About the artist- Mitra Singh
What began as traveling to music concerts selling Tulsi neckbeads in the 1990's turned into a Jewelry Business where I would string my own Tulsi wooden beads purchased in India and began working with stones and metal. The sales of these necklaces would fund my service seven years as a monk in a Hindu monastery, one of few female monks that would remain long term. Those were very simple and the most beautiful years of my life where I would learn and be trained in many aspects of Eastern Philosophy, fine arts of Asian India, some cooking.
Dwarka Designs began in 2000 that was exclusively jewelry that I made. Named after the ancient city of Dwarka as legend has it this city was so opulent that the roads were paved in gemstones. This ancient city of Dwarka it is said remains under the ocean yet to be discovered. My namesake, Mitravinda was said to be one of the 8 Queens of this kingdom.
My handcrafted jewelry was very successful at one time being sold on commission at 17 different stores. The ripple effect of Hurricane Katrina that spread as far north as Ohio had devastating results on my business, that Labor Day weekend after the hurricane was expected to produce the largest amount of sales to return investment for that years Christmas holiday sales and not a single vendor was able to make space rent. I was stuck with thousands of hours of sterling silver and gemstone jewelry and a broken heart.
2003 I married Surinder Singh, hence my last name, when we divorced in 2012 all I asked for was to keep his last name, its a name of great honor and respect. Surinder was honored that was all I wanted from him was his name and he granted that wish.
Although I loved and cherished my days as a monk my nature would not last as a life long renunciate because of my passionate personality full of material desires the best next thing to do would be to join the military. in 2006 I enlisted in the Army. As a lay teacher my temple authority would write the United States Army my qualifications to teach a weekly Bhagavad-Gita study class for any soldier that wanted to learn more about Eastern Philosophy. Of all spiritual literature the Gita rings true to the heart of warriors that over 1,000 Bhagavad Gita's were sold and distributed while I was in the Army and fascination for culture of the far east would grow.
An injury while in the military would leave me 70% disabled, medically retired. Knowing I would be hurt today I would still go back and do it all over again. Being a soldier and today a veteran was the best decision I made in my life.
Unable to work regular employment with my disability I needed to work at my own pace, sitting down, at any time of day or night. I unpacked my box of tools, gemstones and silver that was left for years to be cleaned up, remade and Dwarka Designs would re-emerge as the successful handcrafted jewelry business that it was before.
A lot of my new art is dog themed. In 2009 I learned about our military working dogs and how our canines are trained on the battlefield to save lives. I adopted my first retired war dog and have to date homed, loved and cared for 4 different war dogs. When my VA doctor wrote me a prescription for a service dog to help with my disability, retired war dog MWD Emir would be re-trained as my own service dog. The bond between myself and dogs in general would become my life.
Because in my Vaishnava Hindu tradition these war dogs are warriors, with a soul and an eternal purpose as our guardians.
I continue to string my own tulsi wooden necklaces, most of what I make are earrings but I can custom order necklaces, bracelets and anklets. I only use real gemstones and will state the name of each, and Sterling Silver as the metal I prefer. Unless otherwise stated all metal is sterling silver.
Welcome to Dwarka Designs, I hope you enjoy my work and come back for more.