Off The Beaded Track

Caramalised! $ 62

2010-12-12T17:19:00.005+08:00

This collar-length soft choker was made last night with someone of my mum's age in mind, but it turned out that I might just make one for myself and my mum. I just loved it more and more as it evolved bit by bit!!!

This is a truly elegant colour combination - beige Mother-of-Pearl with lots of sheen, and 3 types of pearls including the petal-like Keishi pearls. Subtlity is key here, because I assume older women do not like to wear too exciting or girlish colours.

My recommendation: wear this loosely as a necklace rather than a choker, AND wear it with some simple, plain-colour top such as a well-cut tee or blouse. It has a delicate, lacy contour and it is able to dress up something simple. I tested out with my wardrobe and I especially like it when I wore it with anything with a boat-neck or round neck top. It goes well with even working shirts with collars.

And it is a very versatile piece for its colour. It goes very very well with red, brown, navy blue, green, beige or cream, and my favourite white!

Little Garden Necklace $ 33

2010-12-12T17:10:00.004+08:00

Made this a while back and this is a piece done from my heart :) I have always loved the idea of dangling little stones and flowers from a necklace. A little Bohemian, a little sweet!

Little elements are acrylic purple flowers, Ruby gemstones, Olive Jade rondells, freshwater pearls and Canadian Jade. Chain and pins are of copper.

Mismatched Garnet earrings $ 40

2010-11-16T12:09:00.002+08:00

Gorgeous mismatched earrings with feminine little pink freshwater pearls that have great lustre, and clear deep red Garnet.

Pink Lady $ 38

2010-11-16T12:05:00.002+08:00

Ruby earrings with Rose Quartz and goldfilled parts for Regina's sister :)

Emma Bouquet - with Love from colleagues

2010-09-29T12:04:00.004+08:00

Emma's colleagues decided to give her a bouquet which will last longer than a real bouquet of flowers. These pretty gemstones of varying colours are all of the same stone, Tourmaline! They are sparkly and comes in nice pink, green and brown hues :) You can even see different colours in the same stone - these are watermelon Tourmaline. White, lustrous Keishi pearls and small rice pearls contribute to more textures. Chain and parts are goldfilled. This is one of the few pieces I spent a great deal of time on, doing and undoing and changing stuff, even til the last minute, because I really want these nice stones to be set in a delicate, asymmetrical style.

As for the earrings, I decided to make vine-like ones with just white and pink colour combo. Great to be worn separately from the necklace.

With Love, from Gareth :)

2010-06-21T08:30:00.001+08:00

Again, what every girl wants - a surprise from boyfriend/husband.

Gareth suggested pink and purple, and so I decided to stick to these colours and added some white and green. Sweet combination of colours from a sweet guy *envy*

Husband and I just celebrated our 7th wedding aniversary and he got me a small coin pouch and a notebook (not the computer, but a note-pad). Well I am not complaining, some wives get nothing, just that you can tell the difference huh, between boyfriend and husband.

Asymmetrical gemmy centrepiece comprises of Iolite, Pink Topaz, Rose Quartz, Peridot and white freshwater pearls. Chain and components are goldfilled. Hope Gareth likes it!

White Flowers V (pink MOP) - SOLD

2010-05-29T12:43:00.004+08:00

Bell-like carved pink MOP :) Silver-polish cloth included.

White Flowers IV (pale pink MOP) - SOLD

2010-05-29T12:41:00.003+08:00

These are excellent carved pink Mother-of-Pearl flowers, one pair available only. As usual, silver polish cloth included.

Daisy Brooch $ 30 - ONE piece

2010-05-29T12:37:00.004+08:00

Biwa stick pearls and freshwater pearls make up this beautiful daisy :) Have had these biwa stick pearls for a long time but did not really know how to use them, so I consider this another breakthrough!

Out of Town 13 - 28 Apr

2010-04-09T11:10:00.003+08:00

But I will be contactable by email still if you are planning on ordering something for Mothers' Day.

I will be having fun in Taiwan (again!) and putting back all the weight I have lost recently being sick. Yum yum......FOOD, here I come!

Pink Amethyst and Yellow Sapphire Dandelions $ 53

2010-04-09T10:58:00.003+08:00

Ok these vibrant colours don't really belong in the pond so I can't give them pond names.

The stones are all clear and sparkly that they scatter light. These yellow drops are a kind of Sapphire (I can't remember exact name) and are truly valuable, but I am not reflecting it in my price here because I just want the stones to move out of my drawers!

Nice for spring and summer!

Aqua Organism! $ 53

2010-04-09T10:50:00.003+08:00

Love the 2 shades of blue from Apatite and Aquamarine. Like Hyacinth and Citrus Burst, these look like little pond plants or organisms.

These Apatite onions worth every cent I spent on them, despite that they are not totally perfect. Never dreamed that I could own Apatite at carat sizes like this. (Anyway Apatite is hardly clear and perfect.)

Parts and leverback earwires are 14K goldfilled.

White Flowers III $ 38 - Exquisitely ONE piece, look at the incredible, amazing carving SOLD

2010-04-09T10:42:00.005+08:00

I always wonder how amazing the carving is when this flower is so well-carved, so delicate and THIN and all this is done on the fragile MOP!!! I could only get one pair of these flowers from Japan. Anyway they are too expensive to be purchased in bulk.

