Custom Orders and Work Commitment

This week I'm working very hard at completing the many custom orders for Christmas.  Due to my present work commitment, I won't have time to rush a showcase for Christmas.  My apologies to those who've been waiting to see my jewelry.  I will upload photos on this blog from time to time so you can still have a look at new pieces and decide if you'd like to purchase any pieces.

Thank you to all of you who have been supporting me since I embarked on this journey.  Please keep the support coming! 

This is a 16-inch necklace with coral nuggets, Swarovski rounds, Czech glass beads, Japanese glass seed beads and held together by an antique silver toggle. $50

An attractive 17.5 inch necklace made with Swarovski pearls and bicones, as well as aluminium beads completed with a antique gold toggle. $50 (SOLD)

A beautiful 20.5 inch necklace made from blue/green chrysoprase, freshwater pearls, Swarovski bicones and finished with an antique silver toggle. $60

Photos by Ethan-Zuriel Yam

Getting back to work

Thank you for your patience during the past three weeks while I was getting my two bathrooms renovated.  I'm now in the process of cleaning up the layers of dust off my furniture and painting some rooms.  I should be back in the full swing of things by next week when I move my studio to my boutique so customers can see my works in progress and choose their gemstones and beads for their jewelry pieces straight from my boxes.

I'm planning for my Christmas collection to be shown the first week of December.  Remember, if you have any special orders now's the time to let me know!  Order now and I'll complete them by middle of December. 

Here's a pair of geometric ear-rings in a new colour!

Photo by Ethan-Zuriel Yam

See you next week with photos of some new items. Meanwhile, have a great week ahead!

Taking Two Weeks Off

These next two weeks will be filled with noise and dust from the renovations of our two bathrooms and service balcony.  This means lots of packing, taping plastic over our furniture as well as cleaning up after the contractors leave.  With some custom orders to fill I will not be posting anything on the blog for the next couple of weeks.  You can continue to buy jewelry pieces by sending me an email or text message.  I will check my email regularly.

Here are our cats, Sniffles and Lion-O who stay close by me when I'm working.  Both are pure breed Ragdolls who competed in cat shows (and won awards!) when we had more time.

See you in two weeks' time!

Peaceful Week

This week I've been able to settle down to work a bit on experimenting with new designs.  After sketching out my ideas and designs, I try to sit down for at least 6-8 hours at my studio table to try out new colour combinations and textures.  Often, it takes 4-5 tries before I settle on something I like.  Then it gets made into a whole piece!  On occasions, I've been known to unpick the whole piece and start all over again because I'm not completely satisfied!

I've been really thankful that I can work from home, being close to my family and cats (I've two, Sniffles and Lion-O).  Here's Sniffles who loves to sit in her box the whole day sleeping, cleaning herself or watching me work!

I've uploaded a few new items so do check out the ear-rings and necklaces pages to see them.  I'm working hard on my Christmas items now so do keep that list of yours going and don't forget to check it twice!  The postings may be slower the next few weeks because I'll be renovating part of my apartment so lots of packing, clearing and cleaning up after the contractors leave.  But rest assured I'll be working very hard!

A Very Full Work Week!

Last week I spent 4 days attending two courses that taught me how to save lives in medical emergencies.  It was an eye opening experience for me.  This week I'll be back at my studio table working on the numerous custom orders and new items for my Christmas show.  Do keep the orders coming.  I simply love making jewelry pieces for each of you to match your personality, face and body shape as well as wardrobe!  Please do send in photos you want to share with me and others.   I'll try to post photos of my new items later in the week when my resident photographer is available to work.  Below are some ear-rings I made a while back.

Swarovski tear drops and rounds with wirework.

These are real orchids dipped in resin and held together by gold filled rings and hooks.

Photos by Ethan-Zuriel Yam

Have a wonderful week ahead and keep those emails and orders coming!

More new designs

On Tuesday, while hanging out the laundry I twisted my back and found it difficult to walk, sit or even lie down.  In spite of the misery I was in, I managed to sit down for short periods of time to work on these new designs.  I saw my physiotherapist on Thursday and with his skillful hands I was able to walk out of the clinic almost pain-free! 
This week I managed to complete a few necklaces and bracelets which I will complete posting in the next few days.  Do check out the necklace and bracelet pages of the blog to see them.  I still have a few custom orders to complete and hope to do so this long weekend. 

Photo by Ethan-Zuriel Yam

Face Shapes and Ear-ring styles

Many of my customers have asked me how they can select ear-rings to complement their face shapes.  Here are some suggestions:
If you have a rounder face, you may want to try elongated, drop-style and narrow chandelier ear-rings which would add length and an overall slimming effect for your face.

If you have a square-shaped face, you may want to try round contours, long teardrops and long, narrow chandelier ear-rings which would soften the edges of a square face while at the same time adding visual height.

