Still working thru' my custom orders. A set of beautifully smooth jade flat drops measuring approx 22 mm x 12 mm, goldfilled wire and filigree vermeil earposts. Not to be repeated this is a gorgeous pair for one lucky lady!
8.31.2009
KAYLYNN BL225-09 CUSTOM ORDER
Still working thru' my custom orders. A set of beautifully smooth jade flat drops measuring approx 22 mm x 12 mm, goldfilled wire and filigree vermeil earposts. Not to be repeated this is a gorgeous pair for one lucky lady!
8.29.2009
8.28.2009
MOONDROPS BL224-09 CUSTOM ORDER
Now that the euphoria is dying down its back to the real world.... this is a gorgeous pair featuring moonstone briolettes and rondells. Actually perfect for a bride but could be used whenever we feel like making ourselves look and feel good. Sterling silver wirework, earposts and ballpins. Moonstones are hard to photograph =(( Drop of 48mm. This is a custom order.
8.27.2009
8.26.2009
CYN BL223-09 CUSTOM ORDER
Sitting in a gilded frame with a little bed of orchid tone rondells, is a faceted onion shape rose quartz brio. The orchid tone rondells comprise garnets, rose quartz and shaded amethyst. Round twisted hoop, ball pins and ear posts are vermeil, 14k goldfill wirwork. Drop of approx 4 cm.
8.25.2009
DAPHNE BL222-09 S$60 SOLD
Lovely microfaceted blue topaz briolettes measuring approx 8mm x 5 mm at the tail end of gold filled chain on each side, vermeil coiled wire, vermeil hoops and flashy faceted moonstone rondells and briolettes. Matching vermeil earwires complete this etheral creation. Drop of approx 52 mm
8.24.2009
DELIA BL221-09 S$75 SOLD
Lovely translucent rose quartz faceted nuggets - largest centerpiece measuring 3.5cm - separated by sterling silver bead caps and a wavy, textured oval sterling silver bead giving a little detailed attention to the side. The necklace ends with sterling silver chains, beads towards the back. Approx 16" from end to end. Secures with a toggle.
8.23.2009
LILY BELLE BL220-09 S$60 SOLD
It's such a beautifully cool but wet day here in usually sunny Singapore. Having a little problem with my photo taking - so whats new? - here I've a pair of gorgeous carved rose quartz leaves which are translucent and of the softest most evenly toned pink. Embellishing the goldfill chain tendril, I've included smooth multi coloured tourmaline rondells, faceted rubylite garnet briolettes and faceted pink tourmaline and garnet rondells. Vermeil earposts and ball pins. 14k goldfilled wirework and chains. Drop of 6cm.
THE CELEBRATING CONTINUES.....
Glenn has a really cool group of close friends who can be depended upon thru' thick and thin. Tonight almost all of them (except Dee who is away at Uni....miss you Dee) plus some of his friends from Uni came over to help him celebrate.....He was very excited that the last couple arrived with an ice cream cake and candles....we had to sing Happy Birthday, many times, fortunately the ice cream didn't melt through.....a really good time is being had.....Guitar Hero is entertainment of the night. Charlene bought him a new set of songs for Guitar Hero so there's a lot of 'drumming, guitar playing and singing going on in the living room.
8.22.2009
CYNDI BL219-09 CUSTOM ORDER FOR CY
Still working thru' my custom orders and trying to get back into the 'swing' of crafting. A little tardy....spending more time admiring my new purchases than actually working.My photography has gone to the dogs too.....
This is a lovely creation of oval microfaceted shaded smokey quartz and coin shape, shaded citrine, joined by 14k goldfill wire and ending with goldfill chains on either side. A cluster of mandarin garnets, shaded smokey quartz and carnellian faceted rondells form a delicate drop at the end of which I've added a flawless faceted pale lemon quartz briolette. The request was for something to go with her cocktail dresses which are mostly black....I avoided black stones as CY is petite and I feel that a subtle smokey tone would suit her well and the little cluster of burnt orangey tones in the drop would 'lift' this creation and add tasteful embellishment and understated colour to complement her outfits.