It is always so difficult to take pictures of white/silver pieces, so I can safely say that the real thing looks even better.

I have dangled Swarovski crystals at the bottom for a glittery, girlish feel. Check out the older versions and if you decide to like Moonstone more, I will gladly change without additional charges.

All parts are in 925 silver and so a piece of silver-polish cloth is included.

White Tulips Cluster $ 27 (silver-polish cloth included)

2010-04-09T10:38:00.003+08:00

These little tulips are not the vintage ones I had used much earlier, they are very new and therefore very clean and white. I have clustered them with white freshwater pearls and a white Mother-of-pearl carved leaf.

All parts are in 925 silver so I will include a cloth to polish.

Rougeberries bracelet for WZ :)

2010-04-09T10:27:00.001+08:00

These pearls berries are always so photogenic, somehow.

Jessica's order

2010-03-26T14:59:00.003+08:00

Something dainty and sweet and pink.

I am very happy to be commissioned again to make a collage for a birthday occasion. I really enjoyed myself and I appreciate the trust that Jessica gave me so I could use materials freely and match colours without restrictions (just like Victoria's piece!).

Anyway this is a golden opportunity for me to use these champagne pearls I bought from a Japan source. Love the lustre and colour! Goldfilled chain is adjustable from approx 16" - 18".

Jessica's rose ear studs

2010-03-26T14:54:00.002+08:00

Set in silver, peach Aventurine and white Mother-of-pearl carved roses.

I dangled some pearls for the white pair, if Jessica prefers just the studs, I can remove them readily.

Denim and White Flowers II $ 30 (may not be available)

2010-03-26T14:47:00.003+08:00

Another pair of earrings for Mark. Check out these Amazonite which has an emerald-green. It is a colour with depth and the combination is really fantastic.

Coral, milk-coloured pearls (which I am running out of, maybe one last pair possible), gold pearls and white Mother-or-pearl carved roses.

Blossom in silver Version II - For Mark's girlfriend, so sweet.

2010-03-26T14:39:00.004+08:00

Uniquely dedicated to Mark's girlfriend (sorry I haven't got the name yet, will update again). I only have one pair of these ceramic flowers in orange.

Another case of boyfriend getting something for girlfriend. How I envy the girlfriend. Will sms Husband to read this entry later *hint hint*. All parts in sterling silver so will include a piece of silver-polish cloth.

Note that I welcome subsequent requests to make the same earrings but with different flowers. I try to keep each piece unique, because it will be more fun for me as well, I always modify the mix of the little stones in every case.

Victorian Cross with Emerald earrings $ 30

2010-03-26T14:33:00.003+08:00

These are genuine polished Emeralds but with an organic look. Try these when you want somthing more than semi-precious stones. The precious stone-family consists of diamond, sapphire, ruby and emerald.

Simply set with brass cross. A very antique look. And I think this green goes well with anything in your wardrobe. Earwires are goldfilled.

Masami earrings! $ 30

2010-03-26T14:27:00.003+08:00

Lovely bronze petals!

Note that this pair is for Heather, and it has milky off-white moonstones. Subsequent pairs will have rainbow moonstones.

Macarons, anyone??

2010-03-26T14:06:00.004+08:00

Recently a lady, YW who owns a blog on desserts purchased something from me and since then I have been eating macarons!!!

I ate macarons once before and I hated them because they were too sweet. But after reading her reviews on Jewels (Orchard Central) desserts, I found myself bringing my 2 kids all the way to Jewels to look for their macarons. Well, we never made it, because handling two young kids on my own got me no further than a distance spanning 2 buildings, so we ended up at Paragon Bakerzin for potato wedges and well, macarons. But anyway we went Jewels another day and tried out ALL 5 flavours :)) Husband was shocked at how readily I was popping $2-per-piece macarons into my mouth! The men just don't get it when it comes to sweet stuff. Even my daughter was munching on them and even asked for 'one more', like asking for cheap biscuits.

To YW: I think I like Bakerzin macarons more mainly because of the price :) And there are so many more choices. Love the Choco-Orange combination, as well as the raspberry one, and a few more. And I certainly agree with you that the Sea-salt one at Jewels is the nicest!

YW's blog: http://skinnierthantheoriginal.blogspot.com/

Freebies (one item with any 2 items purchased) - First Come First Serve basis

2010-03-09T11:19:00.006+08:00

Freebie #1

Freebie #2

Freebie #3

Freebie #4

Freebie #5

Freebie #6

Freebie #7

Freebie # 8 (Bracelet)

Freebie # 9 - necklace

Rougeberry Clusters $ 30

2010-03-09T11:13:00.002+08:00

When I see these I think of Japanese women.

Lovely bead caps, right? These go with champagne freshwater pearls and red coral beads. A dressy piece definitely.

Lace Dandelion Clusters $ 29

2010-03-09T11:06:00.003+08:00

This pair is definitely on the feminine side. Pale-pink freshwater pearls and bronze flowers dangle gracefully together. Great with hair bunned up. Note: I can change the hooks to other materials at request.

