboats remind you of the Dal lake, except that here they take you for a 24hr ride in the backwaters, stalling at the banks of rice fields just for meals to be eaten on board.
A strongly expressive Kathakali performance by men, brightly dressed & painted...

ok! i may sound like i'm being paid by Kerala's tourism board! But my holiday was worth a column to share! Plus we had European tourists courteously telling us how much they enjoyed Incredible India!

For the record, i also savored a glimpse of Bollywood's King, Shahrukh Khan at Mumbai airport! Funny thing is... i was talking to my sister of how i would kill to meet Shahrukh, and she couldnt agree more...just then, i turn around & i see "HIM"!!!! Talk about an 18yr old telepathic girl!! Wearing a crisp white shirt, with ray-bans, walking fast with a swagger of a superstar, his trademark- shy dimpled smile planted on his face. AWWWW! OH & did i mention how i bumped into Mira Nair... hehe.. i know... too much for a week long holiday!

PS: MY WORDS & PHOTOS UNDERPLAY MY AMAZING EXPERIENCE... GO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!

Boyfriend?

2009-12-23T21:55:00.043+05:30

Often asked by XYZ,"dont you have a boyfriend?"
With a big smirk on my face & probably for the zillionth time, i reply "NO"
In my head I quickly thank god & say my prayers- don't punish me like that(i love my freedom a tad too much) Also, i love my "ME" time, which i hardly ever get, considering the hectic life of a student-cum-jewelry designer'!

Girls assume that its just an excuse for not finding the 'right guy'. Well, let me enlighten all my Disney princesses who are under the impression that Prince Charming/ Superman is out there to come & save us( to add to the misery Stephenie Meyer's EDWARD sets way too high standards for the average guy!) Sorry!!! But the right guy is a fictional character too busy, in Movie studios.

Note: THIS PIECE OF MATTER IS PURELY INFLUENCED BY THE BLOGGER'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, WRITTEN FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF ENTERTAINMENT OF JOBLESS INDIVIDUALS. Do NOT derive any conclusions whatsoever *wink wink*

2009-12-23T00:15:00.025+05:30

IS CHIVALRY DEAD OR IS IT JUST ME WHO COMES ACROSS UNRULY MALES?

You ask me Wassup? I say

2009-12-05T22:04:00.027+05:30

You ask me "wassup?" i say "nothing much" because words cannot possibly define how busy i have been... now you wonder 'what can an 18yr old be busy with?' here's the dope...

i get busy when i start my day-dreaming adventures(while walking, eating, studying)
busy when i'm alone at home & singing a la Beyonce like i'm actually performing for an audience,
busy decorating the fanciest of things,
busy when i think of cartoons and feel so envious of NODDY, how can he live in such a terribly colourful house,
busy thinking if it'll be embarassing to play with my LEGO even now,
busy categorizing my friends on basis of cartoons or ross, chandler, joey, monica, rachel and phoebe,
busy plotting revenge on the mechanic who conveniently wiped out my disney games for some stupid reason called "virus", like it was actually gonna come to kill him!
busy talking, laughing & socializing,
busy annoying my mom by talking for hrs on the phone like i'm making some international business deals,
busy debating who looks better- Tom Cruise or John Cusack,
busy deciding what i really really need more- 'bags' or 'shoes',
busy thinking of what i should name my dog(despite the fact that i dont own one),
busy dreaming which actress should be wearing Cheyenne'11,
busy fantasizing Hot Juicy Mushrooms on a Cheesy Pizza,
busy setting reminders for the smallest of things,
busy checking all these reminders,

AND last but not the least, deciding if i should study or get busy with the above, but BUSY people like me choose the latter...

Cheyenne'11 Jewelry Guide

2009-11-11T22:42:00.003+05:30

Pearl Jewelry- to add innocence & beauty wear pearl jewelry...
Wear chunky faux pearls to add madness to your outfit or wear a single strand to exude elegance & notice how everyone ogles at your neck waiting to touch those soft pearls.

Plastic Jewelrymakes you feel playful & naughty instantly! Wear a bold colour & let it shout, "I'M HAPPY"!!

Semi-precious Jewelry-
You know you are a rock-star( literary ) when you possess these naturally created beauties. A jewelry junkie is insecure without her stones. If you don't own semi-precious jewelry then sorry, you aint a "JEWELRY-ISTA"!! So what are you waiting for? Look out for these breath-taking stones. This is for the lass who is always in vogue & who is undoubtedly a TRENDSETTER!

Silver Jewelry makes you feel YOUNG & PRETTY! Go bat your eyelashes & get ready to break a few hearts as you walk!

