Blog

Gift Guide 2022
Gift Guide 2022
Gift-giving can be tricky, but I'm here to make it a little bit easier. Here are my top picks for gifts this holiday season. I based these picks on what... Read more...
Accessibility
My jewelry is not accessible to everyone. I know that. The cost of precious metals and the labor that goes into ensures a higher price point right out of the gate. With the rising costs of metals, It's very likely that I will even have to increase my prices soon. However, I would like for my jewelry to be more accessible and I'm trying to do what I can for that.   The first thing I've done is that I've added Klarna as a payment option. Klarna gives the option to buy something... Read more...
Introducing our One-of-a-Kind series!
Introducing our One-of-a-Kind series!
Over the last few months as I’ve figured out how to run a business full-time, I’ve let my focus on creativity and design fall to the wayside. You’ve probably noticed,... Read more...
Life At Arcosanti
Life At Arcosanti
I've been here almost three weeks and I'm still figuring things out.  Transitioning into Arcosanti has been very gentle and loving. The weather has been nice, bordering on hot. The community... Read more...
"Does This Come in Gold?"
"Does This Come in Gold?"
The appeal of gold is undeniable. It's warm and buttery and sparkles so beautifully. I didn't understand it until I had a gold ring on my own finger - then... Read more...
Eid-ul-Adha 2020
Eid-ul-Adha 2020
My earliest memories around jewelry all involve Eid. When I was little, preparations for every Eid would including going and picking out jewelry to match our brand new Eid outfits. For so many... Read more...
A Note on the New Collection
A Note on the New Collection
Hi friends.  I've been working on a new collection for months. I've been teasing it for months! This is my first official collection, though, and the world has been burning... Read more...
Arcosanti from the Mesa
Arcosanti
A week ago I spent time in the most magical place in the desert, maybe the most magical place on Earth: Arcosanti.  Arcosanti is the vision of architect Paolo Soleri. Soleri... Read more...
Jewelry Manufacturing with Gildform
Jewelry Manufacturing with Gildform
When I started Hamaila, I made everything by hand. Every piece of jewelry that went to a customer was measured, cut, shaped, soldered and polished by my two hands. It... Read more...
Resource Center for Asylum Seekers in Mexico
Resource Center for Asylum Seekers in Mexico
In the middle of November I heard an episode of This American Life that detailed the lives of migrants in camps on our southern border - specifically in Matamoros right... Read more...
Ladysmiths of ATX
Ladysmiths of ATX
I've been fairly absent for the last month - for good reason:  I opened up a shop.  Me and my dear jewelry friend, Hannah Parks, started Ladysmiths of ATX back... Read more...
Humanity First
Humanity First
Those of you all who have been with me for a while know that I used to highlight and donate to a non-profit weekly. That became overwhelming as I dealt... Read more...
Colorado
Colorado
I spent the last few weeks in Colorado and I'm already ready to go back. My body is bruised and sore, my neck is still out of alignment - but... Read more...
Imogen Heap and the Nabi Cube Earrings
Imogen Heap and the Nabi Cube Earrings
I gifted Imogen Heap some of my favourite earrings and it was better than my wildest dreams. Read more...
On Synergy
On Synergy
BossBabesATX asked me to deliver a brief speech regarding personal and professional synergy in my life for their May Community Meet-up. Here's an adapted version of that talk. Read more...
Giving with Hamaila: Political Candidates
Giving with Hamaila: Political Candidates
The 2020 democratic field is very very crowded. And I'm sure there will be more contenders throwing their hat in the ring soon enough. Honestly, I think it's pretty cool... Read more...
Life Updates
Life Updates
I've been a little MIA lately. Here's why -  1) I got a new job!  I'm now a Jewelry Production Assistant at Limbo Jewelry! They're a great little modern jewelry... Read more...
Giving With Hamaila: Food For Soul
Giving With Hamaila: Food For Soul
Some of you know that I've been learning Italian here and there for the last few years. Part of that includes spending time with the Italian films on Netflix -... Read more...
Giving With Hamaila: Blue Tin Production
Giving With Hamaila: Blue Tin Production
The first of its kind, Blue Tin Production is a sewing cooperative that is run by immigrant and refugee women. It was announced just last week by Hoda Katebi, is... Read more...
Giving with Hamaila: Bennett College
Giving with Hamaila: Bennett College
Bennett College is a women's HBCU in North Carolina that has been providing a space for black women to flourish since 1873. Over the last few years their enrollment has... Read more...
Giving With Hamaila: SAFE | Stop Abuse For Everyone
Giving With Hamaila: SAFE | Stop Abuse For Everyone
For this week,  I tried to find a nonprofit a little bit closer to homecoming and helping survivors.  SAFE Alliance is a merger between Austin Children’s Shelter and SafePlace. If you want... Read more...
Giving With Hamaila: The Crayon Initiative
Giving With Hamaila: The Crayon Initiative
Another quick Giving With Hamaila today. This one is a cute one.  The Crayon Initiative takes discarded crayons from restaurants, schools and homes and melts them down into new crayons... Read more...
Giving With Hamaila: The Ali Forney Center
Giving With Hamaila: The Ali Forney Center
Short blog this week because we are still traveling. I hope to be home by Saturday so we'll be back on regularly scheduled planning soon enough.  Today I picked the... Read more...
Giving With Hamaila: The Bully Ranch
Giving With Hamaila: The Bully Ranch
Y'all. I slacked. Me, my mom and sister were supposed to head out on our road trip today but the hour became late and now we're going to do the... Read more...
Nomenclature
Nomenclature
My naming skills have always been abysmal. If it was up to me, most of my pieces would be named Cube Earrings, Squiggly Studs, Big Freeform Earrings, Sculptural Earrings, etc..... Read more...
Giving With Hamaila: Radiotopia
Giving With Hamaila: Radiotopia
I'm doing something a little bit different today. It's still a nonprofit - or based under one - but this week, I'm donating to Radiotopia - a podcast network that... Read more...
My First Market
My First Market
I participated in the ACC Student Art Sale today and my feet and legs are throbbing, my shoulders are stiff and I could use a shower. My heart is happy... Read more...
Giving With Hamaila: GirlForward
Giving With Hamaila: GirlForward
Girl Forward is one of the coolest nonprofits I have heard of yet. They pair up refugee girls of high school age with older mentors to help them navigate their... Read more...
Giving With Hamaila: Families Belong Together.
Hello everyone!  There's so many wonderful people out there helping others and making the world a better place. These days I don't have a lot of time - so I try to contribute in other methods where I can. Part of that includes making lots of little donations and part of it is spreading awareness of all these great non-profits. This last Sunday we all saw the pictures of migrant families being attacked by tear gas at the US-Mexico border. We've all been hearing about this caravan of migrants fleeing... Read more...