For those of you with oval shaped faces, long rounds, triangles and ovals as well as teardrops and chandeliers would work nicely.

Heart-shaped faces may want to wear horizontal lines of rounds, teardrop shaped linear forms and chandeliers that are wider at the bottom than the top.  This will add width to your face and soften the effect of a pointed chin.

Photos by Ethan-Zuriel Yam

Hope this helps.  If you have any questions, do drop me an email.  I'll be happy to design ear-rings to suit your needs.

A New Week Ahead!

Being an early riser, I woke up at 5am today to the sound of thunder rumbling in the far distance.  I don't know about you, but I simply love a cloudy, overcast and rainy day.  In fact rain inspires me to work!  Before the light of the day shone through I'd cleaned up the kitchen and packed a fair bit. Now I'll settle down to a day of making a Mona Lisa necklace (hope to show it off soon!), sewing sequins on some dance costumes for church and working on my talk (The Velveteen Rabbit:  A Guide to Becoming Real) for next Saturday.  It'll be another busy week with physiotherapy appointments, exercise, dance rehearsals, dance classes, Alethea's RAD Intermediate examination and the talk.

Meanwhile, here's two necklaces for you to look at.  I embellished 6 Swarovski rivolis individually then sewed them together into a cube, leaving 2 holes in the cube to string the 49-strand stainless steel necklace through.  Very unique and you'll definitely get second looks!  Stainless steel necklaces are available in light green, dark green, red and gray.  Cubes available in purple, garnet, light green, blue, dark green, brown, lilac and white.  Let me know if you'd love to have one.

Photos by Ethan-Zuriel Yam

Daughter's 14th birthday!

It's hard to imagine that 14 years have passed since we welcomed our daughter Alethea-Faith into our family!  She's been such a joy to know with her zest for life, her wonderful, sparkling personality and beautiful smile.   When I told her we were going to bring her to a "secret" place for dinner on Sunday, she smiled her ever so patient smile and said sweetly, "Mum, you and Pa are SO predictable!  Secret places can only mean Ellenborough Market Cafe, Jack's Place or Sizzlers!" I looked at her with wide eyes as if I didn't know what she was talking about.  (This year alone:  Mothers' Day... Ethan's birthday... my birthday... Fathers' Day... all spent at Ellenborough Market Cafe!)  Guess where we went?!

I really like this family photo taken by our kind waitress.

Alethea trying to be Mona Lisa (no eyebrows, get it?)

Don't they look alike??

A nice photo of Father and Son

Mother and Daughter

Alethea wanted a piano cake so we made our own!

She also asked for a Promise Ring

(Photos by Alethea-Faith Yam and Rebecca Yam)

As usual, I'm working hard at completing custom orders, designing new pieces and trying to pack up my stuff to move them into a room I've specially set aside as my studio and showroom.  It's been a bit tough with my schedule but I'm really trying my best.  Please continue to check back often for new designs and news!

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement!

Custom order

I spent part of yesterday and today making 5 bracelets for BC who needs them by tomorrow.  They are all the same design with different lengths, colours and toggles.

Photos by Ethan-Zuriel Yam and Rebecca Yam

Check out my new designs!

I've finally managed to post photos in the ear-rings, bracelets and necklace pages of the blog so please go check them out!  Below are some of my sold items in case any of you would like me to do a remake.

This is a interesting bracelet in a wave design.  Very nice for young people and can be made in any colour combinations.  The toggle is a beaded pearl.  I'll offer this at $20 for the first 3 bracelets ordered!  After that it'll be $23.  Don't forget to let me know your preferred length.

Photos by Ethan-Zuriel Yam

This Swarovski pearl and Cubic Zirconia bracelet will be a stunner in any evening event!  Again, this is a sold out item but I can make this for you in any colour combination available.  In the photo I used pink and creamrose pearls.  For the clasp I used  a 3-strand magnetic slider.  This design can also be made into a collar style necklace (shorter than choker).

Exhibition of Jewelry pieces

I've been working quietly this week, completing a few pairs of ear-rings, a necklace and a bracelet. My resident photographer (aka Ethan) has duly taken pretty pictures of the pieces. However, I'm having problems posting the photos onto the blog so you'll all have to wait a while!

In the meantime, I'm planning a jewelry exhibition maybe in November, in time for you to pick up Christmas presents for your family, friends and co-workers. (If you want to order custom made jewelry pieces, please make your list, and don't forget to check it twice before sending it to me!)

Oh and I'm sure many of you have lots of suggestions or ideas for the exhibition (like venue, dates, time, etc), so please send them along to me. If I use your suggestions or ideas, I will definitely reward you for your effort and support! So, what are you waiting for?