Gold Jewelry is to feel luxurious. Add gold jewelry to make your outfit look ripped right off the ramp!

Crystal Jewelry- (a girl's best friend) Though everybody cant afford diamonds, these are the ultimate substitute.. Wear crystal jewelry with BORING clothes & watch the world look at you enviously! Slide a rock-sized crystal on your finger & outshine!

Next time you wear jewelry... sit back , relax, & FEEL it emoting! You'll be surprised at how much it talks!

An Ode To 17yrs of Sisterhood

2009-09-20T22:56:00.000+05:30

I miss those days,
When we laughed until our eyes watered!
The dinners when you covered up for me while I shamelessly laughed in front of guests!
When we divided our rooms into 2 parts and fought over who owned which side!
When we fought over who looked into the mirror the maximum!
When you incessantly expressed how much you would pity my husband-to-be!
When we would count who owned more clothes!
When you and dad laughed every time I went on a ‘self praising spree’!
When you always failed to teach me how to whistle!
When we secretly eyed expensive imported whisky and beer bottles in the night!
When you would beg me to stop dancing on the bed while you studied your fat books!
When we cheekily watched a ‘C’ Grade ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat’ till 3am and laughed our ass off!
When you imitated me each time I looked at myself in the mirror!

16yrs of my life, I hardly spent a week away from you and now being 17 there isn’t a day when I don’t think of you! It makes me so happy to hear you doing well but equally sad when I come back to 4 walls that are now a witness of the absence of all our laughter and words!
Together we are as bubbly as Champagne! And as high as any drunkard!
As compatible as puzzle pieces!
And as close to me as my skin is to my bones!

When the world seems to shine like u've had too much wine...

2009-08-18T20:00:00.003+05:30

...thats amore! (dont jump to conclusions) I'm in love with nobody but myself!!! You may call me an egotist but then everybody has this phase when you accept yourself whole heartedly & stop looking for approvals. You stop having crushes for a long time. You get intouch with reality & you hop-skip through it. You get rid of all your fears & all you wanna do is dance down the street like the cloud's in your feet. Even bad days don't seem bad anymore. You wanna seize every day and play with it!

You remember those days when something had you tensed and you say, SO WHAT! How frivolous events carve us into our unique selves. Bad days will always come our way but only to make our success taste sweeter. Now GO look at the world like you've had too much wine!

A Day in My Mystical Life

2009-06-30T21:24:00.003+05:30

Designers love vibrancy! We strive to be over the edge, dislike monotonous stuff and never follow the herd mentality!

As the day starts, i get ready, i wear my quirky sense of style, mind you, which is inspired (this is when i start behaving like a drama queen) by a funky Gwen Steffani with a hint of sophistication from hollywood in the 60's era.

I have many sides to my personality... From having interests in World Politics to Fashion; From being a Work-a-Holic to a Lazy Food Junkie; from Socialising to Yoga, From Talking Excessively to being a Silent Observer; from being Annoyingly Shy to a Drama Queen; from being a Danielle Steel Fan to being a Total Tomboy; from being an Agony Aunt to my Patient Listeners to going Berserk myself; from Cinema to Books; from Home Decor to Gardening; i'm intrigued by it all!

So, i finally zero in on jewelry and get all the beads, cords, stones, and silver out of their homes. Sometimes they lay there for days waiting to be modified with these hands. I design, try it on a zillion times, practically make my whole family review it, it goes through finishing touches and TA DA!!!! Ready to make someone feel Beautiful!!!.... THIS IS THE TOUGHEST PART, when i have to separate a part of me and share it with the universe!

Me, a patient of obsessive pink syndrome!

2009-06-17T14:42:00.001+05:30

Me, a patient of obsessive pink syndrome!

I may not be a psychiatrist to discover the fact that I am (like many other teens, Barbies and even adults all over the world) suffering from the Obsessive Pink Syndrome. I’ll be browsing a boutique for dresses and there my hand, involuntarily lays itself on pink satin, pink bows, pink lace… its like these fingers just have to touch everything that has pink... watches, clothes, jewelry, bags, sandals, stationery, … I pity my friends who have to face this inconsolable Pink magnet in me! So why doesn’t it happen with other colours like Green, Yellow, Orange, or Blue? If I had it my way I would paint zebras with pink, , my car(much to my dad’s dismay), my room and a hell lot of stuff!
What’s with Girls and Pink? Can’t figure it out? Who cares… devour it!