Blueberry Clusters $ 25

2010-03-09T10:55:00.003+08:00

Cute little fruits in neon colours - these are GENUINE FRESHWATER PEARLS! I love the quality of colour treatment which is so consistent and the shine is incredible. I don't think I will ever get something like these again. These go perfectly with darker metals, giving a vintage look.

They will definitely add charm to boring office wear and great with casual clothes too.

Masami $ 53

2010-03-08T10:55:00.006+08:00

These Keishi Pearls form pretty pretty pretty flowers! So antique looking. There are two shades - bronze and gold.

Chain part consists of white rice-pearls. Other components are of alloy (bronze/brass etc) for consistency in the antique feel.

Labradorite Calm - $32 (2 pairs only)

2010-03-08T10:40:00.003+08:00

This goes with anything in my wardrobe!

I remember months ago a lady requested for jewellery with 'depth in colours'. Since then I have been pondering over the meaning of depth in colours. Labradorite definitely is one such stone. It takes a little more experience and maturity in taste to like this stone, like Smokey Quartz.

Labradorite is in the same family as Moonstones, and it shows brilliancy of colours at certain angles. My pictures don't do justice to this fact, but you can definitely see flashes of blue in these smoothly-polished stones.

Do not expect perfection within the stones. They come with little spots of minerals and some 'cracks' which I think add on to the organic look. You can't see the 'cracks' unless you study them.

Tender Green $ 30 - ONE pair only

2010-03-08T10:35:00.004+08:00

These materials definitely cost more than the above-stated price. These Prehnite hearts have been with me for sometime and I love them for their translucency and intense colour. They are slightly different in size but they were too good to miss so I bought them still. First picture shows their actual colour.

The silver leaves are silver-plated while earwires are sterling silver.

Pictures coming up!

2010-03-08T10:31:00.002+08:00

Preview:

1. Floral Collage (Keishi Pearls) in gold/bronze (like brown lace)

2. Tender Green (Juicy Prehnite hearts)

3. A series of my new Cluster Collection

Have been feeling really lethargic lately and so I am not forcing myself to sit at the jewellery table. Will send out email when pictures are uploaded. Thanks for not forgetting me.

Rouge Pearl Twines $ 35

2010-02-05T12:38:00.003+08:00

Heather asked for something in red and pink :) And I am so happy to finally have a good reason to use these dark red freshwater pearls, with pink ones!

Please note that although you can adjust these loops before wearing, there are stress points along the loops, and frequent twisting with too much pressure can break the twines! So please be gentle with them.

Bronze-pink Bell Flowers bracelet

2010-02-05T11:43:00.002+08:00

Thank you for being so nice, WZ :) The bronze flowers are in fact more golden then shown here.

Amazonite Twines! $30

2010-01-28T11:46:00.003+08:00

Made for Carine. So if you like baby blue, this is the pair for you :) Parts in sterling silver.

Triple Twines $ 35

2010-01-26T20:39:00.003+08:00

To Carine and Victoria: The amazonite idea didn't quite work out because it looked similar to the Turqoise, and colour is also too close to Aventurine.

So here I am with the combination of Aventurine, Iolite (or Tazanite?) and white pearls. Anyway it's important to know that these tiny 2mm beads are even more expensive than 3mm ones because they are difficult to make (too small to drill holes thru). As in the previous pair, parts are in sterling silver. Neat and sweet looking.

Turqoise Twines $ 30 (maybe one last pair left)

2010-01-26T20:33:00.006+08:00

Nice vibrant blue from the Turqoise (genuine!). 2 ladies have coincidentally asked for something blue-green and Turqoise came to my mind immediately.

What's interesting in this piece is that the shape of the Turqoise is irregular and the lustre of the pearls stand out a lot. Both seem to be competing against each other and yet complementing each other. Parts are in 925 silver. Notice the silver floral spacers used! Good to go with jeans.

Friend C's Birthday Present (belated)

2010-01-26T20:26:00.003+08:00

Really proud of this. This is the 3rd bag I crochetted recently. The other 2 are very pretty too but I haven't got pictures of them yet.

Lavender coloured Rafia yarn (Hamanaka!) with pink cotton yarn woven together, love the different textures in one project. Hope C will love it too and carry it when she goes shopping.

Dusty Rose II bracelet $ 22 - one piece only

2010-01-19T15:24:00.003+08:00

This is the last carved Olive Jade rose I have left. It looks pretty with carved and polished Aventurine and a white freshwater pearl set in copper.

Help the Haitians. They need more than just prayers.

2010-01-19T14:51:00.004+08:00

We all felt sorrow for the Haitians. The thought of heaps of little and big bodies lying on the streets always brings tears to my eyes. I know such things do happen frequently near end times, but it's always painful to accept.

I have created two pairs of earrings for the donation drive this time round, since response for the Sichuan quake 2 years ago was encouraging.

Heart of Love (cream freshwater pearls with love rings in the middle with goldfilled earwires)

Yours with donation of $ 35 or more to a charity organisation (read on below).

Heart of Gold (bronze-gold freshwater pearls with good lustre with goldfilled earwires. These pearls are not cheap.)

Yours with donation of $ 50 or more to a charity organisation, can choose either pair (read on below).