Matching earrings to follow....
Preoccupied this afternoon with preparations for a small celebration which Glenn is holding to celebrate his birthday and his graduation. He has graduated with a degree (with distinction) in Finance and Economics, although I'm not supposed to be announcing this....but I am his mother and I do believe I have earned the 'right' to do so ;p If this goes missing later in the day its because my blog inspek-tor has seen this and has requested I take it down =D
8.20.2009
BL218-09 CUSTOM ORDER
Still working thru' my custom orders. This is a faceted elongated black onyx brio capped with vermeil beadcaps and topped with a cluster of citrine, hessonite garnet and gold swarovski crystal pearls. Goldfilled earwires. This is for an occassion where black and gold is the theme.Drop of 5.5 cm
8.19.2009
HOME
We spent a total of 4 days and 3 nights away from home - Singapore - whilst holidaying in the land or Kingdom of smiles. This wasn't our first trip to Thailand but this was something both my children noticed and pointed out -the genuine courtesy, smiles and overall hospitality and graciousness of the Thai people. I'm sure like in every other branch of the human race, you will come across the crass and insensitive but in contrast I'd say its a 85:15 ratio, in favour of graciousness. Our service industry has a LOT to learn from them. Whilst many of them might not be proficient in the English language, they make a concerted effort to understand, either by gestures, examples or a "can I help you" attitude. Sadly, the same cannot be said at home. Whilst I appreciate the fact that we "need" foreign talent in whatever field, it is very frustrating to try and ask someone who might look like the majority of Singaporeans, in a department store, a simple question of "do you have this in another colour/size"....she'd/he'd respond in a brand of English thats decipherable if you're from that side of the pond, disappear and that would be the end of the story...worse still if its in the heartlands....they'd look at you as if you're the foreigner. Its beyond the "can I help-ch you" auto response or the bored, disinterested look or worse still the "can't you see I'm having a convo with my countryman/woman" look, or "come back when I feel a little more inclined to work" attitude. I know this might rile many people but its my opinion. So different from the attitude of the service industry in Thailand.....humble, politely gracious, eager to help.We did a fair bit of walking whilst in Bangkok. Some places are more efficiently reached by hopping on to their BTS (MRT) or just by walking from one point to the other. We encountered an incident of a blind man on their BTS. Their trains are generally very crowded with locals as well as visitors and unfortunately their PA system on the trains aren't very audible. We were concerned about how this man would know when he reached his destination and wanted to get off the train - we didn't notice when or how he got on the train. What was most impressive was the fact that many other commuters made an effort to help this blind person, with one of them holding his arm and helping him off the train, leaving him on the platform in a safe area and the train driver who got out of his cabin, blew his whistle a couple of times and the security officer (there's lots of them in uniform all over the place and its hard to tell if they are military/police/or just private security because they all look spiffy in their well tailored/fitted uniforms) came running and blowing his whilstle along the way just to indicate "on the way, on the way" (I think). Maybe it takes little to impress me but I was overwhelmed at the offers of assistance and the eventual assistance given to the blind person. Not sure if I'd see the same at home. Maybe I don't travel on public transport at home so I shouldn't dismiss the possibility of the same happening here. All I do hear or read about though, with regards to our trains is that our trains have the effect of putting people to sleep and ignoring very pregnant, old, young people even if you happen to be in a seat reserved for them. And these same people have this amazing ability to wake up at the correct station. Amazing.
Public toilets - we didn't actually go to the other side of the lake when we were in BKK but 10 out of 10 public toilets we visited (I am not someone who visits public toilets unless its an absolute emergency) were spanking clean, dry and fully equipped - tissue/liquid soap/paper hand towels or blowers for drying hands. None of the floors were wet, all toilets worked (and if they didn't the door was locked with a sign on the outside) and they all smelt fresh! Apart from the excellent and efficient toilet cleaning crew I'd have to say its got something to do with the people who use the toilets. I definitely did not see shoe marks on the toilet seats! Another page to add to our book of "we should learn...."