Symptoms: You fall for any shade of PINK- Fuschia, Salmon pink, Hot pink, Baby Pink.
My pink addicted friends: Avril Lavigne, Barbie, Hello Kitty, Piglet, Betty Boop, Pink Panther, Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus.
Style tip to avoid a faux pas: You don’t want to look like Candy Floss on the street

Hollywood beauties

2009-05-18T20:33:00.000+05:30

Vivien Leigh, Jaclyn Smith, Audrey Hepburn, Eleanor Parker…. these women exuberate beauty and style. Their elegance was perfectly represented in their costumes while the innocence lied in their smile and expressive and crystal clear eyes. Their kindness and femininity showed on their face. These beauties leave me in awe. They wore flowy, floral costumes with velvet and satin, along with silk ribbons to go with feather hats. Jewelry of gold and white pearls. Hair- tied into stylish buns or curly locks of hair left loose.

These traits pull us back to the 60’s. I wish I were a part of that generation where women rode cycles with grace and wore the most flattering feminine clothes in soft pastels and plain silhouettes with statement jewelry. My inspiration for my semi-precious line of jewelry comes from these stylish personalities who symbolize Elegance and Style from the 60’s.

2009-05-18T20:29:00.000+05:30

Jaclyn Smith and Vivien Leigh's charm never ceases

Lampwork Love!!

2009-05-15T20:27:00.002+05:30

The first time i saw my lampwork beads i fell in love with those protuding polka dots and intricately carved flowers on them, what eye candy!!! i had them with me for about a year and it was only recently that i discovered them again and decided to finally work on these babies. Today i was so inspired by this book, "1000 Glass Beads" which had lampwork beads in shapes of Clowns, Fish, Marine life, Frogs, Jelly Fish, and Faces with noodle hair. I want to meet this creative bunch of artists and wish to purchase such a piece of art and value. Surprisingly they've been discovered even before 2002, and I saw them only in 2006 in India.

With every turning page, my head was popping with ideas to make a jewelry piece on these amazing creations of man. This book was what i call, A Beaders Paradise!!!!

Cheyenne'11 Collections

2009-05-14T23:08:00.004+05:30

Apart from my designs i did a Lollypop collection which was a complete sell out, i used bright, candy & pop colours! I also did a Snake-skin collection in which i used semi-precious stones of snake's skin colour schemes like moss green, faded red, ochre, silver and black.

2009-05-04T23:43:00.001+05:30

Bollywood actress and former Miss India 2002 Neha Dhupia wearing my Cheyenne'11 onyx bracelet for a premier in Mumbai

2009-05-04T23:36:00.002+05:30

Bollywood actress Celina jaitley bought these pair of Cheyenne'11 green disc earrings from me when i was 13yrs old. She is a former Miss India 2001, title winner. Very polite & sweet... addressed me as 'Babe' when i was only 13...

2009-05-04T23:29:00.001+05:30

Television actress Sweta Keswani wearing my Cheyenne'11 daisy earrings!

My story

2009-05-03T16:22:00.003+05:30

Ever since my childhood days, I was attracted towards all things colourful and creative! From making clothes for my Barbie to actually designing my own jacket! I would passionately do it all.
It was only at the age of 11 that I was drawn towards an art which wouldn’t have otherwise attracted a girl of my age! It all started when My Mom saw me over-awed on seeing a piece of jewelry from her dresser, that’s when she bought me a jewelry kit to experiment with! THANKYOU MOM!!! To begin with, I imitated designs from a few manuals. My mom used to have exhibitions as she was into garments, so she put up my creations(which were very raw) for sale and i got an encouraging response. I improved at my quality and the designs came to me naturally.soon i started supplying to a store in Mumbai under my brand name CHEYENNE'11, (cheyenne- the way my name is pronounced and 11- i was eleven when i started jewelry) It's been 6yrs hence and my jewelry has been supplied to 30 stores.
Wow! Cheyenne'11 was being sourced to the hippest stores!

Bollywood actress, Madhuri Dixit striked a pose for the Stardust magazine wearing Cheyenne'11 earrings. It was not only her but it was even worn by other top notch bollywood actresses like Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Emraan Hashmi, Celina Jaitley, Neha Dhupia, Sweta Salve, Sweta Keswani & Rosesh in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, news anchor- Barkha Dutt. Worn by models working for print media, fashion shows as well as for television, my designs were being featured in Seventeen, Elle, Verve, New Woman, also on the covers of The Sindhian and Women’s Era. I have a design for everyone!

Not once but twice, I had the chance to catch people wearing my jewelry while I was shopping in mumbai; Obviously, I didn’t miss the chance to tell them about it. Variety is the spice of Life, and this I have incorporated in my designs! My source of inspiration comes from colours, nature, styles of different personalities, clothes, materials and all things for which one lifetime is not enough to discover!

Forever inspired by colours,
Shyan Kashyap