Off The Beaded Track: June 2006

Friday, June 30, 2006

Secret Garden sold out! Original Gloria running out soon.

Dear ladies,

Thank you for your enquires on Secret Garden :) All 5 pieces have been sold out/ ordered about a month ago, and I couldn't get the same stones to make more. Thank you for your interest anyway!

However, recently I purchased a strand of olive-jade carved flowers (yellow) and will consider making Secret Garden with them.

Also, the ever-popular Gloria in original champagne colours will be ceased soon if I still couldn't get any more Botswanna Agate in pink. I think I have sold more than 12 pieces of the original version up to date and there's enough materials to make only a few more pieces.

I have been busy lately but I will be back into beading action this weekend. :)

Monday, June 26, 2006

Serenity $ 27


Another pair of elegant earrings made with well-cut quality stones.

Citrine and Iolite go well with each other, set in 14K gold-filled closed kidney ear wires (earrings won't come off easily).

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Rainbow Colours $ 70






This necklace is commissioned for Michelle, who owns Dangling Tourmaline earrings too. She can now wear both together!

The wonderful thing about Tourmaline is that it comes in a spectrum of colours, the more common ones being green and yellow (of a few shades), black and pink. Sometimes there are traces of blue too. Tourmaline is a relatively expensive stone because of the colours, other than being rare. It is said that Tourmaline is Empress Dowager's favourite jewel! (I don't know how true it is.)

What is precious here is the pendant. I have picked the better stones of my strand of faceted Tourmaline. The chain is 14K gold-filled. :)

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

My Butterfly Necklace $ 40


I know that butterflies have been a hot item recently but I am reluctant to buy the butterfly beads sold in the market as they look the same everywhere.

So, I made my own :)

The whole thing is of semiprecious stones and freshwater pearls and about 4 cm in width. Purple stone is Fluorite while the pink stones are Rose Quartz. Chain is 14K gold-filled so you do not need to worry about rusting. If I were to wear this chain, I will wear it with a V-neck white lacy blouse :)

Extravaganza Earrings $ 55


This pair of delicate earrings is commissioned for Delphine :)

I hate to use this word on myself, but it's just so 'designer's'!

As mentioned earlier, this leaf is a real one and has been preserved. Leaf is about 5 cm, and the whole earring dangles to ~ 6cm below the ear lobe. Ear wire is of 14K gold-filled. Oh by the way Delphine, enjoy the light tapping sound of the stones swaying with the leaves!

Monday, June 19, 2006

Rose Candy $ 28


This is another pair of beautiful Rose Quartz, smaller but 'fatter' compared to Country Rose :) They are shiny and look like delicious candy! I have involved two Peridot briolettes and everything else, wire, loop and hook are all 925 silver. Something sweet.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Shots of Extravaganza





Just trying to capture the actual look and elegance of the piece. My camera dislikes pinks and has a problem reflecting them right.

First two pics show you how translucent the leaf is. Actual leaf is more glossy.

Next two pics show the stones more clearly.

Extravaganza $ 39 (3 pieces only)





This REAL leaf is a beauty flown over all the way from United States.

When I was young, my mum brought me to a place full of trees and showed me a 'skeleton' of a leaf that had decomposed. I was really fascinated and kept digging among the heaps of fallen leaves to look for more. Nowadays when I walk past heaps of leaves, I couldn't help but to look out for them still.

This skeleton has been dyed hot pink and laminated to make it hard. It has a glossy surface. Black suede leather choker. Chain and even wires are of 14K gold-filled. Very 'precious' stones are used (from top to bottom): pink Tourmaline, 2 gold pearl nuggets, faceted and very clear Iolite and a green Tourmaline. I want to make this the best.

I have always loved natural stuff and have always been avoiding man-made crystals and beads. I am totally satisfied with this leaf despite its cost.

Earrings customizable. This piece is stunning with black. Pendant is 10cm long.

Enchanted Garden $ 29 (Exclusively one pair)



Dainty Rose quartz briolettes, faceted Peridot and Pink Tourmaline set on a rhodium chain with 925 silver hooks.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

I will be away from Fri til Sun


Might not be able to reply to your emails :)

Notes on Tripearl

For the ladies who have bought Tripearl, this is how you wear them:

1. Push the loop slightly apart to let your ear lobe enter. Insert the pin into the ear hole.

2. Important: before pressing the pin into the catch, remember to squeeze the loop back so that the catch will not be too far for the pin to lock in.