I'm sure there will be a lot of people who will diss what I've said above, feel that its not their responsibility to be polite/clean/gracious.....but I am first to say....we can still learn.
The only thing that really put us off were the taxi drivers. You are literally at the mercy of the taxi driver. Even at the hotel where the bellhop/captain organises a taxi for you, handing you a card with the taxi details, there is no guarantee that whilst you're in the cab the driver won't suddenly pull an "excuse me where exactly is this place you want to go to......I think its closed today, I will bring you to another better place"...... almost everytime/all the time....then you also have to ensure that if they agree to set the fare by meter you have to check that the driver has turned the meter on. We had an incident where a taxi driver, after we agreed on our destination point, actually stopped the taxi a few metres down the road, gets out to communicate with another driver and they both point this way and that way and then our driver returns and says "I U-turn" and we end up back at our hotel where he tells us he has to take "other way"..... by this point we'd learnt the tricks and my husband said "Ok....stop....everybody get out" and the guy knew his bluff had been called because he didn't stop us or anything.....We were a group of 4 adults and this was scarier when we travelled at night. I think its probably the fact that they don't take regulation seriously. Not all taxis had the photo/licence/taxi number displayed on the dashboard. Those were the taxis where the drivers inevitably tried to scam us....many times. Traffic is a nightmare and you could be stuck in a jam for up to 30 minutes (or more) with little progress in sight so on one occassion (with a more honest cab driver), he had had enough of the jam, hit his forehead and drove against traffic for a short distance or we'd have been stuck there for another 30 minutes. We clapped (even though it was dangerous for everybody and most likely unlawful) but we were so glad to get out of the jam especially since it was very, very late at night and you can't really tell where exactly you're at! Traffic lights seem to be road decorations because nobody shows any respect for the lights. Who dares....wins....in the race to get to your destination. Heck the lights/policeman.....nothing will happen. Green on your side could mean everybody at all four junctions can go....pedestrian crossings - what are those??? Here I'm talking about even the better side of BKK.....Gaysorn/Central World/Siam Paragon area.....so proceed with caution whenever you're out of a building and on a road.
The disparity between the haves and the have nots is so wide its sad. Along a stretch of high end malls you have, right on the opposite street, a mish mash of run down shophouses, electrical cables criss crossing one another, water dripping off aluminium/canvas awnings drip...drip...dripping on to the road and sometimes on your head if you're not careful....potholes along the sidewalks, beggars and you have the scammers...."today is Lucky Buddha Day....I take you to temple?" it doesn't seem to matter which day we meet these scammers but they always have something to show you or some place to take you....just be firmly polite.
Food, glorious food but just know how much sugar and spice you can hold before going overboard. Food malls are aplenty......I'm a little wary of the roadside hawkers who peddle really interesting fruit or vegetable or both salads/noodles/barbecued meats, fish, fried errr....chicken?...whatever...the aromas are tantallising but thats the extent of my adventure into foods by the wayside....I savour the sights and the smells =D
Other than the taxi service operators who stink up the image, I'd say our major service industry players at home should take a page or two out of the courtesty book of our gracious Thai neighbours!
A most enjoyable trip and I'll post more photos/snippets as I sort things out.
8.18.2009
I'M HOME!
The reality check comes when you place a line on the scales and you do the math and realise that hmmm......should I really be taking so many lines of gemstone A or B or C.... *sigh* then comes the need and the want debate in the head....never ends!
8.13.2009
YU BL217-09 CUSTOM ORDER
A gorgeous carved jade pendant made to look less conservative, more wearable whilst still maintaining its ethnicity. A filigree vermeil bail, vermeil beadcaps and beads, faceted pale lemon quartz and chrysoprase enhance the delicate beauty of this pendant. Ends with a vermeil toggle.
GEORGINA BL216-09 CUSTOM ORDER
I did my last mailing for the week today....still have some custom orders to work on. This was completed and 'approved' just before lunch but it'll only go into the mail next week.