Please send me proof of donation with your name, date of donation and amount via email (donations MUST be made strictly for the Haitians). Applies to donations made from 19 Jan 2010 onwards. You can donate to any organisations that issue proof of any kind with the above information (church, Red Cross etc). If you are not sure, please kindly check with me.

Lacking in integrity and getting free earrings for nothing? I am not worried. Afterall, God is watching us.

Cream Pearl Twines - for Winston

2010-01-19T14:41:00.003+08:00

It is always especially nice to receive orders from guys ordering jewellery for their girlfriends or wives. But this is a very special case of a father picking up something for his daughter. (I feel touched because this reminded me of my father buying a necklace for me for my uni graduation. Just like any man, he knew little about jewellery and prices.)

Winston asked for white/cream combination and after several trials of R&D, I settled for cream Swarovski pearls and white freshwater pearls teamed with vermeil floral spacers to add a vintage touch.

The result is excellent, I would say, fit for bridesmaids or even brides. Super Korean looking!!! And I mean it.

Something-from-the-Past Necklace $ 33

2010-01-14T18:20:00.005+08:00

This is a very romantic Lariat piece. I can imagine Evelyn, a very elegant-looking lady with very fair skin, wearing it and looking really sweet.

You can wear this with almost anything - a knit blouse, a working shirt with collars and a few buttons opened up, a casual tee with jeans.

I love the antique look of the copper which is flattering for all skin tones. The silhouette of the dangling parts is really outstanding! The necklace is about 16" long (excluding the dangling part) with the clasp and floral loop in front. Purple and bronze bell flowers dangling randomly with freshwater pearls.

Note: Every piece will be different with the positions of the flowers being random.

Yellow Rose and Denim (for Val)

2010-01-12T15:44:00.005+08:00

These are made with Turqoise instead of Blue Impression Jasper as I couldn't get them anymore. These Turqoise beads have a trangular shape and are coincidentally symmetrical for these two pieces.

Turqoise is a beautiful gemstone which many cultures love. But very often, what is supposed to be Turqoise (as many sellers claim) is actually dyed Howlite. Howlite is also a semi-precious stone, but relatively cheaper than Turqoise. So how does anyone know if a piece of blue stone is genuine Turqoise or dyed Howlite? The only way to know is to break a piece of the stone. If the entire stone is blue/green even on the inside, it is genuine Turqoise. Dyed Howlite will be white on the inside. Well, I don't crush my stones to check, but I buy my turqoise from trustworthy suppliers. Also, Turqoise naturally comes with streaks or spots of black amongst the blue. The cleaner the stone is (without the black part), the higher the value.

So next time when someone tells you that a blue stone is turqoise, think twice, especially if it is very cheap. Usually, carved Turqoise flowers are hard to come by and are very expensive because Turqoise is a soft stone and carving the stone will crush the stone easily.

(Hope you enjoy this interesting bit of information I gathered when buying Turqoise a few years back).

Autumn in Alaska II - $ 52

2010-01-12T14:32:00.002+08:00

Don't think these photos are as good as those taken last time. Please search for older version using Search function at top left hand corner.

Using goldfilled dragonflies instead of gold-plated butterflies.

WZ's Pink Bell Flowers (to match bracelet posted earlier)

2010-01-12T14:21:00.003+08:00

Without the green but the bronze pearls.

My Babies

2010-01-12T10:48:00.007+08:00

God made us in His image. Through my little ones, I see that our Lord is lovely, pure and beautiful.

Pouches!

2010-01-11T13:18:00.006+08:00

I never thought I would be buying such pouches because usually they are so old and 'song' looking, if you know what I mean! But these are so elegant that I just had to pick them out from the obviously-uglier ones. I got them at $1.50 each. If you want more, you can buy them from me.

FREE with purchase of minimum 2 items.

Aventurine Flowers and white Jade $ 25 - 2 pairs only SOLD ALL

2010-01-11T13:05:00.003+08:00

Someone asked for white jade sometime back. So here it is, with nice carved Aventurine flowers that are so small and delicate.

The tiny round beads here are red Agate beads.

Little Purple Bell Flowers $ 26

2010-01-11T12:53:00.004+08:00

I really like the clusters of flowers dangling so sweetly. They ARE sweet, believe it or not!

Purple glass flowers with freshwater pearls and Amazonite beads and a pair of small Rose Quartz onions. Earwires and chain in the middle are goldfilled while the pins are gold-plated.

Orange Roses and Jade - $ 25

2010-01-11T12:47:00.002+08:00

Sweet right? :)

These roses could be carnelian or agate, I can't remember now. Same materials used in the MOP pair.

Pearl Twines $ 30 - 2 pairs

2010-01-11T12:42:00.002+08:00

I want to confess that this idea did not originate from me, but from Korea. Koreans are so clever in jewellery-making!

Freshwater pearls in fuschia pink and bronze forming a loop with goldfilled components and studs.

Flattering for all face shapes and sizes (a personal favourite).

White MOP Rose and Jade $ 26 - 4 pairs only

2010-01-11T12:36:00.002+08:00

So I was happy that I found these match-coloured Jasper which was kept away for so long. I put them together with dusty-pink Lepidolite, carved Mother-of-pearl roses and jade doughnuts. Dainty and sweet. Clean and pure.