3. Since 925 silver is soft, you can expect the two sides of the catch to open up and become loose for the pin. No worries, simply use your fingers to squeeze both sides of the catch so that they are closer. The pin should be able to lock in again with a 'click' sound.

It might sound complicated above but trust me, it isn't!!! :)

Red Coral Earrings $ 18




This pair or earrings has a fine 925 silver chain joining both the 'stud' and the 'backing' of the earrings. Haha, it's worry free! (About losing the backing of the earrings while in a hurry.)

What is so interesting is that the chain is made up of little hearts linked together.

Red Coral (Need ideas for name!!!) $ 26 (exclusively one piece)




This is definitely a simple but fun necklace for a day of jeans and white tee!

Amazonite with the hard-to-come-by orangy-red coral, strung on blue cord, with 925 silver beads (yes silver), and a very cute flower toggle (also 925 silver).

Not meant to be choker length - something relaxed, at the collar bone.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Country Rose $ 33 (Exclusively one pair) Price Revised!!!


This is a one-off pair or earrings because it's really difficult to get such a fan-shaped, faceted pair of rose quartz of this size and with a good pink. There are only two such compatible pieces in the whole strand!

The stones at the top are also very precious - garnet briolette, Peridot briolette and a marquise-cut Iolite.

ALL parts including wire are of sterling silver. I wonder to which lady it will call out :)

Monday, June 12, 2006

Mid-Summer's Night Garden Bracelet - Last piece $ 35

Announcing the ceasation of this bracelet posted earlier with a $38 price tag. A very time-consuming piece.

Pearl flowers , cherry quartz, periodot and garnet.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Aroma $ 49 (Exclusively one piece)



This piece definitely has character! A generous portion of amethyst, rose quartz and gold pearl nuggets used. Chain is 14K gold filled. Stunning with both pale or dark colours.

The real thing is slightly more pinkish actually.

Tripearl $ 15 (Nice!!!)




A sophisticated and stylish pair or earrings consisting of potato pearls of three different colours - green, white and peach - tied to 925 silver loops. If you have too many pairs of dangling earrings, try these!

Friday, June 09, 2006

Revision of Prices

Hi dear Ladies :)

I have revised the prices for a few items due to either of the following:

- price hike for a few kinds of stones in the market
- stones of good quality are out of stock for long
- use of better materials for parts (such as 925 silver or gold-filled instead of silver or gold-plated materials)

I have also ceased the reproduction of a few designs.

For those of you who have placed your orders before today, you won't be affected :)

Edelweiss (Green Turqoise) earrings $ 19



I learnt to appreciate the combination of the striking green turqoise and white pearls even more when I was making this for Adeline. It's just so oriental! I can imagine those olden days in a chinese Palace when the ladies wore these.

Green Turqoise with freshwater pearls made into a ball. (just like the previous time, the green here doesn't reflect itself truthfully.)

Gloria with Iolite (Bracelet) $ 36



This is a matching bracelet to the choker (below) that Kelly has requested :)

Gloria with Iolite $ 55



Another version of Gloria tailor-made to match a dress with purple/blue. Hopefully Kelly's friend will find it useful during her wedding party!

Blue tint comes from Iolite. Freshwater pearls with Swarovski crystals. A very sweet colour combination in fact.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Somewhere in Time $ 33 (exclusively one pair)



This pair of earrings are so very antique but classical. The faceted tear-drop stones are REAL black Onyx. The metal part is 925 silver plated with old old gold colour. I like these metal beads a lot because the details are simple and nice.

The elegant-looking kidney ear hooks are 14K gold-filled.

Monday, June 05, 2006

Secret Garden $ 58 (My favourite!)


The idea of this choker/necklace has been formed a long time ago ever since I got my hands on these Aventurine flowers but I didn't really get down to doing it. If you notice, the flowers are green and the leaves white, an inversion of what it's supposed to be.

9 Aventurine flowers with white freshwater pearls and Keishi pearls.

It can be worn as a choker or even slightly longer. Looks stunning with a white tube, off-shouldered blouse, on the outside of a turtle-neck top or a white working shirt buttoned lowly.

Flamenco (Purple) $ 19


This is another version of Flamenco posted last month. I substituted yellow pearls for the yam-purple Charoite stones.