Smooth black onyx teardrop brioletes, faceted zircon,amethyst,garnet and iolite rondells, goldfilled beads, smooth round amethyst and vermeil earposts and ball pins. Drop of slightly under 5 cm. Gorgeous in reality. Crafted and designed for a slim, tall and elegant persona. This definitely suits the bill!
8.11.2009
SHORT BREAK
I'm off on a short buying trip this weekend so I'm finishing off as much as I can of my custom orders and then mail them off over the next two days. Looking forward to this short holiday and to bringing back more supplies. As I use mainly high end gems and semi-precious stones, I need to get to the source to actually 'see', feel the stones. Goldfilled and sterling silver findings are available wholesale from my US vendors and whilst I do have very reliable Indian suppliers I still get very excited to visit the Indian and Afghani vendors to see their stash in reality.
I am not big on procrastination but I find a lot of my time is torn between crafting, plurking and playing 'dress up' on polyvore. Yah....thats my current time waster. This was introduced to me by a few customers who were inspired by some of the accessories and then I got hooked ;p Plurkies....this is really cool!
OK...back to work!
ps - I will still be contactable via email when I'm away and will respond as soon as I am able to.
I am not big on procrastination but I find a lot of my time is torn between crafting, plurking and playing 'dress up' on polyvore. Yah....thats my current time waster. This was introduced to me by a few customers who were inspired by some of the accessories and then I got hooked ;p Plurkies....this is really cool!
OK...back to work!
ps - I will still be contactable via email when I'm away and will respond as soon as I am able to.
8.10.2009
DANA BL215-09 CUSTOM ORDER S$70 SOLD
Steely colors of silver, verdigris,teal,bronze, silver tone chains and silver grey velvet ribbon. Swarovski glass pearls and faceted czech glass beads with a pearl finish. Approx 16" in total length this is slightly more avant garde than my usual pieces but its to fulfill a custom order.
8.09.2009
8.07.2009
A SPECIALITY BLOG
As if I have a bottomless pit where time is concerned, I now manage 2 blogs.
Absolutely brand new and bare, the new blog is dedicated to brides or specifically the jewelry I create for that special day in their life.
I will now split myself down the middle and work on items for this blog as well as for my new blog BelLeeBrides
Thank you for your past support and I look forward to your continued support as I take on this new adventure.
Absolutely brand new and bare, the new blog is dedicated to brides or specifically the jewelry I create for that special day in their life.
I will now split myself down the middle and work on items for this blog as well as for my new blog BelLeeBrides
Thank you for your past support and I look forward to your continued support as I take on this new adventure.
8.06.2009
ROSY POSY BL213-09 S$45 SOLD
A little posy of faceted rhodolite garnet and peridot in a faceted rose quartz 'vase'. Sterling silver fancy earwires,ball bins and bead caps. Drop of 4cm
COMMISSIONED PIECES FOR J
Still working through my custom orders. Here are 2 pairs sweet and simple. Perfect for everyday wear. Hope J likes them.
COMMISSIONED PIECE FOR GF
A lovely lariat style necklace comprising claret tone garnet smooth nuggets and briolettes and imperial topaz cubes. Rich and luxe bead combo, this measures approx 17" with a centre drop of almost 2"
FB Fan Page
Just a short note to say that my Facebook fan page is down at the moment. They haven't indicated when it will be up and running again but apparently it comes up as fast as it goes down so.....we'll just have to wait. Thank you xoxoxo
8.05.2009
NOIR ET BLANC BL212-09 S$65 SOLD
As clear as day and night.....Swarovski glass pearls, chains and fabric.....34" for the longest strand this comprises 3 shades of swarovski pearls - white, cream rose and jet. Sterling silver 'hammered connectors and 2 strands of chain. A removable polka dotted ribbon is threadled thru' the sterling connectors and ends in a tied bow. For a more dressy look, remove the ribbon.