Earwires are 925 silver. They are small but you can ask for medium ones.

Little Pink Bell flowers (mismatched) earrings $ 26

2010-01-11T12:25:00.003+08:00

These are very feminine looking. Love the pale but glossy colour of these glass flowers with the matcha-colour stones (could be some kind of Jasper) and white pearls. Check out the goldfilled chain! So pretty.

Earwires are goldfilled too.

Song Birds II $ 25 - 3 pairs only

2010-01-11T12:17:00.004+08:00

These are so difficult to make somehow! Took me a few tries in a few hours.

I used copper wires to create a 'branch' effect. The birds are silver and gold-plated, and they sing amongst lovely purple glass flowers, freshwater pearls and jade doughnuts.

Studs are 925 silver.

Updates

2010-01-03T22:48:00.002+08:00

I will be finishing off a few paid orders and sending them out asap. Sorry for the delay and thanks for your patience!

What's coming up
Jade stuff and some small acrylic flower creations. I have been busily sketching out the ideas on my sketch book but let's see if they work in reality :)

New Year Resolutions (I am putting them here so that I will be motivated to keep to them)
1. Read the Bible everyday

I have been stuck in the book of Job for weeks and I need to get out of it! There is no better way to know God than to read His Words which are alive and never-changing. I want to lead a life guided by His Words. I crave for Spiritual food.

2. Pick up reading

And that means spending less time on crochet and beading. That doesn't mean I don't crochet and bead anymore (how can I stop?!), but I want to equip myself with more knowledge and better myself in language.

Target: 1 book per month

Some books in mind:

a. Cover to Cover

b. Memoirs of a Geisha

c. Foundations of Christian Faith (a book so thick that I used it to stack up a baby chair, it's super solid in content. I started reading it 2+ years back and could never finish beyond Chpt 6. I thought it was going to be a dry book, but I was amazed at how rich and moving the content is.)

d. The Kite Runner

Haha I hope I am not being too ambitious. Wish me luck!

Christmas gift for mum

2009-12-28T16:52:00.002+08:00

I didn't know that it was THAT difficult to get a 12" by 12" cushion insert. The best you can get is a 14" at bedding store or Spotlight. I managed to get a smaller one at Ikea.

Lovely, right?

Mismatched Fruity Summer and Butterflies - for WZ

2009-12-21T12:33:00.005+08:00

If I have anything to be proud of, that will be my huge collection of pearls, beads and findings, so huge that I can find them in many sizes and shades of colours. This makes the things I make slightly more interesting.

These butterflies are goldfilled, just like the fine chain and earwires. Pins are gold-plated. The beads are coral, Peridot and freshwater pearls. Note that the colour of the coral in the pics are slightly redder than the actual beads. It has everything to do with the strange lighting today and my new camera.

Adding dangly pearls to Palette V bracelet...

2009-12-21T12:27:00.001+08:00

Garden Bracelet - $ 45

2009-12-20T23:02:00.004+08:00

Another piece for WZ :) These are Champagne Citrine and I have been dying to use them! These are earthly with depth in colour. Goes perfectly with Peridot and cream pearls, which I am running out of. These pearls are so great to work with.

Three clusters of 'vegetation' dangling freely on a goldfilled chain.

Palette of Colours V - Bracelet $ 43

2009-12-20T22:41:00.004+08:00

WZ asked me to make something for her loved ones, and after thinking for some time, I just had to use the same colour combination for Palette V earrings, or else I thought I would live in regret!

These lovely gemstones are Citrine barrels (with the best clarity and colour tones), Pink Amethyst and Pink Tourmaline. Some of these smaller stones dangle freely next to the bigger ones. Chain and clasp are goldfilled.

Crystal Belle Floral Collage - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CRYSTAL!!!

2009-12-10T08:00:00.001+08:00

Dear Crystal,

You are lucky to have such a darling sister. I was amazed at how Victoria described you when she was trying to communicate to me what kind of a person you are. It was full of admiration and respect! I don't think my brother would say anything close about me ;)

This vertical Floral Collage was suggested by Victoria, and she wanted me to use some stones that are crystal clear. So I picked a strand of multi-coloured Aquamarine that I acquired recently! I enhanced the overall colour with a dash of pink from Pink Topaz, and added a surprise element with a Keishi flower at the end. You are truly fortunate to have your birthday celebrated this way :)))) I enjoyed myself tremendously making this necklace.

Happy Birthday to you, may you enjoy this special day.

Hubby's humour

2009-12-09T13:48:00.004+08:00

Husband is good in drawing. This was drawn 2 months back.

What I have been up to

2009-12-09T13:36:00.004+08:00

Trying to crochet as much as I could so that I can make Christmas presents for my friends in the church choir. But I really can't find enough time to complete anything - except this.

This is an acorn (what chipmunks eat). It looks blackish here, but it is actually dark brown in colour.

I wish I could make more of this pouch. I have even planned out who to give to. But other than time, cost is also a consideration because only the 'right' type of yarn will give the right look. And I hate sewing on the eyes and mouth, I am no good in sewing.