8.04.2009
MARCY BL212-09 S$58 SOLD
Many crafters comment or lament over my pricing. Considering the fine quality of gemstones and findings and the careful attention I pay to my craftsmanship, I would say they have a point when they say I underprice my creations. I started out doing this as a hobby. That has not changed. I have never treated this as a source of income but I admit to investing lots and lots of $$ into my materials/supplies. I strongly believe that you cannot put a price to creativity. My reward comes from the satisfaction of every buyer when they feedback that the items are way superior to the photos I put online and they are immensely happy with their purchases and they keep coming back for more.Anyway, back to MARCY....a faceted oval ruby approx 8 cm x 4 cm, a hammered sterling silver hoop approx 8 cm in diameter, a cluster of faceted multi gemstone rondells and a sterling silver filigree earpost. Drop of 4 cm. Exquisite.
LOLA BL211-09 S$60 SOLD
Working on some custom orders so I've got several different boxes of gems out in front of me. A colour inspiration came to me and I decided to work on it whilst it was still fresh in my head. This is a multi strand necklace comprising citrine, amethyst, lemon quartz, hessonite and iolite stones. I find the combination quite refreshing especially since I chose to use silver instead of gold for the metal work. Necklace measures approx 16.5" but with a little twirling, the length is adjusted to whatever your heart desires.
8.03.2009
GUESS WHO WON'T BE COMING TO DINNER!
What sounded like an altercation between Buddy our pet dog and the neighbour's cat turned out to be something even more sinister. We heard a kerfuffle and rather loud, fierce barking from Buddy and on checking found a monkey on our backyard wall, about to pounce on Buddy's bowl of kibbles!!
Red alert! We immediately shut all windows/doors, basically sealing off access to the house and then a mad rush for cameras and me hiding with Buddy who was ready to go into battle, and the monkey gave everyone the run around....from the back wall on to the roof of the 1st level and then on to the patio roof, balcony, roof of the main house, fruit trees, back fence and the merry go round began. I called the police who referred me to the AVA - Agro Veterinary Agency - hmph! by which time the monkey was on its merry way down the street in search of food.....
Whilst we do have a little bit of bushland - sort of a jungle - and have seen a couple of squirrels and errr....snakes....this is the first monkey we've seen.
8.02.2009
VIOLET B L210-09 S$55 SOLD
A lush and luxe creation of pinks, purples and fushchia....a lovely microfaceted pink amethyst briolette with a little posy of faceted shaded amethyst, dark iolite and fuschia quartz rondells. A textured frame holds a deep violet amethyst brio and the entire arrangement is piece together with sterling silver findings. Drop of 4.75 cm.
SARAH BL209-09 S$60 CUSTOM ORDER SOLD
Custom orders are'nt the easiest to fulfill. I've learnt to accept each one as a challenge. A request for a multi chain necklace with a 'unique' pendant and some gemstones and a fixed budget really made me dig through my supplies stock. I have long stopped using plated material opting instead for the more superior quality of sterling silver and goldfilled or vermeil, but I do have a fairly large stock from way back when. I am happy too that I have a rather big stock of Vintaj chains and findings. To fulfill this 'challenge' I have chosen natural brass as my material base, added in some plated silver and gold chains - short spurts only and to complement the large fluorite carved leaf pendant, I've used pale lavendar amethyst, frosted amethyst, lavender tone agate and a couple of rose quartz beads - wheel and coin shape. Quite happy with how its turned out and happier still that Sarah loves it without having to make any adjustments/alterations. Leaf measures approx 2" x 1.25" (at its broadest) and necklace measures approx 26". Customer satisfaction - always give what they want but spice it up with excellent quality and craftsmanship.
8.01.2009
MUSCAT BL208-09 S$75
Irregular shape quartz nuggets - smokey and light lemon - vermeil bead caps, small plum tone garnet nuggets and a large side focal of a dark smokey quartz nugget. The muscat family of grapes is grown mainly for wine,raisins and table grapes....these stones fit perfectly into that definition - dark and gold raisins and plum coloured grapes....and the intoxicatingly sweet floral aroma....Measuring approx 16" this ends with a toggle.
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