Little Floral Bracelet - for WZ

2009-12-08T11:22:00.004+08:00

Little pale pink flowers dangling with bronze and white pearls on a goldfilled chain. The extension built in allows even an adult to wear ;) Tried pink pearls earlier on but colour is too close to these flowers.

I can guarantee that the real thing looks even sweeter and better :)

Butterfly Necklace - purple version (one piece)

2009-12-08T11:18:00.002+08:00

Aquamarine, Amethyst and pearls :) Have yet to fix the chain onto this pendant.

Michelle's gifts to her friends

2009-11-30T14:23:00.002+08:00

How I keep my little necklace from entangling

2009-11-30T14:20:00.002+08:00

Not a pretty sight, but what you can do is to use a straw.

Slide one end of the necklace into a straw thick enough, and 'close' the necklace. Keep the necklace in an air-tight box or zip-lock bag to prevent oxidisation.

It can be really frustrating when the necklace entangles. But do not tear it apart in frustration! It can be un-tangled with some patience.

Palette of Colours V (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) $ 53 - 2 pairs left ONLY

2009-11-30T12:23:00.005+08:00

And I really mean that the stones twinkle and sparkle under light!!!!

Highlight here are the carved Citrine flowers. This colour combo is subtly feminine. Pink Tourmaline rondells and Pink Amethyst with a 925 silver cross in the middle. Earwires are 925 silver lever-back.

Palette of Colours IV ('Anna Sui' Colours) $ 45 or $50

2009-11-30T12:18:00.004+08:00

These are so gorgeous!!!!

Close-to-perfect Amethyst (look at the clarity and colour!) with sparkling Black Spinel and Ruby rondells. Lovely in gold-filled setting.

$45 is for goldfilled hook-type earwires. while $50 is for closed-loop kind as illustrated above.

Denim and Flowers (All three for $78, pls see below for respective prices)

2009-11-30T12:02:00.007+08:00

I love the suggestion from customers and friends that these Impression Agate could go well with denim! As for myself, I like the earthy tone of the blues and it sort of complement the beauty of the flowers.

Denim and Yellow Flowers - $ 29 (2 pieces ONLY)

Materials: Serpentine carved flowers, Canadian Jade, Citrine leaves, freshwater pearls, Amazonite and Blue Impression Agate.

Denim and White Flowers - $28 (2 pieces ONLY)

Materials: Mother-of-Pearl carved flowers, coral, freshwater pearls, Blue Impression Agate.

Denim and Blue Flowers (formerly named Impressionist, price reduced $ 28) 2 pieces ONLY

Materials: Anmazonite carved flowers, ruby, freshwater pearls, Impression Agate.

Next Posting

2009-11-26T09:54:00.003+08:00

will be on Monday :) Preview:

1. Variations of Palette of Colours Earrings (do a search using the top left hand corner Search function) ****sorry for the spelling mistake which affected your search****

2. More carved flowers earrings

Botanical Gardens $ 38 (check out the carved elements!) - ONE pair only

2009-11-23T00:37:00.002+08:00

Carved Carnelian Tulips, carved Green-moss Agate leaf, carved Citrine flower...woo so yummy! These form a little garden for a little gold-plated bird. Earwires and chains are goldfilled.

All Natural $ 28 - ONE pair only SOLD

2009-11-23T00:33:00.001+08:00

I LOVE these leaves, each of them are so unique and looks SO MUCH LIKE A REAL LEAF! They are carved out from Agate :))))

I have paired them with a tiny piece of jade, and added a floral touch with vermeil little flowers. Earwires are 925 silver.

Pink Amethyst Onions $ 23 - 3 pairs ONLY SOLD ALL

2009-11-23T00:32:00.005+08:00

These onions are of good quality and cost a little more for their carat size. Anyway, destashing them and hopefully they go to good owners :)

These dangle on silver-plated textured rings with a little white freshwater pearl and a dainty vermeil flower. Earwires are silver-plated.

Frosted Bi-colour Lemon Quartz (Pls state accompanying stone) $ 20 per pair, ONE pair each

2009-11-23T00:10:00.004+08:00

These are very very sparkly and very affordable as gifts. I love these bi-colour Lemon Quartz but I am de-stashing them by pricing them lowly. Each pair of these earrings comes with varying shades of darkness, ranging from charcoal colour to lemony shades. Earwires are goldfilled.

Refreshing green of the Peridot...

My personal favourite - very versatile...

Elegant blue Apatite... Pearls never go wrong.... Feminine fuchsia pink from Ruby...

Petite Lilac Amethyst $ 18 - 2 pairs ONLY

2009-11-23T00:06:00.003+08:00

Another little pair of earrings with clear stones, this time with 2 sterling silver little flowers. Earwires are in 925 silver.

Daily Garnet $ 18 - 2 pairs only

2009-11-23T00:00:00.002+08:00

Little red Garnet tied to a light-gold hoop. Great for daily wear. Earwires are goldfilled.

New Tagboard :)

2009-11-16T11:26:00.002+08:00

Hehe check it out! Hopefully it is more stable than the previous one.

Yes sending out the Blue Flower China II by Wednesday. Thanks for those who are waiting patiently for their orders to be sent out....I will mail you before I post them so you know when to expect them in your letterboxes.

Posting of packages to be completed by Monday

2009-11-08T22:56:00.002+08:00

Sorry I promised to send out some packages by last Saturday but I was down with flu, fever and sore throat (nobody cares whether it's H1N1 anymore) and now recovering. Will send out on Monday or Tuesday latest.

Thanks for being patient with me.

Yellow Rose Mini Jade Barrel $ 25 - 3 pieces only SOLD ALL

2009-11-04T12:58:00.004+08:00

The very very very last pieces of jade I have! The same Yellow Serpentine carved flowers and Vesuvianite carved leaves used earlier (Sept).

Angel's Tears II (Yellow Sapphire)

2009-11-04T12:54:00.002+08:00

Suggested by Eliza! I have chosen slightly different shades of yellow for her.

Blossom II (silver version)

2009-11-04T12:48:00.003+08:00

For WZ :)

Blue-Flower China II $ 28 SOLD ALL

2009-11-04T12:40:00.003+08:00

With rainbow Moonstones :) Thesea re the best pics I could take on a gloomy day!

Wild Pink Daisy (with ruby) $ 37 - 3 pieces ONLY

2009-11-03T15:16:00.004+08:00

You will love this! These carved pale-pink Rose Quartz daisies are a rare find. I have set a daisy along a chain with faceted Ruby rondells and peach freshwater pearls.

Goldfilled chain is 16".

青花瓷 Blue-flower China $ 32 - 2 pairs only SOLD ALL

2009-10-21T09:31:00.005+08:00

I got the name from watching TV, adopted by a pair of Taiwanese female singers. I like the name very much, because it reminds me of elegant procelain China with just blue flowers on very very white, clean background.

So I became inspired and decked a pair of Impression Jasper (from Japan)with blue carved flower (stone unidentified, but I suspect it is Howlite) and loads of white freshwater pearls.

Earwires are 925 silver. Stunning result fit for a grand occasion with a touch of class.

Sweet Fluorite $ 35 - 2 pieces only, goldfilled chain

2009-10-21T09:23:00.003+08:00

Aren't these carved Fluorite sweet? They are not exactly the same in terms of colours and size, but they all have tints of blue or green, and even purple!

I have connected small white freshwater pearls along the chain. Feels cheery and princess-y when worn! :) Chain about 16".

Angel's Tears $ 40 (goldfilled chain, bracelet $36 with adjustable length)

2009-10-21T09:06:00.006+08:00

This is a cute little necklace which you shouldn't be too conscious about when it comes to the position of the stones on your neck when worn. Forget about which rests in the centre on the neck; just let these little juicy stones dance around and find new resting places every now and then!

These stones are simply colourful and shiny and high in quality. It was tempting to add other gemstones into the mix while deciding on the colours. These colours simply jump out from the skin even though they are tiny! Gemstone: Amethyst, yellow Sapphire(!), Mandarin Garnet, Rhodolite Garnet, pink Topaz and Peridot.

Definitely good for daily wear. But please exercise jewellery care to preserve the shine of the stones. Necklace is about 16".

Next Posting...

2009-10-19T01:48:00.002+08:00

I will try to find time to take pictures of my lovely little necklaces (carved little somethings) and post them up on Wednesday or earlier.

Life of a temporary SAHM (stay at home mum) is not as relaxed as I thought it would be, esp now that I have two kids. I remember when I had Chun, I could still work through the night at my jewellery work station with her sleeping next to me. But now I just don't have the energy. I can't sleep til lunch anymore as Chun needs to be sent to childcare by 8.45am. In the afternoons, I need to conserve energy for night feedings.

And, my life is filled with doing lots of household chores! How did I ever survive with vacuuming and mopping just once a week for the past 6 married years?! Nowadays I find myself constantly examining my floor for specks of dirt and dust. They keep coming back! My feet turn dirty so quickly. And I am easily irritated by messy furnitures and toys spilling all over the place. I constantly add on tasks I demand myself to complete before the day ends on a notebook, like today's:

1. grocery shopping at NTUC for milk, juice, thirsty hippo

2. change bedsheets

3. vacuum floor

4. throw out unwanted clothes in wardrobe (part 3)

5. submit application form for unpaid childcare leave next year

6. call up moms in mind to enquire about breastmilk pump funnels

7. get a new container for keeping the breastmilk pump funnels

and all these are on top of the other stuff I do such as caring for the baby and sending and fetching Chun from childcare. I am so tired! I was complaining to Laogong just now that I miss my hobbies so much. I miss crochet, I miss felt work and I miss jewellery-making. I have everything I need on hand such as materials and books and ideas, but I just don't have the time and energy!!

Anyway, my maternity leave will end in another 2 weeks as I intend to save the remaining 5 weeks of paid maternity leave for next year, after which I will be 'resting' at home, testing out my calling of becoming a real SAHM in the near future. Haha maybe I won't be able to tahan the poor-ness (unpaid worrrr) and obsession of keeping the house clean all the time.

Magnolia in Bloom $ 65 ONE piece only

2009-10-11T23:53:00.003+08:00

Hehe check out the double layer of flowers!

Yellow Chalcedony, orange Mandarin Garnet, natural undyed Chalcedony and Vesuvanite Idocrase. Lovely colour combo!

Moonlight Sonata - gift to friend C

2009-10-11T23:05:00.004+08:00

How the moonstone glows from certain angles....

Made this quite sometime back for a dear friend C who is getting married next month. Not exactly for her big day, as I think it is far from being glam. But I am happy she was willing to pose for me while she wore the necklace!

This exquisite necklace is made of natural crystal, Keishi pearls and Moonstone.

Take Note please

2009-09-29T12:31:00.005+08:00

Downloading of my photos and using them elsewhere without my permission is disallowed. Please kindly let me know if you need my photos for any reasons.

Similarly, please DO NOT copy my designs wholesale. There is no joy or satisfaction when the idea doesn't originate from yourself.

Impressionism $ 33 - 4 pairs

2009-09-28T10:19:00.005+08:00

These are Impression Jasper! What an apt name, because these stones are like the artistic work of the Impressionist artists. I have a few pairs of these Jasper on hand, and every pair is slightly different.

And check out these Amazonite carved flowers which go so well with Ruby rondells! These flowers were bought from a Japanese website together with the yellow ones in earlier posts.

Earwires are goldfilled. Please note that only the first pair can be sent out readily, but subsequent pairs will be sent out only after 5 Oct as I have run out of goldfilled earwires.

Woodland Leaves $ 32 - 2 pairs only SOLD ALL

2009-09-24T22:50:00.005+08:00

Earrings in natural, sheer, nude colours.

Natural brass leaf charms with little peach and white pearls and a nude Moonstone drop. Everything in goldfilled. Simply stunning.

Botanical Lace Necklace (crochet) $ 25 - probably one piece SOLD

2009-09-22T23:33:00.004+08:00

I got this idea from a book I bought recently and spent sometime testing out on various yarns. This is the best so far.

I attached freshwater pearls on the petals on one half side of the necklace for asymmetry. Chain is goldfilled.

Goes well with any dark-coloured simple tees (try dark brown or dark green). I am very happy with this piece! :)

铁龙青'Tie Long Qing' Jade with Vintage MOP Tulips $ 35 - ONE pair only SOLD

2009-09-22T23:24:00.003+08:00

This pair of 铁龙青 Jade is relatively too expensive for me to buy more than a pair at one go. I am not an expert in Jade, but the seller told me that this type of jade has been underground for a longer period of time and therefore has more chrome (the substance that makes stones green) in it.

This is really a pretty pair of jade which has delicate carvings.

I spent a great deal of time making and re-making this pair of earrings to make both sides as symmetrical as possible. As mentioned earlier, these mother-of-pearl tulips has been around since 1930s and I am happy to be able to buy them from a reliable seller. The others are freshwater and Keishi pearls.

Floral Jade and Yellow Rose - $ 26 ONE pair only SOLD

2009-09-22T23:18:00.003+08:00

Same materials used as in Jade Buttons and Yellow Rose, but not with Jade buttons. This is the very last pair of carved Jade in floral shape on hand, and it is light green in colour, very pastel.

Moonstone Floral Collage $ 49 - ONE piece only

2009-09-22T23:11:00.003+08:00

I love the asymetry of this piece, which is achieved by arranging the flowers in that manner, with one Keishi pearl flower by the side, and a white Moonstone drop dangling off-centre.

These are the last of my little grey and peach Moonstones. Chain is goldfilled.

Next Posting & Announcements

2009-09-21T22:12:00.002+08:00

1. Next posting will be on Wednesday, hopefully. Jade earrings and more Floral Collage.

2. Please refrain from adjusting the flowers or other components on the necklaces and earrings. Some of the beads are connected by very very fine wires (any thicker won't do) and they will break under stress if bent repeatedly.

Cheongsam Colours (Jade) $ 29 - ONE pair only SOLD

2009-09-15T13:11:00.006+08:00

Very retro colours, or somehow it reminds me of colours on a Cheongsam! Carved red coral, bronze and cream freshwater pearls and brown Keishi pearls. I may be making a ring and a brooch with similar materials.

Shades of Pink Floral Collage $ 70 - 2 pieces

2009-09-14T11:37:00.003+08:00

The little one didn't want to move away...

These pink shades come from some of the best gems I own (they are all AAA gem-grade) - Madagascar Rose Quartz, Rhodonite Garnet, Pink Topaz, Red Garnet and Amethyst. This is a more extravagant piece.

Same goldfilled chain as mentioned in recent earlier posts.

Sunburst Colours Floral Collage $ 52 - 2 pieces

2009-09-13T22:30:00.005+08:00

These colours are very compatible with our Asian skin tones. Orange Carnelian, Red Garnet and Maderia Citrine. I have hung a pale-yellow Chalcedony to tangle below the centre-piece.

Goldfilled chain similar to Forget-me-not piece.

Forget-me-not Floral Collage $ 48 - 2 pieces

2009-09-13T22:25:00.005+08:00

The real stuff is actually smaller than it looks in the last picture.

I decided to make something dainty for daily wear. Check out these pastel Lilac Amethyst! They are one of my best recent buys, considering the clarity and colour. The other stones are Peridot and Rainbow Moonstone.

The whole centrepiece goes well with a thin gold-filled chain which resembles the one that was fixed together with my Tiffany Beans pendant.